buildingbodies4christ

building on the foundation of Jesus Christ

Archive for the category “Health”

28 Jul 2018

Choose Life

For the last couple of weeks, I have been listening to a health summit on glyphosate and genetically engineered foods (GMOs). I love to learn so I check out the latest information through these health summits. Most of the time, the speakers are the same. The speakers will come on these summits to sell books or products they develop. They will spin the message based on the health topic of the summit but they always promote their product. I don’t have a problem with this. It’s a way to get their message out.

The health summits are usually secular in nature so I usually don’t get a spiritual message from it. That’s not why I listen. My passion is to help others find true health in mind, body and spirit. The message can come through different avenues. I put on my discernment cap and listen intently to the topic at hand and glean wisdom from these speakers. If it so happens to be a Christian speaker (and there are a few out there in the natural health world), I will listen that much more intently to their message.

With this latest summit, it has just made me angry. There are many health concerns with glyphosate and GMOs which I will post for my monthly newsletter on August 1. However, the reason for my anger is a spiritual one. The summit was about a health topic, but I see the enemy’s hands all over this topic of glyphosate and GMOs. You might think I have bought into a conspiracy theory, but I hope you will continue reading to understand where I stand on this subject.

We are told in John 10:10, the enemy (known in this verse as the thief) comes to steal, kill and destroy. I think we can all agree the country (and the world) is going a bit crazy these days. I believe there is an evil force trying to destroy us as a nation and especially trying to destroy the church. Yes, we are divided as a nation – whether political, race or rich and poor. Something is happening like no other time in history. And yes, we have seen other times of great division. However, I believe something greater is going on. It just feels different. I may be wrong about this. But hear me out. There are many threads of thought on this one topic, but stay with me on this, please.

Since the beginning of time, we have been in a conflict with the powers of darkness. Since man has been made in the image of God, Satan has been against man. He wants to destroy everything God has made – he wants to destroy God’s Kingdom. Satan’s goal has always been to have his own kingdom and to be like God. His aim is to steal, kill and destroy everything God has put in place.

God desired man to have dominion over the earth. Adam couldn’t have dominion by himself alone. He needed to rely upon God’s strength because the enemy has always been against him. By God’s word, Adam could withstand the enemy. However, Adam was defeated in the Garden because he believed Satan’s word over God’s. Since that time, the enemy has been working throughout history to put an end to God’s Kingdom. He has used people to do his bidding. He gives us just enough truth to reel us in and we believe what he feeds us – just as Adam did.

When I listened to this health summit, one of the speakers began to talk about the destruction of our DNA through these genetically engineered seeds. He mentioned the altered gene actually has the potential to alter our genes. Our seed – our children and our grandchildren could be affected for generations – forever changing who we are as human beings. Scary thought.

A few weeks ago, I heard someone say by the year 2030, there could be no pure DNA. The speaker referred to genes being altered to create “super humans.” But now I see this connotation could be something totally different from what the speaker intended. What does that mean? I don’t know. I just know something significant could happen because of these altered genes.

Seeds are divinely given. God intended for us to eat the green plants and seed-bearing plants (Genesis 1:29). God considered this good. However, in the 80’s, chemical companies realized they could patent seeds and they began to buy up seed companies. Now, the majority of our seed-bearing plants are now in the hands of only five chemical companies. The lie told during that time was genetically altering food genes would increase output and therefore, feed the world – it would end hunger. But that hasn’t happened. Hunger still exists. There are consequences that have yet been determined by altering genes. We haven’t seen everything from these “experiments” to nature. Changing genes sounds beneficial – increase output – sounds like a good thing. But research is proving otherwise.

We need to be on guard for Satan’s lies and attempts to steal, kill and destroy us. We are told from 1Peter 5:8 to be alert because Satan is like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. We are to be a discerning people and pay attention to what’s going on around us. And to throw a little health tip to you as well – eat organic to stay away from these GMO foods and the glyphosate that is sprayed on them. If you are interested in my monthly health-related newsletter, please sign up HERE.

