GOOD FOR YOU

 

Good for You

Remember when mom said,

“Eat your vegetables, they're good for you.”

Chances are she repeated

what she heard when she was a child too.

There's actually more wisdom in that statement than you might know.

God designed good-for-you foods to keep us healthy and to grow.

Be sure to pass on what you learn today

so others will be healthy everyday.

Consider the carrot.

Mom said they're good for eyesight,

for seeing in the night.

If you slice a carrot, what do you see? An eye?

There's a pupil and iris – just like the human eye!

Walnuts are special!

If you crack a walnut without breaking the meat

you'll find your brain in miniature, which is quite neat.

Brians have two hemispheres: the cerebrum and cerebellum.

And guess what? Walnuts help the human brain to function.

What about the tomato?

A tomato is red and has four chambers

just like the human heart has four chambers.

The red color of the tomato is called lycopene

which you'll want to be part of your heart-healthy team.

Have you thought about celery?

Celery is reminiscent of your bones.

Did you know there's sodium in your bones?

There's the exact same percentage of sodium,

it's true, in celery as there is in human bones.

How about onions and garlic?

Onions and garlic are kitchen staples

often paired with other vegetables.

Onions and garlic detox your system.

Do you need to buy more onions?

Examine kidney beans.

Notice the kidney bean's shape?

It's the same as your kidney's shape.

And kidney beans help maintain your kidneys.

Will tonight's dinner be homemade chili?

Dinner tonight:

Tomatoes, onions, garlic, peppers, celery, kidney beans

will make a pot of tasty chili and healthy genes.

(Don’t forget the fragrant and flavorful herbs.)

It's time to set the table and call your crew.

Mom was right! Vegetables are good for you!

* * * * *

Give us this day our daily bread...

with meat and vegetables and drink, we're fed

and oftentimes with dessert to top it off.

God graciously and daily provides a lot.

As a child we're taught to say “thanks,”

but do we remember to tell God thanks.

More than likely we say, “give”

which is a selfish way to live.

Start today by telling God “thank you.”

You'll find you'll be more appreciative, too,

for your heart will be grateful

for each and every mouthful.

I give every green plant for food.

Genesis 1:30

Better a meal of vegetables where there is love...

Proverbs 15:17

Give us this day our daily bread.

Matthew 6:11 (KJV)

If we have food and clothing,

we will be content with that.

I Timothy 6:8

Were you taught to be a member of the “clean plate club”? Sometimes our eyes are bigger than our stomachs. Learn to recognize your full signals. Refrigerate for later, even if it’s the mid-day snack. Leftovers are like a free meal. Win-win financially and physically.

Photo: Scarlet Runner Beans

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FINE DINING

 

Fine Dining

Lunch is served outside today

warmed by the sun's bright rays

while songbirds serenade.

Would you like some lemonade?

This one is made from fresh Lemon Balm.

I'll share a plant with you when you go home.

To me it smells like lemon drops,

the candy, colored with turmeric.

There are many choices on the menu.

I think you'll agree. Let me list a few.

Each one will delight your senses.

Not only by taste, but their fragrances.

Before we start sampling, be sure to watch out for bees.

Beware, some of these fragrances may cause you to sneeze.

I’m sure the scent of celery will please

found in Angelica and Lovage leaves.

If you like a peppery flavor,

you'll like fresh Arugula or

in your salad these pretty Nasturtium flowers.

Yes, you can eat these red, orange, or yellow florals.

Here's some fresh-picked Chives to sprinkle on

if you like the taste of raw onions.

Chive blossoms are edible too.

They're best when still covered with dew.

Other flowers you can eat

as a colorful treat

are these Borage flowers

which taste like cucumbers.

Would you like to try some free Purslane?

It grows abundantly: a detox is its fame.

Tastes rather like spinach.

It's good for your stomach.

Many herbs smell and taste like licorice.

Some are Anise, Chervil, Fennel, Hyssop.

Most often used to make sausage taste spicy.

Used to flavor seafood and makes salads tangy.

To dress your salad, make oils and vinegars

flavored with Garlic cloves, Thyme, and Rosemary sprigs.

Harvest fresh herbs before they flower.

Use tender sprigs, not the woody twigs.

This tall wispy stalk is Dill.*

It grows wherever at will.

Before the seedheads form I freeze the minced fronds

to later add to a yummy variety of salads.

Do save room for a decadent dessert!

Today there's fresh citrus for dessert

tasted in Bee Balm

and also Lemon Balm.

These are the no calorie kind

for on today's garden tour we dined

on a fragrant bouquet

of edible herbs displayed.

Time to cleanse our palettes with a fresh sprig of Parsley,

then we'll sit for awhile with a fragrant cup of tea.

Would you like Chamomile, or Peppermint,

or Sage, or Bergamot, or Chocolate Mint?

