God's rescue mission and a better plan for my life.

November 4th, 2015

36 years ago today I was rescued! 

And was put on a KQ (Kenya Airways) flight from BOM to NBO, if I am not mistaken it was KQ 205. 

At that time I did not get it but for few years now I have learned to clearly see this as God's divinely orchestrated rescue mission for me; literally, physically and spiritually, from dangerous, unhealthy and ungodly circumstances! How grateful I am to God for this!

I was born in India and grew up part of my life there as well of which, few years were away from my parents, since they were working in Kenya, Africa. As much as I am thankful for the relatives and neighbors who did do good to us, sadly some of the folks back 'home' did not prove to be trustworthy and so we not only lacked proper upbringing but were also taken advantage of at a young age. 

From my later conversations with my parents in Nairobi, Kenya, I saw how much they had worried about me during those years; They told me that they thought of me every time they heard a song that talked about a young girl's protection, especially these lines from a song of an Indian movie of those time, "Mukh chamke jyun Himalay ki choti, ho na padosi ki neeyat khoti, O Gharwaaalon jara usko sambhaalo, yeh toh hey badi bholi" (Her face shines like Himalaya's peak, may the neighbors' motives not get corrupted to molest her, O folks back home, please take care of her she is very naive.) Sadly, the motives did get corrupted and yes, I was taken advantage of by some of those people. 

BUT God!!! Well, yes, thank God, that I also grew up going to church and learning about God. Spiritually speaking I was a baby in my faith walk; 'born again' 'in principle' on August 15th 1978, but I did not know what that really meant practically at a tender age of 14 in a real day to day living! Even though in some areas I had a clear sense of right and wrong, in some important things of life I did not have discernment and was introduced to twisted ideas at an early age, so continued still living in sin thinking it was love, care, fun and something you had to give back to get protection or help;

Aren't you ever so grateful along with me that God divinely steps in our lives to protect us from wicked people and also stops us from self-destructing ourselves, even when we are young and naive? In 1979 with the wisdom of my uncle John and of my caring cousin Rev. Ashok Parmar, and of course of my parents, GOD uprooted me from a sin sick environment I was involved in Nadiad, India, living among some wolves; and GOD brought me to Nairobi, Kenya, on 04 Nov 1979 on that KQ flight. From then on it has been an excellent faith journey. 

I thank God for His better plan for my life, for cleansing me, for bringing godly and truly caring people like Mrs. Madhu Sheth, my mentor during those years and Joyce Kabiru (Odongo) my prayer partner and fellow singing group member who worked with me and taught me the truth with grace; helped me learn to live in purity, grow in wisdom, in understanding, and in Biblical knowledge so as to stay on a narrow path. God blessed me with good friends, good jobs and yes even though there are wolves all around but God continued to protect me. I live to glorify God and my life is an amazing testimony of a changed life. Jesus transforms life even today!

Dear reader, no matter what your past is for has been, whether evil was done to you or you chose it, Lord Jesus can bring you out of it and change you into a whole new person and make your life worth living. God has given you conscious, His grace is available; take the help that He provides, do not think to allow abuse of any kind in your life to become normal. Let God rescue you. Let me conclude with this beautiful Psalm that I read today in my devotion:

Psalm 121: (NKJV)

I will lift up my eyes to the hills—From whence comes my help?

2 My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.

3 He will not allow your foot to be moved;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, He who keeps Israel
Shall neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord is your keeper;
The Lord is your shade at your right hand.
6 The sun shall not strike you by day,
Nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord shall preserve you from all evil;
He shall preserve your soul.
8 The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in
From this time forth, and even forevermore.

To God be the glory! 

Kalpana Christian Sharma (Mrs.) 

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Parents, require obedience of your children, a good article by John Piper

Hi Dear friends,

This is a good article by John Piper about what God expects of us as parents! I hope you find this article useful to read and even to share with others who can benefit from it. Let us encourage parents to do their part.

Blessings,

Kalpna

here is the link: http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/parents-require-obedience-of-your-children

Jeera-Mari Biscuits/Cookies (Cummin-Pepper bikis).

Jeera-Mari Biscuits/Cookies (Cummin-Pepper bikis). 

I found the recipe in my old recipe book.This is a salty snack. There is a sweeter version also but today its the salty one's turn;

Ingredients needed: 

1 cup All purpose/plain flour
1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
salt as per your taste
3/4 tsp. Jeera (cummin seeds)
1/2 tsp coarsely crushed Mari (black pepper)
2 Tbsp corn flour
1/4 tsp Baking powder
1 Tbsp soji (Semolina)

1. Mix the flour, baking power and corn flour and sift thru seive (strainer) 2-3 times. Add Soji.
2. cream the butter and add jeera and mari and mix it well.
3. Add the flour mixture and mix well till it forms dough like texture. NO need to add water or milk. The butter alone is enough.
4. Divide into two balls and roll it with a pin to a good medium thickness (not to thin and not too thick). Cut into the desired shapes with cookie cutters.
5. Pre-heat the oven and bake the bikis at 200F. for 10 min and reduce to 150F until they have a light pink color. (use your own timing and judgement as weather and oven temp differ at times) Do not overcook. Enjoy with tea!