I want to leave this post on the positive side. We are reminded in the second half of John 10:10 Jesus came to give us life in abundance. Satan thinks he’s going to win this battle, but he is wrong. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life and it’s through Him we will be united with the Creator God and be redeemed as the rulers of this creation. This is His victory. For His glory and for our good, be informed and watch what God will do when we stay alert. Moses directed the children of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob at a critical point in their history with these words – choose life and we can do the same.

Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Deuteronomy 30:19-20

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Posted in Faith, Health and tagged , , , , , ,
12 Oct 2017
2 Comments

New Movement

Being a certified health nut, I listen to many speakers and read many articles concerning health. However, I have to discern what to keep and what to throw out based on the Truth that I know. For the last several years, I have been living a more holistic lifestyle – more is not always better. I read the book 7 by Jen Hatmaker that really opened my eyes to my consumer mentality. I went into cleaned up mode and purged my unused stuff, cleaning out the closets, also changing how I shop for items that I use. I think differently now about “stuff.” My eyes were also opened about sustainability.

When I read about sustainability, it really hit me as a follower of Jesus. I had never really thought about how we were the stewards of the earth in this day and time. It changed how I thought in regards to chemical use on my plants at home and on my plate; how I drink water – no water bottles if possible; using shopping bags instead of plastic bags, which seem to float through the air around every shopping center. Not to mention, the garbage dump in the ocean that is larger than Texas; clean water and food deserts that no governmental agency seems to fix. Poverty is everywhere, but if we bought responsibly maybe things could change for those communities.

Climate change is a hot topic right now. Is the earth getting hotter because of man or is it a part of God’s plan? However, we’re doing things now that are unsustainable – our natural resources are finite and eventually they will run out unless we switch to a new mindset. The governments of this world aren’t going to solve the problems. There are many “grass-root” efforts that are taking on the challenge to better this world. As followers of Jesus, we need to be involved. I am not a tree hugger, but we need our Amazonian rain forests – they are the lungs of this planet. We need to be instrumental in doing good – even for our planet.

There’s a lot of “new age” thought that I have to sort through to get to the truth, but one thing that stood out to me this week is this thought of a “trance” we are living in that we think we don’t have enough; it’s a scarcity mentality. Lynne Twist (Pachamama Alliance) mentioned in an interview that we used to be citizens, now we are consumers. We are supposed to keep money moving; however, we have been seduced into this trance of wanting more. We don’t know when we have had enough and it’s killing us and this earth. We need to wake up to the big lie that is keeping us from being responsible citizens of this world.

This trance that Lynne Twist mentioned is really a tool of the enemy. This really got me to thinking. Christians should be at the front of every movement to bring about change. Whether it is resources that need to be sustainable protected; using money to give a helping hand up (not a hand out); consuming products that are produced in a living wage environment as well as resourced ecologically and giving back to a community from where it came (this will end poverty in those places).

Whatever the cause, we should be moving the cause forward; holding a different conversation than the one being held today. We are not to find fault that leads to argument. We need to shift the conversation to the things that are working and make a model to replicate it elsewhere. We need this conversation today because it’s not going to get any better without us.

One day Jesus is going to return. According to Scripture, there will be a thousand-year reign on this earth – this earth, the way it is now or the way it will be if we don’t stop the destruction. We will not get a new heaven and a new earth until after the thousand years. I don’t know if we will have the ability to receive water from a rock or if we will have food that will once again be nutritious because the soil has been replenished by our responsible habits of organically grown produce and rotating crops.

We can see in the Book of Acts how the people helped each other – anyone who had need was helped by the ones who were able to meet the needs. In health circles, communities are seen as a good thing. Community is one of the ingredients for a healthy body. God created us for community. We are not meant to do these things alone. We need each other and we need a healthy earth to live on at least for another thousand years or so. We need to think differently about these things. We need to pay attention to what we use and throw away. We need to wake up from the enemy’s trance. These things should concern us and motivate us to be different. Are you out of the trance yet? Let’s wake up to the destruction and steward our resources well. It’s on us to make a better place for those coming behind us. Time to join the movement!

