The Christian Naturalist

God's Gift-Imagination

2012-01-31T10:02:00.001-06:00

“Imagination is everything, it is
the preview of life’s coming
attractions.”
~Albert Einstein

"Anyone who can tap the power of the imagination can learn to meditate."

~Richard foster.

All religions and teachers of meditation agree that the thought life is a treasure to be nurtured. Revisiting my research on meditation brings me back to the intriguing subject of imagination. What a gift from God, that we might know Him better.

But how little we use our imagination. How rarely we stop for even ten minutes to clear our minds in order to tap into it. I challenge you to take ten minutes today to sit in a quiet place, be still. Don't think about anything particular, just know that God is.

Meditation Quote

2012-01-25T10:46:00.000-06:00

I'm working on a non-fiction book, right now the section on Meditation, and I ran across this quote once again. It's one of my favorites.

“It is not thebee’s touching of the flower that gathers honey, but her abiding for a timeupon the flower that draws out the sweet. It is not he that reads most, but hethat meditates most, that will prove the choicest, sweetest, wisest andstrongest Christian.”

~Thomas Brooks(1608-1680) Non-Conformist preacher-Congregational principles

God Sings

2012-01-16T08:38:00.000-06:00

I received a little book for Christmas from a Catholic retreat center. Running with Expanding Heart, by Mary Reuter, USB, encourages us to notice things and people around us and to be aware that they are God's revelation of Himself to us. They may be divine encounters in which God will use us in someone's life, or they may be small revelations of His character and glory in His creation.

"God sings out God's love, magnificence, and extravagance through the created universe. Those who see, hear, touch, smell and taste well get to notice. They get to marvel. They get to be grateful. Wonders await us; the first violet in spring, the tiny hands and feet of a newborn baby, the ravines on the aged face of an uncle, a cool breeze at the end of a hot day . . . such gifts help us come to know by experience that the loving presence of god permeates the universe." (page9)

This morning I notice the bright sun shining through my window. It's been out for well over an hour now, the days are already getting longer. My heart leaps at the sight of it and the thought that although it's cold outside, God is faithful every day, every month, every season. His promises are true and though the darkness lasts for a night, joy comes in the morning. And Spring is just ahead.

Healing, Fermented Tea!

2012-01-11T08:12:00.000-06:00

I'm trying something new, making kombucha tea. It's a fermented tea drink that is said to have all kinds of healing effects. We have to wait a week before taking our first taste. I can't wait.

I've studied the healing properties of fermented foods such as yogurt, keifer, miso, tofu, even saurkraut. (see my blog about the benefits of fermented foods in the archives) but this year I just started to hear about kombucha.

Here's a fun site about how to make kombucha. There are videos at the bottom.

Do you know anything about it? Have you ever tried it? Please leave a comment. I'd love to hear what you know.

Transcendence Comes to Us

2011-12-25T07:36:00.000-06:00

This week I've been reading The Knowledge of the Holy, by A.W. Tozer, the chapter on Divine Transcendence.

Tozer says, "When we speak of God as transcendent we mean of course that He is exalted far above the created universe, so far above that human thought cannot imagine it. To think accurately about this, however, we must keep in mind that 'far above' does not here refer to physical distance from the earth but to the quality of being."

A few paragraphs later he says, "Forever God stands apart, in light unapproachable. He is as high above an archangel as above a caterpillar, for the gulf that separates the archangel from the caterpillar is but finite, while the gulf between God and the archangel is infinite. The caterpillar and the archangel, though far removed from each other in the scale of created things, are nevertheless one in that they are alike created. They both belong in the category of that-which-is-not-God and are separated from God by infinitude itself."

What an incredible thought. This is why it's so difficult to get our minds around God, and most often we don't try. But we must try, in order to get a more right perspective. When we realize the God we're dealing with, we hesitate to approach Him . . . and we should. It should make us pause, even tremble.

"In olden days," continues Tozer, "men of faith were said to 'walk in the fear of God' and to 'serve the Lord with fear.' However intimate their communion with God, however bold their prayers, at the base of their religious life was the conception of God as awesome and dreadful. . . This fear of God was more than a natural apprehension of danger; it was a nonrational dread, an acute feeling of personal insufficiency in the presence of God the Almighty."

"Yet we console ourselves with the knowledge that it is God Himself who puts it in our hearts to seek Him and makes is possible in some measure to know Him, and He is pleased with even the feeblest effort to make Him known."

For this purpose Jesus came to earth in the lowliest human form--a baby, completely helpless, dependent on others for survival. He came to make Himself known and to become the atoning sacrifice, thus making a way for men (women and children) to commune with their Creator.

Let's take a few moments today to ponder this incredible event.

Merry Christmas!

Dancing with the Obvious-Accidental Creative

2011-12-23T14:48:00.000-06:00

Today I'm borrowing a blog from Accidental Creative. Todd makes some great points and I think you'll enjoy it.

Accidental Creative

DANCING WITH THE OBVIOUS

Eliminating the confusion between complexity and value.

I love spending time with diverse teams of creative people because I get a bird's eye view of what's happening across the creative workplace. One thing I'm increasingly concerned about is the rising level of cynicism in creative circles (including in myself). On one hand, a healthy critical mindset can help us improve our work and learn from the mistakes of others. On the other, cynicism causes us to forfeit our sense of wonder and, perhaps worse, to worry that our work will become the target of someone else's ire.

Because of this, I see many creatives struggling to avoid creating anything that seems on the surface to be too simple or obvious. In the effort to prove how accomplished they are, they over-complicate their work and include too many fringe and loosely beneficial elements. It seems to be a kind of sub-conscious effort to prove the value of their work.

But we too easily confuse value with complexity. These are two exclusive concepts that are not necessarily related. The result is that we waste time and valuable creative energy spinning round and round over-complicating what should be very simple. In the end, we produce a lot of workplace dissonance.

Why do we do this? Why do we over-complicate our work and its deliverables?

One reason is that we increasingly believe - as a culture - that what is obvious inherently lacks value. We dismiss quick insights and familiar-seeming ideas because we assume that they can't possibly be useful. Our paranoid self worries about what others will think of us if we execute such an obvious idea. Our cynical side knows exactly what we might say about someone else if they executed such an obvious idea. We worry about everything except for the value we're creating for our clients or audience, which is the very thing that we should be focusing on.

A second reason why I believe we ignore immediate ideas and hunches is pride. We have to prove to everyone how difficult our job is. We feel like we have to show that we are valuable by searching for that needle in the creative haystack. Deep down, we want to emerge triumphant and have others proclaim how uniquely gifted we are and how nothing would be the same without us. In our search for recognition we end up over-complicating the work and creating more work for our collaborators. Creativity requires humble curiosity, and that means - on occasion - embracing that some of the best and most creative solutions might be the most obvious.

Finally, I think we're loathe to embrace the obvious because it reminds us of what we already know but aren't doing. This especially relates to best practices, advice and the how of our work. When we hear advice that we've heard before, we cringe because it seems "obvious". We forget, however, that it's not what we know, it's what we do about it that matters.

We can't allow the curse of familiarity - or the sense that an idea is too obvious - to rob us of potentially brilliantly simple insights. We must grasp and execute the best idea, and we need to be careful not to confuse complexity with value. (At least that's my goal in 2012. I hope you'll join me.)

My best,
Todd Henry
Accidental Creative
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Science vs Religion

2011-12-20T07:30:00.000-06:00

"Science observes how the power of God operates, discovers a regular pattern somewhere and fixes it as a 'law.' The uniformity of god's activities in His creation enables the scientist to predict the course of natural phenomena. The trustworthiness of God's behavior in His world is the foundation of all scientific truth. Upon it the scientist rests his faith and from there he goes on to achieve great and useful things in such fields as those of navigation, chemistry, agriculture, and the medical arts.

Religion, on the other hand, goes back of nature to God. It is concerned not with the footprints of God along the paths of creation, but with the One who treads those paths. Religion is interested primarily in the One who is the source of all things, the master of every phenomenon." ~A. W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy (chapter 12, Omnipotence).

What more is there to say?

Raise Your Expectations

2011-12-19T07:01:00.000-06:00

To accomplish anything for God's kingdom, we must set out to do something bigger than ourselves.

Raise your expectations!

Pursue the impossible!

"Grant that we may learn to lay hold on the working of the mighty power which wrought in Christ when Thou didst raise Him from the dead and set Him at Thine own right hand in the heavenly places. Amen." ~A. W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy, (chapter 12, Omnipotence).

Advent

2011-12-15T13:11:00.000-06:00

It's the best time of year to remember the darkness from which we've been saved, and the Light that came into the world to save us! Check out Dan's blog as he blogs daily through Advent verses. www.apprentice2jesus.com.

Time-Saving Recipe

2011-12-13T08:00:00.000-06:00

Check out this crock pot recipe. It'll be ready when you get home from work, and best of all, it'll rejuvenate your body after all the heavy, Christmas party food you've consumed.
Chinese Hot Pot

Do you have any time saving tips for the holidays? Please post them here.

HIs Center Holds

2011-12-09T06:23:00.001-06:00

"God is supremely esteemed. His center holds. Zion brims over with all that is just and right. God keeps your days stable and secure--salvation, wisdom, and knowledge in surplus,

and best of all, Zion's treasure, Fear-of-God."

~Isaiah 33:5-6, The Message

The phrase that catches my attention this morning is "His center holds." It reminds me of gravity at the Earth's core, holding us and everything down, keeping us from flying off into outer space.

In engineering, the center of gravity is the key factor for balance and proper function of any machine. Imagine what a great engineer God is.

"For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible . . . all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together." ~Colossians 1:16, 17 NASB

Not only is God the great engineer, He, himself, is the gravity at the core of all things, holding them together.

(Not sure how the picture relates, but it looks cool)

December Energy Boost

2011-12-08T09:55:00.001-06:00

I know everyone talks about stress at the holiday season. It almost adds stress just to read another post about it. I don't mean to contribute to it, but there are some simple things we can do to feel our best and boost energy during this busy time.

1. Take a few moments each day (even 2-3 minutes) to slow your breathing and contemplate the "Reason for the season," to use a cliché. God came to Earth in the form of man because He is holy, and because He loves us, and because He wanted to make a way for us to be close to Him. He wants relationship with us. It's the greatest mystical union anyone could conceive, and it's not fantasy. It's real.

2. Take a bath once or twice a week with some relaxing essential oils. Aromatherapy works wonders. Try a few drops of Sandalwood or Lavender.

3. Add deeply colorful veggies to each meal. One easy way to do this is to have a salad with lunch and dinner. Use dark green lettuce, red peppers and/or tomatoes, carrots, celery, sugar snap peas, and any other colorful produce that sounds good. Shake on some olive or walnut oil with a splash of lemon juice and you have a flavorful, nutrient-boosting meal. You can also eat greens (try kale or chard), steamed in a pan with garlic and a can of chopped tomatoes. Or try a baked sweet potato. Adding nutrients adds flavor as well, so you'll feel like you're spoiling yourself.

Treat yourself well this month and you'll have more energy to participate in all the activities or to volunteer and offer your energy to others.

Give Hope this Christmas

2011-12-05T07:49:00.001-06:00

This year, my husband and I are finally realizing that we have everything we need. Oh yes, I know some windows need to be replaced as well as the carpet and the deck. But there will always be needs in the house and we'll tackle those one by one. But this year we're asking loved ones to give a gift of money in our name to an organization that is making a difference in the lives of needy people.

Christmas is a time we usually receive gifts, small tokens of affection from those we love. This year, I suspect, many will give less expensive gifts since money is a little more tight. But even if the gift is only $5, it can make a difference to children like these. These children have lost their parents, their home, and their means of provision. Please read more about them on Inspire the Fire. And ask the Lord if you can do something to make a difference for them this holiday season. Or maybe the holidays are too tight. Why not plan to give at another time of year when others aren't thinking about it anymore?

Whatever you can do, let's join in prayer for these precious children.

Dear Lord Jesus, These are not unfamiliar faces to You. They are in your thoughts and in Your heart every day. In fact You saw their faces when You died on the cross. You saw their faces before the world was created. They are not less valuable to You. They are worthy of your life and death. But You desire more for them than salvation alone, You desire for their stomachs to be full and for them to have a safe place to sleep at night. These are the little ones You told us not to deny. You said "Let them come to Me." Please show us what we can do practically to help these loved ones of Yours. Amen.

If you have not read the short article about these children please go to Inspire the Fire now and read it.

Life-Giving Breath

2011-12-02T09:13:00.001-06:00

Photo by Joshua Thompson

Spirit is the word Ruah, wind or breath. When God created the world, He spoke it into existence. Speaking requires breath. When God created man, He breathed into him the breath of life. The breath is the life force. When we breathe, it is God's breath flowing through us.

Read that last sentence again.

Incredible! God is near to us, He is even flowing in and out of us. Breath is God's creative, living force moving through us.

I believe breathing is a gift from God, not only for life but for health. Find Here my very short blog about how deep breathing can help us relax and actually bring healing to our body.

To read more about God and breath, following is an excerpt from a blog by a Jewish rabi on the name of God and breathing (there is a link to the entire blog after the excerpt):

"What follows is a brief summary of my approach on the question of pronouncing the "Yod-Hei-Vav-Hei" Name of God that in transliteration comes out "YHWH":
1) It is unpronounceable in my view not because we are forbidden to pronounce it — that understanding is in my view a way of avoiding the deeper truth — but because if one tries to do so, pronouncing these four strange letters (semi-vowels, semi-consonants; linguists call them aspirate consonants) WITHOUT any vowels, one simply breathes.
You might pause to try this yourself: try to say "YHWH" with no vowels. Not "Yahweh" or "Yahovah," but with no vowels at all.
Over the years I have invited thousands of people at synagogues, retreat centers, Hillels, and conferences to explore what happens if they try to do this, and almost everyone who does this experiences either a breath or the wind.
The real Name is BEYOND pronunciation, unless you consider breathing pronunciation.
As the Siddur (prayer-book) says, "Nishmat kol chai tivarech et SHIMCHA." ("The breathing of all life praises your Name.") For the Breathing of all life IS Your Name.
2) The notion of YHWH as "the Breath of Life" accords with a deep sense of God as intimate and transcendent at once. If we have no breath in us, we die. If there is no breath beyond us, we die.
3) Moreover, it makes profound sense for at least one of the real Names of the real God to be not a Hebrew word, nor a word in Egyptian, or Latin, or Greek, or Arabic, or Sanskrit, or English - not in any single language but in all of them, or in some form of expression that both underlies and transcends language: just breathing, which all humans of all peoples do.
4) Still more, Breathing encompasses not only all humans but all life-forms. What the trees breathe out is what we breathe in; what we breathe out is what the trees breathe in. So YHWH as a breathing sound evokes "kol ha'neshama," all breathing beings, and "nefesh chaya," all those in which is the life-breath." excerpt from a blog by Rabbi Arthur Waskow, 4/14/2004

Ancient of Days

2011-12-01T05:50:00.001-06:00

"And in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash. His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire. His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters. In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength." Revelation 1:13-16

Oh that we might see you, Jesus, the way you really are. You are the Ancient of Days. All authority and power are Yours. All wisdom comes from You and belongs to You. Your eyes of passionate love consume us with a glance and Your words are right and true, whether in creation or judgment. You are our light and we look to You.

Thanksgiving Re-Focus

2011-11-22T09:04:00.001-06:00

I'm right in the midst of Thanksgiving cooking. We'll have a houseful on Thursday and I always enjoy it. I used to cook all day every day the week of Thanksgiving. Now I don't have that option so I started earlier and have been cooking and freezing my way to this holiday of gratitude.

Although I enjoy the cooking, I find I've been so occupied that it's hard to focus on God. Just like Christmas, I'm often too busy to take in the real meaning. I need to stop and meditate on God's good gifts awhile, but the oven is beeping and the batter needs to be stirred.

Today I pledge to take enough time to give thanks to God and to exercise for 30 minutes.

The recipe I'm making today might turn out to be my favorite this year. Check it out at http://community.wholeliving.com/profiles/blogs/sweet-potato-pear-and-walnut-gratin

God-Flavors

2011-11-20T07:03:00.001-06:00

"You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God flavors of this earth."

Matthew 5:13 (The Message Bible)

Salt is a preservative. Salt also enhances flavor. Making cranberry sauce the other day, I added a couple of dashes of salt. I didn't need much at all and, no, my cranberry sauce isn't salty. But somehow that little dash of salt enhances the cranberry flavor.

We're small in this world, but we can make a difference. We can bring out the God-flavor in this world for others who are close to us.

May we live in such a way that that those around us experience God.

Here's a recipe full of harvest flavors for Thanksgiving:

Are You Wild?

2011-11-18T12:49:00.001-06:00

“Manoomin, orwild rice is a gift given to the Anishinaabek from the Creator, and is acenterpiece of the nutrition and sustenance for our community. In the earliestof teachings of Anishinaabeg history, there is a reference to wild rice, knownas the food which grows upon the water, the food, the ancestors were told tofind, then we would know when to end our migration to the west. It is thisprofound and historic relationship which is remembered in the wild rice harveston the White Earth and other reservations-a food which is uniquely ours, and afood, which is used in our daily lives, our ceremonies, and our thanksgivingfeasts.” from www.saveourwildrice.com.

Wild rice is a nutrition super-star. (Side note: Isn't it amazing how God created foods on every continent that feed and sustain its people?) It contains protein, B vitamins, folic acid, niacin, potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron and zinc. It also has the amino acid lysine and plenty of dietary fiber. This is not necessarily a complete list, nor is it in order, just showing you what this "American idol" offers. It's also gluten-free naturally. No wonder the Native Americans considered wild rice, or manoomin, a staple in their diet.

Wild rice just feels like Thanksgiving food. I love to make it during the holidays and the following recipe is always a hit, even with young people.