(This recipe had first come into an old Gujarati "Stri" magazine 35 years ago) I had tried it then and over the years as well and find it very delicious.

Zucchini leaves saag "Greens" - Indian style

Spiced up Zucchini leaves greens (Indian style)
Galka na paan ni Bhaji (Gujarati)
Zucchini leaves Saag (Hindi) _____________________________________


Looks like Spinach or Sarso da Saag but its really Zucchini leaves.

I like to eat healthy and so lots of vegetables so I am a game for trying out new things in this realm. Last summer July 2014 my daughter did a vegetable garden in our back yard and the Zucchini plants were flourishing well. While we ate the Zucchini in different ways, someone came up with an idea to try out Zucchini leaves. So here is the recipe came up with.


1. Couple of Zucchini leaves, washed and  chopped. (the more the leaves, the better the density)
2. 1 medium/large onion, chopped
3. Garlic ginger paste - to taste
4. 1 teaspoon of Cumin seeds  (Jeera)
5. Salt to taste
6. Jalapeno to taste.
7. 1-2 table spoon oil for heating, tempering and flavoring

Method:
1. Put the chopped zucchini leaves to boil in a pan with little water, when tender turn off the heat and let it cool.
2. Try to take minimum water and put it in a blender to grind to a not so fine paste.
(If you take cupful or two at a time you may need to do it in few batches) It should not be watery so do not add any extra water while grinding.
3. Heat the oil in a pan and add cumin seeds (Jeera) for few seconds, then add chopped onion and garlic ginger paste, let it cook for a while. When onions are tender, add the ground/meshed zucchini leaves, salt and jalapeno peppers. Cook for few minutes and remove from the heat.

Eat warm with Roti (Chapati), Paratha, Naan or Pitta bread. It is tastier.

Enjoy heating healthy,

Kalpana Christian Sharma (Mrs.)
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Fathers' Day 2015 - Joe Eng, a great Piano teacher

Piano Teacher Joe Eng with our girls Narita and Stuti Sharma after their recent Piano recital

On this Fathers Day of 2015 Bharat and I want to take time to thank God for a kind, goodhearted and generous man of God, Mr. Joe Eng, whom we fondly call Teacher Joe. (Tr. Joe) He has been a committed piano teacher to our children since last 13 years.

He has been faithful to God and to what God has put on his heart for children, i.e. teaching music. He is a husband, father to nine kids, grandfather and to top it all, a strong believer in Christ, and a superb piano teacher especially to kids.

He knows how to patiently teach music to kids and connects well with parents. So not only to kids but Tr. Joe is a darling among the parents also. He is such a fun loving person, capturing kids' attention, praying for them and relating in such a sweet way that kids feel at home with him. He prays with kids before and after lessons, encourages them as a father or a grandfather would; social and friendly like Mr. Rogers' in the community.

We came to know him in Fall of 2002. Kids had a good piano teacher back home in Kenya so when we came here we were looking for a good piano teacher who would understand how kids learn. We were new in the country and home schooling, so on top of being a piano teacher, he was like "Mr. Rogers in the neighborhood" informative and helpful in connecting us with many kids' activities in the city. That has been a blessing. He also got to know us as parents and as good friends. And so he has stuck with us thru thick and thin for all these years and we are grateful to God for showing HIS steadfast, amazing and awesome faithfulness to our family thru Tr. Joe, regardless of where we have stayed near or far. He is more than a piano teacher to us, he is a grandpa figure to our kids and we appreciate him much. We continue to introduce him to other parents and kids and they too appreciate him. 

One of my best aha moments is: few years ago, when he used to come home on Saturday mornings,  I would be in the kitchen preparing "Indian snacks and brewing fresh Chai latte" that he enjoyed much; before beginning his lessons he would go on our piano and start playing an awesome classic hymn, "Great is thy faithfulness O God my Father!" oh, he would fill the house with this beautiful music and I would be so blessed, that I would have tears in my eyes because I know what that hymn means to so many of us especially during the difficult days. What an encouragement! Bharat and I have had fun times, and  praying moments as he would listen, give wise godly counsel and pray with us and for us. 

There is hope in the world we live in because there are godly men around like Tr. Joe who continue to share God's love and the grace of our Lord Jesus in practical and tangible ways, selflessly and with what they are able to give, yet giving SO much more and impacting the next generation with God's Grace, Hope and Music which are everlasting even beyond death. We know there is going to be music in heaven so what an eternal legacy God continues to build thru Tr. Joe's life!!!   

On this Father's day we honor Tr. Joe on my blog thanking God for him. We would not be able to repay him in tangible ways for his kindness and generosity to us ward but I pray God continue to shower HIS choicest blessings upon this soul, grant him good health all the days of his life on earth, provide for all his needs and carry on encouraging him to see HIS eternal rewards thru the eyes of faith.

