Miriam Ibrahim is Free!

2 Corinthians 2:14 NOG "But I thank God, who always leads us in victory because of Christ. Wherever we go, God uses us to make clear what it means to know Christ. It’s like a fragrance that fills the air."

Praise Jesus!!! Miriam Ibrahim, along with her 2 children, has recently been freed from the women's prison in Sudan! The Sudanese government finally dropped the horrid death sentence they had convicted Miriam of (for refusing her Muslim faith) after 4 months of torture.

You can read more about her release here and here to read more about Miriam Ibrahim's case.

Let us keep praying for those who are still in captivity, that they may have strength and be freed by God Himself!!

Psalm 146:7 NOG "He brings about justice for those who are oppressed. He gives food to those who are hungry. Yahweh sets prisoners free."

Easy Dinner: Taco Bisquick Bake

¡Hola! :) Let me tell you about a super easy and speedy dinner recipe: a taco bake! Cheesy, flavourful, and fresh... A very good alternative to traditional tacos!

If you so happen to have a passionate hatred towards cheese like me, cheesy is not always good! :P But do not despair, you can always halve the recipe into two separate dishes to bake if you prefer.

 

Josh Garrels - Farther Along (Folk/Hip Hop song)

Shalom! :)

Yesterday Jesus made me found this AWESOME song by Josh Garrels. "Farther Along" is a classic Christian song which has been interpreted by many talented singers, but so far, this is my favourite version.

Lyrics:

Farther Along 

Farther along we’ll know all about it 
Farther along we’ll understand why 
Cheer up my brothers, live in the sunshine 
We’ll understand this, all by and by 

Tempted and tried, I wondered why 
The good man died, the bad man thrives 
And Jesus cries because he loves em’ both 
We’re all cast-aways in need of ropes 
Hangin’ on by the last threads of our hope 
In a house of mirrors full of smoke 
Confusing illusions I’ve seen  

Wholesome Double Chocolate Muffins

Good afternoon!

Here is a recipe of the *most delicious* chocolate muffins you will ever eat... And they so happen to be good for you too! But beware, they are addictive! ;)

My sister, Sara, found this awesome recipe on http://sallysbakingaddiction.com/2013/04/17/skinny-double-chocolate-chip-muffins/ and modified it a little bit. These beauties- I mean muffins, are so good that she had to make them twice this week! Thank you sister for letting me share the recipe! :D

Sara says: These muffins are wonderful... They are moist, filling, and satisfying to the sweet tooth! They make great diversity for busy mornings, plus, they're suitable for anytime snacking as well! :)

Ingredients: 
3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce (We didn't have any, so I made my own using this recipe:http://www.recipecommunity.com.au/sauces-dips-spreads-recipes/apple-sauce/92142)
1/2 cup granulated sugar (I used coconut sugar)
1/4 cup honey
1 large egg (or 2 egg whites)
1/2 cup buttermilk (or 3/4 cup plain yogurt)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour (or 1/2 whole wheat, 1/2 white)
A dash of salt
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup chocolate chips, plus a handful for sprinkling on top.

Directions:
Preheat the over to 425F, and grease your muffin tins with oil or use 12 reusable muffin cups.

Mix together the applesauce, sugar, honey, egg, yoghurt, and vanilla until smooth.

Sift together the flour, salt, cocoa powder, baking soda, and baking powder.

Incorporate the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, and whisk until combined (but don't overmix!), then fold in the chocolate chips. Put enough mix in the molds to fill about 3/4 of the way. Sprinkle a couple chocolate chips on top, and bake for 5 minutes at 425F.

After 5 minutes, without opening the oven, lower the temprature to 375F and bake for an additional 15 minutes. Insert a toothpick, and when it comes out clean, you know they're ready!
 

They also make wonderful hospitality gifts; just wrap them in a pretty tin, and voilà! I hope that you and your family will enjoy these scrumptious muffins, please let me know how they turned out! :)

In all sisterly love,

Imprisonment of Meriam Ibrahim

Hebrews 13:3 NOG "Remember those in prison as if you were in prison with them. Remember those who are mistreated as if you were being mistreated."

Meriam Ibrahim with her newborn daughter, Maya, who was born at the Omdurman women's prison last week.

