“Thirst Quenchers”
“Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.”
Proverbs 16:24
We all thirst in many ways. We thirst for satisfaction of both our heart and soul, and we crave to have our thirsts quenched. Not long ago I discovered a diet root beer that was even approved by the American Diabetes Association. I love root beer and the diet variety has never really tantalized my taste buds but this particular brand is actually pretty good to a certain degree. Not as good as Stewarts Root Beer which has become like morning coffee to me but it is still pretty good. To be really honest, it has a taste that grows on you. Anyone who enjoys diet drinks knows drinking diet drinks is an acquired taste. Jones Diet Root Beer comes with a “twist”, no pun intended. It not only has a twist off cap, but also under the cap are little quip sayings. You might say these sayings are the “fortune cookies” of soda. I always enjoy reading them and its funny how many of them have been either things I was thinking about that very day or was just encouraged as I read them. It got me thinking about how just a few good words are all that are needed to turn a dark day into one of hope. Hope, what would we do without hope?
The Jones Soda people figured out something that many of us forget. People need hope even if it is just a few words under a soda cap. I mean, I have always known that life and death are in the power of the tongue and that our words are powerful in inflicting both pain and healing. When we first got Jones Cola I loved sitting around with the youth of our church enjoying a soft drink in our coffee house located on our church campus and laughing as we share what we discover under our caps. Ok, I enjoyed sitting with anyone who loves the sense of adventure in these Jones Soda caps and likes to share their caps prediction. You can learn a lot by how people respond to the saying under the cap.
Just for fun and to demonstrate the point imagine your sitting across the table from me and we are sharing a Jones Soda. You are having a bad day and need a good word. Maybe you are discouraged about a situation in life. As you twist off the Soda’s cap you read for me what you find there. Your cap says something like this, (these are actual sayings from Jones Soda caps).
“Mentor Someone”
“You are headed for a land of sunshine”
“You will be traveling and coming into money”
“Tasks where skill is essential may be accomplished”
“Tuesday and Thursday stack odds in your favor”
“Call an old friend”
“The respect and help of influential people will soon be yours”
“Your mind being creative and original will make you famous”
“The tide of change approaches”
“Saturday and Sunday stack the odds in your favor”
“People will listen to you and be willing to help”
“Leave love notes”
“A happy event will take place shortly in your home”
I know these sayings are not prophetic but they do offer hope and each of us needs hope. What I enjoyed most with these little quips is taking the saying and attempting to make a biblical association with it. It’s fun and challenging and provides laughs galore. Let me demonstrate it for you.
“Mentor Someone” is Matthew 28:19-20, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.”
“You are headed for a land of sunshine” reminds me of Isaiah 60:19, “The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.”
“You will be traveling and coming into money” reminds me of Ephesians 4:19, “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”
“Saturday and Sunday stack the odds in your favor” always reminds me of Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
“Leave love notes” is easy. Just read the bible. It’s a love story from cover to cover. The Song of Solomon always comes to mind as you have a book of love notes, “My beloved spoke, and said to me: “ Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.” Try leaving that for someone special and see what a difference it makes in your day!
“A happy event will take place shortly in your home” without hesitation reminds me of the hope of Acts 16:31, “So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
I was pleasantly surprised by the joy these little caps brought to the lives of those in our church family who share them with one another. I am even more blessed to know how many people understand the power of words and look for encouraging words to build up the body of Christ in love. These special people know the power of God’s word in bringing hope to peoples lives. Just think today, friend, if a little bottle cap and brighten a persons day how much more the living Word of God. Give it a try, friend, use the word of God today in the lives of those you come in contact and see for yourself the power it has to brighten their way and to brighten their day. You might just try saying to people today, “Hey, did you know, God Loves You”? He does, loved one, He does!
“Therefore comfort one another with these words.”
1 Thessalonians 4:18
I LOVE YOU!