Two verses that come to my mind are : 1 Thess 5:12 "Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other."

1 Cor. 15:28 " Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain." (NIVUK)

Have a Happy Fathers' Day every one!

In gratitude to God for godly men like Tr. Joe! THANK YOU, Tr.. Joe!

Kalpana Christian Sharma (Mrs. )

together with Bharat Sharma

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Watermelon Smoothie - simple recipe for a cold drink

Watermelon Smoothie!

My simple recipe:

1 cup or two of Watermelon pieces

1 mug of milk (about 10 oz) that is like a cup and a half! 

One or tea spoons of rose water OR Rooh Afza available from Indian grocery stores.

(Vanila Ice cream scoop) optional

On a hot and humid day like yesterday I made this simple smoothie and my family loved it.

Mix the above ingredients in a blender and blend it for few min only. You can add or lesson the ingredients quantity as per your taste and like. Also you can add the ice cream later just before serving with a leaf or two of fresh mint! ah! Enjoy the coolness!  

Kalpana Christian Sharma (Mrs.) 

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Watermelon Spiced Pickle (Indian Recipe) Tarbuch Athanu (Tarbuch/Kalinda Achar)

Tarbuch Athanu (Tarbuch/Kalinda Achar) Watermelon spicy pickle

1. Half Watermelon's skin, scrubbed inside, cut into bite-size pieces, and washed.

2. Lemon juice to soak the watermelon pieces (half the bottle) You can also use vinegar but it becomes a lot more sour with vinegar. (if you like more sour taste, by all means try it out)  

4. 1-2 cups of vegetable oil. (When putting in a jar, make it possible so that the pickle pieces will be immersed in the oil, so use discretion as you would know the quantity you would make)

3. Achar Masala pack. (available at any Indian grocery stores) (depending upon your tastes you can use between 2-5 tables spoons to a cup for half watermelon's skin. (less will make it light and more will be spicier, you choose!) 

4. Air tight containers (mason jars)

Few years ago after taking the pulp of the watermelon we used to discard off the skin. It is then that my younger daughter came up with the idea to use the watermelon skin to pickle. I thought, hey! why not try spicy pickled watermelon rinds? So here is the recipe, its simple, inexpensive and delicious.

1. Cut the left over watermelon skin, after scrubbing off the red part of it as much as you can so you are left with the white part inside and keep the top green skin as is. Chop to small edible size pieces. Wash them thoroughly and drain out the excess water.

2. Take a good generous amount of lemon juice, (you can use the 100% concentrate that comes in a bottle or fresh) Note: I used vinegar for number of times but it became more acidic and tangy so I changed to lemon juice. By all means, if you are fond of very acidic or tangy flavor, try out that as well.

3. Keep the watermelon rind pieces soaked in the lemon juice for 2 or 3 days, giving it a good stir every day at least once. You will notice the watermelon pieces becoming tender and taking in the lemon juice. Now its ready to be spiced up! Drain out and discard the lemon juice by using colander (a perforated bowl), it will keep the watermelon pieces well moistened and with sour flavor, while the juice will drain out. You will notice it is good and dry enough to coat with the spices. 

4. You can either make your own Achar masala, (as my aunt and many women did it for years and years) or you can buy ready made Achar Masala pack available in any Indian grocery store. My MIL has been sending me Apex Achar masala from India.

5. Heat a generous amount of oil in a pan. You want the pieces to be almost immersed in the oil so use your discretion. (Do not worry, if you used less oil; in a day or so after you can warm up some oil to be lukewarm and add! not a problem!) When the oil is heated, let it be slightly lukewarm.

6. Take  2-3 table spoons of the Achar Masala and add to the soured watermelon pieces (as per your taste and quantity, I have tried from 2-3 cups to almost a cup to make it more spicier!) and mix each piece well; then add the lukewarm oil.

OR (if you are like my daughters who like a "smoked" BBQ type flavor in their food, you can add the Achar masala to the heating oil and heat it up a bit! When you smell the BBQ smoked smell turn off immediately and take it down or add straight to the watermelon pieces.)

Mix it well.

7. Transfer into mason jars/air tight containers and leave it for 2-3 days. Keep shaking the jar once a day so it is mixed well. You can then keep it in a fridge and enjoy with your meals as a condiment, a tea spoon or two at at time.

When I was growing up it was said that the spiced up Indian Athanu, aka Achar, (spiced pickle) whether mango, or any other usually is made to last a year. It does last for a year or even more if you keep it refrigerated. But if you enjoy it so much, I doubt if it will last even a month! Well, the good thing is the season is here to get watermelons, eat the pulp which is good for this season, and use the skin to pickle, it is easy, and inexpensive to make many jars and refrigerate to enjoy or bless your friends and family as well, like we do. with every blessing, Happy pickling!  

© Stuti Sharma (Ms.) and Kalpana Christian Sharma (Mrs.)