Make Lemonade

     I'm sure you've heard the saying, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade." Well, yesterday my husband and I picked over 400 lemons off our one lemon tree. We gave most of them away to neighbors and friends since one year we spent hours juicing them and freezing the juice and never used it! It reminded me of the sermon our youth pastor gave today in the absence of our regular pastor. Pastor Kyle Powell spoke about our God-given gifts.
     He read from Ephesians 4 and noted how we have all been given gifts by God to use in service to Him. If we never "unwrap" our gifts and share them with others then we rob God, the church, others and ourselves from the wonderful blessings that our gifts can bring to the body of Christ. He said people often come to church and sit on the bench, being "consumers rather than contributors."
     People, including myself at times, go to church expecting it to be about them and making sure they are pleased with the services and entertained by the musicians. We've forgotten it is not about us, but about God. We aren't the center of the universe after all, He is and is worthy to be praised and worshipped. KT

    The twenty is to show how big the lemons have grown. Pretty to look at, but of no value for their God-given purpose if not opened and used.

Colossians 3:15
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.