Thursday, July 23, 2009

Watered Down Juice

The Juice Detectives

I must confess, I am a mom that waters down juice.

In our home on the mission field, apple juice is a treat to be savored, sipped and enjoyed, every last drop. We found a huge jug of the sweet stuff at a great price. It's been in our fridge for a while now ...

Even though my boys will squeal for a cup for breakfast, the jar remains mysteriously full. Yesterday, I got caught, my secret exposed. My four year old spied mommy watering down the juice.

A smile spread across my face and then my heart. In the daily delights, I am beginning to see my Abba Daddy's fingerprints, just like the apple juice. I asked Him about the juice in my life.

What type of fruit do I produce, and when it's squeezed and tested, what type of juice does my life ooze?

When my little ones tasted their first cup, the purity delighted their senses. As I diluted the juice, their taste became accustomed to the watered down version.

I only want 100% juice to quench my spiritual thirst. no watered down diluted gospel will satisfy. What is my spirit drinking?

Has God's truth been watered down by the world, by comfort, by ease in my life? Only the pure sweet goodness that comes from the tree of life will satiate my spirit.

Recently, someone asked me a question, a question I am rolling over and drinking deep. Is the gospel that I live, the same gospel that got Jesus crucified? Or in my words, is it watered down?

Fill my cup today Lord, with the real stuff and teach me to stop watering it down.

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46 comments:

Unknown said...

AMEN!! I will take a cup of that!

Sassy said...

What a great thought to ponder! Your blog is such a breath of fresh air!

~Sassy

Larie Carlice Proverbs 27:19 said...

OH wow, great analogy. I water the juice down as well. It's cost efficient as well as better for their bodies and teeth.

smooches,
Larie

TanyaLea said...

I just watered down lemonade the other day, too! :) I got called on that one though...apparently I overdid it! LOL!

LOVE this analogy and the depth at which you write. God bless you, Sarah Dawn!!! <><

Hugs,
Tanya

Tracy said...

What a great illustration! That's what I want - the pure, unfiltered, all-that-I-need Truth. Thanks for sharing. Blessings!

RCUBEs said...

Amen!!! So many churches are preaching that seem to be "watered down", too. Like your cute "juice detectives", may the Lord give us discernment always. God bless.

christy rose said...

I know that I hate watered down juice but that is because I have tasted the 100% pure stuff. I think those of us who have heard the pure gospel and tasted of 100% living water would never be satisfied partaking of anything less. Great Post Sarah Dawn!

Collette@Jesuslovesmums said...

Great post and I too water juice down!!! What you write is so true and some times the Word gets diluted and changed when it just shouldn't be tampered with at all!
Love Collette xxx

Denise said...

Such truth spoken here sweetie.

Julianne said...

What a way you have with words! I began reading your post laughing because I too water down juice, so it gave me a good chuckle to know that I wasn't the only one. And then you moved on to how it is similar with our walk as Christian women. I sure don't want to be a watered-down Christian, that's for sure!
Thanks for sharing!
Julianne :)

Denise said...

I think I will be savoring that question for a while now...thank you for the sip.

Shalom,
Denise

Unknown said...

Ahhhh! So glad to take a splash with you this morning!

Come to Me - taste and see that I AM good! Follow Me - leave behind all you ever thought was good - for what I give nothing will compare!

Only the real thing can offer such beauty. Such power! Such hope! Such joy! Such peace! Such love!

A dilute savior would be no savior at all.

Fill my cup LORD with Your living water that never runs dry - that spills to overflowing - that saves others by splashin them when they are close enough to me!

Love you precious friend!
Butterfly Besitos,
Jill

He & Me + 3 said...

just beautiful! So awesome that you are so close to the sweet savior that He can turn a cup of juice into a learning experience that relates to Him. I love your analogy! It is perfect!

Heidi said...

Sarah Dawn:

What a beautiful post and it also gives one something to think about... I prefer my Gospel full-strength no-watering-down-thank-you-very-much. :) As your blog title suggests... "to get drenched in God's Goodness." I love it... 100%.

Thanks for coming to my blog and leaving a comment! Always great to have new visitors and making new bloggy friends. God Bless. ♥x♥x

Amy said...

What beauty in your thoughts! Blessings to you dear friend,
Amy

Unknown said...

Cheers for 100% Juice, both Apple and from our Heavenly Father!

Daveda said...

When my kids were little, I used to water down the juice as well, *wink, wink* Don't tell my kids.

I only want to live my live in the truth, the whole truth. The truth that reveals Jesus as enough for me everyday, in every situation. The truth that leads me to knowing and trusting in the Spirit that lives in me daily, guiding me and leading me into, yet, more truth!

Great post Sarah Dawn! Thanks for sharing.

Unknown said...

Now THAT was good reading! Thank you for encouraging me not have WEAK JUICE this morning! HUGS!

Jen

Searching for God in the everyday said...

This is beautiful. And convicting. And challenging. A question I am going to focus on for my own life. I was also given thought to what kind of truth I am giving to my children. Am I careful to make sure it isn't watered down? Hmmmm...
I so enjoy your blog...
Cory =)

Anonymous said...

Hi Sarah Dawn,

At first I read this as watered DOWN JUICE. I thought it had something to do with geese. Ha! Ha!

Actually, I prefer my apple juice watered down. But, of course, that was not the point of your wonderful post. No, as always, you have a message for Christ. How wonderful!

