There's a Fragrance Much Like HOPE

Santa and my Phillip,  2014
"Little" Nashville, Indiana




"And His name will be the HOPE of the world." (Matthew 12:21)

            Sunday afternoon, while browsing through a quaint, novelty shop in "Little" Nashville, my Phillip and I ran into guess who - Santa! He said, "I'm shopping for an item my elves couldn't make. Ho, ho, ho!"

                Some deem Santa Clause make-believe, but a real Saint Nicholas, a 4th-century Christian, served as Bishop of Myra in modern day Turkey. On Feast Day each December, the beloved, secret gift-giver spread HOPE to children and others by placing coins in shoes left on village doorsteps. So truth be known, the original St. Nick was merely a kind servant and faithful fragrance of Jesus Christ - the pure HOPE of the world.

There's a fragrance much like HOPE

That it sends upon the wind

Reaching out to every soul

From a lowly manger's crib.

Oh, Rose of Bethlehem

How lovely, pure, and sweet

Born to glorify the Father

Born to wear the thorns for me.1

Calling all 21st-century saints!!! Be a vessel of HOPE, today - leaving the sweet fragrance of Jesus wherever you go!

"Now may the God of HOPE fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him so that you may overflow with HOPE by the power of the Holy Spirit!" (Romans 15:13)

1 ROSE OF BETHLEHEM. Lowell Alexander.