Welcome

Why a blog from me, someone who has never been a writer, someone who has never been articulate or had a solid grasp of the grammar world. Because God told me to write. Several years ago a life storm invaded my family. God kept telling me to write it all down. I argued, but He would not let up. This went on every day for a couple of weeks until one day out of frustration, (I'd like to say it was out of obedience), I picked up a pen and paper and wrote for 7 hours straight! Do you think maybe I needed therapy and God knew it?

I've been writing ever since and have learned to love it! I started out sharing my stories with friends and family. I've now been published in a Nashville church paper, Our Daily Journey (a devotional site of RBC Ministries), PCCWeb Daily Devotional, Ruby for Women Ezine Magazine, and I am a contributor in the book Alabaster Jars, Life in Abundance Collection 2.

Why Ponderings? During this life storm, God led me to a pond in the woods behind my home. There He met me each time, teaching new lessons, reminding me of old ones, showing His presence and allowing me to feel His love through the surroundings of that pond. I found myself returning over and over to ponder, pray and praise. A healing of my heart took place and out of the experience came my first book, Ponderings From the Pond, then a second book, Ponderings From My Porch, and now a third book is in the works along with a memoir about my storm.

Why am I making myself so vulnerable? Because God has done so much that I cannot keep quiet. I have to share. Jesus's last words to his desciples were, "Go,tell." We are his disciples too and this is just one of my ways of telling.

I'm no scholar but I have heard God's voice in my spirit, experience His love daily, and have a desire for others to experience this also. I would love to share with all who visit and I would love to hear from you. If my sharing gets just one to ponder, to be quiet with the Father, to see and hear from Him or to be reminded of something from Him, then this is worth my vulnerability.

As you visit me, sometimes we will be at the pond, sometimes we will move to the front porch, and sometimes we will just be here, there, and yonder. Thank you for coming and please feel free to come back anytime, you are always welcome here.

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Psalm 19:14

*****EXCITING NEWS*****

My first book, Ya Know What I'm Say'n, has been released.


Ponderings

Ponderings

Sunday, August 5, 2012

A Lovely Fragrance

There is just nothing quite like a momma to make you feel loved, to boost your self esteem, to give you courage and cheer you on to be all God means for you to be.  There's just nothing quite like a momma's love. . .even from 750 miles away.


Counting my blessings that reached me from 750 miles away. . .

1249.  envelope from my mom

1250.  filled with a beautiful letter to me from her



1251.  dried pansies (that had been planted by a dear uncle of mine years ago and dried by my dear aunt who mailed them to my mother years ago and my dear mom mailed them to me)

1252.  poems from her

1253.  seeing these words from her

1254.  dried wood from a fallen tree (for homemade potpourri)


1255.  dried roses (to add to homemade potpourri)

When all put together,  I shall have a lovely fragrance indeed, just like the lovely fragrance of love that drifted from mailbox into my hands and right into my heart.
Thank you Mom!
1257.  You are a lovely fragrance in my life.
I love you
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I later started to ponder about this fragrance and thought of the phrase Paul in the bible calls the 'fragrance of His knowledge'.  Second Corinthians 2:14 says,
Now thanks be to God who always leads us in in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.  For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing."

Henry Blackaby writes in his devotional "Experiencing God". . .
"Whenever the Romans won a major military victory, they would celebrate with a spectacular parade.  The commanding general would lead the procession in a magnificant chariot, followed by his soldiers, musicians, and other officials.  Then, soldiers would lead the defeated enemies through the city in bondage.  As a part of the celebration, the Romans would burn fragrances on altars, filling the entire city with a pleasant aroma.  Even those who could not witness the triumphal procession could hear the victory music and smell the pleasing incense.  Everyone would know that their army had been victorious.  The special fragrance came to symboloze victory to anyone who smelled it.

Paul used this vivid imagery to describe the effect that Christians should have in the world.  According to Paul, God permeates our lives with the fragrance of the knowledge of Christ.  Everywhere we go our lives should demonstrate to others that Christ is victorious.  As unbelievers observe our lives, they should become aware of the victorious power of Christ.  As other Christians witness the victory Christ gives us over our sin, they can rejoice in the triumph of their Lord and gain confidence that Christ will bring victory in their lives as well."

