Papaya to the Rescue!

     One of my most favorite natural cures came to our rescue a few weeks ago.  We made a quick trip out of town to take some time off and enjoy some shopping and museums in the big city.  On the way down, my husband started complaining of very bad stomach cramps. By the time we arrived at the motel, he was doubled over and in extreme pain.  I was discouraged. I imagined him huddled in the bathroom all night and one by one, the rest of us in turn.  So, I turned to my favorite magic tummy cure: papaya enzymes.

     This is one of my favorite cures because it works almost immediately. We had a friend that worked for us.  He arrived at work one morning and was doubled over with stomach pain (of course the donuts and mountain dew that he had for breakfast had nothing to do with it!!).  He took 5 of these pills and was better immediately. He was amazed and called them "magic pills". 

     The papaya contains natural enzymes in the form of bromelain that aids in digestion.  However, fresh papaya is hard to come by these days and very hard to carry around with you!  These pills solve the problem. When there is an upset in the digestive juices in your stomach, the outcome is a stomach ache.  Adding more digestive enzymes helps to restore the balance and take care of the problem.  Raw apple also works, but papaya pills are more concentrated.

    

 

     I purchase these at Walmart.  They are not very expensive and a good thing to keep around.  They taste great and are easy to chew. My kids think they are candy. Sometimes I wonder about their complaints about tummy aches.....they love having papaya and when one child gets some, they all get some!  When there is real stomach trouble, it works immediately to soothe the pain.  When we eat at a restaurant or have some meal that is hard to digest, I pass around the papaya to everyone as a preventative measure. I have jars of these pills stashed everywhere around the house in strategic places.  I carry a constant supply in my purse.  My husband, who doesn't do a lot of natural stuff, swears by them and carries a supply in his lunch bucket.

 

 

     This is another version that I like to use.  These are mint flavored and available on eBay.  They are different in that they have a slight mint flavor, which is good at comforting an upset stomach.

     In this season when stomach trouble is rampant and the flu bug is just around the corner, stock up on some papaya enzymes.  You may be able to ward off the  impending virus by adding some enzymes to your system.  I usually let the kids eat 2 at a time, but when there is a serious problem, you can take up to 5 every hour.  My mom insists that she kept a violent stomach bug away by taking papaya every hour when she first felt sick!  It's worth a try!

     Well, the papaya rescued our family vacation. Within a few  hours, the couple of doses of papaya pills did the trick and my husband was better and eating supper!  Thank you, papaya!!!

Happy Birthday, Truly

An open letter to our daughter, Truly, on the occasion of her 5th birthday.

Dear Truly-
     Today would have been your fifth birthday.  I cried my first tears today thinking of the wonder and excitement that a 5 year old would have on her birthday. We would have woken you early in time to open your gifts before Daddy left for work. You would have come down the stairs in your jammies, with sleepy eyes and messy hair to see your place at the breakfast table all decorated with streamers and balloons and our special dishes.  I can just imagine the delight in your eyes as you opened your gifts.  A 5 year old girl would most likely love princess stuff and anything pink and sparkly!
     Turning 5 has always been one of those milestone birthdays when a toddler suddenly transforms into a child. You would have started school this fall and would most likely have already known your alphabet and numbers from watching and playing with your siblings.  You would have started taking on some new chores, like helping sweep the kitchen and learning to wash the dishes.  Your sisters would have loved helping you learn and teaching you how to fix your own hair and pick out pretty outfits. 
      Your exit from this life left quite a hole in our hearts.  When your brothers and sisters are playing, I often look around and think, "Who's missing?"  Then, it dawns on me, that it is you.  Your siblings often mention you in passing.  Charity seems to be the most sensitive about your death, coming to me in tears saying that she misses you. We all do.
     When I read in Hebrews about that "great a cloud of witnesses", I wonder about how much of what  is going on down here on earth is visible to you in heaven.  We often wonder about how "old" you might be in heaven, or if you look like us, or what you do. No matter what "age" you are, you will always be a baby in our hearts!  The kids and I were discussing the other day about eye color and they asked about yours. I told them that you never opened your eyes here on earth, but most babies eyes are blue.  I think about the others that I know who are in heaven.  Perhaps you have spoken to your great grandma and grandpa Yowell today, or great Grandpa Tate or great Grandpa Deatrick.  I don't know a whole lot about what goes on in heaven, but when I read about all the celebrations that God designed for the Israelites, surely heaven must be full of celebration.  I hope they are celebrating with you today!
     We are not going to sit around and mope today.  Today is still a celebration.  We have designated this date on our calendar to decorate the house with our Christmas decorations.  The kids are excited to finally get the tree decorated and get the stocking hung and the greenery around the house. We will bake a cake to celebrate the day, just because we love having a reason to make cake as you surely know!  We will also go out to your gravestone and place some flowers there in remembrance.  Though we know it is just your body that is there, I think it helps the kids to see the flowers there.  We all take comfort in knowing that you are with our blessed Saviour!  We can't wait to see both He and you someday!
     Your short life on this earth taught us so much.  I thank our heavenly Father over and over for His wisdom in giving you to us for such a short time.  We learned so much about His goodness and grace through all of that time.  We love you, Truly Hope. 
                                                                   Lots of Love,
                                                                                Mommy



*To read all of Truly's story click here

Foods that Heal: Pumpkin

 

 

 It's that time of the year when we begin filling our houses with the delicious scents of the fall harvest. Pumpkin is always at the top of the list of favorite fall flavors. Though it is the main ingredient in our favorite desserts, pumpkin not only tastes good, it packs a strong boost to your health!