God spoke: “Let us make human beings in our image, make them
reflecting our nature
So they can be responsible for the fish in the sea,
the birds in the air, the cattle,
And, yes, Earth itself,
and every animal that moves on the face of Earth.”
God created human beings;
he created them godlike,
Reflecting God’s nature.
He created them male and female.
God blessed them:
“Prosper! Reproduce! Fill Earth! Take charge!
Be responsible for fish in the sea and birds in the air,
for every living thing that moves on the face of Earth.” Genesis 1:26-28 (MSG)

Posted in Health and tagged , , , , , ,
27 Jul 2017

The Better Life

While spending a few days with my Dad as he lay in a hospital bed, I thought of conversations we have had over the years. He slept most of the time so I had time to think. I got on my health kick about twelve years ago. He told me one time that he never wanted to live to 120 years so he was going to eat what he wanted to eat and do what he wanted to do. I told him I also didn’t want to live to be 120, but I wanted quality of life until the end no matter the age. There is a family history of diabetes and heart related diseases that I just don’t want to experience later in life. I have learned how to handle my health as best I can with what I been given. Quality over quantity!

I usually don’t write about health related topics on this blog. I save it for my Denise4Health newsletters that I send out once a month. But as I consider the Body of Christ these days, on average we are an unhealthy bunch. However, I am noticing a trend that seems to be going in a good direction. In the natural healthcare doctor’s office where I work, I have noticed a few patients come through to get help on their health journey. They have decided to try the natural route because the traditional route has failed them. I get it. I went the traditional route too before I saw the light!

Once in a while, we’ll get a patient that thinks all they need is a supplement and that will be all the work that is required of them. But it’s so much more than a supplement. It’s a lifestyle. It means changing a few destructive habits. As Christians, this should be easier for us. We have the gift of the Holy Spirit to help us transform. However, we don’t put health in the same category as spiritual transformation. But I think health transformation is right in line with spiritual transformation. If the body isn’t healthy, the spirit and mind are not healthy. The stool (mind, body, spirit stool) collapses when one of the legs gives out. Each part of the stool is significant for complete transformation.

Many times, God has used my health to get my attention. When I needed rest, He put me in a place where I could rest. I had Rocky Mountain spotted fever back in the 80’s that knocked me down for quite a while. I had female troubles off and on for about twelve years. I have grown closer to God during those difficult times. I think when I am struggling the most is when I seek Him harder. Maybe that’s why He continues to send me down that health path. It would be nice if I could seek Him hard when things are going well for me.

God wants a better life for us than what we currently accept as normal. We settle for average. We settle for popping a pill and keep moving instead of seeking His best for our lives. We don’t slow down long enough to seek Him and His direction. Or maybe that’s just my way; maybe you’re different. When we become sick and tired of being sick and tired, I think that’s when we look for a better way. At least that was my case. I really do want God’s best for my life. If I have to make a few changes to get to that life, I will do it. Even now, if there are things that I am doing that are not the best for me, then I need to change my ways.

Andy Andrews said that to change we need to see “what’s in it for me” and “proof beyond a doubt” in order to make a change. We don’t have to hit rock bottom. We don’t have to wait until the last-minute. All we need to do to change is turn our minds to the thing we want to do and just do it. It’s a decision. It’s taking a step in that direction. One small step leads to another. We don’t have to make drastic changes, but make one thing different from what we’ve done before. Trade up to a better life. It can be done. One step at a time.

After ten days in a hospital bed, Dad was transferred to a rehab facility. They sat him at a table and put a meal before him. He ate it like he was starving (and he probably was). While he was in the hospital, he ate very little and was very lethargic. What a difference a little nutrition makes! He was much more alert and responsive after just one meal. I think he is in the right place for the right time. God still works on the health journey of a 90-year-old man. He can do it for you too. Seek His will for your life and find the better life!

