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Guess who just turned 3…

… It’s Smelling Coffee!  
Thanks so much for being a part of this blog!  Over the past three years, God has tremendously blessed me through the blogging community, and I count it a privilege to serve Him (and you) through Smelling Coffee. 

I pray for each set of eyes that land on this page, and ask that God strengthen and encourage all of us as we learn to live life in and as the aroma of Jesus Christ. 

From 1 Corinthians 1:3-9, I completely agree with Paul as you remain on my heart every time I think of Smelling Coffee~

“May all the gifts and benefits that come from God our Father, and the Master, Jesus Christ, be yours.


Every time I think of you—and I think of you often!—I thank God for your lives of free and open access to God, given by Jesus. There’s no end to what has happened in you—it’s beyond speech, beyond knowledge. The evidence of Christ has been clearly verified in your lives.


Just think—you don’t need a thing, you’ve got it all! All God’s gifts are right in front of you as you wait expectantly for our Master Jesus to arrive on the scene for the Finale. And not only that, but God himself is right alongside to keep you steady and on track until things are all wrapped up by Jesus. God, who got you started in this spiritual adventure, shares with us the life of his Son and our Master Jesus.

He will never give up on you. Never forget that.”
1 Corinthians 1:3-9 (The Message)

If you still don’t know why in the world I’d name a blog “Smelling Coffee”, you can find the whole story (and song) here.

Much love to you and many thanks for you and your part of my life~

Jennifer
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You are God’s chosen vessel

That’s exactly what you are.  No matter what you “feel like”,  look like, nor how many times you’ve been broken.  If you belong to God, He has chosen YOU for a beautiful work.  You may look around and think that others are prettier, smarter, more talented, more this or that… but you, dear friend, in the Master’s loving hands, are everything He needs to bless lives through you.

Recently, this poem came across my desk, and it’s too true not to share.
Much love to each of you, God’s chosen vessels~

Jennifer   

The Master was searching for a vessel to use;
On the shelf there were many – which one would He choose?
Take me, cried the gold one, I’m shiny and bright,
I’m of great value and I do things just right.
My beauty and luster will outshine the rest
And for someone like You, Master, gold would be the best!

The Master passed on with no word at all;
He looked at a silver urn, narrow and tall;
I’ll serve You, dear Master, I’ll pour out Your wine
And I’ll be at Your table whenever You dine,
My lines are so graceful, my carvings so true,
And my silver will always compliment You.

Unheeding the Master passed on to the brass,
It was widemouthed and shallow, and polished like glass.
Here! Here! cried the vessel, I know I will do,
Place me on Your table for all men to view.

Look at me, called the goblet of crystal so clear,
My transparency shows my contents so dear,
Though fragile am I, I will serve You with pride,
And I’m sure I’ll be happy in Your house to abide.

The Master came next to a vessel of wood,
Polished and carved, it solidly stood.
You may use me, dear Master, the wooden bowl said,
But I’d rather You used me for fruit, not for bread!

Then the Master looked down and saw a vessel of clay.
Empty and broken it helplessly lay.
No hope had the vessel that the Master might choose,
To cleanse and make whole, to fill and to use.

Ah! This is the vessel I’ve been hoping to find,
I will mend and use it and make it all Mine.
I need not the vessel with pride of its self;
Nor the one who is narrow to sit on the shelf;
Nor the one who is big mouthed and shallow and loud;
Nor one who displays his contents so proud;
Not the one who thinks he can do all things just right;
But this plain earthy vessel filled with My power and might.

Then gently He lifted the vessel of clay.
Mended and cleansed it and filled it that day.
Spoke to it kindly. “There’s work you must do,
Just pour out to others as I pour into you.”
By Beulah V. Cornwall

PS: This is a McCarty Pottery pitcher.  It’s made just a few miles from where we live.  McCarty Pottery has been featured in Southern Living Magazine many times, and is a beloved collectible in this region of the country.  The unique thing about this pottery is that each piece has a reference to the Mississippi River on it (usually in the form of a dark line, as in the picture above.)  For more info on McCarty Pottery, click here.

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Let Freedom Ring!

You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism. ~Erma Bombeck

HaHa.  It’s nice to know that eating too much 4th of July food is patriotism! 😉 

As we celebrate and throw frisbees and eat way too much today, it’s always good to remember what we truly celebrate.

Peter Marshal and David Manuel have written some wonderful books on the founding of our country.  The Light and the Glory, and From Sea to Shining Sea comes from original notes and diaries of our founding fathers, and reveals the true Spiritual heritage we have as Americans. Important reads for us and our children.

Here are a few thoughts/quotes shared in these books from some of our founding fathers: 


“When Independence became a reality [on July 3rd], John Adams, who had fought so long and hard for his vision of a new nation under God, was overwhelmed.  As always, the person he most wanted to share his feelings with was his wife, Abigail.  on this [July 3rd] day in 1776, with the first post rider leaving for Massachusetts, he dispatched a prophetic letter.  the day, he said,

‘Ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty.  It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continenet to the other, from this time forward forevermore.’ “


Peter Marshall and David Manuel, The Light and The Glory, 310.





