10. Don't confuse them with hand grenades
It's sometimes helpful to put everything in perspective. Is this truly a hand grenade or is it more in the category of a hangnail? For instance, ask yourself, would I trade this problem in on a hangnail? How 'bout a headache? Harmonica concert? Hernia? Hair loss? Holdup? Hurricane? Hand grenade?

9. Check the delivery slip
Is this really your problem? Fred Smith, the president and founder of FedEx delivery, reminds us that we need to learn to distinguish problems from "facts of life." If I can do something about it, it's my problem. If I can't do anything about it, it's simply a fact of life. If your name's not on it, don't sign for it!

8. Sell 'em on eBay
Many billion-dollar businesses started out as complete lemons. For instance, in 1886 Dr. John S. Pemberton created a "brain tonic" to cure headaches and hangovers. Unfortunately, the Atlanta pharmacist's didn't sell well. Then Asa D. Chandler carbonated it and called it CocaCola.

7. Paint smiley faces on them
Comedy is tragedy plus time, so many lemons eventually evolve into hilarious stories for family reunions—and books!

6. Join a citrus support group
Whatever kind of "lemons" we're dealing with—physical, situational, or sexual—there is hope and help. But only if we're willing to admit to trusted friends, "Hi, I'm [insert name here]. I am powerless over lemons and my life has become unmanageable."

5. Use as an all-natural, organic astringent
The apostle Paul—who was beaten, imprisoned, and stoned (with real stones) on a regular basis—writes, "Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope" (Rom. 5:1-4). Problems, although painful at the time, are often the way that we grow and mature. (Click here for entire chapter.)

4. Don't shoot the delivery driver
Sometimes someone comes right to our front door and unloads a crate of lemons on our newly waxed floor. What is our attitude? Jesus reminds us, "If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins" (Matt. 6:14-15 NLT).

3. Graft to a lime tree for a refreshing low-calorie soft drink
Jesus—who had His own lemons (dull disciples, harsh critics and eventually a lynch mod) promises His followers that they can live fruitful lives if they cling to him like a branch to a vine. Which brings us to . . .

2. Grow your own orchard
The Bible is completely silent on the subject of lemons, but it does have a lot to say about the "fruit" of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" (Galatians 5:22). But that fruit comes, according to Jesus' teaching in John 15, by pruning. And problems seem to be God's tool of choice for pruning His children.

1. Give off a refreshing lemon scent
Romans 8:28 promises, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." And what is that purpose? The very next verse—which no one ever quotes—spells it out: ". . . to be conformed to the likeness of his Son." That in a nutshell—or lemon peel—is the message of Squeezing Good Out of Bad. God miraculously takes the lemons that are dumped into our laps and uses them to produce in us "the likeness of his Son." Paul calls it "the fragrance of Christ"—which I assume, of course, is "lemon fresh." (Click here for entire chapter.)

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