Living Exception-ally

I am very proud and pleased with Lori's many words of wisdom ingrained in her by the Spirit through her consistent study of God's Word and all of the many marriage books and magazines she is always reading. It amuses me sometimes to see comments about all the exceptions to God's ideals. We all know exceptions occur in this imperfect world, but the exceptions are almost always caused by sin, and missing the mark of doing things God's way.

We need the Loris and the preachers of the world to teach God's Word and His ideals plain and simple, so that the Spirit can work in the lives of God's children. The family of God is filled with imperfect people, flaws in husbands and wives, yet we are told to believe that the God of the universe has come to make His home within our hearts and minds, and whole being. We are the temple of the living God, and our imperfect being houses complete perfection. His desire is that we become "like Jesus" and this must mean shooting at all of God's ideals with no exceptions.

Grace and forgiveness abounds to all of the exceptions to God's ideals, but I would hope that Lori's readers would understand that truth always remains truth, even when I do not live up to it. To treat all of God's Word as one big exception filled with grace is to miss out on what God desires to do with our lives.

God is in the business of transforming lives and making us more like Jesus. He does this with His truth that pierces to our soul where His Spirit can take the seeds of truth and make us new… brand new… in the gardens of our hearts and minds. Truth is the only vehicle that can move us from where we are now with any sinful thoughts and habits to where God desires to take us. He wants to take us to a place where our lives shine His truth, not the exceptions, for all the world to see Jesus in you and in me.

Yes, Jesus can and does shine even in the exceptions when grace and love abounds. Thank you, God, for your Son who delivers us all from sin and makes us whole. We are delivered from sin the moment we believe in the truth of Christ’s saving grace on the cross, and we are made whole in every area of life that we surrender to Jesus through faith. That faith is in the truth, not in the exceptions. If we live a life believing exceptions all day long we miss out on what God is able to do in our lives, for we set standards far below His ideals. No, to grow in Christ demands that we first know God’s Word, and His truth, looking to a perfect Jesus as our model for life, not a weak and dying world, nor a world filled with weak believers.

The impotence of the church today comes from a lack of faith in God and God’s Word. I pray regularly and thank the Lord for my faith, and then ask for more faith to believe God is all that He has to say to me. It is so easy like Peter, to take my eyes off of Jesus and see the stormy sea below my feet, and to watch the imperfections of others as an excuse for my failings. This is not the design of the Christian life to look to forgiveness and grace before desiring perfection. No, if God calls you and me perfect in Christ, should not our heart and mind follow by faith to a spiritual place so much higher than exception upon exception.

Listening to God’s ideals, and trying to apply them to your life, through faith, is how God works with His people. He gives the unqualified promise with no exceptions so long as we live out the promise through faith. Many of God’s promises may be slow in coming, but when we run up to Father Abraham soon one day and ask, “Father Abraham, did God keep all of his promises?” I am sure he will smile and say, “Look around you my child and you will see the New Jerusalem sits upon every square inch of the land I trod looking for the promised land. God’s promises are at times slow in coming, but with hope, patience and faith, they always will come true in your life.”

I appeal to those who continue to live their lives based on exceptions to God’s ideal, to not use God’s grace as an excuse to not grow in the knowledge and maturity of God’s Word. Allow God’s Word and His truths to speak to your hearts without exception and to believe in all of His promises, even those that are hard to understand and accept. Lori and I have found so many of God’s promises coming true in our lives, and we wait with confident expectation that each and every one of them will be fulfilled to the degree we are willing to believe them in this life.

May God bless you all this wonderful New Year as you seek to love and serve our God and Savior, and may we all give Him His rightful place as King over all in our lives, without exception.

~ Ken

Finally, brothers, good-bye.

Aim for perfection,

listen to my appeal,

be of one mind,

live in peace.

And the God of love and peace will be with you.

2 Corinthians 13:11

Finding Your Gifts With GF Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

 Alyssa knew from a very young age that she wanted to be a ballerina.  She would even make her younger brothers dance in her plays.  As she grew older, she would put on numerous dances for us with her ballerina friends.  When she grew up, she was a professional ballerina living out her gift.

 

My sons were gifted athletes.  They played soccer, baseball, and basketball until high school.  In high school, they played baseball and basketball.  Steven even played baseball through college.