Wild Rice with Cranberries

1 cup wild rice

2 cups water or stock (chicken or vegetable)

1/2 cup chopped, sauteed onion

3/4 cup dried cranberries

1/2 cup toasted walnut pieces

salt, pepper and butter to taste

Bring the rice, onion and water to a boil. Lower heat to simmer. Simmer until rice is soft, 35-45 minutes.

Drain if rice is soft but water remains.

Pour rice into serving bowl and add remaining ingredients. Stir.

Serve hot or room temperature. It's probably even good cold.

Generosity and Sweet Potatoes

2011-11-17T07:28:00.001-06:00

"Early in the nineteenth century, a group of Lakota moving camp were forced to wait for an entire day while a herd of buffalo, numbering in the hundreds of thousands, passed by. Everyone was awed by the sight and could feel the ground tremble beneath the hooves of the herd that stretched from one horizon to another. A young boy sat, somewhat impatiently, with his grandmother as they watched. "Why are there so many?" he asked. The old woman smiled lovingly and replied "Because there is no end to the Earth's generosity. Do not let there be an end to yours."

~The Lakota Way, Native American wisdom on ethics and character calendar, November

As we approach Thanksgiving, may we remember and give thanks for all the blessings God has given, not the least of which is His intense love. And may we also love and serve others.

Here's a recipe for sweet potatoes we've enjoyed on several Thanksgivings. It's rich and sweet, but not too sweet and has a little bit of a spicy kick too.

Sweet Potato-Apple Gratin

from Vegetarian Times, November 2002

1 Tablespoon + 6 Tablespoons butter, softened

3/4 cup packed bread crumbs

3 lbs sweet potatoes, cut in 1-inch cubes

2 tart apples, peeled, cut in chunks

1/2 cup apple cider, boiled down to 1/4 cup

1 Tablespoon Bourbon

1/2 teaspoon sage

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

3/4 teaspoon salt (or more to taste)

pinch cayenne

Heat oven to 375 degrees F.

Butter casserole dish

Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a skillet. Crumble bread crumbs and toast until golden. Reserve.

Steam potatoes and apples until tender

mash potatoes and apples

Stir in remaining butter, cider, sage, nutmeg, salt, cayenne and bourbon.

Scoop it into prepared dish, smooth surface and sprinkle with bread crumbs

Bake 25 minutes.

*Freezes well too.

Stuffed

2011-11-16T07:04:00.001-06:00

I love stuffing, or dressing, as my family always said. Thanksgiving food is some of my favorite.

We usually have a house full of people. Since my husband and I didn't grow up in Minneapolis we have no relatives here, so we make our own by inviting others who don't have family close by. I could be serving 17-20 people this year.

Traditionally Thanksgiving food is high in starch and not so high in fiber and nutrients, but it's not that hard to change things slightly and have a health-promoting, as well as delicious Thanksgiving.

I grew up eating Cornbread Dressing. I've tried a number of variations on it and regular stuffing. This year I have two recipes I'm considering and may do a combination of the two.

Here's the first of the two recipes:

Cornbread, Bacon and Shiitake Stuffing
from Real Food, Fall 2011

Cornbread:
1 cup flour
1 cup yellow cornmeal (I'd use half cornmeal and half polenta)
1 Tablespoon sugar (I'd remove this one)
1 teaspoon salt
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1 cup milk
1 extra large egg, beaten
4 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Stuffing:
4 Tablespoons olive oil
3 cups chopped onion
2 cups chopped celery
2 teaspoons fresh rosemary, finely chopped (I like sage, so I'll probably add that too)
5 slices bacon, cut into 1/4-inch dice (could use turkey bacon or eliminate, but the taste would be altered)
5 ounces sliced shiitake mushrooms
2 extra large eggs, lightly beaten
2 cups chicken stock
salt and pepper if desired

1. For the cornbread: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Mix together in a bowl flour, cornmeal, sugar, salt, and baking powder. Stir in milk, egg, and butter. Stir well and pur into well-oiled, 8-inch squyare pan. Bake 20-25 minutes until firm. Let cool.

2. For the Stuffing: Heat oil in a 6-quart pot. Add onions and celery and cook 15 minutes over high heat, stirring, until softened and golden brown. Add rosemary, bacon, and mushrooms and cook 10 minutes until mushrooms are soft and bacon is cooked.

3. Cut cornbread into 1/2-inch pieces and add to pot. Stir and cook 5 minutes. Whisk together eggs and stock; pour over cornbread mixture and stir. Add salt and pepper if desired.

4. Bake at 400 degrees F. for 30 minutes and serve.

You can make this ahead and freeze it. Then thaw and warm in the oven before serving.

Shalom or Dis-Ease

2011-11-13T07:51:00.001-06:00

"Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers." ~3 John 2

"John greets his friend Gaius with a common Jewish blessing: May you be prosperous and healthy (in a wholistic sense, inwardly, bodily, socially, materially). It implies an interrelated understanding of human nature based on the Hebraic worldview of Shalom: Yahweh's wholistic peace and prosperity, health and harmony, experienced through right relationships. Beginning with Adam and Eve, we see throughout the biblical witness how fractured relationship with God, the source relationship, ourselves, each other and creation itself, leads to "the curse" -- the chaos of sin, sickness, demons and death. We also see how restored relationship (reconciliation) through Messiah's life, death and resurrection breaks the curse and leads to forgiveness, healing, freedom and eternal life. Shalom is God's reign of wholistic order and wellbeing, the opposite of disintegrating chaos and destruction, the rule of evil.

"Simply stated, a biblical understanding of disease is dis-ease--a lack of ease in the whole person. Sicknesses are disorders, the opposite of Shalom, a disruption of God's wholistic harmony and relational wellbeing in the human being. . .

". . . Healing is the event and/or process of restoring wholeness to the whole person. Healing is God's Shalom--experiencing and ministering God's wholeness, order and wellbeing. The New Testament word for this Shalom healing is 'salvation', God's work in saving us and creation from sin, sickness, demons and death . . ." ~excerpt from Doing Healing by Alexander Ventor

This blog is often devoted to nutritional health and healing. I believe God has provided for our health and healing in nature, his creation. However, complete health and wholeness can only come when it comes in every part of the person: body, soul, mind, spirit and relationships being set in right order. That is God's Shalom, to which Ventor refers above, and which only comes through right relationship with Jesus Christ.

So my greeting today is that of John and the early church:

May you prosper and be in good health, even as your soul prospers.

Cranberries Fight Disease

2011-11-12T09:07:00.001-06:00

The health benefits of cranberries are astounding. They're one of the top disease-fighting foods. Cranberries contain powerful antioxidants. They've been known to fight urinary tract infections, yeast infections, lower cholesterol, and may even lower the risk of cancer. To read a short article about the benefits of cranberries, click here.

There are many recipes for Cranberry Sauce (compote, marmalade, chutney, etc). I love cranberries so much that I want to try each one. It seems I try a new one every year at Thanksgiving. But almost every year I cook and can this recipe for Cranberry Apple Relish. It's a hit with the family and good for Christmas gifts too.

Cranberry Apple Relish
by Cynthia Lair, Feeding the Whole Family (an adaptation from The Natural Foods Cookbook, by Mary Estella)

1 1/2 cups cranberries
1 cup chopped apples
1/2 cup currants
1 teaspoon orange zest
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/8 teaspoon sea salt
1 cup apple juice or water
1/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Place cranberries, apples, currants, zest, maple syrup, salt, and juice in a large saucepan. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, remove cover, and simmer 20-25 minutes until excess liquid has evaporated. Remove from heat. Add walnuts if using. Serve at room temperature. Will keep in a sealed container in the refrigerator 3-4 days.

Or, you can can it while it's still hot. (my note)

A Word from God

2011-11-11T06:54:00.001-06:00

"I AM."

Terri's Holiday Recipes with a twist: Pumpkin Cheesecake.

Food Power

2011-11-10T07:46:00.001-06:00

"Food isn't just fuel; it has the power to heal."

~Whole Living, Ten Thoughts, October 2008

And I'd add that it has the power to make us sick as well.

It's important to be aware as we eat. Think about what we put in our mouth and how it will affect our health. Our cells regenerate continually and what we feed our body determines how healthy those cells will be. There may be things that affect our health which are out of our hands, but food we can control, to a large extent.

So why don't we?

I think a big reason is that we don't eat thoughtfully. We rush to fill the stomach and get on with our daily tasks. Or for a thousand other reasons, we're not thoughtful.

One thing that helps me make good choices is to think, in the moment, this salad will build my bones and strengthen my immunity against sickness and disease. Or to think, this snack cake will feed the yeast in my body, increasing the possibility of infection and joint pain.

Confession: I ate the dessert at the church dinner last night. Even as I did I remembered how it would affect me, but I finished it anyway.

Dark Thoughts of the Underworld

2011-11-09T07:47:00.000-06:00

"Negative thoughts tend to beget more negative thoughts, says David Rakel, M.D. director of the University of Wisconsin Integrative Medicine program. Train yourself to see the bright side and it will soon be your natural response." ~Whole Living magazine October 2011.

I'm not as surprised as I used to be when I read things in articles or see them on T.V. or online that illustrate God's truths. God's Word is indeed lived out in our physical world and studies prove it all the time.

"Finally brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things."

Philippians 4:8

Ring a bell? Paul gives us this excellent advice under the anointing of the Holy Spirit and the Lord made sure it was placed in our cannon of scripture. Yet, how often do we forget and allow our thoughts to take us to the dark underworld of the negative?

Christians live in defeat and depression. My children these things ought not to be. But they are and there's only one reason. We have not disciplined our thoughts.

Study after study has proven that negative thinking leads to depression and sickness.

The only way to discipline our thoughts is to replace them with truths from the word of God. Repeating them daily in the face of our feeling-thoughts, which lie to us. Like vitamins we take daily for our body, verses of truth strengthen our mind and spirit.

Here's an example. If you feel God has let you down and you just can't trust Him, repeat this verse every day, some days many times a day and soon your thoughts will begin to change.

"And those who know Your name will put their trust in You,

For You, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You."

Psalm 9:10

Wok-Seared Chicken with Asparagus

2011-11-08T17:29:00.000-06:00

Asparagus is very nutritious. It helps fight cancer, high cholesterol and many other health concerns. It's also delicious and versatile. Here's a family favorite of ours from the book, Healthy in a Hurry, by Eating Well. It's quick and satisfying.

Wok-Seared Chicken with Asparagus Tenders & Pistachios
Serve over rice or noodles.
1 Tbsp toasted sesame oil
1 1/2 lbs fresh asparagus, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 lb chicken tenders, cut into bite-size pieces
4 scallions, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
2 Tbsp minced, fresh ginger
1 Tbsp oyster-flavor sauce (or fish sauce)
1 tsp chile-garlic sauce
1/4 C shelled, salted pistachios, coarsely chopped

Heat oil in a wok or large skillet over high heat. Add asparagus; cook, stirring for 2 minutes. Add chicken; cook, stirring for 4 minutes. Stir in scallions, ginger, oyster sauce and chile-garlic sauce; cook, stirring until the chicken is juicy and just cooked through, 1-2 minutes more. Stir in pistachios and serve immediately.

Makes 4 servings about 1 1/4 cup each.

The Rainbow Diet

2011-11-06T07:25:00.002-06:00

One simple trick I learned to help me eat right is to eat lots of color. We know white foods are bad, empty calories, lacking nutrients. The opposite is also true. Foods with color contain lots of vitamins and nutrients our bodies need. If we eat plenty of deep green leafy veggies, we get calcium, vitamin C, iron and much more. Eating red foods can offer vitamin C, capsaicin, and others. Yellow foods like squash have the most vitamin A along with many of the other nutrient we need.
These are just a few examples of how choosing our diet by color can help boost nutrition. It also offers a pleasing meal for our eyes.
An easy weeknight meal for us is often Quinoa (cooked in vegetable broth), Greens (cooked in a large frying pan with canned tomatoes and chopped garlic) and a baked squash such as Spaghetti or Butternut.

White Sins

2011-11-04T08:46:00.000-05:00

White dietary sins, that is. White sugar, white flour, white rice, even white (refined) salt.

Why do I categorize them as sins of our diet? They have been processed and refined until every bit of nutrients have been stripped from them. They fill our stomach while starving our body.

We hunger because our body needs something. It needs things like vitamins, minerals and protein. If we satisfy our hunger with empty calories, we gain weight but starve our body. We fool ourselves into thinking we're full but will be hungry again soon because we're still starving.

Years of this behavior can cause serious to deadly illnesses.

God designed our body and He designed our food. I love the way Rex Russel puts it in his book, What the Bible Says About Healthy Living.

Eat what God made for food.

Eat it as close to the way He made it as possible.

That keeps our complicated dietary lives simple. Simple, but not always easy.

What we need to keep in mind as we shop or look over a menu is to choose ingredients that still contain the fiber, and nutrients. These would be natural and whole grain. It may not be possible to get it all in every meal, but being aware of the problem and observant of ingredients are great beginning steps.

What are your suggestions for avoiding the white sins?

Check out this nutritious taco recipe

Pumpkin Parfait

2011-11-02T17:29:00.000-05:00

Continuing the pumpkin theme. Here's a great pumpkin recipe I found at Simply Organic. If you've read my blog for a long time, you know I rave about the benefits of yogurt and other fermented foods. That combined with the health benefits of pumpkin and we have a delicious, health-inspiring dessert.

Pumpkin Parfait

This creamy concoction is a proven winner. No need to spend hours in the kitchen to impress a crowd — this dessert is a cinch to make and yummy to boot.
Ingredients

2 cans (15 ounces each) pumpkin puree
1 1/2 teaspoons Cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon Nutmeg
1 1/2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
3 tablespoons Milk
1/4 cup Sugar
38 ounces (one 32-ounce container plus one 6-ounce container) Vanilla Yogurt
1 1/2 cups granola with raisin.

Directions

In a bowl, stir together pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, milk, and sugar. In 12 small bowls or ramekins, layer the pumpkin mixture and yogurt. Sprinkle with granola.

Chef Suggestions

Instead of making individual portions, layer in a trifle dish.

For the Love of Pumpkins

2011-11-01T13:02:00.001-05:00

Pumpkins are extremely versatile, they grow easily in almost any climate and their bright color cheers even the dark, cold days of winter.

Native Americans had a multitude of uses for pumpkins. They used the seeds and flowers for medicinal purposes. They baked them, cut them in strips and grilled them, they dried them and used them for bowls, they even used strips of dried pumpkins to weave mats.

Pumpkin seeds are full of nutrition and healing properties. They contain Vitamins A, B and E, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Protein and Zinc. Pumpkin seeds have been used as a pain reliever, an energy booster and a diuretic. The natives used them to expel parasites. They are anti-inflammatory and studies show they may prove helpful with arthritis pain. Phytosterols in these seeds can reduce blood cholesterol. On top of all that they're low in calories!

So next time you make a pie from scratch or cut a jack-o-lantern, save the seeds!

If your interested in learning more about pumpkins, here's a short History of Pumpkins.

Here's a simple, delicious recipe I found for whole pumpkins.

Ojibwa Baked Pumpkin

1 small pumpkin
1/4 C maple syrup
1/4 C apple cider
1/4 C butter
Place pumpkin in oven at 350 degrees and bake for 1-1/2 to 2 hours. Cut a hole in the top, around the stem, and remove pulp and seeds. Save the seeds to eat later, they're full of nutrients and healing properties. Mix together remaining ingredients and pour into pumpkin. Bake for 35 minutes. Cut into wedges to serve.

What's your favorite thing to do with pumpkin?

A Life Spent

2011-10-26T08:12:00.001-05:00

"And people who do not know the Lord ask why in the world we waste our lives as missionaries. They forget that they too are expending their lives and when the bubble has burst they will have nothing of external significance to show for the years they have wasted." ~Nate Saint, Martyr

I found this quote by Nate Saint in a prayer journal for unreached people. It's called "The Live Dead Journal." I like that, "live dead." It reminds me of Romans 12:1 where Paul urges us to present ourselves as "living sacrifices" every day--Live dead.

Dead people are not bothered by what others think. Dead people do not chase after the pleasures of this world. They don't insist on their own way. They are no longer tempted. Dead people rest in the hands of God completely.

Lord Jesus, help us to be living sacrifices, or to live dead.

Paul puts it this way,

^"3 We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault with our ministry. ⁴ In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind. ⁵ We have been beaten, been put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food. ⁶ We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love. ⁷ We faithfully preach the truth. God’s power is working in us. We use the weapons of righteousness in the right hand for attack and the left hand for defense. ⁸ We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us. We are honest, but they call us impostors. ⁹ We are ignored, even though we are well known. We live close to death, but we are still alive. We have been beaten, but we have not been killed. ¹⁰ Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything." ~2 Corinthians 6:3-10 NLT (highlights and underlining mine)

Can we honestly say, this is how we live?

Delicious, Healthy Chai Recipe

Listen. Ponder.

2011-10-25T12:59:00.001-05:00

“Listen a hundred times; ponder a thousand times; speak once.”

Turkish Proverb

Spititual Listening

2011-10-24T08:30:00.002-05:00

"Listen to all the teachers in the woods.

Watch the trees, the animals and all the living things--you'll learn more from them than books."

~Joe Coyhis~

To listen requires quiet--a closed mouth and focus. The busyness and noise which surround us interfere with our ability to be quiet and listen. But it's not impossible. We can learn listening skills through practice. Companies teach their employees listening and communication skills. Spiritual listening can be learned as well.

All growing relationships require listening. Each person reveals details about him/herself, each time becoming more vulnerable, more intimate. But the other must listen or the revelation will be lost.

God reveals Himself to us in nature, in His word and within our spirit. He listens when we speak. He knows us completely. How well do we listen when He speaks? He will reveal Himself to us if we listen.

Let's take a few moments today to quiet our words and our minds and listen. The One who created the trees and the animals has something to say to us.

Listen, my son, and be wise,
And direct your heart in the way.

Proverbs 23:19

Bucket List

2011-10-22T15:37:00.002-05:00

Is it the natural characteristic of a Christian to have a bucket list? You know a list of things you want to do before you die, or "kick the bucket".

