I've found It!

Everyone has that place where they like to go to get away from the world, to get away from their own thoughts, to just sit quietly and think, or for believers, to commune with the Lord from the bottom of their hearts. Well, this is my place, my secret place, I have tarried on with the Lord here and as that old hymn goes:

"I come to the Garden Alone, While the dew is still on the roses and the Voice I hear falling on my ear, The Son of God Discloses...And He walks with me, and He talks with me, And He tells me I am His own, And the Joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known."

My Lord and Savior is so wonderful. There is no greater treasure than to be His own and for Him to be your all. As you know, lately I had been struggling with thinking I am missing something in my walk with God. Not knowing Him as I should. Again, last night, I had the blessed opportunity to talk to another sister in the Lord and she said "You know, I honestly think you are trying to hard, you already have it!" I believe her to be right but it still was not a reality to me. So, before I went to bed last night, I prayed and asked God to help me see His love for me, whatever it was that I was missing. Perfect love casts out all fear and if fear is something I have been dealing with then clearly it was apparent to me that I was missing something and not viewing Him the way that He intended for us, as his beloved children to view Him.

I woke up this morning and a lot of negative thoughts concerning things I had been dealing with began to press my mind. I needed to get away from it all and just get to a place where I could quiet my heart, and where everything else around me would be still, even if only for a little while. So off to the Secret Place I went, and the Lord indeed met me there.

I have finally reached a place where, from the heart I can say "I am dead to the world, and the world is dead to me." No longer is my heart mesmerized by the thought of living in a new city, or marriage, or having a family, or a career, more money, none of those things are of near significance at all. My kernel of wheat has truly fallen to the ground and died, all by God's ever flowing grace of course, there is no way any of this could be done on my own and in my own strength. It all makes sense now. My reason for living, moving and having all being is for God alone, that He may be glorified and that I may "know" Him. My heart rests in safety with the King of Kings.

There are 2 paragraphs in a book I had been reading by A.W. Tozer of which I would like to share. It says:

"The man who has God for his treasure has all things in One. Many ordinary treasures may be denied him, or if he is allowed to have them, the enjoyment of them will be so tempered that they will never be necessary to his happiness. Or if he must see them go, one after one, he will scarcely feel a sense of loss, for having the Source of all things he has in One all satisfaction, all pleasure, all delight. Whatever he may lose he has actually lost nothing, for he now has it all in One, and he has it purely, legitimately, and forever."

"I have said that Abraham possessed nothing. Yet was not this poor man rich? Everything he had owned before was still his to enjoy: sheep, camels, herds, and goods of every sort. He had also his wife and his friends, and best of all he had his son Isaac safe by his side. He had everything, but he possessed nothing. There is the spiritual secret. There is the sweet theology of the heart which can be learned only in the school of renunciation. The books on systematic theology overlook this, but the wise will understand."

Wow, what words of richness used to describe the true blessedness of possessing nothing. Having all things yet nothing having you, not having your heart. This has finally become a reality in my heart and in my life. And what a joy this is! :) God is so wonderful, so awesome and so kind! May we continue to love Him with all of our hearts, all of our souls, all of our minds, and all of our strength. To the faithful, He shows Himself faithful. Whoever loses their life for Christs sake will indeed find it :) Have you found your life yet or are you still seeking to save it here? Let it go my dear friend, He is truly sufficient for any and all you have need of. Let us remember that with the Lord as our Shepherd, we have no desire of want, for He is our everything both now and forever more. No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly. No, He will not withhold Himself from us. He bids us to "Come to Him." Go away with Him in that secret place and dwell under the shadow of the Almighty! May you find all of your security, needs, and desires met there. For wherever your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

"Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward."- Genesis 15:1

Do we know "Him"?

"We receive His blessings and know His Word, but do we know Him?"- Oswald Chambers

"We substitute knowing the Word instead of knowing the God of the Word."- Leonard Ravenhill

This has been the burning question and revelation of my heart as of late. I was talking to a good friend and sister in the Lord a few days ago and I kept telling her "I am missing something. Yes I love God, I love the Lord but I feel like there is something I have yet to grasp." I didn't know at the time what it was but the more I seek Him, He seems to reveal little by little everyday.

Is it possible to love God, love and remain faithful to His word, obey what he says and still not know Him the way He intended for us to know Him? I am not talking about those who are content with a religion about God or a form of godliness but for those who are sincere in their hearts towards God, could it be maybe we are missing something? John 17:3 says:

"And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent."

The whole goal of Jesus dying on the cross for mankind was to save us from sin yes but also, so that we could intimately know the Father and Him. To be restored back to fellowship with Him, that is eternal life. So many times in church we are told eternal life is looking forward to the pearly gates and the streets made of gold, true and lovely all that is, but we are to experience eternal life right now, today, every single day that we have breath in our lungs. This is something I have been missing out on. What is it to truly know the Father and Christ in the way he desires us to?

"But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."- Philippians 3:7-14

Paul had it right. He had not yet reached the desired place of intimacy with Christ maybe that he thought he should have but he certainly was a lot farther along than me. If knowing Christ and the Father is eternal life, if our lives have died and are now hidden in Christ, wouldn't it be wise to really seek to know and understand better what this means, to get a fuller grasp on it? Maybe some of you have attained it but I am trekking through, daily to find it, not that it is very far from me, but it is not a reality in my life as of yet. I want to reach a place of being so consumed with Christ, not just facts about Christ but knowing Him in my heart, through experience that whatever happens It will not matter because He has become so REAL to me that he truly will have become my life! If I have to suffer the loss of more things, more people, then I want to be able to sincerely say from the heart "More love to Thee." This needs to be a reality in my life, and if its not a reality in your life (dear reader) may this post stir a desire within you to want to know Christ in such a way. This is not to say one is not saved but are we truly experiencing John 10:10? "That they may have life, and have it more abundantly."

"Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted.... Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled....Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."

When the Lord started to show me these things it really grieved my heart. The things that I had once placed so much emphasis on believing it to be vital in my life don't seem to hold the same level of importance or need anymore. If I had to go without those things, it should be fine, and I should still be able to say sincerely from the heart "It is well with my soul". *Sigh*, the agony of knowing the wicked condition of the heart that still exists in our mortal bodies. Father, help us not to love nor desire anything more than you. If knowing Him is all we need to get us through this life then I want to wholeheartedly pursue that. It has proven worthless to place happiness and joy based on the things of this world. May it only be Christ that consumes and holds my heart and full devotion. This is indeed what I have been missing. Not to say that everything in the world is bad, but hopefully you understand what is being shared. This world is full of so many things that seek to win our love, our heart, our time, etc but as the Lord told Martha, only one thing is needed and this cannot be taken from us (Luke 10:42). If eternal life is really to be in on going communing fellowship with Christ and the Father do we really have need of anything else? And if so, won't He provide it?

