Sometimes, we get tired of our Christian calling. Some days it really seems so hard to stay faithful to living the way Jesus has asked us to live. Other days we will be under a barrage of attacks from the devil in his bid to shake us up and discourage us. I know this to be true from personal experience, there are times when I just sit and think, “This is so hard!” Smiling when I don’t really feel like it, praising when I feel discouraged, encouraging others when I am hurt inside, seeking God when we’re tired…..but the word of God promises us in
1 Corinthians 15: 58: Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
These are the words we need to focus on when the going gets tough, that our work for the Lord and our labor in the Lord is not in vain, it is not without reward. Even though we don’t feel like it right now, we will see the fruit of our efforts one day. We see in
1 Corinthians 15: 39-42: For not all flesh is the same, but there is one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is of one kind, and the glory of the earthly is of another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory. So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable.
The heavenly bodies that we will be raised with, will not all be the same, but we will reflect the fruit of our lives on earth, our faithfulness to the cause of the Lord.
As women, this should have great significance for us! We are ever concerned with what our bodies look like in this temporary world. We adorn it with jewelry and expensive clothes, we try to keep in shape (most of us…I am sadly not part of that group), we take care of our hair, cut it, straighten it, perm it, style it….the list goes on….all this for a body that is ever decaying and on the fast track to the grave.
How much more should we be concerned with our heavenly bodies….the ones we will have to keep around for eternity. Should we not want to make those bodies as glorious and beautiful as we possibly can?
The Bible says in James 1: 12: Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
Wow! What a wonderful accessory that would make for our heavenly bodies! Let us pray to the Lord for the grace to keep striving faithfully and steadfastly, even when things are hard so that we can claim that crown of life from him!
Today I’d like to share my sister’s famous butter chicken recipe in her own words! It’s been raved about far and wide so enjoy!
Butter Chicken:
Chicken Breast - 500 gms
For chicken marinating:
Coriander powder - 1/2 tsp
Chilly powder - 1/2 tsp
Cumin powder - 1/4 tsp
Lime juice
Salt - to taste
Keep for half hour
Mix the below spice with Yoghurt (1cup) and add to marinade – keep for half hour again
Coarse Spice Mix
Cloves - 8
Peppercorns – 8 to 10
Cinnamon - 1”
bay leaves - 2
Cool and add the cardamom seeds – 3 to 4
Heat a flat pan or griddle on medium heat and gently roast (stirring frequently) the cloves, peppercorns, cinnamon, bay leaves and almonds till they darken slightly. Cool and add the cardamom seeds. Now grind into a coarse powder in a clean, dry coffee grinder.
For Gravy:
jeera - 1 tsp
Onion (medium size) - 2 nos
(chopped)
Ginger-garlic paste - 1 1/2 tsp
Tomato - 3 nos (boiled – peeled and pureed)
Coriander powder - 1 1/2 tsp
Chilly powder - 1 tsp
Garam masala - 1/2 tsp
Kasuri methi - 1 1/2 tsp
Cashew nut - 10 nos & Poppy Seeds (optional) in ¼ Milk for 1 hour and grind to a paste
Butter - 1 tbsp
Tomato ketchup - 1 tbsp
Sugar - 1/2 tsp
Single cream - 200 ml
Preparation Method for Butter Chicken :
1)Cut chicken breast into small cubes, wash and drain.
2)Marinate the chicken pieces with the remaining items mentioned marinade as explained above.
3)Leave the chicken for a minimum of 1 hour.
4)Then fry the chicken pieces and leave aside.
5)Take the oil used for frying(3-4 tbsp) along with the browned masala particles sticking to the pan.
For Gravy:-
1)Add Jeera, and when it splutter, add chopped onion, saute for 2-3 mins.
2)Then add the ginger garlic paste.
3)Add the coriander & chilly powders and the kasuri methi(crushed between your palms) and mix well.
4)Add the pureed tomatoes
5)Add cashew paste.
6)Remove the gravy from the fire and blend well in the blender.
7)Heat butter and add the blended gravy and mix well.
8)Add ketchup, sugar, cream and stir well.
9)Add the chicken pieces to this and reduce the flame and leave it for 3-4 mins.
10)Sprinkle 1-2 pinch of garam masala to Butter Chicken and stir well.
11)Remove Butter Chicken from fire and serve with naan, rotis or chappathis.
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