I suppose there's no real harm in it, nothing that God would consider a sin as long as the activities on the list aren't sinful. But it always bothers me when I hear it. I've wondered if I should have a bucket list, but I honestly can't think of anything I must do before I die. Sky diving or bungie jumping would certainly never see ink on my list. I was thinking about it this morning, asking the Lord if I should have one and what would please Him to have on the list. After all, He's the only One who knows what I'm truly meant to do on this Earth before I die.

So here goes . . . my bucket list:

1. To be fully submitted to God's will and effective for His kingdom (with signs and wonders following).
2. To leave behind a godly legacy.
3. To leave an inheritance for our boys.
4. To publish a number of books (novels and non-fiction) that draw readers into intimacy with God.

They're fairly generic, I know, and they sound so over spiritual as I write them, but the working out of these goals will include many smaller, more practical goals along this journey of my life.

So what's on your bucket list?

Reading is Good Therapy

2011-10-21T10:41:00.000-05:00

A writer friend posted this on our critique group recently. It's good news for writers, but also very true. I remember C.S.Lewis said (quoting a student) "We read to know we are not alone." Reading is good therapy.

September 2011 issue of Prevention magazine displays this note on page 53:

A Novel Therapy

Feeling lonesome? Grab a book! New research proves that relating to fictional characters creates a satisfying sense of belonging.

I pray that my fiction will not only help people to feel a sense of belonging, but a sense of belonging to God. I pray they feel His presence as they read and know that He desires a real/interactive relationship with them.

The Gospel's Power

2011-10-20T07:36:00.001-05:00

I'm challenged with Paul's words to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3. One line keeps circling again and again in my mind. "...having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof..."

Do we hold to the form, but deny the power of the gospel?

With power comes responsibility most of us don't want to carry. We enjoy our comfortable life. We want ease.

Paul encourages Timothy to suffer with him. We were called for a purpose. God intends that His people will bring His kingdom and push out the illegally, ruling authorities of the devil. Sounds like science fiction, right? But it's not. It's real. When was the last time you or I set someone free from an addiction or spoke miraculous healing to someone's body? This is God's expectation. He's already won the victory, paid the price, now we are to go make it happen.

But how? That's the question.

We can't make miracles happen. We're not God.

But we can seek Him. We can come before Him daily asking for His will to be done and offering our words, our time and our effort to Him.

Lord Jesus, teach us by Your Spirit. Give us a willing heart.

Kind of heavy for a Thursday morning, so I'll lighten it up a bit. Check out the cornbread recipe I promised yesterday. I hope you enjoy it with your Chili or whatever you serve it with.

Winter Comfort Food

2011-10-19T17:23:00.003-05:00

The temperature is dropping slightly here and I'm thinking about food that warms from the inside. One thing we can say about winter is that it forces us to stay home a bit more, relax and stay warm. Food is a great part of that routine. There are recipes I only use in the winter time and by fall, I'm ready to think about them again.
Here's my blog on Whole Living with a great chili recipe. I hope you enjoy!

God's Cultural Diversity

2011-10-18T08:31:00.001-05:00

Isn't God amazing?

Today I'm in awe of His excellent work in creating all the different cultures in the world. I live in a very diverse area. We enjoy food and native medicinal wisdom from all over the globe right here in our own neighborhood.

In years past, we would never have had access the different styles of medicine around the world. But today, with our shrinking world due to technology, we can discover wisdom from any country on the planet. When I was growing up, the best we could do was order the National Geographic (which was great, by the way).

This morning I read an article about the benefits of Orange Peel and Orange Oil. You can read it for yourself here. I never realized that the peel of an orange can aid digestion, help fight cholesterol and many other things. This article also gives insight into the misleading advertising about Grapefruit Seed Extract. It just goes to show a little research can save a whole lot of money and help your health.

Today I thank our magnificent Father who created all cultures and from whom is all wisdom!

Speaking Truth

2011-10-11T09:19:00.004-05:00

Speaktruth in humility to all people. Only then can you be a true man. (Sioux)

Isn't is amazing how the same truth is found in many places. I find this Sioux principle is a principle in the Bible as well. Ephesians 4:15 tells us to speak the truth in love.

"O Lord, who may abide in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy hill? He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, and speaks truth in his heart. He does not slander with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor takes up a reproach against his friend." Psalm 15:1-3

May I always check my heart before I speak. Even if I must speak correction or disagreement or establish a personal boundary, can I honestly say it is in love? If I can then God is pleased. Now to work on word choice . . . but that's for another day. ;-)

Fall Apples

2011-10-10T10:25:00.002-05:00

I love the Fall. I love apples, pumpkin and anything you can make with cinnamon. I love driving out to the country just to look at the trees dressed in autumn color. And I love visiting local orchards to pick my own apples. I've canned Apple Butter and Cranberry Apple Sauce. But this year I'd like to can Stewed Apples. I'm originally from Alabama and I remember my Nana cooking a large pot of apples on the stove. The result was heaven on a plate. Nana used a lot of sugar and I'm sure there's a way to do it with Maple Syrup or maybe just less sugar. If any of you have a recipe, I'd love to see it. Here's one I found online and below I'll put my Apple Butter recipe because it's wonderful.

Cinnamon Stewed Apples (www.myrecipes.com)
6 Cups chopped peeled tart apples
1/2 Cup packed brown sugar
1/4 Cup apple juice
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
1/8 tsp salt
Combine all ingredients in a large, heavy saucepan. Cover and cook over medium-low heat 45 minutes or until apple is tender, stirring occasionally. Let stand 5 minutes

Apple Butter
8 Cups apples, chopped & peeled
1/2 lemon, zest
3/4 tsp cardamom, ground
3-4 tsp cinnamon
3/4 Cup maple syrup
1 Cup apple juice
Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, remove cover and simmer 20-25 minutes until excess liquid has evaporated. Cool slightly. Place apple chunks in a food processor and process until smooth. Mix back into the pot. Heat again if you are canning.

Walking in Beauty

2011-10-08T18:06:00.002-05:00

There is away of living that Native Americans call " to Walk in Beauty ". It is saidthat one Walks in Beauty when one has Earth and Sky in Harmony.

"And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature

and in favor with God and man." Luke 2:52

Jesus commanded us to love God with all our hearts... and to love others as we love ourselves. This is pleasing to God and man. What better way to bring harmony and walk in beauty?

Morning Star/New Day

2011-10-07T13:11:00.001-05:00

Jesus said, "I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the Bright Morning Star." Revelation 22:16

Native Americans consider the Morning Star to be an important spirit, often representing courage and purity of spirit.

I'm working on a book series entitled The Morning Star Series. Morning Star will be one of the character's names, but also representative of Jesus. He is our savior, the one who brought hope for a new beginning and an eternity with God.

Most mornings, as the sun rises, I think of God's grace and how each new day is a new beginning. May this day be all He wants it to be. And may we be all He wants us to be.

Sky Talk

2011-10-05T12:06:00.002-05:00

“The Old Lakota waswise, He knew that man’s heart away from nature becomes hard.”

~Luthur StandingBear, Oglala Sioux

This morning on my way to work, God spoke to me through the beauty of the sky. Rays from the sunrise filtered through the clouds like a long-fingered fan, as if He reached down to each one of us making our way on the road. A mile or so farther along I looked up again. The clouds seemed to be spraying slightly darker mists of water in the sky, but it wasn't raining. The sun still broke through along with blue sky in most places. As I turned off the highway, there was a small rainbow in those clouds!

I sensed God wanted to pour out his love and power again. When I saw the rainbow He spoke this into my spirit, "I will renew my promises."

Thank you, Father, for your promises and for your creation that speaks to us.

Principle #1

2011-04-15T15:22:00.001-05:00

Dr. Russell's first principle for a healthy diet is "Eat only substances created for food."

This may sound simple at first, but think of all the things we consume in this age of technology and food production. Chemicals, dyes & colors, 'natural' and artificial flavors (which are both artificial, by the way), fillers, fat-replacing chemicals, and the list goes on and on. We may not even realize what's in the foods we eat and love until we read the ingredients on the label.

Here's a clue: If you can't pronounce it and don't know what it is, it's probably not a substance created by God for human consumption.
Here's another clue: What you don't know can hurt you. Read those labels.

What did God say?

"I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth

and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food." ~Genesis 1:29

God thought it all out. He created man and what he would eat. His desire was to please man's palate, but He set boundaries for man's protection. Isn't it interesting that man's first sin was to eat something that was forbidden?

Note: For recipes see my blog Foodie For Health.

Healthy Eating Basics

2011-04-07T15:41:00.001-05:00

Recently I've gotten a number of questions about how to eat healthy, or how to transition into a more healthy diet. I'd like to address some of those questions here. If you have more specific questions about diet, nutrition or alternative healing, you may post a comment here or email me here.

My first and most basic rules for diet come from Rex Russell, M.D. in his book, What the Bible Says About Healthy Living. I read his book years ago and always come back to his three principles. It makes choices so simple, though not always easy. Those principles are:

1. Eat only substances God created for food.
2. As much as possible, eat foods as they were created.
3. Avoid food addictions.

We'll explore each of these in more depth in the coming days.

Dreams and Faith

2011-04-03T07:38:00.001-05:00

“Those who are realistic and practical are less realistic and practical in the long run than those who dream big dreams and passionately pursue them.” — Hans Selye, scientist.

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful." ~Hebrews 10:23

I wonder if I've hesitated because I didn't want to work too hard or because of fear that I'd fail. Either way, I've lacked passion and faith. Lord, I confess.

No more. I'm tired of being realistic and practical. I want to see my dreams accomplished. I want God's kingdom come, His will accomplished in my life.

Let faith have it's way in me.

Promises Promises

2011-03-24T15:19:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Mr. Brown Thumb for the pic. Check out his great blog about urban gardening.

A single seed in the palm of my hand holds so much promise. This tiny seed will grow into a basil plant, from which I will cut to enhance summer meals. My mind wanders to caprese sandwiches; balsamic on crusty bread, topped with fresh mozzarella, basil and juicy tomato slices. Yum! But for now the seed remains intact. It's potential will not be realized until I plant it.

"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain . . .falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit." ~John 12:24.

The snow shouts from outside my window that winter remains, but I as I ponder my seed, I'm assured that spring is here and soon I can plant this tiny promise into the ground. And when this seed dies, it's life will be realized.

My thoughts shift to inward seeds. Birthed from our imagination, these seeds become dreams from which we make plans for life. But so often we discover that we must allow our dreams to die in the ground of circumstances and discouragement. With time and attention, prayer and faith these seeds may yet sprout new life.

If God has planted a dream in your heart and it seems like the dream is dead, be patient. Watch and pray. In faith, sprinkle some water on it every now and then. See what faith will do with that seed.

Don't give up. The promise of the seed awaits.

Healthy Diligence

2011-03-17T17:29:00.000-05:00

"Taking a holistic approach to health includes the principle of “prevention being better than cure”. While most of us may wait until we are in the grip of a cold or battling with emotional pain before we seek treatment to address symptoms, the holistic approach to health urges us to ‘start off how we intend to finish’. In other words, we need to maintain health and well-being in all aspects of our life.

The emphasis in holistic health is on building health, not only on fighting illness. This is achieved by creating a healthy lifestyle and healthy relationships." ~taken from the article, "The Healing Power of Nature," The Native Remedies Blog

I recommend reading the whole article. While I disagree that Nature itself has provided all we need (I believe our Creator made these things in nature for our healing), their point is well taken. We need to have a mind to maintain our health and work at it consistently. This kind of diligence prevents many severe illnesses.

It's like keeping a house clean, if we pick up each time we see something out of place and quickly wash out the sink when we see a spot, our house remains clean and we don't have to panic trying to find an entire day to spend on cleaning.

This daily-diligence principle holds true in every area of life. And what's more important than our health (spiritual, physical, mental, etc.)?

When Nature Groans

2011-03-12T10:52:00.002-06:00

We're horrified by the multiple, natural disasters that hit Japan yesterday. We can't yet comprehend the devastation, death and long-term effects on that nation and many others as a result. Our minds reel to come up with a reason.

For this and so many natural eruptions in our world recently we want an answer. We want to assure ourselves that we are safe. Often, as Christians, we'd like to say that it's God's judgment on an ungodly nation. But can we say the United States is godly? Hardly.

It reminds me of something Jesus said when asked why certain people died in a tragic accident. They were really asking Jesus what those people did to deserve such a death. Jesus explained that they were asking the wrong question. They should've been asking why the tower hadn't fallen on them.

Today I'm thinking of the natural disasters that have been in the news in the last few years. Earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, tornadoes. These have happened all over the globe not missing our own nation.

Today I read a verse written by Daniel centuries ago describing his people and circumstances. See if it doesn't ring true with us today.

". . .all this calamity has come on us; yet we have not sought the favor of the Lord our God by turning from our iniquity and giving attention to Your truth."

Daniel 9:13

We are all sinners. We all deserve God's wrath. But God loves all people and is not willing that any perish, according to the Bible (2 Peter 3:9). He is patient toward us, waiting for us to turn to Him in repentance. If we do, He has already made the way to give us forgiveness--Jesus, the One who took our death-sentence and then rose victoriously to life again.

Natural disasters can bring our attention to God. What better time to seek Him in prayer and evaluate our own lives. But it is for all of us. It is not for us to judge another nation or group of people. And it is not for us to expect that we will not suffer similar disasters.

We're told in the Bible that nature (creation) groans. That's what I keep thinking about when I hear the news. The earth is groaning. Here in Romans 8 we see the weight of sin causing man and nature to groan under its curse. But here we also see the hope waiting for us just ahead.

Let us pray for those suffering from the earth's groaning and let us examine ourselves, looking forward to the hope we have in Christ.

Romans 8:18-25:

¹⁸For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

¹⁹For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.

²⁰For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope

²¹that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

²²For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.

²³And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.

²⁴For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees?

²⁵But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.

Puppies & Sin Nature

2011-02-23T17:04:00.000-06:00

We have a new puppy at home. His name is Monty. He looks alot like this little one. He's a nine-week-old Beagle and is so adorable. His face says, "I'm sweet. I'm innocent and there's no way you could punish me."

Surprisingly, he already understands the word "No." He's probably heard it a thousand times in the two days we've had him. But when he hears the word he quits doing what he was doing and walks away, head down, very hurt that anyone could be so cruel to him. Then he promptly returns to what he was doing as soon as I'm not looking.

Can anyone say, "Original sin?"

I'm kidding, of course, but the puppy does know what he's supposed to do and he chooses not to. That is James's definition of sin. (James 4:17).

How often do we as Christians knowingly participate in that kind of sin? "Oh, it's just a little thing, won't hurt anyone," we might say to justify ourselves.

I work in the accounting office at a Christian university, believe me it happens all the time, those little lies to get around an uncomfortable situation or to get out of something unpleasant.

In the past, it was shocking to discover such a lack of integrity in someone (though it happened often enough), but it seems to be completely acceptable to this Millennial generation-those under thirty. Maybe "acceptable" is the wrong word. They understand it's not right or at least not the best thing, but somehow they're able to disconnect from the action and justify it.

"I don't say it's right, but that's not who I am as a person," one college student said to me recently. "It was just this situation because. . ."

Don't get me wrong, it's not just the younger generation, it has always been a problem--it's human nature. And, of course, there are always exceptions to a generalization, but however many fit this description in any generation is too many.

Like the puppy, we think we're too cute, or not bad enough, or that God loves us so much He wouldn't punish such a little sin.

Jesus, forgive us!

And may we never return to our vomit like a dog. (Proverbs 26:11)

Melting

2011-02-18T12:40:00.000-06:00

We've had unusually warm temperatures in Minnesota this week. Yesterday it reached 50 degrees! Snow is melting like crazy and water is running in the streets. We still have quite a way to go before it's gone, but Minnesotans are now eager for Spring. It will get colder again before Spring comes to stay, in fact it will only get up in to the low 30's today, but it's a process.

Ice Sculpture. Winter Carnival. St.Paul, MN

I see my heart in much the same way. Cold to the things of the Spirit, frozen in the ways of the world. But over the years, the warm breath of the Holy Spirit thaws and melts away the hardness little by little. I am renewed and made a little more like my savior with each passing year. Then He breathes again and I'm made aware of another layer of ice. I repent, allow truth to heat me and I melt some more.

This process will take much longer than Spring's arrival to Minnesota, but I have my Savior's promise that when I see Him I will be like Him. He's still working on me.

I'm still melting and Spring is on its way.

The Gift of Imagination

2011-02-12T11:24:00.000-06:00

Again I find myself in wonder of God's creation. Consider with me the human ability to imagine. Have you ever wondered why God gave people an imagination? I've thought about it often.

Today I read a couple of articles in Whole Living magazine about fear-less (less fearful) living. The article Your Brain on Fear (Whole Living, Jan/Feb 2011 issue) examines the function of our brain that helps us survive.

"It starts in the amygdala, an almond-shaped mass of nerve cells deep in our brains. The amygdala is a small but vital inheritance from our ancestors. It's been called the 'guard dog' of the human brain, activating whenever danger looms. The amygdala plays a key role in regulating all of our emotions, but to ensure our survival, it's wired to process fear first."

This fear function, an instinct also created by our God to alert us to the threat of danger, can be overworked and prevent us from achieving our goals. Fear stifles action and often clear thinking by making our minds focus only on the danger. The article points out that we can retrain the amygdala using visualization and meditation.

This is where imagination comes in. When we visualize ourselves achieving our goals we begin to believe they are possible. Only then will our brain allow us to take the appropriate steps toward achieving our goals. This visualization is a key part of prayer. It augments faith and allows us to pray with confidence and expectation.

With time and effort we can improve our ability to visualize the answers to our prayers. With this visualizing prayer and the inspiration and power of the Holy Spirit who lives in us, we can begin to see God's kingdom come and His will being done.

