Limes, lemons and saints! (a kitchen tip, plus...)

All of the limes in the photo were bought at the same time. But the ones in my left hand, which were left out on the counter, are shriveled and brown, while the rest...are fresh and still bright green, after several weeks!  Why?

I found a great way to help lemons and limes have a much longer life!

All you need to do is put the dry limes or lemons in a dry glass jar and screw on the top...then stick it in the fridge.  When I first saw this tip, I wondered about it.  But, since I don't use a lot of limes, and my supermarket only sells them in mesh bags with 15 or so per bag, it was worth a try.  And it definitely worked!
                                         
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Looking at the jar of limes in the fridge the other day, I was struck by the "object lesson" it gave.  Jesus' disciples remained a part of this world, of society, visible to all...but He knew there were dangers, and asked his Father to protect them.

"I'm not asking You to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from Satan's power."  (John 17:15)

And the limes?  If I'd put them in the fridge unprotected, even in the crisper drawer,  they would have shriveled up and turned  brown more quickly (though maybe more slowly than out  on the counter).

When  I put them in a closed jar, they can still be in the fridge, (visible through the glass jar), part of the whole culinary scene, yet protected by the glass from the drying-out effect of the fridge, giving them a longer, more "fruitful" life, and delaying (by a lot) the decaying process.

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As long as we have to live here on Earth, we can take to heart the words Jesus prayed on our behalf, asking the Father to protect us from the Enemy who looks to "dry us out", cut short our productiveness and induce spiritual decay. The psalmist also weighed in:

"He will cover you with his feathers, He will shelter you with his wings.  His faithful promises are your armor and protection."  (Psalm 91:4)

 And here is one of those promises:

                                        "The Lord is faithful;
                                     and He will strengthen you
                                and protect you from the evil one."   (II Thessalonians 3:3)

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                                            Thank You, Father!