I love where the verse says..."to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ".  Now that is hope!  And it is amazing that to God, I can be a fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.  I also need to watch if I have an odor that repels others by being critical, gossipy, nagging or any other ungodly trait.

So next time you smell a lovely fragrance, think about if you are being a fragrance of Christ to God and to others.

Dear Lord, I know I fail more than once, but my heart's desire is to be a fragrance of Christ to you and to others.  May I always remember to think every time I smell an aroma, to check my aroma, to see if my fragrance is coming from You or from some other place.  As I get to know you more and more, may the sweet fragrance of the knowledge of Christ drift among the people and may they see the victorious power that comes only from You, the power to overcome any and all sin, the power to bring us up and out of our pits, and the power to defeat Satan and his ways. 
In Jesus name, Amen 
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PS~I made the potpourri. . .I wish you could smell it.  Just think ROSES! :)

1258.  a wooden bowl full of homemade potpourri
1259.  the lovely rose smell throught the home
1260.  the lovely fragrance of Christ



joining other blessed counters over at
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15 comments:

Reformed rebel said...

As mom's there is so much we can do to lift up our children and make them feel more than loved! This was so very cool what you're mom sent you.

Blessings...Chelle

Denise said...

Precious.

Adela said...

Beautifully said. The brains memory center is right next to the portion that registers scent. That is why smells bring memories crashing to the front of our brains. How wonderfully we are made.

Stacie, A Firefighter's Wife said...

Oh thank you for this! We are experiencing victory in my son's life. He has given his addiction to the Lord and is now living free from sin that had his enslaved. His thought patterns are actually changing! The therapist's are secular and they don't know what to do with it. They don't believe someone could change this fast. We are ahead of the game now and we are giving God all the glory. I feel like having a victory parade!!!!

I also agree, there is nothing sweeter and more affirming that a note from one's mother.

Anonymous said...

Oh what a sweet gift of a momma you have...it makes me want to be that kind of mom no matter the ages of my kids...and amen...how we all long to be the fragrance of Christ...crushed and made into new wine:) blessings to you~

Christina said...

What a sweet momma you have! And what a treasure--her letter and pressed flowers. I love the smell of roses, wish I could smell the potpourri , I know it's heavenly!

a joyful noise said...

Thank you for sharing at Tell Me a Story. How wonderful that your mother would send you a real letter with flowers. So much correspondence is done by e-mail or texting today. We won and the sweet perfume came down from heaven and filled the temple.

Natalie Snapp said...

Beautiful. There's nothing like affirmation from our mothers, no? So wonderful to see that love here on your blog. Blessings!

Eileen said...

What a beautiful post. I lost my mom to cancer when I was a teen so anytime I read posts that take the opportunity to love on moms my heart dances!

Anne said...

There is so much that words of affirmation from someone we love can do for us. This is beautiful!

joy said...

Dropping by from " Tell me a story" and was fascinated by how you write and inspired. I began blogging too to share how God saved my life and how he is with me now in my everyday life. My writings are not half as good as you are, but I just do it coz I feel that I have to share God's goodness. And I thank God for someone like you who inspires others by writing how GOd moves in your life. Thanks! See you around:)

marlece said...

Isn't it amazing how a Momma can still touch you with her loving ways even as we are older and are Momma's ourselves. A Momma's love just doesn't match to much of anything else.

I want to be a sweet fragrance to my Lord.

Shari said...

I wish I could smell the roses! Beautiful!

Blessings~
Shari

caryjo said...

Really neat... both sharing thoughts from your heart and the photos.

Good thinking. I've often pursued the fragrance issue connected to our present world. It ain't easy, partly b/c we have to infuse through such horrible odors around us. The Holy Spirit is the "Blower" we can count on to spread the godly fragrances out and about, cleansing the surrounding area.

Again, thanks for sharing.

Ugochi said...

Thanks Kristin,
A mother's love is strong and great!
I have heard a lot of people say not to bother what others think of you...true to an extent. But I believe we should strive to live the true love life Jesus came to give and show us, we spread the fragrance of His love to everyone we meet.
Thanks for sharing.