Begin to imagine what God wants to do, see it in your mind, pray for it and then take a step toward seeing it come to pass.

Cholesterol & Flax

2011-02-03T14:37:00.001-06:00

I recently learned that I have high cholesterol. This surprised me because I eat healthy and have for years. High cholesterol runs in my family, but I guess I thought diet alone would prevent the problem for me.

The nurse explained that I need to exercise more. Ah, that discipline is a little more difficult for me. But since then I've started a Tai Chi class (which I love, by the way) and tried to be more consistent and more vigorous in my daily exercise routine.

Learn more about Flax here: http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/agnic/flax/wales%203.htm

Today I read an article about Flax and the benefits it has for cholesterol, menopause and more. I'd like to share it with you here. You can read this article and other short articles about herbs that heal at this link.

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Flaxseed for Menopausal Discomforts and Prevention of Osteoporosis and Heart Disease

Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum) is rich in plant estrogens (phytoestrogens). At Laval University, Quebec, researchers gave 25 menopausal women hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or flaxseed (1.5 ounces daily mixed into food). Six months later, flaxseed relieved hot flashes as well as HRT. Flaxseed also mimics HRT’s bone-preserving ability. Oklahoma State researchers gave a placebo or flaxseed (1.5 ounces daily) to 38 postmenopausal women for 14 weeks, and measured calcium excretion in their urine, an index of calcium loss from bone. The flaxseed group showed decreased calcium excretion, meaning reduced bone loss. Recent research published in Drug News and Perspectives also suggests that flaxseed lowers cholesterol and risk of heart disease.
Dosage: 1.5 ounces per day, mixed into food.
Red Flags: Women who cannot take estrogen should consult their doctors before using flaxseed.

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Other things for lowering LDL cholesterol are garlic, fenugreek, chromium (nutritional yeast is a great source of chromium. Just mix a tablespoon into a small glass of juice or water and drink), niacin and, of course, exercise or other stress-reducing practice like yoga or tai chi.

Feel free to leave your own suggestions in the comments section.

After-Holiday Blues?

2011-01-25T18:32:00.001-06:00

I've been feeling sluggish, unmotivated and can't seem to shake the five pounds I picked up since the holidays. My body is crying out for a detox plan. Today as I arrive home from work I open the mail box to discover my "Whole Living" magazine with a 28-day Detox plan.

At this moment I might be persuaded to believe that the "Law of Attraction" theory is correct. My body cried out for something and the universe provided it. (Though I much prefer to think of God as the One who provided. He's much more personal and we have history). Anyway, I discovered this great plan for detoxifying your life including: Diet, Exercise, and Mental Focus. And it's not too difficult.

I came to the 28-Day Challenge late since I just renewed my old subscription. They started the plan at the beginning of January but it can be useful at any time. I think Spring would be a good time too--coming out of hibernation and into the sunlight. A great time to start fresh.

They've included a plan for each of four weeks with recipes and exercises (mental as well as physical). I'll let you check it out here. Let me know what you think.

Superfoods

2010-08-10T19:50:00.000-05:00

There is no doubt in my mind that God created foods in nature that would not only benefit our health, but actually heal as well. Some foods have more nutrients and some have greater potential for rejuvenating the body than others.

There is no firm definition of the term "superfood." I've heard that in the strictest sense of the word it means a food that could, in and of itself, sustain life. The coconut, for example. But recently I've seen the word used for many foods which may not sustain life completely, but are high in phytonutrients, antioxidants, nutrients, etc. I.e. the things that counteract oxidation and disease.

I've included a link to a very good article introducing a few "superfoods". And I'd like to offer a couple of ideas to get you using these foods right away.

Spinach and Salmon Here are two delicious super foods in one recipe.

Seared Salmon on Baby Spinach

yield: Serves 2; can be doubled

2 7-ounce skinless salmon fillets
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter
3 large shallots, sliced
1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh tarragon
3 ounces baby spinach leaves
1/3 cup dry white wine
1/4 cup whipping cream

Preparation

Sprinkle salmon with salt and pepper. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add salmon; sauté until just opaque in center, about 4 minutes per side. Transfer to plate.

Melt 1/2 tablespoon butter in same skillet. Add half of shallots and half of tarragon; sauté 30 seconds. Increase heat to high; add half of spinach and toss 30 seconds. Add remaining spinach; toss until wilted. Divide between plates.

Melt remaining 1/2 tablespoon butter in same skillet over medium-high heat. Add remaining shallots and tarragon; sauté 30 seconds. Add wine and cream and boil until sauce is thick enough to coat spoon, about 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Return salmon to skillet; simmer 1 minute. Arrange salmon with sauce atop spinach.

Blueberries:

Easy, just top yogurt or granola with a half cup in the morning for breakfast. Feel free to experiment with berries. Deep reds and purples are the best for antioxidants and nutrients. Use them as often as your budget allows. Also great on top of cheese cake, pancakes, or with the strawberries in strawberry shortcake.

Middle Aged

2010-07-13T16:50:00.000-05:00

Why do they call it "Middle Aged?" Is it a climax, a major turning point for the person as in a novel? Are you at the top of the hill now you begin to descend? "It's all downhill from here," as the saying goes.

But somehow I think life gets better.

Recently I've noticed a shift in my attitude. For the first time in my life I'm not looking to the next thing ahead, what I'll be when I grow up or where I'll live. I'm beginning to relax and realize that what I have is really pretty good.

I've even pondered the idea of sacrificing the flesh so the spirit in me will grow stronger. No, I'm not going crazy or anything. I haven't actually done any self-sacrificing yet. Maybe that will come in another decade. But the thought alone is startling.

Maybe this is a transition in life where the focus begins to change. A moment in life where eternity begins to seem real.

Hey, Middle Age isn't so bad, and somehow I think it won't be downhill from here.

The Happiness Deception

2010-07-05T09:12:00.001-05:00

Freedom to pursue life, liberty and anything that makes me happy.

Isn't that right? After all we're Americans and personal happiness is our highest goal. Or so it often seems.

Unfortunately the Church in America has bought into the lie that God's highest goal is for us to be happy.

"God would want me to have this, after all, it's what I want, it will make me happy and He is my father who loves me, right?" ~A common line of reasoning when we're trying to justify our desires.

The truth is, God's highest goal for us is to be mature, holy, obedient, spiritual adults. His desire is for us to grow out of immature selfishness and into selfless love.

Sacrifice is better for us than indulgence.

It is true that He's our Father, but He doesn't want us to be perpetual infants.

Many soldiers have sacrificed to give us freedom in this country. Jesus gave the ultimate sacrifice to give us freedom from sin and eternal destruction.

Plants offer a great example, when they grow to maturity they give of themselves. An obvious example is a fruit tree, when it matures it bears fruit for us to pick and be nourished. But even weeds give of themselves. For example, Dandelions are full of nutrition and a tea of nettles can offer help against allergies.

Let us stop searching for opportunities to treat ourselves.

Let us search for opportunities to give of ourselves.

Obedience & Death

2010-07-03T08:30:00.000-05:00

Why do I resist total obedience?

I'm like a toddler who doesn't understand why I can't touch the hot stove. you say, "No," but it's all I want to do in that moment. Often You allow it that I might learn from the experience.

I need to die to this flesh, trusting that Your knowledge is above my own. Yet I continue to resist Your nudgings to go beyond my comfort zone.

Why do I resist?

Death is a separation of body and spirit, so naturally we resist it. But spiritually we yearn for it in order to be free from the body's limitations and soar with God's Spirit.

Every time we deny the flesh it dies a little.

"If you are living according to the flesh, you must die;

but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live."

Romans 8:13 (NASB)

Chain Smoking

2010-06-28T14:42:00.000-05:00

The plight of a mother facing an empty nest.

Phone calls and text messages one upon the other. Only two callers: son two and son three. Messages from these two still living at home are a constant onslaught. Like the cigarettes of a chain smoker, lighting a new smoke from the burning butt of the one before.

The inevitable call at the end of one activity asking or anouncing the next, often without darkening the door of our home in between.

Summer has arrived. School has ended and with it the demands of activities such as drama and swimming. But now without the structure of school the next morning there remains no compelling argument for them to come home early or to sleep at home.

One son gone already, so long gone. Just a year more with the next and three more with the youngest. The time is so precious. But my time with them burns up in smoke as one cigarette lights another.

Exhale/Inhale God's Word

2010-06-21T19:01:00.003-05:00

Exhale. . .

Inhale. . .

Breathing is our body feeding on oxygen.

The oxygen cleanses as well as nourishes every cell.

When we breath without thought, as we do most of the time,

our breath is shallow, our muscles tense.

But when we take a moment to focus

and we practice deep cleansing breathing,

Our bodies are refreshed, renewed and relaxed.

Exhaling eliminates stagnant, toxic air

preparing the lungs and blood to receive fresh oxygen.
Exhaling completely must be done consciously.

Inhaling fills our body with vital, nourishing air.

The lungs pump oxygen into our bloodstream,

which carries it to every living cell.

Completely filling with oxygen invigorates the body.

This is why exercise makes us feel alive,

it forces the body to take in more oxygen.

Try it:

Exhale until you cannot squeeze another drop of air out of your system.

Next inhale slowly from the belly then fill the chest and the rest of the body.

Repeat.

Our mind and spirit feed on God's word the same way our body feeds on air.

Short, thoughtless snipets of God's presence and His word do not suffice.

A Sunday morning church service,

a three-paragraph devotional before our morning shower,

an "Our Father" before bed,

These are great to sustain us for a time,

but we also need to go deeper.

Read God's word, the Bible.

Let its words wash over you,

convicting you of sinful attitudes, thoughts and actions.

Confess your sin to the Father who's already made provision for your forgiveness.

Release it.

Once emptied of toxins,

fill up on God's word.

Meditate on it, bask in it.

Let it nourish and satisfy your soul.

Exhale. . .

Inhale. . .

Life in Defiance Review

2010-06-08T14:58:00.000-05:00

Life in Defiance, released May 2010, is the third book in the Defiance Texas Trilogy by Mary DeMuth. The town of Defiance Texas has yet to discover the killer of one of their own, a young girl named Daisy Chance.

Ouisie Pepper is the mother of the girl’s best friend, Jed. She’s also the wife of the local pastor, Hap Pepper, and she has a number of secrets locked away inside her. These secrets threaten to ruin her if her husband doesn’t kill her first with his raging temper. Ouisie believes she can change him by becoming a better person herself. But change doesn’t come easily.

Throughout her journey, Ouisie struggles between exposing the truth, including the killer’s identity, and guarding her secrets to protect the guilty and the life she’s always known. She befriends Daisy’s mother, Emory, who’s grieving, but growing in her new found faith. Emory encourages Ouisie to get away from Hap for her own safety and that of her children, but she doesn’t want to believe it’s as bad as it really is.

Ouisie lies to herself most of all. She can’t see that most of the town already knows some of her secrets. And she doesn’t understand how the truth will, as the Bible says, set her free.

With the help of her friends and her faith in God, Ouisie is finally able to face the truth, speak it out and embark on a new life.

DeMuth weaves a powerful illustration in Life in Defiance to portray the biblical principle that the Truth will set you free. Ouisie’s story is one of abuse both physical and emotional. It is an authentic look into the mind of someone who’s been abused—a peek into the reasoning of an abuse victim. And it is a revelation of how a person can rely on loving, Christian friends to help them gain a right perspective.

Ouisie’s story is gripping and keeps the reader wondering what will happen next and who Daisy’s killer is. DeMuth’s writing is smooth, beautifully descriptive one moment and shockingly real the next. She portrays her characters well—the abuser, the abused and those who love them.

Most of us never have to suffer the things DeMuth’s characters suffer in the Defiance Texas Trilogy. For that we are grateful, but the lessons her characters learn are lessons we can each take to heart no matter what circumstances we face.

*Note: I received a complementary copy of Life in Defiance for the purpose of review.

Exaggerated Images

2010-06-01T15:29:00.000-05:00

In his book, Contemplative Prayer, Thomas Merton touches on the importance of having a right perspective of ourselves.

"It (prayer/meditation) means the renunciation of all deluded images of ourselves, all exaggerated estimates of our own capacities, in order to obey God's will as it comes to us. . . "

I don't know about you, but I struggle with this all the time. I picture myself as being so much more effective, more disciplined and righteous. I imagine that I'm nice to everyone. But so often I catch myself thinking critically of others or being judgmental. Did I mention my selfishness? No? I don't like to mention it to myself either.

And one more thing, I can't stop thinking about what I want to be when I grow up! I dream about where I want to live, how successful I'll be. By the way, I'm 45! Wonder when I'll grow up. But I think it's because this life just isn't as exciting as I thought it'd be, not as many people are being saved, helped or changed--at least that I can see--from my life.

God help me. I am so prideful. Merton's words "deluded images of ourselves," and "exaggerated estimates of our own capacities" knock me on my face before my God.

Father forgive me and help me renounce these delusions so that I can focus on actually doing Your will. Though it may not seem as grand or glorious, by faith I believe my obedience in the small things will make an eternal difference.

Thomas Merton was a monk, poet, and author. You can read his compelling testimony in the book, Seven Story Mountain. To learn more about him go to www.merton.org.

I'll be using excerpts from Contemplative Prayer in the coming weeks unless I have a book review to share with you.

"Present Perfect" by Greg Boyd

2010-05-19T23:07:00.000-05:00

I've recently read the book, Present Perfect, by Gregory A. Boyd. Greg is the founder and senior pastor of Woodland Hills Church in St. Paul, Minn., and founder and president of Christus Victor Ministries. He was a professor of theology at Bethel College (St. Paul, Minn.) for sixteen years where he continues to serve as an Adjunct Professor. Greg is a national and international speaker and author or coauthor of eighteen books prior to Present Perfect.

My first exposure to Greg was reading his book, God at War. I cannot tell you how he expanded my thinking, so I enthusiastically agreed to review Present Perfect, which released in 2010. I have not been disappointed.

After receiving a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher for review, I quickly dove in, however I discovered I could not rush through this one. It's very easy to read, but I had to take my time. I just missed the days of Greg's blog tour, but I don't regret spending a few extra days in this book. This book is life-changing and I will read it many times again.

Present Perfect focuses on the awareness of God's presence in the present moment. Greg draws from three authors: Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection, Jean-Pierre de Caussade and Frank Laubach. The first two were seventeenth-century monks. I remember reading Brother Lawrence's book, The Practice of the Presence of God, in college in the early 80's. It had a lasting impact on my life. Recently, literally the day before I began Present Perfect, I finished the book The Sacrement of the Present Moment by Jean-Pierre de Caussade. I had no idea Greg's book would be about the same concept, nor that he would draw from de Caussade's book.

The basic premise is to become aware of God's presence and love in each present moment. This awareness brings Christ's life and love into our lives and conforms us into His image. I cannot think of any other discipline in the Christian's life that could have such an impact on the Christian, the Church or the world. It's true it must become a discipline, then a practice, then a habit, but little by little we are made into the image of Christ. We're aware of His love for us and others as we practice His presence in the present moment.

My husband is a pastor. He's already read the book and we will recommend it to our church. See for yourself. Check out Greg's website and other comments about Present Perfect, released by Zondervan 2010

Planning, Expectation & Joy

2010-05-12T14:37:00.001-05:00

Why is it we expect life to turn out just like we planned?

Has that ever happened? Is it realistic to even hope? I don't think so. Yet we plan our life's biggest events believing they will turn out just exactly as we planned. And when they don't? Of course, we're crushed.

I have weddings on my mind right now. My son will be getting married this Fall and my friend's son is getting married in a couple of weeks. I also have the opportunity to observe other brides-to-be since I work in a college. Most brides are. . . well, beautiful of course. . . but before the actual day, they can become spinning, green monsters with five eyes, thirty-six hands and at least three mouths with which to bark orders. Not my daughter-in-law-to-be, of course, she's actually quite relaxed about the whole thing. At least from what I can tell from a few thousand miles and five months away.

Girls typically plan their wedding in their head from the time they first played house or Barbie. We know the colors, the dress-style, the location, even the weather conditions. No, we never stopped to consider that there might be some things in our planning that were beyond our control. In our fantasy world, it was all in our control.

Thus the problem when the actual moment arrives in our life. Why aren't things going as planned? Why doesn't everyone know what I want? Why don't we have enough money for all of it? And why can't the weather cooperate? In our fantasy, Aunt So & So never wore a Hawaiian-print pants suit that clashed with our color scheme. Our nephew never knocked over the punch and Uncle Here-We-Go-Again didn't get plastered at the open bar.

It's not just at weddings that we have these unrealistic expectations about life. Almost any event that we know about ahead of time, anything that takes planning, we expect to be perfect--according to our plan.

And what happens when it doesn't go according to plan?

Even our life, itself, never goes according to our plan or expectation. We never planned to marry an abusive person. Or, we never planned to get divorced or have someone close to us pass away early in life. We never thought we'd still be earning such a low income and be unable to buy a house at 40. We never expected to have a child with a handicap.

What about smaller expectations, a little closer to home, maybe? I never thought I'd still be struggling with this food addiction by this age. I never thought I'd react like my parents did. I thought I would've accomplished so much more for God by now.

Expectations like these can lead to discouragement or something more severe.

Planning is vital, don't get me wrong. We need to plan. And we need expectations too, but hey, we're not yet in Heaven and we're not yet perfect. Life will NOT go as planned, you can plan on it, so leave yourself some emotional latitude. When you've laid out your plans and done your best to follow them; when you've given your all and still it didn't turn out the way you wanted it to, then take a step back. Breathe God's fresh air. Allow Him to be sovereign. His plans are not our plans. He can take the mess you think you have and work it all out for good--even for the best.

All this to say: Make your plans and follow them. Then enjoy the ride, bumps and all. Weddings, marriages, coordinated events, jobs and life will be so much more fun if you do. Don't stress over the little things. Focus on your blessings. Enjoy!