While we sip our tea today

we'll enjoy the herb bouquet

of Feverfew's small daisy-like flowers

mixed in with these Echinacea cone flowers.

We'll listen to the drone of bees

who buzz about quite happily

as we try another flavor,

each one to be quietly savored.

When in flower, herbs will attract bees and/or repel insects.

To deter aphids in your roses, be sure to plant Garlic.

Since deer do not like scented flowers,

planting herbs will deter these creatures.

Many herbs are made into everlasting bouquets

then shared with someone to be enjoyed for many days.

Because herbs are scented they’re used in potpourris,

or enclosed in pretty sachets.

All these herbs contain medicinal qualities as well.

Dried purple cone flower which is Echinacea dispels

germs that invade the immune system

and will help fight off infection.

On another day we'll take time to learn more

about herbs medicinal qualities to cure.

That concludes today's tour, folks.

Let's hurry in or we'll get soaked.

*Dill is mentioned in the Bible as a, likely, aromatic garden herb tithed by the Pharisees in Jesus' time (Matthew 23:23) and as a crop in Isaiah 28:24-25, 27. (Copied) 

* * * * *

Which of these fragrant herbs will you serve for dinner tonight?

Garlic, Oregano, and Basil in tomato sauce will delight.

Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme in your poultry stuffing.

Minced Garlic with fresh Parsley and Chives in your salad dressing.

Before you consume be sure to thank the Lord for

these tasty good-for-you herbs and so much more

for we all have much to be thankful for.

May God's blessings abound to you and yours.

He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle,

and herb for the service of men,

that he may bring forth food out of the earth.

Psalm 104:14 (KJV)

One of them went out into the fields to gather herbs...

II King 4:39

Better is a dinner of herbs where love is...

Proverbs 15:17

...mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs...

Luke 11:42

For the earth, which drinketh in the rain

that cometh often upon it,

and bringeth forth herbs

fit for them by whom it is tilled,

receiveth blessing from God.

Hebrews 6:7 (KJV)

The mix of herbs I use to season meat sauce or chili

made with ground beef or turkey and hot sausage:

1 cup dried basil

½ cup dried oregano

¼ cup dried parsley

2 Tablespoons or more granulated garlic

Store in an air tight container.

(As I make a large pot of sauce,

I add ½ cup of mix plus more garlic and basil to my taste.)

When making chili, add paprika, chili powder and cumin.

Dill head.

Oregano in blossom.

Thyme in blossom.

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Morning Glories

As to a light shining in  a dark place,

until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

II Peter 1:19 

Love the shining light within each morning glory each summer dawn...

and each morning's perfect star shape also draws my attention.

Pleasing to my heart.

Googles Biblical definition of II Peter 1:19 -

A Light in a Dark Place: The world is characterized by spiritual darkness, confusion, and moral decay. Just as travelers in the ancient world relied on a lamp in pitch-black conditions, Christians are meant to pay close attention to the Bible to avoid spiritual stumbling. 

Until the Day Dawns: This phrase points to the future return of Christ (the Second Coming), when history's darkness will be completely overcome. Believers are called to study and live by the Scriptures steadfastly until that day arrives. 

The Morning Star: The "morning star" is a title of Christ himself (as mentioned in Revelation 22:16), symbolizing his role as the bringer of a new, eternal day. This represents the ultimate hope and spiritual illumination that Christ brings to the hearts of believers. 

BREAKFAST

 

Breakfast

In the newness of the early morning as the sun peeks through

something yummy for breakfast is waiting for the garden crew.

Just who is the garden crew?

Let's take a minute to view.

A morning dew

covers like glue

inviting winged creatures to sip

this early morning refreshment.

Yes, their breakfast awaits,

although not served on a plate,

being sought after

by garden creatures.

Happy bees hum

in golden blossoms

in everyone's vegetable garden.

Gardeners gratefully welcome.

Do take a minute to listen

to their harmonious drone

as they sip from a cup of yellow pollen,

a breakfast filled with good-for-you nutrition.

A just-hatched butterfly seeks morning nourishment

from purple cone flowers, absent of scent,

then off to the garden phlox, which he seems to like best,

before visiting the butterfly bush for breakfast.

Watch him float and glide

as on the breeze he rides

satisfying his hunger

on his morning garden tour.

A hummingbird dines

on red trumpet vine

where ants share a feast

every day of the week.

If you're wearing a red or pink shirt

beware, those hummingbirds might flirt

thinking you're the prettiest flower

of all that grows in your bower.

Mama and papa wren

busily attend

their brood of hungry beaks

as white grubs they seek.

Hear these babies "me, me, me"

sounding quite hungry

as mama and papa take turns

feeding their offspring this morn.

