Sweet Victory

One year ago today I found myself unexpectedly dropped at the base of a spiritual mountain. It looked and felt insurmountable at the time.I had never been in that place before....never experienced what I was suddenly experiencing and several of the people I would normally have gone to for prayer and encouragement were no longer an option. I was in uncharted territory.
My immediate response was to forgive the people involved (Matthew 6:14-15)...I just could not afford to harbor bitterness. Hurt of course takes longer to heal...but I knew in order to get over the hurt later on I first had to forgive or I would get nowhere. So I did.
Next, I prayed....I immediately fell back on Luke 6:28....and I prayed blessings on all the people involved like I had never prayed blessings before.

Then I waited.............for three months I waited. I cried, I prayed....and I waited some more. Those closest to me like my husband and my friends and family prayed and encouraged me....and we ALL waited. There were times I wondered when God would show up....I never doubted that He WOULD act....I just didn't know when. I kept telling people that I knew there would come a time when I would be able to look back and say it was all worth it. I knew that no matter how much pain I was in...somewhere down the road it would be a war story that had a victorious ending....I just needed to stand firm and wait.

Let me tell you something....God showed up...just like the Bible says He will. Three months later, almost to the day, breakthrough showed up in a series of phone calls.  In little ways along the journey God reminded me that He had already fought the battle for me, but at the end of that three month period He SHOWED me. GOD ALWAYS KEEPS HIS PROMISES.
I'm telling you readers this because I don't know what you're going through....but I do know God keeps His promises. If you keep seeking God and keep obeying what His word says to do when the enemy strikes....you WILL see victory...and I promise you, it will be better than anything you imagined...the blessings will be beyond words and all that you lost will be restored to greater than before. You may not have the same people in your life and the environment may have changed....but believe me....it will make what you lost, pale in comparison to what you have gained. How long will it take? I don't know, but God knows. Mine only took 3 months, yours may take a few days, a few months or a few years, but GOD ALWAYS KEEPS HIS PROMISES. So hang in there....don't give up your victory is coming.

Matthew 6:14-15

Amplified Bible (AMP)

¹⁴ For if you forgive people their trespasses [their ^[a]reckless and willful sins, ^[b]leaving them, letting them go, and ^[c]giving up resentment], your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

¹⁵ But if you do not forgive others their trespasses [their ^[d]reckless and willful sins, ^[e]leaving them, letting them go, and ^[f]giving up resentment], neither will your Father forgive you your trespasses.

Luke 6:28

Amplified Bible (AMP)

²⁸ Invoke blessings upon and pray for the happiness of those who curse you, implore God’s blessing (favor) upon those who abuse you [who revile, reproach, disparage, and high-handedly misuse you].

(OR) 

Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010)

“Bless those who curse you, and pray over those who take you away by force.”

Ephesians 6:13

New Living Translation (NLT)

¹³ Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.

 Romans 8:28

Amplified Bible (AMP)

²⁸ We are assured and know that [^[a]God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.

 1 Corinthians 2:9

New Living Translation (NLT)

⁹ That is what the Scriptures mean when they say,

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard,
    and no mind has imagined
what God has prepared
    for those who love him.”^[a]

 

1 Corinthians 15:57

Amplified Bible (AMP)

⁵⁷ But thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory [making us conquerors] through our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Cor. 2:14

The Lesson In Silence

 

 

"It's good to shut up sometimes."
-Marcel Marceau

A rather interesting quote from a man who was made famous because of his silence, don't you think? Makes me wonder about the lessons he must have learned from being so silent and just watching and listening as he mimed his way through a career and life. As I read that quote I was reminded of an experience we had at our street ministry a few years ago.

On this particular Saturday, I was behind the table serving soup and one of our volunteers at that time was standing near me serving the drinks. This was a beautiful warm day so the water was especially in demand. As I waited for the next person in line to reach me, I glanced over to see one of our regular ladies approaching the drinks. She has a very sweet and childlike spirit due to mental illness, but heavy medication tends to make her twitch with nervous laughter and talk to herself.....a lot....and loudly. Usually though, the things she says make us laugh because they are the things a 5 year old would say, blunt and yet, innocent. She has very curly blonde hair, which she usually lets go wild and bushy. She wears almost every piece of jewelry she has ever owned and odd clothing combinations on her wisp thin frame as well as about five layers of nail polish, all of which are chipped and peeling.

  I personally find her crazy irreverence completely endearing...she makes me smile, and I always look forward to seeing her, however not everyone feels the way I do. This particular day I watched as she approached the table quietly muttering to herself, and then I suddenly felt a twinge in my stomach because I knew who would be handing her the water. Now the particular volunteer who was handing out the water that day is a very kind man who loves the Lord and is always looking for ways and place to serve the church and God. A man of honor and a man of deep faith, but a man who sometimes struggles with the "unlovely" nature of street people. I quickly looked at him just in time to see him scanning her up and down and curling his lip at her current state. I was so hurt inside I wanted to lash out at him and tell him to get off the serving line if he couldn't treat her with respect. However, inside my heart I heard God tell me to keep quiet and watch what would happen next.

