Are you a “Sweet” or “Sour”?

Down here in the South, we are known for many things….our gracious hospitality, our genteel manners and our ability to can  or “pickle” just about anything that comes out of the ground, grows on a tree or hangs from a vine…..and my favorite object of pickled perfection is the cucumber.

Now the cucumber is mighty good on its own….thinly sliced for a salad or finely diced and served with tomatoes and onions on a hot dog; but, its crowning achievement as a delectable delight is after it has been subjected to days, weeks or even a month in high fructose corn syrup and special spices.

Yes, I’m talking about a PICKLE….but for a moment; join me in the journey from garden to your grocer’s shelf.

First of all, the pickle is a cucumber that is selected for its firmness, color and size so that it can do what it does best…..ABSORB! Yes, a pickle is nature’s sponge from your garden ….ready, willing and able to become your pickle of choice.

Now, if you place your cucumber in a solution of high fructose corn syrup, vinegar and sweet spices, you will end up with a sweet, satisfying morsel of heaven that can put a smile on your face ( my favorites)….on the other hand, if you use a mixture of less syrup, more vinegar, dill, garlic, pepper and loads of salt, you will end up with a SOUR DILL that  can remove the enamel from your teeth (at least that’s what it feels like to me)….and I have said all this to say….

WE CHRISTIANS ARE A LOT LIKE PICKLES….SOME US ARE REALLY SOUR AND SOME OF US ARE REALLY SWEET….Which one are YOU????....That’s all determined by what you absorb.

If you spend your time in God’s word, seeking His guidance and direction…if you are constantly looking for ways to help others…if you surround yourself with genuine believers …if you make the worship, praise and adoration of your Savior the main thing in your life; odds are you’ll turn out on the sweeter side of the pickle meter.

But, if you frown more than you smile….if you believe that whatever your are doing it is “all about you” …if you never give until God says that’s enough…if you spend too much time in front of the “BOOB TUBE”….if your Bible is the biggest dust collector in your home….Well, I’m sure you can see the correlation…..you’ll end up a SOUR Christian with little joy and even less desire to change.

Why not follow the advice of the apostle, Paul, who when writing to the Philippians penned these words,  “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.  Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”  Philippians 4:8 Today’s NIV

Yes, where you spend you time in thought, prayer or meditation will determine what you are absorbing in your daily walk with Christ. It can be pure and noble or it can be devious and despicable …it will produce the SWEET or SOUR disposition by which you will be known.

So why not immerse your self in the only true and righteous one…Jesus…..the more you absorb of Him, the more you will be like Him ….and that will be really SWEET!

Taking Sweet to New Levels….Absorbing the Savior,

WPQ

Poem for the Day:

My outlook may be fuzzy,

Life’s trials may make me sour;

But the time I spend with you, dear Lord

Will make me sweeter with each hour.

So as I read your Holy Scriptures

And I bow my head to pray…

May the time we spend together

Be the sweetest moments of my day.

W. Patrick Queen

Need another word of encouragement?...www.thankfulpraiseministries.com