My name is Kylie, and I am thrilled to share Flourish Aroma with you. I remember when I was first saved and could not read; I was so discouraged until I learned Jesus words: John 14:26 AMP [26] But the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counsellor, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will help you remember everything that I have told you. [Matt 5:7, 13, 24, 25; Luke 24:49; John 14:16; Acts 1:4]

When I learned that He would teach me all things, my countenance lifted, and I was so excited.  The Holy Spirit not only taught me to read but also taught me from the beginning to ask Him questions and to trust that He would lead me through Scripture and teach me. He guided me to passages that helped me understand others, and He connected Old Testament and New Testament teachings to deepen my understanding.  I learned to rely on the Holy Spirit, and I knew nothing else. Then, I decided I wanted to become more knowledgeable of Scripture, so I went to Bible college.  For 9 years, I devoted myself to showing up week in and week out, being a hungry student, soaking in all I could learn, and desiring that to transform me. What actually happened, though, was not what I expected.  I began leaning more on man than on the Spirit of God.  I held more securely to the teaching of man than to coming before the Holy Spirit and testing all things, and my heart suffered. My mind began to think I was figuring this God out, and my heart grew hard. My dependence on the Holy Spirit to teach me all things was lacking, and it changed me.  Praise Jesus; He did not leave me there.  He led me out of that place, and He brought me away unto Himself again. He began to address this “knowledge” that I thought I possessed, which very swiftly revealed the gap between what I thought I knew and what was a living testimony in me, and it was large. So, I set aside a whole year to test what I had come to believe about Jesus, His Scriptures, and His Church. I did not work for a whole year, but devoted myself to coming back to Him, relying on Him, and searching Him out.  

I want to be clear: we absolutely need teachers of the Word, and we are blessed to have those who dedicate themselves to studying Scripture and are called to teach us. However, they must never become a substitute for going directly to the Source of Life Himself—Jesus. Discipleship is essential, but a faithful disciple will always lead you to Jesus, not to themselves. They will not allow themselves to become the answer, the crutch, or the one you depend on more than Jesus.

It is my passion to see people fall in love with Jesus and have the confidence to ask, seek, and knock until He brings the answers. He is so faithful and true. No matter life’s circumstances, He remains unshakable and unchanging. He is never surprised or overwhelmed, nor does He react impulsively to what shakes our world. I say this not as a cliché, but as a truth I have come to know of Him. In the deepest valleys and in times of absolute joy, He is the same. He steadies my heart and restores peace when I am anxious. When we truly know this about Him, we become less afraid of whatever may come.

My prayer is that Flourish Aroma becomes a place where people come to learn about Him, encounter Him, and leave inspired to know Him more deeply and intimately.

May you be blessed as you explore. I pray you find both refreshment and challenge along the way, and that the Spirit of God illuminates His Word and teaches you all things.