As Jonathan Edwards once said "Lord, stamp eternity on my eyeballs!" And may He do just that. Not sure about you dear readers, but, I pray the Lord is stirring within you a desire to be consumed by Him and all that which is eternal as well. Yes it will be a fight daily but, we have Him and better yet He has us, right in the palm of His hand. Let us lose ourselves in Him. If he is leading you to shut yourself off from things in the world, do it. If He is leading you to slip away with Him, follow His leading. When you come away with Him, sometimes you will be begin to realize that even associating yourself with your circle of "Christian" friends can be a hindrance, not all are on the narrow way, and we cannot afford to be found slipping. May the Lord help us.

Father, we humbly come before you, aware of our sinful condition. Purge our hearts Father, purge us from things that seek to steal, kill and destroy us. Create in us a clean heart and renew a right spirit within us. Help us Lord, to know you the way you desire for us to know you. Become our life, become our portion. You, Father, delight in a living sacrifice, we offer ourselves wholly and fully to You, for Your use, that You alone may be glorified. Help us to truly know 
You.

"One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple"- Psalm 27:4

Kernel of Wheat

"Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.  Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me."- John 12:24-26

Photo Credit

Hello :)

Hey you! :)

I am so sorry that it has been so long since I've written on here, hopefully all has been well with you? Things have been good and at the same time trying for me but, the Lord is good and all of his ways are loving and faithful. <3

It has been impressed upon my heart that I need to start writing on here again and that is my plan and intention to do so as the Lord permits. Not going to take up too much of your time, just wanted to say "Hello" and sorry for neglecting this blog. It is my prayer that whatever I am led to share on here will truly minister to your heart and uplift your spirit towards Christ in whom is our joy and peace. Blessings.

Here is a song that has been on my heart lately, hope you like it :)

Show me your faith without works and I will show you my faith by my works

"What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your  works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?  Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." James 2:14-26

In most churches and christian circles I often hear these scriptures being used to encourage saints to help members in the body who are in need and what not and that absolutely should be done, but, it is clear that something else is being addressed here..

Faith without works is dead. The context is talking about salvation. Many a men claim to have faith but by their deeds they deny Christ, which is why James mentioned that even the demons believe and tremble, which is more than what some men do.

"They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work." Titus 1:16

"But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?" Luke 6:46

Although we are saved by faith it is not by faith alone that we are saved. The faith that aligns with repentance is a faith that produces good works, life by the spirit, and obedience to Christ.Neither do deeds alone save you for the bible tells us that our works are like filthy rags before God  and no man can boast before him. But instead faith and works come hand in hand just like the body and the spirit, the body without the spirit is dead, so is faith without works, you cannot have one without the other.


"But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags, we all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away..." Isaiah 64:6

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:8-10

"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works." Titus 2:11-14

The word is clear. Faith instep with repentance *will* be evident by good works, not works such as keeping the law but works that are expected of those who call on and profess Christ,loving God by obeying him and loving our neighbors as as ourselves  and doing good to all men especially but not limited to the members of the household of Faith and especially that listed in 2 Peter 1:5-11...

"For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge, and to knowledge, self-control, and to self-control, perseverance, and to perseverance, godliness, and to godliness, mutual affection, and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

 Continue to Rest in the Everlasting Arms.....
Jazz <3

Take Advantage of Discontinued & Clearance Racks in your Healh Food Stores!

Don't sleep on your local Health Food store's discontinued and clearance rack! If it is anything like mines they keep this shelf at the very bottom, almost out of sight unless you know where it is and accidentally run across it. I was blessed to have gotten a few healing tonics for only $1.99 each and I was also able to get some Hemp Protein Powder (used mostly in my green/fruit smoothies- that's the only way I can bear the taste) for a Fraction of the normal cost!

Organic Hemp Protein Powder


Healing Tonics


I apologize for the quality of my camera, it is not the best but hopefully you get the gist of what is being shown. Below, I will post some of the health benefits associated with each Tonic!

Motherwort: Reduces the risk of heart attack, stroke and other diseases, prevents low blood sugar, vertigo, and headaches. If you are a mother expecting, Motherwort is excellent to promote the flow of breasts milk and has been known to reduce the risk of postpartum depression.

Calendula: Good for treating minor cuts and wounds, skin problems such as eczema and boils, it is also great at helping to fight fevers.

Red Raspberry Leaf: Has long been used by women to help ease pain during childbirth. It also helps to promote healthy skin and bone development in babies. Great to use to help alleviate or eliminate PMS symptoms in women, it can also help to relieve diarrhea.

Skullcap: Often used to eliminate anxiety accompanied with worry, insomnia and headaches. Also good for those suffering from drug and alcohol withdrawals. Traditionally, it has been used as a tranquilizer.

I will just add, it is great to stay educated on alternative medicine, healing tonics, and natural remedies but it is dangerous to think that one will be totally healed and healthy just because they rely on non-pharmaceutical medicine alone. Healing comes from God and sometimes we can put alternative medicine in the same category as pharmaceutical drugs and end up being just as dependent on them, even if they are healthier for the body, let us acknowledge who are help comes from :)

P.S. When purchasing items off of the clearance/discontinued rack *always* check the expiration date to make sure you are truly getting a bang for your buck ;)

Happy Birthday

So today I turn 24, would you believe me if I told you I was almost dreading my birthday? lol, not kidding! Not that growing older is a bad thing, it is a privilege but for some reason, it was not something I was anticipating. Maybe if things were different but besides all that I am grateful that the Lord has kept me another year, even though it has been tough, he has shown himself strong in my life, time and time again.

My family wants to bake me a cake and throw a little party but I was not in the least interested. But the Lord kind of nudged on my heart like "Stop being so prideful :)" I like when the Lord corrects us because even in his rebuke it can still be kind, at least that one was lol. So yeah, the Lord is right, I am not going to be prideful about it but enjoy whatever it is my family would like to do for me and learn to receive things from people, it is okay to do that. Anyway, I hope you all have been doing great, haven't been blogging much but all is well over this way. Ttys <3

Loving Others

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of fellowshiping with a sister in the Lord that lives quite a ways away from me, anyhow we discussed things in our life that the Lord was dealing with us about and ended the call in prayer. One thing we were both led to pray for was how to walk in love towards people how Christ loves us and this morning I was led to read some scriptures that confirmed that and it really just blessed me and filled my heart with greater joy so, this is what I read this morning....

"Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.  Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.  And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.
Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.  He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.

   In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous.
Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother^[c] abides in death. Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God.

And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name. Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us."- 1 John 3

Are we laying down our lives for our brothers and sisters? Maybe some of us have not been in a position where we have had to do that literally, but are we esteeming them better than ourselves? Looking our for their best interests above our own? Loving them, encouraging them to live a life pleasing to the Lord and correcting them when correction is needed? May His word continue to abide in our hearts...

It's Just Hair! Debunking Myths Concerning Women With Natural/Relaxed Hair

I would really like to address this topic as it is so relevant with most women of color these days. It seems as though we have jumped from one stereotype to another by saying "Women who decide to go natural do so, so that they can embrace the hair God gave them" while on the other hand saying "Women who relax, do so because they are ashamed of their natural hair texture and have been brainwashed by media to accept a European standard of beauty." Now clearly, not everyone holds to both or either one of those views, but both are common responses out of most women if you ask them so I would just like to share my take on the matter.

