welcome to today's encouragement from our daily bread reading titled the Coffee Bean bull was written by Dave branon
 I'm not a coffee drinker but one sniff of coffee beans brings me a moment of both Solace and wistfulness when our teenage daughter Melissa was making her bedroom uniquely hers she filled a bowl with coffee beans to permeate her room with a warm pleasant scent it's been nearly two decades since Melissa's Earthly life and get in a car accident at 8:17 but we still have that coffee bean ball and gives us a continual aromatic remembrance of Mel's life with us scripture also uses fragrances as a reminder Song of Songs refers to fragrances as a symbol of love between a man and a woman and Hosea God's forgiveness of Israel it is said to be fragrance like a Cedar of Lebanon and Mary's anointing of Jesus's feet which caused the house of Mary and her siblings to be filled with
 fragrance of the perfume pointed ahead to Jesus's death the idea of fragrance and also help us be mindful of Our Testimony of Faith to those around us all explained it this way in 2nd Corinthians chapter 2 we are to God the pleasing Aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing just as the scent of coffee beans reminds me of Melissa May Our Lives produce a scent of Jesus and his love that reminds others of their need a band
 today's our daily bread devotional scripture reading is from John chapter 12 verses 1 through 7
 6 days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany where Lazarus lived in Jesus had raised from the dead hear a dinner was given in Jesus's honor Martha served while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him then Mary took about a pint of pure nard and expensive perfume she poured it on Jesus's feet and wiped his feet with her hair and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume but one of his disciples Judas Iscariot who was later to betray him objected why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor it was worth a Year's wages he did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief as Keeper of the money bag he used to help himself to what was put into it
 leave her alone Jesus replied it was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial
 let's pray father May Our Lives carry the sweet Aroma of your presents help us to spread your love and forgiveness to all who encounter us and open their hearts to receive you thank you Lord It's in Jesus name we pray amen
 thanks for listening today I'm Steven and today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries