Like a Thief in the Night.....

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Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3

When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains. You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them.Mark 13:7-9

And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:12-14

Blessed Be Your Name

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I'm sure we could easily find excuses to seperate us from our Savior.....excuses that give rationalization for us not having to submit to Him. Excuses such as cancer, unemployment, infertility, drug & alcohol addictions, depression, disbelief, loss of loved ones, and broken relationships to name a few. Many of us 'deal with' some form of "possible" daily barriers such as these. Barriers to happiness, barriers to God.

But what some people have figured out, is that these "barriers" can instead become "bridges" to God. It's a matter of perception, really. Perceiving possible problems as, instead, being blessings. Maybe you have heard of someone viewing cancer as a blessing? Sounds odd....but some people do! They do this by looking at the problem as a way to draw closer to their maker.

When you have a relationship with someone (like God), you draw closer to them as you share more....whether it's sharing experiences, sharing insights, sharing burdens, or sharing simple talk. Sharing with God these burdens that we carry, essentially passes them onto Him, and off our own backs--"lightening the load" you might say! God WILL carry them for us, we just need to acknowledge Him and accept His help.

SOMETIMES these barriers are even needed for us to lean on His strength, and in doing this, putting aside our own. I have found that when God feels me puling away in my pride, self-confidence, and abilities......usually He finds some way to pull me back in, so that I acknowledge Him. Wether it be unfortunate circumstances......or blessings.

We can let our problems consume us, or we can consume them with the help of God's strength. Are you rationalizing an excuse as to why NOT to accept God's strength to enhance/replace your own?

Thanks for reading, may the Lord bless you in your pathway towards Him!

Ms. Salubrious

VITAMIN D in FIGHTING the FLU

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So, you want to know how to combat influenza/flu naturally? Vitamin D is definitely the place to start. Vitamin D doesn't necessarily make the immune system STRONGER, it makes it SMARTER. We will go into a few nutrients/habits at the bottom of the posting that build up the immune system, but for now we'll cover Vitamin D, and the role that God gave it in combating viruses. God designed our bodies to fight off infections and viruses, without the necessity of human interventions. He gave our bodies self-regulators called "antimicrobial Peptides"..... naturally occurring antibiotics, which are "upregulated" and increased by naturally occurring Vitamin D sources. Naturally occurring Vitamin D upregulates antimicrobial peptide output, and dampens the immune system branch that causes excess inflammation, leading to infections and health problems. (discovered by Professor John White, McGill University) Vitamin D may not be the "cure" for influenza, but it is the MAJOR WEAPON that God gave us to fight off influenza and the common cold.

The following information is taken from Adelle Davis's book, Let's have Healthy Children, page 193: When Vitamin D is adequate....it increases the absorption, retention, and utilization of magnesium, as well as calcium, and throughout life it decreases the loss of both minerals in the urine and feces. Without Vitamin D, rickets, a bone disease, is produced by the time a baby is 3-6 months old" It is well-known among TRADITIONAL MEDICINE practice, that kids with rickets get a lot of infections.....Traditional doctors diagnose the cause as beings that their rib cage is too soft to function properly. BUT....among NATURAL MEDICINE...it is known that a lack of Vitamin D causes the rib cage to be soft because of the inability to absorb enough calcium due to the lack of vitamin D present in the body system.

This just PROVES that that it is important to separate FACT from THEORY.

FACT: Vitamin D is needed to absorb calcium, which is needed to have a properly functioning rib cage.

THEORY: infections are caused by a soft rib cage

Vitamin D levels in people during the wintertime typically fall to 1/3 of the levels found in the summer times. What is the significance? Well, typically people are sicker during the wintertime, and typically we don't have near the direct sun rays that we do in the summertime.....and God designed the sun to be our major source of Vitamin D. (click here to view my BLOG POSTING on Vitamin D) So, in order to bring our bodies up to the optimum virus-fighting potential that God gave to us, we need to bring our Vitamin D levels up the optimum levels God gave to us. If you do not have access to direct sunlight (NO SUNSCREEN!!), then the next best resource would be Vitamin D3.....our family takes this brand, for quality assurance: NATURES SUNSHINE VITAMIN D3.(<----click on link) Several different natural health sources mention that adults should have anywhere between 4,000 to 6,000 I.U. (international units) of a naturally occurring (not synthetic) High Quality Vitamin D source, while children should have half of this. The synthetic form of vitamin Dadded to commercial milk and foods does not substitute,and actually does the body MORE HARMthan GOOD. You can have a little better insight into yours/your child's SPECIFIC NEED of Vitamin D by muscle testing/having a Master Herbalist muscle test for you. If you assume an amount, it may be below yours/your child's need.

If you are looking to strengthen the immune system, in addition to increasing the output-functioning of it with Vitamin D......we do these things AS WELL as take Vitamin D, as a precautionary measure against the FLU and COLDS.

• Avoid all processed sugar and flour (which turns to sugar shortly after consumption) which LOWERS the IMMUNE system anywhere between 24 hours-2 days....however long it is in the intestinal tract for. (SUGAR BLOG POSTING)
• Avoid processed/fast foods which lower the immune system as well
• Protect yourself from Electoro Magnetic Radiation from cell phones, computers and electricity (BLOG POSTING ON EMF's)
• TAKE SPIRULINA, BLUE-GREEN ALGAE, or ACF (Acute Cold and FLU) by Buried TREASURE as a WHOLE FOODS VITAMIN
• Take BIFIDOLOPHUS, to increase the good flora in your intestine to combat the virus/bacteria that invade.
• Take an INFLUENZA REMEDY every month from October to May--it's a flu shot in the natural version of a homeopathic remedy, with the most original form of FLU strain that there is.

******None of the above statements have been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. All of the information in this BLOG is strictly for educational purposes. This BLOG should not be used to treat, diagnose, or prescribe for a condition you feel you may have. If you have any health concerns, you should see a competent practitioner. ******

PASSED AUTISM

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"AUTISM YESTERDAY" Autism is Reversible from JB Handley on Vimeo.

"It's trying to find the right recipe--for the things that work, the things that don't work"

"Right now we are almost exclusively doing HOMEOPATHY with Ryder"

"Any number of these means can make a difference, and making SOME difference is probably the greatest gift you can give your child"

Watching this video was a way to force myself to remember back to what Sophie used to be like, at one time Sophie:

• screamed almost anytime we took a car ride, the entire way there and back
• had loose stools until the age of 2 1/2, when we finally started working with her diet
• walked on only her toes everywhere
• would not look you in the eyes when talking with her
• only ate a few select foods, most of them being simple carbohydrates, fruit and dairy
• had a hypersensitive sense of hearing and smell that would set her off in tears
• woke up screaming several times throughout any given night
• wouldn't sleep in any later than 6:00 am
• made grunting and whiny noises instead of talking to people
• chose to play by herself with only a few select repeat toys
• hid in corners screaming any time she was confronted or disciplined for her behavior
• stimulated herself by twisting her hair and putting it into her ear every 5-15 minutes for the entire length of time she was awake
• had purple circles/bags around her eyes and would catch repeat ear infections and respiratory illnesses
• wandered off aimlessly without any notion that she was away from where she was supposed to be--completely unaware of other people and places.

After reading several books/websites on children healed from Autism, I have found the resounding theme for most recovered Autism patients are the following:

• Getting the child away from environmental toxins (like the chemicals found in: yard & bug sprays, household cleaners, air fresheners, fabric softeners, automotive substances, etc)
• Helping the child to detox the heavy metals and toxic ingredients from past immunizations: human diploid cells (originating from HUMAN ABORTED FETAL TISSUE), yeast, sucrose, thimerosal, formaldehyde, aluminum hydroxide, aluminum phosphate, phenoxyethanol (ANTIFREEZE), a continuous line of monkey kidney cells, monkey kidney cell culture, monkey lung cells, monosodium glutamate (MSG) IMMUNIZATION INGREDIENT SOURCE: http://www.wnho.net/vaccine_ingredients.htm
• Controlling a child's diet by eliminating foods with chemical additives, meats and dairy containing immunizations, avoiding casein and gluten until they build up the enzymes needed to digest them, and what worked best for our child was avoiding sugar, since most autistic children have an accompanying yeast overgrowth issue, which feeds off of processed and artificial forms for sweetener.
• Doing your own research and not SETTLING for something that is not working, it is just wasting valuable time that could be used for recovery.

We are so blessed to have come so far with Sophie! People who don't know her well NOW may not assume her odd characteristics as being autistically related, but instead only "quirky". I know how far she has come since the forementioned behaviors above, and praise the Lord for her extensive recovery. Sophie is growing into a beautiful and alert young lady, with an interest in so many of God's wonderful blessings. God is the God of miracles, and I see it each and every day in our three daughters.

3 more related BLOG entries I've written on Autism:

http://bodymindsoulfood.blogspot.com/2009/03/book-review-hes-not-autistic-but.html

http://bodymindsoulfood.blogspot.com/2009/03/book-in-review-hes-not-autistic-but-by.html

http://bodymindsoulfood.blogspot.com/2009/03/quotes-from-hes-not-autistic-but-by.html

******None of the above statements have been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. All of the information in this BLOG is strictly for educational purposes. This BLOG should not be used to treat, diagnose, or prescribe for a condition you feel you may have. If you have any health concerns, you should see a competent practitioner. ******

Going Beyond the Commercialization of EASTER

It is often difficult to separate ourselves from the commercial version of Easter, especially with having children. Plastic eggs, dyeable eggs, Cadbury Eggs, hallow chocolate rabbits, marshmallow "Peeps", baby chicks, baskets, bonnets, and of course the mother of all Easter festivities: the Easter Bunny himself! None of these have been overlooked as big sellers in the commercial market scene, in fact, most of these are EXPECTED to be a part of Easter.

So my question is this: What altered our focus of Easter being a meaningful holiday involving a Savior suffering a horrific death to give us eternal life, to one of a brightly-colored sugar fest? Sure, maybe it's fun to add a little "colorful egg and rabbit" side of Easter in, but does it necessarily HAVE to be at the expense of the originally intended meaning? Our daughters USUALLY set up an egg hunt of some sort, USUALLY dye eggs as an art project, but if this doesn't end up happening....it's not a big deal! They DO KNOW that they will ALWAYS go to church with their family on Easter and they will always read/receive a Christian Easter book on this day with/from their parents. No matter if we celebrate Easter with relatives, or we celebrate Easter with bunnies and eggs, I pray that we won't lose sight of the true meaning amongst all of the others.

If anyone else has a meaningful way to celebrate the Christian side of Easter, please leave it in the comments section below by clicking on "Comments". Our family is always looking for more good ideas to use and share.

Why Organic?

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Why Organic???

This question comes at our family from all angles, at all times. Yes, this video may be a humorous, but there is some truth in it. Although people try to save money here and there in their grocery bills, is this really the place we should be trying to conserve our money in? You may not think there is a connection between foods and health, but I encourage you to checkout the mind-blowing, life-changing full-length movie You Are What You Eat , and visit my BLOG link here as well. (you can purchase it at the website: http://www.foodmatters.tv/_webapp/Buy%20The%20DVD, or borrow it from our family if you live in the Sioux Falls vicinity--although there is a waiting list!)

Foods didn't have to carry a label of "organic" in the past.....additives have been slowly added over the past century without our initial consent, and without long-term studies on their possible effects! Pesticide, herbicide, & fungicide chemical sprays--even food coloring can be added without your consent (red apples, strawberries, etc can legally be sprayed with chemical coloring for added appearance, because if it's not organic, there are no regulations against this!) In fact, foods can be genetically modified by producers now days, and not have to be labeled as such! In the BIBLE, it reads: "In all your ways (including diet!!!) acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones." Proverbs 3:6, 8. If we are eating foods that have chemical sprays on them or have been genetically modified, we are not eating foods that are purely God's creation--which makes it difficult for one to argue that we are COMPLETELY acknowledging Him in eating it.

But we know these additives are in there, and our bodies will hold us accountable for what we put inside them on a daily basis. HOWEVER, IT IS ONLY NATURAL FOR PEOPLE TO OVERLOOK THESE ADDITIVES OR THEIR EFFECTS ON THE BODY, though, since 150 YEARS AGO FOOD DID NOT INCLUDE THESE ADDITIVES! But, that doesn't mean our body will be OK with it over the course of our lifetime! The liver, which was designed in us to filter toxins from the body, can get "full" or "sluggish" and thus show signs of breakdown, even at early ages. God created our livers to be only SO resilient, and we already breathe chemicals daily in the air as exhaust, bug sprays, yard sprays...not including then, the chemicals on our foods and medications we ingest.

Flavor: our daughters are used to eating organic fruits and vegetables and can tell when they're non-organic by the taste. We had gone to an "event" where someone gave them individual packages of what they thought to be "organic carrots", or so we were told. The girls each took a bite out of a carrot, and gave me various reasons why they didn't want to eat it, "mama, this doesn't taste right", "Mommy, this is icky", and our 15 month old took a bite, spit it out and let the package fall to the ground as she walked away. I wouldn't call this being "choosy" or being "spoiled", but rather "aware". They know what doesn't taste right or natural as the way God made it...as I did in the past without realizing it! I never much like raw vegetables or fruit...I needed the natural sugars from being cooked mask the chemical taste--by cooking or sauteing vegetables and fruit, you can acheive a taste to overpower the chemical sprays. Now that I eat organic, I can find myself actually grabbing for a bowl of raw broccoli, bag of raw carrots, or even a raw asparagus spear or two for snacks and actually enjoying it!

Allergic reactions: my sister had gone through most of life not eating certain vegetables because she would get a scratchy and swollen throat soon after wards. Seeing how our girls benefited from organic vegetables in improving their health, she decided to take a chance and buy an organic package of carrots while shopping one day. She was so thrilled to be able to finally eat carrots without any health problems resulting! No matter how much you try to "wash off" chemical spray residue, it has been a part of the fruit/vegetable since it's beginning, and is then a part of it's very core!

Dairy and Meat: (apology for the graphic explanation...didn't know of any other comparison) if a woman nursing a baby can pass medications down through her milk, why do people think this is any different from cow's milk and dairy? I once heard that one glass of non-organic milk can have as many as 40 different hormones, antibiotics and medications in it from all the different farm co-ops that produce/mix their milk together. AGAIN, just because you heat treat it to kill the GOOD and BAD bacteria, this doesn't mean you can filter out those additives that are a part of the core product. My nephew that I watched for the first 3 years of his life was born with a severe dairy allergy, and can now safely drink organic dairy because of working with a master herbalist and since organic dairy has no additives. Many people with dairy intolerance might find themselves being able to drink raw or organic milk just fine, because the source of their sensitivity lies within these additives/processing methods as well.

Dairy hormones can lead to early onset of puberty and can create problems with imbalances as an adult (you would not believe all the cases of people writing in with questions on hormone imbalances and problems--chances are that you know someone!) Antibiotics can, over time, create an increase in antibiotic resistance and also lead to yeast problems in children and adults, which causes a host of health issues ranging from yeast infections, skin disorders, infertility, along with many, many others. (You don't think you or your family has a problem with this? Please decide after you view the 4th quote down in this BLOG: Quotes from "He's Not Autistic, But..." by Tenna ... )

Just because something is generally accepted by society, does not mean it is the best thing to do, or that it is pleasing to God. We acknowledge Christ in our daily lives with prayer, fellowship, singing/humming, attire, parenting, marriage, finances, Bible reading, and actions--why not our stomachs as well?

STILL not convinced? For further explanation of additive effects, please check out this Dr. Mercola newsletter that was published just this week: Monsanto's Roundup Residues Cause Cell Damage

******None of the above statements have been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. All of the information in this BLOG is strictly for educational purposes. This BLOG should not be used to treat, diagnose, or prescribe for a condition you feel you may have. If you have any health concerns, you should see a competent practitioner. ******

My Natural Health Journal Entry #1

We had a lovely Bacterial strain go through our house--our family went through all winter with no major flu or colds, and here we sat with congestion up to our ears (literally-our girls had ear infections that set in). All 5 of us at one time or another squeezed into our Queen-size bed. My husband and I are softies when it comes to not feeling good, so we let our kids pile on. How do you fit 5 people on that size of a bed? Let me show you! It's a little of this:

& a lot of this:

****(Yes, those are glow-in-the-dark skeleton pajammas that Sophie and Sage picked out --we were studying the human body at our homeschooling group at the time--great find to study bones!)****

It started out with cough fits one evening for Sophie. I got my book: Homeopathic Self-Care: The Quick & Easy Guide for the Whole Family and looked up the remedies listed for coughing. With the symptoms she had (barky cough fits when laying down), I decided to try out the RUMEX REMEDY, so I gave her 3 pellets from the vial in my 30c Remedy Kit . It was 9:30 pm, and we didn't hear another cough out of her mouth until 2 am. At this point, I re-dosed the same remedy, and she fell back to sleep without another squeak until 7:00 am when she woke up for the day. This is how well homeopathy can work with everyday health problems that arise! However, if it something deeper than an everyday cough, there would be more to follow....and there was!

