By Penelope Carlevato
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26 NIV
This time of the year can seem very dreary, and with each new snowstorm or tornado warning, the days of spring and summer seem so far away.
All the dead trees and the brown lawns don’t give much hope of seeing any flower bulbs popping up soon. But, slowly, as the days grow longer (we gain about 2–3 minutes a day), we begin seeing the sun more often, and our hope is restored … spring will soon be here.
A Life That Defied the Odds
Life is very much about seasons, and just last week, I thought about a young mom I met many years ago.
She was an inspiration to me and thousands of others as she lived her life in a wheelchair. Four years before I met her, she had been diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and was given a death sentence of two to five years.
Just last week, she went home to Jesus, living an impossible lifespan of 27 more years.
She was a great source of encouragement to her four children, whom she homeschooled for many years, and anyone fortunate to meet her. She never let her disease control her life, but showed her love of Jesus in countless ways, always with the other person in mind. As a former college state track champion, she made every effort to be a cheerleader for her kids in the many sports they competed in. She had the heart of a coach, not only on the field.
Still, she dedicated her strength to encouraging others who were also ALS patients by being active in political causes for research, having support groups, and traveling to ALS events across the country.
Her husband of 36 years remarked that she did more in a day from a wheelchair than most people accomplish with functional limbs. But most of all, she showed the love of Christ in the way she lived her life, which most people would consider impossible.
God Still Works Miracles
Our Bibles are full of stories that sound impossible to most of us.
Moses, Joshua, David, Daniel, Jesus feeding the 5,000, Peter walking on water, Lazarus raised from the dead, and now another beautiful story of my friend. God continues to perform miracles that, to us, seem impossible. I am always so disappointed when friends and family continue to deny their need for Jesus, even when they hear stories like the one I just shared.
So, what can we do, as fellow believers in Jesus Christ?
The Scripture in Colossians 3:17 instructs us to do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus. So for me, and maybe also for you, it means opening my home and using my hospitality gift. Perhaps it’s just a cup of tea and a Girl Scout cookie or inviting neighbors over for dinner; I always want to do it in the name of Jesus.
I am so thankful for my friend who showed me that nothing is impossible when Jesus is walking the road with us.
A Legacy of Hospitality
My mother was not a great cook, but she loved sharing her hospitality gift.
I remember one day she shared a new and amazing recipe with me. It was over 30 years ago, Bisquick had this recipe on the back of the package: Impossible Quiche!
What makes it impossible is that you don’t have to make a crust; it appears magically as you bake. She never grew tired of making this, and I still follow the directions on the worn and torn cut-out from the package.
It is a fun recipe, and by adding a tossed green salad, your guests will think you spent the day in the kitchen!! Make it with ham and cheese, or do a vegetarian version.
I also add chopped spinach into the tin.
Bisquick Impossible Quiche
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cup cubed smoked ham or bacon
- 1 cup shredded Swiss cheese
- ¼ cup chopped green onions
- ½ cup Bisquick mix
- 1 cup milk
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon pepper
- 2 eggs
- 1 tomato sliced for garnish
Directions:
- Heat oven to 400ºF. Grease a 9-inch pie tin.
- Place the ham, cheese, and onions in the bottom of the pan.
- Mix the Bisquick, milk, salt, pepper, and eggs until blended.
- Pour the mix over the ingredients in a pie tin.
- Bake for 35 to 40 minutes until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool, then cut into wedges and serve.
- Garnish with the tomato slices.
Find more of Penelope’s recipes at leadinghearts.com.