 

I always wanted to be a teacher.  I taught my younger sisters how to tie their shoes when I was five years old.  I would gather all the children in the neighborhood and play school.  I grew up to be a teacher and now I am teaching women how to love their husbands and children.

 

Cassi didn't know what her gifts where when she was young.  She took ballet for awhile, then played soccer and basketball.  In college, she changed her major several times, held several different jobs, and is now a Treatment Coordinator at a local orthodontist practice.

 

I think she may have finally found her gift, however.  See that banana bread in the picture above, she made that without any white flour or sweetener and it is fabulous!  She started on a 30 day program a few months ago and started making her food look real pretty.

 

Several weeks ago, she asked me to come look at something.  She had designed her own website a few weeks prior on instagram and had over 400 followers already.  She showed what meals she had for that day.  It has really inspired people to eat healthy.  She LOVES cooking and creating!

 

If you are looking for your gift, just ask the Lord to show you.  Usually, it is something you really enjoy and you are good at doing.  Life is a bit more exciting when you are able to practice your gift.

 

Here is the recipe for her banana bread ~

Mix together in a mixer:

•3 ripe, mashed bananas
•1/3 c melted coconut oil {or butter}
•6 eggs
•1-4 Tbsp honey {depending on sweetness of bananas & personal preference}
•1 teaspoon vanilla
•1/2 cup coconut flour
•1 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
•1/8 teaspoon salt
•1/3 cup dark chocolate {I used 100%, but I would only suggest this for dark chocolate lovers like me☺}

Optional:
•1/3 cup walnuts
•small handful raisins
•1 large Medjool date chopped up

  Bake in a bread pan at 350 degrees for 50 min. Makes 1 loaf.

 

 

 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above,

coming down from the Father of lights

with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

James 1:17

Little House, Simple Things, Melt In Your Mouth, Metamorphosis Monday, Gluten Free
Traditional Tuesdays, Simple Lives, Green Resource, Thank Your Body, Pennywise Platter

Jane Fonda's Longing

It's great when these famous women in the media like Sharon Osbourne and Jane Fonda can realize later in their life that God's ways are indeed best.  Jane was on Katie and said, "I would have loved being married to one man for all of my life.  It is such a beautiful thing!"

I realize a lot of you are in difficult marriages.  I hear it in your "voice" when you comment on my blog or email me.  I just want to encourage you to hang in there.  It will most likely get much better.  I have heard that people who stick it out instead of getting divorced are much happier just five years later.

Marriage isn't usually easy.  We marry someone so different than us.  We are all incompatible.  We all have our own likes and dislikes. He is a man, you are a woman.  However, the more unselfish you can become {the more like Jesus}, the easier your marriage will become and you will be much happier.  I love growing old with Ken.  I am glad I stuck it out even when we weren't getting along very well.  Divorce wasn't in our vocabulary. 

I enjoy Sunday afternoons watching football together. 

I love taking walks every afternoon holding hands. 

I love walking on the beach every Saturday and going out to breakfast. 

I love how he is my biggest cheerleader for me writing this blog,
my fiercest defender, and even, occasionally, writes a post for me.

I love going to church with him and his arm around me
as we sing praising the Lord. 

Mostly, I love that he loves my children just as much as I do. 
He wants to hear all the details of their lives and prays for them with me every day. 

I love having devotions with him and hearing his voice
as he prays for all the things that concern us. 

I love that we see eye to eye on all the most important things in life,
believing in Jesus, as well as politics, eating healthy, etc. 

We share our aches and pains with each other as we grow older.  Our hair is graying and we're getting wrinkled. {I am getting wrinkled a lot faster than he is, that's for sure!} 

Life is definitely beautiful, as Jane Fonda stated, growing older with one man.  God's ways are best. Occasionally, even those in the secular media are able to see it and say it.

He has made everything beautiful in its time.

Ecclesiastes 3:11

Happy 32nd Anniversary to my amazing husband!

Alphabe~Thursday

A Wonderful Christmas Morning

Every Christmas morning, my sisters' families and my family all get together at my mom and dad's home and have a nice brunch.  Then we all gather together in the living room.  My dad presented all of us with his three favorite books.  Afterwards, we all went around and shared what God has taught us this year.

My nephew shared that he has really learned the value of his family.  Many of his college friends are from broken homes and hate going home.  They spend the nights drinking with friends, not wanting to be at home.  He has enjoyed spending evenings with his family just hanging out.

