Here's a hearty, delicious winter meal to add to your rotation. My mom made this growing up and now I make it for my family. As with any good roast, it has amazing flavor...but the red wine and Italian flavors set this one apart in my book! I've tried many roast recipes and this one remains my all time favorite!
Recommended music while cooking: Dean Martin, Mambo Italiano
Bon Appétit!
Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.
Colossians 4:5
Heavy topic warning.
I gotta be honest...I have come to dread the month of June. Yesterday alone, as I began writing this entry, my computer calendar pinged no less than a dozen times reminding me that tomorrow was a "holiday"- The first day of "Pride" month. Apparently we all need to recognize a month where darkness is celebrated and a beautiful symbol of my Lord has been hijacked for the promotion of sin.
I am actually sorry for those who celebrate birthdays in June. Trust me, my name is Karen....I know the unpleasant feeling of the world assigning negative connotation, seizing hold of something personal to you for it's own purposes!
Allow me to continue a moment before I get to the good news. Things are getting increasing dark. A few days ago I saw a video of a man dressed like a women, pole dancing provocatively on a cross that held another man pretending to be Jesus. It grieved my heart. It angered me.
And yet, I know that God will not be mocked. As a person sows, they shall also reap. (Galatians 6:7-8) Sadly, people like this are storing up wrath for themselves; yet, so long as there is breath in their lungs, redemption remains a possibility. God is abundantly patient and long-suffering. He doesn't want anyone to perish, but rather desires everyone to come to repentance and be reconciled back to Him. (2 Peter 3:9)
So what is the Christian response to "Pride" month? Should we stay silent, hide our heads in the sand or post memes snarky memes social media? Although I do have the spiritual gift of snarky memes (joking!) I am done just complaining and shaking my head in astonishment as I watch the never-ending downslide and destruction of the moral fiber of our nation from the sidelines.
I am ready to take action against the ever encroaching darkness pervading into our culture, our minds, and upon our children. It's time to light it up!
I believe it is time to intercede in the spirit with intention and expectation for our God to move! Scripture says we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against the rulers, the principalities, authorities, and spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 6:12)
Think about that for a moment.
Did you know that human beings are the prize to be won? You are highly valued! And so are the souls of those deceived into the LGBTQ movement.
Although it may look bleak right now; June is not lost. Even in the darkest of times, God is always at work. Don't let the enemy convince you that the fight is futile! It's never too late when we look to God, rather than relying on our own strength.
Just last year...in the midst of "Pride" month, God granted us the overturning of Roe v. Wade. While much of the nation was taking pride in perversion, God was reminding us all that He is the author of life and defender of the innocent.
And God is even using this increasing darkness to wake up the sleepy, stagnant church.
This is a war, and it is time to put on the armor of God and take our place on the battlefield.
We need to confess our own sins and extend forgiveness to others. God says that our unconfessed sins and unforgiveness toward others can hinder our relationship with Him to the point that He neither hears us nor forgives our sins. Yikes! (Isaiah 59:2, Mark 11:25-26)
We need to pray like never before. We need to pray scripture and ask God to release the power that resurrected Jesus from the dead on his church! We need to ask God to demolish strongholds in the heavenly places! We need to ask for wisdom and boldness to make the most of every opportunity!
Lastly, we need to stop compromising and coming into agreement with the agendas of this fallen world. (Romans 2:12) Rather, we need to show God's love to the LGBTQ community by telling them (and those affirming them) the truth. (Romans 1, Jude 1:7, Mark 8:36)
Psalm 24:1-2 The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters.
1 Chronicles 29:11 Yours,Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.
Matthew 28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me."
Genesis 9:13-15 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life.
Ezekial 1:28 Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him.This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. When I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the voice of one speaking.
2 Corinthians 10:4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
Psalm 36:1 I have a message from God in my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked: There is no fear of God before their eyes.
Proverbs 14:34 Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people.
Matthew 25:1-13 Parable of the 10 Virgins “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be liketen virgins who took their lampsand went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.“Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’“But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
Revelation 3:15-16 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
Ephesians 6:10-11 Finally, be strong in the Lordand in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
Ephesians 6:19-20 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
1 Timothy 2:25-26 Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
2 Corinthians 4:4-6 The god of this age has blindedthe minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ,who is the image of God. For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”[a] made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.
I pray this stirs your heart and encourages you into action. When we war in the Spirit through proclaiming the Word of God, we remind Satan that he is no match for Yahweh!