Crossing Oceans

2010-05-03T15:12:00.000-05:00

Nothing deepens a stream like a good rain . . . or makes it harder to cross. Jenny Lucas swore she’d never go home again. But life has a way of upending even the best-laid plans. Now, years after she left, she and her five-year-old daughter must return to her sleepy North Carolina town to face the ghosts she left behind. They welcome her in the form of her oxygen tank-toting grandmother, her stoic and distant father, and David, Isabella’s dad . . . who doesn’t yet know he has a daughter.

As Jenny navigates the rough and unknown waters of her new reality, the unforgettable story that unfolds is a testament to the power of love to change everything—to heal old hurts, to bring new beginnings . . . even to overcome the impossible.

Crossing Oceans, by Gina Holmes Waters, published by Tyndale, officially released May 2010. It is a captivating tale of life and death. Crossing Oceans inspires insight beyond petty differences into eternity. With that kind of vision we gain a better perspective and learn what love really means.

Here's what others have said about Crossing Oceans:

“Beautiful and heartfelt.”
Charles Martin, NYT bestselling author of Where the River Ends

“Poignant and unforgettable, CROSSING OCEANS will break your heart — and then put the pieces back together again. This is an uplifting and inspiring tale that reminds us to live every day as if it’s our last.”
Tess Gerritsen, NYT Best-selling author .

“Moving, heart-rending and poignant, a stunning debut. Holmes returns us to what matters in a too-short life—what it really is to come home.”
Tosca Lee, Author of Havah & Demon: A Memoir

“Gina Holmes explores the beauty, tenderness and tenacity of mother-love in Crossing Oceans with marvelous skill and insight. An outstanding debut from a gifted storyteller. Bravo!
Susan Meissner, Author of The Shape of Mercy

Spring and Chinese Medicine

2010-04-23T16:44:00.000-05:00

In Traditional Chinese Medicine each season has a corresponding organ of the body. Spring is the season of the Liver. As such, Spring is the best time of year to cleanse the liver. There are a number of ways to accomplish that and not surprisingly, they are things we're naturally drawn to at this time of year.

Don't you just love God and His infinite wisdom?

I should stop and let you know right now that I believe in the Bible as God's Word and fully support following it in every way. But I see some of God's truth reflected in the belief and practices of other religions. I have no problem believing that the Chinese may understand something about the human body or herbs that we in the West do not. Nor do I have a problem incorporating a practice as long as I refuse to violate Scripture. All truth is God's truth, for He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. I simply ask myself if it is in line with God's character as revealed in the Bible.

As far as Chinese medicine, I see it as another method of diagnosis and health care, always careful to separate that aspect of it from the Daoist philosophy, which would often contradict Biblical understanding of life.

Here's my quick description of TCM: Traditional Chinese Medicine is a science of diagnosing and treating symptoms as is Western Medicine. However, the two approach it from a different perspective. Chinese medicine sees the organs as the basis for all health and/or sickness. These organs are connected to all other tissue by means of channels and blood vessels. Therefore, outward symptoms point to internal problems, similar to western medicine. In my simplistic understanding, Chinese Medicine seeks to adjust or balance the flow of energy between organs or between organs and tissue to produce change and thus healing.

So how can Chinese Medicine be helpful in this time of new beginning and new life, which we call Spring?

It's a time to lighten up. Over the Winter, we crave comfort food, mashed potatoes with butter, meat, soups and stews, for example. But as warmer weather arrives, a longing grows in us to eat light and move more. Light, leafy greens tempts us, but without sin. Go ahead indulge! Take a big bowl of baby spinach, dandelion greens, scallions and sprouts. Eat them with celery, daikon radish and fish, if you like. These kinds of foods cleanse the body of toxins and tones the liver naturally.

Here are some more ideas:
- Light exercise such as stretching. Activity causes the liver to release blood to the tendons providing tendon health and flexibility.
- As mentioned above, eat green. (And to my boys, "No, I don't mean green jello").
- Eat sour foods, they stimulate energy flow. Try some lemon squeezed into your water.
- Outdoor activities provide fresh air, which also stimulates the flow of energy, and it gives us an excuse to exercise.
- Try a tea of Milk Thistle. It's cleansing and helps protect liver cells.

Yes, our Creator, the Lord God Almighty, is perfect in wisdom. He created in us right desires (if they haven't been tainted) and provided, through His creation, exactly what we'd need to fulfill those desires. And He made them to feed us the perfect nutrients needed for the season.

We praise and magnify Your name, Emmanuel, forever and ever!

References Used:

Spirit of Renewal: Spring and TCM

Guide to Seasonal Eating: Spring

TCM Information Page

Simply Natural

2010-04-14T16:58:00.002-05:00

"Nature, in all her revelations, seeks to teach man the greatness of simplicity. Health is but the living of a physical life in harmony with a few simple, clearly defined laws. Simple food, simple exercise, simple precautions will work wonders. But man grows tired of the simple things, he yields to subtle temptations in eating and drinking, listens to his palate instead of to Nature, —and he suffers. He is then led into intimate acquaintance with dyspepsia (digestion problems leading to numerous physical problems), and he sits like a child at his own bounteous table, forced to limit his eating to simple food that he scorned." ~From Self Control, Its Kingship and Majesty by William George Jordan, 1905

How true? Even more today than when first penned by Jordan in 1905. "Health is but the living of a physical life in harmony with a few simple, clearly defined laws." Not laws set by Congress or the State Senate, but laws set by us and for us, individuals who desire a better life.

What kind of laws? Laws that set forth balance. Specifically speaking of diet and health here, but the principle applies to all areas of life. Jordan points out a few: simple food, simple exercise, simple precautions.

Simple Food: Get back to the basics. Raw, organic produce. Locally raised meat without hormones. I remember the three basic principles of good eating I learned from the book, "What the Bible Says About Healthy Living" by Rex Russell, M.D. Number One, eat what God made. Number Two, eat it as close to the way that God made it as possible. And Number Three, avoid all food that is, or could be, an addiction for you personally. Such simple, practical advice. Not always easy to apply, I admit, but so beneficial.

So many today have what Jordan calls "dyspepsia." I see it in people of every age, even young people. Eating disorders and digestion dysfunction abounds. People are literally eating themselves sick. We don't even want to hear that what we eat effects our health and we don't want to go there for answers when we do get sick.

Don't get me wrong, I love food. I love rich, gourmet food. I even have a blog just for food complete with recipes (see Foodie4Health in my blog links). But I also love to be healthy and like being a good steward of my body as well as our money. It's expensive to eat gourmet. I believe we can have food that's both delicious and healthy. However we need to commit ourselves to our health and the simple life first, then explore our options within that parameter.

Now don't laugh like that! It's not impossible. But the first step to the simple life in any area is commitment. Not a fun word, but a necessary word that frees us from the consequences of no commitment. A word that, when lived out, offers a life of contentment and success that we never dreamed possible. A commitment and some discipline is all it requires.

"Let us seek to cultivate this simplicity in all things in our life. The first step toward simplicity is 'simplifying.' The beginning of mental or moral progress or reform is always renunciation or sacrifice. It is rejection, surrender or destruction of separate phases of habit or life that have kept us from higher things. Reform your diet and you simplify it; make your speech truer and higher and you simplify it; reform your morals and you begin to cut off your immorals. The secret of all true greatness is simplicity. Make simplicity the keynote of your life and you will be great, no matter though your life be humble and your influence seem but little. Simple habits, simple manners, simple needs, simple words, simple faiths,—all are the pure manifestations of a mind and heart of simplicity."

May we heed these words penned by William Jordan in 1905, grasping their relevance for today and may we endeavor to live them out in our diet and every other area of life.

Microbiology and Antioxidants

2010-04-08T15:12:00.002-05:00

**Correction to the following post: My friend has not completely sworn off antibacterial products. She sees the need for them in certain situations. I apologize to her and to you for misrepresenting her.

A close friend of mine is taking Microbiology. They have the great experience of studying and handling germs. Doesn't that sound fun? But I'm told that it's necessary to take this course if you want to become a nurse. So there she is.

Recently the professor assigned them a project. They were to take a certain germ and find out the most effective way to kill it. She tried a number of different substances but discovered that a few essential oils were the most effective antibacterial substances of all those they tested. The best ones were Tea Tree Oil, otherwise known as Melaleuca Oil, and Lavendar Oil. Personally I buy cleaning products from the Melaleuca company. {Side note: If you're interested in their products, send me an email}

Since taking this class my friend has actually sworn off antibacterial products, even the natural ones. She's learning that to kill bacteria is to kill the good and bad alike and without the good bacteria we lose our ability to fight off the bad. The result: we catch things much easier and the bad germs tend to mutate to something worse.

My feeling is that God provided all we need to fight infection. He made somethings naturally antibacterial and somethings just good cleaning agents because He knew that we'd need to fight the germs sometimes and other times we'd need those 'bad' germs to instigate our bodies to develop a stronger germ warfare naturally.

Following is an excerpt from an article I ran across recently that sums it up nicely.

Are natural antibacterial sanitizers healthier?

"The first reason to avoid them [antibacterial sanitizers], says Rebecca Sutton, PhD, senior scientist for the Environmental Working Group, is an ingredient called triclosan, commonly used in antibacterial products. Triclosan is an antimicrobial agent and pesticide that’s closely related to dioxin. Translation: It’s been linked to liver and thyroid problems. Awesome.

The second reason to avoid antibacterial products is that even those made with alcohol increase the risk of antibiotic resistance. What that means, in a nutshell, is that as antibacterial products become more common, some germs become immune to them, then come back with a vengeance in the form of “superbugs.” Trust us when we say that you do not want a superbug setting up camp in your bod. And since study after study shows that washing your hands with regular soap and water is as effective as using special germ-killing products, there’s really no point in buying a bunch of disinfectants you don’t need, whether they’re synthetic or natural.

Of course there are situations where you might justifiably need a quick, convenient way to wash up without water — whether you’re hiking or roadtripping. And yes, if you want to throw a hand sanitizing gel in your diaper bag or camping first aid kit, a bio-based product like ethanol would probably have a slight edge over petroleum-derived, isopropyl alcohol, the more common ingredient in hand gels. We all know corn doesn’t exactly have a pristine environmental record, but it definitely never hurts to reduce your consumption of petroleum-based products, even if by just a smidgen."

Story by Tobin Hack. This article originally appeared in Plenty in December 2008. Copyright Environ Press 2008.

New Life

2010-03-31T16:32:00.001-05:00

New Life

Brown earth. Trash exposed. Death pervades.

It's the end of a long winter. For a time the brown death wore a shiny white mask, but no more. Will the desolation continue? Is there no hope for new life?

Of course, there is--SPRING. In fact, underneath the mulch and straw I can see a few green sprouts pushing their way toward the sun. I cannot uncover them yet. Oh no, for over a month more there's a chance of another frost. But the hope of those new plants encourages me. New life has begun! In a few months the earth will be full of color and life.

We have this assurance because it happens every year: Death in the Fall, Sleepy white cover hides the dead earth in Winter, then new life sprouts in Spring and mature green life thrives in the Summer. Sunrise, sunset, summer, fall, winter, spring. Experience promises it will be again.

Spring offers new baby plants at the same time the Cross and Resurrection offers new life to those long dead spiritually. What a celebration! Jesus knew the death in our hearts. He saw it even when we tried to cover it up with a shiny coat or mask. But He didn't get grossed-out and turn His face away. He watered our barren heart with His blood, then shone the light of His own resurrection on it to produce new life in us.

Now we grow to maturity. We're all at different places in that process, but we continue toward the goal of becoming like Christ. We practice listening, learning and obeying. We're getting better at it and maturing along the way. One day He'll return and we'll be just like Him when we see Him face to face.

MARANATHA!

The Color Purple

2010-03-24T17:37:00.001-05:00

The Color Purple
My son is in chemistry class. Today he learned that purple has the highest energy level of all the colors. In a lay-person's understanding (mine) that means there is greater movement when the light hits the purple object thus producing that color.

Here's an interesting look at the meanings of color in food: Color Energy in Food

"Purple is also a color that generates good chi. So, wherever you would like to add extra energy, consider adding purple. However, because it is a stimulating color, it’s better not to put purple in bathrooms and kitchens, where it can enhance the negative energies of these rooms." ~ says Kathryn Weber, referring to Feng Shui design, in her article Purple Power

Recently I've been hearing about the amazing health benefits of purple, as well as blue and red berries. They are all said to be full of antioxidants, some more than others. Of the berries in an average American diet--strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries--blueberries are said to have the highest antioxidant content. But there are berries grown outside the U.S. that rate even higher and now manufacturers are taking advantage of the positive studies by producing concentrated juices from these berries.

Berries such as Acai, Goji and Pomegranate are said to contain a great amount of antioxidants. These juices are sold in natural food stores, online or in the natural section of your local grocery store.

These berries contain several substances called anthocyanins and flavanoids. "Anthocyanin" comes from two Greek words meaning "plant" and "blue." They are responsible for the red, purple, and blue hues in many fruits, vegetables and flowers. Foods rich in anthycyanins are very strongly colored, ranging from deep purple to black. These antioxidants help defend the body against free radicals, which are harmful byproducts produced by the body in response to stressors. Antioxidants also play a role in the body's cell protection system. They are said to help reduce the risk of disease.

Recently I've read and heard great things about Cherry juice. This would fall into the same category as the Acai, Pomegranate and Goji berry juices. These juices, when concentrated are said to help with arthritis and joint pain because they reduce swelling. Because of the antioxidants, the juices can help fight heart disease and cancer.

These claims are big and there is no hard and fast proof as of yet, though some studies have been very positive. The best way to find out is to try them. There is no risk since these fruits are natural, unless you have a specific allergy to them. Also, if you have diabetes, you should know that any fruit juice is high in natural sugar.

I'm always amazed at the wide variety of things God created for the benefit of our health. He knew exactly what we'd need. He even looked ahead to the pollution that would be caused by our own "ingenious" inventions and realized we'd need antioxidants in our food to counteract the free radicals these technologies would cause. Praise be to His glorious name!

"Then God said, 'Let the earth sprout vegetation: plants yielding seed,

and fruit trees on the earth bearing fruit after their kind with seed in them;'

and it was so."

~Genesis 1:1

Greater than Tsunamis and Earthquakes

2010-03-16T14:42:00.000-05:00

In recent weeks we've witnessed the power of earthquakes in Haiti, Chili and this morning, a small one in California. Closer to home we've seen floods in nearby states. Several years ago the media brought us the news of a devastating tsunami in the far east and just a few years ago we saw the destruction of hurricane Katrina on our own boarders.

Nature shows its power from time to time and we cower, knowing all our knowledge and understanding can't control these forces of nature. We don't even have the power to prevent loss of life. We are weak before the earth, the wind and the water.

But our God is not weak. The majesty and power of God is greater. Look at Psalm 93.

"The Lord reigns, He is clothed with majesty;

The Lord has clothed and girded Himself with strength;

Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved.

Your throne is established from of old;

You are from everlasting.

The floods have lifted up, o Lord,

The floods have lifted up their voice,

The floods life up their pounding waves.

More than the sounds of many waters,

Than the mighty breakers of the sea,

The Lord on high is mighty.

Your testimonies are fully confirmed;

Holiness befits Your house,

O Lord, forevermore."

Psalm 93

In the midst of floods and chaos, we run to the One who is mighty, more mighty than the circumstances surrounding us. We can be sure that He is great, He is powerful and He is with us. As Jesus said in Matthew 28:20, ". . .I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

What a comfort in an unpredictable world!

Harmon

2010-03-06T09:00:00.002-06:00

UPDATE: Click here for Harmon's Obit and Photo Look for him in the right-hand column)

Harmon died today.

I didn't know him well. How well can you know someone who doesn't speak to you? Harmon had downs syndrome and lived to be in his fifty's. He lived next door to me with two other adult foster-care men. My neighbor, Jewels, takes care of them. Harmon had been with her for well over twenty years. He was a son to her.

Harmon used to walk around the block holding an American flag. He had that flag every time I've ever seen him, except for yesterday.

Once Jewels brought him to our church. We have a relaxed church with lively worship and we have flags up at the front for any who'd like to use them in worship. That morning a few were waving flags, so Harmon got out into the isle with his American flag and "waved" with the rest of them. His movements weren't smooth and practiced. I have to admit he was a distraction. And yet, it was a distraction with a message.

All are welcome at the foot of the cross. God welcomes all who come to worship Him without shame. Harmon had no shame that morning, he had no idea we watched him. I didn't even know if he understood he was in church and it was all about God-until yesterday.

I had gone next door and Jewels asked me to pray with Harmon. He was so close to death, stiffness had already set in. I put my hand in his and began talk-praying. That's what I call it. I asked him if he remembered coming to our church and waving flags.

He squeezed my hand!

I hadn't expected that, but as I talked more about it he squeezed my hand a number of times and Jewels noticed that he was trying to smile. I'd never had Harmon really interact with me when I tried to talk to him before. But here, now, on his deathbed, talking about church and Jesus, he reacted.

Today I'm thinking of how Jewels loved Harmon consistently, tirelessly without expecting or demanding any reaction much less thanks. I see Christ in her. That's how He loves us, that's how he loves Harmon still, today welcoming him into His open arms.

I look at myself, so often willing to give up on a project or even a person if I don't see some kind of results or appreciation. Lord Jesus, forgive me and let Harmon's testimony change me. Amen.

Lent and Rushing Water

2010-03-02T13:51:00.000-06:00

Have you ever had any kind of wilderness survival training? I had a course in seventh grade in preparation for a snowbound adventure, complete with snowshoes. One thing we learned was not to drink stagnant water. I grew up in Colorado where gravity ruled the movement of most water so that wasn't a problem. Nature's running water. It was clear, clean and colder than your refrigerator.

So, what does the river have to do with Lent?

Lent is a time of reflection. It's a time to consider the life, death and then the resurrection of Christ, but also to contemplate the reason for His suffering--Me.

