We Need Lemonade Makers!

I realize by making this the title of my blog that I could be subject to bottles of lemonade, or lemonade drink mix, or for that matter lemons, but read on and I'll explain.

 Sometimes men in my position are asked this question, “Preacher, what does the church need?” While there are many answers to this question, it dawned on me that one of the many things churches need is those who have been given lemons and turned them into lemonade. You should know the analogy. Sure we have examples in the Bible like Joseph (Genesis 50:20) or the apostle Paul (Acts 9:15-16). However, today we need to see examples of those in our area who have been able to take unfortunate things in their lives and, with God’s help, turned them into something that will give hope to others. Another question that we Ministers get asked a lot is, “Why is this happening to me?” Here's what I believe. It’s happening so that you’ll turn to God and, with His help, overcome it. But, that’s only half of it.

After you have taken those sour old lemons and squeezed every bit of juice out of them and added sugar/honey (Psalm 19:7-11) and water, you are obligated to share your recipe with someone who is dealing with the same trial!   There are people dealing with all kinds of things. Addiction, Loss of loved one, Loss of a child, Infertility, Cancer, Marriages ending in divorce, Unemployment, Financial problems, Depression. Do I need to keep going? 

1 Peter 1:6-7   In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

God is an expert at bringing good out of bad.  He could have kept Paul out of prison in Philippi but instead, He let Paul go to prison and the jailer became a believer as a result.(Acts 16:25-30) God could have kept Jesus from the cross but He let Him go -- His own Son -- He let Him suffer and die.  Did He bring any good out of that?  I'd say He did!

So we need lemonade makers. We need those who can show us that the light at the end of the tunnel isn’t a train. We need those who can show us what faith, hope, and perseverance can produce.

We need those who will share their lemonade and how they made it.

Grace & Peace

Blan