Today's Reading....

I decided to go random tonight and just chose a book I had never before read completely through to start reading. I chose Joshua. Here is what I landed on to write about.....

"This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." Joshua 1:8-9

Wow, what promises God presented Joshua! Just after Moses died and Joshua was to lead the Jews into an unknown land God hands Joshua this precious gift. I see no reason why these things don't apply to us today.

If we meditate on God's Word day and night we will be better equipped at all we do. We also have the assurance of never being without His presence. That is a very real aspect of Hell. Eternal and complete separation from God. Not like before we were saved but complete and total alienation from our Creator. Thankfully, we have been given the gift of escaping that end. Praise the Lord!

Don't forget to meditate on the Word tonight and every night. The benefits far outweigh anything that might be sacrificed.

Goodnight.

Today's Reading....

Tonight we caught the last hour of The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King on TV. Its is truly a fantastic movie. One line prompted my reading tonight.

"Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted." Isaiah 53:4

In the movie, when they were feeling desolate and alone yet within sight of the top of Mount Doom Samwise tells Frodo, "I can't carry it for you but I can carry you!" He then lifts his friend to his shoulders and carries him toward their journey's end. This is one of my 3 favorite lines of the whole trilogy. It speaks wonderfully of what friends can do for one another. Its beautiful but falls dreadfully short of what Jesus did (and still does) for us.

Unlike Samwise, Jesus can and does carry our burdens as well as carrying us. He is there even before we seek Him. Almost any born again Christian can recall a time before they were saved that they believe God rescued them and carried them through something. Before we believed His hands and shoulders were there for us.

An awesome God for certain! I know that during my prayer tonight I'm going to thank Him for shouldering my load time and again even as I compounded the load and ignored His voice.

Today's Reading....

I actually hopped around quite a bit tonight before I settled on something that resonated with me.

"There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD." Proverbs 21:30

I consider myself to be a logic-driven person as opposed to an emotionally-driven person so this verse speaks directly to my heart.

Whose wisdom or understanding or counsel or anything else can stand in the face of God's? His Word is final yet all too often we try to rationalize and negotiate our way to the position of rightness. We are merely the creation. We cannot even take our next breath except that God grants it to us. Why then do we think our minds and the concoctions thereof supersede His finality?

I'm going to work on not questioning that which He says is done. I hope you will, too.

Goodnight, all!

Trying Something New...

I have never been particularly good at keeping up with my "daily's" with God, i.e. daily Bible reading and/or devotionals. I can delve deeply into the Word when I am curious or need an answer or I have the need to research for a short story or article or to answer a question from someone. But to pick it up like I would a novel or something has always been an obstacle for me. So now I'm trying something new.

I want to become a servant who hangs on her Lord's Words (all of them.) To facilitate that and provide some motivation and accountability, I am going to read a passage daily and report to you on it via this and my other blog. I am going to attempt something else that's outside of my character: be short and sweet in 100 words or less (not counting scripture.)

Here goes...

Today was rainy. I thought I would see how much I could find in God's Word about rain. There were the usual suspects like Noah and the Latter Rain. What I hit on that resonated today was Isaiah 55:10-11.

"For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."

The cycle of precipitation is quite remarkable. What we see fall eventually returns to the One who caused it to fall but in a different form. He then uses it again to accomplish that for which He created it.

How would our lives change if we allowed ourselves to be the "rain" when it comes to the Great Commission? (Matthew 28:19-20) We would be the vehicle that accomplishes His Word! What greater service is there than to rescue a soul from the brink of Hell?

OK, so it was 124 words. I'm new at this short thing. I'll get used to it. Maybe.

In Response to My Anonymous Comment....

In my last few postings I have taken on the idea that what we eat solves everything that could be wrong with our bodies. It is a viewpoint that I find positively absurd. The reason - because as a Christian my faith is in God not bean sprouts and smoothies (which I LOVE, by the way.) When I receive healing it doesn't come from me or my efforts. It comes from GOD! The only source.

In my last post about those who call themselves Christians yet say they believe in "the healing power of food" I made the point that their belief was misplaced. I got a comment today that clearly showed someone got their feelings hurt. For that I apologize. As for my opinions, no apologies. I'm not wrong. If you say you believe in God you CANNOT then place anything miraculous on that which He created. The only "healing" attributes that food might have are there not because of what the food can do but because of the characteristics God has given it.

For clarification purposes (I seem to be doing this a lot lately) I'll go line by line, question by question and respond to the comment I received.

Comment Part 1: "I'm just wondering...have you personally tried changing your diet and can speak from your own experience that it doesn't help you?"

