Of Candles, Moth Balls, and Soap

Seeing God In The Ordinary – Part 4

First off let me apologize for the length of silence on my blog. I started back to work and time and energy have been lacking for working on writing.

But

I have not forgotten the series I started on finding God in the ordinary….so here is part four….

Electrical power was not always a consistent thing in the Philippines.

Often times we’d lose power during storms. And sometimes it seemed to us it went out just because.

In the kitchen of our rental home in the Philippines I always kept a big plastic storage bin filled with matches and candles. They were always in the same location so when the power went out it was easy to go to that spot in the dark, get the box and light a candle.

The glow of candles reminds me that God’s Word is my light and lamp. His Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path (Psalm 119:105).

Dark times of soul and spirit are part and parcel of life, especially the Christian life. Jesus Himself tells us that we will face tribulations but to be of good cheer because He is always with us (John 16:33). He is our light – John 12:46  I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.

In the many dark times of soul and spirit I have gone through I have clung tenaciously to the light and stability of His Word. Psalm 18:28-29 says For it is You who light my lamp; the Lord my God lightens my darkness. For by You I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall.

Jesus is the light of this world (John 8:12 and John 1:1-5). And in Him we can shine. 2 Corinthians 4:6 “For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.“

We do not need to lose heart, He is working in us and through us to spread His light (Read 2 Corinthians 1 – 4). So, the next time you use a flashlight or light a candle, remember our Saviour, Jesus, who is the light of the world (John 1:1-18).

When most people think about the tropics, they think bugs. Yes, there are sizeable cockroaches but the mosquitoes in Michigan are far more viscous than the mosquitoes in Davao.

I don’t like cockroaches, so if you’d come to visit us while we lived overseas you would’ve smelled the faint scent of moth balls and/or soap in my kitchen cabinets. This is because one moth ball or one small bit of scented soap in each cabinet keeps the cock roaches away. They don’t like the scent.

As Christians, what sort of scent do we leave?

2 Corinthians 2: 15-16 reminds us we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life.”

That scent can be smelled in the fruit of the Spirit – in the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control we share with others (See Galatians 5: 16 – 26).

That scent is developed in the putting on of compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, forbearance, forgiveness….and the taking off of selfishness, greed, anger, lust…

That scent is developed as we let the word of Christ dwell richly in us, as we teach, study, encourage, sing Psalms and live thankfully……see Colossians 3: 1 – 17

While moth balls and soap can drive cockroaches away, I pray my Christian aroma drives others to His Throne.