 

  
     Pumpkin breads, muffins and desserts are a great way to get super nutrition into your children as well.  Even canned pumpkin is a good choice.  The canning process does not require any added preservatives.
     So, what is in this super food?  The beautiful bright orange color should give a hint as to the type of vitamins that are in pumpkin.  Pumpkin contains high amounts of carotenoids, which are also present in carrots, which contain high amounts of vitamin A which we know to aid in eyesight.  Vitamin A also is a great immunity booster, preparing our bodies for the approaching cold weather! Carotenoids also assist your body in preventing cardiovascular diseases.
    Pumpkin is also full of other great vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin C, which also helps to boost immunity, but is also effective in preventing signs of aging and helps your body produce collagen. The pumpkin is also a diuretic, which means that it is very effective in flushing toxins out of your body.  Magnesium, potassium and zinc are other vital nutrients that your body needs which reduce hypertension, support bone density and promote reproductive health.

     We all know that fiber and protein are essential parts of out daily intake, and pumpkin packs plenty of these! The fiber in pumpkin will aid in gastrointestinal disorders, but also helps lower bad cholesterol and helps to regulate blood sugar.
    When seeking good pumpkin recipes, find ones that use a good portion of it.  A cup in a recipe is a good amount, but a whole can full is better.  Paula Deen's pumpkin bars are good and include a whole can of pumpkin as well as 4 eggs-- super protein packed!!  The frosting is extra yummy and contains good amounts of dairy fat (sour cream and butter), though eat in moderation!! To add nutrition to the recipe, I substituted coconut oil for the vegetable oil and used whole wheat flour for half of the flour.(http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/pumpkin-bars-recipe/index.html) My picky, protein hating 5 year old loved it!! :)

       Pumpkin is rather versatile and can be used equally in the place of sweet potato puree' (and vice-versa).  One of our favorite healthy muffin recipes is included below.  Enjoy your pumpkin this fall and also add some nutrition to your life!

Pumpkin Muffins
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup old fashioned oats
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
2 large eggs
1 cup pumpkin (or sweet potato) puree'
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup oil (I like coconut)
1 tsp. vanilla

Combine all ingredients.  Line muffin tin with muffin papers. Fill with batter 1/2 way up.  Bake for 15 minutes @ 350.

Foods that Heal: Honey

     Honey is one of the most amazing foods that the Creator gave to us.  I have known about a lot of its healing properties, but just in the past few months I have been doing more research and finding out much more!  It is amazing to realize that honey is the only food that we consume from insects.  When God promised the Israelites a "land flowing with milk and honey", they probably knew what amazing things could be done with honey.  It is also interesting to me to see that the Word is compared to honey. What an appropriate analogy as you will see soon!  Not only does it sweeten life, but also brings healing and restores life!

     Now, when I speak of honey, I mean a particular kind.  The honey that you reach for off the grocery store shelf has been processed and heated to kill any bacteria. In the processing and heating, vital nutrients are destroyed along with the good bacteria.  When you search for real honey, purchase it from a  bee keeper or health food store making sure that it is unprocessed, raw honey.
     Honey is such an amazing food.  It contains its own bacteria fighting powers so that the worst infections are kept at bay.  At one time, a bacteriologist set out to prove that honey was fertile ground for growing bacteria and in the process, discovered the opposite!  He placed actual typhoid and dysentery bacteria in honey and within 48 hours all the bacteria were dead!  Amazing!  Those of you in countries that suffer with these ailments should find a local bee keeper or invest in some bee keeping equipment yourself!  What a valuable and simple way to kill off germs!  The amazing thing is that honey is so pleasant to the tongue, it would be no trouble to get your children to take it. 
     The antiseptic properties of honey extend far beyond internal healing.  Any external wound or skin ailment would heal much more quickly if covered in honey.  Before the invention of penicillin, honey was used extensively in both world wars to effectively heal battle wounds and was even used to treat gangrene.  The emollient properties of honey  would also reduce scarring and keep a wound moisturized.  I read testimonials over and over again of individuals who had some type of skin ailment or wound that would not heal with modern medicinal tactics, and after hearing of honey's healing abilities, had the problem cleared up in just days.
     Honey is also an amazing food that never spoils.  I remember hearing about explorers opening up an ancient Egyptian tomb and finding vats of honey that were still usable.  Honey does have its own way of preserving itself by crystallizing, but add a little heat, and it is as good as new.
     Because honey is a by product of the bee, then it has already been digested.  So, it is very easy on the stomach.  Its smoothness eases stomach upset and soothes the intestines.  Little tummies would benefit from a spoonful of honey now and then.
     I have been amazed to see that modern doctors are now telling parents to give their children honey in the place of cough suppressants.  The moisturizing ability and its smooth stickiness allows honey to coat the throat, keeping coughs at a minimum and effectively soothing a sore throat. 
     Honey is a lower sugar, so the body is not overwhelmed with a sugar high, like it would be with regular sugar.  Honey is a very effective energy booster, yet also helps to relieve anxiety.  Anyone who suffers with allergies would benefit greatly by eating honey that is from their local area.  The bees collect the pollen from the local plants, giving the eater an immunization of some sorts from the plants that they are allergic to. High cholesterol, skin problems, diabetes, weight loss, infection: the list could go on and on.  I read so much on this topic, I was overwhelmed with the information. If you have a particular ailment that you are interested in reading about, I suggest researching that ailment to see if honey can be used to heal it.  I also read a ton of amazing information at  www.whfoods.com which gave a wealth of information on the healing powers of honey.
     One word of caution, doctors warn mothers of young children not to give honey to an infant younger than one year of age.  Unprocessed honey can carry bacteria that may be too strong for an infant to handle.  Honestly, with compromised immunity from being bottle fed instead of breast fed, more infants would be affected by these bacteria.
     So, support your local bee keeper today and add honey to your natural medicine cabinet.  Your children will be happy you did!