Over the next few days, Sophie's cough got worse, along with a stuffy nose and a sore throat that settled in. The cough remedies from the kit didn't stop the cough anymore, so I knew it was a more serious condition than just a cough. I went on to get her RELIEF for those NEW SYMPTOMS with these other things:

• I made up some SALT PACKS (salt is a nutrient that naturally draws out toxins and infections) to lay on her chest (works as a medicine or nicotine patch would, except for drawing out infection instead of absorbing a drug). To make the salt pack, I put a cup of Morton salt in a zip lock bag and had her lay with it on her chest through the night. (This got rid of my mother's Bronchitis fully in 3 nights time)
• I had Sophie take a bath in EPSOM SALT water to get her bowels moving (illnesses, viruses, bacteria and toxins can slow down the bowls, which causes more congestion, pushing upwards--hers started in the lungs, then to the nose, then to the ears, working upwards)
• I gave her FOOD ENZYMES as well to start breaking up the food in her intestines that seem to hold an illness in place
• I made some THROAT COAT TEA with RAW HONEY and LEMON to soothe her sore throat
• I also gave her the homeopathic remedy "Complete Virus", to see if it would help, if so, we were dealing with a virus.

By the time I got Sophie relief on these things, an ear infection had also settled in, which is something acute and needed to be treated in a very timely manner because of the pain aspect involved. I checked out a BLOG site that I knew had some good information on Ear Infections (Treating Earaches the Natural Way), and decided to try:

• PULSATILLA Remedy from my kit
• FENUGREEK & THYME, which is an herb that naturally thins mucus, and some
• Cold Pressed OLICE OIL Drops directly into the ear.

This completely took care of the ear infection within a matter of an hour, and she settled to sleep for the night. I could then focus again on settling the other congestion down the following day.

The next day, our other children started to develop the same cough fits as Sophie. At this point I wasn't thinking it was a virus, since the "Complete Virus" remedy had not taken care of it-- (From my previous BLOG Homeopathic Remedies to Keep on Hand, I mentioned that if a remedy doesn't work, you may need a different remedy, or it may be something you're continually exposing yourself to.....either one would fit in this case). I decided to call my Master Herbalist Consultant to get a little more insight into what was happening. Through the 15 minute consultation, she helped me to see that it was a Bacterial infection. I would do the following to fight off the bacterial infection by raising the immune system:

• baths with ORGANIC APPLE CIDER VINEGAR mixed in, a natural anti-bacterial nutrient and their bodies would absorb enough through their skin. (YES! VINEGAR makes a great ANTI-BACTERIAL spray alternative to the Harsh and widely used BLEACH--our ladies at church use this in the nursery and kitchen now!)
• ECHINACEA & GOLDEN SEAL drops (a natural "pro"-biotic herb, opposite of anit-biotic) from NATURES SUNSHINE PRODUCTS, and
• the BAC HP (Bacterial Homeopathic) Remedy from Energique.

My consultant also found a really good immune booster that I ordered from a nutrition store called ACF (ACUTE COLD & FLU FORMULA) by Buried Treasure. It contains herbs and nutrients renowned for their antiviral and antibiotic qualities: Echinacea, Goldenseal, Myrrh, Elderberry Extract, Thyme, Osha Root, Usnea Lichen, and Ginger Root, Vitamin C, Bioflavonoids, Zinc, and Colloidal Silver. When I was picking this up from the store, a salesman from another company asked to see it, that he had heard about how good it was through the grape vine. He took one look at the ingredients and said, "Anything with those ingredients has got to be good! I'll have to see if we can market something similar to that." The taste of it alone, would be enough to scare any bacteria or virus away--this product now is a permanent fixture on our refrigerator shelf!

I remember my sister telling me that she once had a cough that stayed around for 3 weeks, and it was her second round of antibiotics that finally got rid of her congestion. The vinegar baths took care of it for the girls--their coughs went away completely! It was a matter of about 1 1/2 weeks to get rid of their coughs altogether--from onset to after the vinegar baths......only because they were being re-exposed to the bacteria and we hadn't found a strong enough IMMUNE BOOSTER in the mean time until using the VINEGAR! The acute symptoms (sinus, ear and respiratory infections) didn't last very long, otherwise we would have made an appt with our Herbalist earlier than we had.

I like to think of Natural Treatments to illnesses as a collective group of things you LEARN to use. This particular method of getting rid of a congestive bacterial infection may or may not work for yours, but you accumulate ideas over the years to use. As you try things, you will get more confidence and will have more methods to tap into before heading to the doctor, or in our case, Natural Health Practitioner! If you get to the point where you can't take it anymore, or you get to a brick wall without any more ideas, it's time to call on someone certified for help. Find someone that is willing to educate you in the process, so you learn what to do if a similar situation arises. My goal was to be able to someday deal with illnesses on our own with only using God's resources. Well, this is the way to do it...by learning through example of someone who cares enough to teach you!

Through ALL of this, we prayed for recovery in our precious daughters and the Lord had brought it upon us by showing us the way. Praise the good Lord for giving our family the resources to fight something like a bacterial lung infection with only his tools of herbs, homeopathic remedies, oils and nutrients. God is amazing and we thank him for blessing our family with the pathway he has led us down. May He also bless your path, and show you His way of healing, as well--He will reward you for your faith you place in Him for healing!

Health In Christ,

WHOL-E-HERBSTER

******None of the above statements have been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. All of the information in this BLOG is strictly for educational purposes. This BLOG should not be used to treat, diagnose, or prescribe for a condition you feel you may have. If you have any health concerns, you should see a competent practitioner. ******

HEALING

I feel quite selfish at times for writing about what interests me, and not about the real world and the experiences people go through in it. Though, I was told by my friend who had me start writing this, to write what comes easy to me, about "my story" and the things that contribute to it. Christ is my passion, along with natural living and teaching others about it. So spreading the word about why I live life this way and how to do it, is the way that I serve him best. Every week, I glance over my e-mails from natural writers, my handouts from natural classes and seminars, my newsletters from various natural companies and church organizations, and my natural magazines----and I feel overwhelmed with trying to LIMIT my writings to just one BLOG a week. Why do I feel this passion towards something that most people think to be irrelevant in their walk with Christ? One of my dearest friends who has started to share this passion with me told me yesterday that I have a Spiritual GIFT for it. A HUH? There's a spiritual gift for natural living and nutrition? Well, here are my choices of spiritual gifts to choose from, according to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiritual_gift:

Discerning of spirits --- Speaking in tongues ---- Prophecy
Faith ---- Working of miracles -----Healing ----- Apostleship
Prophecy ------ Evangelism ---Wisdom --------- Knowledge
Pastoring ---- Teaching-----Showing mercy ---- Ministry
Teaching ----- Exhortation -----Giving ------- Leading

Interpretation of tongues

My Friend told me that I have an ability to set aside my worldly desires and walk with Christ along a pathway that not many people now days take--everything that goes in my mouth is thought about and considered heavily before entering. I am able to separate myself from the world in what I eat and ingest. I also enjoy passing information onto others when I feel a Holy Spirit prompting to do so. (Since I'm human, I don't ALWAYS read HIM correctly, and have lost friends in this way) BUT, the Lord found someone to explain to me my immense desire to serve others in this non-conventional way....KNOWLEDGE on HEALING.

Here's a test if you would like to discover and use your (click on: Spiritual Gifts . ) However, I encourage you to think out of the box, like I did--not everything in life is an absolute. I am so thankful for my friend's talk, because now I can look at serving God with even more enthusiam than I have ever before. My Spiritual Gifts are a blessing from above and I need to look at it as a just that, A GIFT and nothing less! Praise be to the Lord for friends he sends our way when we need encouragement!

If I HAD to put a label on my gift, I would have to say I'm blessed with KNOWLEDGE on HEALING (of the BODY), but not necessarily HEALING itself. I have wonderful knowledge on what herbs/vitamins/nutrients do to what organs of the body to help it to heal.....but I do not do the healing, myself. I tend to think of myself as a vessel that Jesus works through to heal others, sometimes without my even knowing until months later I get a "thank you". I have found that HEALING can BEGIN when someone chooses not to put processed foods, chemical colorings, hormones from meat and dairy, preservatives, Antibiotics, refined sugar, and soft drinks in their mouth. (A few links to support this: Healing Diet, Healing Foods, Healing Naturally With Food, Diet and Nutrition, Living a Life that Nourishes Health, Health Quarters MinistriesCore Beliefs on Bodily Healing ) It takes a knowledge and understanding of what these types of food do to the various organs in your body to know that they do not promote healing, but rather promote disease. Not always immediate disease, but eventual disease. So, actually all of us can be equipped with this spiritual gift, by trying to "Go Green" like many others are! However, one can only find complete healing or do healing with God's grace to back you up!

I openly profess my desire to serve Christ through the things that I never had much control over before: my diet and health. I aim to help others to serve Christ in this manner as well. After all, when the Bible says 1 Corinthians 6:19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own......is that supposed to be aimed only at tattoos that are satanic? Absolutely not!

Something else that interests me, also has to do with Healing. HEALING of the SPIRIT, rather than the body. I came across a young lady named Bonnie.

She is a Child of God who is trying to pick up the broken pieces after losing her husband to a car accident in January. Here is her BLOG postings from that:"Terrible Tragedy", "Coping", "God's Working", "Challenging days" .

She's currently pregnant with their second child (3 months along) and will be experiencing the remainder of this exciting journey without her husband by her side. She said she a hard time with even checking a "WIDOW" box on her hospital pre-registration form for her upcoming delivery in August. After having some unpleasant signs of concern this past weekend, she went into the ER and discovered what doctors call a Torn Placenta.

I will let you check out the remainder of her story, along with the preceding details of their life, on her BLOG at http://sweetcarolinebaby.blogspot.com/. (just scroll down this page to see earlier postings) Her story is very moving, and she has truly felt prayers during her current recovery/journey! So please join me in lifting up this young lady as she's healing in the loss of her husband, and for the remainder of her pregnancy!

In Christ,

Whole-E-Herbster

You Are What You Eat--Part 1

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I found the above trailer at: http://www.foodmatters.tv/index.html. It has valuable information in helping us to understand how our bodies are designed, along with the effects of the foods we put into it. Keep in mind, we all have to start in the same place...with our ancestor's genes, in a world full of processed foods.

