Episode Transcript
[00:00:06] Hello and welcome to the second Row Conversations podcast. I'm Letitia, also known as Lady P. And I thank you for joining me on today's podcast. I know it's been a while.
[00:00:18] As I said in the past, life sometimes is lifeing. But I'm excited to be back and on the second row with you guys.
[00:00:26] I want to dedicate today's podcast to my mother in law, mother Hattie Emma Plowden, who was also a first lady, an amazing woman, woman that loved God, a woman that loved people and lived the life that she talked about and preached about. And so she has closed her eyes and gone to be with Jesus. And we're going to miss her. But I want to dedicate today's episode in her honor to.
[00:00:53] Okay, so today we're going to talk about when life gives you lemons.
[00:01:01] God's recipe for lemonade. I was thinking, and this was a podcast that I came up with or some topics or a topic I came up with some weeks ago. But because of what was going on with our family and with one week, it was storming and we didn't do. We didn't record that week. So, um, but I think this is a good time to talk about when life brings you challenges and life sometimes doesn't go the way that you thought it would. How do you make it through that? So when life gives you lemons, give you God's recipe for lemonade. Okay. Um, so what happens when we feel too overwhelmed to even lift the picture, let alone make something sweet? So when life gives you lemons, what happens when it's so hard and you don't even feel like squeezing the lemons, putting in the sugar, stirring it up and making lemonade? What do you do? So we're going to talk about that because as believers, we're not left to figure it out alone. We're not left to figure out how are we going to make it through these challenges alone. Okay, so I want you to grab your Bible, grab your notebook, grab a pen, because we are going to talk in depth today about how God can turn your sour moments into something sweet. Sweet and sacred. Okay?
[00:02:20] All right.
[00:02:22] So what are some of the lemons that we face? What are some of the lemons that you're facing?
[00:02:27] If you want to pause right here and write it down in your notebook, you can. But what are some of the lemons that we all face or we all encounter? Some of those are trials, setbacks, betrayals, delays, and disruptions in your life.
[00:02:42] Some it could even be the loss of a Loved one. It can be the loss of a friendship. What are some of the things that you are dealing with that you can identify as a lemon?
[00:02:53] Sometimes it's the job you didn't get, the diagnosis you didn't expect, the relationship that just didn't work out, or the door that closed too soon.
[00:03:04] James 1, 2, 4. In the new living translation, it says, dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.
[00:03:16] What we call lemons, God calls opportunities. And I thought that, like. Yeah, that's right. Thank you. Yeah. What we call lemons, God calls opportunities. Not because the pain isn't real, but because there's purpose in it.
[00:03:32] There's purpose in the pain. And at the time, while we're going through it, we don't understand why we're going through it, or we don't like what it feels like because it's uncomfortable. And as people, we just don't like to be uncomfortable.
[00:03:45] But those are called opportunities.
[00:03:49] That gives God an opportunity to show his how mighty he is and how strong he is in our lives. So, reflection. What are the lemons in your life right now? And speak them honestly before God? Can you name them? So what are the lemons? And be honest. Write it down in your journal. What are the lemons in your life right now?
[00:04:08] And speak them honestly.
[00:04:10] Okay, next part, the squeeze. The squeeze is where transformation begins. Life presses us, often painfully. But in God's hand, that pressure has purpose.
[00:04:24] Romans 5, 3, 5 says, we also glory in our sufferings because we know that suffering produces perseverance. So think about a time in your life where you felt like it was just. Things were just falling apart and it was a tough time, and you really were suffering, but it made you stronger.
[00:04:45] It allowed you to see, especially once you got through it. Now, while you were in it, it probably didn't feel good. I'm sure it didn't feel good. But once you got through it, it made you realize, okay, I kept pushing. I didn't give up. And I'm on the other side of this. I'm on the other side of this. Joseph in Genesis faced betrayal, slavery, and prison, but still said, In Genesis 50 and 20, you intended to harm me, but God intended it for good.
[00:05:14] There's a song, and I'm from the country. Also, there's a song that was real popular back in, like, the early 2000s, where I'm from. In that area. I'm from where it was a church choir down there, they recorded a song that says, jesus will Turn it around for your good. And so that's what you meant to harm me has been turned around and intended for my good.