Sore Throat Remedy

     I've been plagued with an extremely sore throat and cough this weekend.  I think sleeping for over 2 months with an air conditioner blowing right on me has contributed to this illness.  My usual remedy for sore throat is to drink hot tea, as hot as I can take it. Well, 100 degree weather just makes drinking hot tea unbearable.  I made some slippery elm and comfrey tea yesterday and drank it on ice.  It didn't soothe much.
     My mom came to the rescue last night with a tea recipe she had read about and recommended to my sister when she had strep for a few weeks.  So, I tried it this morning (after searching for fresh limes in 2 different grocery stores!) and thought I'd share the recipe.  I drank just a small amount so far, but feel much improved already.

     Heat some hot water.  While it is heating take one lime and place it in warm water ( this aids in getting the most juice from the fruit, also works on lemons).  Put 4 teaspoons of honey, 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt and 1 teabag of choice in a glass measure.  When the water is heated (not boiling) pour 1 cup over ingredients and let tea steep. Juice the lime and add to the tea.  Sip throughout the day, do not drink all at once. I poured mine over ice and it has already seemed to help soothe the soreness a lot. 
    Another favorite sore throat remedy is Listerine.  I gargle with it before going to bed and the disinfecting power works very quickly to help it heal. Salt water is another great liquid to gargle with when suffering a sore throat.  Avoiding sugar is also a must. Sugar feeds any infection.  Anytime I am sick and eat any amount of sugar, I immediately get congested and feel worse.  Of course, increasing vitamin C in any form and taking garlic are also great for killing an infection. 
     So, sore throat, beware, I am armed and ready for the battle.  I hope you will be gone soon!

Lesson Learned

     I have been suffering from a foot malady this summer and I had to share my "natural" healing experience with you.  I have what seems to be athlete's foot between two of my toes. I always get it in the summer time (when I always wear sandals). A few weeks ago it started getting very bad.  It was swollen, and felt like the infection had spread to my foot.  I had veins near my toes that were red and hot. So, I did a little research to find out what I could do to speed up the healing process.

     The first thing I read is that fresh air helps it heal. Strange that I only get it when I'm wearing sandals.  I wrote down the various ingredients that I had on hand to try and make it better.  I walked around an entire afternoon with a raw onion taped to my foot.  The only difference it made was that I walked in a way that injured my foot and it was sore and swollen the next day.  I have baptized the toe several times in tea tree oil, to no avail.  I walked another day for a few hours with a raw garlic clove stuck between the two toes.  I soaked it in Epsom salts, which only  made my dry cracked heels even drier and "crackier". I applied oregano oil, which only made me smell like a pizza and which also stung in the extreme for over an hour!  I drank lots of comfrey tea, ate tons of vitamin C, and even sprinkled natural pink salt in my shoes (which also burned very badly!!).  The apple cider vinegar really helped with the itching, but just made me feel like a pickle.  This infection was just not going away!
     All the while that I was "suffering", my husband kept telling me to try his favorite remedy: Vick's Vapor Rub.  Well, I would argue that petroleum jelly isn't "natural" and that the salve would keep the foot from getting the fresh air that it needed. I was also afraid that the Mentholatum in Vick's would make it burn like fire and I didn't want to put that on an open wound. Finally, two days ago, I broke down and very precariously put a tiny bit of Vick's on the toe and put a sock over it and went to bed.  I was surprised that it did not sting at all-- making me feel like it wasn't working. :)  However, the next morning, the swelling and redness were noticeably better.  I gingerly added even more the next night, and had even better results the next morning.  I am almost over this infection, that has lasted over a month, in just two nights.
    So, the conclusion?  Experience is the best doctor. I often go to a website called Well Tell Me that is a great resource of experience. People sharing their experience with a certain malady and telling how they dealt with it and what worked for them.  Now, every body is different, and will respond to different methods in different ways, but to know that someone else is out there going through the same thing and having ways to deal with it is very valuable information.  Yes, I did research foot infections through that site, and no, there were no mentions of Vick's vapor-rub!!  I may have to add that!

Butter is Better

     I read this today and had to share.  I avoid margarine as much as possible, mostly because I detest the flavor and texture.  I love using butter in all baking and it is perfect slathered on a warm piece of homemade bread.  Remember that balance is the key to healthy living. Yes, butter is fat, but it is good, God-made fat. Wouldn't you rather eat something that was present in the Garden of Eden and specifically made for consumption by mankind than to fill your body with oils and chemicals that taste terrible and have drastic effects on your health?  Read on:

     "Margarine was originally manufactured to fatten turkeys. When it killed the turkeys, the people who had put all the money into the research wanted a payback so they put their heads together to figure out what to do with this product to get their money back.
It was a white substance with no food appeal so they added the yellow coloring and sold it to people to use in place of butter. How do you like it? They have come out with some clever new flavorings....

DO YOU KNOW.. The difference between margarine and butter?
Read on to the end...gets very interesting!

Both have the same amount of calories.

Butter is slightly higher in saturated fats at 8 grams; compared to5 grams for margarine.

Eating margarine can increase heart disease in women by 53% over eating the same amount of butter, according to a recent Harvard Medical Study.

Eating butter increases the absorption of many other nutrients in other foods.
Butter has many nutritional benefits where margarine has a few and only because they are added!
Butter tastes much better than margarine and it can enhance the flavors of other foods.

Butter has been around for centuries where margarine has been around for less than 100 years.

And now, for Margarine..
Very High in Trans fatty acids.
Triples risk of coronary heart disease ...
Increases total cholesterol and LDL (this is the bad cholesterol) and lowers HDL cholesterol, (the good cholesterol)

Increases the risk of cancers up to five times..

