God is such an awesome Master, Creator, Artist and most of all a Father. He made the world, He made humans, He made a way for Humans to still fellowship with Him after the Fall in the Garden, he made everything we needed to live, work and feed ourselves. He even uses all the things He made to teach us about ourselves. For those who love the visual, take any part of Nature and it glorifies God, it teaches about his provision, about creation and about how we should be. Plants for example, are so beautiful, there are hundreds of thousands of them all in different families, some similar, but many very different. Some for food, some for containers, some for fabrics and dyes, spices and herbs, trees for shade, wood to build with, designed by Him to memorialize things in the bible, be symbols to remind us everyday that He designed everything for good, and if used correctly even the Thistle, which was a curse can be a blessing and can teach us to be diligent and discerning, it will only take once of allowing a few to grow and find in a short time they have taken over the area and choked out our "planned" crop or garden, if watched they are enjoyable. If we do not know which plants are good and which plants need to watched carefully we will quickly find ourselves with a garden of undesirables.
This year for school we have been proving the Bible, studying the other historical records and archaeological records of things found and the carbon dating that is recorded. Many of the plants have other historical accounts that make the Bible's record even more meaningful. Many of the research sources quote the Bible, which is a sign that many are aware of the Truth, but cannot accept it, because it will cause them to change. Many of the scriptures will make so much more impact when we have an understanding of the words and plants used. The miracles God did with the plants, like having pine trees growing in the desert, where they were not before. The provisions he gave by having full grown plants that would produce fruit, and seed to spread and fill the earth, just like He commanded the people, "Be fruitful and multiply".
One of the plants that I found so amazing is the Tamarisk or Tamarix, it is mentioned in the Bible in Genesis 21:33, Abraham is recorded to have "planted a tamarisk at Beer-sheba". He had built a well there earlier. The tamarix is a flowering plant, deciduous or evergreen shrub or small tree that forms dense thickets, in the Tamaricaceae family, native to drier areas of Eurasia and Africa. It can grow in saline (salty) soils, tolerating up to 15, 000 pp, soluble salt and can also tolerate alkali. It is said that it produces crystals that taste like honey. They are fire-adapted, and have long tap roots that allow them to intercept deep water tables and exploit natural water resources. They are able to limit competition from other plants by taking up salt from deep ground water, accumulating it in their foliage, and from there depositing it in the surface soul where it builds up concentrations temporarily detrimental to some plants. The salt is washed away during heavy rains. The tamarix can spread both vegetatively, by adventitious roots or submerged stems, and by seeds. Each flower can produce thousands of tiny seeds that are contained in a small capsule usually adorned with a tuft of hair that aids in wind dispersal. Seeds can also be dispersed by water.
When I read this I thought, that is a "visual" of how a Christian is to be, and the characteristics they should possess. There is a scripture that tells us to be the "salt of the earth". How cool to have a beautiful tree with flowers to try to emulate. God designed this plant to serve a purpose, its deep roots allow it to have an uninterrupted supply of good water, and it has the security of knowing it is protected from other invasive plants, it cannot be overtaken and it can release the salt to plants around it to keep things at a safe distance, and isn't it cool that it is FIRE-adaptive, just like the redeemed!!! That makes me think of three men thrown into the furnace in Daniel, they were not harmed by the fire either!!! And we can spread our seeds of the gospel either by close relationship or by speaking the Truth and sharing whenever we can, each believer can spread many seeds that can take root in difficult soil with contaminents and it can remove those things that can hind growth.
Check out this weblink http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamarisk
If you would like the file of all the Plants of the Bible, that I researched email me.
Friday, April 4, 2008
Thursday, April 3, 2008
What does choices have to do with Joy?