First, this implies that I am speaking from a place of ignorance and advocating taking every meal at Shoney's Breakfast Buffet. Nothing could be further from the truth. Yes, over the past few years I have dramatically changed my diet and seen results. What I have objected to are the ideas that are put forth by any rogue opinion that says red meat will kill you, eat soy. Point of fact, soy can kill you, or at least it can kill me and other women like me. Because of a health condition I explain in the following paragraphs, soy, which is touted as a healthy diet must, can alter a woman's hormones. This side effect of soy is the reason it is used as an all natural alternative to Hormone Replacement Therapy for menopausal women. For me this alternative is profoundly detrimental even deadly.

I have a condition called PCOS or poly cystic ovarian syndrome. In my case it is a massive imbalance of several hormones but mostly estrogen and testosterone. Because of this condition I gain weight uncontrollably no matter what I eat unless I take medication. PCOS causes my body to believe it is always in starvation mode. Even if I ate nothing but organic lettuce and drank water I would still gain fat at an astounding rate.

There are also other issues not the least of which is infertility. I am not supposed to even conceive a child. Many years ago I did not decide to have a smoothie and a tofu burger for their healing power but to follow in the footsteps of Hannah (1 Samuel) and seek God's face on the matter. I enlisted prayer warriors and sought God's healing power. He led me to a doctor (one that practices conventional medicine) who knew how to treat this condition, a condition which is not a result of my diet but of my corruptible body thanks to Adam and Eve. My doctor's advice was a specific medication.

Within in 6 months I was pregnant. During that pregnancy I gained only 8 lbs afterward I lost 40 lbs - permanently. I have continued on that medication and am now pregnant with my third child. Do I owe that healing to the medication, the doctor or my God who led me to both? That's rhetorical.

As for my diet, a life of repeatedly trying exercise and controlled eating never made a difference and I gave up on myself. Since beginning the right medication and addressing the real problem I have changed what I eat understanding that God created us to need certain fuels. I do not go off the deep end as some do on both sides of the spectrum. For example, I no longer eat ice cream for breakfast. I used to because without medication it didn't matter what I ate so I figured why not eat something I LOVE! Now I eat healthy things like eggs and turkey bacon.

What I don't believe about the new healthy eating trend is that everything must be organic and if it comes out of a box it might as well have "straight from the gates of Hell" stamped on it. I also rarely eat anything from a box. I've never brought a package of oreos into my home but I do love an occasional trip to Taco Bell and a big root beer. Sue me.

Comment Part 2: "I'm asking because I noticed that you referred in another post to a blog I frequent that is written by "Sara". Sara is writing about her actual experiences and the results she has noticed. I have never noticed her saying anything critical or negative to people who are not following her example. In fact, I always feel so encouraged by her writings, and my husband and I have noticed a positive impact on our health just by trying Green Smoothies for breakfast."

Perhaps you didn't notice how much I have in common with Sara. I believe her (from what little exposure I have had to her) to be wise in most things but in a few issues I think her misguided. Most glaringly the idea that one who again professes to be a believer in Almighty Jehovah God can still practice yoga even though it is a form of worship to Hindu gods. For more information on this please see http://www.allaboutspirituality.org/history-of-yoga.htm

She also seems to be among those holding the popular opinion that Global Warming is real and man-created. Poppycock! Again, I say, POPPYCOCK. HORSE FEATHERS, BULL DUNG! How arrogant do humans have to be to believe that we can destroy this planet that the Creator of Everything made for us? How much more arrogant is it for those that proclaim to be His followers? He gave man dominion over earth, not the other way around. If we are so close to destroying earth why is it fully intact when God Himself comes here to reside?

The ideas of global warming have caused some profoundly stupid reactions by those in power. For instance, in a couple of year we will no longer be able to use incandescent light bulbs (the regular ones) because it will be illegal. The replacement bulbs are those spiral ones. They are filled with mercury! What happens when you break one? Very real health risks to humans as opposed to imaginary risks to the planet by the regular bulbs.

Global Warming is a falsehood that is championed by those who wish to usher in socialism and communism. It is followed by sheep or, more accurately, lemmings who are all running headlong toward the cliff because some talking head said they should.

If you are a Christian and a believer in Global Warming, ask yourself who is in charge, God or man? Who knows more God or Al Gore? If you are honest with yourself and truly following God you will get out of the pack of lemmings before the edge of the cliff comes.

By the way, I'm glad the smoothies are working for you. remember its not the smoothie but what God has given the ingredients. I personally love smoothies but I have never thought of putting spinach or other greens in one. I think the color would be off-putting for me. I prefer berries, bananas, and peaches.