Lowers quality of breast milk

Decreases immune response.

Decreases insulin response.

And here's the most disturbing fact... HERE IS THE PART THAT IS VERY INTERESTING!

Margarine is but ONE MOLECULE away from being PLASTIC... and shares 27 ingredients with PAINT

These facts alone were enough to have me avoiding margarine for life and anything else that is hydrogenated (this means hydrogen is added, changing the molecular structure of the substance).

Open a tub of margarine and leave it open in your garage or shaded area. Within a couple of days you will notice a couple of things:

* no flies, not even those pesky fruit flies will go near it (that should tell you something)

* it does not rot or smell differently because it has no value ; nothing will grow on it. Even those teeny weeny micro-organisms will not a find a home to grow. Why? Because it is nearly plastic. Would you melt your Tupperware and spread that on your toast?

Share This With Your Friends.....(If you want to butter them up')!"

     Yes, there are supposed "good" versions of margarine, but they are still fake versions of the real thing.  Remember, those of you that think that no-fat or low-fat is good, your brain is made of fat.  If your body does not consume enough fat, your brain will suffer.  Have you ever seen a fat alzheimers patient?  Brain scans of those who suffer from alzheimers show that the brain has literally disappeared or disintegrated.  Beware of what you eat.  Balance your life with a little bit of butter, your body and your brain (and your tastebuds) will thank you!

Foods that Heal: Apples

     In continuing our "Foods that Heal" series, I have been studying up on the benefits of apples.  My mom always said "Apples are the most portable nutrition", and they are.  They are wrapped up in the perfect convenient packaging, easily carried with you to eat and toss the core.  Let's look at some of the benefits of this super food.

     Of course, the old adage is "An apple a day keeps the doctor away", and it is so true, but what else does an apple a day keep away?

AN APPLE A DAY:
  
*keeps the orthodontist away-- I had the worst crooked teeth as a young girl.  I remember a huge gap between my two front teeth, due to the fact that one of them came in completely sideways.  I carried a lunch to school every day, faithfully packed by my mom every morning, and every single day there was an apple in there.  Mom always checked up on us each evening to make sure we ate all of our lunch.  I honestly believe that eating raw, hard to chew vegetables and fruits help align your teeth.  Sinking your teeth into that apple and pulling a bite off pulls those teeth and lines them up!

*keeps the Prilosec away-- We have an epidemic of giant proportions in our country. People are suffering from acid reflux, and are told by the doctor that their body is producing too much acid.  Actually, the opposite is true.  Your stomach has a "door" on the top of it.  It opens to let in food when you eat and is supposed to close.  Your stomach produces acid so that the food can be digested.  Fresh, raw fruits and vegetables aid in the digestion process, and your stomach knows this!  If it does not have enough raw enzymes to assist in digesting your food, the "door" stays open until you send some down.  If the "door" doesn't close, then the acid comes up in your throat and gives you that burning sensation.  Many who suffer with this problem would benefit greatly just by simply eating a whole apple about half an hour before eating a meal. (By the way, if you were to go to the drug companies websites and read about these types of medications, you would discover that, besides having harmful side effects, the companies state that this type of drug is not to be taken for more than 14 days.....hmmm, seems like everyone is on it permanently.)



Ad from a magazine.  Of course, a doctor will tell you otherwise!

  (This type of drug turns off some of the acid producers in the stomach, causing a worse problem where the food is not digested and therefore you receive no nutrients.)

*keeps the inhaler away-- Apples have been known to promote healthy lung function. It has been found that good lung function was associated with high intakes of vitamins C, E, and beta-carotene, citrus fruits, apples, and fruit juices. However, those who studied these facts, after they took into consideration factors such as body mass, smoking history and exercise the only food that seemed to make a significant difference was apples. It was found that eating five or more apples a week was linked to a slightly better lung function. So, keep those lungs functioning correctly by including apples in your diet!

*keeps the fat away-- Okay, now I have your undivided attention!  The skin of raw apples contains pectin, which when eaten, forms a gel in your stomach.  This gel inhibits the absorption of fats and  also helps to suppress your appetite and make you feel full! Plus, when your stomach has the proper amount of digestive enzymes, the digestion process will be more efficient, eliminating bloating and belly aches.  My kids know that the cure for a tummy ache is some raw apple! Another benefit of having good digestive processes is that the problem of bad breath is also reduced!

*keeps the yellow teeth away-- Another area that we are constantly reminded of the advertising industry is that of having beautiful, white teeth.  Apples help keep your teeth white by helping your body begin the digestive process in your mouth.  Eating an apple helps your strengthen your saliva with the enzymes in the apple.  Strong saliva washes over your teeth and helps to dissolve the plaque that can turn your teeth yellow.

*keeps away the cataracts, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, cancer, etc.-- There are so many other benefits to eating apples.  Try one today, or better yet, one with each meal.  They are sweet, and delicious, so why not incorporate them in your everyday eating routine? Apples are also antibacterial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory, and they contain lots of fiber to keep things running smoothly.  We could all benefit from at least one apple a day!
    *By the way, it was not an apple on the tree of the knowledge of good and evil that Eve ate in the garden, causing her to sin!!  But perhaps, apples were what grew on the tree of life!!

The Theology of Sickness

     My pastor (and my father-in-law) preached a message Sunday night that ran right along the lines of my blog on keeping healthy. So, with his permission, I wanted to share it with you readers.  I hope you find it as interesting as I did.
     The Bible lists many reasons that sickness is allowed to come into our lives.  When sickness comes, our job is to determine the reason that God sent it and then act accordingly.