In the BIBLE, it reads: "In all your ways(including diet!!!) acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones." Proverbs 3:6, 8. In the book Be Healthy and Happy by Dr. M.H.Tabb , he writes "It is the will of God that his servants remain in perfect health until the day they die, serving him to the fullest." (pg 26)

But, he also writes, "It is not in God's revealed will to keep anyone physically well nor mentally alert without that person eating proper food designed by God for human consumption." (pg 53) In relation to this: In the BIBLE, it reads, "My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children." Hosea 4:6

So, by discovering knowledge about the kinds of foods that God mentions in the Bible to eat, and following his suggestions, we should pro-long our lives and bring health to our bodies? It only makes sense to do this since we follow all of His other commandments! What types of food does God mention in the BIBLE to eat, then? Here is what I could find:

"Then God said, 'I give you EVERY SEED-BEARING PLANT on the face of the whole earth and EVERY TREE THAT HAS FRUIT WITH SEED IN IT. They will be yours for food.'" Genesis 1:29

"You may EAT ANY ANIMAL THAT HAS A SPLIT HOOF DIVIDED IN TWO and that chews the cud. Of all the creatures living in the water, you may eat ANY THAT HAS FINS AND SCALES. You may eat ANY CLEAN BIRD." Deuteronomy 14: 6, 9, 11

"Take wheat and barley, beans and lentils, millet and spelt; put them in a storage jar and use them to make bread for yourself." Ezekiel 4:9 (EZEKIEL 4:9 is a brand of bread and cereal available in Health Food stores that our family buys. Its creation is based on this verse and made of whole grains, so it's very nutritious.)

In Be Healthy and Happy by Dr. M.H.Tabb, pg 27, he writes, "Moses ate HONEY, OIL, COW BUTTER, MILK OF SHEEP, LAMBS, RAMS and GOATS, SHEEP, and GRAPE JUICE(Deut. 32:13-14).... He ate plenty of QUAIL (Ex. 16:13)"...and in future tense, refers to "the increase of the fields", or PRODUCE. At 120, Moses still had the strength and eyesight of his youth" pg 26.

So, what is the biggest difference between present day Christians, many sickly at ages 40, 50, 60, etc, and Moses? Our diet and the diets of our parents and grandparents--what we eat, and in the forms we eat it. From all of the above verses, one can understand how to get many of the nutrients our bodies need: by eating FRUIT, DAIRY, VEGETABLES, most MEATS, and WHOLE GRAINS in their MOST NATURAL STATES-- the foods that God intended us to eat.

Contrary to popular belief, God does not mention and Moses did not ingest things like: sugar, high fructose corn syrup, growth hormones and immunizations in beef and dairy, soda-pop, preservatives, enriched flour, vegetables and fruits that are genetically altered, pesticides, herbicides, chemical dyes or MSG. So, when we put all these extra "yummies" into our body, we open ourselves up for possible disease and health ailments. Our family occasionally struggles with avoiding these foods, as well, but it makes it easier when you cook more at home, look for better-quality restaurants to occasionally eat at, and buy organic foods, since these types of foods are required by law to be in their most-natural states. It does get tight on the budget, but look at it as an investment in your future, and your child's (or future child's) days to come.

In my next BLOG, we will take a closer look at degenerative disease and what the Bible says about it. Please check back!

The book Be Healthy and Happy by Dr. M.H.Tabb (click on words to see book to buy) has over 900 scripture references in it and is a study of God's methods of preventing and curing all degenerative disease. I absolutely LOVE my copy of the book, and would encourage you to purchase a copy for yourself as well by clicking on the book title link. For only $7, it's such a thought-provoking resource to have on hand!

In Christ, Ms. Salubrious

******The information in this BLOG is strictly for educational purposes. It should not be used to treat, diagnose, or prescribe for a condition you feel you may have. If you have any health concerns, you should see a competent medical practitioner. ******

Stripping Down to the Core of Things.....

BEFORE:
AFTER:
Well, our home now has the hardwood floor on the main level stripped, sanded, stained and varnished....definitely a whole new image to start fresh with. I am just amazed at how many fresh starts we're allowed in life. The beginning of each school transition (elementary, middle, high school and college), the choice of churches to start over in if so desired, jobs from working age up to retirement, places to live, pets, clothes styles, I could go on and on. The two most important ones I will touch on today have to do with my two favorite topics: faith and health. As I was watching my husband chisel through the sludge on our floor to reveal the gorgeous bare wood beneath, I had two thoughts go through my head: How Jesus cleanses our lives to create a fresh start, and how natural health allows us a fresh start from diseases. Weird, I know, but please allow me to go into a little detail:

Now, most Christians know of Jesus' offer of eternal life-a choice we can make to have a fresh start with a Christian lifestyle and a promise of eternal life in heaven. But there are people out there who haven't quite grasped the simplicity of forgiveness that our Father has given to us. I hate to relate our offer of salvation to stripping a floor, but the two do have some similarities. Here goes: over the years our hearts can become polluted with "sludge" or misguided thoughts and actions. From lying, stealing, getting wasted, gossiping, having sex outside marriage to hating, being jealous and using the Lord's name in vain. No one can take the claim to being perfect, except Jesus. So we all start out on the same foot....as sinners. Now, the difference with us is that we won't all go to that next step of being stripped down to the core--the very simple but meaningful act of asking for forgiveness. We need to do this in order to be saved from the selfish desires of our hearts. After the stripping process, Jesus can help give our lives a colorful "stain" and will even give us a coat of varnish to protect us from the sludge that can build up again in our hearts. All we need to do is remember to ask him to help us start over to do things his way. If my husband and I had decided to move into our house and leave it the way all the previous owners had over the past 100 years, we'd never enjoy the beauty of what lies beneath. By grace, God has given our family the means to strip down our floor to start over, and through God's grace, He has given all of us the means to start over in our daily lives. I have some links and books listed down in the margin that can help get you going on the right track (if you're not already)!

