You know how it goes in the morning; the night must have been half an hour long, and you only slept the last half. But the tasks of the day are calling your name, and you must venture out of your warm and soft abode down to the kitchen, where life begins. In a cup of……ORANGE JUICE!!!!
What? Who said anything about coffee? Okay, so it must be just my personal perspective.
But seriously, what coffee is for most people, orange juice is for me. Unfortunately, it is way more expensive, but my sweet mother buys it for me anyway (bless her heart). It gives me energy, fills me with vitality to get on with whatever work is waiting to be done. Speed! Vigor! Efficiency! Love those words, and they go so well with……
ORANGE JUICE!! >happy music plays<
I know that when we have been out of orange juice for a week, I almost daily lament, "No orange juice! No orange juice! Oh well, I guess I'll have some tea... or coffee." Then when my Mom comes home with a jug (to save me the agony of waiting some more while I make it from concentrate) I immediately pour myself a glass and swiftly send it down my esophagus. And I'm telling you, it brings INSTANT RELIEF to my heart; it's like I can feel the orange juice flowing through my veins, carrying its nutrients to every end of me, preparing me to run the race of life. No, I'm not just being poetic. That's honest and for true. Out of curiosity, I looked up orange juice on Wikipedia, and found the link to an Orange Juice Facts site! Here’s what I found out about it’s nutrition:
100% orange juice provides a variety of vitamins and minerals and is fat free, saturated fat free, sodium free, cholesterol free and free from added sugars.
Research shows orange juice is more nutrient dense than many commonly consumed 100 percent fruit juices, such as apple, grape, pineapple and prune.1 Because orange juice is healthy and naturally sweet without any added sugars, it is one of the most popular beverages around. Also, one 8-ounce glass of 100% Florida orange juice counts as almost 25 percent of your USDA-recommended daily fruit and vegetable servings, based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
Following are facts about a few of the important nutrients that make orange juice one of the most naturally healthy beverages around:
Vitamin C is one of the most important antioxidants and it helps support a healthy immune system. Vitamin C may help neutralize free radicals that can damage cells and tissues and lead to disease. One 8-ounce glass of 100% Florida orange juice provides at least 100 percent of the Daily Value.
Potassium plays an important role in muscle function and may help reduce the risk of high blood pressure and stroke. One 8-ounce glass of 100 % orange juice provides 14 percent of the Daily Value for potassium.
Folate (Folic Acid) is essential for cell division and healthy red blood cells. Adequate folic acid consumption during a woman’s childbearing years is strongly associated with reducing the risk of having a baby with birth defects of the brain and spinal cord, known as “neural tube defects.” Folate may help lower homocysteine levels in the blood that may contribute to inflammation that has been associated with cognitive impairment. An 8-ounce glass of 100% Florida orange juice provides about 11 percent of the Daily Value for folate.
Calcium (in fortified orange juice) is a key building block for strong, healthy bones and diets rich in calcium may also help support healthy blood pressure and promote cardio-vascular health. Eight ounces of calcium-fortified orange juice is an excellent non-dairy source of calcium, providing at least 35 percent of the Daily Value.
Vitamin B6 helps the body process energy from the food we eat and is needed for the production of new cells, including healthy red blood cells. An 8-ounce glass of 100% Florida orange juice provides 7 percent of the Daily Value for vitamin B6.
Thiamin is associated with the action of many enzyme systems, the conversion of food into energy and the production/repair of DNA. An 8-ounce glass of orange juice provides 18 percent of the Daily Value for thiamin.
Wow! Learn something new every day.
Not long after I discovered this, I read a little article from Shalom Ministries‘ newsletter online. The founder Angus Buchan, tells this interesting story:
It’s Springtime, a time of new beginnings and a new start. The blossoms are amazing, you can smell the fragrances everywhere – just like the fragrance of Jesus. Jill and I were jogging early in the morning recently and there was such a strong smell of Jasmine and Peach blossom in the air and it looked like all creation was bursting forth again. Jill just shared a special thing with me, her being an intercessor. They were praying one night and they could actually smell the presence of Jesus. It was as if He walked past them, they never saw or heard anything, they could just smell this strong, sweet, pungent, beautiful new smell. She said it was like a mixture of orange blossom. I just want to remind you that He is very much alive and He is coming very soon for you and me and we need to keep on bringing in the harvest and keep on preaching the Word. It is the Word of God which never returns void.
Isn’t that so cool? Not only that praying children of God could literally smell Jesus’ presence among them, but that He smelled like…orange blossoms. I just find that interesting considering that the Bible describes Jesus as the Word of God made flesh, who was made to us WISDOM, righteousness, and sanctification. And here’s what Proverbs 3:8 says about wisdom: “It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.” Did you know that the literal translation for that word strength means “drink”? AMAZING! Jesus is like drink–like orange juice–to our flesh and our bones!
Think so?
That’s so sweet! I gots me a gal who’s thankful for her O.J.! I’s blessed!
That’s lovely about the orange blossoms. I don’t know what they smell like; I’d sure like to know.
And your post reminds me of that verse, “But He said… ‘Whoever drinks of this orange juice shall thirst again, but whoever drinks of the orange juice that I shall give him shall never thirst.’”
That gives me a great excuse to go get my orange juice! I’m definitely an orange juice person (all though we don’t get it often). That is so cool about Angus Buchan! I love that guy! I recently watched Faith Like Potatoes like 5 times in one week! It is also awesome that God can show Himself to His children like that. You know what else is awesome? The same week that I’m doing a study on wisdom, you mention it in your post! How cool!
(LOL to Rebecca!!!)
Oh boy, that is funny! (kinda
)
That is interesting, Alice!
It reminds me of 2 Corinthians 2:15 “For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.” If Jesus smells like orange blossoms, well then, we should, too!
And speaking of Angus Buchan and orange juice… I am reminded of the portion of Faith Like Potatoes where Angus is standing outside contemplating and listening to the radio with a cup of ORANGE JUICE in his hand, when Jill comes out and says, “Would you like some more juice?” And all at once, the kids start saying, “Me, too!” Your post just made me think of it, and it made me smile… but, hey, shouldn’t we want Jesus like that? What you said is awesome — “It will be health to your flesh and strength to your bones.”
(Rebecca: Cute interpretation!
LOL!)
Rebecca (I mean, Mother): Oh, that is so GOOD! I am going to be laughing over that for a week! Yeah, I would like to know what orange blossoms smell like, myself.
Jay: Hey, wow! Another orange juice person! Now you have a new perspective on wisdom; how many coincidences can we come across, here, eh?
Brickster: Yep, you said it all!
Miss S: LOL! Now I REALLY want to know what orange blossoms smell like, HA HA!
Hey, you’re right; I didn’t even think of that scene in the movie when I wrote this! That is so cool!