Analogy #1: Stinky People

So I've been going back and forth on this idea, cuz I think it's kinda lame, but fun at the same time, and decided to just start it. What the heck, right?

Every so often, I'll notice something and God will show me something about Himself or life in it. So these are those.

Warning: Squirt-canned cheesiness may appear at the top of these portions of thoughts. Please spoon it off, eat it if you like, and pay attention to what's underneath. I hope it'll be worth it, even if it only makes you stop and think for a little while before you start your day again.

Stinky People

Ten days before Thanksgiving, 3 of my friends and I went on the Daniel fast (only eating fruits and vegetables). The first few days, I was stinky, all around: my breath stank, my bodily gases (aka FARTS) stank...among other things =) I texted my friends to express my wonder at the smells that my body was producing. One of them texted back and said, "It's cuz all that stink is inside you and the food is cleaning you out!"

Hm.

So being cleaned out means...being stinky? I thought cleaning=shiny, pine-sol smelling, dust-freeness, but this cleaning was different. This cleaning needed to get all the crap inside of me out before 'clean' was achieved.

And that made me think.

If we are a people being refined and cleaned from the inside out by a Bread and a Water that is not of this world, we should stink spiritually. It should be noticeable to us and to the people around us (stinky Jesus farts in yo FACE!).

Ahem...excuse that.

Anyway, what I'm saying is if I'm fully allowing myself to be consumed by a consuming, ferocious God, then I shouldn't be able to control it. If I'm fully surrendered to it, it'll be out of my hands, and my spiritual stink should inhabit the air around me, showing the world that stink maybe isn't so stinky. Maybe we've been too comfortable with breathing our own air and we need Jesus to come, clean us out, and change the way we breathe. Maybe He's making stinky normal, even sweet.

I know I have a problem with being stinky. I don't like standing out if I'm stepping on people's toes or making someone uncomfortable. It's something that God is gently showing me how to give to Him.

But in our surrender, getting lost in the wondrous, consuming fire that our God is, let's be okay with being stinky. God sure delights in it. I should too.

So let's go friends. Let's go cut some Sweet Jesus Farts. Stink it up! Cheeeeee heeee!