Now, let's flip the coin over to view the Health Side. Let's say that you have a sinus infection. What are your choices? Be miserable or go to the doctor to get an antibiotic to have a "clean start". Right? Well, let's see what an antibiotic does. When I was younger, I thought it was a pill that my stomach sent to my nose and broke up all the congestion and sent it out. Well, that's an idea, but probably not the most widely accepted one. When you take an antibiotic, we know that it "strips the body of good flora" in the intestine along with all the "invader" that caused the main problem. So how did the sinuses get involved then?

Here's the natural approach to understanding: When your body has an invader go through the digestive tract (virus, bacteria, chemical, etc) it builds up mucus as a protectant, which leads to congestion in the stomach (flu with mucus vomit), congestion in the lungs and throat, or congestion in the sinuses. The antibiotic will strip out everything and then the mucus gets flushed out the proper way, hence the reason for it being a stripper. But, when using the "stripper" it takes out everything, including good flora, so you have to replace it with beneficial bacteria from yogurt or acidolphus capsules. You also take the chance of your body building an immunity for the antibiotic's effectiveness for when you really might need it! If you want to avoid using an antibiotic, here are some options:

If your problem was VIRAL, you would typically get sent home from the doctor with over the counter medications to lessen the symptoms. If our family finds out we have a viral infection, we get on Nature's Sunshine VIRAL RECOVERY, along with using the old methods of magnesium (Epsom salt) baths for bodyaches, fennel capsules for congestion, PEPPERMINT OIL for digestive issues, TEI FU ESSENTIAL OIL for respiratory issues, and TEA TREE OIL as an antiseptic. Specific essential oils can help with evey health problem out there, here is a helpful ESSENTIAL OILS GUIDE, that you can purchase from Nature's Sunshine.

So, if the problem was BACTERIAL, most people think an antibiotic is necessary, otherwise more serious problems can result. Our family uses homeopathic drops called BAC HP (Bacteria Homeopathic) or INFECTASTAT...just to get your mind thinking that there isn't always a necessity to use antibiotics, even when everyone else says so.
Now, if the problem is CHEMICALLY derived and you are unaware of any chemicals that may have bothered you, your doctor will tell you you probably have a virus (there's no office visit that can tell you that it's from chemicals) or allergies. When our family was using chemicals to strip our floors, and chemicals to stain and varnish, our little ones and I began getting congestion (coughing, gunky noses, etc) as our bodies were building mucus up as a protectant against its' invaders (the chemicals). What did we do? Well, an antibiotic for the sinus infections would've cleaned out all the chemicals we had ingested through breathing over the days we worked, but since we knew it was a result of chemicals, we took CHARCOAL (ACTIVATED) capsules (a natural "sponge" that soaks up chemicals in the intestine to leave the good flora safely behind) and ALOE VERA JUICE from Nature's Sunshine to help sooth the intestinal lining. Sure, it took a few days, but we are feeling good again, and are not susceptible to any viruses since our intestinal lining was left safe and sound after being only partially "stripped" the natural way.

Those individuals who get into doing things naturally with their health, find over a few years' time, their health problems lessen and they feel better than they have ever felt. God intended for us to read the warning signs our bodies give to us and pray about recovery to receive it. He did not intend for us to always go to the Doctor looking for answers, when all the while we have the answers right in herbs, remedies, and prayer. If you feel blinded at going naturally, I have some good books listed in the margins along with some links that got me started. Be sure to also seek out a professional natural health practicioner who can help guide you in your new adventure!

In God's Love, Snack-N-Soul Sister

******The information in this BLOG is strictly for educational purposes. It should not be used to treat, diagnose, or prescribe for a condition you feel you may have. If you have any health concerns, you should see a competent medical practitioner. ******

Pass Me the Salt Please!

Verses from the Bible:

Leviticus 2:13 Shalt thou season with salt
Luke 14:34 Salt is good

Salt....ahhh....such a controversial topic! Some people say it's bad for your health; others say it's good; what is our Creator's view on it? Well, before even diving into the research, my gut feeling is this: what God creates is perfect, and then the human race begins to change things. And even though our hearts are in the right place, our appetites and priorities are not always. People have changed not only salt, but fruits, vegetables, grains, sugar cane, corn, meat, dairy products, the whole works. However, since the topic today is salt, I plan to stick to that!

I will first start by addressing what the definition of salt is, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt reads in a somewhat condensed version:

Salt.....is essential for animal life,
Salt is involved in regulating the water content (fluid balance) of the body.
Salt for human consumption is produced in different forms: unrefined salt (sea/mineral ), refined salt (table salt), and iodized salt.
Salt is an important preservative.

AND THE PART THAT IS MOST RELATIVE TO THIS BLOG: Chloride and sodium ions, the two major components of salt, are necessary for the survival of all known living creatures, including humans.

At the end of the definition, as if thrown in there as an afterthought, is the following: Conversely, over- consumption of salt increases the risk of health problems, including high blood pressure.

Well, I am one to check the Bible when unresolved with an issue, and if God says salt is good, and tells us to season with salt, I'll be the first one in line to do it! Next, if the free online encyclopedia tells me it's necessary in the survival of all living creatures, I'm going to bet that salt is necessary, rather than something to avoid.

The preservative comment got me thinking, up until people invented refrigerators, they used salt to preserve meats and other food items. People of the Bible, people of the middle ages, people who settled America used it daily in their foods--it was on the top of their "grocery list", you might say! What's on the top of ours nowadays (figuratively speaking, as an ingredient in our foods)...sugar and/or corn syrup. Sugar used to be hard to come by, and now it's difficult to come by something without sugar or corn syrup in it.