While robins seek earthworms

to feed starving newborns

a protein breakfast

so they will grow fast.

Do watch from a distance

for robins have an instinct

to protect their young

from potential harm.

Other birds dine

on seeds they find,

heard singing a happy song of praise

to the Creator of all their days.

These and many more

seek breakfast outdoors

tasting better alfresco.

Does your cup hold espresso?

Do take time to watch this muse

as a motion picture is produced

every morning as breakfast is found

around the world, in every town.

* * * * *

In this world of uncertainty,

God shows us examples of His faithfulness

so that we will have a guarantee,

an assurance, to not worry – but to trust.

As you know, birds do not worry.

Perhaps that's why they're always cheery.

Know that God already has a plan to solve your concern.

He's waiting to hear from you in prayer. Don't carry your load alone.

Get in the habit of thanking God before receiving.

That's living a life of active "faith believing!"

In the meantime, God is maturing your faith

as you trust Him to supply His abundant grace.

Do not worry about tomorrow.

Matthew 6:34

Look at the birds of the air;

they do not sow or reap or store away in barns,

and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.

Matthew 7:26

Trust in the Lord with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways acknowledge him

and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Faith is being sure of what we hope for

and certain of what we do not see.

Hebrews 11:1

Without faith it is impossible to please God,

because anyone who comes to him

must believe that he exists

and that he rewards those

who earnestly seek him.

Hebrews 11:6

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DISCONTENT

 

Discontent

Most people can't wait for the hot days of summer.

Somehow people associate hot as funner.

But when they come, they want the hot days over.

A season of discontent seems to take over.

It's too hot to be outside.

Everyone's stuck inside.

Fans are employed

or AC's enjoyed.

But we'd rather be outside

perhaps by the poolside,

but it's too hot.

Happy we're not.

So rain cools the earth,

but mugginess springs forth.

Everyone's sick of being sticky

from the humidity. We feel icky.

It feels tropical,

which is typical,

when the humidity soars

which supersedes the temperatures.

On those humid days of summer

perspiration drips faster.

Heatwave and dewpoint is to blame.

Humidity is another name.

We're not happy when it's too hot.

When it's too humid, happy we're not.

If it were to rain, would we be happy?

Are we ever content? Not likely!

So it rains as we desired.

Then how we perspire.

Our energy is drained

and so is our brain.

Discontent we are.

Unhappy by far.

Definitely restless.

In fact, quite useless.

All because of the "dog days" that arrive each summer

named after the dog star “Sirius”; which has stars for fur.

Those hot days between early July and September,

which many look forward to each year, known as summer.

(Do take a moment to look up the constellation of Canis Major. It really does look like a canine in the night sky. The brightest star in that constellation is named Sirius,

which according to mythology is the bringer of the summer heatwave.)

* * * * *

I'm wondering if those discontented in I Samuel 22:2

were so because they were up to their eyeballs in distress because of debt too.

I would be, wouldn’t you?

Would you feel blue?

Here are other "d's" that discourage

in this generation, at any age:

death, depravity, despair, destitute, detestable, disability, disappointment,

discrimination, disease, disgrace, distress, downcast, drought, disillusionment...

(the list is endless).

Other "d's" are "do not's"; i.e. commandments.

For our well-being and long life they are meant.

Do not: deceive, defraud, defile, be dishonest, be devious,

dishonor, disobey, disown... - this is a short list, it's obvious.

And many other negative words

often discourage then bring discord.

How can one overcome

the damage that's been done?

There is a solution, it's: DELIGHT yourself in the Lord.

In doing so you'll find God's blessings will continually pour,

but not what the world thinks as affluent.

God's blessings are peace and contentment.

These blessings are yours to enjoy

when DELIGHT in the Lord you employ.

On the Lord rely.

Give it a try.

All those who were in distress, or in debt, or discontented.

I Samuel 22:2

Have no other gods before me...

You shall not make for yourself an idol...

Do not misuse the name of the Lord your God...

Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy...

Honor your father and your mother...

You shall not murder....

You shall not commit adultery...

You shall not steal...

You shall not give false testimony...

You shall not covet...

Deuteronomy 5:6-21

Delight yourself in the Lord

and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 37:4

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STORMS

 

Storms

Clouds gathering in the sky,

the sun now hidden by and by,

distant thunder draws nigh,

lightning flashes by and by.

The wind comes from who knows where.

There's the smell of rain in the air.

Raindrops

start to plop.

Raindrops turn into sprinkles, than

sprinkles turn into showers, than

showers turn to pouring rain.

Will the sun ever shine again?

The temperature cools

as the storm moves through.

Vegetation

takes a beating.

Limbs sway

every which way

as trees take a shower

from nature's awesome power.

Torrents of rain

and thunder reigns

as this afternoon's storm

leaves leaves and limbs torn.