Every woman that decides to get a relaxer is not doing so because they are trying to be or look like someone they aren't, or because they are ashamed of their natural hair. Some women do not have the desire to put all the time and patience it takes into caring for natural hair. There are various reasons as to why a woman opts for a relaxer over natural. Some may say, "Well that is putting more toxins in the body" Yeah true, but it isn't anymore worse than someone eating a meal from McDonalds, using commercial deodorants and  perfumes etc. So that argument kind of rules out. The same thing goes for wigs and weaves. Wigs and weaves serve as EXCELLENT time savers and they can also be highly beneficial to your hair if taken care of properly as it gives your hair a break from all the manipulation used while combing and brushing, etc.  Not all women who wear wigs and weaves are "fake" or bald headed. Some women like convenience or they just simply like the styles that wigs and weaves gives them. The reasons vary and could go on for quite some time....

Likewise, there are numerous reasons as to why a woman may choose to become natural. Many women love the variety and versatility that natural hair gives them when it comes to styles. Others are enjoying their natural curl pattern as many woman have been relaxed since childhood and do not remember what its like to have organic hair. But no matter what a woman chooses to do with her hair, it is just hair. One is not better than the other. If being relaxed works for you then it works for you! It is not fair to go around sticking your nose up at women who confidently wear their kinky curly fros or suave waves , and vice versa. If being natural works for you, then it works for you! It is not fair for you to go around labeling women who are relaxed as being superficial and what not. If there ever comes a time where you decide that what was once working for you is getting kind of boring or is no longer working, don't be afraid to try something new. Hair grows back, unless you knowingly have some type of hair growth disorder, otherwise, your hair will grow back so keep doing what works for you, and allow others to keep doing what works for them after all, it's just hair :)

Being the Proverbs 31 Woman, Is that *really* the goal?

If you pick up most books that teach women how to be Godly wives, more often than not, you will find that in some form or fashion the comparison to the Provebrs 31 woman is thrown in there. I always admired the qualities and character description listed in that chapter but something that has really been rather interesting to me lately is, how many woman are making that description the guideline on how to be a good wife. There is nothing wrong with that, but the thing that troubles me is how that has become the model for a wife instead of the character and nature of Christ which has both present and eternal profit.

If we are pursuing Godliness, everything else will be fruitful. We aren't going to be perfect but we are pressing on, continually, to grow more into the image of Christ. Again, I am not speaking negatively of  using Proverbs 31 as a role model but it shouldn't be the only thing used as an example on how to be a godly wife, it should be Christ ultimately. Growing to mature more into the character of Christ, that is the real goal! That is the high calling!  Philippians 3:12-14. All the godly qualities found in Proverbs 31:10-31 are there as an example to describe a woman who feared the Lord. How such a woman's character and conduct would be. She was a godly woman and out of that flowed other good things. If anything, Proverbs 31 should be used as a motivator to encourage us to grow in Godly fear and to want to mature more spiritually, not technically to be disciples of that example...

"Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit."- Matthew 7:17-18

If the root is good, the fruit will be good. If a woman loves the Lord and her aim is to please him in all her ways, she will be a blessing to her husband and all other people she comes in contact with. If prior to marriage you have lived a life in faithfulness, loyalty and devotion to Christ, that is only going to carry over into your marriage. The way your relationship is with God is more or less how it will be with your husband. May we continue to press on toward the *real* goal!

Others May, You Cannot

If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
(Matthew 16:24-25)

If God has called you to be truly like Jesus in all your spirit, He will draw you into a life of crucifixion and humility. He will put on you such demands of obedience that you will not be allowed to follow other Christians. In many ways, He seems to let other good people do things which He will not let you do.
Others who seem to be very religious and useful may push themselves, pull wires, and scheme to carry out their plans, but you cannot. If you attempt it, you will meet with such failure and rebuke from the Lord as to make you sorely penitent.
Others can brag about themselves, their work, their successes, their writings, but the Holy Spirit will not allow you to do any such thing. If you begin to do so, He will lead you into some deep mortification that will make you despise yourself and all your good works.
Others will be allowed to succeed in making great sums of money, or having a legacy left to them, or in having luxuries, but God may supply you only on a day-to-day basis, because He wants you to have something far better than gold, a helpless dependence on Him and His unseen treasury.

The Lord may let others be honored and put forward while keeping you hidden in obscurity because He wants to produce some choice, fragrant fruit for His coming glory,
which can only be produced in the shade...

God may let others be great, but keep you small. He will let others do a work for Him and get the credit, but He will make you work and toil without knowing how much you are doing. Then, to make your work still more precious, He will let others get the credit for the work which you have done; this to teach you the message of the Cross, humility, and something of the value of being cloaked with His nature.
The Holy Spirit will put a strict watch on you, and with a jealous love rebuke you for careless words and feelings, or for wasting your time, which other Christians never seem distressed over.
So make up your mind that God is an infinite Sovereign and has a right to do as He pleases with His own, and that He may not explain to you a thousand things which may puzzle your reason in His dealings with you.
God will take you at your word. If you absolutely sell yourself to be His slave, He will wrap you up in a jealous love and let other people say and do many things that you cannot. Settle it forever; you are to deal directly with the Holy Spirit, He is to have the privilege of tying your tongue or chaining your hand or closing your eyes in ways which others are not dealt with. However, know this great secret of the Kingdom: When you are so completely possessed with the Living God that you are, in your secret heart, pleased and delighted over this peculiar, personal, private, jealous guardianship and management of the Holy Spirit over your life, you will have found the vestibule of heaven, the high calling of God.

By G.D. Watson

Knowing God's Will

Here is a great article on "Knowing God's Will". I am sure you will learn something from it and maybe even receive some clear answers concerning matters of life you were unsure of. Check it out!

Knowing God's Will

Perfect Peace

"The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, 

Because he trusts in You. “Trust in the LORD forever, 

For in GOD the LORD, we have an everlasting Rock. "- Isaiah 26:3-4

If one thing has been proven true it is the strength and stability of the love and faithfulness of Christ. So many times, we can get ourselves into a frenzy, lacking joy, lacking peace, being snappy and short with people, but every time we find ourselves like that, one thing to ask would be, "Is my mind really fixed on the Lord?"

A mind that is at peace is at peace because they trust in the Lord. A person with this frame of mind is not worried, it cannot be, for they trust in the Lord, the rock eternal!

Sometimes I get weighed down with things going on in this world, the NWO, seeing all types of evil running rampant but when I sit back and think of how great God is, how fully in control He is, none of those things seem so big anymore. It makes the worries of this life seem so small because HE is so great, mighty, and powerful!

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. "- Philippians 4:6-7

See? God's word did it again! If you cast your worries and anxieties over to the Lord by prayer, supplication, and thanksgiving, you will experience that perfect peace, the type of peace that will over rule any rising doubts that may arise in your mind and seek to question the power or faithfulness of God. This is that perfect peace Jesus was talking about in John 14:27...