Just wanted to stop by and say that I have a
Kreativ Blogger Award for you at my blog!

♥Hope

Mrs. Winn said...

My girls will only drink their juice watered down, it's what they have always known and 100% is too strong. They ask for more water to be added.
I need to live that in reverse- may only 100% of God's truth quench my thirst. May I never be satiated by a diluted gospel!! May I ask for and seek 100%.

Thanks for the reminder!!!
Blessings,
Kelly

Beth Herring said...

Great remindered that we don't want to bring a watered down gospel, so we better not be drinking the watered down juice! We need full strength of His Word !!

Heart2Heart said...

WOW! What a great analogy to tie this to! I too never want my juice watered down, in concentrate form, or artificially flavored. I want freshly squeeze straight off the vine!

Love and Hugs ~ Kat

Karen said...

What little cuties holding their juice cups...

I only want the 100% full flavor gospel....

Yolanda said...

Miss Sarah Dawn,

You certainly splashed on that one, BIG TIME. Iron sharpens iron and I've got to go do some pondering.

Love ya,
Yolanda

Kimmie said...

You have a gift with words Sarah Dawn. A true gift.

Kimmie
mama to 7
one homemade and 6 adopted

Jennifer said...

Great thoughts! I love that question...what is my spirit drinking?? I will take that one with me all weekend! Have a wonderful one...

whenpigsfly said...

LOVE that analogy!! I too water down the juice, but NO WAY do I want anything that my spirit needs to be watered down by even one drop!!!
Great question to ponder too. THANKS!!
Linda

Adeye said...

Oh wow, friend, what a great analogy. I absolutely love it--so much to ponder. Thank you for sharing your heart--and you amazing gift to write so beautifully.

Love and hugs

Unknown said...

Great comparisson! Praying to produce the 100% real thing too!

Karen said...

I must confess - I too water down the juice for my little one. But what a great parallel! You said: "Is the gospel that I live, the same gospel that got Jesus crucified? Or in my words, is it watered down?" Something to really ponder!

Hope you have a great weekend!
Karen

Elizabeth said...

Give me the pure stuff!! It's funny how God can take little things in our lives and use them as an illustration of what He wants us to learn about him!! Thanks for sharing!!

Jennifer said...

Wow, good stuff girl. What a great question to ask yourself at the end of each day and if you don't like the answer to change the following day. I'm loving your blog girlfriend!
Jen Henderson

Connie Arnold said...

What a great post! Yes, I water down juice too, but this really makes me stop and think about what else I might be watering down! Thanks for sharing that thought.

Miss Janet said...

Ok, I know that the post is a beautifully written, very Spiritual post BUT... you'be got me wanting apple juice!!

Blessings to you!

Janet

Amy said...

Sarah Dawn,

You are NOT from concentrate! You are 100% pure, and I do so love the moments I spend with you.

Love and Prayers,
Amy

Joyful said...

Thank you my sweet friend for your beautiful comment on my blog. What encouragement!!!!!

I love the analogy of this post. I too used to always water down my son's apple juice. It brought back memories. However, I pray my thirst is never quenched by a watered down gospel. Only the real thing will ever satisfy...pure and undiluted. Lord, may I boldly speak Your truth, unashamed, so that none of it's flavour is ever lost or mistaken.

Thirsty,
Joy

Richard Lawry said...

Watered down juice! I will have to remember that illustration.

An Arkies Musings

Julie Gillies said...

Hi there Sarah Dawn,

So nice of you to stop by my blog--it's good to meet you. I remember those apple juice days...and watering it down!

A cute quote for you: "A cup filled with sweet water cannot spill one bitter drop."

Blessings to you!

Cynthia said...

Sarah Dawn
As usual upi challenge me here...I may borrow and expand on this question some time on my own space
" Is the gospel that I live, the same gospel that got Jesus crucified? "
Ouch

Angela Richardson said...

Hi Sarah! What a sweet story. And something to think about. I am a "Dawn" too...Angela Dawn! Thanks for the comment on crumbsinmybutter. I thought maybe we had met when I saw you missionaries - my husband is the Outreach/Missions pastor at our church. I added you to my blog list if that's okay. It'll remind me to be praying for you!

Lisa said...

What a great surprise I had when I splashed onto your site. Not compromising the Word is so important in this day and age. I will take my juice undiluted as well! Looking forward to splashing around in your blog as you post new entries!

Karen Hossink said...

Ah, yes, to keep the gospel pure and undiluted! Thank you for this great analogy.
I have been known to water down the juice, but more commonly I "skim down" the 2%. My hubby and I drink skim milk (slowly) and the kids drink 2% (rapidly). So, sometimes I make their milk last a little longer by adding some of ours. *grin*
Thanks so much for stopping by my blog. It is nice to meet you!
Loving Jesus,
Karen

Jennifer @ JenniferDukesLee.com said...

Yay! Another mama who serves her juice watered down, but will take her Gospel full-flavor.

Love it, girl. You rock.

Morgan said...

Very interesting analogy, and one I will probably spend some time thinking about today.

By the way- I water down juice too. Dr. advised it while the kids were tots and it's just kind of stuck. My older boys get straight juice most of the time though.

Sounds very interesting to be in a place where apple juice is not something you have everyday. I look forward to hearing more about your life in the mission field!

Anonymous said...

Oh Yes!! That was what my heart needed today!