“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns your with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” Psalm 103:2
Remember the Lord’s benefits. We often fail to meditate on His works, praise Him with song and magnify Him with thanksgiving.
Carrots are a wonder
A couple of days ago I harvested a carrot from our garden (photo above). Scientists recognize carrots as a wonder, and much research has confirmed their benefits. My favorite discovery about the healthfulness of carrots and squash is that they are among the richest sources of alpha-carotene (polar compound) which as part of a diet of whole foods also containing lutein (non-polar), has been associated with healthy aging including improved mental capabilities and reduced levels of arterial plaque. God’s speech through carrots is that He is great, wise and loving, satisfying us with good. This year I extended my knowledge of God’s goodness through carrots by letting some of last year’s crop remain in the ground this year so they can go to seed.
Carrots, parsley, and parsnips in our garden are a favorite source of nectar for beneficial wasps.
Notice all of the different kinds of wasps on these carrot flowers, the future source of carrot seeds.
It seems that Blue Mud wasps (that prey on black widow spiders) especially like our parsley flowers.
Vegetable gardens are a forgotten blessing.
The Worlds Healthiest Foods site provides an excellent summary about the benefits of carrots including recipes. It also shares that people only eat on the average 5 pounds of carrots a year and it is the 6th most consumed vegetable in the U.S. following potatoes, tomatoes, onions, head lettuce, and sweet corn. Low vegetable consumption is one of the most significant contributors to early death globally. We forgot God’s command through the prophet Jeremiah to “plant gardens and eat their produce” (Jeremiah 29:5, 28). We don’t seem to remember that He made vegetables and that He heals all our diseases, crowns us with steadfast love and mercy, and satisfies us with good (Psalm 103:2 above).
“All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the LORD. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.” Isaiah 66:2
I pray that nations will humble themselves and with a contrite spirit (mourning for sins), tremble at His word and walk in His ways.
We need to guard our health
I like Tim Challies’s reminder that we need to nurture our body in-part because there is an inseparable unity between body, mind, and soul.
“The elder to the beloved Gaius whom I love in truth. Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.” 3 John 2
“For Gaius to be as active and effective as possible in God’s work, he must have a healthy body and a healthy soul.”
The Lord’s love is steadfast to the children of those who remember to do his commandments
“But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments.” Psalm 103:17-18
God blesses children with exemplary faith, wonder, sincere joy, trust and eagerness to please the Father. Invite children to your gardens and share in their amazement in the goodness of God.