"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you, not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

We are so blessed to be children of God! Not just anyone gets this type of peace, this type of peace comes from Abba alone. That is why in the midst of turmoil you can be at rest. Remember Jesus sleeping on the boat during the storm? If you want to be at peace, trust in the Lord, if you want to be at rest, cast your burdens onto Him. Think on His goodness, His power, His majesty, how He is seated on the throne, high and exalted! His mercy, His compassion, think on these things for He alone is good :) remember this verse from an old hymn:

"Kings, and Kingdoms shall all pass away

But there's something, about, that name...."

"The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, 

Because he trusts in You. “Trust in the LORD forever, 

For in GOD the LORD, we have an everlasting Rock. "- Isaiah 26:3-4

How do we treat a brother or sister if they fall into sin?

Some of you know, some of you may not know the situation that this brother, The Ambassador, was involved in a couple of years ago. He fell into sin and being in the position of leadership he was in (a Christian rapper), it was made known to the public. Today this recent interview was released and I wanted to write about some of things he said that kind of hurt my heart and in another sense, all the more glorified God.

If you watched the interview you will know that he talks about how his christian family within cross movement records kind of left him out in the cold once they were made aware of the sin he committed. I remember reading the article myself that they posted on their website stating that they had dropped him from their record label and encouraged people to pray for him, etc. From their standpoint I understand why they felt the need to address the issue publicly since Christian rappers are on the same level of influence and leadership as Pastors, it is good to rebuke sin openly in that manner so that others in the body of Christ may not take sin lightly or as a means to trample on the grace of God. On the other hand, it hurt my heart to know that after they removed him from their record label, they made no attempt to help restore or build him up spiritually.

"Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one anothers burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." Galatians 6:1-2

As Ambassador stated, he was not seeking to hurry up and receive counsel so that he could get back into ministry (as you may have noted with Todd Bentley), he was sincerely seeking fellowship and to be restored by the brethren as we have been instructed to do. However, even though he did not receive it from the people he had anticipated it from, he did receive it from other members of the body of Christ.

One thing that made me glad was that he did not use his lack of desired fellowship as an excuse to remain in sin, he testified that during that time, he really came to know the Lord in a deeper way. He felt alone at times, as he was so used to being with the cross movement records crew it was a new, yet uncomfortable at times transition to come back to that place of being intimate with the Lord again. Those seasons when it is just the two of you. Despite you being married or not, there will always be those seasons where it seems like no one understands or can comfort you like the Lord can. Those are also some of the best times, mostly experienced during some of the hardest times of our lives.

In conclusion, I am glad that Ambassador has used this time wisely to seek to build things right again with God, his family, and himself. We all have committed sins. Most of ours have not been on public display as in this situation but public sins and secret sins are no different in God's sight. He treats us all the same way when we repent, with kindness and mercy and we should do the same for our brothers and sisters in the Lord, considering we also have flesh and could likewise be tempted. Let us bear one anothers burdens in love and encourage one another on towards love and good deeds all the more as we see the day approaching.

Movie Review: The Business of Being Born

This is an excellent movie for those contemplating birth plans, who believe they have been called to motherhood, or anyone who is just plain interested in learning more about something you didn't know or were not too informed about. The Business of Being Born lifts the veil on the inhuman protocols and procedures carried out in hospitals for child birth. Anyone opposed to or serving as a threat against the medical and pharmaceutical industry can expect to be under a lot of criticism but this documentary sheds a lot of light on the importance of experiencing natural child birth for both mama and baby.

If you have been expecting your birthing experience to be similar to what you see on TLC's "A Baby Story" this documentary will have you thinking again. I would definitely rate this film a 5/5 and a special shout out to all the women who have chosen to take a stand in natural childbirth and the use of midwives. Even those women that would of liked to have given birth naturally with the aide of a midwife & doula but couldn't due to certain issues during delivery, you did all you could! Let's keep God's way of bringing life into the world by all means!

Where does your Joy come From?

This may be a silly question to some, but it is rather legitimate if you think about it. Where does your joy come from? Does it come from the things of this world? You are only happy when you are around your good friends, or when you have eaten your favorite meal, or when you are at work or when you can see yourself getting married? For me, a couple of years ago I would of responded to that question by saying "I'll be happy when I move to Georgia!" or something along those lines. It wasn't until this past year that it became clear to me that, thinking that way was nothing but idolatry, and more than that it was causing me to lose focus on what the Lord would have me to do and concern myself with *now*.

"It is good for me that I have been afflicted,That I may learn Your statutes"- Psalm 119:71

"Do not boast about tomorrow,For you do not know what a day may bring forth"- Proverbs 27:1


"Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry"- Colossians 3:5

Through affliction I learned that true joy and fulfillment comes from Christ alone. Not living in a new city, not making more friends, not anything at all but Christ. Why? Because he promised that He would never leave us or forsake us. With that said, you can be anywhere and be content and happy because you have the risen Lord with you!

"Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you."-Hebrews 13:5

The Lord is good and richly gives us all things for our enjoyment (1 Timothy 6:17) so we can be happy when we recognize that he has blessed us with good things and good people and when he has caused us to be a blessing. Who can't help but be filled with joy when you are bouncing a bubbly baby on your lap, or who can't help but be filled with joy when you hear some great news, that is all wonderful but the issue comes when we are moved, and swayed back and fourth in our emotions in absence of those things. When our mind is fixed on Him, our joy remains.

"You will show me the path of life, In Your presence is fullness of joy, At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore."- Psalm 16:11

Continue to be filled with the Joy of the Lord!

God's purposes cannot be manipulated

Lately I have been reading through the book of Genesis and today I was reading chapters 32-41. In these few little chapters, one thing I that kept sticking out to me was the fact that there were some instances where these chosen people of God at one point in time or another tried to manipulate God's will for them. There is the account of Abraham and Sarah not waiting on the Lord for the child of promise but even through this, God's purposes prevailed. Then there is the instance of Jacob and Esau, where Rebekah had Jacob dress up like Esau so that he could obtain Isaac's blessing, there are a few others but these stood out to me today.

Even though God used the mistakes, unbelief, and disobedience of his chosen people, they still had to pay the consequences for their actions. But more importantly, we can see the Sovereignty of God in all of those situations. I can look back on my own life and recount the many times I have tried to manipulate God, and I can also recount how every one of those times I tried to do that, it *never* worked out lol. As a matter of fact, a lot of the time it bought me back to square one, but the point is, God is sovereign.

"The counsel of the LORD stands forever,The plans of His heart to all generations."-Psalm 33:11

"A man’s heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps"-Provebrs 16:9

"There are many plans in a man’s heart, Nevertheless it is the LORD’s counsel—that will stand."- Proverbs 19:21

Haven't these verses of scripture been proven true in the bible and how much more in our own lives? What a relief that is! To some the thought of God being ruler over their lives and having his own plan he is interested in working out seems daunting to them but to us it should give us a deep since of joy, rest, and peace.

