Natural Health and Wellness

SENSE ABOUT SCENTS has morphed. As an Independent Representative of the Young Living Essential Oils company, many received a monthly newsletter via email, SENSE ABOUT SCENTS. Since discovering the wonderful ONEGroup miessence® line of organic skincare and cosmetics , and launching my FOOTSTEPS IN EDEN reflexology business I've seen what I believe are some awesome reasons for morphing that newsletter into this wonderful blog. Since late October I have been working to bring blog readers helpful information on a variety of health and wellness topics. I've also included links to fun, informative, and educational spots on the web offering products and services I believe my readers will love and enjoy. When I am forced to categorize this blog, it's under health and wellness, but my readers also find posts and links relating to greening our world, family, spiritual matters, shopping, and more. In the last couple of weeks I've learned to offer an opportunity for readers to be...

Abundance™, one of my favorite essential oil blends, is said to "resonate at the frequency of attraction." Now I'm not exactly sure of the technical explanation for that one, but as its name might indicate, the use of this oil has been known to have a magnetic influence drawing blessings to the user. There is a living energy captured when plant materials are distilled at optimal low temperatures and pressures for all the hours it takes to bring every tiny valuable constituent of the flower, leaf, bark, or root into the final product. Young Living works patiently to assure their oils are of the finest quality produced at these most exacting standards. The aromatics of essential oils do have some incredible influences over the mind, body and spirit. It's interesting that Young Living's Abundance™ Essential Oil Blend contains to single oils, frankincense and myrrh, oils that have been highly cherished for centuries for their spiritual, emotional, and physical heali...

A certain brand of room fresheners you plug into your wall may cause home fires. An email with this message came across my screen this morning with an origination date of Sunday, March 23, 2008. All indications were that I was in the 2nd generation of readers after the originator of this WARNING! This sent me on a quick search of the internet. Would you believe that the same message has been circulating verbatim for four (4) years now?!?! Yep! Four big years. What did I learn? There had been a concern that a "lot" of them may cause fires, and were recalled by the manufacturer before any did. A child stuck a copper penny in one once. The penny and the electricity didn't quite mix well. The current arced the penny and a fire was started. And then there was the information that I already know. The ingredients in these air fresheners may be rather noxious and toxic to your health as you breathe the fumes into your lungs. Allow me to offer you what I believe to be the better c...

HALLELUJAH!!! HE IS RISEN!!! After the Sabbath, as the first light of the new week dawned, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to keep vigil at the tomb. Suddenly the earth reeled and rocked under their feet as God's angel came down from heaven, came right up to where they were standing. He rolled back the stone and then sat on it. Shafts of lightning blazed from him. His garments shimmered snow-white. The guards at the tomb were scared to death. They were so frightened, they couldn't move. The angel spoke to the women: "There is nothing to fear here. I know you're looking for Jesus, the One they nailed to the cross. He is not here. He was raised, just as he said. Come and look at the place where he was placed. "Now, get on your way quickly and tell his disciples, 'He is risen from the dead. He is going on ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there.' That's the message." The women, deep in wonder and full of joy, lost no time in leavin...

Mohar: the price a prospective groom paid to her family to secure the betrothal. To secure The Church as His Bride, Jesus the Christ paid an enormous mohar. The price was the ultimate in shame, pain, and a most brutal and agonizing death. We commemorate His ultimate sacrifice/payment today. How does your heart respond? SHAME: Spit on; dressed up as a silly looking king (purple robe & crown of painful thorns) and mocked; beaten; hit in the face; made to carry His own cross . . . His reaction: Such a large crowd of witnesses is all around us! So we must get rid of everything that slows us down, especially the sin that just won't let go. And we must be determined to run the race that is ahead of us. We must keep our eyes on Jesus, who leads us and makes our faith complete. He endured the shame of being nailed to a cross, because he knew that later on he would be glad he did. Now he is seated at the right side [a] of God's throne! So keep your mind on Jesus, who put up with ma...

Thursday evening of Holy Week -- Jesus served His disciples by washing their feet. That's not considered a very pleasant task. They walked dusty roads on their sandaled feet. The dust that hopped into their shoes, mixed with sweat on their feet from the warm climate would have made for some caked on mud. It's a good bet they may have sported blisters and callouses besides -- perhaps cracked skin. Yet Jesus possessed the humility for the task in spite of His status as God Incarnate. In a Bible study session recently someone commented about our individual willingness to wash feet if that is the task God has prepared for us to do. God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:8-10 My though...

All 4 of the Gospel writers in the New Testament record an account of Jesus being anointed with costly pure nard or Spikenard. Quiz: 1) Was He anointed on His head or His feet? 2) How many times during His ministry was He anointed? a. 3 b. 6 c. 1 d. everyday 3) Who anointed Him with the precious oil? a. Mary of Bethany b. Mary Magdalene c. An anonymous woman d. All of the above 4) Where did the anointing(s) occur? a. Simon the Leper's home b. Lazarus' home c. Simon the Pharisee's home d. At the Last Supper It is easy to assume these are all the same story. Closer reading will show they are actually 3 different occurences in Jesus’ life and in 3 different locations. One was at the beginning of His ministry, one was 6 days before His burial, and yet another one was 2 days before His burial. The time of Luke’s story is the early days of Jesus’ ministry at Simon the Pharisee's home most likely by Mary Magdalene. Ou...

