Apples; aren't they great? As I was peeling some, I was mentally listing all the things they can be used for. Apple dumplings, apple streudel, apple pie, apple butter, apple crumb cake, caramel apples, baked apples, spiced apples and applesauce, plus some uses I'm certain I've forgotten.
I was also thinking of the correlation between apples, us and God. (besides the obvious apple in the garden of Eden connection).
I was also thinking of the correlation between apples, us and God. (besides the obvious apple in the garden of Eden connection).
When I went to my favorite orchard, they had signs posted for each available variety, stating the best use for that apple. Although they are all apples, some are best for baking, some for sauce and some for just eating. Unfortunately, God didn't create us with a permanent sign on our foreheads telling us exactly what we would best be used for.
While we are all people, God created us with various gifts to be used for different purposes. If I use a McIntosh apple for pie, it will still be a good pie, but not as good as if I had used a 'pie' variety.
We have been given unique gifts to be used for God's purposes. We might be great at one thing but we could be even greater at some other vocation.
While we are all people, God created us with various gifts to be used for different purposes. If I use a McIntosh apple for pie, it will still be a good pie, but not as good as if I had used a 'pie' variety.
We have been given unique gifts to be used for God's purposes. We might be great at one thing but we could be even greater at some other vocation.
Before I visited the orchard, I had been given some apples by a friend. They weren't the perfect, beautiful specimens the orchard had, but they were still usable. That is like us too. Not all of us are 'beautiful' in the eyes of the world. We definitely have some blemishes; however, that doesn't keep us from being used by God.Just as it didn't keep me from making use of the 'not-so-perfect' apples. God can make good use of the most imperfect person.
A few had worm holes. That little worm had eaten his way right to the core of the apple. Sometimes, a pet sin of mine gets through and eats right to my innermost core. It can be jealousy, anger, lies, gossip, all sorts of things. If I don't cut it out, it will spoil my whole being, just as that worm will spoil the entire apple if I don't cut it out. Once it is gone, the rest of the apple is usable.
Some of the apples were bruised. I feel bruised occasionally. Bruised by life; battered around and tossed to the ground. But I am still usable, just like the bruised apples. I peeled the imperfect apples, cut out the bad parts and the briuses and used the remainder for pies.
The end result was delicious.
The end result was delicious.
When apples are not used for eating, they are squished and squeezed until a sweet, tart, refreshing liquid is produced...cider.
And when we think we are absolutely 'squished' beyond help or hope, when we are feeling so useless and bruised and 'worm-eaten' and defeated....our Heavenly Father picks us up and makes something out of us, after all.
And when we think we are absolutely 'squished' beyond help or hope, when we are feeling so useless and bruised and 'worm-eaten' and defeated....our Heavenly Father picks us up and makes something out of us, after all.
I would like to thank the wonderful people at Cook's Orchard in Ft. Wayne, IN for graciously allowing me to take pictures of their beautiful apples. None of the wormy or bruised specimens were from their orchard.
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