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren."- Romans 8:28-29

What's My Favorite Drink Right Now?

Well, if you really must know I simply must tell you! It is Iced Echinacea Tea with Raw Honey! Oh my goodness, this stuff is so good!  I purchased this tea quite some time ago. Got it because I felt a sore throat coming on but didn't think to drink it anymore as it was nasty to me drinking it bland. But lately I have been doing some research on ways to boost your immune system and then I remembered the box of Echinacea that has been sitting in my house for the past 7 months. So, I decided to give it another go but this time with some raw honey to sweeten it up.

All you do is brew the tea as usual and sweeten with the raw honey to your desired taste. Raw honey has plenty of healing benefits it's self so these two combined are a winning team! Keep in the fridge until cold and enjoy!

I drink mine out of a mason jar because I think it's kinda cute and it is convenient just in case I'm on the go and there is a lid. Also, it is naturally BPA-free  so don't have to worry about any chemicals leeching into my drink like I would using a plastic container. Hope you try this drink for yourself one of these days, See ya next time :)

God's Will in a Nutshell

A little while ago, a group of friends and myself were going to do a Conference call discussing the topic: "God's Will: What does it mean?" As we talked about it more in depth it became clear that none of us really knew or had a proper understanding of what all that entailed. Most of us were struggling with figuring it out ourselves especially for practical things in life such as "Is it God's will for me to take this job?" or "Is it God's will for me to start my own business." A bit confused and unsure of where to start, we decided to reschedule the show for another time, preferably when we had more understanding of the topic at hand :)

In the meantime, the Lord has saw fit to make it plain to me on what the will of God is, at least part of it. So far, it seems that in the end, it only boils down to two things, Trust and Obedience. So here I will share what the Lord has been teaching me thus far....

First, it is always good to review and read the life of Jesus. Plenty of times he says "I came only to do my Fathers will" Jesus also says "It is not those who say to me 'Lord, Lord' but those who do the will of my Father in heaven." That kind of leaves us to wonder, well, what does that mean...technically speaking? Let's break down this scripture in Matthew 7:21-23 for starters....

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!"

We can picture people coming to the Lord saying "Lord, have we not done all these good things" These are people who have set captives free, even prophesied accurately and if we look at 1 Corinthians 14:1 Prophecy is the greatest gift to be desired due to its ability to minister to all that listen, so on the outlook of things, these were people doing a lot of good things but Jesus, the one who discerns the thoughts and intents of the heart, the one who does not look at the outward appearance as man does but looks at the heart, tells these people that he *never* knew them and on top of that, that they were workers of lawlessness, which in other words means they were workers of disobedience.

So if it is a lifestyle of disobedience that will get the "good workers" cast out of heaven, that can only mean that  obedience is what defines the true follower of Christ. As Christians we are strongly encouraged to live a life of good works, to even be eager about doing them, but the trouble comes in when we believe that we are justified and made acceptable to God by all we've done, rather than a simple trust in Christ as our savior which indicates a lifestyle of obedience (John 14:21-24, James 1:22-25).

Knowing the will of God, isn't so difficult after all is it? Trust and Obey. We will not be perfect in this life as our sanctification will continue to be worked out up until Christ returns (Philippians 1:6) but, in a general sense our lives should no longer be characterized by sin and the sinful nature but rather a life that is controlled and led by the Spirit, for those who are led by the spirit of God, it is those that are the sons (and daughters) of God  (Romans 8)  There may be more to add to this but I kind of feel like the scriptures speak for themselves, I will end with a few more scriptures...

"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."- Romans 8:1

"By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. "-John 15:8-15

"If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments."- Matthew19:17

I am in no way promoting or trying to say that we are saved by works either but rather our good deeds, good fruit, and life of obedience is evidence of God's grace at work in our life. It is proof that He who began a good work in us is continuing to bring it into completion, that no man can boast, as a matter of fact, when you notice these good things happening in your life, it humbles you and causes you to be filled with so much joy for the Lord has a firm grip over your life! What security there is in knowing and being confident of such truth!

So to sum up everything shared here, it is clear, a life that is pleasing to God, a life that is in alignment with God's will is a life that is submitted to Him, a life that obeys the commandments, and a life that no longer yields to the sinful nature but allows itself to be controlled by the spirit. Maybe in another post we can discuss how to apply God's will to practical situations, but if you look at it like this, if you have the spiritual applications right first, the practical applications will fall right in place won't they? Matthew 6:33 says so :) Anyway, I hope this has been a blessing to you, in the meantime, May the Lord continue to bless and keep you :)

Homemade Jamaican Beef Patties

Hey guy's! Today was my first time making Jamaican beef patties. I love these things and since there are no authentic Caribbean cuisine restaurants in my town, I figure may as well make some myself!

The recipe used was really good. They have such a tender, savory flavor and the crust was nice and flaky.

Thankfully, they do make organic, non-hydrogenated vegetable shortening and that works just as good without having to consume all the negative, un-nutritious things that lard and regular shortening has in it. Feel free to give this recipe a shot unless you have your own and know how to make it. The only thing I altered was the use of vegetable shortening instead of regular shortening and I used this type of flour, which is a better alternative than commercial, bleached white flour. Anywho, hope everyone had a terrific day today and remember, whatever you do, do it all as unto the Lord :) Take care!

Kombucha or Keifr?

Today was my first time trying Kombucha. I have been reading so many positive reviews on this power house of a drink that I decided to try it out myself. It has a "vinegery" taste, almost the same thing as drinking slightly flavored ACV.


Which do I prefer? As far as taste, I really enjoy the Keifr. It is basically like drinking a yogurt smoothie and, I am a *huge* fan of greek yogurt so that is a plus. However, I really liked the way my body felt overall after drinking the Kombucha. My body felt more energized, I was way more alert and just felt really good in general.

If Kombucha had the taste of Keifr it would be a win win situation! But, if I had to choose between the two, I would probably choose the Kombucha, even though I don't really care for the taste. It really does revitalize the body. Keifr works good too don't get me wrong, especially for the digestive system but there were immediate, noticeable results after drinking the Kombucha. So...Kombucha it is!

Psalm 103

"Let all that I am praise the Lord;
with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.
Let all that I am praise the Lord;
may I never forget the good things he does for me.
He forgives all my sins
and heals all my diseases.
He redeems me from death
and crowns me with love and tender mercies.
He fills my life with good things.
My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!
The Lord gives righteousness
and justice to all who are treated unfairly.
He revealed his character to Moses
and his deeds to the people of Israel.The Lord is compassionate and merciful,
 slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
He will not constantly accuse us,
nor remain angry forever.
He does not punish us for all our sins;
he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.
For his unfailing love toward those who fear him
is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.
He has removed our sins as far from us
as the east is from the west.
The Lord is like a father to his children,tender and compassionate to those who fear him.
For he knows how weak we are;
he remembers we are only dust.
Our days on earth are like grass;
like wildflowers, we bloom and die.
The wind blows, and we are gone—
as though we had never been here.But the love of the Lord remains forever
with those who fear him.
His salvation extends to the children’s children
of those who are faithful to his covenant,
of those who obey his commandments!
The Lord has made the heavens his throne;
from there he rules over everything.
Praise the Lord, you angels,
you mighty ones who carry out his plans,
listening for each of his commands.
Yes, praise the Lord, you armies of angels
who serve him and do his will!
Praise the Lord, everything he has created,
everything in all his kingdom.
Let all that I am praise the Lord."


