Hold Tight to His Heart + A Summertime Recipe

“How happy is the one who does not
walk in the advice of the wicked
or stand in the pathway with sinners
or sit in the company of mockers!
Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction,
and he meditates on it day and night.
He is like a tree planted beside flowing streams
that bears its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.

The wicked are not like this;
instead, they are like chaff that the wind blows away.
Therefore the wicked will not stand up in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked leads to ruin.”
Psalm 1 CSB

When hard news comes, when difficulties happen, we can be tempted to think that if our life is a Farmer’s Market, the stalls will now be empty. There will be only fragile leaves chased away by the wind. All the glory and color will be gone.

But the reality is this: As long as we are joined to Jesus, there will be fruit in our lives — from the time we are sneaker-wearing teenagers to silver-haired senior citizens blowing out one hundred candles on the cake. In other words, there will always be miraculous things coming to and through us.

The fruit in our lives will thrive. That doesn’t mean nothing hard will ever happen or we’ll get everything we want. But it does mean that God’s plans for our lives are invincible when we stay connected to Him. Life’s droughts and storms can’t stop Him from bringing forth His miraculous work in and through us.

So let’s cling to God’s promises. Hold tight to His heart. Have strong roots that burrow deep into His affection for us. We will not falter. We will not fail. We will not lead a barren life at any age. Yes, we will be women of beauty, growth, and blessings as long as we live. Because we are trees planted by the river of God’s love, and it will never run dry.

This excerpt is by Holley Gerth, published in the (in)courage Devotional Bible. It has been edited from its original form.

And now a brand new recipe for you!

Thank you to our friend Nancy C. for putting together this delicious recipe that tastes like summer and uses fresh herbs and produce. Put those farmers’ market or backyard garden bell peppers, broccoli, cucumbers, and herbs to good use with this delicious dill dip! We hope you try this dip with friends all summer long. Scroll down for the recipe and to download a FREE printable recipe card!

Lemon-Dill Dip

Download the FREE recipe card here!

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Bake Time: none
Makes 4-6 servings

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup sour cream
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1 tsp. fresh lemon juice
1 tsp. lemon zest
3 Tbsp. finely chopped fresh dill, plus a little more for garnish
2 tsp. minced onion
1 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. salt
Dash of pepper

INSTRUCTIONS:

In medium-sized bowl, mix together the sour cream, mayonnaise, and lemon juice.
Next, add in the lemon zest, fresh dill, minced onion, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
Cover and refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours before serving.
When ready to serve, garnish the top of the dip with a sprinkle of chopped fresh dill, if desired.
Serve dip with raw veggies, crackers, pretzels, and/or chips.

Note: A variety of crackers and fresh, raw veggies go well with this dip, like baby carrots, cucumbers, bell peppers, and broccoli.

Find these beautiful serving dishes and tea towel set in the Mary & Martha home collection at DaySpring. And tell us – what’s your favorite recipe for using a Farmers Market bounty?