Corona Devo 1826

It's always a good day for getting some Vitamin C, and so I peeled some mandarin oranges.  Small and bright (orange), these little citrus fruits are sweet and fun.  I popped a segment of three connected wedges into my mouth and their sweet juice exploded, making me smile.  

I finished the rest of that mandarin orange, and popped a section of a second one into my mouth.  

But-oh, this one did not taste half as good.  

Dry and slightly hard, there was almost no juice and the should-be fleshy fruit of this mandarin was pithy and firm.  Where was the burst of sweet orange-flavored bliss that I had enjoyed with my first peeling?  This second one was blah and less-than-mediocre.   

I sucked what little juice was-to-be-had from the disappointing section of mini-orange,  and (sorry to be graphic!), I spit the rest of the juiceless mass into the garbage can.

There was a third mandarin orange ready and peeled, but did I want to try it?  The first one was sweet and juicy and dee-lish, and the second one was so lack-lustre that I really did not have much interest (or bravery) in trying the third orange in my bowl.  

But I tried it anyway...because I knew that there was a chance that it could be just as sweet and juicy as my first mandarin had been that day.

And it was.  

That (one) pithy orange was an exception in the bunch, and (as anyone who eats mandarins knows: You'll have that once in a while).  All of the other mandarins that we've peeled from that package have been excellent.  Sweet, and satisfying, and I'm glad that I didn't stop at the pithy culprit.

So--what does a pithy (tasteless, mediocre, blah, less-than-ideal, let down) mandarin orange have to do with us?  

Depending on how our chips-have-fallen today: alot.

It doesn't take an emergency or trauma for us to have the wind knocked out of us.  Any old thing can suck the life and wind right out of our sails.  Days are demanding and people can pressure.  Expectations and realities can be polar opposites.  And so, like biting into a dry, pithy orange: circumstances can sour us and our outlook.  

But (Scripture says): Don't let it.   

Don't let the pithy parts of life ruin our quest for the sweet and juicy joys that God also has for us.  Yes, there will be bummer sections and seasons.  (Are we in one?)

But (also) Yes:There will be sweet and juicy joy explosions once again.   

Life with Jesus is juicy, but somedays it is mediocre and pithy.  As any Believer-in-God knows: You'll have that once in a while).   Stick with the Lord and His Word (no matter what), and the sweetness will return.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  ~Galatians 6:9

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.  ~Isaiah 41:10  

The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.  (10) Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you.  ~Psalm 9:9-10  

But now, this is what the Lord says—  he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. 

(2) When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;  and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.  When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.  

(3) For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior...  (4) Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you...  (5) Do not be afraid, for I am with you;  ~Isaiah 43:1-5  


We have to persevere today, because--what is our other option?  

There will be pithy (blah, dry, mediocre, yucky) days: we all know (and have experienced) that.  But things can change and they will: Now/later today/tomorrow/or soon-enough: the sweet juice of joy-with-Jesus will return and fill our hearts and souls with a smile, renewed purpose, and zest.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  ~Galatians 6:9

Today, let's decide to suck the sweetness out of whatever section-of-life we're in, and spit out the rest.  

Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.  ~I John 5:5

Jesus IS the Son of God, and we are His overcomers.   

Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.  ~I John 5:5

Jesus IS the Son of God.  

Blessings,  

sarah  

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com 

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