Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her. Mark 14:9.
The fragrant gift which Mary had thought to lavish upon the dead body of the Saviour she poured upon His living form. At the burial its sweetness could only have pervaded the tomb; now it gladdened His heart with the assurance of her faith and love. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus offered not their gift of love to Jesus in His life. With bitter tears they brought their costly spices for His cold, unconscious form. The women who bore spices to the tomb found their errand in vain, for He had risen. But Mary, pouring out her love upon the Saviour while He was conscious of her devotion, was anointing Him for the burial. And as He went down into the darkness of His great trial, He carried with Him the memory of that deed, an earnest of the love that would be His from His redeemed ones forever.
Many there are who bring their precious gifts for the dead…. Tenderness, appreciation, devotion, all are lavished upon one who sees not nor hears. Had these words been spoken when the weary spirit needed them so much, when the ear could hear and the heart could feel, how precious would have been their fragrance!…
Christ told Mary the meaning of her act…. He said, “she did it for my burial.” As the alabaster box was broken, and filled the whole house with its fragrance, so Christ was to die, His body was to be broken; but He was to rise from the tomb, and the fragrance of His life was to fill the earth…. Looking into the future, the Saviour spoke with certainty concerning His gospel. It was to be preached throughout the world. And as far as the gospel extended, Mary’s gift would shed its fragrance, and hearts would be blessed through her unstudied act. Kingdoms would rise and fall; the names of monarchs and conquerors would be forgotten; but this woman’s deed would be immortalized upon the pages of sacred history. Until time should be no more, that broken alabaster box would tell the story of the abundant love of God for a fallen race.
Conflict and Courage p. 306
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Prayer Requests
—–More prayers for my daughter please. She had another “attack” last night and in the e-room again. They have no idea what is going on. His time it was the left side of her face that went numb and tingle and not her side and arm and leg. she is home with a heart monitor now and the doctors really don’t have a clue. He electrolytes are back to normal but she feels horrible. Vicki
—–My niece’s father Andy died yesterday. He was diagnosed with cancer around 5/28/17. He had started chemo,was admitted for an infection at the biopsy site, very unexpected. Please pray for our family to be able to help my niece Brooke and her brother Jordan thru this. She’s in her 30’s. . . her brother is only 11. Danette
—–My niece has multiple scelrosis. She is in rebellion against the Lord. Please pray that she will come to a saving knowledge of Him and that He will heal her. Jean
—–We still need wisdom and guidance. L
—–Please remember our pastor’s family as their neighborhood has a mandatory evacuation because the Mart Fire in Highland, California, is threatening their homes tonight, 6/27/17. Nancy
—–I have a friend that needs prayer. His blood pressure is very low , he retains water , he is weak , and very lethargic , The hospital cannot find the problem , Heart injection factor is good around 50 . Please pray they will find the problem and be able to apply a healthy fix .His name is Will. Chuck
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Dear Friends,
A friend posted on Facebook the other day something that had happened to him the day before. He wrote, “Exiting Best Buy tonight in _____, I had an unusual, eerie premonition that something dangerous could happen any second. I breathed a prayer to God for help. Shortly after, a man with a backpack on a fast motorcycle entered the parking lot, revving loudly, with a police car chasing closely. They passed very close to me.” Had he not felt the need to pray, he may have become involved in a serious accident.
How important it is to start each day asking our Great Protector to hedge us about with His holy angels. These “ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation” can keep us from the danger around us. Heb 1:14 “The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.” Ps 34:7 Daily we must claim the promises in Psalm 91: “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God, in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night, nor for the arrow that flieth by day, Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness, nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand, but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation, There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation.”
Notice that there are conditions that we must fulfill in order to claim these precious promises: We need to trust in Him as our refuge and fortress. We must spend time daily in His Holy Word in order for His truth to be our shield and buckler. We have the privilege to make the Lord our habitation, to dwell in Him and He in us, as He said, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” John 15:4,5 We must set our love, our whold focus, upon Him Who loves us so.
May we daily pray for our Great Redeemer’s protecting care. May we always fulfill the conditions thereof. May we declare as did David, “When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches. Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.” Ps 63:6,7
Rose

The Fragrance Lingers