Puddles form

before too long

then flooding from the downpour

as thunder continues to roar.

The sky is laden slate gray.

Nervous dogs are heard bay.

Although rain was needed, "enough already."

The storm turns into a shower steady.

Sooner or later the storm blows through

then gray clouds make way for skies of blue

for behind the clouds, the sun

was waiting to shine all along.

When the sun does finally shine through

a rainbow's spectrum will surprise you

with a promise,

nature's kiss...

lovingly bestowed

on everything below

assuring that God is in control

even when storm clouds continue to blow.

* * * * *

Yes, behind the storm clouds the sun

was hidden, but still there all along.

Yet our focus was on the storm,

of new fears being born.

Behind our personal storms the Son

is forgotten, but still there all along.

His focus is always on us

even when we forget to trust.

Sometimes it takes a storm

for us to finally learn

that the Son knows what is best.

It's when we learn His faithfulness.

Next time there's a rainstorm

think about this lesson learned,

that the hidden sun will again shine

and the Son is there for you - all the time.

He stilled the storm to a whisper;

the waves of the sea were hushed.

They were glad when it grew calm,

and he guided them to their desired haven.

Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love.

Psalm 107:29

He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging water;

the storm subsided, and all was calm

Luke 8:24

For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son

and believes in him shall have eternal life.

John 6:40

The life I live in the body,

I live by faith in the Son of God,

who loved me and gave himself for me.

Galatians 2:20

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God,

and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well.

This is how we know that we love the children of God:

by loving God and carrying out his commands.

This is love for God: to obey his commands.

And his commands are not burdensome,

for everyone born of God overcomes the world.

This is the victory that has overcomes the world, even our faith.

Who is it that overcomes the world?

Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God

I John 5:1-5

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JULY

 

July

Those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer (by Nat King Cole)

when our gardens display a rainbow of colors

when we celebrate July 4^th

our freedom and our nation's birth

when each morning we can't wait to see

what has bloomed, we're filled with glee

when birds serenade with song*

early morning then all day long

when bees hum merrily

among the gaiety

when butterflies flutter here and there

sampling the tastiest fare

when cumulus clouds float dreamily overhead

or maybe there's an afternoon shower instead

when the rainbow of flowers

welcomes afternoon showers

when berries ripen under the sun

and taste sweet on one’s tongue

when blossoms of yellow and gold

fill the garden with wealth like gold

when vegetables grow by inches each day

and you harvest almost every day

when a breeze feels refreshing

after non-stop sweating

when grass grows despite the heat

as children run with bare feet

when sprinklers produce laughs

and children forfeit baths

when there's a perfumed scent

that seems to be heaven sent

when fireflies flash s-o-s,

then it's bed time, at last

oh, the joys of summer

when life seems funner.

* * * * *

If your house

is like my house

there's much work to be done

under the summer sun.

But a lesson I'm learning

is to take time for enjoying.

I sit outside to compose.

About what? Who knows?

Today I saw an ant transporting a dead moth.

Although I didn't look closely, I assume via his mouth.

I thought how strong the ant must be

for the moth was much larger than he.

"Mighty men of valor" came to mind.

Let's see what God places on my mind

for I don't know what I'm going to write

when I start a rhyme on paper white.

Valor means courageous, brave, gallant, a hero.

Cancer victims or those terminally ill come to mind or

those with limitations, rather mental or physical,

are courageous as each and every day is a struggle.

Those who care for these loved ones are courageous, too,

for every day brings more challenges anew.

They all bravely face unlimited burdens with grace

and are often seen with a smile on their face.

Of course, those mighty people of valor in the military.

Each and every one, rather home or abroad, allow us to be free.

And those who protect us in our towns

for we know there's much evil to be found.

These and other courageous, brave, gallant protectors

who quite often are forgotten, unsung heroes

survive each day through God's mercy and grace

throughout the universe, in every race.

Do you know someone you consider a "mighty person of valor?"

Be sure to tell them they are appreciated for they are a hero.

A compliment will long be remembered,

as well as a good habit to be practiced.

And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him (Gideon),

and said unto him,

The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valor.

Judges 6:12 (KJV)

And the man, Jeroboam, was a mighty man of valor;

and Solomon,

seeing the young man, that he was industrious,

made him ruler over all.

I Kings 11:28 (KJV)

And they helped David against the band of the rovers;

for they were all mighty men of valor,

and were captains in the host.

I Chronicles 12:21 (KJV)

*(Regarding birds singing in the morning, it is called “dawn chorus.” I’ve noticed birds actually call forth sunrise. I’ve read that male voices are the loudest. [I’ll admit I sometimes close the window as 4:30 is too soon to get up.] I hope you have opportunity to witness this songfest! Surely it will put a song in your heart. What better way to start the day.)

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