Blended to Perfection

We want to have a perfect flavor to our coffee. We know what it takes to make it just right to fit our taste. But what if something is off? What if something were to affect the flavor? Would you fix it? Of course you would!

We know what it takes to have good "flavor" as a Christian. But what if something is affecting our flavor?
If you find yourself struggling to get back to that good flavor, here are some helpful hints I learned in my
Blended to Perfection" breakout session.

Weak

2 Corinthians 12:9-10
"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.:

2 Corinthians 13:9
"We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is for your perfection."

When you feel weak, get grounded in the Word.  Start the day with God and prepare; don't try to shore up crumbling faith later.

Bitter

Ephesians 4:30-32
"And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."

Bitterness is underlying.  No matter how you try to sweeten the surface, the bitterness comes through.  We need to give the things that cause us bitterness to the Lord daily, or hourly, or minute by minute. Staying bitter is a choice.

Stale

Psalm 51:10-12

"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me."

Becoming stale is to become tasteless or bland. The glow of passion for Christ, our love, has faded.  There is no excitement for us and we weary of doing good. We don't seek to grow and we don't serve. Many times we don't realize we have become stale. We need to be open to the leading of the Spirit, the words of trusted friends, and our own knowledge of our spiritual walk. The key words in the above verse are renew, restore and willing. God can renew and restore us as long as we have a willing spirit.

Cold

Matthew 24:12-13

"Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13but he who stands firm to the end will be saved."

Hebrews 12:28-29
"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our "God is a consuming fire."

We become cold when we are not in the Word daily, have a stagnant prayer life, pull away from the church and/or caught in sin.  The only way to rekindle the fire that keeps us burning is to go directly to the source. Jesus.

Sour

1 John 2:15-17

"Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever."

2 Corinthians 2:14-16

"But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task?"

Sourness comes from something or someone affecting our relationships with others. We become less effective, or unable to move on. Refocus on whose opinion truly matters.

All of these things indicate that God is not in the first place of priority.  Most of the time, when we are struggling with these issues, it is because we have forgotten that we are blessed to be called to serve the Lord. In whatever way, shape or form He calls us. What affects our outlook is how we respond to the calling on our life.

Learn to have gratitude for the chance to glorify God. If we can get to that place, our flavor will always be savory and sweet.