Week 12 - Day 5

*Beets are a purple root vegetable with a sweet earthy taste

that contain a wide variety of vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients.

Learn more about pine nuts and beets on page 169 of your Healthy Home Ec book.

Start with fresh, whole beets.

(from the garden or the grocery market)

Gather your supplies and ingredients.

 Remove stems;

scrub clean with a food scrub brush.

(I find that peeling them after they are cooked is easier than before they are cooked.

Also, leaving the peels on when they cook helps them to retain more of their color.)

Cut into quarters if they are larger;

keep whole if they are small.

Cook in boiling water until tender.

Toss together the greens.

Toast the pine nuts.

Divide the greens into your bowls.

Once the beets are cooked,

drain them;

rinse under cold water until they are cool enough to handle;

and peel them using a paring knife or vegetable peeler.

Slice the beets, and arrange over the greens.

Sprinkle with a little crumbled feta cheese.

Sprinkle pine nuts over the salad greens.

Drizzle each salad with a little balsamic vinegar...

and extra virgin olive oil.

(The amount listed in your ingredients list on page 168

is an approximate amount you'll use for the entire 4 salads.

You can add more or less depending on taste.

Divide those numbers by 4

and that's about what you'll use per salad.)

The finished product:

Isaiah 1:19 says, "If you are willing and obedient,

you shall eat the good of the land;

but if you refuse and rebel,

you shall be devoured by the sword;

for the mouth of the Lord has spoken."

So I'd like to share with you something that has been weighing heavy on my heart...

Isaiah goes on to say in verses 21-23...

"How the faithful city has become a harlot,

she that was full of justice!

Righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers.

Your silver has become dross, your wine mixed with water.

Your princes are rebels and companions of thieves.

Everyone loves a bribe and runs after gifts.

They do not defend the fatherless, and the widow's cause does not come to them."

Wine mixed with water means that people are being deceived.

What Isaiah is prophesying sounds a lot like nations and cities today.

He goes on...

"Their land is filled with idols; they bow down to the work of their hands,

to what their own fingers have made." (Isa.2:8)

"The youth will be insolent to the elder, and the base fellow to the honorable." (Isa.3:5)

"...their speech and their deeds are against the Lord...

they proclaim their sin like Sodom, they do not hide it.

Woe to them!

For they have brought evil upon themselves...

O my people, your leaders mislead you, and confuse the course of your paths."

(Isa.3:8-12)

"Woe to those who call evil good and good evil...

Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes...

Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine...
(Isa.5:20-22)

Jeremiah tells us in chapter 2 that if we go after worthlessness,

we will become worthless.

Jeremiah also told God, "Ah, Lord God!  Behold, I do not know how to speak,

for I am only a youth."  And God answered, "Do not say, 'I am only a youth';

for to all to whom I send you you shall go,

and whatever I command you you shall speak.  Be not afraid..."

My friend, you are not worthless. You are the child of a King.

You have purpose, you belong, you are loved.

Here is God's will for us...

"cease to do evil, learn to do good; 

seek justice, correct oppression;

defend the fatherless, plead for the widow."

(Isa.1:16-17)

I pray for your generation, that you will be strong and courageous for the Lord.

That when God says, "Whom shall I send,"

you will answer, "Here am I!  Send me."

We are to serve the generation we're in, and be a witness right where we are,

where God has placed us.

Are you seeking Him?

Are you serving Him where you are?

Are you aware of the deceitfulness around you and praying for wisdom?

Will you be willing to defend and stand up for righteousness

so that you and your future children will be able to eat the good of the land?

Consider, listen, and be wise.