Taking Time to Pause, to Reflect

The weeks of summer begin to draw to a close as the new month of September opens. What occupies your mind as a new month begins? I love the fresh starts - a new section in my journal, fresh pages in my planner, calendars to record the significant. Seasonal beauty that calls for a change in decor, that fills our senses, beckons our creativity. Bringing joy.

And the changes in the season and the entry of a new month always draw me to pause, and to gently reflect. What is the status of my heart? What has God taught me in the past month, the past season? What are the current longings of my heart? What do I desire for Him to do in my heart and my life during the coming weeks, and days?

"Above all else, guard your heart,

for everything you do flows from it."

(Proverbs 4:23)

As summer begins to slip away, and the

colors and scents of autumn emerge,

I will take time to pause, to be silent,

to reflect, listen, and to receive

from Him.

(Photo - from our Pacific Coast Trip 2016)

A Collection: Little Devo Posts on Instagram

The months of July and August were really quiet here on my blog, but the days and weeks were filled with many things. We've been enjoying the beauty of summer - while at home, at our biennual Cru Staff Conference in Colorado, with family visiting, and also with a little getaway trip over our anniversary. 

My writing filled my journal pages, and some of my thoughts slipped out onto Instagram in the form of little devotional posts during the summer months. You can read some of them here, as well ...

"For the Lord your God ⠀
is living among you.⠀
He is a mighty Savior. ⠀
He will take delight⠀
in you with gladness. ⠀
With His love,⠀
He will calm all your fears.⠀
He will rejoice over you⠀
with joyful songs."⠀

(Zephaniah 3:17 NLT)⠀

⠀
Photo: Potted Catalina flowers on our patio table.⠀

____________________

Love expressed ...
she gave her most precious
possession, anointing His feet,
wiping His feet with her hair.
For she had been forgiven much.

And how do you, how do I
express our thanks from the
deepest places of our hearts?

May it be my daily desire, 
and may it be yours, as well ...
to worship Him and give our thanks
with our lives, with our words,
with our most precious treasures
“when He turns our brokenness 
into something beautiful”.
From: (in)Courage Devotional Bible 

Photo: Taken from the Colorado cabin a few years ago.

____________________

In this world⠀
of noise and strife,⠀
busyness, desire for ⠀
approval, achievement -⠀
let these words slip⠀
quietly into our hearts ...⠀
⠀

“Be still and know that I am God.”⠀
(Psalm 46:10)⠀

⠀
“Let all that I am wait quietly ⠀

before God …”⠀
(Psalm 62:5a)⠀

⠀
“In quietness and trust ⠀
is your strength.”⠀
(Isaiah 30:15)⠀

⠀

“Make it your ambition⠀
to lead a quiet life.”⠀
(I Thess. 4:11a)⠀

____________________

A good book is like a precious treasure, filled with new insight and encouragement for our souls. And it's always a treat to come across authors who speak the language of our hearts. I just finished reading a gem of a book - You Are Free by Rebekah Lyons, filled with fresh insight into living in freedom - forgiven, abiding in His Presence, and for His approval alone. And I'm presently reading Shelter of the Most High, part of an amazing fiction series set in Old Testament times by an author I have recently discovered. This is my fifth fiction book by Connilyn Cossette in this calendar year.

____________________

⠀

In the expanse
of earth and of time,
do you sometimes wonder
if your one life even matters?

There was a time recorded for us⠀
when after 10 long generations⠀
from creation, there was just⠀
one man who walked with God.⠀
Only one man who followed after God.⠀
Noah's one life mattered.⠀

⠀His life, his choices, his heart to⠀
follow and obey made a difference.⠀
"Noah walked with God." (Gen. 6:9) ⠀

⠀
And your one life, and my one life ⠀
matters. We will never know the extent ⠀
of all the many ways that even one life⠀
can make an impact for eternity.⠀

⠀

____________________

Our Summer Veggie Garden

A veggie garden changes everyday; you can almost watch the growth happen. And also, it happens so very quietly ... a spring garden turns so silently and so quickly into a summer garden. 

The first two photos (above) were taken on July 1st. My hubby and I just love our garden ... isn't it beautiful? This is our seventh year to be planting in this 10x30 foot spot on the west side of our house, up a bit on a little hill. It makes for a perfect view from our living room windows. 