**Play Restoration by Phillips, Craig & Dean*** (Click on the title on the playlist player to the right or use the > key at the top to scroll down to the title)***
Joy is a feeling, right? NO!!! Happiness is a "feeling" it is dependent on your circumstances (happenings) and can be very short lived. Joy is a deep, soul felt, multi-sensory reaction to a conscious decision to BE joyful. (Dot's definition). Joy is a gift from God, Jeremiah 8:10 ...for the joy of the Lord is your strength. He is the only real source of our Joy (1 Peter 1:8,9) Habakkuk 3:18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
Joy is a choice God extends his hand to offer me the gift of another day to live. I have the CHOICE to take that gift and turn it into 24 hours of real life in Christ, or just let it become another 24 hours lived in a broken world. I can let things wittle me down to dust or I can stand, believe and walk sure steps with God in control. If I choose to transform these minutes and hours into life lived for and with my savior I have the opportunity to see God at work, enjoy his presence, wonder at His creation, appreciate the expression of His Beauty. I can love and touch the minds and hearts of my family and my child with His reality or I can drive them away. It is all about the choices you make, what feels good, what looks good now or doing what is proven to be God's Will and that promises eternal benefits. With all these choices, how can you say you feel "trapped" and without input in your life? How do you feel uninvolved in your own life and the lives of those who chose to include you in theirs? Could it be you "choose" to feel that way because you do not want to see that you are choosing to be uninvolved by not making things different? But, it is never too late to CHOOSE to do things differently, it is always a good time to do the RIGHT thing!!!
Life is hard, it is sometimes unfair, but we do not have to worry about the outcome, that is "In God's hands, He is in Control". (That phrase needs to roll of your lips and through your heart with every beat) that is the secret to an abundant life). When we choose to submit to God, there is only one decision to make and He takes care of everything. When we try to choose the easy, popular or most beneficial way that we can "see" to choose, there are more and more choices that have to be made as things fall apart and more struggles insue. The realization that He is with you in every moment, good or bad and that He is doing the battle not you. Think about the Israelites as they get into the Red Sea as Christ parted the waters for them. They heard their oppressors coming after them to take them back to the aweful conditions they were just released from. They were questioning and complaining about being released to be killed in the desert. (what gratitude, what faith, but God did not through up his hands and tell them forget it! He had had enough of their doubting and distrust, No! He lovingly got between them and the enemy, He protected them and He does the same for us) They still could see and hear the enemy, they could probably see the arrows flying over head, but it was to no avail, they were sealed, they were in Christ!! and so are we if we made that decision to give him our life--the temporary one that we would mess up and have to serve eternity away from Him and the Father in exchange He gave us a new life, full of hope and promise, full of purpose and with a future. Not only are we sealed, protected but we always have a companion, we are never alone and never on our own (for me this is a really good thing, when I smell the horses and hear the rumbling hooves, I panic, get all confused and cannot think straight, and I now have the security of knowing I only have to do one thing, STAND!! and call on God, I already have the Holy spirit to guide me, I received him at the time of salvation and he will never leave me, no matter what I do., and Christ is right beside me holding my right hand!!! He tells us this over and over in scripture, but one in particular makes it really simple, especially for the "literal" crowd Isaiah 41:13 "For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand, and says to you, Do not Fear; I will help you.)
That says it all!!! and if you choose to hold out your hand, and receive the help, you can have the Joy!! God really does make it easy, you have to trust Him, and talk with Him and Follow him, not others that are walking near by or others who tell you to come and walk with them, they have figured out the tricky part and can help you avoid some of the stumbling blocks ahead. When you are in contact with God, he will alert you to those things you need to be aware of, some of the stumbling blocks, are just opportunities to lift your leg a little higher, some will be blown out of your way. Knowledge, Understanding and Wisdom are all gifts from God, and He gives us all that we need, too much information just weighs us down. God is in control, He has the way for us to follow, He has overcome all the obsticles and can help us overcome them too.
Scriptures that I use, and have on index cards that I can carry with me to remind me of God's promises and of all the resources I have at my disposal.
1 Peter 3:13-15
Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear (anxious worry, terror) what they fear (anxious worry, terror), do not be frightened." But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord and give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.(respect)
Isaiah 41:13
For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand, and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.
