Lemons to Lemonade

Were you ever presented with a fruit that was unfamiliar to you and upon biting into it found that instead of sweetness it was bitter and acidic? Lemons are that type of fruit and our enemy, the devil the father of lies, is busy presenting the juice of his lemons as a “sweet drink”. But one sip tells us that YIKES! It is bitter! Eaten alone or sipping straight lemon juice leaves a bitter taste but what if sugar is added? We all know it yields a sweet drink. What are the lemons that the enemy presents? Here’s a short list: (bad attitudes, sharp comments, untruths, impure thoughts, unforgiveness, bitterness and the list goes on and on). So if the lemons are those what is the sugar that takes away that acidity? Listen to Paul’s advice:

Phil 4:8 “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of respect, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if something is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things.” Here are some “sugar” ideas taken from three bible.org authors: Hampton Keathley III, Bob Deffinbaugh, and Greg Herrick on how to take lemons and make lemonade.

HK III reminds us that we must consider our emphasis on our mind and our attitudes. They can be kept free from bitterness, blame, self-pity, and hopeless pessimism if we cast our cares on the Lord and trust in His sovereignty. By getting rid of the stuff that chokes out God’s viewpoint, we create space for hope and joy to take its place
Bob D writes: Peace comes when we refuse to allow our hearts and minds to entertain thoughts which fall short of truth and righteousness (verse 8). Peace comes when we put into practice the things which we know to be true, and which we have pondered in our hearts (verse 9).
Greg writes: Stand firm by striving for unity, rejoicing always, praying always, thinking rightly, and imitating Paul.

Are you sipping pure lemon juice or sweet lemonade? Try some sugar.

"soulCARE"

SoulCARE
Neat title to an article recently received in my inbox. What does that word bring to mind? To me it reminds me that it is not just my physical body that needs care (sleep, diet, exercise etc) but my soul is in need of that attention as well. How often do we find that our days are not going as we intended but in fact they are just the opposite? We label some of the reasons due to a lack of sleep, a lack of understanding the task or understanding but fraught with deadlines, co-workers who do not help but only seem to hinder by any number of reasons. Our level of impatience continues to escalate and we hear our inner voice grumbling, “but I am doing this for you God!”. Perhaps we might find the reason here: Gal 6:7 “do not become weary with well-doing”. Good advice---But, how do we change that weariness into energy? The Psalmist wrote that he began each new day with his God so that he might hear the loving words being poured out upon him as part of God’s “soulCARE”. So how did your day begin and how is it going?
Reflect on Annie Flint’s words as part of your daily “soulCARE”

Yea, “new every morning,” though we may awake,
Our hearts with old sorrow beginning to ache;
With old work unfinished when night stayed our hand
With new duties waiting, unknown and unplanned;
With old care still pressing, to fret and to vex,
With new problems rising, our minds to perplex
In ways long familiar, in paths yet untrod,
Oh, new every morning the mercies of God!
His faithfulness fails not; it meets each new day
New guidance for every new step of the way;
New grace for new trials, new trust for old fears,
New patience for bearing the wrongs of the years,
New strength for new burdens, new courage for old,
New faith for whatever the day may unfold;
As fresh for each need as the dew on the sod;
Oh, new every morning the mercies of God!
- Annie Johnson Flint

Why we exist...is there a reason?

Life’s existence. Thought about it lately? You may have read or seen the interview on CNN with Christopher Hitchens, the avowed atheist who is dying from cancer. There is one statement that reverberates from his life: “In whatever kind of a ‘race’ life may be, I have very abruptly become a finalist, and how I love the imagery of struggle”. Sadly we say: I wonder if this will be his response when he meets the God he declared is only a figment of one’s imagination? What will be his response when he comes face to face with the One seated upon the throne on the “other side” one of these days? The author of Hebrews wrote: “people are appointed to die once, and then to face judgment”. What judgment will Hitchens face? What kind of finalist will he be? What kind of finalist will I/you be? That is the ultimate question of life and why we often ask “why do we exist” anyway? That has been Hitchen’s question his whole life having ceased to believe in God which began shortly after age 9 when his mother and her lover committed suicide. He said he felt helpless to have helped her through this time in her life. And so began his “spiritual journey” and unlike Josiah who heard the Word and followed Yahweh, Hitchens turned his back on God. Many have asked him why and this is his answer: briefly human beings have a tendency towards being "faithful" and argues that religion will remain entrenched in the human consciousness as long as human beings cannot overcome their primitive fears, particularly that of their own mortality”

How tragic to read this and more importantly to know the influence he has had on our generation. But, this also provides us an opportunity to provide the “other side” of the story to the praise and glory of our God. In the Westminster Confession we read these words: All things in Scripture: those things which are necessary to be known, believed, and observed for salvation, are so clearly propounded, and opened in some place of Scripture or other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of the ordinary means, may attain unto a sufficient understanding of them. Thus Hitchens stands condemned because he has had the same opportunity to believe as anyone else who has “existed”. The Word of God is freely available to him to read but he has chosen to blind his eyes to the truth. Jesus told Nicodemus: John 3:17-18 “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved through him. The one who believes in him is not condemned. The one who does not believe has been condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God”.

So where do you stand in the race of life? Do you see your life as Hitchens does, just a race with no eternal destiny of value and only will realize the futility of that decision upon the opening of death’s door? Jesus taught a parable about 2 men who made choices in this life in Luke 16:27-28. They both died, but the “Hitchens” of the parable found himself crying “Then I beg you, father –to warn them so that they don’t come into this place of torment.” OR…. will you join Paul in saying “I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith! Finally the crown of righteousness is reserved for me. The Lord, the righteous Judge, will award it to me in that day – and not to me only, but also to all who have set their affection on his appearing” [2 Tim 4:7]

If you are like Hitchens, I implore you to go and read this article: http://bible.org/article/gods-plan-salvation