You guy's, this scripture bought so much joy to my heart today! There have been a lot of things I have been seeking God about, sins that have been made clear to me in my life and even though the Lord disciplines us, sometimes, if we sit still enough to listen he will answer us and one thing that I have come to learn when the Lord rebukes is that instead of it making you feel hopeless and what not, you feel all the more motivated and encouraged to obey Him and do what's right from then on out! This scripture means so much to me on so many different levels that I wanted to share it with anyone who is feeling discouraged about things in their life. Don't be downcast, rejoice! that He deals with you as his own! He is full of mercy, slow to anger, and abounding in love. He doesn't deal with us as our sins deserve, He is so good and so good to us! I hope this Psalm ministers to you!

When God Test's Our Hearts...

What happens when God tests our hearts? When the thing we desire so greatly is asked to be given over to him and placed in his hands, to lay it on the altar so to speak? I remember back when I was living in Georgia and attending a church service by Charles Stanley, cannot remember the title of the sermon but I do remember the heart of the message and it pretty much came down to this: Don't hold on to things too tightly. Anytime we hold on to something more firmly than we cling to Christ, you can almost bet that you will lose it. But anytime we turn that person, that situation, or circumstance over to Christ, we gain. Not always the way we desire, and sometimes so, but in the end we are sure to reap something out of it.

Sometime ago I was speaking with a good friend, and we were talking about some of the things we had been through recently. One of the questions she asked me was "Well, do you think you have grown spiritually through this? And what is something you have learned?" I went on to say that honestly at that point I could not tell if I had grown any but one thing that most certainly became clear to me was, in the midst of any trial the question can almost always boil down to this "Is having Christ worth more than anything else?"

"He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it."-Matthew 10:37-39

This scripture serves as a comfort and a terror, especially when the truth of your heart is opposition to what it says. But that is the comforting part also, at least the Lord loves you enough to show you your error now, while there is still time to change it. What a loving God and Father we serve!

What about when Abraham had his heart put to the test, and the rich young ruler? It is good to read those stories again. You get a glimpse of a servants heart that was *willing* to go all the way with the Lord, even if that meant giving up the very thing he desired most. It turned out not only for his good but for all of our good in the end didn't it? (Gen 22:1-19) Amen :)  But we also get the story of the rich young ruler, who after having received the word with joy turned away because to him, the cost of the cross was too high (Mark 10:17-25). A very sad and unfortunate ending.

We can look at this positively or negatively. Jesus promised us this though:

"So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life."- Mark 10:29-30

What an encouragement! If we live for Christ we can expect to gain (Php 1:21)! We will gain more of Him, more spiritual fruit, deeper relationships with brothers and sisters in the Lord, provision that you can acknowledge only came from the hand of God and we can also expect persecutions, trials, and hardships, not so we can lose heart but so our faith in Him can be proven all the more sincere and stronger! God is so great!

I hope that you have been greatly encouraged by reading this post today, it has strengthened my heart just by writing it. Trust in the Lord with allll your heart, and lean not on your own understanding, acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths.

Trying to Pray with A Hardened Heart

Trying to pray with a hardened heart is like trying to talk to God through a visible brick wall. It is utterly useless. There has been something that has really been bothering me for the past couple of days. It has even been having an effect on my sleep as well, not sleeping as peacefully as normal. So this morning, it hit me that this "thing" needed to be prayed about, but as soon as I started to pray, it was like the Lord made it clear as day to me that my heart was hardened towards him.

It is sinful to have a hardened heart. For one thing, no matter how much you pray and claim to be waiting on God to show you something or answer your prayers, you will not be open to receive it because with your heart hardened that means you are set on your will and doing what you want more than what God desires. Remember Pharaoh? So if you pray for God to show you his will but deep in your heart you want and are set on your desires, don't be surprised if the Lord doesn't show you anything, you wouldn't receive it anyway! When we come to the Father in prayer, we must be humble and totally open to his will and broken of our wills. Not saying we shouldn't pray what we desire because we are encouraged to do so, but if our heart is bent on what we want more than God's will, we will only end up more frustrated.  God reveals his will to those who will do it. The Lord is never harsh in his dealings with us. He is sooo patient! If your heart is hardened toward God about something, don't try to deny it or play it off, confess it, repent of it, and keep that open communion flowing between you two because once you have cut off that communion with God, it only leaves you open to the lies of the enemy.

No need to beat yourself up if you have fallen short in this area like myself, when it comes to Christ he always provides a solution, there is always hope with him. Just repent and ask the Lord to renew your heart towards him and apologize. When our sin has been confronted it really grieves us to know that we have grieved God, it hurts a lot, like a dagger in an open wound. But nonetheless once we repent the Lord has cast our sin as far as the east is from the west! It is true!

God is good. He knows whats best for us and he can be trusted.

" Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life."-Proverbs 4:23

Forsaking the Feminist Mindset and Embracing Biblical Womanhood

Physician Wholeheartedly Gives Up Medical Practice to Be a Wife and Mother of Eight Children for the Glory of God! from Douglas Phillips on Vimeo.


This is such an amazing testimony. In a world where women are encouraged to be in control, independent, pursue careers over home and raising children, pursue money over marriage, it is truly a sacrifice to forsake all of that in order to pursue the high calling Christ called women to by being keepers at home. Like this woman in the video, I too was raised to be a feminist. To go to college and make lots of money so you wont need to be dependent on anyone. The funny thing is that years ago, this wouldn't even be possible, but in today's society, women have the open door to live out the feminist dream. It is so dominant that it's literally pushing men out of work.


As Christians we are told and expected to be totally dependent on Christ. To not have our own agendas but to be open to the leading of the Lord, to be humble, and submissive to Him. Up until recently, I didn't see a problem with me working 4, 16 hr days a week or trying to go to school so I could get my nursing degree, after all, I wasn't married, didn't plan on getting married anytime soon and didn't have any kids so why not? Everyone is different and for some this may be perfectly fine but if you know the Lord has placed something different on your heart then pay attention to that and embrace it. For most women, they will be married, and blessed with children to raise. There are a few exceptions of women who have given their lives to missions or to live their lives in full service to others that are abandoned or overlooked and the Lord gifts women to fulfill such callings. If that is not you then God has a different purpose planned for you :) The main thing to be mindful of is that God does have a purpose and plan for your life. If you are a true believer, rest assured that plan is not going to seem too popular with your surrounding peers or to people you know. You may even have loved ones, family members pressuring you to take heed to the feminist movement but Psalm 1 tells us not to walk in the counsel of the wicked but to delight in the word of God, where we will come to know his perfect will for our lives (Romans 12:2).