SO, if salt used to be such an important staple until about 50-100 years ago, what happened, and why do some people get high blood pressure because of it? Remember, there are 3 different forms of salt, one of which (iodized) can be included as part of either of the other two . Unrefined Salt and Refined Salt can both come as iodized, and, iodine is essential to human life as well, so the problem must lie within one of the other 2 salts. God made the sea salty, and that is how the people back in Bible times got their salt, so you can eliminate Unrefined Salt as being the culprit. Everything God makes is perfect in its original state.

ABOUT REFINED SALT:

I stumbled upon this excerpt in an all-natural article packet of information I got from a friend: "About 50 years ago, the major salt-producing companies in America began to dry their salt in huge kilns, where temperatures reach as high as 1200 degrees Fahrenheit. This changes the chemical structure of the salt, which adversely changes the effect on the human body. It was at this time that heart disease, arthritis, and other chemical diseases began to increase at an alarming rate in this country.

In other countries where people dry salt from the ocean with the sun (India, Mexico,China), many doctors have never seen heart disease, etc, because it is so rare. Since natural (untreated Sea/Mineral) salt dissolves in water naturally, it will dissolve in our bodies as well, moving freely about until flushed out as waste. Refined salt that has been treated will not dissolve in a glass of water, will not dissolve in your body, and therefore collects in body organs, causing health problems!"

So, we have now answered our question...is salt good for you? The Unrefined Salt God gave to us is pure and perfect in it's original, untreated state. Our body uses Unrefined Salt to make hydrochloric acid (an essential digestive fluid), which in turn, digests any invading microbes, parasites, viruses, and bacteria that enter into our body with our food. It will help your stomach, your immune system, regulate fluid balance in your body, along with many, many benefits only our Creator knows. According to Doctor Tom Brewer, "the transport of oxygen and nutrients into the cells, as well as the transport of waste out of the cells, requires sodium; the health of our mucous membranes (stomach, uterus, intestines, sinuses) requires sodium; adequate amounts of sodium are required for proper use of protein and amino acids (the building blocks of our cells), and every cell in the body requires sodium to survive. "

Pass me some unrefined GOD Salt,

Snack-n-Soul Sister :)

For the majority of us, unrefined salt is good, but, in certain health situations, where our bodies are in a diseased state to begin with, our bodies will not know what to do with such a nutrient, and may get more problems as a result--such as with weak kidneys, or a missing kidney.

******The information in this BLOG is strictly for educational purposes. It should not be used to treat, diagnose, or prescribe for a condition you feel you may have. If you have any health concerns, you should see a competent medical practitioner. ******

God Designed our Bodies to Heal Themselves!

Verses for faith:
"The Lord will keep you from disease" DEUTERONOMY 7:15

"(King Asa)...was afflicted with disease in his feet. Though his disease was severe, even in his illness he did not seek help from the Lord, but instead Physicians....(2 years later) he died" 2 CHRONICALS 16:12

"A woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for 12 years. She had suffered a great deal under care of MANY DOCTORS and spent all she had, yet instead of getting better, she grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak....immedietly she was freed from her suffering" MARK 5:25

Have you ever been told by somebody:
"It's just in your head!",
"There's nothing we can find wrong with you",
"There's no cure for it",
"You'll be on this medication for the rest of you life"?

GOD DESIGNED OUR BODIES TO HEAL THEMSELVES!

Yep, you read that right, GOD DESIGNED OUR BODIES TO HEAL THEMSELVES!

God also gave us all the resources to do this. Most people would not accept that idea anymore because we look towards resources other than God when we have a health problem. We watch ads on TV, we talk with friends who have the "same problem", we pay co-pays to get advice, we pay for chemically-made drugs that shut off sensory systems in our body, and we write off any attempts from the natural world as not working after the first try. All the while, forgetting to ask God how he intended for us to heal our bodies from diseases and sickness.

I used to be dependent on an inhailer for asthma, decongestants for allergy problems, several dermatologist lotions for skin problems and irritations, muscle relaxers for backaches, pain relief prescriptions for migranes and body aches, antacid prescriptions for acid reflux, over the counter medications for colds/flus/viruses, ...the list could go on! It wasn't a very good feeling to be so dependent on something, because without them, I would be miserable. Do you know what I have in my medicine cabnit now? Nothing! I do not need any of these medications anymore because I have set myself free. IF I get a problem, I can fight throught it by supporting my body with an herb, oil, tea or remedy and then go on with life afterwards! With my BLOG I plan to give you ideas, resources, information and education on how God made our body systems, and how he gave us plants to treat them!

When we have a symptom that doesn't feel right, it means we need to figure out what is going on in our body that gave us a warning sign, or a "symptom". We should pray, wait, and seek GOD'S WAYS. Far back in history and in other cultures, people used to look for the Medicine man who had herbs to heal with. In Laura Ingalls books/shows they would look for a remedy from the doctor, I even remember at the end of the book Peter Rabbit, his mom gave a tea of chammomile to settle nerves. Interestingly, the chammomile remedy works great with our daughter, Sierra for teething! Why have we gone away from these ways, and turned towards medications that either make us dependent on them, or else mask the problem? Yes, they may have immediete drugging effects, but are they only a temporary fix? Or do our bodies get hooked on them to enjoy continued relief? God has given us alternative resources so that we can seek out HIS ways to heal. There are aternatives....one just has to keep an open mind and be patient to see the effects. It takes 3 times as long to heal our bodies than it took our bodies to get to the point of disease in the first place.

I will be adding tidbits weekly/bi-weekly so that you may have the same resources that God gave me, to make our bodies a LIVING sacrifice for him, instead of a diseased, drugged, or hurting sacrifice. I have included books and websites along the side for you to read, while having an open mind and a softened heart. I remember how defensive I was when someone first approached me about all-natural ways, so please pray about it before discounting it!

With Love in Christ, Snack-n-Soul Sister