Meriam Ibrahim is a Sudanese woman (married to a US citizen) who was recently imprisoned for refusing to deny Christ. Meriam was born to a Christian mother and a Muslim father, so in the eyes of Sudan, it automatically made her Muslim. But this was until the government discovered that she was truly a Christian... Her Christianity makes her an apostate (a crime in Sudan), and the only penalty to apostasy is torture and death. Meriam entered the Omdurman women's prison pregnant with her daughter, Maya, so the prison decided to punish her with 100 lashes and then kill her after the birth. This is directly from Satan himself!!!

Meriam Ibrahim and her husband after their wedding...

You can read more about it here and here.

"She's still on death row for her Christian faith. She faces torture - 100 lashes for marrying an American Christian - before she is to be hung. It's pure evil. Her son Martin, a toddler, and her newborn daughter Maya - both U.S. citizens - suffer in prison with her. Sudan has publicly stated that executing her for being a Christian isn't "violating human rights." In the same statement, it outrageously claimed it supports religious freedom." -Jay Sekulow, ACLJ Chief Counsel

 We, as being free, can do something... We can pray, intercede, contribute, sign petitions, ... But we can't let this go for anybody!

Galatians 5:23 NOG "You were indeed called to be free, brothers and sisters. Don’t turn this freedom into an excuse for your corrupt nature to express itself. Rather, serve each other through love."

I pray that Meriam and her children have the strength to survive victoriously and stand firm in Jesus...  How blessed will they be when they enter heaven, but Lord willing not because of the hands of evil executers! 

James 1:12 NOG "Blessed are those who endure when they are tested. When they pass the test, they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him."

You can help by signing the BeHeard Project petition here, and the petition for many other suffering brothers and sisters here. 

Thank You Jesus for hearing us, I know that You are in control!!

I hope that you have a beautiful day praising and thanking the Lord for our freedom!

In all sisterly love,

Out Of The Ground... (What's In Our Garden)

Genesis 2:9 "And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil."

Yesterday my family and I planted a garden in our backyard! Last year we had the blessing of cultivating zucchinis, tomatoes, and herbs in a small area close to the shed, but this year we had to plant something much bigger! :)

Jeremiah 29:5 "Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them;"

It is astonishing to think that tiny seeds (and short plants) can grow into strong, healthy greenery for food! Yahweh is SO amazing!!! 

Mom planting radish seeds with Sara... We had wonderfully rich soil, thank You Jesus!

James 5:7 "Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain."

The seeds we planted...

Red radishes...

Round baby carrots...

Rainbow carrots...

Sugar & snow peas...

Red & green lettuce...

Simpson lettuce...

Zucchinis...

Galatians 6:9 "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."

I have learned so much whilst gardening... Not only how to arrange the seed rows and other tips, but how God is our ever rich soil! 

Matthew 13:3, 5-8 "And He spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; ... And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:

But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold."

Me carrying the fresh herb plants... :)

Proverbs 15:17 "Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith."

The herbs we planted...

Sweet basil...

Oregano...

Cilantro...

Spearmint...

Parsley...

Garlic (not really an herb)...

Rosemary...

Sage...

Chives...

Stevia...

Catnip (hopefully we won't have too many visits from our neighbourhood cats... Wait, that'd be cute!)...

I am thrilled with all the possibilities of health remedies I can make from these herbs! Did you know that catnip is very good for humans? No, it won't make us crazy and hyper... It actually relieves respiratory problems, insomnia, anxiety attacks, toothaches, stomach aches, heals wounds quicker, ... Just to name a few!

Here is the final result! 

Our finished garden! Everything is there except for a few herbs, the pumpkins, and the butternut squashes. We are planning on adding 2 more soil boxes, so this is why there's a big pile of dirt in the back! :P

The vegetables we planted...

Red, purple, orange & green sweet peppers...

Big boy tomatoes...

Beefsteak tomatoes...

Pumpkin...

Butternut squash...

Scotch Bonnet hot peppers...

Cucumbers...

Isaiah 58:11 "And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not."

John 15:5 "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing."

I hope that you enjoyed looking through our garden! :) I pray that we all become like tender plants grounded in God's good soil, bearing an abundance of fruit!

Have a lovely week!

In all sisterly love,

P.S.: Thank you all for your prayers about my grandpa! He is still at the hospital, but finally got a room (he stayed in the hallway because the hospital didn't have any available rooms). They are still trying to find what is wrong with him, but so far so good. Praise the Lord!!!