If God has called you away from the career field and independent, feminist attitude, just know it is for your good! And if it seems as though He has you doing things that seem insignificant, ask yourself who are you comparing yourself too? Others around you? Who very well may be in total rebellion against God or ignorantly following the ways of the world? Remain faithful to what the Lord has given you to do. It doesnt matter how big our small, he could be preparing you for a family in the future, to love your husband and raise a nation for Christ like the woman in this video, or to run an orphanage like Amy Carmichael, who knows! One thing is for sure, obedience is better than sacrifice, and anyone who has ever lived to obey the Lord, has never regretted it. Take care until next time!

Oil Pulling

DISCLAIMER:
The information offered on this blog is solely my personal opinion based off of my own research and personal use. It does not serve as a substitute for professional medical prevention, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult with your physician, pharmacist, or health care provider before taking any home remedies or supplements or following any treatment suggested on this blog. Only your health care provider, personal physician, or pharmacist can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for your unique needs or diagnose your particular medical history.

Have you ever heard of Oil Pulling? I started looking into it after last fall when I started having serious issues with my wisdom teeth. The pain was so unbearable, I could barely sleep. None of the over the counter gels worked, so, that led me to make a dentist appointment.  I had to undergo 2 sessions of deep cleaning. It had been 3 years since my last dental visit and my gums were very unhealthy. Even after my deep cleaning, I noticed there was a sore around one of my wisdom teeth. My dentist injected an antibiotic around it, and that helped temporarily but even weeks after the treatment, the sore would not heal, and the pain returned.

That is when I started to do more research on natural treatments to help cure gum disease and oral problems. Oil Pulling caught my eye as it was not something I had ever heard of, and it seemed pretty simple to do and better yet, all of the ingredients needed were already in my home so there would be no need to pay more money for another dentist appointment. With it's roots in oil gargling linked to Ayurveda medicine, people have been using oil pulling as a means to cure many ailments, it is not only limited to oral healing. There are testimonies of people being healed from arthritic pain, bad breath, chronic skin conditions that even extended juice fasts could not heal, allergies, migraines, eczema, and many others by simply doing one simple method, oil pulling.

Oil pulling consists of swishing (sip, suck, and pull through the teeth) sesame oil, sunflower oil, or coconut oil in the mouth for 15-20 minutes. The swishing, activates certain enzymes and those enzymes draw toxins out of the blood which is why it is very important not to swallow any of the oil, it is very toxic. If you are doing it right, the oil should become thinner and lighter in color, if the oil is still bright in color, it has not been pulled long enough. After the 15-20 mintues, spit the oil in the sink and immidiately wash and rinse your mouth out. It is encouraged to simply use your fingers to prevent recontaminating your mouth again with your toothbrush. Make sure to disinfect the sink after each oil pulling session as many harmful bacterias are present.

For best results, do this on an empty stomach, preferably before breakfast. For faster results, this may be done up to 3 times daily for chronic conditions.

You can use any oil you would like to use, but sesame oil and sunflower oil are highly recommended. I use coconut oil as I have noticed it makes my teeth whiter. You may get the same effect using the other oils but, one of my friends tried using coconut oil also and said it not only helped her wisdom tooth pain as well but she also noticed her teeth appeared to be whiter. And remember, the key to optimal overall health is a strong immune system, a balanced lifestyle that consists of work, rest, and leisure, a balanced diet that consists of fresh veggies, fruit, and organic meat if you have access to it and can afford it, green smoothies/juice and more importantly, an enduring faith and relationship with Christ! Take care!

Toothpaste Review: Kiss My Face Triple-Action Aloe VeraToothpaste

I purchased this toothpaste a couple of day's ago and decided to do a review on it for those interested in purchasing fluoride free and sodium lauryl sulfate-free toothpaste. There are so many blogs, youtube videos, and websites explaining the dangers of these two chemicals, it is almost unavoidable. However, Triple-Action Aloe Vera toothpaste by Kiss My Face is Flouride-free and SLS free.

It is one of the first toothpastes that claims to help prevent tartar and plaque build up that I actually noticed to work. It also claims to help whiten teeth but it is too soon for me to tell if it does that (not that my teeth are yellow or anything, ha!)

My teeth felt clean and have continued to do so throughout the day. I like this toothpaste and would recommend it to anyone interested.

The Many Benefits of Raw ACV with Mother (Apple Cider Vinegar)

DISCLAIMER:
The information offered on this blog is solely my personal opinion based off of my own research and personal use. It does not serve as a substitute for professional medical prevention, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult with your physician, pharmacist, or health care provider before taking any home remedies or supplements or following any treatment suggested on this blog. Only your health care provider, personal physician, or pharmacist can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for your unique needs or diagnose your particular medical history.


If you are like me, raw, organic ACV has become a staple item in your home. With its versatile uses and affordable pricing, it continues to prove it's value time, and time again. I have been using Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar. There are other raw vinegars out there, you can even make your own but I am really impressed with this brand and as of now, see no need to test any other ones.

People have been using ACV for centuries to cure various types of aliments. It has been known to treat everything from pet fleas, to pet allergies. Taken regularly, it has the ability to strengthen the immune system, lower insulin levels (especially after eating), keep the body alkaline, and aid in easier digestion. Below there will be a list of some ailments that have been cured and treated by raw, organic ACV.

• Acid Reflux/Heartburn
• Bad Breath
• Gas/Bloating
• Bladder Infections
• Joint pain/Stiffness
• Sore Throat
• Acne
• Allergies
• Bowel Irregularity

I have used ACV to help treat my seasonal allergies. Earlier this spring, they started flaring up again. I took 2 Tablespoons of Braggs ACV mixed with water once every 2 weeks for a month and I have not had any allergy symptoms since. That was 2 1/2 months ago! I also use Braggs ACV as a hair rinse when washing my hair. It helps to remove any build up which may be there from old products, and it gives my hair that squeaky clean feel and natural shine! It is also excellent to use as a facial toner to help remove any dead skin on the surface.

My grandma, whom suffers from arthritis, has been using pain rubs for a while now and they only seem to work for a couple of hours. I offered to make her a concoction which consisted of raw, organic ACV mixed with some essential oils. She said it has helped her with the stiffness and pain in her joints greatly!

Recipe used for arthritic pain/stiffness: 1 part Bragg's ACV, 5-10 drops of 100% pure Eucalyptus essential oil. Shake together in an airtight container or an old medication tube. Rub on needed areas. Do not ingest.

There is a difference between regular distilled vinegar and the raw, organic vinegar with mother. Distilled vinegar is clear and has no nutritional value whatsoever. It is a dead food as all the nutrients have been stripped during the pasteurization process. Raw vinegar with mother (the strand-like substance in the bottom of the bottle), has a brownish color with visible mother and is full of living nutrients and active bacteria.