You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. And even though “I am allowed to do anything,” I must not become a slave to anything. You say, “Food was made for the stomach, and the stomach for food.” (This is true, though someday God will do away with both of them.) But you can’t say that our bodies were made for sexual immorality. They were made for the Lord, and the Lord cares about our bodies. 1 Corinthians 6:12-13 (NLT)

Posted in Health and tagged , , , , , ,
26 Jan 2017

God’s Pursuit

Did you know that I am a certified health nut? Well, it’s officially called a health coach certification. It’s a long story of how I got to the school to attain the certification, but let’s just say God got my attention a few years before that time. You see, I haven’t been very healthy most of my life. I have been fighting battles with sickness since my early years. The catalyst to change was in 2006 when I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease called Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. I have a gluten trigger that will cause my body to attack my thyroid mistaking it for a foreign object. Everything changed when I learned of this disease and how I could heal by changing my life.

Sickness has been a theme throughout my life. In 1985, I came down with Rocky Mountain Spotted-Fever (RMSF). At that time of my life, I was living in the far lands; living with the pigs (reference Luke 15). My life back then was filled with wasted living – just looking for a good time, laughing about the hangovers after a night out with my friends. You would think after almost dying from RMSF, I would have woken up to the fact that this wasn’t God’s plan for me. But it took a couple more years before a revelation came that I needed to change my ways.

I struggled on and off with female troubles for a few years after the RMSF diagnosis. By the time the female issues were a full-blown sickness, I was living back at home with Mom and Dad. I lost my job and had nowhere else to go but back home. God gave me the opportunity to start over. I started back to church regularly and found out God was more interesting than I remembered from my childhood. However, I still wasn’t quite convinced that I needed to give Him everything. I still tried to live my life on my terms.

Everything changed in 1993 when I lost a close friend to an accidental free fall from a plane. Oh, she jumped with a parachute; but failed to open it at the proper time. She loved Jesus and all was good for her eternal place. But it rocked my world because I didn’t know that death could come so quickly to one so young. I understood in theory, but that was a wake-up call to me. It opened my eyes to death in a new way. I could have easily been the one in an accident and lost my life only to discover I wasn’t too sure of my eternal dwelling place. So I went all in to find out what it actually took to be assured that I was in God’s hands forever. I took steps to resolve the conflict that was warring in me but still couldn’t let Him have everything – yet.

It took another ten years or so before the female troubles were completely removed (surgery is a good thing for that). All that time, I was growing in the knowledge of God but failed to understand my body was the temple for the Holy Spirit. I was not respecting His temple. I didn’t know all that I know today. It took the diagnosis of Hashimoto’s to get my attention to give it all to God. Every part of my body is His and I should respect and honor Him by the way I treat His temple. When I finally understood that piece of His message, I started taking the steps to completely overhaul my health and define who God wants me to be: whole and healthy – mind, body and soul. And I gave it all to Him. (We’re still working on the body part. One day, the perishable will be replaced.)

I am grateful God has given me these chances to change. He has pursued me and never let me go. He could have easily chosen to let me continue to go downhill or stay in the pit of despair. But He didn’t. I have been told this past week that God is a personal God. I believe it because I have experienced His personal touch too many times to ignore that fact. He knows me and my struggles. Yet, He loves me personally – uniquely because I am His creation. He formed me with all my frailties in my mother’s womb. He thought of me before I was born. He actually had a secret me before He revealed me to my Mom. That’s pretty cool.

God thought of us all before we took our first breaths. He knows our hearts and our struggles within. And loves us anyway. He pursues us individually and uniquely. He is our personal God. And He is pursuing you today to find Him in your circumstance. He has used sickness to get my attention. How is He pursuing you?

If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.

Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts. 2 Timothy 2:21-22 (NLT)

Posted in Health and tagged , , , , ,
20 Jan 2016

Wiped Out

Every time I think I am moving in the right direction, I have a bit of a setback. I want to see great strides develop in my faith walk. How come increasing faith always comes with a storm? I had been doing really well physically over the last few years. I haven’t had any issues that threw me into a tizzy – until this past week. I had a perfect storm of physical stresses that sent me into a downward spiral. I have an autoimmune disease that causes some chemical sensitivity when I am not being diligent with my diet. Over the holidays, I overindulged; and it’s caused a tipping point into the danger zone.

This week has been one of those weeks where I just didn’t want to do anything. My quiet time has been anemic. My Bible reading has fallen off as well. All I have wanted to do is watch TV or read in bed. This should be the time I draw nearer to Jesus, but it seems all I want to do is curl up in the fetal position and feel sorry for myself. I hate it when that happens!

I am just feeling wiped out – physically, emotionally and spiritually. This is not how I envisioned my first month of the New Year starting. I like to start the New Year off with a certain food fast. I usually take out one category like grains or sugar or chocolate and let my body reset from that particular food. This year it was going to be grains. The fast I got was not what I had in mind! After my sickness came on, I had to have some toast to settle my stomach. Nothing went like I was expecting.

Isn’t that the way things happen though? We have a plan. It looks good in theory. But God may have a different agenda. So what’s the lesson in this particular storm? If my focus is on faith, what is faith all about? In “Pursuit of God,” AW Tozer wrote “faith is the gaze of a soul upon a saving God.” He used the illustration of the bronze snake Moses made in the desert. While the people were wandering in the desert, they rebelled against God (over and over again). God used snake bites to get their attention. After the people cried out to God, Moses was instructed to make a bronze snake and attach it to a pole. For those who were bitten by a snake, they could look up to the bronze snake and be healed.

God used this illustration in the Old Testament as a testimony of what Jesus would later do when He died on a cross for our sins. Just as the bronze snake was lifted up, Jesus, the Son of God was lifted up on the cross for us. We can lift our eyes to Him when we have been bitten by that deceitful snake called sin. The people looked upon the bronze snake with external eyes, but we are given spiritual eyes to look upon Jesus to heal our wounds. Scripture tells us “by His wounds, we are healed.”

During this last week, I realized I have not had my soul gaze upon my Savior. Sickness is a tool our enemy uses to keep us out of the game. It keeps our eyes focused on ourselves. It makes us ineffective as followers of Jesus. Sickness leaves us on the sidelines curled up in a fetal position. Paul warned us, as followers, to keep the body healthy. The body is the living temple of God, and we are to keep it holy and well-tended. We have an obligation as the people of God to be available for His use. If we’re not in the game, we are useless to Him. The deceitful snake does his best to keep us distracted and off the playing field. (I guess football is on my mind while I write this!)

I brought my sickness on myself because I was not diligent in keeping within my dietary guidelines. I thought I could get away with it. But like sin, it always finds the light! Maybe this is the lesson I need to learn to help me with my faith. I no longer want to be wiped out by things I could have avoided if I had stayed the course. My gaze has to be focused upon my Savior – high and lifted up. No matter what, He’s worth the price I have to pay in order to be healthy and whole (as far as it depends on me). Besides, I hear there is going to be a wedding feast to end all wedding feasts one day! And every morsel we’ll consume then will be heavenly!

Just because something is technically legal doesn’t mean that it’s spiritually appropriate. If I went around doing whatever I thought I could get by with, I’d be a slave to my whims.

You know the old saying, “First you eat to live, and then you live to eat”? Well, it may be true that the body is only a temporary thing, but that’s no excuse for stuffing your body with food, or indulging it with sex. Since the Master honors you with a body, honor him with your body! 1 Corinthians 6:12-13 (MSG)

Posted in Faith, Health and tagged , , , , ,
14 Oct 2015

Core Strength

I work out at the gym about three days a week. Every time I work out, I work on my abdominal muscles (also known as the core muscle group). Without strengthening the core, all other muscle work becomes futile in the long run. A strong core brings balance – will keep us from falling and give us good posture. Core strength brings stability and stamina. If the core isn’t strong, standing upright for any length of time is hard. Eventually gravity will pull the shoulders forward unless we counterbalance those muscles with strength training. Balance, stability and stamina are essential for longevity.