[00:05:41] So you may feel squeezed today, but trust that God is still in control of what comes out of that pressure.
[00:05:47] A diamond.
[00:05:49] That's the pressure. I think that's what I read or heard about that. The pressure of the diamond makes it unique and makes it priceless. And so it goes through a pressure to make sure that the beauty of it comes out of it.
[00:06:08] And I'm sure I'm not giving all the right terms for it, but I know diamonds go through a time of pressure, and that's how they become so beautiful and so rare and so priceless.
[00:06:19] So you may feel squeezed today, but trust that God is still in control.
[00:06:25] All right, next part, adding the sweetener.
[00:06:28] Now, we all know that lemonades need sugar. And if you like me, I like some sweet lemonade. I don't like bitter lemonade. I need a little sugar. And for us, that sweetener is the word of God and the presence of the Holy Spirit.
[00:06:40] Psalm 119, 103 says, how sweet are your words to my taste? Sweeter than honey to my mouth. That's in the ESV version. How sweet are your words to my taste? Sweeter than honey to my mouth. Sweeter than the honey of a honeycomb. Right. Okay, so let's look at some sweeteners from scripture. I'm going to give you three, and if you give me a minute, I'm gonna click on it and read it so God is with you. That's in Isaiah 41 and 10. Let's look at that. Isaiah 41 and 10.
[00:07:18] And it reads. Give me a second.
[00:07:21] Isaiah 41 and 10.
[00:07:32] And while I'm doing this, I'm hoping you pulling your Bible up, too. Fear thou not, for I am with thee. Be not dismayed, for I am thy God. I will strengthen ye. I will strengthen thee. Yea, I will help thee. Yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. And that was Isaiah 41 and 10. All right, so that says that's a sweetener. God is with you. The next one, God is working for your good. And we know that's Romans 8 and 28. And I'm going to read it for you.
[00:08:07] We know that's a real popular scripture. We know that all things.
[00:08:13] And we know that all things work together.
[00:08:16] All right, Romans 8 and 28 reads, and we know that to them that love God, all things work together for good, even to them that are called According to his purpose. Okay. It's another sweetener.
[00:08:32] Right, My notes.
[00:08:36] And the last one, God will restore you. That's 1st Peter 5 and 10.
[00:08:42] Let's pull that up. 1st Peter 5, verse 10.
[00:08:49] And the good of all great and I'm sorry. And the God of all grace, who called you unto his eternal glory in Christ. After that ye have suffered a little while, shall himself perfect establish and strengthen you.
[00:09:03] And that was 1st Peter 5 and 10. God will restore you. So some sweeteners from scripture that's going to help. That's adding to the lemonade that you're making that you've squeezed. You squeeze the juice out of it. Now you're adding the sweetener. It comes. Comes from scripture. That's Isaiah 41:10. God is with you. Romans 8 and 28. God is working for your good. And first Peter 5 and 10, God will restore you. So I'm going to give you an action step. Start your day with a sweet word. Write down one verse that reminds you of God's presence and or promises another. One that I love is I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me.
[00:09:42] That's in Philippians.
[00:09:45] Trust in the Lord with all thine heart. Lean not onto your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge him, and he will direct your path. Okay, that's Proverbs 3, 5, 6. So those are some sweet words that will help start your day. Even during your time of being squeezed and you are presented with the lemons in your life, have a little bit of sweetener. Have some word that always sweetens your day and helps you get through whatever you're going through. All right? And now we're going to talk about how you share your lemonade.
[00:10:15] God didn't just help you so you can help so you can keep it to yourself. He didn't just help you so that you can just be strong yourself and not encourage others. Your healing has ripple effects. Second Corinthians, the first chapter, verses 3, 4, says, he comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. You're not in this by yourself, and you shouldn't want to be in this by yourself as you are getting stronger, as you are being encouraged. Help someone else.
[00:10:46] Excuse me. Every test becomes a testimony. Every trial becomes a teaching point. So I talked to a young lady today, a student today, and I was telling her that even through everything that she was going through is going to be a part of her testimony, is going to help someone else who is facing the same thing that she's been Facing.