His mom, my sister, shared that she and her husband went through some rough times but she is so happy they stuck it out.  They became empty nesters last September and are enjoying having time alone.  Her husband said it was like they were newlyweds!

Family...a husband and a wife raising the children God may bless them with.  All of my parent's grandchildren were there except Ryan and Erin who spent Christmas with her family this year.  They all shared what the Lord has taught them.  More about faith.  More about trust.  More about grace.  More about the importance of Christian fellowship.  More about prayer. More about God's peace.

My dad teared up quite a bit.  He believes there is nothing greater than hearing his children and grandchildren all walking in Truth. 

If you come from a broken home, start a new, godly generation.  Love your husband.  Raise your children to know and love God.  Be happy and joyful so they will be drawn to what you have and want it for themselves.

It takes time and is a huge investment.  My parents are reaping what they have sown.  It is a beautiful thing.  With God ALL things are possible.

One generation shall commend your works to another,

and shall declare your mighty acts.

On the glorious splendor of your majesty,

and on your wondrous works,

I will meditate.

Psalm 145:4,5

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from my family to yours! 

God has been very good to me.  I know I don't deserve His love, grace,
and mercy but He pours it generously upon me. 

Jon and Alyssa have been very happily married now for almost two years. 

Ryan and Erin are expecting my next grandbaby in May! 

Cassi enjoys her work as a Treatment Coordinator at a nearby orthodontic

practice and creating beautiful meals for her website. 

Steven is in orthodontic school in Houston and loving it. 

Ken keeps busy working hard and helping anyone God puts into His path. 

I enjoy keeping my home a place to feed people healthy food,

mentoring any women God puts into my path,

and love writing for my blog. 

His ways are so good. 

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. 

{There is no one I would rather serve!}

Joshua 24:15

Best Cranberry Sauce EVER!

My family doesn't eat cranberry sauce.  My mom always brings it for Thanksgiving and none of my family eats it.  I saw Pioneer Woman make some on television so I thought I would try it.  It was SO yummy!  My son-in-law said he could eat it as jam.  My daughter-in-law said it was as good as the best store bought kind.  I changed everything to organic because organic always tastes better and is better for you.  The added benefit is that it is SO easy!

Put everything into a saucepan ~

2 packages or boxes of fresh, organic cranberries

1 cup organic cranberry juice

1 cup maple syrup

6 Tablespoons organic orange juice

1 Tablespoon orange zest

Bring to a boil, then turn to simmer.  I probably simmered it for an hour or more and then took a potato masher and mashed it a little bit.  Let it cool, then put it in the refrigerator.  It turns into gel after it is cooled in the frig.  Enjoy!

Better is a dinner of herbs where love is

than a fattened ox and hatred with it.
Proverbs 15:17

The Prayers Of A Grandpa

During his younger years, he was in the military and loved his country but, from all appearances, didn't have a strong relationship to God.  He married my mom's sister and they had three children.  {This is a picture of their 50th wedding anniversary.} Somewhere along the line, he dedicated his life to Jesus and prayed every day for an hour or two for each of his children, grandchildren, and anyone else on his list.

His three children had a rough life.  They all went through divorce and some rebellion.  Through it all, he continued praying and you know what, I am seeing the fruit of those prayers all these years after his death.  Several of the grandchildren are walking strongly with the Lord.

Three of them in particular stand out to me.  I know them the best so I can see more clearly what is happening in their lives.  His oldest daughter had two daughters from different men, and now her oldest daughter is simply amazing.  She married her "soul mate" and they are very involved in their church.

Her two children quoted scripture to me and she is crazy in love with her husband.  They don't make a lot of money but she is home full-time taking good care of her family.

The youngest daughter married five years ago and they just had a baby.  Her husband works hard to provide for the family.  She also is crazy in love with her husband and with her precious baby.  She stays home full-time taking care of her family and home.  Just today she posted this on facebook,  "I will never be ashamed of my faith."  On top of all this, she has lost a ton of weight and looks incredible.

His youngest son's son is walking with Jesus.  He is a precious young man that has some similarities to his grandpa.  He speaks his mind!  It may offend some but he says it as he sees it just like his grandpa did.  He is not afraid to call sin "sin!"

This precious grandpa's prayers are being answered...It is an absolute joy to behold.  With God, ALL things are possible and never underestimate the power of prayer!