We remember our shortcomings, maybe not evil for today's standards, but evil for God's standards. Falling short of the goal even the smallest bit is, missing the mark. It means we lose the ability to have a relationship with our Creator and God. So He took our just punishment. He won the victory for us all.

It's so easy to take this lightly. But our salvation is not, and has never been a license to live our own life, shunning God by making our own decisions. He purchased our freedom. If we accepted the gift, then our life is now His, but He waits for us to offer it freely to Him. We can trust Him with it. After all He paid dearly for it.

So during Lent we reflect. We confess our sins to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We thank Him for His generous sacrifice and we purify ourselves, consecrating our life once again to the One who is worthy of it.

Busyness, however, can rob us of this intentional thinking. We end up making decisions on the spur of the moment because we don't have time to consider what God would want. Like a stagnant pond collecting abstract objects that clutter and add filth, we become lifeless--functioning, but not really living.

Oh for the purifying, rushing river of the Holy Spirit. The river moves, it doesn't stagnate. Like the Holy Spirit prodding us to repentance and holy living, the river pushes ahead carrying away filthy debris that would otherwise clog the river.

May I determine to give some time for reflection during this Lenten season, allowing the Holy Spirit to nudge me forward.

Maranatha!

Fickle Weather

2010-02-23T16:45:00.002-06:00

Photo by Joshua Thompson

It's supposed to snow again this week, maybe tomorrow. But right now the sun is shining and from inside my window the warm rays feel like Spring is with us.

The weather changes so quickly, especially as Spring approaches. We'll get ready to believe the warm weather is permanent only to be blasted again with snow and ice. We'll drag our boots and gloves back out of the winter storage box, kicking ourselves for putting them away so quickly. Out will come the window scraper and shovel and we'll put that extra ten minutes back into our morning routine for shoveling and scraping. Here in Minnesota we don't put those things away until May, we don't want to get too hopeful, after all.

Unpredictable, even nasty weather reminds me of life, don't you think? Just when things are looking up, life blasts us with more cold circumstances or icy feelings of discouragement for no apparent reason.

Nature mimics life's uncertainty, but nature also reminds us of the sure nature of God's character. For we know deep down that Spring will come, then Summer, then Fall again and so on. The seasons continue throughout the ages, just as they always have. Consistent. On this we can rely, just as we can on God's character. This is where we build our bridge spanning the turbulence of life. We stand on Him during the storms that rage like our rock of Gibraltar.

God's character, his goodness, faithfulness, wisdom and sovereignty allow us to trust that He is indeed at work. He will bring us through the storms of life, not only as survivors, but as successful.

Even though the weather patterns change, the seasons remain the same. Take heart.

^{Psalm 107:19-32}

^"19Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses.

²⁰He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

²¹Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

²²And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.

²³They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;

²⁴These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.

²⁵For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.

²⁶They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.

²⁷They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit's end.

²⁸Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.

²⁹He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.

³⁰Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.

³¹Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

³²Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders."

Book Review - Thin Places

2010-02-15T13:47:00.000-06:00

I don't usually put book reviews here. The Christian Naturalist's purpose is to explore God's character and gain spiritual lessons from nature. Thin Places, A Memoir by Mary DeMuth is a book about discovering God's character and lessons in life's circumstances. So I didn't think you'd mind. I encourage you to look for the book and Mary's other books as well and let me know what you think.

“I, myself, am a thin place.” DeMuth says in the first paragraph. “The Celts define a thin place as a place where heaven and the physical world collide, one of those serendipitous territories where eternity and the mundane meet. Thin describes the membrane between the two worlds, like a piece of vellum, where we see a holy glimpse of the eternal—not in digital clarity, but clear enough to discern what lies beyond…I’m broadening the metaphor a bit. Thin places are snatches of time, moments really, when we sense God intersecting our world in tangible, unmistakable ways. They are aha moments, beautiful realizations, when the Son of God bursts through the heavy fog of our monotony and shines on us afresh.” ~opening lines from Thin Places by Mary DeMuth.

From the first pages of the book, DeMuth piques the reader’s longing for the spiritual. She shines a light on our own yearning for the nearness of God’s presence, then proceeds to demonstrate His nearness in the most undesirable circumstances.

DeMuth lays herself bare on the pages of this 215-page memoir. She is honest, humble and through her vulnerability reveals the love and sovereignty of God that she has discovered over the course of her early life. She shares poems and snippets from her childhood journals and reveals underlying pride and self-deceit common to most of us.

As in the fictional stories she weaves, DeMuth’s writing in Thin Places is earthy and real, even edgy, but always permeated with the light of hope in Christ. She claims to be a storyteller but her stories are not fluffy entertainment, they are powerful stories of God’s redemption, love and hope as is her own story told here in Thin Places: A Memoir.

Describing Thin Places, DeMuth writes, “The end result is story: mine. It’s the story of a little girl who faced sexual abuse, neglect, drug-using parents, fear, death of a parent, and a host of other malevolence. And yet it’s a hope-filled story, where the bright light of God’s climactic redemption outshines the dark places. It’s a story of God’s nearness when I thought I’d nearly lose my mind and will to live. How grateful I am for the beautiful love of Jesus, how dearly He chose frail me to shame the wise. It’s really His story after all.”

I recommend Thin Places for anyone who has experienced troubling circumstances, or just life in this life. May you and I each discover the thin places where God comes near.

Introducing a New Blog

2010-02-11T16:11:00.001-06:00

My blog is going through some changes. More specifically it's dividing into two. The Christian Naturalist will continue right here, but I'm adding Foodie For Health to my blogging endeavors.

Foodie For Health will focus on delicious natural foods and will feature a recipe with each post.

The Christian Naturalist will ponder God's amazing creation as a resource for sustaining and enhancing life. We'll look into any area in which natural things in creation can be used for our benefit. Recipes may be included here or may not, but there will always be a link on this page to the Foodie blog and visa versa.

I hope you enjoy the changes and will follow both blogs regularly. I value you opinion and your readership.

Sincerely,
Terri

Hope of Spring

2010-02-04T07:18:00.000-06:00

All around is white, but the sky is blue and the sun is still shining at nearly 5pm! The temperature is a decent 22 F. It's just early February but the hope of Spring is in the air. Each week the days will stretch a little bit. The temperature will continue to fluctuate, but at least the amount of daylight will continue to grow and we'll hold on to the assurance that Winter does NOT last forever.

Again nature, specifically the seasons, give such a picture of the spiritual reality. When in our darkest moments in life, the moment you're sure you can't go on unless you can see something to give you hope, the very next moment there's a glimmer of light. A tiny bit more light than you had before, just enough to remind you that the darkness will not--cannot--last forever. Spring is on it's way. Nothing will stop it's coming. No amount of snow, ice or arctic temperatures can deter the coming of Spring.

The darkness does not remain forever.

Take hope in this, fellow journeyman/journeywoman, neither storm nor winter lasts forever. God is in control and He will bring you through the darkness into the light. Sadness, sorrow, grief, discouragement will give way to hope. With God there is always hope. And hope does not disappoint as the Scripture says.

Recipe:
I don't know, maybe I'm in the mood for oranges recently. They seem so sunny, so cheery in the middle of winter. So here's a salad with oranges from Lunds & Byerly's Real Food, Spring 2010 magazine. See Lunds & Byerly's online and go to their "Recipes & Expertise" section for more great recipes like this one.

Orange and Shaved-Fennel Salad with Toasted Walnuts and Cheese Curls

1 large fennel bulb, trimmed
1/2 cup red onion, sliced thin in vertical strips
2 large (or 4 small) oranges, peeled, white pith removed, but either in segments or into 1/4-inch thick slices
3 Tbsp olive oil
2 Tbsp lemon juice
2 Tbsp fincely chopped fern-like fennel tops
pinch of course salt
freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup toasted walnut pieces
2 ounce wedge Pecorino Romano or Asiago cheese

1. Using a sharp hand-held vegetable slicer or the slicing blade of a food processor, cut the fennel bulb into thin cross-wise slices. There should be about two cups packed. Place the fennel and the onion in a large bowl, cover with water, and add ice cubes. Let stand 15 minutes. Drain well and pat dry with a clean kitchen towel.

2. Arrange orange slices in a single layer on a large platter or four individual salad plates. Drizzle with one tablespoon of the olive oil and top each with a generous grinding of black pepper.

3. Toss the fennel and onions in a bowl with two tablespoons of the olive oil, the lemon juice, and one tablespoon of the fennel tops. Add a pinch of salt and a grinding of black pepper. Mound in the center of the orange slices.

4. To toast walnuts: Add to a small dry skillet and cook over low heat, stirring until lightly toasted, about 5 minutes.

5. Use a vegetable peeler or cheese plane to cut thin curls of cheese from the wedge and arrange on top of the salad. Sprinkle with walnuts and remaining chopped fennel tops and serve.

Tea, God's Healing Drink

2010-01-27T17:30:00.001-06:00

"Better to be deprived of food for three days, than tea for one."

~Ancient Chinese Proverb

Outside the window snowflakes are falling, the temperature is dropping and you hold a warm cup of tea between your hands. The gentle steam rises to warm your face and the aroma soothes the tension in your neck. What could be better on a cold winter day?

But tea is more than comforting. More and more studies are showing the health benefits of tea.

In her book, Healthy Healing, Linda Pages says this about tea: "Both green and black tea have enzymes that promote digestion and help our bodies resist harmful bacteria, like Staphylococcus aureus. High flavonoids in both teas reduce harmful blood clotting linked to heart attacks. Both contain polyphenols (not tannins as commonly believed) that act as antioxidants, yet do not interfere with iron or protein absorption. The natural, bioactive caffeine contained in both black tea (50 to 80mg per cup) and green tea (about 30mg per cup) helps combat mental fatigue."

Black and Green tea come from the same plant, thea sinensis, which is grown from the Middle East to the Orient. Green tea is picked from the first tender leaves of Spring. Black tea is fermented for three hours, then often scented with spices to strengthen aroma and reduce bitterness.

Page goes on to explain the extra benefits of Green Tea. "[Green Tea] contains larger amounts of healing nutrients, including twice as much vitamin C, more than twice the amount of bioflavonoid activity and six times the antioxidant properties of black tea."

Page notes that milk should not be added to Green Tea as it inhibits absorption of the protective polyphenols. (I've heard that adding milk to chocolate also inhibits the absorption of the antioxidants).

The health benefits of tea have been known since close to 2300BC in China.

What I love about natural things used for healing is that one plant has so many applications, can usually be used in conjunction with other plants without fear, and they're available to average people who don't have a PhD!

Besides the benefits already mentioned, green tea is highly enzyme-active for weight-loss. It is a good fasting tea, providing energy support and clearer thinking. It helps bronchial dialation against asthma. Green tea is anti-carcinogenic (fights against cancer), antibacterial (the Chinese used it to purify water), and antimicrobial which means it's great for the skin. It may hinder some causes of high blood pressure. It promotes fat-burning, regulates blood sugar and insulin and keeps hunger at bay. And these are just a few more of its many benefits.

Of course, as with anything good that God created, there is a point of diminishing returns. A few cups of green tea per day can be a great boost to your health, but a cup or two every hour--especially if you add 1-8 tsp of sugar to it--will no longer benefit your health.

All things in moderation. Didn't Paul say something about that?

Bless the Lord who has made all things good and good for us. Then go ahead and drink that cup of tea in your hands. Enjoy the health benefits as well as the comfort it brings.

Try this recipe:

Orange Green Tea, created by Me :-)

1+ Tbsp Loose Green Tea (Gunpowder, for a robust flavor; Sencha for a lighter flavor; or any other to your taste)
1 Pot (6-8 cups) almost boiling water (Do not bring it to the point of boiling)
1/2 organic Orange Peel
1 Cinnamon Stick (optional)

Let steep for five minutes or more. Pour into cups and add Honey or Agave to taste.

Contrary to Nature

2010-01-21T16:08:00.000-06:00

This week I've been pondering a spiritual principle that is contrary to nature. That's right. I always focus on aspects in nature that point to God or illustrate a spiritual principle, but this week I see a spiritual principle that defies nature.

"Resist the devil and he will flee from you." James 4:7

If you want something or someone to flee from you in the natural, physical realm, you usually lash out. Attack another person and they'll probably flee. If two armies face each other in battle, each wants to make the other side flee. They do it by aggression, bigger weapons, more ammunition, a larger army.

Not so in the spirit realm. Our enemy, the devil, comes at us with lies, doubts, fears of every kind and accusations. His attacks are in our minds to defeat us before we get started. We can try to fight with words in return. "You no good, lousy fallen angel! I hate you. . . " But that only pleases him.

"Ah-Ha, I've got them on the defensive," he says to himself.

Or we can take a real sword and swing it in the air, hoping to slice that sneaky, back-stabbing, Air-Prince. But we won't hit our mark that way either.

Nope, all we need to do is resist. Resist the thoughts he plants in our minds as soon as they float through our grey matter.

How?

We know the truth. And we know Him who is Truth.

If Satan attacks with a barrage of thoughts that demonstrate our worthlessness. We remember our absolute worth to Christ. We are so valuable to him, that he laid down his life for ours. He lived, taught, suffered persecution and ridicule because he valued us!

If he attacks with temptation, for example, "You know how much you need that new Kitchen Aid. You'd use it more than most people who own one. Sure, it's over $500.00 and you can't afford it, but it will be worth every penny." We quickly respond with, "God will supply my every need, so I must not need that, at least not now or God would've provided for it by now." Or we could respond by saying, "Patience is a fruit of the Spirit God must want me to learn right now." Go to the root of the temptation and remember that God doesn't tempt.

Knowing God's character and knowing the truth demonstrated in Scripture gives us firm ground to stand on when we resist Satan's lies.

How different from the natural world. But what a powerful principle in the spiritual world.

Don't accept the junk he feeds your mind.

Resist and watch him flee!

Hmm, what kind of recipe goes along with this lesson??

Why don't you give me suggestions this time? Just post a recipe or link to a recipe in the comments section. Try to make it delicious and natural. Thanks!!

Winter Rest

2010-01-15T15:53:00.001-06:00

"There is an appointed time for everything."

Ecclesiates 3:1

How about a time for warmth and a time for cold? Solomon didn't mention it, but I'm sure he meant to. Times for sleep and times for action? Of course. Our body would defy us if we stayed in action-mode continuously.

Outside my window, all of nature is covered in a thick blanket of white. It's barren and still.

Have you ever noticed how loud sound is when there's snow on the ground? Or how people tend to whisper just after a new snow? Shhhhh . . . Listen.

Winter is a season that lends itself to rest. Plants sleep away the long, cold months as do some animals. I catch myself gazing at my couch longingly some afternoons. Mornings and evenings are so dark, sleep seems the perfect remedy. And although I still have a full schedule, my body craves more rest.

My spirit, too, needs a respite from activity. Time to be still in the presence of the Lord and know Him. Refresh the spirit to be ready for whatever God intends for us in the coming moments of the coming year.

Nature demonstrates the wisdom of rest during these barren months. Seeds don't sprout, plants don't grow, they don't photosynthesize. These simply sleep, silent and barren as if dead. But in a few months they will be renewed!

Let us also take some time during this quiet season to rest. Go ahead, plan a few extra hours of sleep--write it in to you schedule if need be. And let's not forget to guard those quiet moments with our Heavenly Father.

"Be still and know that I am God."

Psalm 46:10

Be restored and be refreshed.

**Note: Our small group has just started a series on the character of God by Chip Ingram. It has already challenged me to get to know Him better. Our understanding of God dictates our theology and our way of living. A great way to renew the spirit is to get to know God.Check out this link to hear Chip talk about God's goodness.

More veggies for simplifying and cleansing your diet:

1 Potato, cut into thick slices
1/2 head Broccoli, cut into 2-3 inch pieces
Some Cabbage, preferably purple, cut into 2-3 inch strips

Steam all ingredients in a small amount of water until not hard (not too soft).
Put the mixture on a plate and top with butter (if you're not fasting that), salt and pepper.
It's delicious!

Foodie Fasting

2010-01-10T16:28:00.002-06:00

Mind you, I'm not doing a complete fast, but I'm limiting my diet for a week to fruit and veggies with some whole grains (not flour). But I have to confess that any type of fasting is hard. So much of my time is spent planning for, buying for and cooking meals, not to mention eating, that I forget I'm fasting several times throughout each day and start to eat something I shouldn't. I also get a little grouchy when I can't please my palate. But I guess this is the reason I'm fasting.

Celebrating is important. There are more celebrations in the Bible than fasts. But fasting is important too. How easy it is to satisfy the flesh! For example, my son has birthday cake and pie (that his friend made and gave him) sitting around in my kitchen. I've almost taken a bite out of one or the other three times while preparing meals in the last 24 hours. And these aren't even something I'd normally eat--at least not a lot--but when I'm fasting my flesh screams, "UNFAIR!"

I feel sorry for my flesh as it squirms and screams, but you see, like a small child, it must be put back in its proper place. If I never discipline my flesh, deprive it, or make it uncomfortable, then it gets out of hand. It starts to believe it's my god and should control all of my decisions. Worst of all, it becomes more and more difficult to please, like most deities of our own making. The most delicious delicacies become mundane. Like a spoiled child, my flesh whines unable to be satisfied.

So this week I'm putting the child down for a nap. The flesh needs this discomfort. And afterward I will relish each and everything I choose to put in my mouth, recognizing the Lord's provision. I and my flesh will have a renewed sense of thanksgiving.

So here's to the New Year, as I dedicate it to my Lord and Savior (and not to my flesh).

Invigorating Salad Concoction:
Good for a refreshing side dish on a normal winter day or a main dish during a fruit & veggie fast.

Nappa cabbage, thinly sliced
Shredded Carrots
Red Pepper, thinly sliced
Bean Sprouts
Lemon Juice

Mix the cabbage and carrots. Top with a few slices of red pepper and bean sprouts. Squeeze some lemon juice over the top.

Even the flesh can't deny it's great taste!

