4 WriteStuff

Those of you who know me, know that I am extremely sensitive to odors… This house does not smell good, in fact, it stinks. The combination of cigarettes, dog and someone who did not clean either the house or personally, etc. has been one of the most overwhelming parts of this experience. I painted Zinsser and kilz pro on the Master bedroom twice. If that doesn’t do the job, we begin removing subfloor today. I will be using kilz pro on most of the house to eliminate the smoke odor in the walls. I have been using air freshener sprays and doing all I can to change the fragrance of the house.

The fragrance of the house often mirrors the spirit of the house, in this case, neglect, substance abuse… the fragrance of a life consumed, allowed to burn out, the fragrance of rotten hope and moldy dreams permeate the house. As we begin the restoration process, My first focus is the aroma, but not just the physical fragrance, but also on the spiritual fragrance of the house. This can only be overcome if I also pay attention to the fragrance of my life. Just as smoke, dog and filth permeate the house, those areas of neglect, abuse, and grunge can permeate physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of our lives. I cannot ignore life while pursuing projects. Functioning at best capacity means self-care spiritually, emotionally and physically so that I may change the fragrance, and spirit of the house rather than absorb it in my own life.

As neighbors have seen the “sold” sign, they have begun coming to meet us. We want it to be clear that the past is past and this place is being built into a new ministry, and new vision, and new hope… dedicated not to human ambition and motive, but to Jesus’ love and mercy for each of us. God gave us the dream, the hope and the means to begin this ministry. From the first moment we saw the place, it has not be centered around us, but is centered around Christ. We ask that you continue to lift us up in prayer and we begin to remove the areas of defect and as work on God’s new creation.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:17-20

Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. Philippians 3:13-15

Now thanks be to God who always leads us 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. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things? 2 Corinthians 2:14-16