July 2  “On this day in 1776, the Thirteen Colonies voted to separate from Great Britain.  A hush fell over the room.  The late afternoon sun fired a brass candlestick on the green felt tablecloth, a pair of spectacles, the silver knob of a walking stick.  men azed out the window, some with tears in their eyes.  A few prayed.  their chairman, John hancock, broke the silence; “Gentlemen, the price on my head has just doubled!” 

A wry chuckle followed, then Sam Adams rose: ‘We have this day restored the Sovereign, to Whom alone men ought to be obedient.  He reigns in Heaven and …from the rising to the setting sun, may His Kingdom come!”
 
Quote from Peter Marshall and David Manuel, The Light and The Glory, 309

How grateful I am to the countless lives who have sacrificed for this nation’s freedom!  As we celebrate Independence Day, may we also celebrate the Life {of Jesus Christ} that was given for us so that all people on this earth could be Eternally Free.


Our Sunday School lesson yesterday was on our freedom through Christ Jesus from the bondage to “self”. To the onlooker, freedom seems to be the ability to do, say, and attain anything we want to be able to do, say, and attain.  But in reality, that’s no life of freedom! That’s actually a life of bondage. Bondage to self. And self is a monster that is never satisfied.



True freedom is actually being under the bondage of Jesus Christ – free to be all He has created us to be. Within the boundaries of our bondage to Jesus – we experience perfect peace and freedom.


“But we are citizens of the state (commonwealth, homeland) which is in heaven, and from it also we earnestly adn patiently await the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ the Messiah as Savior, Who will transform and fashion anew the body of our humiliation to conform to and be like the body of His glory and majesty, by exerting that power which enables Him even to subject everything to Himself.”  Phil. 3:20-21


That is true freedom that we celebrate every day!

“From every mountain side
Let Freedom ring.”
~Samuel F. Smith, “America”



Happy 4th of July!

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Happy 13th birthday, dear Abigail!

Today, our daughter, Abigail, is celebrating her 13th birthday.   I’m sure you moms know all of the thoughts that are swirling around in my head and heart… thoughts like:  Where did the years go?  She was just a little girl a few years ago… remembering the details of her birth-day, and smiling about each special and treasured memory of her life thus far.

Abigail’s name means “My Father’s Joy” – and that’s just what she has been to us!  She was a “surprise gift from God”~ I wasn’t supposed to have any other children after Nathan (I was very sick, and could hardly take care of the one child I had).  But PTL, He had other plans for our entire family and blessed us with Abigail.  She has been a joy to us since day one!  {Then of all mercies, God healed me, and allowed me to watch this baby grow into a young lady!}  

After the shock of “having two babies 20 months apart when I’m not well” wore off, God gave me a beautiful verse about Abigail’s birth and life:

“This is from the Lord and is His doing;

it is marvelous in our eyes.” 
Psalm 118:23

Our daughter is from the Lord, and she is His doing…
and it is all marvelous in our eyes!  Yes… Yes it is!

Abigail, we love you so much, and we are beyond grateful that God gave you to us.  It is a joy and a privilege to be your mom and dad.  May you grow and learn and love and serve and become all God has planned for your precious life!  And may these next years be full of sweet fellowship and treasured experiences as you finish your growing-up  years in our home.  Love, love, love you~  Mom 

(I really wanted to write a post with pictures of Abi each year of her life – because I love looking at the growth year by year – but when we moved, I tucked our pictures in the bottom of a closet and I just haven’t pulled them out yet. Unfortunately for my family, I’m a scrap-booker in my head only. My pictures are all in an unorganized mess. One of these days…but that’s a post for another day.)

This was in my computer: Last year on her birthday (with cousin, Anna Beth, who is turning 5 this month)

A few months ago~

Ab is most excited about turning 13 so that she can get her own Facebook page! It will be her first act as a 13 year old. 😉 (Facebook requires that one be at least 13 to have a page. We made Abigail wait until she was truly 13 and didn’t have to lie about her age. How can we tell her it’s OK to lie about Facebook, but that it’s not OK to lie about other things???)

…So, Happy birthday, our Abigail…
and welcome to Facebook!

We love you!

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This was too funny not to share!

After my brother, Chris (who sometimes writes as Cappuccino with the Crawdad) read this post on feathers and hair, he sent me a knee-slapping-funny message on Facebook.  I went back and added it to the bottom of the hair post, but wanted to make sure my e-mail Smelling Coffee friends could enjoy a laugh with me, too.

This is what Chris’ Facebook post said:

“I saw your post on the hair feathers, and I was disappointed that you didn’t include a picture of Melissa and me. We have gotten into bird’s nests. Here is a picture:”

Does that not make you LOL????  For a few other funny takes on life, read Chris’ posts:

Cappucino with the Crawdad – Church Directory Family Pictures

Cappuccino with the Crawdad – We Wish you a Merry Christmas

🙂

Jennifer

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