Marilyn Jones: Woman of Faith and Queen of Scents
It’s true. The sense of smell captures memories in ways that have enchanted us for years. According to many scientists and researchers, your olfactory senses go directly to the part of your brain that processes emotions. That is not only a scientific fact, it’s God’s design at work. Take a moment and remember a special fragrance from your life as we reflect on this beautiful testimony of Marilyn Jones, and how God used a bittersweet memory from her life to bring blessings all around.
Now a successful entrepreneur and owner of B Fragranced, Marilyn reflects on her testimony with this scripture:
“And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.” —1 Corinthians 2:1–5 NIV
In his letter to the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul talks of how he came to preach the word of God and demonstrate the Power of the Spirit. Paul certainly went through some very un-glamorous times which tested much of his strength and courage in the Lord. It is only fitting that Marilyn chooses this quote to sum up these verses:
“God Doesn’t Call the Qualified; He Qualifies the Called”
When Marilyn was only 5 years old, her mother lost her battle with cancer. As she grew up in west Chicago, she was able to hold her mother’s sweet fragrance in her memory. It is this lasting memory that blossomed into what Marilyn calls, “a passion and zeal to create my own fragrance.”
Marilyn points to God as the only one who could have opened all the doors that lead to her success. She says, “I have walked in rooms with CEO’s that I know for certain it was nothing but the favor of God that they even put time on their calendar to speak with me.” The mysterious and wonderful ways of God placed favor on Marilyn as He led her into the light of success in the business world. Her fragrance creation has been sought out by CEOs from top companies like Walmart and even the Hard Rock Casino.
With a glad heart, Marilyn has shared her testimony of how God can take pain of loss and transform it into joy through a woman owned fragrance company. Not only does her story teach others how to have faith and find favor in the Lord, but how to embrace your roll in the body of Christ—even the nose that smells is just as important as the eyes that see, just like Jesus said:
“Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” —1 Corinthians 12:27 NIV
