Kelly's Butternut Squash Soup

My infamous Butternut Squash Soup Recipe-- I love it and everyone asks me for it!

Kelly's Butternut Squash Soup Recipe

6 tablespoons chopped onion
4 tablespoons margarine
6 cups (approx) peeled and cubed butternut squash
3 cups water
3 cubes chicken or vegetable bouillon
1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Brown sugar to taste
Cream or milk for extra richness

1. Boil the butternut squash until soft, drain, and set aside.
2. In a large saucepan, saute onions in margarine until tender. Add squash, water, bouillon, marjoram, black pepper. Simmer.
3. Blend in blender until smooth. Add brown sugar or maple syrup for sweetness and cream for an extra smooth treat!

The "Big C" (Contentment)

Sigh ... I wish I didn't have to say this, but I have really been struggling with my "Big C"--contentment. And like usual, I'm struggling with being content with my job situation (which feels more like a lack of job situation) and our finances.

I don't know if it's just who I am, but discontentment is that sneaky little sin that likes to tip toe it's way into my life just when I think everything is going well. Maybe it will always be like that ... maybe it's something I, like many other women, will always have to deal with. But I also know that my God has some encouraging words to say about contentment--and these words spoke to my heart this morning.

"⁶ But godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷ For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. ⁸ But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. ⁹ Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰ For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 

¹¹ But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. ¹² Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses." 1 Timothy 6:6-12

Thank you God, for these words. I'm reminded that you love me and know my heart, and you can fill all the voids that are making me discontent. I'm reminded that I can't just linger in my discontentment as it may lead to other sins and destruction. I'm reminded that nothing in my life is an accident or chance--you are in control of all things and therefore I can trust you even in times of struggle.

My prayer and hope is that God can work out my discontentment and teach me to be happy with where I am and what I have. This morning, I felt Him gently remind me that if I was working today, I would not have had meaningful time alone with Him to work through some of my discontentment. And as I walked away from Starbucks (my favourite place to sit and meet with God), I felt my heart melting just a little as I clung to the truth that God loves me, even when I don't feel I deserve it, and His love never fails.