Proverbs 18:10
The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
Genesis 4:7
If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But, if you do not do what is right, Sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it. (The choice is yours!!!)
Hebrew 13:5-6
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; (Not conditional!! NEVER means NEVER) Never will I forsake you." So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" (so if you "feel" alone, you choose to feel that way, or you moved, God is who he says He is and Does what He says He will do, without fail, call on His name and He will answer!!!)
Joy is a feeling, right? NO!!! Happiness is a "feeling" it is dependent on your circumstances (happenings) and can be very short lived. Joy is a deep, soul felt, multi-sensory reaction to a conscious decision to BE joyful. (Dot's definition). Joy is a gift from God, Jeremiah 8:10 ...for the joy of the Lord is your strength. He is the only real source of our Joy (1 Peter 1:8,9) Habakkuk 3:18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
Joy is a choice God extends his hand to offer me the gift of another day to live. I have the CHOICE to take that gift and turn it into 24 hours of real life in Christ, or just let it become another 24 hours lived in a broken world. I can let things wittle me down to dust or I can stand, believe and walk sure steps with God in control. If I choose to transform these minutes and hours into life lived for and with my savior I have the opportunity to see God at work, enjoy his presence, wonder at His creation, appreciate the expression of His Beauty. I can love and touch the minds and hearts of my family and my child with His reality or I can drive them away. It is all about the choices you make, what feels good, what looks good now or doing what is proven to be God's Will and that promises eternal benefits. With all these choices, how can you say you feel "trapped" and without input in your life? How do you feel uninvolved in your own life and the lives of those who chose to include you in theirs? Could it be you "choose" to feel that way because you do not want to see that you are choosing to be uninvolved by not making things different? But, it is never too late to CHOOSE to do things differently, it is always a good time to do the RIGHT thing!!!
Life is hard, it is sometimes unfair, but we do not have to worry about the outcome, that is "In God's hands, He is in Control". (That phrase needs to roll of your lips and through your heart with every beat) that is the secret to an abundant life). When we choose to submit to God, there is only one decision to make and He takes care of everything. When we try to choose the easy, popular or most beneficial way that we can "see" to choose, there are more and more choices that have to be made as things fall apart and more struggles insue. The realization that He is with you in every moment, good or bad and that He is doing the battle not you. Think about the Israelites as they get into the Red Sea as Christ parted the waters for them. They heard their oppressors coming after them to take them back to the aweful conditions they were just released from. They were questioning and complaining about being released to be killed in the desert. (what gratitude, what faith, but God did not through up his hands and tell them forget it! He had had enough of their doubting and distrust, No! He lovingly got between them and the enemy, He protected them and He does the same for us) They still could see and hear the enemy, they could probably see the arrows flying over head, but it was to no avail, they were sealed, they were in Christ!! and so are we if we made that decision to give him our life--the temporary one that we would mess up and have to serve eternity away from Him and the Father in exchange He gave us a new life, full of hope and promise, full of purpose and with a future. Not only are we sealed, protected but we always have a companion, we are never alone and never on our own (for me this is a really good thing, when I smell the horses and hear the rumbling hooves, I panic, get all confused and cannot think straight, and I now have the security of knowing I only have to do one thing, STAND!! and call on God, I already have the Holy spirit to guide me, I received him at the time of salvation and he will never leave me, no matter what I do., and Christ is right beside me holding my right hand!!! He tells us this over and over in scripture, but one in particular makes it really simple, especially for the "literal" crowd Isaiah 41:13 "For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand, and says to you, Do not Fear; I will help you.)
That says it all!!! and if you choose to hold out your hand, and receive the help, you can have the Joy!! God really does make it easy, you have to trust Him, and talk with Him and Follow him, not others that are walking near by or others who tell you to come and walk with them, they have figured out the tricky part and can help you avoid some of the stumbling blocks ahead. When you are in contact with God, he will alert you to those things you need to be aware of, some of the stumbling blocks, are just opportunities to lift your leg a little higher, some will be blown out of your way. Knowledge, Understanding and Wisdom are all gifts from God, and He gives us all that we need, too much information just weighs us down. God is in control, He has the way for us to follow, He has overcome all the obsticles and can help us overcome them too.