Just then as I saw her reach for a cup and he quickly pulled his hand away, then suddenly her previously inaudible muttering became loud enough for those listening to hear. I watched in amazement as she looked him square in the eye and in a solid and non-medicated voice she quoted him the Bible verse, "..And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward." Just then she took a sip and walked away and was gone for the day.

I wanted to start crying as I watched that volunteer's eyes get big and follow her as she disappeared into the crowd. God is sooooooooo GOOD, and He always gets His point across far better than we ever could. Had I lashed out at him, I would have set a bad example for all the people around me, both behind and in front of the table. I wouldn't have gained anything, but instead, would have lost the trust and respect of so many who need us to be gentle with them, and learn from our example. I also wouldn't have made the point to this young man as well as God was able to, through the vessel of a rambling street woman, the very one who should have been offended by his actions the most.

At times pride and lack of understanding can cause all of us to struggle with an intense aversion towards a lot of the very people we are called to minister to. It doesn't mean we're bad people or even bad Christians, it just means that's an area where we need to grow. Let's face it....these people are glaringly different than what we're used to, they don't speak the way we speak, they don't act the way we act, and they don't dress or smell the way we do. However, they need someone, anyone, to show them love and acceptance in a wounded lonely life where they have had little to no genuine kindness or affection. They are in fact, the entire reason we are out there...and to the heart of God...the smells of urine, sweat, dirt, cigarette smoke and alcohol are the sweet perfume of a hungry heart.....sweet enough that He gave His son for them.

I'm glad I kept my mouth shut that day, and let God work, He really does handle those situations so much better than we would.

 

Exodus 14:14 English Standard Version (©2001)
The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.

 

 

 

AMH Cooks: Francesca's Pickled Eggplant

Sooooooo here is another favorite recipe I want to share with you. I was trying to decide what to share when some friends of my husband specifically asked for this one so they coud share it within their online group. Sooooooo I thought, PERFECT! This is a favorite of mine that my 80+ year old Italian neighbor, Francesca taught me. It's a little time consuming (especially because it should marinate for a few days after you prep it....but it is soooooo worth it, especially if you love authentic Italian food, which I do.

           
       Francesca's Pickled Eggplant

Ingredients:
4 or 5 medium eggplant
Coarse Kosher Salt
1 cup white vinegar
2 cups water (if making more just always use a 2 to 1 ratio with vinegar)
6 medium garlic cloves
10 leaves fresh basil, minced
15 small leaves fresh oregano, minced
red pepper flakes to taste
Cold press extra virgin olive oil

Glass jar to store in (mason jar, re-purposed olive jar, etc)

Directions:
Trim ends from eggplant, and peel. Cut into quarters lengthwise then turn sideways and cut those 4 quarters into strips (picture making french fries....that's the general size you want)

Place your strips into a plastic colander (certain metals can react with the eggplant causing a nasty taste), then cover them with the Kosher salt, and mix well by hand to ensure all pieces are coated. Place colander in sink, covered with a paper towel, and let sweat for about half an hour to 45 minutes. Sweating the eggplant pulls most of the moisture out of the eggplant and if you are using big eggplant it also helps remove the bitter bite.  

Rinse eggplant strips well with cold water, drain, and repeat 2 more times. After 3rd time rinse well with cold water then wring out any remaining water from the strips by hand. Finally, pat them dry with paper towels.

Combine vinegar and water in a non reactive saucepan, and bring to a boil. Add eggplant and pepper flakes, and boil until tender, about 2-3 minutes. Drain into plastic colander, and let cool for a few minutes. After draining, squeeze strips between paper towels to dry.

Pour a thin layer of olive oil into the bottom of your jar. Add some eggplant strips, a clove of garlic, some of your herb mix, and repeat until your jar is completely full. Make sure the eggplant is totally covered with oil, and nothing exposed at top of jar. You can use your finger or a fork to push down anything sticking above oil line. Seal your jar tightly, allow to cool then place in fridge*. For the absolute best flavor let it sit and marinate for a few days so they really soak in that flavor...but if you can't wait....I've had some the next day.

*Your oil may solidify as a result of refrigeration, don't worry, it's fine. Just set jar out on counter a few minutes before you want to serve and the room temp will loosen up the oil.

Now....this is good as part of an antipasta or by itself, in a salad or on a sandwich. My favorite way to eat it is on a warm ciabatta roll with sliced turkey, mozzarella cheese and olive oil. PHENOMINAL!!! I hope you enjoy this as much as I do and as always, let me know what you think.