by Melissa Meyers
Psalm 34:8 —Taste and see that the Lord is good, blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
As the verdant leaves of summer, crisp and color, some to vibrant hues of flaming orange and golden yellow, others to the shade of the earth, they remind us that the season of harvest and thanksgiving is coming. King David reminds us, in the book of Psalms, many of us are currently doing a deep dive into, that we should take time to taste and discover the goodness of God.
Often life can seem heavy and the challenges ahead of us, confusing or difficult to navigate, yet all around us God has blessed us with good things, small and great. Sometimes these blessings come in the form of giving and receiving. This month Dianne Orth shares with us the gift of hospitality that she and Larry have shown by receiving numerous guests into their home over the years. For them, it has been an act of giving, but it has also been an act of receiving the unexpected blessings of friendships that have formed over daily chats or sharing a meal.
Being in a small group that breaks bread together is important, and Katie Yager’s article shares how her small group has made fellowship over a meal an intricate part of their group life, modeling the early church in the book of Acts. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. (Acts 2:42-47.)
If you are looking for a recipe to share or ideas for hosting, Melissa Skogan has a delicious Pumpkin muffin recipe you’ll want to bless others with, and Jill Pearson will inspire you to pull out those cookbooks to cook up a feast, which of course is best shared with others. Andrea Koch will make you smile with her humorous article on the ups and downs of sourdough bread baking.
Shifting gears, as we feel the weather change around us, the cold brings sometimes a sense of loss, as the life-giving warmth gives way to darker days and a barren landscape. Perhaps, the change reflects the perfect month to acknowledge that October is also infant and pregnancy loss month. We are grateful to Carol Siverling and her willingness to share her story, and we hope it encourages others who have faced this—you are not alone, and the second half of Psalm 34:8 is particularly poignant during such a time, blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
I hope you enjoy the cool crisp days ahead and relish the goodness of God that he has given us during this time of thanksgiving and harvest that we are now in.
Melissa Meyers is co-editor of The Stir, wife to John, and mother to Malcolm (19) and Emily (16). She is a Neonatal Nurse and Creative Writer. She is the author of, Beneath the Ancient Dust: Inspirational Stories from Nine Years in Afghanistan. Her hobbies are coffee, reading, and taking long walks. She will accept an invitation for coffee anytime and loves to hear how God is working in your life.