Pork Chops Anyone?

I love to watch the Food Network. I am not a great cook by any means and I get pretty bored with my repertoire (yes, I had to look up how to spell that word). I watch the shows in hopes that one day I will go in the kitchen and magically be able to whip out a gourmet meal all the while looking fabulous in full make up and nice clothes. It has yet to happen! However, this weekend I watched Down Home with the Neely's and they actually cooked something that I thought I could do. I went to the grocery store and purchased my first frest herb, cilantro. My goal was to prepare marinated pork chops with a pineapple fruit salsa. It sounds delicious doesn't it. I started preparing for dinner before lunch time today which was a first for me. I assembled my marinade which consisted of honey, olive oil, fresh garlic, jalepeno pepper, cilantro, fresh squeezed lime juice, salt and a dash of red wine vinegar. I bought nice thick pork chops just like the ones the Neely's cooked. I was excited. I could just hear the cheers from my family as I plated my beautiful chops with pineapple salsa tumbling down them.

My husband came home from work and grilled our beautifully marinated pork chops. When he brought them in they looked delicious. The honey in the marinade had glazed the chops just like the Neely's said it would. My mouth was almost watering. I served my husband his chop and surprised him with the fruit salsa. He said it looked good. I then fixed my plate and I could not wait to get a bite of the pork chop. The Neely's had friends over when they served this meal and every one was moaning and groaning with delite as they ate. I was anticipating a few moans and groans of delite from my own dinner table. I sank my teeth in to the first bite and I could have swore some one traded my beautiful, honey glazed pork chop for a piece of shoe leather. It was so tough! I could not taste the garlic or even the salt for that matter. It was just a regular ol tough pork chop. I tried not to act disappointed, but my eyes had deceived me. What looked so wonderful on tv and so wonderful on my plate, left so much to be desired.

Isn't that what satan does to us daily. He tries to entice us with things that look nice and appeal to our weaknesses. I was reminded of the Garden of Eden and how delicious and alluring he made the fruit look to Eve. We are quick to judge Eve and wonder how she could fall for his scheme. But if we are honest don't we do the same thing. I have decided to get more passionate about hating satan and the lies he tries to get me to believe. Everything that looks good is not always good. My pork chops are proof. Everything that sounds good is not always truth.

I know that it takes more than passion to combat satan. We have to go deeper in our relationship with the Lord. We have to know the Truth of God's Word so we can identify lies. We have to be ready for battle everyday. Let's suit up in the armor of God and show satan that we are not going to be easily fooled.

Ephesians 6:11-17

11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.