10 Biblical Reasons that Sickness Comes

#1.  Sickness unto Death   II Kings 13:14  Now, we all know that there will come a day that we will die, and we have to die of something!  We know that "it is appointed unto man once to die..." Heb. 9:27.  So, why do we fight it?  We need to be willing to determine if that is God's purpose in sending the sickness. Maybe it is just our time to go.  The doctors keep saying, "We could try one more thing." , adding more and more burden of expense to your family after you do go. If it seems that this is the time, take it gracefully. God will give you the strength you need.

#2 Sickness as a Chastisement for Sin Exodus 15:26  Often sickness is sent because God is dealing with an area of sin in our lives.  An illness should trigger an automatic reaction to search our hearts and see if there is sin that needs to be confessed and forsaken.

#3 Sickness for the Glory of God  John 9:1-3 Often God just wants to show His power in our lives. He wants to receive the glory for an illness that suddenly is healed and can only be attributed to Him! He delights in showing His power on our behalf.

#4 Sickness because of poor stewardship of the body.  Phil. 2:25-30 This passage mentions Epaphroditus  who had worked so hard for the work of the Lord that he neglected to care for himself and therefore became sick.  We often neglect the most obvious reasons that we get illnesses and they often come because of our lack of attention to the needs of our body. God created our bodies to  need a balance of nutrition.  When we lack something, the balance of our health gets out of line and sickness comes. Our current FDA approved foods lack the vital nutrients that our bodies need to function. Go back to the Garden of Eden and remember what it was that God intended for us to eat.  Food in its most natural state will keep your health in balance. Our bodies are a gift that God has given to us and we are to take care of them responsibly so that we are able to do the tasks that He has intended for us.  If we are ill, we will not be able to bring Him the glory that He desires.  How many people do we know that  have been put out of commission because they neglected the care of their bodies? Do you leave the care of your health in the hands of your doctor or do you seek ways to care for it on your own?  It is YOUR responsibility!

#5 Sickness to turn the heart toward God II Corinthians 12:7-10  God often sends sickness so that our hearts can be closer drawn to Him.  How many times have we seen the Lord work in the hearts of people when a serious diagnosis is given?  A life threatening illness will almost always get people to think of the future and how they need to be ready.  We have also seen many who have a malady that may last throughout their lifetime, and yet they work through the problem bringing glory to God by forgetting themselves and allowing Him to shine through.  Our example is the Apostle Paul, who had some sort of physical problem that he entreated the Lord for 3 times, yet, he allowed God to receive the glory. He learned not to see it as suffering, but as a special opportunity to be humbled and to allow God to be strong in his weakness.

#6 Sickness that comes as a result of guilt Psalms 32:3-4  A lot of sickness that is brought into our lives comes because of sin that we know of that needs to be dealt with. Our conscience weighs heavily and literally brings physical sickness as we agonize over what we have done and how we need to make things right.  Even worry can cause upset of the balance of health.  Taking care of spiritual needs is healthy!

#7 Sickness as a result of providential events Isaiah 38:1  Sometimes a sickness is sent because it is just part of God's plan for you.  He is in control and as we acknowledge His sovereignty in our lives we will realize that we can be used in any way by Him for His glory.

#8 Sickness that is incidental  Sometimes, we just get sick!  We come in contact with germs, they enter our body and we become ill. Our kids play outside and find bacteria and it causes problems.  There are sicknesses that just come because that is the way life is!

#9 Sickness that is communicable  Leviticus 13&14, Romans 1:27  The book of Leviticus is filled with laws that God laid down for the children of Israel.  God didn't just pull a bunch of "do nots" out of a hat. He had a purpose in every one of those laws.  Chapters 13 and 14 particularly deal with avoiding germs and serious illness that comes from contact with certain things.  Romans deals with sickness that comes as a result of sexual sins and the consequences of those.

#10 Sickness that is demonically induced  Acts 5:16; Job 2:7  The Bible obviously states that there are sicknesses that are brought on by demonic forces.    We believe that Christians cannot be possessed by demons, so this may not pertain to you. However, consider the story of Job.  Perhaps your sickness is a test of your faith.  God allows Satan to do things to test us to see how we will respond.  Will you respond in faith or in doubt? Will you allow the illness to strengthen your faith or cause shipwreck of your testimony?


    Keep these reasons in mind the next time you become sick or have been diagnosed with something serious. Search your heart and seek the Lord's purpose for the sickness. 


*Used by permission from Pastor Dan Deatrick.  You may listen to the entire sermon at:  http://www.fbcwayland.org/sermons

Super Granola

       This past weekend I made a recipe that I had never made before, though I had eaten it many times.  I was rummaging through my recipe box and found "Mom's Granola".  My mom concocted this recipe many years ago and it was the main ingredient at our family breakfast table all my growing up years.  So, I decided to try it out on my kids.  They were more than enthusiastic, and I have already made a second batch because they scarfed down the last one so quickly!
     I called it "Super Granola" for many reasons: it's super easy, super yummy, and super healthy for you!  Your kids will think you are super mom if you make this for them and you'll feel super because it is so much better than store bought cereal.  Here's the recipe:

Preheat oven to 300.  Combine in a large bowl:

               6 cups old fashioned rolled oats

               3/4 cup wheat germ

               1/4 cup sesame seeds

               1 cup walnuts ( I had pecans)

               1/2 cup powdered milk

               1/4 cup flax seed

                1/2 cup flaked coconut

    Then combine in a small saucepan:

                 1/2 cup brown sugar

                 2/3 cup honey

                 1/3 cup butter

                 1/3 cup oil (I used coconut, of course!)

                 2 tbsp water

                 1 1/2 tsp vanilla

Heat on low until just melted.  Don't let it boil or your brown sugar and butter will turn to caramel!