[00:11:06] She is one who is trying to go to school, working, taking care of her mother who is sick, just trying to keep her head above water. And as a 17 year old, it can become overwhelming. That's her lemon, right? And so I was just trying to encourage her to because it just seemed like she just, she just couldn't figure which way she was going to go and couldn't find her footing. I wanted, I tried to tell her that, listen, this is a tough time for you right now, but it's just a part of your testimony. We all have a testimony.
[00:11:37] Your test is just a part of your testimony. So remember that your testimony we overcome by the words of our testimony. Your testimony can help someone else. There is someone else going through something that you are going through or that you've overcome.
[00:11:52] Let them know how you made it and that can give them a little glimmer of hope. Like, oh yeah, she made it or he made it. I can too. Okay, Something to think about. Who needs to hear your lemonade story? Is there someone struggling with what you've already overcome? Tell somebody, talk about it.
[00:12:10] I tell students often. Listen, I didn't always sit behind this desk, okay? I was a teenager at one time. I was a young adult at one time. I made mistakes. I still make mistakes. I don't always get it right. But there are things that I've overcome to get to this point and there are things I'm going to still go through, but with God's help, I can make it through. Right? So what you're going through, what we're going through is not just to help us, is to help someone else, is to let them know that, yes, you can indeed make it. So how do we. When life gives you lemons, we got a recipe for lemonade. So you're going to first, recognize the lemons.
[00:12:49] Second, you are going to understand and appreciate the squeeze.
[00:12:56] You are going to understand that even though life presses us, we are still in God's hands. And that pressure has purpose. So we understand that there's a squeeze and there's a purpose in what we're going through. And then you're going to add the sweetener. That's your word. That's the scriptures. You're going to add some scriptures. I gave you a few. I gave you some of mine. You may have some favorites. You, if you do put them on, post them, write them, put them under in the comments. Let us know what some of your, your scriptures, your sweet word that helps you go through your life trials, your lemonades and Then finally, share your lemonade.
[00:13:31] It's not. It's not good to just keep lemonade to yourself. My mom makes an amazing lemonade. Like, she makes really good tea and really, really good lemonade. And if you ever stop through at her house in Manning, you're going to always get. She's going to always offer you some lemonade, because what's the purpose of keeping it and just having it and drinking all by yourself? Share it with the people that come through. They need it, too. They need a little refreshing, right? So share it with someone.
[00:13:58] Excuse me, guys.
[00:14:01] All right, so that's where we are. We have the recipe. When life gives you lemons, what you. How do you make it through?
[00:14:10] We are grateful that God meets us in the sour moments of our life, because we all have sour moments.
[00:14:15] But when we have those sour moments, he reminds us that he's with us and he won't leave us when we feel squeezed by pressure, pain, disappointment.
[00:14:26] Remember that God is always present and he is always working behind the scenes. Even when we don't see it, even when we don't feel it, he's working behind the scenes. And so we ask, you know, ask God to help sweeten our spirits, our lives, with his word and his comfort. Remind us that he's with us. And then use your story, Tell somebody about what he's done to give them hope, to help encourage them, and you'll be surprised how people will appreciate that. And that can indeed become a ripple effect that can help somebody else. So don't give up, keep pushing, and just know that God's with you. He won't leave you or forsake you. I've been saying this all year. I don't know, I just think he just keeps dropping those. That scripture in my. In my spirit, to just remind me, even at times where I don't really feel like things are off track, he reminds me, I'm still with you. I won't leave you or forsake you. I won't leave you by yourself. So I hope this episode has encouraged you. I hope it has push you to keep going. I hope it has encouraged you to tell somebody else your story.
[00:15:42] And if you can just let me know if it's encouraged you, if it's helped you. Tell someone else about the episode, about this podcast. I appreciate it. Those who have stopped me and given me words of encouragement, that helps a lot. I really, really, truly appreciate it. I couldn't be here if it wasn't for you. So thank you.
[00:15:59] Make sure that you share um, this podcast we on all podcast platforms, Apple, Spotify, wherever you get your podcast. We're also on YouTube, so make sure you're checking us out on YouTube as well.
[00:16:12] Tell somebody. Share Comment Let me know if this has helped. And I also said, put your favorite scriptures in the comments. Let me know if whatever your favorite scripture is, you never know how that scripture can help someone else. Okay, so like I. I always say at the end, no matter where you are, no matter where God has placed you, remember to accept it, embrace it, and flourish in it. Thank you. See you next time.