And he told them a parable to the effect

that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.
Luke 18:1

Finer Things Friday, Spiritual Sundays
 

A Culture Of Death

Man has always been capable of horrendous evil ever since sin entered the world. However, I do believe behavior in America has gotten worse. In my mom's generation,  they rarely heard of anyone getting divorced. Couples stayed married until one of them died. They didn't have to lock their doors or fear their children were going to be abducted and murdered. The worst problems teachers faced in the classroom were chewing gum and talking too much.

Sure people were depressed back then but not like today.  Dr. Archibald Hart, a clinical psychologist for 45 years, said that 30 years ago the onset of depression was around 45 years old. Now, it is 14 years old! Something has gone terribly wrong in our society.

I believe it is a combination of things. Throwing out biblical principles is the most important one. With that comes divorce, abortion, and all kinds of evils. The breakdown of the family is destroying societies. Children need a father and mother. This is why God hates divorce. Divorce breeds anger in children.

The way children are being raised is another problem. Few parents are raising disciplined adults. They no longer say "no" to their children, teach them boundaries, or discipline them.  This has raised a generation of selfish adults. It is all about them. When people were depressed years ago, they would be unhappy and maybe end up killing themselves, not taking down 20 children with them. 

We also have a culture of death. Abortion is death to millions of babies. Homosexual marriage is death to procreation of children. Pornography is death to marriages and true intimacy in marriage. Television, movies, and video games trivialize death and destruction.

Our only hope is in Jesus. It always has been and it always will be. He transforms the human into a new creature and puts His Spirit within them enabling them to walk in love. Pray for this nation. Pray for your neighborhood and church. May all men come to see Christ living in you.

Create in me a clean heart, O God,

And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Psalm 5110

Why God Allows Evil

One woman asked me why God would allow such evil after my post reflecting on the murder of twenty young children.  Ken responded to her comment and I wanted to let all of you read it since this tragedy is so difficult to understand ~

There is so much we all want to ask God when we get to heaven, and yet, like Job who was finally silenced, we too will likely never ask God face to face how He could permit such evil, especially if He had foreknowledge of the evil to come.

God is said of the scriptures to be All Knowing, and All Powerful. With such a resume we have no choice but to wonder why? Why such evil of abortion and of shooting babies, or not much older? Why not stop such evil before it begins? Why not put an end to all evil forever.

The answer is most likely found in a very ironic place… Love. God’s love demands that he gives mankind freewill, and apart from a choice to do evil, we cannot in turn choose to love God. Love demands a choice which can be forced on no one or love is lost.

God’s grand experiment in creating a family is a story of heart break and unmentionable evil. It is the proof that all apart from God cannot produce anything good, but instead mankind is hopelessly flawed without Christ Jesus. God made mankind and desired to live in an active and wonderful relationship with each and every person, but each one of us has walked away from God, so we needed the ultimate sacrifice. God enters into all of our pain, all of our despair as he watches his only and perfect Son be murdered on a cross by mankind. He knows what these poor parents are suffering and the scriptures say he hurts deeply and is angry over mankind’s sin and heinous acts.

So why not stop it all? It is the patience of God that allows you and me to live eternally as His children. If God starts entering into the business of controlling man’s deeds and stops all evil, he has then stopped his wonderful, yet sometimes awful experiment of creating the family of God. God’s family is built day by day with those who will believe in Him, even when they cannot understand at times. This is the essence of faith to trust God evn in the things unseen. Our God must know that the suffering of some, no matter how horrible is worth birthing more children into the kingdom. If God stopped it all at Hitler, would you and I be going to heaven? No, we have to live through evil times to be counted a "saint" and a child of God.

The day will come, and it may be upon us soon, where Jesus returns with a shout. I believe that the shout heard around world will be the word ENOUGH! God’s patience and love for His children will be overwhelmed by His demands for justice, and quickly and swiftly justice will be done.

I would hate to think that on that day of judgment we who have questioned God as to why he has delayed so long in controlling mankind's evils  will instead ask the question. “Oh Lord, why did you not wait just one more month or one year longer so my friend or my family member might have been saved?” We may see clearly then that in the context of eternity, the only thing that counts is how many souls are birthed into God’s family. All evil and evil deeds pales in comparison to even one more soul being saved. Would not Christ have died for just you or me?