Pour the sugar mixture over the oat mixture and mix well.  Spread onto a greased flat pan.  Bake for 20 minutes, then stir.  Return to the oven for another 15-20 minutes until golden brown and slightly crispy around the edges.  Let cool and then break up with a butter knife and store in a glass jar. Enjoy for breakfast, or any other time as a quick snack!  You can substitute many other grains and nuts.  You can also add raisins, cranberries or other dried fruits, just stir them in after it has baked and cooled.  Enjoy!

"Give us this day..." Part 2

     After reading up on the benefits of daily bread, I think I could have titled this blog "Foods that Heal : Bread".  I am finding some interesting (and convicting!) information!  Psalm 104 is praising the acts of our Creator in taking special care of His creation, and in verses 14 and 15, it mentions the many things that God has given to take care of our needs: "He causeth grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth; And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart."  Wow, did you know that daily bread will strengthen your heart?  It says it right there in the Scripture!
    The premise of the last discussion on bread emphasized the fact that bread is something that should be worked for.  Even praying for your "daily bread" really means that you are praying for work!  In working for our daily bread we are made more grateful for the abilities that God has given us to work for what we need.  How different our society would be if people realized the gratification that comes from a hard day's work and the rewards that come from laboring for your needs. 
       The emphasis of this blog is primarily on the health benefits of eating fresh, made-daily bread.  If we were to go back in history and study the progression of bread making throughout time, we would see an interesting path.  God originally designed grain as one of the most complete foods, and the balance within the grain is vital for the health of those who eat it.  When the whole grain is ground into flour and baked, it brings about the results that God intended it to. However, when one part of the grain is left out, the balance is destroyed and the benefits are wasted.  We find throughout history the desire to eliminate the "healthy look" of  whole grain flour.  Man has succeeded in eliminating the dark color, and continues to seek ways of making a softer, whiter bread.  Did you know that even the ancient Egyptians succeeded in producing a whiter, softer bread?  Even the Romans were onto this scheme.  They found a process to condition the grain with salt water to make it more refined.  It was in Rome that the color of one's bread took on a cultural significance.  Refined flour was reserved for only the wealthiest people.  You could tell one's social status by the color of their bread!  The drive for whiter bread came to head in Rome, when the government initiated a program of milling the grain for people.  In their pursuit of ever whiter bread, they even added chalk and alum to the flour, which caused many health disorders.  When the demand became so great, the government was soon providing flour to every household, taking away the need for working for the bread!  Sound familiar? Since then, wheat flour has been bleached to achieve the white effect.  For years, grain mills used nitrogen trichloride, but this chemical was banned by the FDA several years ago.  Now, flour is bleached with chlorine dioxide (approved by the FDA), which is an even more potent bleaching agent
     Whole grain spoils and becomes moldy in a very short time.  This caused problems for those who were trying to store bread and sell it to the masses.  By taking away the germ of the wheat, which contains the oil, and the outer covering, which contains the fiber, the wheat flour can be stored for much longer periods of time.  This process removes about 25 vital vitamins and minerals and the proteins.  Vitamins and minerals work together in your body to help your body use them. When one is taken away, the remaining vitamins are useless.  The germ of the wheat is a rich source of Vitamin E.   Studies have shown that a diet that lacks Vitamin E can lead to heart disease.  Hmmm, so real bread does strengthen man's heart!
      Because grain begins to deteriorate immediately after the grain is cracked, then fresh ground flour is the best choice for daily bread.  God instructed us to pray for daily bread, not weekly or monthly.  If you were to place a piece of store bought bread on the counter in a plastic bag and also place a piece of homemade bread in a similar bag and watch them for a few days, which one do you think would get moldy sooner?  The homemade bread, of course.  The absence of preservatives and the presence of the whole grain will make it go rancid much sooner.  It is the best choice for your daily intake of bread.
     So, as a result of this reading, I am currently praying for a grain mill.  I purchase whole wheat flour to make my bread, but even that is not the best.  Grinding the wheat and using it immediately is the best choice for daily bread. Yes, it is more work, but in the end the benefits will far outweigh the work put out to make it.  After all, that was God's intention in the first place. "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread....' Genesis 3:19
*More to come on the health benefits of daily bread...........

"Give us this day......"

    

      I have been doing more reading lately on the benefits of homemade, real bread.  I found an interesting article that was rather lengthy, but gave a lot of sound advice.  So, the next few blogs will be based on this.

     When contemplating any issue, we should always start at the Source of all Life.  I was amazed to look in my Strong's concordance and see the word "bread" mentioned hundreds of times in Scripture.  We often picture God as a big vending machine, handing things out when we pray for them.  When we pray "Give us this day our daily bread,..", without even realizing it, we are asking for so much more than just a loaf of bread to be handed to us.  The Lord made that very clear in His Word, and we need to understand His meaning of this passage.