It has grown quickly! Click here for a photo taken of the same spot just a bit over a month ago, on May 30th. And click here for another photo taken on June 20th, about two weeks ago. So amazing to see the growth!

What we thought were bush beans (labeled as such on the seed package) turned out to be pole beans. We purchased a little trellis fence for the beans to vine up on. The photo above was taken one week ago, on June 27th. The beans are in the foreground in the photo. We also are trying to contain the cucumber plants a bit with another little trellis fence (behind the beans). The cucumbers always really get carried away and try to take over the whole garden, it seems.

The cucumber plants are in the foreground in the photo above, with the green bean plants behind. (Photo taken July 1st.)

And here's a close-up photo of the green beans plants, July 1st.

We have two tomato plants this year, as they always produce so bountifully. This year we purchased bigger tomato cages, and got them in place just in time! The plants are growing fast!

So far we've been enjoy radishes, leaf lettuce, and romaine lettuce. The photo above shows a row shared by carrots and romaine.

At the north end of our garden is a border trellis which I love! We've tried planting several different things here over the years. And it's so great to have it looking beautiful this year again, as the past few years the rabbits have nibbled off what we planted. Our small electric garden fence has taken care of that problem this year. A bit later this summer these Hyacinth Bean plants should bear delicate rose-purple flowers.

Some of these photos are already outdated, as there has been significant growth even since these photos were taken 4 days ago. It is a joy to watch our veggie garden grow. 

BBQ Ranch Grilled Chicken & Veggie Bowls

This recipe post is an update of a previous one posted a few years ago (click here) ... and this recipe is absolutely delicious! It has been awhile since I have made it, and after having it again recently, I wonder why I have waited so long to prepare this dish again. It is listed as one of my favorite recipes on my "Our Family Recipes" page here on the blog.

There are several steps to preparing this dish, but the time spent is well worth it. First step is to prepare the rice and beans. (This would also make a good side dish to go along with other main dishes.)

Next you'll want to prepare the chicken breast to refrigerate for at least 20 minutes before grilling, basting it with Hidden Valley Honey BBQ Ranch Dressing. It's worth the purchase of this tasty dressing just to use with this recipe.

While the chicken is basting in the refrigerator, you'll grill the sliced zucchini and red pepper in a grill basket. You can also grill the corn-on-cob, or can choose to prepare frozen corn.

While the chicken breast is grilling, you slice up the avocodo. When all is prepared, spoon the cooked rice into bowls. Top with the sliced, cooked chicken, zucchini & bell peppers, corn, and avocado. Drizzle more of the dressing on top, and add some fresh cilantro, if desired. 

Click here for the recipe ingredients, for detailed instructions, and to print the recipe. You'll also see some beautiful photos of this dish! (Thanks to "Tastes Better from Scratch" blog for sharing this delicious recipe!)

An update from a previous recipe post.

Just Three Weeks Later

Three weeks of soaking up the rays of the sun and the nutrients from the soil and the rain. The seeds were planted in mid-May, and then this happened (photo above). Click here to see a photo of this same garden spot taken just three weeks ago. It has been amazing to watch the growth. I almost cannot believe my eyes ... just three weeks later, and you can see all the beauty in the photo above.

The growth has been steady. Day by day. It happened quietly; no noise and no fanfare. Just the various seeds and plant starts faithfully doing what they were created to do. Taking in the sun's rays, and soaking up the rain. 

The transformation takes place so slowly, so quietly; we are taken by surprise. The growth, hidden at first under the soil, then visible. Each morning we wake up to more growth. Slowly, but surely. The beauty captivates us; it feeds our souls. How do we even comprehend, how do we even explain the beauty of God's creation?

And I am reminded, and I am challenged. If you, and if I, faithfully pause our busyness to soak up the Word, and to open our eyes and our hearts up to His love and grace - daily, moment-by-moment throughout our days - what could happen? How would we be changed in even just three short weeks? If every day, every evening, and throughout the day ... we would pause, be still, and let Truth soak in deep to our hearts and our minds. If we open our eyes and our hearts through our days, in the midst of our days - watching, looking for all the ways that He loves us. 

It's a paradox; I cannot explain. To be still, is to grow. The seeds are silent, still. In position to receive. And then they grow. 