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY Celebrate the kind of St. Patrick's Day that would please the saint himself, and bring glory to the God he served. Some of our traditions associated with this holiday are simply fun and even a bit silly, and I believe that is OK! Others that are not so uplifting and certainly not of a nature that honor Jesus Christ and His Gospel -- the Gospel shared freely by St. Patrick don't get such a big thumbs up here. He shared it not only with those closest to him, but also with the very people that imprisoned and mistreated him for many years. Green means growth: perhaps celebrate by growing in your own relationship with Jesus Christ today, by helping someone else grow in theirs. Better yet share the Gospel with someone who doesn't yet know . . . they will be on a brand new green sprout in the Kingdom of God. St. Patrick would be honored for the glory you bring to the Living God. For insight into St. Patrick's life and his ministry visit Proverbs 31 ...

"The next day the huge crowd that had arrived for the Feast heard that Jesus was entering Jerusalem. They broke off palm branches and went out to meet him. And they cheered: Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in God's name! Yes! The King of Israel! Jesus got a young donkey and rode it, just as the Scripture has it: No fear, Daughter Zion: See how your king comes, riding a donkey's colt. The disciples didn't notice the fulfillment of many Scriptures at the time, but after Jesus was glorified, they remembered that what was written about him matched what was done to him. The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb, raising him from the dead, was there giving eyewitness accounts. It was because they had spread the word of this latest God-sign that the crowd swelled to a welcoming parade. The Pharisees took one look and threw up their hands: "It's out of control. The world's in a stampede after him." John 12:12-19 THE ME...

Poking around today looking for like minded individuals, I came across this blog " Fun 2 Save $$ " about making saving fun. The first post that popped up is entitled "Children and Advertising- What to Do?" That caught my attention as I remember well my children's pleas for the latest and greatest. As a graphic artist my husband's profession calls for the creation of advertising print pieces -- packaging, print advertising, billboards and the like. We were so aware of the gimmicks and tricks utilized by many companies to lure the consumer. We used many of the same tactics mentioned here to educate our children of these ploys. These are great suggestions. It was also a great learning tool for our children that whenever we were approached at the mall by market researchers, we were automatically disqualified because of my husband's work in the advertising field. They knew we knew all the tricks! There are other posts on the blog, too, that speak of "sno...

WOW!!! That's the only word that came to my mind as I read through this incredible article -- plus an overwhelming sense of the Holy Spirit all over this one. "WHO" would have ever thought that Dr. Seuss in 1954 would be speaking prophetically to us today in 2008 -- over 50 years later. What I recognized immediately as a friendly children's flick appearing on the big screen all over America this weekend, has just become a "must see" moment in time. This is just more confirmation to me that it has been God speaking to me about using my reflexology skills and gifting in a pro-life center in my community. The contacts were made weeks ago. I now have a copy of a textbook on the subject of maternity and reflexology. When I learned of the book in early January, I had no idea it would take me over 2 months to actually obtain a copy -- especially in our instant gratification society. I'm also trusting the right doors will open for me to participate in a very sp...

These flowers are the picture of beauty you will find on this great new blog link I've just added to the "Healthy and Nurturing" links here on "Alive!" GREEN FOR CHRIST Blogger, Fran McCollum, is a sister in Christ who is intentionally sharing the many discoveries she is making about caring for God's creation in a responsible manner & sustaining and improving the world God has entrusted to man's dominion. Fran has not only learned about, but she has implemented as well, the ideas and lifestyle of which she writes. You'll find many opportunities to share your thoughts and ideas. There is even a place to share how steps you've taken in becoming "green" have made a difference in your life. Everyone will learn from each other's stories, and the editor's choice for first place will receive a $20 LifeWay gift certificate. Visit GREEN FOR CHRIST via the link above.

Our salt lamp glows all day next to our bed. It's so refreshing to walk by it, especially knowing that the air has been renewed; a most peaceful night's sleep awaits. (We do turn it off at night as the brightness of the light does create some interference with our sleep.) Have just begun to use another one of these terrific lamps next to my computer. I look forward to an awesome testimony here, too. Solay has so many different natural and eco-friendly products available, I'll know I'll be spending quite some time in discovery. More reports to come from my first hand learning.

Fruits and vegetables are good for you. We all know that. But they can be expensive. What can we do to save the cost and still get the best produce money can buy? To get the most out of your produce and your wallet buy fruits and vegetables that are grown locally and in season. Fruits and vegetables begin to lose their nutritional value immediately after being picked. The longer they are in transit, the more nutrients are lost. Even though organic foods are more expensive, you are receiving more nutrients and less harmful toxins (herbicides & pesticides) from them. In addition, you are supporting your local farmers, which in the end can also save you money by helping their business grow! The best way to buy local, organic produce is from local farmers and farmer’s markets. You not only get your fruits and vegetables closer to their harvest time (less time in transit and on the shelf means more nutrition and less cost), but you have less people handling your food, less transportatio...