     Those who are scholars in the area of the study of Scripture and the proper interpretation of it have a special way of finding the importance and meaning of a certain topic.  It is referred to as the law of first mention.  The first time that a word/topic is mentioned in Scripture often gives valuable insight into how God wants us to understand and apply that topic. Even in the simple area of our daily sustenance.  The first time that the word bread is mentioned in Scripture is found in the book of all firsts, Genesis.  As Adam and Eve are expelled from the garden of Eden, God is telling them the consequences of their sin.  "And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return to the ground; for out of it wast thou taken; for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return." Genesis 3:17-19    
     The last time that bread is mentioned in scripture is also significant.  In II Thessalonians 3:11-13 Paul is exhorting the believers and tells them "For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all but are busybodies.  Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread."   Isn't it interesting that the word "work" is in the same phrase as "bread" in both passages?  It is obvious from these passages that bread is not to be received without labor.  When we pray for our daily bread, we are really praying for the work that should accompany that!
     Think about Jesus, after He fasted for 40 days and was tempted of the Devil.  Remember how Satan told Him to turn the stones into bread?  Jesus knew that the act of making bread in that way would go against the basic laws that God had laid down at the beginning for bread!  Think of the children of Israel in the wilderness.  Even the manna from heaven required work before it could be eaten.  God equates daily bread with work so that we will appreciate and thank Him for the abilities that He has given us to acquire it.
      When you give thanks for your food, think of all the work that went into it.  Not just the "hands that prepared" the meal, but what about the one who brought in the paycheck so you could buy it?  What about the laborers who picked the grain, or the trucker who drove it to the store?  Did you put a lot of work into your bread today?  True daily bread should be made and eaten on the same day. How long has that loaf from the store been on the shelf?  True satisfaction of any food comes with the amount of work put into it.  Which would taste better to you, a frozen factory-made lasagna or a homemade one made with home grown tomatoes, hand rolled noodles, fresh from the farm mozzarella and farm raised beef?  My mouth is watering just thinking of that second one!  Our society is suffering from the lack of satisfaction that comes from working for what we consume. 
     So, how hard did you work for that loaf of bread today?  Try putting some elbow grease into a ball of dough and then bake it and enjoy the satisfaction of a hard earned loaf of bread!

*Just had a thought, it seems unusual to me that the word we use to describe sitting around doing nothing is "loaf".  Hmm, wonder where that came from?  I'll have to research that one!

    

Foods that Heal: Garlic

 

  I am starting a few articles on specific foods that are great for healing all kinds of ailments.  When approaching health care from a natural viewpoint, we need to have our "medicine cabinet" stocked with things that will prepare us for any illness that may come along.  Garlic, in my opinion is the best healer by far.
     I could write pages and pages of the benefits of garlic and the ailments that it can heal.  Any sickness or infection can be thwarted with the super power of garlic.  It has often been called Nature's Antibiotic.  If I were leaving today for a foreign country, I would take garlic with me to plant.  It has super potent power and is readily available when there is no doctor.  I once told some missionaries who were fearful about going to a country that was infested with malaria, that they should take garlic with them.  They were rather taken back and said that they were worried about the social implications.  I laughed about it later, they were headed to a country where the people hadn't even heard of the concept of brushing their teeth or thought about personal hygiene.  Yes, garlic is a potent breath influence, but there are things you can do to cover it up, as we will discuss later.  Here are a few (of the thousands) ailments that can be healed with garlic:

1. Blood Pressure:  Garlic contains high amounts of natural sulphur which is great for regulating blood pressure.  It also stimulates the nerves and strengthens the heart. People who suffer from high blood pressure would benefit from including garlic in their daily intake of nutrition. If you are on blood pressure medication, do not go off of it without your doctor's permission, but begin taking the garlic and watch it's effects over a few weeks.  You and your doctor will be amazed.

2. Congestion: We often think of congestion in our head and nasal cavities, but many illnesses are caused by congestion in other parts of the body as well. For instance, your liver can be congested causing stomach and intestinal problems. You can have internal organs congested with all kinds of toxic build-up that can cause many different types of symptoms.  Garlic is a blood purifier, it helps restore equilibrium in your body and helps to empty your body of the waste that is plugging you up.

3. Cold and Flu: We already mentioned the power of garlic to rid your body of congestion, so the next time you feel a cold coming on, try taking some garlic and see if you can perhaps stop the illness in its tracks or at least minimize the effects and duration of the illness.  We will discuss how to use/take garlic later on.

4. Diarrhea: This is a nasty subject, but something that many people suffer from and often don't know the cause.  Those in foreign countries are more susceptible to this illness and often are endangered by it's results.  Many people die of amoebic dysentery, which can be healed with garlic.  The bacteria cannot withstand the power of the sulphur in the garlic, so your body has extra healing power to rid the infection.  Coupled with charcoal (yes, black stuff from a fire!), you can heal serious diarrheal problems very quickly.

5. Arthritis, Blood poisoning, Insect bites, Mono, Parasites, Pimples, Pneumonia, Skin infections, Throat infections, Thrush, Vaginal Infections,  Wounds, Yeast infections.........Yes, the list is unending. Garlic is a super powerful food that can heal many problems.  The question is, "How do you use it?"

Ways to take/use Garlic: The best way to use garlic is to use it in its raw form. That is when it is the most powerful.  Cooking garlic can reduce the effects and often make it powerless to heal a strong infection. Garlic is very strong tasting.  You can chop it up and put it in a teaspoon of honey.  You can also mince it and put it in salsa and eat it with corn chips.  It adds a little zing to your salsa but is a very easy way to eat it.  If you are able to, you can even just swallow a chunk whole.  Usually if I have a particularly bad infection, I will try to take 2 or 3 cloves a day.
     Garlic can also be used externally.  For a skin infection, simply crush 4 or 5 cloves, place them between paper towels and pour very hot water over it.  Let it cool slightly and apply to the infected area.  This is very effective even for congestion of the lungs, bladder infection, infected wounds or skin ailments.  Use caution, however, on children's tender skin. Garlic is very strong and can cause irritation or blistering. Keep the poultice on for a few minutes at a time, checking for irritation.   Those of you that suffer with pimples might try taping a slice of garlic to one overnight and seeing the results in the morning.
     There are  more socially acceptable forms of garlic available.   Kyolic Garlic is a pill form of dried "odorless" garlic.  Though not as potent as raw garlic, it is easier to take and is effective in some ways.  Those that suffer from high blood pressure would benefit from taking one pill three times a day.
    The problem of "garlic breath":  To transform garlic breath, simply eat a generous amount of raw parsley, or chew on a clove bud or a cinnamon stick.  You could also rinse out your mouth with equal parts  of lemon  juice and water, or chew on an orange peel.  A drop of peppermint oil on the tongue is also very effective. I have found that when one takes large amounts of garlic internally, the aroma can also be detected in the sweat.  So, if you are really sick, keep secluded!
     So, stock your medicine cabinet with garlic.  It will save you a lot of money when you don't have to buy antibiotics and will help you maintain your health.  Remember that garlic is very effective, but it is like all other good foods and vitamins, it does not work well by itself. If you eat garlic to heal something, but still eat sugar and junk food, the garlic will be useless.  It needs good, unprocessed, natural foods and plenty of water to help it work. Tap into the power of garlic and try it for yourself!

