The 5 Best Smells of Christmas (in my opinion)

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Christmas is that time of year that brings us all intense remembrance of what it was. For most, we remember the sights, the sounds, and even the fragrance of Christmas. You don't hear much about the latter, so I want to mention my 5 favorites, then you can compare and then feel free to post what your favorites are.

5. Christmas tree freshly cut

4. Cookies baking

3. Peppermint candy

2. Pumpkin pie cooking

and my number one favorite scent...

1. Turkey fresh out the oven

Pumpkin pie fresh out the oven. Can't you just smell it?

They say that certain scents will evoke some of our strongest memories. According to a recent study reported by the New York Times in The Nose, an Emotional Time Machine that...

olfaction (that's smelling for us non-scientific types) is our quickest sense. Whereas new signals detected by our eyes and our ears must first be assimilated by a structural way station called the thalamus before reaching the brain’s interpretive regions, odiferous messages barrel along dedicated pathways straight from the nose and right into the brain’s olfactory cortex, for instant processing.

The reason that it impacts us so greatly is

the olfactory cortex is embedded within the brain’s limbic system (where our brain registers both emotions and smells) and amygdala (the part of the brain that registers memories), where emotions are born and emotional memories stored. That’s why smells, feelings and memories become so easily and intimately entangled...

That's why we can smell a certain odor and be immediately transported to another time long, long ago. God seems to have designed our brain to mix it all up so that we recall things without effort because of our sense of smell.

God places great importance on fragrance as well. He wanted incense burned every time the high priest went to sprinkle the blood on the mercy seat as Passover. In addition, when the Lord sent the kings from the east, two of their three gifts were known for their scent: frankincense and myrrh. Could it be that it would be a reminder each time Jesus went to the temple He would remember who He was born to be? God who put on human flesh (frankincense was reserved for the worship of God) Could it be that every time He went to a funeral He would remember what He was born to do? Die for the sins of man (myrrh was used in burial as a preservative).

In the same way, our aroma affects those around us. Listen to this:

But thanks be to God, who always puts us on display in Christ and through us spreads the aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. For to God we are the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 2 Corinthians 2:14-15

This Christmas, as we breath in the wonderful aromas of the season, may we remember why we celebrate "Christ"mas. Let's spread His sweet fragrance everywhere beginning this wonderful, holy week.

Merry Christmas,

Pastor Trey Rhodes


Thanks for all your wonderful wishes and prayers during the Christmas season. You all mean so much to Kelly and I. We don't take the time often enough to let you know how much we appreciate all of you. Simply said, you are the best! We love you so much!!


Go to OCannounce.info for Oceanside Church's Christmas Offering and Worship Service as well as our New Year's Eve party.