What's the Name of that Perfume Your Wearing?

Mark 14:3b "During supper, a woman came in with a beautiful jar of expensive perfume. She broke the seal and poured the perfume over Jesus' head."

While Jesus was having dinner at the home of Simon, a woman named Mary came in and broke the seal of her perfume bottle and poured it over his head. This wasn't some cheap bottle of perfume, it would be about a years worth of wages.

I wonder if they had names for their perfume then, like we do today? l think I would name this perfume "Destination Heaven". As I was thinking about this I had to laugh because I remembered the name of the perfume I wore before I got saved........it was called "Tabu"...and it was cheap. No...the name of the perfume we wear doesn't matter...I just thought...how apropos! I can laugh now because my life is no longer "Tabu" or "cheap"...because of what Jesus has done for me.

Mark 14:4,5 "Some of those at the table were indignant, displeased...saying it was a waste of money....She could have sold it and given the money to the poor."

With all the complaining around the table...you might miss the beauty of what just happened here. The others didn't understand and neither did I at one time...but it's really a simple story about a woman who, in the presence of Jesus Christ, was so overwhelmed by the wonder of who He was and by the thought of all He had done in her life, that she wanted to serve Him in an extravagant way.

"....the house was filled with fragrance and Jesus said what Mary did
was in preparation of His burial." John 12:3b,7

So she took her alabaster jar of expensive perfume and broke it open. She poured it out until every drop was exhausted and the flask empty. John adds that she poured it not only on his head but on his feet as well. Though the others thought it was a foolish thing to do, Mary came to adore and worship her Savior for all He had done for her. Jesus had given her brother back to her from the dead. He had restored her Simon back to health. He had treated her with dignity and respect. And He had shared with her the secrets of the kingdom of God. And now, He was was about to give His life for her...So, she wanted to give Jesus something to let Him know how much she loved Him.

For this perfume to cost so much....it must have had a "beautiful scent." But what really pleased the LORD was Mary's extravagant, loving heart....and that must have smelled "Heavenly."

2 Corinthians 2:14-16a "But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing....."

Blessings on your day,
Sharon

"Crumb Snatchers"

Mark 7:27 "Jesus told her, "First I should help my own family...It isn't right
to take food from the chldren and throw it to the dogs."

After telling the religious leaders the meaning of clean and unclean....Jesus now heads for "unclean" Gentile country - Tyre. Interesting that Jesus would go there.... when you remember what Jesus said about Tyre in Matthew 11:21. "There Jesus began to denounce the cities where He had done most of his miracles....."For if the miracles I did in you had been done in wicked Tyre...their people would have sat in deep repentance long ago, clothed in sackcloth and throwing ashes on their heads to show their remorse."

I can imagine the religious leaders saying, “Why is he going there? What is he doing in Gentile country? Doesn’t he know that these people are unclean?” Even his disciples had to be wondering, “Jesus, why are we here? What are you doing going here? Shouldn’t we be preaching to our own people? Why are we here far away from home?”

What I glean from this---first we are to share with our family, neighbors, co-workers---with those all around us. And then,
to those who are DIFFERENT than us. Even to a wicked city like Tyre....The wickedness and idolatry of this city are frequently denounced by the prophets and it's final destruction predicted (Isa 23:1; Jer 25:22; Eze 26;28:1-19; Amo 1:9,10; Zec 9:2-4). But, here a church was founded soon after the death of Stephen, and Paul, on his return from his third missionary journey spent time there teaching the disciples (Act 21:4).

Why do we look and long for a place to go that is NOT like Tyre---.is it because I/we have forgotten that our purpose here on earth isn't to find our comfortable, safe, peaceful place===and wait for the LORD's return. We are to go to those around us to those who desire a deep repentance.

So who are these "Crumb Snatchers" and where do we find them? Probably, in places like Tyre...where wickedness and idolatry are out of control. Those who deserve forgiveness the least...need forgiveness the most. That's when I got saved...living like those in Tyre...but, that's also the time when my heart was longing and crying out.....I didn't know what it was I was crying for----until I saw some "crumbs on the floor".

Blessings on your day,
Sharon

"The Seed is Planted"

Mark 4:3 "....A Farmer went out to plant some seed."

Before we can begin to reap, or even expect a harvest...first a seed must be planted.

Planting a seed can be used to describe many things....conception of a child, birth of a nation, a seed of faith. Without the seed, nothing grows. But, if that seed is to grow..it first must be planted and for it to continue to grow...there must be some response to it.

If the "seed" of faith that each of us has is not cared for and nurtured, it will die just a surely as a new new-born baby will die if it is not fed, changed and cared for constantly. We must feed our faith through the study of God's Word, prayer and keeping a close watch for anything that will come into our life...sin...and injure our faith.

Isaiah 28:9-10 "Whom will the LORD teach knowledge? And whom will he make to understand the message? Those just weaned from milk? Those just drawn from the breasts? For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little."

Our growth and maturity in the LORD will not happen overnight. It takes time, maturing, growing, learning, studying and submitting to the Holy Spirit. But as we understand and apply God's Word to our life....we will grow...here a little, there a little. Becoming strong in faith and our life will become more victorious in Christ.

It's in this fertile soil that the seed will take root and a crop...fruit will be produced.

John 15:8 "This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples."

Father, help me to continue focus my heart and mind on your Word so that Jesus' words will continue to take root in me...bearing more and more fruit. In Jesus name, amen.

Blessings on your week,
Sharon

"FACING GOD WHEREVER YOU ARE"

James 5:13a "Those who are in trouble......"

Trouble is part of life, but in the midst of it all we have a choice. We can allow God to use it to mold us into who He wants us to be, or we can allow it to beat us down into something less than God’s will for us. James says we choose the outcome of our troubles by turning toward God in their midst. “Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray.”

When there isn't enough money to pay the bills...PRAY. When the storm rolls through and you have an accident on the freeway... Your roof leaks and destroys your carpet and furniture....or your business goes bankrupt, James says PRAY. When your friend is acting like a jerk and destroying your friendship, or your children are in rebellion....James urges us to face God in that time of trouble.

“When the rug is being pulled out from under your life, pray!” That is not too difficult to understand, but notice what is not said. You can search the entire Bible, and you will not find the verse you would like to be there. “Is any of you in trouble? Pray and God will take that trouble away!” It simply isn’t there, no matter how much we would like it to be. As a matter of fact, remember James 1:2-4. Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way (not if, but when), let it be an opportunity for joy! For when your faith is tested, your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything."

The only way we are going to see His work in our lives....if we live out our days facing Him. In our best days and our worst days, when we are on top of the mountain or in the lowest valley, God longs for us to live in fellowship with Him. Prayer gives us that opportunity.

Father, we know that all things work together for good to those who love You, and are called according to Your purposes. Lord, I lay all my troubles before You and ask that You would show me what's right when I can only see what's wrong. Help me to make praise to You.....my first reaction to every event in my life. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Have a great week in the LORD.
Sharon

"A Solitary Man"

Mark 1:35 "The next morning Jesus awoke long before daybreak and went out alone into the wilderness to pray. "

We see today that even Jesus needed quiet time with God. God in a deserted place. Away from everyone and everything. He always found a time and a place to be alone with his Father. This is a wonderful display of the love Jesus had for his Father....making time, taking time to get alone and spend time with just the Father and the Son.

Jesus said, "When you pray, go to your room and lock your door and pray to your heavenly Father in secret." Matthew 6:6

My prayers are different when I'm alone with God....it's there where I can really pour out my heart, pour out the burdens of life, confess my weaknesses, my fears, my sins, ask for forgiveness ...holding nothing back. I can cry and I can sing...it's just between my Father and I.

In that solitary place...it's not always about me saying something....it's where I can just sit, kneel,lay flat on my face and just wait on the LORD to speak to me.

Jesus spent quiet time with his Father in order to draw upon God's power. We must do the same.....and if we listen real close, we will be able to hear His voice and receive His help, His direction, His comfort and His strength.

Jesus, your faithfulness in prayer gives me my example to follow. Guide me, Lord. Give me the strength and the will to imitate your careful attention to prayer. Make me "A Solitary Woman" ....alone with You. In Jesus name, amen.

Blessings on your day,
Sharon Schutte

"Are You a Battle-Axe?"

Jeremiah 51:20 "You are my battle-axe and weapons of war," says the LORD. "With you I will shatter nations and destroy many kingdoms."

I had to laugh...when I was young.."you old battle-axe" was a common phrase used to insult .... an aggressive and bad tempered (old) woman...Well, this isn't what the LORD is saying......

Jeremiah 51:21 "With you I will shatter armies...."

Here in Jeremiah 51 we learn that God wants to use us in this battle...."You are my battle-axe and weapons of war". A "axe" is a tool used in chopping wood. A good axe must be sharp, in order to do it's job.

When God says that you are His battle axe, He is saying you are His weapon of warfare. He intends to fight battles through you. He fights on behalf of His children and He is at war with the kingdom of darkness, so that the kingdom of God can be established in the hearts of men.

This world is a battle-field and God is calling us into the battle......But if the "axe" gets rusty, it won't be sharp....

What makes the child of God rusty? SIN....Disobedience against the Word of God, will make the "axe" dull and rusty.

The question for us is "How are we to remain sharp and useable in His hands?" What sharpens us as children of God is the WORD of GOD. When the WORD of God is rich in us, we will be a sharp axe in His hands. The word of God can cut into pieces anything it lands upon. With the word of God you can bring into captivity everything that exalts itself above the knowledge of God.

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. "

Father, let me be a weapon in your hand today. Use my life to frustrate evil and spread good. Keep me in Your Word and not just a hearer, but also a doer of Your Word. In Jesus name, amen.

Blessings on your day,
Sharon

"Raising up your Flag"

Jeremiah 50:2 "Announce and proclaim among the nations, lift up a banner/flag and proclaim it; keep nothing back"

To lift a banner or flag reminds me of the American flag...when we raise it up...we are saying...this is who I am, I'm an American and this is the nation I support. And we don't only raise our American flag...we also proclaim it with the Pledge of Allegiance....I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.....We raise our flag high so everyone can see and we proclaim that we are Americans and we stand behind what she stands for.

Well, in a similar way, but in a deeper and greater way....we are suppose to "announce" to all the nations that we belong to God and He is our LORD. We are to raise our banner, our flag and proclaim the Word of God so we can be a light among the nations....giving evidence of God's work in us and through us. "you are the light of the world...Let your light so shine before men." Matthew 5:4,16 Pledging our allegiance to Him and setting the standard of godliness to all nations....keeping nothing back.

That keeping nothing back means.....we aren't only to say that God loves us and offers forgiveness for sin...but we also need to warn others....that our God is a righteous God too and He will bring judgement on those who rebel against Him.

The enemy wants us to lower our flag....but God wants us to raise it high. Isaiah 13:2 Say’s, “Lift ye up a banner upon the high mountain, exalt the voice unto them, shake the hand, that they may go into the gates of the nobles.”

Blessings on your day,
Sharon Schutte