We think it would be so easy if we were God. Intervene on all major evils but let most of freewill happen. I would surmise that when God’s love, patience, kindness and justice are all held perfectly, it demands that he has set an appointed time for his grand experiment to come to an end, and until such time, freewill reigns for mankind. We, not God, are responsible for what happens on earth, for God has set mankind over the earth until such time as Christ returns when all things will be placed back under His sovereign rule. Until such time we, and God, must allow evil to be a part of life on earth, and hope and pray that such evils will drive mankind back to a Savior who we so desperately need to save us from our own sins, and to save us from this corrupted world.

We, like Job, may question God much while we are on earth, but like Job, when we see God’s face, we will turn silent. To see God face to face will cause all of our questions to disappear for we will know in an instant that God indeed is perfect and His love story for mankind was also perfect. We must leave room to see what glorious rewards are waiting for those who love God and seek to please Him; and for those little ones cut off way too young in life by evil. Faith requires that we trust God completely, even in the things that are hard to understand, recognizing that we live within time and space, and God sees the bigger picture that we are not yet privy yet to see. But some day… all will become clear for those who walk by faith and not by sight.

So that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, 

in heaven and on earth and under the earth.
Philippians 2:10

Your Number One Priority

Wow! Even the secular society gets it right once in awhile.  I was reading an article in the Huffington Post by a woman that was told by a friend that her marriage ended because she spent too much time with single friends.  She also spent a lot of time with single, male friends {which I would completely discourage.}  She even took road trips with them.

Her husband liked being at home more so she reasoned she needed to have her own life.  After she divorced, her friend gave her this amazing advice ~

"Amira, your husband should always be your number one priority," she said to me. "That should be your main relationship. Even when there are children, you need to nurture the base relationship. He should do the same for you, too. Sure, there are family and friend crisis that you may have to deal with, but your focus should always be on your marriage. Always."

Now I am going to get just a little political.  During the Democratic convention, Michelle Obama said that the most important job in her life were her children.  She even called herself Mom-In-Chief.  I was sad when I heard her say this.  I would have loved her saying that Barrack was the most important person in her life.

One of Ann Romney's sons said that the universe revolved around Ann for Mitt.  She always came first in his life.  He loved his sons, but he needed his wife.  I loved hearing this!

This concept is not taught in our society or church.  When you make your husband your priority after your relationship to Jesus, everything else falls into place.  He is happy.  Your children are happy.  People around you love being with you.  In return, you are happy.

I know there are so many divorced women out there that would have been so thankful to receive this advice years earlier.  They would have spared themselves and their children so much grief.  Always make him your number one priority!  This is the way it should be.

And the Lord God said,

"It is not good that the man should be alone; 
I will make him a help meet for him."
Genesis 2:18

A Nation Reaps What It Sows

Ever since sin entered the world, there has been evil.  Cain killed Abel.  A man killing his brother is about as evil as it gets.  A society that tries to rid itself of God and biblical principles suffers.  Yes, evil has always been present, and there are societies that have been much worse than ours.  Sodom and Gomorrah.  Ancient Greece.  Hitler's Germany.

Our nation was founded upon biblical principles.  The Ten Commandments were posted all over and taught to children.  Thou shalt not kill.  People knew right from wrong.  Yes, slavery was a terrible evil and half of our country fought to do away with it and succeeded.

Biblical principles work, regardless if people believe in God or not.  Being taught right from wrong is a good thing for a society, but now, we celebrate homosexuality.  We have a president who believes it is acceptable to murder unborn babies.  Pornography is rampant.  

God will not be mocked.  We reap what we sow.

When mankind does what is right in their own eyes:  Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. {Isaiah 5:20}  Without biblical principles being taught men are left to their own devices and evil will prevail.

Society will only get worse if we do not turn to God.  Our nation will be seeing more mass murders and more evil so long as we walk the path we are now walking.  We all so desparately need God and His ways. as it is the only antidote to evil.  The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever:  the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.  More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold:  sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.  Moreover by them is thy servant warned:  and in keeping of then there is great reward.  {Psalm 19:9-11}

As God and His ways have systematically been kicked out of schools and society, we suffer the consequences.  Left to humanistic ways and values, we become a hardened and bitter people.  We who choose to honor God must continue to be salt and light in a world now propelled towards darkness.  Pray for our country.  Teach your children about God and His ways.  Do not fear. Trust in God.