Comment Part 3: "I have noticed that you give your negative opinions about others quite a lot, but have you ever actually tried what they are doing? Are you speaking from personal experience or just a place of judgment?"

Yes, I do. No, I don't care. People who complain about negativity are usually those who can't handle the truth. I believe in calling sin just exactly that. I believe in callings liars just exactly that. I would be remiss if I let go by something that very clearly flies in the face of God and his Word as do Global Warming and Evolution and Healing Food.

I have tried some advice from people with opinions similar to Sara. I always run it through the filter of common sense and sound medical advice. Please don't tell me you are one of those people who still equates conventional medicine with leeching. Its insulting to the minds that God gave people to discover and learn and interpret. Besides, when people have heart attacks, which can and do happen to even the strictest of vegans, or strokes or a broken limbs they don't scoff at the emergency room and call the holistic healer (at least sane people don't.) Conventional medicine has it place but even that I run through the God filter. That's why I have 3 children, one is still in progress.

As for personal experience verses a place of judgment? Though that was meant as an underhanded insult I would proudly say BOTH! Christians who don't like their opinions challenged often proclaim the challenger to be judgemental and therefore a gigantic sinner.

Yes, the Bible does say, "Judge not, that ye be not judged." (Matthew 7 :1) It also says, "Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." (Matthew 7:20) Its not uncalled for to call Satan by his name and expose those things and people he uses to undermine God. It is not uncalled for to expose anything that goes against God's Word. I don't have to be an apple farmer to know that someone who performs an "exercise" that is worship to another god doesn't have the healthiest fruit on their tree. Nor does the person that believes in the fruit instead of the fruit Creator.

Thanks for the comment, whoever you are. I love getting me juices flowing with healthy debate. Maybe we can do it again sometime. I'm sure I'll write something else you don't like. Hopefully, you would be so kind as to attempt to defend your opinions if in fact these opinions apply to you.

Healing Food?

I having been hearing a disturbing phrase of late. Not so much because I hear it at all but from whom I've been hearing it. The phrase? "I believe in the healing power of food." The source? Surprisingly, Christians. Yeah, I don't get it either.

The viewpoint behind the phrase has been basically, that disease and sickness can be prevented and healed by food alone. Eating the right foods can heal your body? I don't think so. As a Christian, it baffles me that anyone who claims belief in and fellowship with God would venture the thought that anything other than the power of the Almighty could heal them. My Bible doesn't say, "by blueberries you are healed" or "soy shall save thee." Nope, mine says, "with His stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5, I highly recommend the whole chapter. Its Messianic prophecy outlining the suffering of Jesus.)


So is it alright for a Christian to "believe in the healing power of food?" I don't see how it can be. It has a sharp ring of idolatry to me. That position applies something that only belongs in the hands of God and only comes from the scars on Jesus' back to something He created. It is a view that elevates the creation over the Creator.

We don't have sickness and disease only because our diets are poor. Sickness and disease came along with all other forms of suffering through the fall of Adam and Eve. Their idolatry brought suffering. The simple fact is that until we are in Heaven our bodies die. This outer shell is merely a vehicle for our eternal, immmortal spirit and soul. Any car breaks down and requires care and repair but just changing the oil doesn't stop a headgasket from blowing or tires from rupturing.

Am I advocating an All-You-Can-Eat buffet of whatever looks good? No, that would be absurd. Food has an impact on our bodies. Just as putting the regular gas in a diesel engine would destroy an engine eating too much of the wrong foods can destroy a body. On the other hand, am I advocating that we all go vegan and abandon ice cream and chocolate? No, that would be absurd also. Care must be taken but any attitude taken to an extreme (except where it applies to our devotion to God) is detrimental.

Mind what you eat but do not allow it to become your God.

A Clarification to My Last Entry

So in my last post I introduced the NCOH or Neo-Christian Organo-Hippie. So there is no confusion this is not juvenile name calling or some holier-than-thou position. It a valid description. It supplies an in-depth idea of the type of person to whom I was referring, much the same way that I would be described as a Conservative Christian Traditionalist with NCOH tendencies.

I know, its shocking, not one of you thought I would have anything in common with an NCOH! Boy, were you mistaken. Let me elaborate:

I have since discovered that the blogger I was talking about is named Sara. I checked out her personal describers. I'll go one by one and compare and contrast myself. All of you are about to get a much better idea of who I am.....