Be still, 

and know that I am God.

(Psalm 46:10 ESV)

And I desire the same. To be still is to receive. To faithfully pause, to soak up His Love and His Grace. The soaking up, the receiving, is what brings growth. To still our souls is to open the door to receive. To be what we were created to be. To grow into something beautiful. By His power alone. Becoming beautiful and fruitful. For Him.

"Growth is a natural result of being with God

and deeply connected to Him."

(Sarah Beth Marr)

For He satisfies the longing soul,

and the hungry soul,

He fills with good things.

(Psalm 107:9 NLT)

Slowing, Savoring, and Soaking Up the Sun

Spring brought the beauty of apple tree and peach tree blossoms, and our whole yard has been transformed into beautiful fresh shades of green. New life has sprung after the hard, cold winter.

The ground has been tilled, and the nutrients have been added to our veggie garden soil. This year we even have a new look to our veggie garden as my hubby put up an electric garden fence. The rabbits had a feast in our garden last summer, and we knew it was time to try a new approach. 

The patio planters have been mostly planted, though there are still a few to plant yet. I love all our pots of flowers, and last week I planted a few herbs: basil, parsley, and cilantro.

It's all been a process, in the midst of days of rain and also some cooler weather here and there. But now the months of April and May are past, and we're turning the page to a brand new month, and the season of summer!

And it has been the same with my heart ...

It is of crucial importance to tend to our hearts - to ask God to till up the soil of our hearts, to add the necessary nutrients for a new season of growth. I always long for new growth, for a freshness to come to my heart in the springtime. 

Above all else, guard your heart,

for everything you do flows from it.

(Proverbs 4:23 NIV)

I've been aware of God's gentle tilling of my heart, adding blessed nutrients, and also weeding out the unnecessary and the harmful. It is a daily process. And I am thankful. 

And now, after the busyness that the spring months can bring with all the activity and all the celebrations, I'm reminded to pause, slow my pace, and just soak up His love and His grace. 

The new growth is beginning to pop up in our gardens and patio planters, and it's now a time of waiting; a time to be still, and soak up the sun. For it's in soaking up the sun and the rain that the beauty will appear. Over time. One day at a time.

And my heart needs the same. Summer calls me to still my heart, to just rest. To let my roots go down deep, soaking up the refreshing rains, and looking up to the Son.

"As you slow your pace,

savor God's Word,

and draw closer to God,

your soul will be fed."

(Whispers and Wildflowers)

"And when your soul 

is fed with God's love,

the overflow will 

pour out to others."

(Whispers and Wildflowers)

Lord, You are my rest, the source of all that I long for. May I pause, still my heart, and soak up Your Love this month of June. May I be as the veggie plants, the herbs, and the flowers - just resting, soaking up the life-giving rains and absorbing the energizing rays of the Son.

"You're my place of quiet retreat;

I wait for Your Word to renew me."

(Psalm 119:114 MSG)

A Collection: In the Yard, and In the Kitchen

I absolutely love the season of spring! It's a lovely time of year, and it's a busy time of year! And here I am, on this last day of May, with a short but sweet collection of just a few of the joys of this spring season.

After multiple trips to the nursery stores in the area, we have most all of our seeds and veggie & flower plants purchased! There is nothing quite as fun as planning for and starting up new garden spots! And I'm a lucky gal, with a hubby who has a green thumb! I am slowly learning ... 

And along with the beauty outdoors, there's the beauty of food on the table. This photo shows a new main dish salad recipe that I tried out in May, using bow-tie pasta, bacon, cherry tomatoes, red onion, a bit of pepper, shredded romaine lettuce, and some parsley - mixed together with some ranch salad dressing. A taste of spring!

A brand new cast-iron dutch oven - a wonderful Mother's Day gift from my dear hubby! I love the 6-quart size, and the beauty of this one - and, of course, love how it cooks up food evenly, and also can go from stovetop to oven. I've been using it for a few recipes already, and know it will be used a lot!

It's been awhile since I've made a pie, and so was a joy to prepare this one for Easter Sunday back in April. You can't really go wrong with a pie called "Coconut Cream Meringue Pie". I'll plan to post the recipe sometime in the coming weeks. 

And now, the month of June is right around the corner ... and I'll look forward to sharing some more collections of things that bring me joy in the summer months!