Natural Health and Wellness

"I Don't Have Enough Time!" How many times have you made that cry? In our 24/7, gadgetized techi world with all of its instant gratifcations whose expectations are we meeting or not meeting? Whose life is more stressed out? (Now that's one we could probably all claim 1st Place in the one-up-manship contest. On the day I was having a BIGTIME "time" meltdown, I also agreed to help lead a women's Bible Study entitled, The Frazzled Female . What I didn't count on was teaching the lesson entitled "I Don't Have Enough Time!" In the book the author states, In my seminars I ask the question, "What causes you to be frazzled?" "Not enough time" is always at the top of the list. It's probably at the top of yours too. The author (Cindi Wood) sent us to John 9-12, which included The Parable of the Good Shepherd. In this passage which I know so well, and in a time I made to pull away from everything else to hear from the LORD...

"What's my reason for getting up in the morning and do what I do every day?" I just came across the question being asked by the author of another blog . . . Live Your Dreams The author is hoping that others would leave their answer. I wasn't quite sure how to do that, but believed it might be an interesting question for a quick blog entry of my own. From my profile, you know that I'm committed to living my life for Jesus every day. . . a Scripture from Ephesians says it all: For by grace are you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God -- not because of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:8-10 We're so precious to God that He gave everything for our salvation. He created us for the plans He had for us before the beginning of time. What a privilege to get up and do whatever He ...

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...

Others often see us in a much different light then we see ourselves. My usual thoughts when someone compliments me as an encourager is to think that while I give it my best, I feel very inadequate to make any difference. That's certainly not truth, and not very impressive "self talk" either. (You may look for more on that topic in an earlier post.) The TRUTH is without Jesus that is exactly what our lives are: INADEQUATE!!! That was pointedly addressed in my quiet time this morning. Another TRUTH is because of JESUS, when our trust is in Him, WE ARE ADEQUATE -- PERFECTLY ADEQUATE. No accident I'm certain, that this quote appeared on my computer screen via email just minutes later. Let its message bring sweet words of encouragement for you today. The name of Jesus is in my mind as a joyful song, in my ear a heavenly music, and in my mouth a sweet honey. -- Richard Rolle

Our women's Sunday School class has recently begun studying the book, SELF TALK, SOUL TALK, by Jennifer Rothschild. A very key scripture of this study is the verse: "Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer." Psalm 19:14. As you have considered this familiar verse have you ever thought about it including the words you say to yourself? What a total slap in the face of the God who created us when we call ourselves names like "Idiot," "Stupid," "Dumb," "Not Good Enough," etc. Anything less than speaking the truth of who we are in Him is language enough to bring us to our knees, breaking our hearts as we consider the wounds we have inflicted upon His. It is amazing to me how often I awake with the voices from the past who have called me some of those names, speaking over and over again. The voices become my voice. I find myself crying out to God for for...

-h/Candycanes.GIF"> It's Friday afternoon just a few days before Christmas. My shopping is complete, the gifts wrapped, and the house is almost ready for our family's Christmas festivities. To have today and tomorrow to relax a little has been wonderful. My thoughts (as they have so often the last few weeks) continue to turn to exactly how it is we should be celebrating this season. JESUS IS THE VERY BEST GIFT EVER. My gifts can in no way compare -- and they aren't even handmade this year as they have been so often in the past. The momentary pleasures and joys -- they're memories worth keeping. Like the one yesterday when my 2 year old granddaughter and I visited the Enchanted Forest. This exhibit of elves and forest creatures having fun in the snow while busy preparing all the toys and fun Santa will soon deliver, features old, old motorized animals and elfs. The animals were all waving to the children as we wandered our way through the exhibit which now finds ...

Relationships -- the last couple of entries mention these a few times. Please allow me to share a brief devotion I read recently about the most important relationship of all. Whatever gifts you give and in whatever way you celebrate the season, please know and remember The relationship for which we were made, the relationship our heart never ceases to crave, is very specific. We are barely into the first chapter of the story when we encounter a significant fact: "Let Us make man in Our image." Making man was a relational affair from the very beginning. We were born in the womb of the greatest relationship the galaxies have ever known. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit . . . God made us for Himself. Fawn Parish It's All About You, Jesus He who loves Me will be loved by My Father. John 14:21