January 24, 2024
January 24, 2024
Pause. Pray. Read. Be still. Write. Pray.
Read: Proverbs 27:9
Oil and perfume make the heart glad; so, does the sweetness of a friend’s counsel that comes from the heart.
Be still: Certain smells, scents and fragrances can evoke memories and emotions, influencing our mood and perception of what is happening around us. The smell of freshly brewed coffee and fresh donuts when entering Prosper UMC Sunday mornings are two distinct and pleasant aromas that can influence our senses each week by enhancing positive experiences and contributing to an overall sense of well-being.
The same holds true in friendships, a shared friendship-fragrance can create a connection triggering common memories fostering a deeper relationship and reinforcing positive associations with each other. There is a visible fragrance of friendships that embodies this congregation and has stood out to me since my being appointed to Prosper UMC, in 2022.
The sweet aroma of flowing conversations is the heartbeat of this congregation and is witnessed continually in your interactions: in greeting new visitors, over coffee and donuts before and after worship, through expanded conversations during Sunday school classes, in intimate settings for small group meetings, around the tables of fellowship dinners and the list goes on.
The heartfelt counsel you exchange is a visible, warming scent that cannot be manufactured just for show. Your connections are heartfelt, intentional, and genuine in every way imaginable. Keep loving each other well, church. Your fragrance speaks volumes about what putting God’s grace into action and shining as a beacon of love, help, healing, hope and joy truly means.
Prayer: Holy God, we are grateful for the many ways you continue to nurture the beautiful aroma of loving, long-lasting friendships at Prosper UMC. Thank you, God, for the way your grace continues to speak into our lives, so we can be vessel of your sweet fragrance toward others entering the life of the church. Amen.
Pastor Kellie