These elements of a healthy, physical body are also essential for a healthy, spiritual body. In the Armor of God study (by Priscilla Shirer), Priscilla writes about the first piece of armor being the belt of truth. It is the core of our strength to stand firm against the enemy. We are to “gird our loins” by strapping on the belt of truth. With this first piece of armor, it carries the weight of all the other pieces. The enemy’s first line of attack is always with deception. The truth will shine light on the enemy’s lies.

In the very beginning of time, Satan knows exactly what is being said in the Garden between God and Adam. When Eve was questioned, she responds in generalities. God said you will die if you eat of the fruit of the tree in the middle of the Garden (my paraphrase of Genesis 3:3). However, Satan counters with specifics as God told Adam. You will not surely die; you will be like God knowing good and evil (my paraphrase and emphasis of Genesis 3:4-5). Satan plays us like a fine instrument. He has been studying us all our lives. He knows our hot buttons and those things that will draw us into his trap.

When we know the Truth, we will have the first defense to know when we are under attack. Satan asks those little questions that cause us to doubt what we heard. Then he gives us another choice that will entice us by playing with our insecurities or our desires. It will meet a need in us or involve our senses or feelings. Satan will personalize each attack. His desire is to destroy our relationships; our families; anything that has to do with God; anything to get us off track. Maybe the choice we have to make doesn’t seem so bad in the present time, but in the long run is it worth it?

Even Jesus had to endure the half-truths in the desert when He was weak and vulnerable to Satan’s attack. He had not eaten in forty days. He was tired and alone. And Satan came to Him whispering in His ear “if” this or that, then “do” this or that. But Jesus stood firm on the truth – “It is written.” Satan knows the truth as well and will twist it for his purpose. Priscilla said in the video portion for week two, “Satan can craftily make you think that God does not mean exactly what He says.” He speaks with half-truths and will deceive us to believe his lie. Charles Spurgeon is quoted as saying “Discernment is not a matter of simply telling the difference between right and wrong; rather it is telling the difference between right and almost right.”

We can’t trust our feelings or even our senses. We have to know God’s truth. We have to have a source outside of ourselves in order to know the difference between what we’re sensing and/or feeling and what God desires for us. Our core strength keeps us stable in an unstable world. It gives us the stamina to endure the pressures of this world. We need core strength for balance to keep from falling for the temptations from our enemy. Priscilla said in her simulcast and in this second week video “feelings don’t have intellect.” We need something more than intellect and our own perspective. God’s truth shines the light on the enemy’s schemes and will expose the lies.

God’s Word is our life-source; it is the strength of our core being. Let us not only know God’s truth and how it pertains to our lives, but let us put these things into practice! Let the truth of God strengthen us to endure and withstand every wind and wave that Satan uses to throw us off-balance. The rest of the armor counts on the strength we have in the Truth.

So watch your step, friends. Make sure there’s no evil unbelief lying around that will trip you up and throw you off course, diverting you from the living God. For as long as it’s still God’s Today, keep each other on your toes so sin doesn’t slow down your reflexes. If we can only keep our grip on the sure thing we started out with, we’re in this with Christ for the long haul. Hebrews 3:12-14 (The Message)

Posted in Faith, Health and tagged , , , , , , ,
27 Aug 2014

Blinded

I am a health advocate. My passion is learning about health and helping others to learn as well. Health involves food. I was listening to a conference recently where a speaker was talking about our food industry in the US. The speaker made me very disappointed in our food system. The food industry is sabotaging our health. God provided the foods to eat and gave them to us in abundance. Food can be our medicine or it can be our poison. The trouble is though, it is becoming more difficult to distinguish between what is healthy and what is not. The topic of the message in this particular session was on genetically modified foods (GMOs). Many countries have banned GMOs yet, we can readily find them in our grocery stores.

