Make Lemonade

God’s Word:Philippians 1

God’s Message to Me: (My interpretation of what God is saying to me through these verses)

No matter the circumstances of your life—look for the good and rejoice in it.  As Paul wrote this letter he was in prison—yet rejoicing because of the opportunities to share the message of Jesus with his fellow prisoners and the guards.  Paul learned to use every situation of life as a pulpit. Though he had numerous reasons to complain, instead he focused on the good than shone through all the bad.  His mantra was “I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Are you in prison, grieving, ill or facing financial disaster?  You too can do all things through the strength Christ provides.  And, like Paul, you can look for the good and rejoice in it.  Though you don’t know what your future holds, I know the outcome and that I will never leave you alone.  You too can rejoice in all circumstances—that is making lemonade out of the “sour” happenings in life.  Don’t let them turn you sour—you sweeten them up by your attitude.  I’m happy to help you.

God’s Question for Me: Will you choose to look for the silver lining in every shadow?

God’s Promise to Me: In every “lemon” of your life I provide plenty of opportunities for you to reach out to the “sweet moments.”

My Prayer to God:

Adoration: As I look back over my life and consider the lemon happenings, I can easily see the sweet moments you have provided to see me though.  I will look forward to this continuing all through my life.  I will rejoice through tears, praise through anguish, and draw on your unlimited strength.

Confession: I admit that my first inclination is to worry and fret over the lemons and I am sorry.  I know how fruitless it is—even damaging to my body.  If it weren’t for the lemons in life we wouldn’t know how sweet the peaches are.

Thanksgiving: You have given me more than my share of peaches in this life and I am so grateful.  I want to accept all the lemons with the same rejoicing attitude.  I think you for this confidence that you provide.

Supplication:  May I faithfully use every lemon moment of my life as a pulpit to be a testimony of your great love and care.

My Song to God:

I’ve had many tears and sorrows
I’ve had questions for tomorrow
There’ve been times I didn’t know right from wrong
But in every situation
God gave blessed consolation
That my trials only come to make me strong

I’ve been a lot of places
And I’ve seen so many faces
But there’ve been times I’ve felt so all alone
But in that lonely hour
In that precious, lonely hour
Jesus let me know I was His own

Through it all
Through it all
I’ve learned to trust in Jesus
I’ve learned to trust in God
Through it all
Through it all
I’ve learned to depend upon His Word

So I thank God for the mountains
And I thank Him for the valleys
I thank Him for the storms He’s brought me through
Cause if I never had a problem
I wouldn’t know that He could solve them
I wouldn’t know what faith in His Word could do

Through it all
Through it all
I’ve learned to trust in Jesus
I’ve learned to trust in God
Through it all
Through it all
I’ve learned to depend upon His Word
Yes, I’ve learned to depend upon His Word
I’ve learned to depend upon His Word