13 Days To Thanksgiving

     When I proposed to give something I am thankful for every day until Thanksgiving,  I never realized how much this would effect my life.  This has been so much more rewarding than "shopping with the countdown to Christmas." 
     Today, I am thankful for the blessings of the seasons.  God made the seasons when he created the earth.  Psalm 104:19  He made the moon to mark the seasons, and the sun knows when to go down."  I further believe we will always have seasons although they may not come when expected or issue forth in the same way each year.  Daniel 2:21a "He changes times and seasons;..."   God controls the seasons.  The seasons occur in God's time.  Ecclesiastes 3:1  "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens."
     However, when the seasons do come, there is a purpose.  Acts 14:17 says, "Yet he has not left himself without testimony:  He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy."  Leviticus 26:4 also tell us, "I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees their fruit."
     Regardless of when the seasons do come, I am ready for each one.  I enjoy Spring when  daffodils, tulips, and early flowers shoot up from the ground and burst open with color.  I enjoy the spring rains and cool breezes.  In the summer,  I am ready for gardening and enjoying the fruits of my labor.  By the time summer heat runs me inside to cooler temperatures, I am ready for cool fall weather when I can glory in the beauty of colorful leaves.  Then finally,  as I labor to sweep up fallen leaves, I am ready for the chill of winter blowing in with promises of a few snow flakes to cover the barren land.  During all the seasons, I enjoy walks in the wood, wildlife, and nature.  I enjoy sunrises, sunsets, and rainbows.
     In my thankfulness regarding the seasons, I cannot leave out the verse in 2 Timothy 4:2 which tells me to, "Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage - with great patience and careful instruction."
    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sweet Potato Pie

     Most all my friends around "A Friendly Shade" know one of my weaknesses is my 'sweet tooth.'     I did try to resist, for just a little while, before satisfying my craving, but nothing I did could steer me away from digging out my cookbook to make my annual sweet potato pie. 
     Most reading this blog will say, "It's October!  The rage is pumpkin pie.  Why not pumpkin?"  I have to admit I have never liked pumpkin pie.  Growing up, I didn't like sweet potato pie either.  Yet, when I tried the following recipe from an old family friend, I fell in love with sweet potato pie. 
     For that reason, I have decided to share the recipe.  I hope anyone who decides to make it enjoys it too. 
     The funny thing about all this is that when I started typing the recipe, I suddenly realized that I left the cornstarch out of the pie yesterday.  I did wonder why it was not as firm as it should have been.   Hey,  it was still good and did satisfy my craving.  By the way, if you do not have cornstarch, you can substitute 3 tablespoons of flour.

                                            Sweet Potato Pie

2 tablespoons cornstarch                      
2 teaspoons nutmeg

1 2/3 cups sugar                                     

2 eggs
1 cup cooked, mashed sweet potatoes                                         
1/2 cup melted butter

3/4 cup evaporated milk                      
1/4 cup light corn syrup

pinch of salt
 

Mix together and pour into an unbaked pie shell and cook at 350 degrees for 55 minutes.

 

     Let the pie cool, then find yourself  "A Friendly Shade" surrounded by colorful fall leaves, and enjoy a big slice with a steaming cup of coffee.  Meditate on that first bite and give thanks to the God of Heavens for your abundant blessings. 

 







 

SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS

      Sitting in “A Friendly Shade,” I see the reflection of fallen leaves lying scattered across the ground.   The trees do not reflect the same image they did during the spring and summer months.  Their limbs are laid bare, and I am left with the chore of cleaning up what was once an array of beautiful clothing layering the horizon.  I see these leaves and bare tree limbs in a different light.  Thinking more about this, I reflected upon the fairy tale story of Snow White and how the wicked Queen changed when her magic mirror told her words something like, "Though fair ye be, ye are no longer the fairest to see."  
     For those not familiar with the story, Snow White's evil stepmother possessed a magic mirror which she asks every morning, "Magic mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?"  The mirror replies, "My Queen, you are the fairest of them all." The queen is pleased because the magic mirror never lies, but when Snow White grows up and becomes more beautiful than the Queen her mirror responds, "Oh my Queen, though fair ye be, Snow White is fairer far to see.”  Not hearing what she expects, the Queen gasps! She is horrified.  She becomes bitter and deceitful which leads her to plot evil against Snow White. 
     Mirror images often fool us.  What do we see when we look in the mirror?  Does the lighting over the mirror cause us to look different from one mirror to another?  Indeed, what we see may not be what others see; the mirror reflection could be far different.  Actually what most people come to see, over time, is the reflection of what comes from the mouth and the heart, and it is that mirror image they will remember. 
     If we truly want to become “the fairest in all the land” maybe we need to clean up our attire by shedding the leaves that hinder our growth.  Could we possible take a lesson from the seven dwarfs who rescued Snow White?    
  Bashful- may just have to get outside himself, open up to others, and unashamedly be a good Christian example. 
  Doc – may have to get closer to God and His Word to heal the mind and the spirit.  He may need to provide some loving care toward others to help heal their broken spirit.
  Dopey- may need to wise up and began to love others more.
  Grumpy- may need to make a decision to enjoy life and be happy.
  Happy - already has joy in his heart but may need to be more supportive toward others to spread his “Happy” around.  He needs to show people he cares about them and their happiness.
  Sleepy – could do with a little less sleep to spend more time with God, create more time for church attendance, and allow more time to do good deeds for others.
  Sneezy – needs to take better care of his life style and eating habits in order to become healthier and better able to carry on God’s calling.
     Now that I have given myself a lesson in cleaning up my attire and in what I want to see reflected from the mirror of life, it is time to abandon “A Friendly Shade”, take rake in hand and clean up some of these fallen leaves in order to make my landscape more attractive for the fast approaching festive holiday season.   I would truly like the appearance of my landscape to cause an exclamation, "Though fair other's be, yours is the fairest for all to see."