Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young—a place near your altar…” Psalm 84:3

One we used to sing when I was at South Nutfield Free Church.

But thanks be to God, who always leads us triumphantly as captives in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him.

Fragrance is used in the old testament where the fragrance of burnt offerings are pleasing to God. The wise men brought baby Jesus fragrant Frankincense and Myrrh. Catholic church incense is a resin incense of benzoin, frankincense, and myrrh. Mark 14 3 says ‘A woman came with a special sealed jar. It contained very expensive perfume made out of pure nard. She broke the jar open and poured the perfume on Jesus’ head.’ Nard is Spikenard, the distillation of a flower. That was broken on Jesus before he died, and his death was seen as an offering for sinners. The fragrance of the knowledge of him transforms something known into something pleasing to others and God.

This song by Graham Kendrick is may the fragrance of Jesus fill this place.

I woke last night and could not sleep and started singing this song through in my mind. I could not remember the singer but had liked the song when I was aged 17 or 18 and searching this morning on youtube found that somebody has put the song there. The All Day Song ( Love Him in the Morning ) by John Fischer.

South Nutfield Free Church does not exist as a physical building. Those of us who once attended there in 1950s-80s will be in their 40s – 100s. This blog is part of a personal pilgrimage, and not written on behalf of the whole church. Keep that in mind if you do read this and email me (at southnutfieldfreechurch@gmail.com) if you would like to also contribute. Two or three voices together would be better than one.

I am currently reading the Old and New Testament in tandem. I have just got to David being made King of Israel in 2 Samuel. I have this morning read Jesus tempted in the desert in Luke 4. The parallels with the Israelites 40 year journey through the wilderness are clear. Each temptation in Luke is answered by Jesus with a text from Deuteronomy and Israel’s wilderness experience. The ‘Thou shalt not live by bread alone’ verse came in the context of the Israelites being fed on Manna from Heaven.

Some words of this hymn kept going round in my head as I drifted between sleep and waking in the middle of the night.

‘But we make his love too narrow
by false limits of our own’

‘If our love were but were more simple
we would take him at his word’

This hymn by Charles Wesley is often sung at Pentecost. It comes from an old testament passage in Leviticus 6:13, “The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out.” (NIV)

This hymn also refers to John Wesley’s “Aldersgate experience” in 1738, when he received an experience of being born again and his heart being warmed by the fire of the Holy Spirit. The celestial fire came from above and kindled a flame in the “altar of my heart.”