New Inspiration and Resolutions

2010-01-06T15:50:00.005-06:00

I've had new inspiration to begin to blog again. I am a naturalist and a part-time foodie. Recently my husband and I watched the movie, Julie and Julia--instant inspiration! Julie in the movie is a writer who's written half of a novel--Oh, can I relate to that, I've written several halves of novels--she's also a foodie, someone who's interested in gourmet food and cooking. She begins blogging about cooking all the recipes in Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking. I'm tempted to take up the same challenge, but I'd rather continue cooking healthy, natural food, which is also tasty (not to say that Child's book doesn't include natural recipes, because French cooking uses natural ingredients) and blog about food, nature and the One who made them both.

My goal is to blog at least once a week, more if possible.

Speaking of goals, everyone in my office is on a diet. It being January 6th, I guess it's expected. I too would like to loose a few pounds, but how is the all consuming question.

I've heard that health clubs get hundreds of people joining beginning in January. They come faithfully and the gym is full for weeks until about March by which time the majority have lost interest. I'm sure the health clubs don't mind at all, they still get the year-long membership fees.

And what about diets? The number diets out there is mind-boggling.

Here's my suggestion for a natural, healthy plan to lose weight: Cut out white flour and sugar. Of course there will be some exceptions and special days, but it is possible on a regular day. Now, if you already eat this way, you'll have to get more strict, or just exercise more, but if you don't, this is a great way to lose weight without counting calories or following a strict, complicated diet plan.

Don't forget to exercise regularly. Exercise burns calories--allowing you to eat more ;-) -- and it increases energy. But if you join the gym keep it up throughout the year if only to get your money's worth or else your resolution for 2011 will be a better financial plan.

In this new year I pray you enjoy food, enjoy good health and enjoy the Creator who delights in you and made these for you to enjoy!

View Julie Powell's current blog.

Here's a delicious recipe without flour or sugar:

Polenta w/Veggies and Mushroom Ragout
Lund's & Byerly's Real Food Winter 2008, page 56
1 C Instant Polenta or Cornmeal
2 C Milk
1 C Water
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 C Parmesan cheese, shredded

Ragout:
8 ounces White Mushrooms, quartered
1 Red Bell Pepper, sliced into strips
1/2 small Onion, sliced into strips
2 Tbspn Olive Oil
2 cloves Garlic
1 Tbspn Thyme, chopped
1 15-oz can Kidney Beans, drained
2 Tbspn Tomato Paste
1/2 C Creme Fraiche or Cream
1/2 tsp Salt

Prepare a pie pan by lightly rubbing it with olive oil. Ina 2-qt saucepan, bring themilk and water to a simmer. Whisk in polenta in steady stream and add salt. Reduce heat to med-low and stir the mixture until thick, about 3-5 minutes. Take off the heat and stir in Parmesan then transfer to the prepared pie pan and smooth the top. Chill. Prepare the veggies and reserve. Heat a large saute pan over med-high heat and add oil*; then add vegetables and cook, stirring. When mushrooms are browned and seared, and peppers and onions are tender, add garlic and thyme and stir for 2 minutes. Add beans and stir to heat through. In a cup, stir tomato paste with cream; then add to the pan and cook until thickened slightly. Take off heat and keep warm. Salt to taste. Preheat broiler. Oil a baking sheet and slice the polenta in 6 wedges. Lightly oil the toops of the wedges and broil them 6 inches from the heat. Watch them carefully and turn when the tops are golden and crisp. When the polenta is hot and crispy on the edges, serve with ragout.

*Taking the idea from Julie Powell, I browned the mushrooms in butter first, set them aside, then cooked the other veggies in the leftover butter with a little olive oil added. I then added the mushrooms back in when I stirred in the tomato/cream. And, Julie, if you're reading this, I didn't crowd the mushrooms. ;-)

Testing & Faith

2009-06-24T07:46:00.003-05:00

Continuing thoughts on conflict, trials and faith . . .

“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.”
James 1:2,3

Faith must be like a muscle that can be trained and strengthened. We can’t lift weights or do push-ups for this muscle, however. It’s the trials we face in life that train our faith.

I often think of faith as similar to bravery. Just because someone is brave doesn’t mean they have no fear, it simply means they don’t allow the fear to interfere with their action. So with faith, having faith doesn’t mean we have no doubt, only that we don’t allow the doubt to dictate our action. We act based on the truth of God’s word.

Hebrews 11 has been called the Faith Hall of Fame. When we read the stories of the likes of Abraham who left his home, not knowing where he was going, but followed God’s lead, I’m sure he, and the others, had doubts but all we read is what they did. They followed and obeyed. We know Moses had doubts, he told God a number of times that he wasn’t up to the job. In the end though, Moses obeyed God. There were many trials along the way, but Moses’ faith increased with each one, he became a strong man of God as he watched God come through in the midst of trials time after time.

I’m beginning to see God’s wisdom in allowing trails. I’m finally starting to understand why trials and evil people are important to include in fiction. My heroes need to stretch and grow as characters, they need to discover the strength within themselves and to do that, they must be tested.

Thank you, Lord, that you don’t test us the way writers test their characters in a book. And help me to devise some evil plans against my fictional heroes. Amen.

_______________________

Mint Tea

When the stress of various trials starts to get to you, try some Green Tea with Mint. Mint settles the stomach and its aroma clears the mind.

For hot tea, simply pour near-boiling water over green tea leaves and a handful of fresh mint leaves. For iced tea, place several green tea bags and a handful of fresh mint leaves in a clear pitcher and set it out in full sun for about three hours. When the tea has brewed, remove the tea bags and mint and place the pitcher in the refrigerator.

Conflict & Change

2009-06-16T15:05:00.004-05:00

I'm studying characterization today. How to write believable characters for a novel. I've been struggling with my protagonist. He's just too good. He's too nice and has no deeply rooted conflict or motivation. Isn't it interesting that the things we want to avoid in our own lives are the things we love to read about in novels? They are also the things which bring the most change whether in our own lives or the lives of our beloved characters.

My favorite books and movies are the ones in which the characters change the most. They start off weak, or handicapped in some way and discover their strengths through the conflicts they face.

So why do we avoid conflict like the plague? And why do we accuse God of not hearing our prayers when he allows conflict into our lives? "Is God evil?" Many may ask. But He has revealed Himself to us as a God of love.

Like a parent's love, God loves us enough to allow circumstances to teach us. A recent example happened in our family this week. Our son needed to get up for work. We've been encouraging him to set the alarm early enough to allow himself a little more time in the morning. "Get up the first time it goes off," I always say. Since school has been out, he's had to work a couple times in the morning, but not until 11am. He figured he'd just wake up on his own by that time, so he didn't set an alarm. My husband and I were both at work when he needed to get up. He slept right through and was 1 1/2 hours late for work! He sure learned his lesson that day. Luckily he didn't lose his job, he just got a little embarrassed. Now he's begun to set the alarm and get up when it goes off. Experience is so often the best teacher.

An example from nature. I picked a mixing bowl full of strawberries this afternoon. This year has been the best yield I've ever had from my small, urban, backyard strawberry patch, each day a handful or small bowl. Pondering the possible reasons, I've considered that it could be because we had such a long, cold winter. Spring took her time arriving in Minneapolis this year. A few trees didn't make it and still I see some that are half brown and half green. But the strawberries have spread and each plant is full of baby white berries, soon to be bright with color and flavor. Could it be that these delicate, nutritious berries thrive when challenged by the elements?

I’m not sure, but I know people do. Paul says to consider it all joy when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4.

Now back to torture my characters a little more.

4th of July Strawberry Treat:
Place fresh Strawberries and fresh Blueberries on top of a small bowl of real whipped cream.
It's delicious and patriotic!

Balance

2009-06-05T20:35:00.000-05:00

Ever wonder why Americans are so out of balance?

We take everything to the extreme. If something tastes good, we eat as much of it as we can, as often as we can. We eat even when food doesn't taste good or we're not hungry. If we want to lose weight, we find some diet that starves us, we knuckle down and stick to it until the unwanted pounds fall off and we can get back to indulgence. How have we missed the wisdom of elder cultures that have discovered good health in balance?

Actually, our tendency toward excess is being exported around the world today until countries, which used to understand balance, are becoming more and more overworked, overfed and overstressed just like us.

Let's step back. Take a breath. And think a moment.

Balance makes me think of a tight rope walker. He's got to keep his feet in line. One step too far to the right or the left and BOOM, he hits the crash mat below.

Life isn't that restrictive--Thank the Lord! But take too many steps too far to one side or the other and balance is lost. When we lose balance we lose right perspective and good health--spiritual and physical.

Nature demonstrates balance. The earth needs water. Too little water and life dies. But too much water and life dies as well. It's natural. We understand that if you over water a plant it will die. And we understand that if you forget to water it for too long it will die. We have to regulate our watering schedule for our plants.

How about us? Do we make the effort to keep ourselves in balance? Our health depends on it as well. We may indulge in a piece of cheese cake for a special occasion and be just fine. But if we had cheese cake every night our bodies would take the toll. N'est ce pas?

Is it possible to be too spiritual? Of course, if we thought we had to read the Bible eight hours every day and when we were not reading we could do nothing but preach to our neighbors, we'd be out of balance. And probably not appreciated by those neighbors.

On the other hand, we Americans probably tend to the opposite extreme more often. We're so busy, caught up with so many important tasks (often ministry related), that we rarely have time to give attention to the Word, Prayer or Meditation. Hard to be like Christ when you don't know Him.

It must be possible to make Him our priority and still get day to day stuff done. If we decide that God is our first priority, we set a certain amount of time for His presence and His word each day. Then if our schedules get out of hand and we miss that time one day, we'll get back to it the next--no big deal. But if we wait until we get all our tasks accomplished, we'll never have time for Him.

Balance is healthy in every aspect of life. Balance includes a large dose of grace and readjustment. Invariably we'll get off that line of balance. At that point, we just forgive ourselves, as Christ does, and get back to what we know is right. This holds true in spiritual disciplines, diet or any other aspect in life.

Don't forget balance when it comes to other people too. Allow them to get off to one side or the other. Forgive them. Encourage in a positive way, a way that doesn't judge, to move back to center.

Let's don't get stressed-out about it. Just remember moderation and balance. And always allow yourself room to readjust.

Pleasure

2009-05-19T15:21:00.004-05:00

"Pleasure has proved to be the most powerful and lasting motivation."
~Mireille Guiliano, French Women for All Seasons

This quote can be taken in almost any context and so prove to be positive or negative. Advertisers use this fact regularly. In her book, Ms. Guiliano's focus is on diet and other basics of everyday life. In her first book, French Women Don't Get Fat, she addressed the area of diet primarily, but her principles work in every area of life so she wrote the second book.

To sum it up, Guiliano purports that all good things are healthy when taken in joy and moderation. Not a bad principle to live by. Gluttony would therefore cause disease and Ms. Guiliano demonstrates that the majority of diseases today stem from obesity.

French Women for all Seasons is not a Christian book per se, however, I see a common thread with Biblical principles. Take the following Scriptures for example:

". . . The joy of the Lord is your strength."
~Nehemiah 8:10

". . . In thy presence is fulness of joy,
At Thy right hand, there are pleasures forever more."
~Psalm 16:11

Don't read over these familiar verses too quickly. Strength. That's not just emotional or spiritual strength, is it? It's physical strength, health, as well.

And what is the "joy of the Lord?"

God's happiness with us; Our happiness when we're in one accord with God; the joy the Lord gives us regardless of circumstances. Anyway you look at it, it's healthy for us in every aspect of our lives: physically, spiritually, emotionally.

Psalm 16:11 speaks for itself. Read it again. "In Thy presence is fulness of joy, At thy right hand, there are pleasures forever more." Wow. God cares about our pleasure. The closer we are to Him the more pleasure we enjoy. He created everything in nature for us to enjoy--for our pleasure. He instituted celebrations for His people to remember him by and to enjoy. He called for far more celebrations than He did for fasts, though both are important, of course.

Why don't we take the time to enjoy celebrations? Even little ones like a cup of tea with a friend or high-quality, natural foods made simply and eaten slowly.

I think the reason we don't is because we're always in a hurry. We just don't want to take the time to prepare or even to be thankful. We gulp down our food and rush on to the next thing on our schedule so we can cross it off our list. The only problem is that this isn't fullness and it isn't the abundant life Jesus promised us.

God wants us to enjoy the gifts He gives and to do that we have to STOP. Recognize the gift, be thankful for a moment or two. To enjoy His bountiful supply in nature, we have to STOP. Taste. Enjoy. Breathe. Give Thanks. Otherwise we'll likely miss the joy of the abundance He sends our way.

Even the conviction of sin is a precious gift to be savored. It is God's kindness that leads us to repentance as it says in Romans 2:4. But if we rush past the conviction in our heart, we won't feel the sorrow over our sin and thus the need to repent doesn't seem as urgent. Without repentance there is no forgiveness of sin, and without forgiveness there is no blessing of an abundant life here or in eternity.

The pleasure of God's presence motivates us to repent so we can be near Him, which is fulness of joy and that's what heaven's all about.

Pleasure is the best motivator.

The pleasure we experience when we're with God motivates us to a holy life. May we allow nothing to hinder that relationship.

The pleasure we experience when we're healthy motivates us to eat slowly, with moderation and to eat vibrant, ripe foods, grown naturally.

The pleasure we obtain from being thankful motivates us to take our time, recognize the gifts we enjoy from God and give Him thanks.

Let us determine to slow down enough to enjoy the flowers. After all they're created by a God who loves us and wants to bless us with pleasurable experiences. He's like my husband sending me flowers for our Anniversary, He wants to remind us of His love and make us smile.

STOP

BREATHE

ENJOY

GIVE THANKS

Here's a recipe you're sure to enjoy. It's natural, simple and full of flavor!

Caprese Sandwiches
-Two slices of Crusty Bread (Cibiata, Sour Dough, Boule, Baguette, etc.)
-Dab a few brushfuls of Balsamic Vinegar (For something extra special, see my link to Annon's Gourmet shop. Jeanie sells many delicious varieties of balsamics. For Caprese, I love the Pomegranate Vinegar)
-Fresh Mozzarella (found in Italian Delis or the specialty cheese isle of the grocery store) WARNING: regular mozzarella will NOT do. It's completely different.
-Ripe Tomato, sliced
-Fresh Basil
After dabbing the bread with vinegar, slice some of the Fresh Mozzarella and place on the bread. Add several leaves of Basil and slices of Tomato.

Waiting

2009-05-09T09:49:00.003-05:00

"I wait for the Lord, my soul does wait, And in His word do I hope, My soul waits for the Lord More than the watchmen for the morning; Indeed, more than the watchmen for the morning. O Israel, hope in the Lord; For with the Lord there is lovingkindness, And with Him is abundant redemption. And He will redeem Israel from all his iniquities." Psalm 130:5-8

Waiting is so hard. Have you ever planted a seed, watered it, then watched it every day to see if you could see the first green begin to show through the dirt? As kids we did this in our science class, but I still do it in my garden. I may not check it the first day or two. After all, I'm an adult now, I know it takes longer than a day for a seed to sprout and reach the surface. But inwardly I can't wait. I anticipate.

Seeds planted in the spirit can take much longer than natural seeds to show life. I'd been waiting so long long for certain spiritual seeds to show their sprouts, that I confess, I gave up. At first, I watched and waited, excited for the plant and fruit that would follow. But as the days turned into weeks and weeks turned into years, I confess, I gave up. I quit watering those seeds, quit bathing them in prayer. I quit watching and hoping because I didn't want to face the disappointment again. Busying my thoughts with other things eased my mind so I focussed on the daily grind or my own comfort instead.

Hope is a tricky thing, don't you agree?

Honestly it's easier to let a plant die than to water and nurture it daily without seeing any results. At least you can't be bitter about your seed's lack of progress when your own lack of attention caused the problem. But to diligently nurture, water and wait and yet see nothing is brutal. So I quit. To my shame, I gave up. To be quite honest though it didn't stop me from being bitter toward God. You see I also quit expecting anything special from Him in my life. I still believed, but I held hurt inside and didn't risk hoping.

God is so good and faithful. He is restoring my hope, my faith. He is showing signs of life underneath the soil. I can almost see green coming up from the shifting dirt above that original seed. And I believed that seed to be dead!

Without any care or water from me in recent years, God was working inside that little seed. He tilled and nurtured it through all these years. I don't deserve to reap the fruit from the crop this seed will produce, but He is allowing me to be one of the harvesters all the same. WOW!

Though man be found unfaithful, yet God remains faithful.

I thank you YHVH!

Absorbing Vital Nutrients

2009-04-17T13:42:00.007-05:00

What's the point of being careful about what we eat if our body doesn't benefit from the nutrients anyway? We can eat right foods and take good supplements, but if our body doesn't absorb the nutrients into the bloodstream, it doesn't do us any good.

Vitamins that don't dissolve in water don't dissolve well enough in the stomach for our bodies to absorb the nutrients and they are wasted.

Nutrients often need other nutrients to be absorbed properly. For example, Vitamin C helps absorb Iron; to absorb Vitamins A, E and K it's important to combine it with a little dietary fat, and Magnesium helps the body absorb Calcium. These are just a few examples.

God, in His wisdom, has taken care of many of these things in nature. Spinach contains iron and Vitamin C along with a number of other vitamins and nutrients. Unlike supplements, living foods contain a balanced mix of vital nutrients.

Anything that aids digestion helps the body absorb nutrients. Here's where our fermented friends come in handy. Yogurt, Vinegar, Wine and Miso are all digestion aids. When digestion functions well, more vital nutrients become available to all the parts of our body.

Is there a spiritual lesson in this principle of nature?

Of course. Our spirit needs to be nourished as well.

There are many thing that help us absorb spiritual nutrients. Listening and obeying the spiritual authorities God has placed in our lives is one of the first steps to nourishing our spirit man. It's true that no person is perfect, still God expects us to learn from other people and submit to the spiritual authority He's given. Not blindly, of course. The Bible remains our rule of faith and conduct, so if any authority leads us to stray from sound biblical doctrine we find another mentor.

