“I pray that Cory and I will remember that Jesus is Lord and remind those we spend time with that, the answer to our issues is to live our lives with Jesus being Lord and Savior… Thank you (God) for reminding me that you are leading me and my husband and those who serve you in a triumphal procession in Christ and spreading your fragrance everywhere through us. This is so awesome. Also thank you for reminding me that I am not competent on my own,  but you have made us competent to instruct one another.” Written April 28, 2019. 

I can’t remember what inspired this prayer. Regardless, I am reminded of things in my walk with God I can forget. As I wrote that excerpt, the following scripture references entered my mind: 

I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Psalm 116:1

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. 2 Corinthians 2:14

Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. 2 Corinthians 3:5

I myself am convinced, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with knowledge and competent to instruct one another. Romans 15:4

After this, I have one more keepsake to write to reach 50 keepsakes. I am grateful that God has given me things to share with others that I hope are as helpful to my reader as they  have been to me. 

My goal was to write fifty keepsakes before I turned 50. God has answered that prayer. 

My husband is the one helping with the editing and it’s been good to connect over a specific keepsake he edits. My childhood wasn’t easy, but God put me on a path where I can accept my past as it is and, with my husband, make choices as to how I will live my future. It’s been good to read and rejoice over the times God has answered our prayer to share with others the Gospel and participate in the transformation brought to them as they choose to make Jesus Lord and Savior of their lives. He used us to spread his aroma; even in times when we felt weak, weary and like we had nothing to give. I can say from my heart that what I share with others is not a product of my own wisdom or intelligence. My competency comes from God’s instruction given to me through his Word, because of that I have lessons I can share with others. 

I have lived half a century. In that time, twenty-six years were intentionally living as a Christian. In those years I have learned that God protects me and guides me; he keeps my heart soft, leads me to repentance and so much more. 

Writing these keepsakes have been an opportunity to stop and reflect on some of the ways God has worked in my life and it has been good to sit and remember that He got me!

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth… Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” Psalm 46:10 and Isaiah 46:4

To God be the glory!