Sweet Smelling Aroma as Christ at Christmas

I love the aromas of Christmas with cookies or sweet breads baking in the oven, or special things being simmered on the stove giving off that wintry aroma of spices. 

Sweet smelling aromas remind me of prayer.

As my potpourri simmers on the stove for awhile now, it reminds me to pray. Aromas send their sweet smells up into the room just like my prayers should do. 

My children are grown, four out-of-the-home, one just married, identical twins in the spring from my daughter, my oldest daughter sewing downstairs for her business, my youngest daughter off taking a two college exams, and my youngest son working for the day.

No one is begging to make cookies, no one begging to do a Christmas craft. What's a mamma to do?! 

Make them anyways!!

So, I finally sat down for a few moments, precious, God-Gifted moments, at 11am to finally eat now that the house was cleaned up and laundry going to look up some ideas to make, so it will smell like Christmas. Christ's aroma in me, in you.

I decided to 'do' what I was reading about and make my moment breathe deeply of God's Holy Spirit sending up a sweet savory aroma (hopefully of my life) represented by the potpourri simmering in my make-shift fancy simmerer.

Spicy Simmering Potpourri

From Jacqueline over at Deep Roots at Home

You can smell the simmering aroma, right??

• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 1/4 cup whole cloves
• 2 heaping tsp. powdered allspice

Place your potpourri - along with about a quart of water - in a medium saucepan or slow cooker. Simmer on low heat, adding water as needed. Remains effective for days.

Yesterday, I made these sweet rustic hearts to hang in my windows or give away.

Cinnamon Applesauce Ornaments

Hey... this one is an original with WholeHearted Home!!

• 1 cup cinnamon
• 1 Tablespoons nutmeg
• 3/4 cup applesauce
• 2 Tablespoons Tacky Glue (I have always used Elmer's)

Combine spices, add applesauce and glue. Work mixture with hands for 2-3 minutes to form a ball. If the mixture is too dry - add applesauce, if it is too wet - add cinnamon. Knead on a cinnamon sprinkled surface until it holds together well. Divide into 4 portions and roll out each ball to 1/4" thick and cut with cookie cutters. Place on cookie sheets. Make a small hole for hanging with pencil. Air dry, turning once. This takes from 3-5 days. Or you may dry them in a slow oven (250-300) for several hours. I did a combination of oven drying (1 hour) and the rest air drying for a couple of days. The ornaments will curl if they dry too quickly and start to burn if dried too long in the oven. Insert ribbon into hole after drying. Use as air fresheners, package decorations, tree ornaments, or even make delicious smelling garland!!!

Remember, to be a sweet smelling aroma in the Spirit you give off this Season, and every season, praying continually throughout your day. 

Be. 

Be that sweet smell, like the spice potpourri and cinnamon applesauce hearts. 

Be the action and not the reaction of Christ dwelling within you permeating out-of-you to others. 

Be filled with the Holy Spirit. Be.

In Christ Alone,

Judith

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In Christ Alone,

~Judith~