Another aid to spiritual digestion is to obey the lessons we've already learned. Hearing without action will not help us grow spiritually, but hearing and obeying will! We move forward and become ready for the next set of marching orders from our Captain.

Still another key that helps absorb spiritual nutrients is meditation. Take time with Scripture passages that move you. Think about them, ponder them, turn them over and over in your mind. Then look for ways to apply them to your life. Sounds a lot like digestion, doesn't it?

One more thought, before you begin to read the Bible each day, ask God to guide your study. Pray that He will lead you and burn His words into your spirit. Ask Him to change you through His Word in ways that only He knows you need change.

Digesting and absorbing spiritual nutrients will strengthen our spirit man to live the kind of love-filled, power-filled life Christ calls us to.

Yogurt

2009-04-09T14:08:00.004-05:00

Yogurt is one of the most healthy and flexible fermented foods God has given us. It can be used cold as a dessert with fruit, as a drink or in thousands of recipes. Try replacing Sour Cream with Yogurt in recipes. We've even used Yogurt on baked potatoes.

I have a great little book called, "The Yogurt Cookbook" by Olga Smetinoff, originally published in 1966. Olga grew up with a mother who kept fresh, homemade yogurt on hand at all times. Her mother brought this tradition to the United States from Europe when they immigrated. Many credited yogurt for their good health, vibrant skin and shiny hair. They noticed that even in times of poverty people were able to make their own yogurt and continue in good health.

Yogurt has been a staple in most countries of the world. "The Russians refer to it as prostokvasha, and the Bulgarians call it keselo mloeko. It is a staple food all the way from Odessa to Peking. It is known in all the Arabic countries of Europe and North Africa," says Smetinoff. "Yogurt contains certain bacteria that, in the intestinal tract, break down milk sugar into lactic acid in which disease-producing bacteria are unable to live."

Smetinoff sites Dr. Ilya Metchnikoff (Ruussian bacteriologist, author, and the first to identify the bacilli that created yogurt) who attributes the longevity and stamina of the people of the Balkan countries to this marvelous food. He found that although they were among the poorest peoples in the world, and were deprived of most of the foods normally containing the necessary vitamins, they were practically immune to stomach troubles. Ulcers were almost unknown. He gave credit for their good health and long lives to yogurt. He found, during the time he conducted this important study, that there were 1600 Bulgarians over the age of a hundred to every million of population, compared to only 11 Americans per million."

Good health begins with digestion. Fermented foods are the superheros of digestion. Try adding yogurt or other fermented foods to your diet at least once a day. It may be a challenge at first, but you'll get the hang of it.

I am amazed when I think of God's creation. Down to the smallest, microscopic bugs--microorganisms--He has planned for our health and well-being. God created these tiny little guys to protect us from disease and maintain vibrancy.

Dear Lord, I am in awe of your spectacular creation. Perfect in every way and beautiful, you have gone to such great lengths out of love for us.

Take some time this week to Meditate on God's great love. Today is Good Friday. This weekend we celebrate the sacrifice of Jesus for our sins. We remind ourselves of all that he suffered because of love. From His creation to His sacrifice, which was planned before the foundation of the earth God shows His love for us.

Yogurt Recipes.

Fermentation

2009-04-05T15:56:00.003-05:00

Every culture uses fermentation of food to preserve it, enhance flavor and add variety as well as for the well-documented health benefits. "The origin of fermented foods is lost in antiquity, but fermentation is one of man’s oldest attempts at food preservation and preparation. There are biblical references to fermented wine production and recorded indications of Assyrian king Ashurbanipal (668-626 BCE) on what he considered to be the best wines of his time. Fermentation, however, predates even these early writings. It is suspected that the natural fermentation processes for grains and dairy led to the development of beer, wine, cheese and yogurt about the time early man moved away from a hunter-gatherer society into an agriculture-based society. To survive, ancient man had to harness nature. Food begins to spoil the moment it is harvested, but food preservation enabled man to put down roots, live in one place, and form communities. He no longer had to consume the kill or the harvest immediately." (taken from, Fermentation and its Health Benefits by Robert L. Lawrence M.ed., D.C., D.A.C.B.N.)

Microorganisms are natures recyclers. "There is something fascinating about microorganisms," says Lawrence. "They are everywhere—in the air, in water, in food, and in our bodies. They are invisible and without number, capable of multiplying with extraordinary rapidity. Some are agents of illness and even of death—but some are the very foundation of life and health."

Some of the benefits of fermentation Lawrence describes in his paper are these:

* Renders food resistant to microbial spoilage and the development of toxins.
* Inhibits the transfer of pathogenic organisms.
* Improves digestion and nutrient absorption of food.
* Preserves food between the time of harvest and consumption.
* Enhances flavor and nutritional value.

If you glanced through those quickly, read them again. That's an impressive list! Can you imagine the wide range of health benefits fermented foods have for the human body?

In recent time we've outgrown fermented foods, we have quicker, more consistent ways of preserving foods. Our new ways have the benefit of giving the food a more uniform look and texture and giving the food a longer shelf life. However, they do NOT provide any of the above benefits.

The process of fermentation is different for different kinds of food, it takes time, usually attention and always patience--things we seem to be short on these days. Luckily there are natural stores that carry beneficial fermented products. Yogurt, Keifer, Miso, Tofu, Vinegar, Tamari or Soy Sauce and Sour Kraut, just to name a few. Check labels for something like "Live & active cultures."

Try using vinegars on salads and main dishes. I've just discovered Annona Gourmet, a local store that carries many exotic and delicious olive oils and vinegars. The owner will let you taste! You can even buy a few then mix and match. Check it out if you live anywhere near Northeast Minneapolis.

You can also try making yogurt at home. Click here.

All this talk about patience and process seems like it could be good for the soul as well. I definitely think there's a lesson to be learned here. God places examples for us all through creation. Yes, He cares about our physical health, but He's even more concerned about the health of our eternal spirit. How about trying an experiment in spiritual fermentation?

Try this for 20 minutes:
Read one passage in the Bible. It can be one verse or one paragraph. Read it again a number of times. Meditate on what it means to you personally. How does it apply? What does it ask or expect you to do? What does it say about God's character or His will? How does it make you feel? Ask Jesus what you need to learn from this passage. Listen.

Can't you feel those spiritual microorganisms multiplying and strengthening??

Praise is Healthy

2009-03-28T12:46:00.004-05:00

"Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God;
For it is pleasant and praise is becoming.
The Lord builds up Jerusalem; He gathers the outcasts of Israel.
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
He counts the number of the stars; He gives names to all of them.
Great is our Lord and abundant in strength;
His understanding is infinite.
The Lord supports the afflicted;He brings down the wicked to the ground.
Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; Sing praises to our God on the lyre,
Who covers the heavens with clouds, Who provides rain for the earth,
Who makes grass to grow on the mountains.
He gives to the beast its food, And to the young ravens which cry...
The Lord favors those who fear Him,
Those who wait for His lovingkindness." ~Psalm 147:1-11

It is good to praise the One who made all and provides for all. God is the one who gives the rain in Spring. He makes plants to grow for our food and for our healing and it is He who provides water to drink. God is the One who heals our broken hearts and He is the One who binds our wounds, both physical and emotional. Without Him there is no health, in fact there is no life.

When we have good health, our skin radiates, our eyes shine, we are "becoming," an old word for beautiful or nice to look at. Also, we feel good and our emotions are positive. Psalm 147 says that praise is pleasant and praise is becoming. It makes us happy and beautiful. Praise is, in fact, the least expensive beauty treatment you'll ever find!

Praise isn't just telling God how great He is, though that's part of it. When we tell Him, we remind ourselves, build up our own faith and become more thankful. But praise is also expressed in the way we live our lives. Obedience to God's loving laws shows our praise in action.

But we cannot praise unless we have the fear of God. Maybe that sounds weird, but think about it. The fear of God comes from an understanding of His character, His greatness, His authority. Praise is speaking these traits back to God and obeying Him because of them. If we have this understanding, we fear God and praise is the result. If we don't understand the fear of the Lord, we do not submit to Him in obedience and we do not speak His praises. We will not wait for God's decisions and His timing if we don't understand His lovingkindness.

God's favor is on those who fear him, the pslamist says, and on those who wait for His lovingkindness.

Ouch! Waiting is so hard. But it is only hard because I don't yet understand the lovingkindness of God.

"Fear the Lord and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your body and
refreshment to your bones." Proverbs 3:7-8

So the fear of the Lord is healing and praise is becoming.

Dear Lord, reveal yourself to us that we may fear You, obey You and praise You all the days of our lives. Amen.

March 20, 2009 - Essential

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The Essential Oil in a plant is basically its blood. Like our blood it carries nutrients, oxygen and water to every part of the plant. It is the life of the plant.

For this reason, essential oils can be very healing. Depending on the personalities--properties--of each plant the essential oil can affect our bodies in a number of positive ways.

"You do not need to have worked with essential oils on a daily basis over many years to come to the realization that nature has provided mankind with a tremendously powerful and diverse materia medica. Some of the healing that has taken place under their influence would be called miraculous if we didn't have the scientific basis for explaining how the oils work...Each oil has its own medicinal and other properties. Modern-day research has confirmed centuries of practical use of the oils, and we now know that the fragrant pharmacy contains, apart from its antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal qualities, essential oils which are antiseptic, antiinflammatory, antineuralgic, antiheumatic, antispasmodic, andtivenomous, antitoxic, antidepressant, sedative, nervine, analgesic, hypotensol, hypertensol, digestive, expectorating, deodorizing, granulation-stimulating, circulatory-stimulating, and diuretic, and much more besides...One of the most satisfactory aspects of using essential oils medicinally and cosmetically is that they enter and leave the body with great efficiency, leaving no toxins behind. The most effective way to use essential oils is not orally, as one might think, but by external application or inhalation." ~The Complete Book of Essential Oils & Aromatherapy, by Valerie Ann Worwood.

Basil, for example is a good oil for bronchitis, fatigue, colds, better mental focus, migraines, gout and aches & pains.

Eucalyptus is used for sore throats, bronchitis, coughs, sinusitis, skin infections, ulcers, sores, rheumatism, aches and pains; as an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory.

Jasmine helps fight nervous tension, depression, menstrual problems, laryngitis, anxiety, lethargy and can be used as a relaxant.

What a wonderful pharmacy God has created for us in nature! Without additives and fillers to make them work and without leaving any toxins or side-effects behind, essential oils absorb into the skin naturally and begin working on a cellular level.

God does the same for us on a spiritual level. Recently I've been reading "The Organic God," by Margaret Feinberg. I'm also leading a small group discussion based on this same book. She makes some powerful points concerning the character of God and His natural influence in our lives.

I've noticed that when I try to make myself grow or learn a certain lesson, I fail or I forget it very quickly. But there are times when God reveals something so unexpectedly and in such a real way that I am changed.

Often He hooks me just enough so that I want to learn more, I crave more of the taste He's just given me and I begin to seek Him for more. This is God's work in me through His Holy Spirit. It is a gift from Him. I can't make myself change, become holy or even keep my mind from pride. On my own I'm helpless. But God works from within. His Spirit carries His truth throughout my being, feeding my mind, my belief system and my spirit like spiritual blood.

As Feinberg says, The Organic God is Natural, Pure and Essential.

Acts 17:28 says, "In Him we live and move and have our being."

Our relationship with God is as essential to life as our blood.

**Try this simple recipe for an Essential Oil blend that helps relaxation and mental focus.

February 20, 2009 - Winter Thaw

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Dormant. Lying underneath the ground is something beautiful, new life waiting to push its way to the surface. To reveal its beauty for all to see.

February is a time of anticipating Spring. Temperatures rise a little, melting snow and ice here in Minnesota. Then they drop again freezing the water to a smooth, slick accident waiting to happen. Toward the end of the month dirt and dead grass become visible in patches. And we know what lies beneath that ground . . . new grass, flowers, perennial herbs . . . we can hardly wait!

Come May we'll be able to till the soil and loosen the dirt to prepare for planting. Maybe not as big of a deal for us as for the farmers, but still, we'll plant a few vegetables and flowers.

Underneath the surface of our hearts, new life waits to spring forth as well. God is creating new life in us. It's just waiting for the ice to melt. We've become cold and hard to the things of God. Winter has set in while we weren't looking. We're often too busy to warm in His presence, too busy to till the sin-hardened soil and too busy to practice the disciplines that will prepare our heart for new life and harvest.

But God is working.

Stop.

Quiet yourself.

Can you feel it? Something different deep inside. A work only the Creator can accomplish.

It's still February, but Spring will soon arrive.

March 13, 2009 - Promise of Spring

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It's the middle of March and I long for new life. To see a little color would be like spotting a red poppy in the midst of a blizzard. The grass is still brown and mostly covered with snow, the trees are bare and dull and there are no flowers to be seen. Ah but the PROMISE of Spring helps me hold on for just a few more weeks or maybe only days. Anticipation rises; the promise awaits.

I remember what it was like last Spring when the new grass first appeared, bright, pastel green slowly overtaking the yellow-brown on the ground and on the trees. Not long after that small flower buds began to form, their happy colors littered the neighborhood with cheer. Soon light green grew into a deeper shade covering the trees, bushes and grass. Then later in the Summer fruit developed and come Fall it ripened into delicious nourishment.

Now I wait for the process to begin again. Even when I'm not consciously thinking about it, my spirit and body anticipate it. Even when I look out the double windows and see the snowy characteristics of December or January, still I know it's March.

Spiritually I find myself longing for new life as well. During this season, the Father faithfully brings to mind my sin. He reveals the barrenness of my heart. I'm uncomfortable with the realization that I am not beautiful. I'm dark, dull and vapid. My life is barren, producing very little fruit.

And this would be my end except for the PROMISE of new life in Christ.

Easter is coming!

How I long for that new life to spring up in me once again. I want my life to produce. But fruit doesn't just spring up with the grass in March, often it needs cultivation. Preparation for the soil, water, sun, and then the seed that was planted must do what it was created to do. It must obey its own DNA. Without that obedience it's a bad seed and will not produce fruit.

Here I kneel and bow, Lord Jesus, aware of my barrenness, ashamed of my ugliness. I repent. Please forgive me. Come in to me again with the wind, water and sunshine that is Your Spirit. Nourish me, make me grow strong and able to obey what you've created me to be. May my life be like a glassy lake reflecting Your life and may it produce fruit to heal and nourish others. According to Your desire. Amen.

Fresh Spring Greens/Salad

February 13, 2009 - Being Me

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What is so natural about wanting to be like someone else? Oh yes, it's very common, but unnatural. Does an apple tree want to be an asparagus? I recently read an advertisement by an author I admire very much. Her writing is powerful and she does so much to help those who are hurting. She's humble and has experienced enough pain in her own life to help her understand the situation of other people.

Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled for her success in publishing as well as in the Kingdom of God. But when I see someone like her, to be honest, I'm a little jealous, I wonder, what is my one all-consuming burden? And how much of a difference does my life make?

I waste so much time by allowing these questions to fill up my thought life. What's the point? I mean, doesn't God know each one of us? He created us, right? So here's a freeing thought: I don't have to have a super special burden and I don't have to be the one in front, making a difference in some BIG way. All I have to do is be who God is asking me to be, right here, right now; to love the ones He places around me, to help where He gives me the opportunity. My Creator knows me, He made me who I am and gifted me according to His plan. He has allowed certain experiences in my life and He will lead me one step at a time.

Should I argue with the Potter for making me a common vessel?

Dear Lord, forgive me for wasting so much time.

March 8, 2009 - Living Food

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Bright, orange, round, it fits in the palm of your hand. A perfect sphere ripe with health and nutrition. A small moist mist sprays from within as you pull back part of the peeling. Mouth-watering juices drip down your mouth and run down your arm. The orange is a perfect orb of vitamin C and other vital nutrients.

Unlike man-made inventions which pass for food today, God's creations still satisfy as well as nourish our bodies. He created us and he knows what this flesh needs to function at peak performance. The foods He created are alive. They mesh with the body perfectly, are digested and converted to energy and nourishment--building and repairing.

Raw food is made by God specifically for our bodies, also made by Him. They are called water foods. Made up primarily of water they're synergistic with the human body which is also made up primarily of water. They are easily digested. They cleanse even as they nourish.

Raw food is also known as living food. Eating fresh raw fruit and vegetables is life-giving. These are the foods to focus on in a healthy diet.

These are also great foods to use when cleansing the body. Along with clean water, they help flush the body of toxins, which over time could cause sickness.

Raw foods can be quick and easy too. Just grab an orange and peel. These are easily accessible even here in Minnesota at the end of winter. They bring us a little digestible sunshine from the South.

So enjoy God's food, created for you.

Try these recipes (Orange Shake, Deep Green Leafy Salad) to incorporate delicious, fresh food into your diet.

February 27, 2009 - Lent & Cleansing

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We're now in the beginning of Lent, a season of repentance and cleansing in the Christian calendar. Spring also draws us to physical cleansing. Spring Cleaning--a term we've all heard of whether we actually participate in the activity or not.

Times of cleansing and renewal are vital in all areas of life. Nature itself goes through this with the seasons and life begins anew in the Spring.

The church encourages self-reflection spiritually during this time. A kind of New Year for the soul. This is an opportunity to reevaluate our relationship with God, our decisions and attitudes. And this is a time to repent and re-prioritize. Find some time in your day between now and Easter to reflect, repent and reset your spiritual gage.

Don't forget your physical body during this time. After a long winter of being in the house, eating comfort food and getting very little exercise our bodies need renewal as well. Consider fasting less-than-healthy foods, maybe sugar, white flour or caffeine. Satisfy your body with healthy, living food. Raw vegetables and fruit are alive and you'll feel more energy after eating them. Take this time in early Spring to reevaluate your eating habits and other habits that effect the health of your body. When you feel better physically, you'll have more motivation even for spiritual things. And visa versa.