When the words sounded, my heart sank. We had been away on a vacation and returned Saturday evening to several feet of snow in our long dirt driveway.

We managed to get in far enough to unpack and get ready for church in the morning, take care of the baby chicks and cows in the barn and prepare for a busy Sunday.

Church went well, it was great to see everyone, have lunch together, then get home. The snowed in driveway, chicks and cows were waiting.

There was also that chair behind my desk in the home office beckoning me to a nap.

Two of my children went into the kitchen with Lorie while two others went out to do the animal chores.

If you know anything about farming – and you don’t need to know much – there are two sounds you never want to hear.

The first one is “the cows are out”!

That only happens at the worst possible time, like right before you need to leave to be somewhere, late at night when you’re ready for bed, or way too early in the morning.

But it’s the other sound on this cold winter afternoon that made my heart sink.

As soon as my son shouted into the house, I spun around in my office chair and had no doubt he meant business.

“The barn’s on fire”!

Black smoke was billowing from the hay loft and every window. Lorie was calling the fire department, and I was sprinting toward the barn.

As fast as you can in deep snow drifts.

When I entered the barn, the smoke was down to my knees and there were two more sounds that made my heart sink.

First, there was the loud crackling of the fire in the back of the large wooden barn.

And the other was the sound of the cows. They wouldn’t get out even though the doors were open.

Go figure!

By the grace of God, the fire started just before we arrived home and my son discovered it when he did.

Things could have been much worse, and the loss would have been great.

When I heard the fire chief behind me in that smokey barn, I couldn’t wait to tell him about the miracle of how we got that fire out before he arrived.

We lost some hay, a large wooden crate full of little chicks, and an afternoon nap.

But it was the sweet smell from life and death that had that fire chief, me and my family talking about the goodness of God.

And the cows didn’t get out. They just stood there mooing at us as the smoke cleared.

I realize every story doesn’t have a happy ending and the losses can be devastating.

But in Christ, every story can have a sweet sound and savor if it points others to Jesus (2 Cor. 2:14-16).

So, here’s my question for you: What was the smell in that barn 2 Cor. 2 reminds me of, and how can your life or loss point others to the goodness of God? Reply and let me know or jump into the community and share it on the post there. I read every response.

PS: Forwarding this email regularly is a great way to encourage others and partner with me in growing this ministry. Can you forward it to a few people you know and encourage them to subscribe? Thank you.

Upcoming Book Excerpt:

When I got up off the floor, the puddle of tears and snot in the carpet weren’t my first concern. I checked on my one-year-old daughter asleep on the floor nearby then sank into my couch. Sitting there processing what happened I knew life would never be the same. What was Lorie, my wife, going to think? And how was I going to tell her when she got home?

I made my way down the narrow hall past a little closet and made two phone calls. First, to my brother. It was 1994 and a few years earlier he gifted me a beautiful leather-bound Bible that he knew Lorie and I needed more than what little money they had to make ends meet.

I wasn’t interested in God at the time and so I put that Bible on the upper shelf in the back of that closet. When I opened the door and reached up it was right in the corner where I placed it: still unopened.

But that was about to change. Bible now in hand, I sat back on that couch, looking at my daughter, having had my first real conversation with God. I just invited Jesus into my life and didn't know what to do next. But I did know it started somewhere in that Bible…

You can read the rest of the excerpt in the community space. Just click on the link below:

🙋🏼‍♀️🙋🏼‍♂️There’s a new space right inside this newsletter where you can share prayer requests, comment on the newsletter, make some new friends and keep up on the latest with the book project. Click on this link, enter the email you already use for this newsletter one time and you’re in.

🛐 How can we pray for you? Please let us know here.

📖 ICYMI. Monday 8pm (eastern) online Bible study & fellowship. Click this Zoom link a little before 8pm on Monday and you’ll be welcomed in!

🤲🏻🤝🏻Jump into our new free community. Share prayer, catch upcoming events, talk about the Newsletter, read excerpts from the Book and let us know your thoughts.

📫 Forward this email to friends & family and encourage them to subscribe

♥️ Follow on Instagram | Facebook | Threads for more biblical encouragement.

👊🏼 Quick Favor? I’m attempting to double the reach of this newsletter. You can help. Can you forward this to a few people you care about-and encourage them to subscribe? Would you also help me spread the word by sharing BV2U to your social media? Thank you.

💬💡Feedback? Let me know how to improve BV2U or how it impacted you. Reply to this email or use [email protected]. I read every email.