Until Next Time,
Guest Post by Whitney Mahoney, Band of Opals.
Is there anything better than watching something you planted take on a life of its own and grow? A child growing in your belly, swimming, kicking, dreaming, and developing. A seed you planted grows into food to eat, a tree to climb, or a flower to admire. A financial investment that blesses you down the road with a return. Teaching someone a skill and watching them surpass you.
I finally planted lettuce this year. I love fresh lettuce. I remember the first time I joined a CSA and picked up a box of spring vegetables from a local farm. I couldn’t wait to get home and try all the different greens. Finding out what in the world kohlrabi was… was a totally different mission.
If you have eaten only grocery store lettuce all your life, then suddenly try fresh-cut lettuce you are in for a treat. It couldn’t be more different than the bland or bitter lettuce you’ve been eating. It’s fresh and sweet and barely related to what you can get in the produce section.
I’ve always wanted to grow some of my own vegetables but lacked the skill and motivation. This year I thought, “What’s the worst that could happen?” So, I tried again and ordered some seeds, sowing them into the raised beds built by the previous homeowner. I planted four different types and then did it again two weeks later this time with a different spacing method. I’ll do it again in another week. Something is bound to make it onto my dining room table before summer. If I’m lucky I will have more than I can handle, and I will get to share an abundance with friends.
Today when I went out to water the garden and see how my seeds were growing, I was surprised to see so much green there. This made me think of a parable.
He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.” (Mark 4:26-29 NIV)
I really don’t know how the seeds grew! I know the ingredients the seed needed, but how? It knows when to sprout, what leaves to form first, then next. It will know when to flower and produce seeds of its own. Thank goodness it doesn’t need my guidance. It has God to thank for that. He created plants to produce seeds of their own kind and gave us the task of tending them.
The way things grow in the spiritual world is just as mysterious to me. A few years ago, a very good friend of mine came to visit. After working together and doing life together for years we both left that job and moved away. She moved out of the state, and I moved out of the area. In the intervening years, we traveled to see each other and kept in touch, sometimes a little, sometimes a lot.
During that time God called me back into relationship with Him.
He called me out of every type of sin. He started healing up all the wounds and changing my routines. I spent hours with Him, learning, worshipping, and changing.
She drove to see me, and we sat at my dining room table and talked for hours. At that time, because of COVID, all our lives looked a little different, but she was single and worked a job that required telework and had had a lonely year. She was down and my heart ached for her.
Just before she left, we were standing in the kitchen and I heard God say, “Pray for her. I’m the only one who can help.” “Oh, please no, God. That would be so awkward. She knows old Whitney. She knows potty mouth, drunk, adulterous Whitney. She knows rude, inconsiderate, gossip, Whitney.” He did not let me off the hook, and I was right, it was awkward.
I prayed that He would comfort her and draw near to her. That He would heal her heart and bless her with His friendship. In the middle of praying, I peeked to see what she was doing. She was looking at me with a bewildered expression. “What is happening?” Is what I read on her face. That face that both God and I loved.
We didn’t discuss it again but about a year later I had an exciting phone conversation with her. She told me she went to church with her mother and stepfather and that the sermon had somehow been specifically for her. “How did that happen?” I knew. She told me she had been listening to a podcast that told short Bible stories, and that confirmed it. God was wooing her.
He was doing it because I had asked, and I had asked because He wanted to do it. I don’t know how it grew after I planted it. That was His seed, and oh my how it has grown.
She is a follower of Jesus now. It has been amazing to answer questions, discuss sermons, read the Bible together, and watch her grow. God reveals amazing things to her, and I have benefited from it many times. A good harvest. She is already producing her own seeds.
There is no friendship like a Godly friendship. Even that has been transformed. Something that was already a blessing has become greater because it is now built on Jesus.
The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. (1 John 1:2-3)
I am guessing that when I eat that first fresh salad it will spur me on to plant lettuce seeds again in the fall. In fact, once I have seen some success, I will probably want to plant more things, not just lettuce. I will research and shop and pray that God blesses my efforts. I will share with my husband and teach my children. We will praise God because He and His creation are good.
Now that I know what God can do with my small acts of obedience, I want to plant more Kingdom of Heaven seeds. I want to check back in and water the ones I can. I want to share with my husband and teach my children. I want to gather testimonies and praise God for how He makes things grow, and how He has woven His Word throughout nature.
Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory in the heavens.
Through the praise of children and infants
you have established a stronghold against your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.
When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? (Psalm 8:1-4)