The talk led me to think about other areas in which we can turn a blind eye to. God has provided a healthy ecosystem for our health and well-being. Trees bring us the oxygen we need to breathe. The earth provides our needs through the plants that are produced. The sun gives the life force that gives our bodies energy by the foods we eat and for our emotional well-being. The systems are in place by God’s hands. He designed this perfect system and we are connected to it in order to live on this planet. We are still discovering what God has given us. Everything God has done for us for our benefit we take for granted, thinking that it will last forever. Most human beings don’t see the damage we’re causing by our destructive ways.

For the last few years, I have had a greater sense of urgency in getting the message across that we need to be awakened from our slumber. We as the Body of Christ have a responsibility to be alert and watchful. God is at work, and we need to be aware of what He’s doing. He wants to use us in His process of completing His plan of redeeming the people on this planet. But if we’re not paying attention, then we will lose the opportunity He presents to us. We need healthy minds and bodies so that we can be alert and ready to respond in obedience to what we are called to do.

What’s this got to do with GMOs? Is this really about food? Or is this about opening our eyes to what’s going on in the world? We need eyes to see. God says that we can ask Him and He will give us wisdom in the circumstances. We need God’s perspective. I know God cares for our planet, but He is more concerned with the people on the planet. We need wisdom to discern the truth of what we see and hear. Nothing is by accident. Everything is allowed for a reason, even GMO’s. God is at work, and we need to open our spiritual eyes. We can no longer walk around in spiritual blindness; there’s too much at stake. There is a desperate world that needs God’s healing hand. Ask and God says He will provide the Holy Spirit to guide us to the Truth. And if we seek Him and call out to Him in repentance then He will heal our land.

Please give us eyes to see, ears to hear and a heart submitted to obedience in accordance to Your will. Amen.

Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.

“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him.

The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”

 “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road. Mark 10:50-52

Posted in Faith, Health and tagged , , , , , , ,
08 Oct 2012

What’s My Role?

I picked up a book several months ago by Suzanne Somers called “Knockout.” The more I read the angrier I get. It’s not the topic that has me angry but the deception behind the topic that has me angry. The book is about the cancer industry and the alternatives to the standard care protocol. The book is very informative.

October is the anniversary of my Mom’s death. She died from pancreatic cancer. She lasted eight weeks from diagnosis to death. One of the blessings of her diagnosis was the decision of chemotherapy was taken out of our hands. She was too far gone in order for it to do any good (in theory). Instead she was taken to surgery to find out how invasive the cancer was. She came back with tubes and bags hanging from strategic locations around her digestive tract. It was horrendous. I am assuming the bags did allow her a few more weeks of life together. In the end, she died from infection and starvation (my opinion). The cancer did not kill her but the treatment did.

So why am I angry? I am angry that the billions of dollars spent on research ends up in the hands of corporations, stockholders and lastly doctors. No one is going to prevent cancer; the industry is too big. No one is going to fight to change people’s thoughts about having a healthy lifestyle. It’s too difficult to change. Yet, when the diagnosis comes, and it will at some point, we are left feeling angry and sad that nothing has changed in the last thirty years to prevent this dreaded disease. And the thousands of dollars we have to spend to do treatment will bankrupt the family and cause everyone to suffer through the agony of this disease.

One of the things that I have been considering of late is what’s my role in this life? One of the things I have pondered is what makes me sad, glad or angry. I think I found my sore spot. But what would God have me do about it? Yes, I’m angry, so where do I begin to fight the fight? Where do I sign up to join the rank and file to teach others how to care for the body God gave them?

