Tag: apples

  • Wanting just a little bit more – (Part I)

       Do you ever struggle with wanting something you know isn’t good for you? Maybe it’s an addiction, or wanting a bigger this or that, or a longing for a certain someone to notice you. I don’t mean just desiring this object or person, but craving it to the point of not being able to enjoy or appreciate present blessings. I know that feeling. No matter how much I try to talk myself into the fact that others don’t have it any better than I do (in fact, I might have it better but I’m just not noticing), it doesn’t work. I still end up obsessing to the point of making my life miserable at times. Why do I do this? Deep down, I know it is not healthy or even remotely productive.  It’s part of our fallen nature to want what we don’t have and try to question God’s ways.  

    Look at Eve and Adam. The serpent in the Garden, masqueraded as Satan, placed a delectable fruit within focus of Eve. The fruit (maybe it was an apple) looked appealing and smelled appetizing. What harm could come from taking a mere juicy bite? After all, they reasoned God would want them to be happy. And this looked like a happy way to go in their eyes. Adam and Eve figured it would taste yummy too, so they succumbed, ate the fruit, while believing they knew better than God. Wrong!

    What are some of your struggles?

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  • Apples of gold

           “A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.” (Proverbs 25:11)   

    The apples of gold in settings of silver are thought to be golden balls arranged in silver filigree baskets. No doubt they were carefully hand-crafted, valuable, and very beautiful. So should our words be. – Jean Shaw

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  • What makes you happy? – Part II

    I find joy and pleasure in the inexpensive and accessible. These things lift my countenance and keeps my cup half full (vs. half empty).  

     For instance, yesterday my husband and I took a drive in the country. We stopped at an apple farm market. There I found great pleasure in:

         *  Talking to a wise, elderly farmer about a variety of apples (he chose just the right mix of apples for making applesauce and pies)

         *  Smell of freshly baked pumpkin spice donuts

         *  Took pictures of goats — I even was brave enough to allow one to eat from my hand and his/her tongue even touched my hand!

         *  A cup of hot apple cider. I felt healing begin as the hot cider trickled down my scratchy throat!

    Look for the positives in everyday life — some days the task is more difficult than others. Good gifts are all around us if we take the time to be still and look for them. God sightings…that’s what I call those gems. Life is fragile, good, and precious!

     “I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving,” – Psalm 69:30.

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