Hey, Jason--what's ice cold, sweet and sour, and Mom makes it in the summertime? Now Jason, our then 14-year-old clown, KNOWS and "loves" the answer, but he's not sipping right away--for he's ready to take on a dare and perform for the world! Watch him confidently pick up a juicy lemon slice, pop it in his mouth, and proceed to eat it straight. Watch Mom cringe, and you probably will too--right NOW, unless you're one of those strange people who delight in the SOUR things of life!
One thing's certain--whatever your taste buds, the "sour" stops there, for no one chooses the "sour stuff" in real LIFE. We stand in line at the lemonade stand of life expecting a cool, sweetened drink and sometimes we're surprised with a cruel sour blow--someone forgot to put the sugar in the lemonade! Are you alone? No--join the rest of us, who from time to time, end up with a real life LEMON, a situation as sour as the real lemon Jason can be dared to eat!
And WE'RE not alone-- for if you study God's Word, real people were sometimes served real lemons too--and they survived. For like it or not, real lemons show who the real people are! When you can take the sour things of life and not sour yourself, you're well on your way to REAL life in Christ. It's only with HIS help we can do it. So come with me to the lemonade stand--right next to the Well--and let's watch God take the sour things of life and make some REAL lemonade! Leave the sugar bowl behind--you won't need it. GOD'S in charge!
A Helping Word...or
Two!
The Bitterness of Life! The sweetness of a forgiving spirit
Here comes young Joseph the dreamer to the lemonade stand--but watch--he's being served a real lemon. His brothers hate this dreamy kid who's the family favorite and they connive a way to "do him in"--in the pit, that is, until their next scheme--sell him to the slave owners and see him GONE out of their lives forever! So they think--but God was in control of Joseph's life. He saw the cruelty, the hatred and anger being vented at this young boy, and HE knew how to turn it around. One day, after years of eating lemons, he watched God make lemonade. His starving brothers arrive at the palace, a long story follows as Joseph reveals himself in love and forgiveness--and the story ends happily ever after. But NOT until Joseph forgave...and therein lies the secret of turning bitter to sweet!
You see, we all face situations and problems in our lives that shout "Unfair!" "And I'm supposed to forgive?" The hard, but sweet answer, is "yes," for when you, like Joseph, allow God to fill your heart with forgiveness and love for those who hurt you, then you will know the true sweetness of God's grace. You will be able, like Corrie ten Boom, to face the person who dealt you the bitter blows, extend a hand in Christ, and say, "You're my brother/my sister. I choose to forgive you and to love you with the love of my Lord." Can God take the bitter lemons of life and transform them into His sweetness and love? Yes--when you turn the management of the stand over to Him! Remember, He makes the best lemonade in the world!
The Burdens of Life! The sweetness of His sufficient grace
Here comes the Apostle Paul, great man of God, writer, missionary, servant of the King. He's got everything going for him, right? Wrong! He's got a "thorn in the flesh;" whether it be physical or otherwise, we do not know. But somewhere in the lemonade line, a lemon turned up--sour and severe. So severe that three times Paul asked God to remove it. Now of course being God's wonderful servant, we know God would answer...and He did. Paul heard God's voice, "My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Cor 12:9)." Not the sweet resolution we would expect--or Paul would want! But He trusted His Lord. He knew His Lord could turn it around for good--and He did. God's grace was sufficient. Paul continued to serve the Lord in greatness and to God's glory. And best of all, the Lord has left this wonderful testimony for us. Proof that there's lemonade waiting for us--if we will receive it!
You see, we stand in line for the blessings, and sometimes they come--but sometimes we're left holding a lemon...no blessing, just a handful, a lifeful, of burdens. But don't get out of the line--remember, God is in charge! Give the lemon to Him and watch what He will do. His grace is sufficient. Ask Joni Earickson Tada who following a tragic accident was left severely handicapped for life. She struggled for a long time, then gradually learned to hand over the lemon to the Lord...and He has turned it into a marvelous ministry to handicapped people around the world. She is a fine artist, speaker, writer and blessed of the Lord. Can God take the bitter lemon of YOUR burden and turn it around into the sweetness of His sufficient grace? Yes--when you turn the management of the stand over to Him! Remember, He makes the best lemonade in the world!
The Blunders of Life! The sweetness of a surrendered will!
Back to the lemonade stand and guess who's standing in the long line, fretting and fuming the loudest--and maybe trying to get ahead of YOU! Why, it's Peter from the Book of Acts! NO--it's Peter from the gospels, and there's a big difference! Peter was a natural for sour lemons. He loved the Lord, of course, but he had a tendency to be boisterous--and blundering, always with his foot in his mouth, or in hot water! And, of course, Peter was ready to take over the lemonade stand and run it RIGHT! But God saw the potential in this strong-willed, take-charge person. He began working in Peter's life and gradually after many blunders, Peter became a changed man. Move into the Book of Acts and see him serving the lemonade of God's love to a thirsty world. God took the brash, bold Peter and turned him and all his blunders into a mighty man to be used of God.. Does that mean there's hope for the rest of us strong-willed saints? Well, don't let Peter take your place in line...but just stay and listen--for there IS hope!
You see, some of us are blessed with the gift of gab, the ability to communicate well. Sometimes we do--and sometimes we don't. Sometimes, like Peter, we blow it and fail the Lord in word and in deed. Now how in the world is God going to take our strong will, our controlling ways and words, our willful mind-sets, and turn them into good? Ask Nicky Cruz, tough gang leader and street convert from the ministry of David Wilkerson. God took a lemon of a life and turned it into the sweetest, purest lemonade stand on the street. Nicky Cruz, years later, is now a powerful evangelist in the Lord's service. Strong will with all its blunders, when surrendered to God, becomes a great force in His hands to lead others to Christ. The will which once fought God now serves Him and it's powerful! Won't you turn over the management of YOUR stand to the Lord? Remember, He makes the best lemonade in the world!
Bitterness, burdens, blunders--the lemons of life! What you do with them is up to you--you can choose sour or sweet. I choose "sweet"--to place life's lemons in the Lord's hands. Will you? Give Him control of your life. Let Him run the lemonade stand and watch what happens. He will turn the hardest, most bitter, burdensome or blundering experience of your life into the sweetness of His love and grace. He truly IS the best lemonade maker in the whole world!
...and that's just a SWEET 'n SOUR thought or two--from my heart to yours!
His Healing Words
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28 KJV)."
"Lord, I'm in line at the lemonade stand--and life's been handing me a lot of lemons lately. Too sour for me to handle--will you help me, by Your grace, to submit my life wholly to your Will, so you may turn the bitterness, the burdens and the blunders into Your sweetness and blessing. In Jesus' Name, Amen."
A Photo Opportunity from the Bohanon's Lemonade Stand!
Sweet 'n Sour...Mom and Jason......or is it Jason and Mom?
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A place to enjoy other devotionals!
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A Hurting
Word...
...or is it Jason and Mom?
