Monday 5 September 2016

Small and wonderful things . . .




"The world is fairly studded and strewn with pennies cast broadside from a generous hand. But who gets excited by a mere penny?...It is dire poverty indeed when a man is so malnourished and fatigued that he won't stoop to pick up a penny. But if you cultivate a healthy poverty and simplicity, so that finding a penny will literally make your day, then, since the world is in fact planted with pennies, you have with your poverty bought a lifetime of days. It is that simple. what you see is what you get." ~Anne Dillard

A few of the small and wonderful things which bring untold joy into my life. It's the small things in life which truly mean the most. Simple abundance . . . it's the best.



Having enough.  I have never been a wealthy person, at least not in the ways of the world, or as the world judges as being wealthy, but I have always had enough for my needs.  I have never known what it is to be truly poor and without even the most basic necessities of life.  I have come to an age now where I recognise that the trials in life are oftimes blessings because they help me to grow and to become a better me . . . that if it weren't for sorrow, I could never truly appreciate joy . . . that indeed opposition in all things is a gift from above, for that is how we know, learn, appreciate, value, grow  . . .

 

A heart that prays.  I am so grateful for the power of prayer in my life.  I don't know where I would be without it.   It is a constant thing with me.  I have a constant prayer/conversation with God going through my mind.   I tell Him about everything.  I know I don't need to because He knows,sees, understands all . . .  but I also know that He likes to hear it from us.

You know your friends because you talk to them.  It is the same way with God.  The more you talk to Him, the more you come to know Him.



The power of the Fast.   The first Sunday of every month the people in my church are encouraged to fast for 24 hours and then donate the money which they would have spent on eating for that time period in a fast offering which goes into the Welfare system of the church.

Isaiah 58:6, “fasting unties the cords of the yoke.” Fasting and prayer, when practiced together, are a very powerful combination.

 

There is a change in the air  . . .  can you feel it?  I love this time of year  . . .

 

Tomato season  . . .  our garden tomatoes are so very delicious.   I wait all year to be able to taste fresh tomatoes, ripe from the vine.  They're so good.  I cannot get enough of them.  I think I get my love of tomatoes from my mother.  The only thing I cannot abide when it comes to them, is having the skins cooked.   Cooked tomato skin is  not my favourite thing.  They must be peeled, but other than that I love every single thing about them.

The days of plenty are upon us.  I love this time of year, the time of the harvest.  Our plum tree is laden with plums this year, likewise our pear.  We have 7 apples that I have counted, so the apples haven't done so well, but its like that some years.

And I am still picking beans.   Yay!  I will grow beans again next year, but not peas.  You have to grow tons of peas to make them worth the effort, and I don't have the space for that.   I have learned a few things this year that I will put into practice next year for an even better harvest.

Learning new things.   I am glad that I am always learning something new, that I have an inquisitive brain and nature, that oftimes I am not content to just leave things as they are.

But also grateful for the wisdom to know when I have to do just that  . . .  leave things as they are.

Grateful too for an MOT result with the car that was within our means to take care of it. Oh, and a 10p car that just keeps going and is in good nick.

Being able to serve a Mission.

My cup does runneth over . . .


A thought to carry with you through today . . .

⊰✿⊰⊰✿⊰⊰✿⊰⊰✿⊰⊰✿⊰
Happiness is letting go of
what you think your life
is supposed to look like,
and celebrating it for
everything that it is.
~Mandy Hale
⊰✿⊰⊰✿⊰⊰✿⊰⊰✿⊰⊰✿⊰

Spiritual Enlightenment

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In The English Kitchen today   . . .  Chicken and Vegetable Soup.  I love a good soup, don't you?


I wish for you a week filled with abundance. Please know that . . .



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And I do too!


6 comments:

  1. My dearest Marie, I want that soup and I want it now.

    As a diabetic do you still fast completely or can you eat small portions etc? I love this tradition. I admit the LDS have some great ideas that benefit the community.

    I have been a very naughty girl and have booked myself on a short cruise in December. I am desperate for a break and this time none of my family will accompanying me. It will be very hot there as it is early summer. If it is so I will stay on the boat and only visit the one island I have not seen.

    God bless your day.

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  2. It was delicious Suzan, the soup. Yum! As a diabetic I cannot fast completely, but I do my best. There was one woman who bore her testimony of fasting yesterday that really struck home. She said, Am I starving or am I fasting? There is a difference and I guess it is in attitude. Oh, another cruise to look forward to! Enjoy your time away from all your cares and woes! I know you will! xoxo

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  3. I agree that the soup looks good ! It won't be long now and cooler days will mean eating more soup here. It makes a very satisfying meal and warms the tummy. Meanwhile it continues to hot here. Summer is having it's last fling !

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  4. Have a beautifu day Marie..soup season here soon!

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  5. Yes, I too dislike cooked tomato skins; an awful lot of recipes tell you to slice them without skinning - yuk!

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  6. Summer has returned here for a few days as well Pam! Won't be long before it leaves us for good! Have a blessed week! xoxo

    You too Monique! I love soup and stew season! xoxo

    You can take care of that very easily Bunny! Just cut an x with a sharp knife in the bottom of the tomatoes you want to peel, and then dip them into a bowl of boiling water for several minutes. It doesn't take long as soon as you see the skin beginning to peel from the end take them out and plunge them into cold water and the peels should slip right off! You then have raw fresh tomatoes for slicing and baking, etc. without the skins! xoxo

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