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ACV is not limited to medicinal uses only, it is also known for it's cleaning purposes and as a detox agent. Raw ACV is a great way to remove toxins from the body as it's healing abilities causes one's body to become more alkaline, therefore making it easier to eliminate toxins. To use as a Detox:

• Mix 2 Tbls of Bragg's or your choice of raw vinegar in 2 liters of purified water. Shake well and drink throughout the day. It is not encouraged to add sweeteners to this, as the purpose is to cleanse the body. However, if you cannot tolerate the taste (Raw vinegar is very pungent) you may use a small amount of raw honey. Not processed honey.

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And last but not least, I would like to share some cleaning purposes that Raw ACV can be used for. For cleaning uses, you do not always have to use raw vinegar. White distilled vinegar can serve as an excellent substitute. However only use raw, organic ACV for detox and medicinal purposes, not distilled vinegar.

• Fabric Softener: Simply add 1 cup of vinegar to your rinse cycle. The vinegar will help eliminate static, soften laundry, and make your clothes/towels extra soft!
• Deodorize garbage disposal: 1/2 cup vinegar, 1/2 cup baking soda, let sit for 5-8min, then pour hot water down the drain.
• Use to remove soap scum in your bathroom.
• An all natural disinfectant: Place 1 part vinegar and 3 parts water in a spray bottle. Spray on desired area, let stand for 10 minutes. Wipe clean.

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There are plenty of other uses of this great all natural product. Hopefully this short list was enough to convince you to go out and purchase some for your own home or to put that bottle to use if you already have some and are not sure what to do with it. You will not be disappointed! Take care :o)

<3 Jazz

Movie Review: The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry

This was an excellent movie to me. Where I'm from, you rarely see men being actively involved in the upbringing of their children, let alone trying to guide them spiritually but in this film, Jonathan Sperry truly gives an example of what Christlike discipleship looks like.

It starts off with 3 young boys whom would meet up regularly at Mr.Sperrys for bible study. Mr.Sperry taught the young boys how to overcome evil with good and love their enemies as Christ did which made a miraculous transformation in the heart of one of their childhood bullies and Mr.Barnes, whom gives the title of the movie it's name. This is truly a great movie to encourage all people to love as Christ loves us, and not to be overcome by evil, but to overcome evil with good. It's amazing what one friendship can do :)

Film is available to watch on Netflix.com
or you can order it Here

How to treat Staph/MRSA infections

DISCLAIMER:
The information offered on this blog is solely my personal opinion based off of my own research and personal use. It does not serve as a substitute for professional medical prevention, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult with your physician, pharmacist, or health care provider before taking any home remedies or supplements or following any treatment suggested on this blog. Only your health care provider, personal physician, or pharmacist can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for your unique needs or diagnose your particular medical history.

 

With the uprising of Staph and MRSA infections, it would be good to know ways to treat and prevent this Superbug naturally.


Staph (short for Staphylococcus) is a type of bacteria. It is known for living on skin surfaces, mainly the nose, eyes, and genital areas but can be present on any part of the body. Staph infections can be brought on by skin to skin contact, by touching contaminated objects and/ or sharing objects with roommates or loved ones who have the infection such as: sharing linens, towels, eating utensils, etc. Infection can also occur when an area of the skin is punctured or broken, bacteria can then enter the bloodstream and cause infection.


MRSA (Methicillan Resistant Staphylococcus Auerus) Is a type of Staph infection that has built up immunity against commonly used antibiotics normally prescribed to treat Staph infections, making it somewhat more difficult to treat. Under most circumstances, this type of infection usually heals after a period of time with certain treatments, however, until the infection has cleared, it is still contagious.


Signs/Symptoms of Staph Infections

• Folliculitis (pronounced: fuh-lih-kyoo-lie-tus) is an infection of the hair follicles, the tiny pockets under the skin where hair shafts (strands) grow. In folliculitis, tiny white-headed pimples appear at the base of hair shafts, sometimes with a small red area around each pimple. This occurs often where people shave or have irritated skin from rubbing against clothing.
• Hordeolum (pronounced: hore-dee-oh-lum), commonly known as a sty (or stye), is a staph infection in the eyelid. It develops when glands connected to the base of the eyelash become swollen and irritated. A person with a sty will usually notice a red, warm, uncomfortable, and sometimes painful swelling near the edge of the eyelid.
• Impetigo This contagious, often painful rash can occur in all ages, but it is most common in young children and infants. The types of impetigo caused by staph bacteria usually feature large blisters that may ooze fluid and develop a honey-colored crust. These sores occur most commonly around the nose and mouth.
• Cellulitis This type of infection causes the skin to look red and swollen, to the point that the hair follicles create dimples similar to the appearance of an orange peel. Cellulitis occurs most often in the lower legs and feet of older persons.
• Furuncle (pronounced: fyoor-un-kul), commonly known as a boil, is a swollen, red, painful lump in the skin, usually due to an infected hair follicle. The lump usually fills with pus, growing larger and more painful until it ruptures and drains. Furuncles often begin as folliculitis and then worsen. They are most frequently found on the face, neck, buttocks, armpits, and inner thighs, where small hairs can often be irritated. A cluster of several furuncles is called a carbuncle (pronounced: kar-bun-kul). A person with a carbuncle may feel ill and feverish.

With all of that said, I would like to share 2 natural treatments to help eliminate Staph/MRSA infections. For reminder, my disclaimer has been posted at the top of this post, discretion advised.


Remedy #1 :

Turmeric Powder. Turmeric has long been known for its anti-inflammatory,anti-bacterial, and antiseptic properties. Research has proven its benefits of treating many different health conditions from Alzheimer's disease, to cancer.Turmeric should be avoided by people with gallstones or bile obstruction. Pregnant women may want to consult their Doctor before taking Turmeric as it can be a uterine stimulant. Please note there is a HUGE difference between using the Turmeric Powder and taking the Turmeric Capsules,read your labels and avoid Dicalcium Phosphate & Maltodextrin if you see listed as 'Other Ingredients'. Purchasing a $2-3 bag of Turmeric powder from your local health. food store or international foods store is highly encouraged.


For consumption, mix 1tsp-1Tbls of powder with yogurt or jello, and take up to 3 days until symptoms clear.




Remedy #2:

Manuka Honey. Not just any honey :) But Manuka honey. Originally from Australia and New Zealand, this honey has excellent antimicrobial properties as well as anti-infection organisms. Some researchers have shown that it also has the ability to make MRSA more sensitive to antibiotics such as oxacillan , therefore making it effective in reversing antibiotic resistance!


For use: May apply honey topically (even if the wound is open) to the infected area and leave on for about 20minutes as needed. There have been no proven adverse reactions for prolonged use thus far.
To take internally, add 1Tbls to a cup of tea or take it alone as needed until symptoms clear.






For more information, check out these sites:
http://www.earthclinic.com/CURES/boils.html
http://kidshealth.org/teen/infections/bacterial_viral/staph.html#
http://www.squidoo.com/genuine-active-manuka-honey
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/staph-infections/DS00973/DSECTION=symptoms