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Isaiah 41:10

Taken Far Away From Home

This is a picture out of my sister's bedroom window.  When I saw it, I thought about how good God is to us.  My mom was raised in a small town called Zion, Illinois.  The whole city was built around a church in the shape of an upside down ark.  She was one of seven siblings and they were raised consistently going to church.  She knew most of the people in her town and is even friends with many of them today who she went to kindergarten with.

She loved being raised in Zion.  People were close and spent a lot of time with each other.  When I was a baby, my dad moved her out to Southern California to go to medical school at Loma Linda.  She was very lonely for many years.  It was nothing like Zion.  People weren't as friendly or as close.  Families moved often so there weren't many deep generational roots.

She raised us alone.  She didn't have anyone to help her.  She put her whole life into raising us.  My dad worked really long hours and had to travel far to and from work.

Fast forward to today.  She raised three daughter who all walk with Jesus and married solid Christian men who are great husbands and fathers.  All of her ten grandchildren love Jesus.  My dad and her are closer than they have ever been before.  She loves her church family and friends.  She gets to be with her Zion friends every summer when she spends the summer in Door County.

God has been so good to her.  She is always talking about how blessed she is and how thankful.  My mom and dad are continually amazed at His goodness to them.  They raised us in the church and we always knew they loved Jesus.  His ways are so good.

All things work together for good to those who love God

and are called according to His purpose.

Romans 8:28

Sparkling, Fruity Kombucha

Kombucha is a fermented drink, full of healthy probiotics, and great for your digestive system.  Cassi, my daughter, and I made it for several years awhile ago and just started making it again. It is VERY easy! My sister taught me a new twist that makes it bubbly and fruity.

Simply clean a large pan very well and rinse it with plain white vinegar. Pour in 12 cups of water and bring to a boil. Turn off the stove and add five bags of organic black or green tea. Then add 3/4 cup organic sugar, stir until the sugar dissolves, and let it cool to room temperature.  Pour it into a large, clean glass container that has been rinsed with vinegar to prevent mold.

Put the scoby in with a cup of the juice that the scoby was in. You can order them on Amazon or Ebay. Cover with a towel. Put a rubber band on to hold the towel in place and set in a dark place for ten days. After ten days, take out the scoby and put it into a glass jar with a lid.  Pour one cup of vinegar into the jar with the scoby and put it in the refrigerator for your next batch.

Pour the komucha into several glass jars that have been rinsed with vinegar and put in several raspberries, a small piece of ginger, several blueberries, a small piece of banana, or whatever you prefer.

Cover those jars with a lid and leave on the counter for one to three days, depending how you like the taste. Burp them every day. {Take the lid off and let some air in.}  I let mine sit for one day because I like it sweeter. Cassi lets hers sit for three days because she likes it not so sweet. When you like the taste of it, pour it through a strainer.  hen store it in the refrigerator and drink up! You can add a little lemon juice and stevia to it if you want it a bit more sweet with some ice and a straw and you have a healthy alternative to soda.

For with you is the fountain of life; 

in your light do we see light.

Psalm 36:9

Reparative Therapy ~ Good Or Bad?

You learn something new every day.  I watched Dr. Oz and he had a show on Reparative Therapy.  The homosexual society was extremely upset that he was even going to air this show.  I watched it because I was very interested in finding out what they were so upset about.

At the beginning, Dr. Oz told us this show was very controversial.  It was going to have two men who were homosexual but became heterosexual.  Then it was going to have men who say they were harmed by Reparative Therapy.

The two men who were changed were very well spoken and said nothing negative about homosexuality.  In fact, one of them was a psychotherapist and he said that he wished homosexual people nothing but good.  If they wanted to get married and have children, that was great with him.

He grew up being attracted to men but wanted to be attracted to women.  He wanted to grow up and get married and have children with a woman.  He found Reparative Therapy and changed to become heterosexual eight years ago.  Dr. Oz asked him if he was ever attracted to men the past eight years.  He said, "No." He is happily married and has two children.  He now helps many other homosexual men who want to become heterosexual and has had great success.

The other man had a similar story and was very happy to be heterosexual.   The other two homosexual men who went through Reparative Therapy said it made them want to commit suicide and didn't work for them.  A female doctor said that suicide, unfortunately, is very high in the homosexual community anyways.

She was pounced on for making this comment.  The homosexuals said suicide is so high because homosexuals live with so much guilt.  They need to accept themselves for who they are and realize homosexuality is a good thing.   They were cruel to her and definitely wanted to shut her up.