Sara is passionate for Jesus Christ. Yep, me, too. I think I would just express it differently.
Sara is a wife, mama, sister, daughter, and friend. Me, too.
Sara is a traveler, photographer, and designer. I LOVE traveling and taking pictures, though they are rarely good enough that I would call myself a photographer (except in the crudest, most simplistic way.) As for designer, not so much. I love design shows but it loses something in translation for me. If you have seen my living room you would understand. Not one thing hanging on the walls.
Sara is a tea drinker. Decaf coffee here. Tea has always tasted like bath water smells to me. Weird.
Sara is a reader and knowledge seeker. I have a huge appetite for books, etc...
Sara is a Google Lover. Who isn't? Is there another search engine?
Sara is a kitchen dweller. I love the kitchen and cooking and all things culinary. With the possible exception of most of the more unusual Asian dishes one might see on the original Iron Chef.
Sara is a dreamer and leader. I think those are minimum qualifications for being a mom so count me in.
Sara is a homebirther. I would LOVE to be. Unfortunately, medical conditions prevent me.
Sara is a breastfeeder. I can't say enough about breastfeeding and its benefits. That is, after all, half of the reason why women have them!
Sara is a homeschooler. There was no other choice for our family. Its a must!
Sara is a vegetarian. We part ways here. There is nothing like a nice steak or pork chop or chicken breast.
Sara is a raw foodie. Uhm, from what little I know of it, its not for me. I prefer my food cooked. Thad likes sushi, though.
Sara is into whole and organic foods. I am to a certain extent. I don't believe all non-organic foods are intrinsically bad or unhealthy.
Sara is into Thai food. Uhm, nope, not for me. I do love Italian, though, and a good hibachi style, Japanese steak house!
Sara is an Anti-Consumerist. I'd probably call myself a minimal- to moderate-consumerist.
Sara is into homemaking. Yeah, me, too. I was a housewife before I became a stay-at-home mom. I love keeping my home comfortable for my husband and my children. Its the best job ever!
Sara is into simplicity. I agree. Life can get crazy if you are always chasing the next thing.
Sara is child-led weaning. Of course. How can anyone but the baby know when they are done? I leave room though for exceptions for health reasons.
Sara is into baby-wearing. I can't thank God enough for the wise person who invented the baby sling. Hands-free connection to your baby who is involved in every aspect of your life! These are not neglected children with flat spots on the back of their heads from laying all the time.
Sara is into family bedding and cloth diapering. Yes, to the family bed. Nope, to the cloth diapering. I'm just not brave enough. Ask my mom about me getting my hands dirty. I can hear her cackling from here!
Sara is into vaccination awareness and holistic medicine. I think every parent has the obligation to understand what goes into their children and why. Holistic medicine as long as it is not rooted in Eastern religions and mysticism.
Sara is into attachment parenting and unschooling. Uhm, I'm confused. I don't know what she means here but I'm intrigued.
Sara is into living lightly and living smaller. I believe these are a must. This would change the face of the American family if we taught our children that they don't need everything the see and that cell phones (or any phone, for that matter) aren't a necessity at 12.
Sara is into thrifting and recycling. YEE HAW! I love yard sale season. Its almost like an uncontrollable urge to follow those neon yellow signs on the street corner or the "everything half-off" sign at Thrift Smart! I could probably recycle more if I paid more attention.
Sara is camping. Yikes, not me. I don't sleep on the ground and there are bugs out there! I have also never found a bathroom in the woods!
Sara is into singing. I try but American Idol is definitely not in my future!
Sara is into living. By this I think she means living life to the fullest with no regrets. I can agree with that in so much that it doesn't go against God's Word.

So, you see, I'm not all that different from an NCOH. I do firmly believe that it can be a slippery slope being open and loving everyone and everything to being drawn into a view of over acceptance.

Many an NCOH has gone so far as to believe that God created homosexuals that way and that we should accept them. I can't even begin to fathom this viewpoint. God very clearly calls it an abomination and sin. Nothing can be said to defend it. They do need our love but not our endorsement. Ask any parent, it is possible to love someone without thinking their behavior is acceptable or good.

It also wouldn't be a far cry to say there are good reasons for abortion. Again, I can't fathom this.

I also can't see any good reason for looking to Eastern religious practices, like yoga, for anything good. We are separate and sanctified and wholly committed to God or we are not. We can't say I'm just doing this aspect and leaving the religion out of it. Nope, if its is connected in its origin there are definitely spiritual ramifications.

Jesus called us to love but also to call sin by its name not to excuse it as a lifestyle choice or another path to heaven.

Please take a minute to comment. I would love to have some healthy banter going.