The Fragrance of Holiness

Holiness—

Sweetness in its purest form

And God its very essence

As we effuse 

The fragrance of His presence. 

The smell of holiness

So delightful, desirable,

Right and wonderful! 

His hallowed Name

Is oil upon the lips. 

What aroma from His kiss!

Breathe deeply

Of His holiness. 

Aromatic spices—

The blend of liquid myrrh 

And aloes fill the senses.

Cinnamon and cassia

How utterly delightful

Is the fragrance 

Of the holiness

Of God!

So sweet,

I’m swept away,

So let me take it in

The moment You pass by.

I’m overcome,

Could die

Beneath the power

Of exhilarating love and fire!

Your perfume

I’m helpless to resist.

-- Charity Lacroix

"Cinnamon emits a fragrance that is representative of an odor of holiness to the Lord. It was used in the sacred anointing oil of the priests and the tabernacle.” – taken from Song of Songs: Divine Romance, The Passion Translation by Dr. Brian Simmons.

“Then the LORD said to Moses, "Take the following fine spices: 500 shekels of liquid myrrh, half as much (that is, 250 shekels) of fragrant cinnamon, 250 shekels of fragrant calamus, 500 shekels of cassia—all according to the sanctuary shekel—and a hin of olive oil. Make these into a sacred anointing oil, a fragrant blend, the work of a perfumer. It will be the sacred anointing oil. Then use it to anoint the tent of meeting, the ark of the covenant law, the table and all its articles, the lampstand and its accessories, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the basin with its stand. You shall consecrate them so they will be most holy, and whatever touches them will be holy. "Anoint Aaron and his sons and consecrate them so they may serve me as priests. Say to the Israelites, 'This is to be my sacred anointing oil for the generations to come. Do not pour it on anyone else's body and do not make any other oil using the same formula. It is sacred, and you are to consider it sacred. Whoever makes perfume like it and puts it on anyone other than a priest must be cut off from their people.'" (Exo 30:22-33)

“You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy. All your robes are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia; from palaces adorned with ivory the music of the strings makes you glad.” (Psa 45:7-8)

“Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth— for your love is more delightful than wine. Pleasing is the fragrance of your perfumes; your name is like perfume poured out. No wonder the young women love you! Take me away with you—let us hurry! Let the king bring me into his chambers. We rejoice and delight in you; we will praise your love more than wine. How right they are to adore you!” (Son 1:2-4)

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ's triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.” (2Co 2:14-15)

“You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.'” (Act 2:28)

“… love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame.” (Son 8:6)

Attribution notice: Scriptures taken from The Holy Bible, NIV, copyright Zondervan, used by permission.

Author's note: The poems in this blog were written by my children, ages fourteen through twenty-one. The Why This Blog post explains how the Lord inspired these poems in answer to a prayer during illness. I also recommend visiting my children's blog, A Brush with Life, where you will also find beautiful art they have drawn for the glory of God. You can access my complete blog directory at Writing for the Master. Now I'd like to ask a very important question.

Do You Want to Know Jesus? 
“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15).  He preached that we must repent and believe. Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"

_____________________________________________

Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International. He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org. 

Greater Things Await

If you will give your all to Me, 

You’ve yet to see My best for you!

I have so much laid up in store—

Things you never dreamed or knew.

You would be amazed to see

What you missed out on all that time.

I guarantee you glorious wonders

That no where else a man can find.

I long to give you so much more

That you did not expect from Me.

I’m a Father, eager, yearning

To bring you pleasures heavenly.

Know that greater things await;

You’ve yet to taste what fullness is.

Don’t put it off or turn it down.

It’s something you don’t want to miss!

Fullness means My nearest Presence.

Fullness means My face to see.

It means to have My joy complete

And know a fellowship so sweet. 

Don’t be content with where you stand.

Move past your shallow Christian life.

You’ve tasted just a bit of heaven,

But come with Me to greater heights!

-- Charity Lacroix

Scripture Quotations:

"...so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." (Eph 3:17-19)

"...to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." (Eph 4:12-13)

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." (Jas 1:17)

Related poems:
You Fill Me Up
So Much More
Overflowing Blessings

Related Articles:
Fullness
Filled Up to All the Fullness of God
God's Way to Greatness
God's Sovereign Plans and Purposes
God's Amazing Plan for Your Life

Attribution notice: Scriptures taken from The Holy Bible, NIV, copyright Zondervan.

Author's note: The poems in this blog were written by my children, ages thirteen through nineteen. The Why This Blog post explains how the Lord inspired these poems in answer to a prayer during illness.  I also recommend visiting my children's blog, A Brush with Life, where you will also find beautiful art they have drawn for the glory of God. You can access my complete blog directory at "Writing for the Master. Now I'd like to ask a very important question.

Do You Want to Know Jesus?
“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15).  He preached that we must repent and believe.

Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"
                         _________________________________________________

Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International. He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org. 

Wait for the Lord

Wait for the Lord when you are in distress.
Wait for the Shepherd, the Giver of rest.
He will deliver the weak and oppressed.
Cling to the faith He is putting to test.

He may not reply at the time you expected,
Yet do not despair if you’re feeling rejected.
You can either succumb and be wrongly affected,
Or else you can see how you’re being perfected.

Then when you awaken, His face will be there.
His peace and His presence will still every care.
Then He’ll smile and say, “Such faith is quite rare,
For you would not relent till I answered your prayer.”

-- Charity, girl, age 16

Scriptural basis:
“I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” (Ps 27:13-14)

“And I—in righteousness I will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.” (Ps 17:15)

Attribution notice: Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®, unless otherwise noted.

Author's note:  The poems in this blog were written by my children, ages seven through sixteen. The "Why This Blog" post explains how the Lord inspired these poems in answer to a prayer during illness. I also recommend visiting my children's blog, A Brush with Life, where you will also find beautiful art they have drawn for the glory of God. You can access my complete blog directory at "Writing for the Master."

Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus personally, you can. It all begins when you repent and believe in Jesus.  Do you know what God's Word, the Bible says?

“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15).  He preached that we must repent and believe.

Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"

_________________________________________________

Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International.  He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org.