Governor Brown of California has made Reparative Therapy illegal.  He thinks it causes too much harm to homosexuals, especially children who are struggling with it.  They believe children should only be encouraged in their homosexuality, never discouraged by their parents.  They would like to take away the right of parents to ever say that homosexuality is not a good thing.

Wow!  Homosexuals who don't want to be homosexual aren't allowed to have those feelings of wanting to become heterosexual.  They must accept who they are and live their lives as homosexual even if they would love to become heterosexual and marry a person of the opposite sex.

What a sad day for our society.  This is all I can say about this subject.  I will let the Bible say the rest.

Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into

an image made like to corruptible man...

Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness

through the lusts of their own hearts,

to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: 

Who changed the truth of God into a lie.

Romans 1:22,24,25

Stay Attractive For Him

Whatever you did to capture your man, do the same things until the day you die.  Never take him for granted. Always look and act your best for him.

How many of you take this advice seriously? I have seen many women let themselves go after they got married. They don't understand or don't care how strong the power of the visual is in a man's sexuality. God made them this way. This is why Jesus referred to men when he said a man lusting after a woman is committing adultery in his heart with her. 

Most husbands don't expect their wives to look like the models on television and magazine covers. They would like them to look the best they can, however. They like clean, nice hair, nice clothes, and a little make up. They like their women to stay in shape and look good. It is VERY important to them. 

Soon after Alyssa, my daughter, and Jon were married, she went through her whole closet and got rid of any clothes that Jon didn't like. She wears her hair the way he likes it. He works out hard to stay in shape. They both try to eat healthy. They want to please each other in the way they look and act.

Ken just told me the other day that he prefers my hair down rather than up in a bun. I took my hair down as soon as I got home, curled it, and won't wear it up when I am around him anymore. I, too, want to please him.  He likes to please me also.

We do have an obligation to look as good as we possibly can for our husbands. It is good for your marriage. It makes your man happy. It also makes you feel better about yourself. It helps you be more confident. Being healthy and fit gives you more energy.

So do what you can to keep your man attracted to you. It is important to him whether he tells you or not. Ask him what is important to him and what he likes. Before you got married, you tried looking the best that you could for him. You wanted him to like you.  Keep that same mentality up. Stay attractive for him! He will appreciate it so much.

She makes coverings for herself; 

Her clothing is fine linen and purple.

Proverbs 31:22

The Year Of Jubilee

Every seven years, God commanded the Israelites to grant a remission of debts...every creditor shall release what he has loaned to his neighbor.  {Deuteronomy 15:1,2 } People have used this verse to try and pursuade me that this proves that God allows bankruptcy and debt.

However, further down God tells His people, For the Lord your God shall bless you as He has promised you, and you will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow; and you will rule over many nations, but they will not rule over you.  {Deuteronomy 15:6}
So here are more verses that God commands from believers ~

If a man borrows anything from his neighbor, and it is injured or dies while its owner is not with it, he shall make full restitution.

Exodus 22:14

The Lord will open for you His good storehouse, the heavens, to give rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hand; and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow.

Deuteronomy 28:12

The wicked borrows and does not pay back,

but the righteous is gracious and gives.

Psalm 37:21

The rich rules over the poor,

and the borrower becomes the lender’s slave. 

Proverbs 22:7

Do not be a man who strikes hands in pledge

or puts up security for debts;

if you lack the means to pay,

your very bed will be snatched from under you.

Proverbs 22:26,27

It is better that you should not vow

than that you should vow and not pay.  

Ecclesiastes 5:5

Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another;

for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. 

Romans 13:8

We are called to lend our money freely and generously but no where can I find that God allows believers to declare bankruptcy and not pay back their debt.  Some have questioned high, unexpected medical bills.  My suggestion is to take God at His Word, obey Him, and see how He will provide.  He is much bigger than medical bills!

We must never underestimate God's ability to provide for us when we are walking in obedience to Him.  He is a kind and generous God who promises to come to the aid of His people.  Trust and obey Him.