Scriptures that I use, and have on index cards that I can carry with me to remind me of God's promises and of all the resources I have at my disposal.
1 Peter 3:13-15
Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear (anxious worry, terror) what they fear (anxious worry, terror), do not be frightened." But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord and give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.(respect)
Isaiah 41:13
For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand, and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.
Proverbs 18:10
The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
Genesis 4:7
If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But, if you do not do what is right, Sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it. (The choice is yours!!!)
Hebrew 13:5-6
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; (Not conditional!! NEVER means NEVER) Never will I forsake you." So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" (so if you "feel" alone, you choose to feel that way, or you moved, God is who he says He is and Does what He says He will do, without fail, call on His name and He will answer!!!)
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Health, Healing and Happiness in sickness
On our wedding day, among the other pledges we make, we pledge to love in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad. But, we are so excited and happy we cannot fathom really needing this commitment, "how bad can it be if we are together for ever?". Oh when the reality of chronic illness comes it takes us by surprise. Somewhere we get the idea that a problem or illness may come, but we will find a solution or cure and we will be back stronger than ever, especially when we are young. Our faith will get us through anything and our love for each other will make even the long illness seem but a blink. Oh, but when the illness drags on and is not fully understood, the medical bills mount up, time from work is adding up while the pay is dipping dangerously low, patience gets thin and faith begins to disappear, encouragement is limited and everyone is focused on the cause, questioning the spiritual state and condition of faith and praying for a cure--removal of this affliction.
I have suffered for many years, with headaches (migraines, clusterand tension), fibromyalgia, chronic pain, Chronic fatigue syndrome, Anxiety/depression, sore throats, difficulty swollowing, swollen glands, and anemia. Many doctor's visits, tests, scans, theories, and medications and not much relief or answers. And then finally things got worse, and then we found answers, misdiagnoses and untreated conditions. Anger, pity and confusion came in a great flood, and then a revelation. All the suspected conditions, were all "incurable" but the medications were supposed to make things better, but caused other problems. Chemicals are not designed by God, the drug makers do not know how my body was designed to function, they are trying to make all bodies function to the accepted norm. (Wish I would have realized the humor in that, me functioning "normally", the girl with the normal temp of 88.4 and whose blood pressure was never normal, who thinks and speaks in parables (associations) being normal, that makes me giggle!!! :) )
I began to irritate the doctors with my own research and 20 million questions, "If this result comes back, can this be truly managed or are we going to throw medications at symptoms and hope for the best". With many prayers and a few changes in the doctors that I saw, we decided to try the "non-medication route", diet, exercise, sleep management, stress management and viola in 6 months I was a new women. I could go 3 to 4 days without a headache, which made thinking much easier, my disposition improved and I was actually able to function "normally". Weight loss is a desire for many, for me it was mandatory for several conditions and it made a world of difference. Exercise is like a medication, it helps with the muscle and joint pain, improves the moods and helps with sleep. As I look back over the process we went through to get to a point of "health" I realized this is like many trials in life, it was such a teaching moment, (being the slow learner, it took awhile) but God is in control of even my health, he was there even in the dark moments, in the hospital, even when everyone else was giving up and getting very frustrated. Man thinks and tries to work everything out in his mind, knowledge and understanding are limited and until God is called in, things tend to drag on and go around and around with little progress. The worldly desires of easy and comfortable plague every aspect of life, we have to make sure people understand we are different and committed to the endurance and really want to do whatever is best to persevere through the trial, and that we understand not all difficulties are going to be removed, sometimes the cure is in changing our ways and respecting our design and resting as God intended.
Verses that I used and still use when dealing with health and healing:
John 16:33
I have (he is repeating himself!!) told you all this so that you will have peace of heart and mind. Here on earth you WILL have many trials and sorrows: but Cheer up (that is an command!!), for I have overcome the world.
