“O taste and see that the Lord is good”!
Once again, I am without internet service... and that means that my email tends to pile up. As I write this, I still have over 1400 email to go through! There is the never ending "junk mail" that seems to slip through the filter that must be gone through and new addresses added and/or eliminated.
In addition, we receive a lot of correspondence from churches and friends. Some of our friends frequently send me other things that they think I might like. Sometimes it’s a joke or something humorous. Who doesn’t enjoy a good laugh now and then? Nevertheless, I nearly always look at what is sent to me before I delete it, and occasionally, if it is something especially good, I will save it or forward it on to a “chosen few”.
In addition, we receive a lot of correspondence from churches and friends. Some of our friends frequently send me other things that they think I might like. Sometimes it’s a joke or something humorous. Who doesn’t enjoy a good laugh now and then? Nevertheless, I nearly always look at what is sent to me before I delete it, and occasionally, if it is something especially good, I will save it or forward it on to a “chosen few”.
Although much of what we tend to receive over the internet is just silly fluff of no value, every now and then, I receive something that makes an impact on me, or really causes me to think. I frequently get articles that have to do with cancer treatment or prevention and other health related issues.
Some emails tend to just make me frustrated or angry! Those are usually political in nature!
I regularly get things that have to do with religion or being a Christian, some of which are very good and thought provoking or I receive an illustration or an example of a simple Biblical principle, one that is presented in such a unique way that it catches my attention and surprises me. Frequently, those items cause me to examine myself - my thoughts, attitude, motivation, etc.
Some emails tend to just make me frustrated or angry! Those are usually political in nature!
I regularly get things that have to do with religion or being a Christian, some of which are very good and thought provoking or I receive an illustration or an example of a simple Biblical principle, one that is presented in such a unique way that it catches my attention and surprises me. Frequently, those items cause me to examine myself - my thoughts, attitude, motivation, etc.
When I received the following article, I especially loved the simple, yet powerful message that it presented. It was sent to me by a precious friend and sister in Christ and, although Julia is about ten years younger than me, she is a woman of godly wisdom beyond her years. Anything that she sends me by email is always worth reading. Below is the article:
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A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.
Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil; without saying a word.
In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a cup.
Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me what you see."
"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied.
Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg.
"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied.
Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg.
Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled, as she tasted the full-bodied flavor and smelled its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, "What does it mean, mother?"
Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently.
Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently.
2. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its insides became hardened.
3. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they had been boiled for a while, they had changed the water.
"Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?
Ask yourself, “Which am I?”
1. Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt, become soft and lose my strength and stability?
2. Am I the egg that starts with a soft and compliant heart, but changes with the heat? In the beginning, did I have a fluid and changeable spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become resistant and rigid? Does my “shell” look the same, but on the inside am I unmovable with a inflexible spirit and a hardened heart? 
3. Or, am I like the coffee bean?
The bean actually changes the hot water...or, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, the bean begins to release it’s fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, you allow yourself to be elevated to another level.
You release the sweet “aroma” of the Holy Spirit and give those around you a “taste” of the rich life you can have when you know the Lord as your personal Savior.
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How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?
The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything that comes along their way.
The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything that comes along their way.
When you know Christ Jesus as your Savior, He makes it possible to do that! How do I know? Because I have seen it & experienced it in my own life. I especially see this truth evidenced in the lives of those Christians who live in areas where they are TRULY persecuted for their belief in Christ!
There are those who don’t want to smell the “air of truth” and so they deny “the scent” even exists, but that doesn’t change the reality! The sweet aroma of a Christ-filled life nevertheless exists and is a fact! It is an irresistible, alluring “fragrance” that cannot be denied!!!
Unbeliever, don’t you think it’s about time for you to
WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE!!
2 comments:
What a good illustration I pray I will be like the coffee beans :-) Barb
I love this illustration, Debbie! I pray that I am like the coffee beans, always! I will be sharing this with others, it's too good not to! God bless y'all and have a wonderfully blessed 2012!
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