Respecting His Name

When I first start mentoring women, most of them just want to tell me all the negative things about their husbands that they don't like.  I let this go on for several weeks, then I ask them to not say anything negative about them anymore. {If they were being physically abused, it would be a different story but so far, I have not mentored a woman who was being physically abused.}

Many women love to complain about their husbands to anyone that will listen.  It is good for them to have an older, wiser woman they can go to and discuss true concerns with, but to speak negatively about him to others is wrong.  It damages his character and reflects poorly on them as wives.  As long as they are speaking negatively about their husbands, they will never treat them with the respect that God commands of them.  What we say and think about others always comes out in our actions towards them.

We must guard our husband's reputation and never speak ill of him, especially to our children.  We are to treat others the way we want to be treated and we sure wouldn't like it if he was speaking evil of us to our children.  A house divided falls.  Work on building a united and peaceful home for your children.

I always ask my young women to explain to me all the good things about their husbands, what made them fall in love with them, and to start dwelling on those qualities instead.  No husband is perfect and never will be so learn to accept them with their faults and speak highly of them to others.  This honors God, your husband, and his name which is so valuable.

A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: 

but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones. 

Proverbs 12:4

A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches,

and loving favor rather than silver and gold. 

Proverbs 22:1

Marital Oneness, Deep Roots At Home, Finer Things

A Cocktail Of Chemicals

Do you know what is in the wine you drink, if you drink it?  For one thing, grapes are always on the list of the top ten dirty dozen, the most highly sprayed foods to avoid.  Grapes are sprayed with 35 different toxic chemicals which are known to cause cancer.  Also, most grapes are from GMO grapes which means they weren't created the way God created them. 

There are also sulfates in the wine which are proven to cause health problems.  So when grapes are made into wine, all of those 35 different pesticides, herbicides, and sulfates are concentrated into a very toxic beverage.

We have been told that wine is good for us.  It well may be if it is organic wine but a wine filled with many chemicals couldn't possibly be healthy.  It seems to be a big gamble to take and has a good chance of leading to cancer, especially if you drink it often.

You can buy organic wines at many different stores now.  Trader Joe's has bottles for $4.  You can ask them what the best tasting one is and start looking for a healthy alternative to a toxic cocktail.  Start becoming wise about what you put into your body. 

Wise men and women are always learning,
always listening for fresh insights.
Proverbs 18:15

Malignant Melanoma Scare

We were finally able to celebrate my birthday, three months late!  I love celebrating with my mom, sisters, and Carol.  For all of our birthdays, we go out to lunch and have a wonderful time.

Alisa, the sister on my left, has always eaten fairly healthy but awhile ago, she was diagnosed with malignant melanoma.  This was a wake up call to her to become even more vigilant in taking care of her health.  She studied and realized that cancer has a much less chance of growing in an alkaline body than an acidic one. 

As we were leaving the restaurant, I saw someone eating french fries. I told her that is the one thing I miss, french fries and potato chips. She said she doesn't at all anymore once she read how rancid the oil is that is used for making those things and the harm they cause to the body.

After lunch, we went to her home.  She had jars of kombucha she was brewing on her counter.  She had trays of soaked and dehydrated nuts.  In her crock pot was an organic chicken with wonderful smelling seasonings.  In her refrigerator was organic meats, fresh squeezed juices, almond butter, organic vegetable and seed crackers, along with a lot of organic fruit and vegetables.

She has learned that farm raised fish is horrible for you and most wild caught fish is healthy for you.  Meat that is filled with antibiotics and hormones is bad for you, while meat that is from animals that eat food it was meant to eat, like grass, and wasn't shot up with junk, is good for you.

She is taking an intensive course on nutrition and loving it.  She is learning so much.  Her husband is a chiropractor and has always been interested in health.  He loves it that Alisa is now so much more into it also. They enjoy feeding their bodies, along with family and friends, healthy food! She has a food blog that she is slowly adding to if you'd like to check it out! My daughter has a strictly Paleo Blog which has numerous and delicious recipes without gluten, also!

Or do you not know that your body

is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you,

whom you have from God?

You are not your own,

for you were bought with a price.

So glorify God in your body.

I Corinthians 6:19-20

***Remember, I'm NOT a doctor. I'm just a homemaker who loves to research 
natural cures and have found many that have worked for my family and me. Information I have given is for educational and informational purposes only and to motivate you to make your own health care and dietary decisions based upon your own research and in partnership with your health care provider. Any statements or claims about the possible health benefits conferred by any foods or supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Nothing you read here should be relied upon to determine dietary changes, a medical diagnosis or course of treatment.