Philippians 4:7
The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Jer. 46:11 (this verse was sent to me in a card, it took me many, many months and prayers to get the message on this)
Go up into Gilead, and take balm (healing gum), O virgin daughter of Egypt; in vain dost thou use many medicines; there is no healing for thee.
Mal 4:2
But unto you that fear my name shall the sun of righteousness arise with Healing in its wings; and ye shall go forth, and gambol as calves of the stall.
James 5:11,13,-15
Behold, (Attention!!) we call them blessed that endured. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, (the most faithful man in the bible, who suffered greatly) and have seen the end of the Lord, how that the Lord is full of pity, and merciful. Is any among you suffering? Let him pray. Is any cheerful? Let him sing praises. (or write them)Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith shall save him that is sick, and the Lord shall raise him up and if he have committed sins, it shall be forgiven him.
I have suffered for many years, with headaches (migraines, clusterand tension), fibromyalgia, chronic pain, Chronic fatigue syndrome, Anxiety/depression, sore throats, difficulty swollowing, swollen glands, and anemia. Many doctor's visits, tests, scans, theories, and medications and not much relief or answers. And then finally things got worse, and then we found answers, misdiagnoses and untreated conditions. Anger, pity and confusion came in a great flood, and then a revelation. All the suspected conditions, were all "incurable" but the medications were supposed to make things better, but caused other problems. Chemicals are not designed by God, the drug makers do not know how my body was designed to function, they are trying to make all bodies function to the accepted norm. (Wish I would have realized the humor in that, me functioning "normally", the girl with the normal temp of 88.4 and whose blood pressure was never normal, who thinks and speaks in parables (associations) being normal, that makes me giggle!!! :) )
I began to irritate the doctors with my own research and 20 million questions, "If this result comes back, can this be truly managed or are we going to throw medications at symptoms and hope for the best". With many prayers and a few changes in the doctors that I saw, we decided to try the "non-medication route", diet, exercise, sleep management, stress management and viola in 6 months I was a new women. I could go 3 to 4 days without a headache, which made thinking much easier, my disposition improved and I was actually able to function "normally". Weight loss is a desire for many, for me it was mandatory for several conditions and it made a world of difference. Exercise is like a medication, it helps with the muscle and joint pain, improves the moods and helps with sleep. As I look back over the process we went through to get to a point of "health" I realized this is like many trials in life, it was such a teaching moment, (being the slow learner, it took awhile) but God is in control of even my health, he was there even in the dark moments, in the hospital, even when everyone else was giving up and getting very frustrated. Man thinks and tries to work everything out in his mind, knowledge and understanding are limited and until God is called in, things tend to drag on and go around and around with little progress. The worldly desires of easy and comfortable plague every aspect of life, we have to make sure people understand we are different and committed to the endurance and really want to do whatever is best to persevere through the trial, and that we understand not all difficulties are going to be removed, sometimes the cure is in changing our ways and respecting our design and resting as God intended.
Verses that I used and still use when dealing with health and healing:
John 16:33
I have (he is repeating himself!!) told you all this so that you will have peace of heart and mind. Here on earth you WILL have many trials and sorrows: but Cheer up (that is an command!!), for I have overcome the world.
Philippians 4:7
The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Jer. 46:11 (this verse was sent to me in a card, it took me many, many months and prayers to get the message on this)
Go up into Gilead, and take balm (healing gum), O virgin daughter of Egypt; in vain dost thou use many medicines; there is no healing for thee.
Mal 4:2
But unto you that fear my name shall the sun of righteousness arise with Healing in its wings; and ye shall go forth, and gambol as calves of the stall.
James 5:11,13,-15
Behold, (Attention!!) we call them blessed that endured. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, (the most faithful man in the bible, who suffered greatly) and have seen the end of the Lord, how that the Lord is full of pity, and merciful. Is any among you suffering? Let him pray. Is any cheerful? Let him sing praises. (or write them)Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith shall save him that is sick, and the Lord shall raise him up and if he have committed sins, it shall be forgiven him.
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