Bread, Oil and Wine

The calendar turned to November recently.

As I reset calendars and set out Thanksgiving décor, I find myself breathing disbelief.

Hard to keep up with, this turning of time.

But it marches and moves and passes.

Sometimes it even cajoles.

Life’s seasons coax us to feel or emote in particular ways.

Our family marks this particular season with fall colors and apple crisps and all things pumpkin.

We simmer apple cider and we pre-order turkeys from Kampala.

We start cycling the Christmas music.

We recall the warmth of memory, home and family.

And we are reminded to thank.

Our paper pumpkins collect on the kitchen door. The little and big things we praise God for. The difficult things we are disciplining appreciation into.

It is good to write it all down. To mark it.

David did this so beautifully.

In the Psalms.

“Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits…” Psalm 103:2

David is specific and detailed in his praising. His lists are long and descriptive. He nurtures the remembrance of our God who loves and acts in mercy and truth for all of us.

“Whoever is wise, let him heed these things and consider the great love of the Lord.” Psalm 107:43

In the considerations of Psalm 103-107 this passage has my attention today:

 “He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for man to cultivate—bringing forth food from the earth: wine that gladdens the heart of man, oil to make his face shine, and bread that sustains his heart.” Psalm 104:14-15

Our Provider meets our needs with careful attention to that which ‘gladdens’ and ‘sustains’ and ‘makes us shine’.

Today I record (in photos) the ‘bread’ and the ‘wine’ and the ‘oil’ of this season in my life.

“May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the Lord.” Psalm 104:34

sweet :)

                                             

Funny boys :)

My beautiful girl!

Chef Kinley 

An All Boy schoolroom
(Kinley is completing High School work on her own--tests are mailed and graded in the States. She is working hard and making A's. So proud of her!)

Peace--our other daughter:) and Kinley's sister friend

Lovely coffee in Fort Portal. A true sign of advanced civilization :)

Dad's stories draw a crowd. (Everyone in the kitchen after dinner--storing it all up in my heart.)

Twenty years of marriage. Eighteen years in Uganda. God's grace to us, over and over again.

Exceedingly. Abundantly. Blessed. 

“Praise the Lord, O my soul.  O Lord my God, you are very great…” Psalm 104:1