A tumor will start with just a few cells. By the time it is detected, the tumor has been alive and well for years. It takes education to help those that are in the early stages – whether they are aware of it or not – to make changes now to kill the cells or at least slow the growth. I don’t have the big name as Suzanne Somers or the credentials of a doctor to get the word out. But I do have a voice. I have the limited ability to write. Maybe this is my small part to change the world – one person at a time.

And the Lord answered me:“Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay. Habakkuk 2:2-3 (ESV)

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27 Aug 2012

Rest and Weariness

I have a study book I am using from Anne Graham Lotz. During this week in August, the study is focused on resting. God set aside a time to rest. He gave us the example when creation was formed. It was what He did on the seventh day. The day was to be set aside, and He called it Holy. I wrote one of the early newsletters on this topic. I also included a chapter in my book “Living Victoriously in Health and Wholeness” for the benefits of rest. Rest is beneficial to the body, to the mind and to the spirit. God knows best. He had the best in mind for us when He declared the day as Holy. Unfortunately, we have neglected this practice. Some have to work on Sunday, but it isn’t a “Sunday” Sabbath but a day of Sabbath. For the ones who work on Sunday, do they take another day and rest or continue on working?

The scriptures that Anne used to fortify the reason for rest, Exodus 23:12 spoke most clearly to me. It referred to not only the benefit of resting for the one taking the Sabbath, but also for those that help. The donkey and the ox rest, the servants rest if one takes a Sabbath. The reason this stood out is the idea of gathering in a restaurant for the Sunday dinner. When I was growing up, we ate at home after church. I can remember coming home and smelling the roast beef cooking in the oven. I would walk in the door and the smell made my mouth water. I couldn’t wait to sit down and eat the wonderful meal my Mom had prepared before she left for church. My Mom worked hard that morning to prepare the meal. My sisters and I worked hard after the meal to clean up. Then we all rested in some form or fashion.

Rest is a great way to combat weariness. God did not create us to be weary. He wants us to rest in Him, to bring our burdens to Him, and to live in abundance. I believe the abundance is not a material benefit but a spiritual benefit. I believe if we do as we are instructed and keep the commands that He put forth, we will have the abundance of energy needed to be the hands and feet that He created us to be. He is an amazing God. He loves us so much that He gave us a day of rest. Hallelujah – we are called to rest!

Six days do your work, but on the seventh day do not work, so that your ox and your donkey may rest, and so that the slave born in your household and the foreigner living among you may be refreshed. Exodus 23:12

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16 Jul 2012

Fitness Level

As I was working out over the weekend, I realized what a great work God has done in my life. I see the results of my physical fitness through a more energetic body. I have so much more energy today than I did twenty years ago. I started this path about seven years ago (time flies). But also in that time, God was working on my financial well-being as well. I am blessed with a financial head. I know all about budgeting for my wants and needs. I know how to save and invest properly.

I have been fortunate to have good jobs throughout my career, but I didn’t really put into good practice what I did for other companies. I went through a Dave Ramsey course at my church back in 2007. I knew better than to spend more than I make, but being the single that I am, I had no one to account for my every penny. When I started the Ramsey program of budgeting every penny, I realized I was wasting too much money on junk. God placed the desire to go to a holistic school in New York around this same time. I do not do debt. And I quickly realized I needed to adjust a few things in order to afford this school. I did cut back, cut out and sold a few things in order to pay all the expenses.

Since that time, I had set money aside for my emergency fund, a car fund and certain expenses I knew that would come (like Christmas!). God was making a way for me in 2007 to become financial fit for such a time as this. As I was learning discipline in my physical being and my financial being, He was also working on my spiritual being. Discipline by nature is hard. But the rewards are awesome when put in the right perspective. I am better able today to do the things I love to do, because I have more energy, no stress, and a determined God to get me to the place I need to be.

How’s your fitness level?

Keep yourself growing in God-like living. Growing strong in body is all right but growing in God-like living is more important. It will not only help you in this life now but in the next life also. These words are true and they can be trusted. 1 Timothy 4:7b-9

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