Vax-a-nation

     I have been dealing with a common childhood illness the past few weeks. (well, what used to be a common illness).  My kids have had the chicken pox.  We purposefully exposed them when some friends of ours had them about a month ago.  The kids were pretty miserable for a few days, though I kept my promise to let them watch movies all day. That really helped keep their minds off of the itching and discomfort. I'm not sure they would have chosen a shot over the illness!  Their cheerful spirits have returned and they are starting to scab over, so we are on the mend!     This whole process has made me review my beliefs about vaccines and the reasons I choose not to participate.  So, as a result, I did  a little research on not only the varicella vaccine, but on some of the others as well.

Reasons Why I Avoid Vaccinations



     1. Side Effects:  Have you ever read the lists of side effects that are given in the information that is included when you have your child vaccinated?  Of course, they are to assure you that these only happen in a very few children and they leave out the really dangerous ones.  Well, the US government has paid out more than $1.5 billion in its Vaccine Injury Compensation.  I'm pretty sure all that isn't for fevers and convulsions. The Vaccine Injury Compensation Program is to help families of children who have been permanently injured or killed by a vaccine. Health officials consider a vaccine to be "safe" if there are no immediate reactions.  There are NO long term tests done on vaccine side effects. So, basically, your child is the guinea pig.  We have all heard about the supposed link between autism and vaccines.  Isn't it interesting that before vaccines were nationwide, the rate of autism in children was 1 in 10,000 and now it is 1 in every 50!!!  Pharmacists have spoken out that since the introduction of the varicella vaccine, the cases of shingles in young children have shot up.  Shingles used to be an adult problem but has now become quite common in children.  I'd rather have chicken pox than shingles any day!  I could go on and on about food allergies, ADHD, neurological problems, social problems, and even crib death that often can be linked to vaccines.

     2. Vaccine Ingredients:  I think you would be shocked to know what is contained in the vaccines that are being injected into children as young as 3 days old.  Here are some of the ones that many people already know about:   formaldehyde, fluid from calf skins, chick embryonic fluid (which must be egg white??), monkey kidney cells, aluminum, and mercury.  The one that really disgusts me is this: human cells, human albumen and human diploid cells.  These human elements are not taken from dead people.  These are specifically listed as taken from aborted fetal tissue.  Yes, your children are being injected with aborted babies. Many people think that the abortion issue is just a moral issue. Why do you think that abortion is such a big deal?  It is because it is a huge money making industry.  The babies that are aborted are sold to vaccine companies and used to make vaccines. The very thought of that just makes me cringe. "The love of money is the root of all evil." --even abortion.

     3. My health is my responsibility, not the governments. We live in an age where everyone wants to blame their problems on someone else.  Many turn to others to take care of their basic needs and think that it is the governments responsibility to take care of them. including their health.  When one gets a sniffle, stomach ache or headache, we run to the emergency room to get immediate relief, in whatever form that may be. So, when the doctor tells us to do something, we do it without question.  If one is told that they need to have a vaccine, they get it. 
  

      4. Just plain common sense... Did you know that the hepatitis vaccine is given to newborns before they leave the hospital?  Did you know that this particular strain of hepatitis is a sexually transmitted disease?? Did you know that it is so concentrated it is like giving 30 shots to an adult??? So, why are we almost forced to inject a baby with huge amounts of aluminum???  I am just as baffled as you are, yet if you refuse the vaccine, they send a counsellor to your bedside to almost twist your arm into getting your child vaccinated.  I am teaching my children to live a morally pure life.  If they get this disease, it is their own fault! I can remember when the vaccine called "gardasil" first came out.  (This is the one for girls ages 9-26 to guard against HPV--also a sexually transmitted disease.)  The first ads in magazine gave pages and pages of information about this disease, including some interesting facts that were obscured in all the lingo. "Eating fruits and vegetables can lower your risk of hpv." What? You mean I could eat better and avoid this problem (besides practicing abstinence, also never mentioned!)?  I found a quote that so appropriately sums this all up: "The best vaccine against common infectious disease is an adequate diet." so perfectly stated by the World Health Organization. 

    
     I know that this is a very hotly debated topic with many other issues not mentioned above.  Please, if you do vaccinate, don't take this as an accusation or ridicule.  Just, please, be informed.  Don't stop reading.  Make informed decisions. Be aware of the dangers that are out there.  Be prepared for pressure from doctors and nurses and health departments.  Be willing to sign a "religious waiver", even if your reasons for refusing aren't entirely religious.  For more information, I recommend that you "like" Dr. Tenpenny on facebook.  She posts many interesting articles on this very subject.  Do some research of your own. There are many in the health care profession who also refuse to vaccine.  There are also companies that are offering non-abortive vaccines if you feel you must vaccine.  Again, be informed,  be prepared, and keep healthy!