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Monday, February 29, 2016

All chomped up

This weekends gardening was a bag of mixed results.  After months of frustration and trying to control a granadella that decided to go wild, I finally decided that it just had to go.  This one plant was consuming all my gardening energy and I wasn't paying any attention to the rest of the garden.  This was proved case and point when my next door neigbour pointed out that I had worms chomping away at my prize clivia's and worst of all the very best one was almost destroyed.  I poisened the worms but I have no idea if the plants will recover, only time will tell. 

On the plus side I managed to split some more strawberry runners but there again too, I had not noticed how many little strawberries had grown and gone to waste, all because of a nasty vine.  I had also noticed some time ago that my back yard neighbour's mulberry tree had dropped a seed that somehow wedged behind my rain water drain pipe.  I managed to retrieve the small plant with a tap root and transplanted it to the front garden, but I'm not sure if the little guy is going to make it, he's looking rather sad at the moment.

Aren't there just times in life when we realize that something seemingly good has taken over the garden of our lives and is sucking the life out of us, consuming all our energy and taking us away from the things in life that should be important to us, especially our relationship with God?  At times like that we need to make choices to eradicate them from our lives.  We need to free ourselves from the bondages that hold us back and break free and live for God! 


Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Life forms

Is it just me or do you sometimes look at your cats, dogs, bunnies or whatever little creatures you have welcomed into your home and just marvel that they are such a beautiful life form, so different from yourself. 

I find it so precious that these little beings have a will of their own and boy can they be naughty!  We selfishly think only of human existence as being the most important but these little creatures are made by God too, with a specific design and purpose.  When my cats were still kittens I read a lovely book all about cats and learned that their entire being is created to hunt......these days the only thing Honey hunts is his pellets.. Lol!

I am convinced that every time I pick up my kitties and hug them that God himself not only smiles, but slides inside their skin, just to enjoy the moment with us, for I am never as comforted as when I feel one of my babies in my arms.

How about giving God a hug (Wink wink) today by hugging one of His creations and tell Him how much you appreciate the diverse and marvelous creation He has made! 


Monday, February 22, 2016

A little something something

I love cooking pasta dishes and I've often felt like it is just missing something small.  Some time back I started using paprika to spice up my meal and wow, it just adds that little bit of spiciness without being hot but has that same flavour jab as chili's do. 

So besides adding a little zest, what else is paprika good for?  It may have anti-aging effects; it can help keep your eyes healthy; can help prevent cancer; helps improve blood pressure; promotes sound sleep; can help with blood formation and can help heal wounds.

The most interesting aspects for me with this are the last two and wow what a comparison we can make to the cross of Calvary and the work that Jesus did when He died for our sins.  Isaiah 53 tells us that Jesus was wounded for our transgressions and that by His stripes we are healed.  Jesus died for our physical healing and wounds but He also died for the wounds that we carry deep within our souls. 

His salvation bought us resurrected life, He creates life within us and as paprika helps form new blood cells in our body, Christ's spirit dwells within us and quickens our mortal bodies!  Indeed we have new life in Him! 

So let's celebrate Jesus and the life that He has given us today!

Sunday, February 21, 2016

Stormy nights

I remember it so well, growing up in Nelspruit we had many storms.  When the thunder got loud it was really scary and often in the evenings the power would go out.  Well mom always knew how to make those scary nights fun, because out would come the gas cooker and it would be pancake night.....and who ever eats pancake without cinnamon sugar?  Well cinnamon is not only good for desert.

Wow, once again I am blown away by the long list of conditions that cinnamon can help to treat:  Blood sugar control; Yeast infections; Stomach bugs - anti-bacterial; Irritable bowl syndrome; Cancer preventor; Bone health; Food preservative; Alertness, memory & cognitive development; Weight loss; Massage therapy
Toe nail fungus; Lowers cholesterol; Tooth decay & gum disease; Insect repellent; Colds, sore throats & cough; Alzheimer's disease; PMS; Reduces depression - mood enhancer and Virus fighter. 

Mood enhancer.....Lol!  Maybe that's why it works so well with desert then as I've never been happier than after a pancake or good apple pie!  How does the Word of God work as a mood enhancer?  Well, when we read about God's love for us in John 3:16 and the price He was willing to pay for our salvation, then that sure should make us not only feel loved but feel good as well. 

When we sing praise songs that bring to remembrance the Word of God we are also reminded of God's goodness!  If you've been feeling moody or grumpy lately, why not focus on some praise songs and lift your voice towards heaven!  I know God will inhabit your praises and lift your heart and mood!


Thursday, February 18, 2016

Out of my painting zone

Well tonight was a big challenge for me.  Our art group has decided to work on some focused activities to stretch our talents and it is wonderful, but oh, I am so not comfortable with abstract art....I love it...but doing it is a whole different story!  Mine is still busy drying then I need to decide whether to "share" it or not.... Lol!

God wants us to use our talents, but let's be honest, how often don't we think to ourselves that gifts and talents are for children only, a few after school activities to keep the kids busy.   Well no friends, that is not what God intended for you to do with your talents. 

You see our talents build the other parts of our brain that need to be stimulated in order for our functional or career function to work correctly.  That is why you'll see many accountants are artistic or musical or why great thinkers deliver great speeches.  Our talents give us balance. 

So can I challenge you to ask yourself, what am I creatively good at?  Is it art; music; baking; gardening; photography; building things; DIY, whatever it is why not get cracking.  The more you exercise your talents the stronger you will become as an individual. 






Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Wash those dirty feet

Like most kids I used to love running round bare foot, so much so that I would often go to bed with feet that were covered in dirt.  Obviously this would make the bed dirty and I'm guessing that irritated my parents somewhat and my dad would come into the room at night, uncover my feet and give me my marching orders to go and wash my feet before bed.  Heehee!

In ancient times though people had a totally different type of dirt on their feet.  They would walk the roads that were also shared by livestock and I'm sure you can imagine the rest.  That's why when entering a house they would always wash their feet and usually this task was carried out by servants.

That is precisely why Jesus washed the disciples feet when they entered the upper room.  He was declaring by His actions that He was there to serve them and that He would soon perform His greatest act of servant hood by dying for our salvation.

Jesus showed the true nature of leadership and that is to serve.  We should never forget that when we seek to be great we will first need to help others. 

Monday, February 15, 2016

I gave it all for Lent

We all know the saying "I gave it all for Lent" but most don't stop to consider what it really means.  The Lent journey starts on Ash Wednesday which was actually last Wednesday (sorry I haven't been on the ball this year) and continues on for the 40 days up until resurrection Sunday. 

Now I've been hesitant to even consider looking at this year as the last time I paid it any attention, I gave up meat and chicken and have struggled to eat it since.  There were aspects of that time that touched me deeply and made an impact on how I live and I have pretty much stayed 90% vegetarian since but do eat fish.

Why would I give meat up anyway, why do we give up anything for the lent time period?  Forsaking something we love during this time encourages us to focus more on our relationship with Christ and especially to connect with His death and resurrection and the power that lies within that, most importantly our salvation. 

If you have never taken part in the lent journey before I encourage you to do some research on it and I have supplied further study material links below.  I encourage you to take some time out to do so and I'll try to touch on aspects of the journey over these next few weeks, but I won't cover it in detail.

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For further research you can download the Lent handbook from my church's website in pdf format in both English and Afrikaans

http://www.mosaiek.com/lent-2016/

http://www.upperroom.org/lent101


Sunday, February 14, 2016

Vitamins ala' Pepper

Looking at Turmeric the other day I noticed that it recommended that it be consumed with Black Pepper, which then obviously got me curious as the the benefits of Black pepper.  So here's the low down on pepper:

It is an anti-inflammatory; improves digestion; improves absorption of vitamins; good source of minerals namely potassium, calcium, zinc, manganese, iron, and magnesium. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps controlling heart rate and blood pressure.  It is an source of many vital B-complex and anti-oxidant vitamins C & A. Peppers have been used therapeutically in dentistry as an antiseptic remedy for tooth-decay and gum swellings.  Black pepper and honey is a traditional approach to respiratory congestion, helping to expectorate and dry up mucus membrane.

Absorption of nutrients into our system is vital as if no nutrients were absorbed into our bodies we would die.  In the same manner the Holy Spirit works with us when we engage in reading the Word of God.  The Holy Spirit creates fertile soil in our hearts for us to be able to absorb the Word and gain maximum benefit from it.

So next time you open your bible, by book or by application, why not say a short prayer and welcome the Holy Spirit into your heart and mind and ask Him to be your guide and teach you what the scriptures mean.

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

A little bit of numbing

I had to have a dental procedure today and boy once the anesthetic wore off it was sore!  I remembered a trick my sister taught me about coriander having a numbing effect and although I did not have any cloves in the house I tried the powder and would you know it, soon after the pain subsided.

But oh my goodness!  I had no idea of all the wonderful medical properties of coriander and I don't have time share the details, so I'll enclose a link for you to check, but to name just a few of the conditions it can treat:  skin inflammation & disorders; lowers cholesterol; diarrhea; regulates blood pressure; mouth ulcers; anemia; allergic reactions; salmonella protection; bone health; digestion; smallpox; menstrual disorders; eye care; conjunctivitis.... but most impressively - blood sugar and diabetes.

It seems to me that most of the benefits of coriander are to regulate the bodies functions and bring us stability.  The Word of God does that for us in our faith.  It confirms our hope, strengthens our belief and therefore our resolve and gives us a solid foundation on which to build our lives.

So if you are looking for a little stability in your life of chaos, why not turn to the word of God and allow all its mysteries to bring you joy!

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https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/herbs-and-spices/health-benefits-of-coriander.html



Tuesday, February 9, 2016

We need the lines

So back to art for a bit.  I have now reached the place where things are going to be a little uncomfortable for me with my art because I have to face the fact that if I want to improve my technique and finish I need to work a lot slower...... Arrrgggh!  For someone who likes to see a finished products quickly, that is going to be hard. 

But case and point was my last piece this weekend.  I wanted to paint a little otter bobbing out the water and he really was cute.  I laboured over the background and if I say so myself, I loved it.  Mixing brush strokes and blotting I had the water effect as perfect as I was going to get it.  Then came Mr. Otter.  Well being a very dark brown image I painted in the body and background very dark....but oops, in the process I last my guide lines. 

Now for an amateur loosing the lines is not a good thing at all and I realized afterwards that I could have done the first coat, then done the delicate bits like eyes and paws and then finished off with the full body fills where needed.  Lesson learned! 

Sometimes we forget that our journey in 'Growing with God' is a lifetime calling and not a hundred yard dash.  Learning to trust Him, lean on Him and become fully developed in our faith will never end.

So have a little patience with yourself when things don't quite work out right the first time :-) 


Monday, February 8, 2016

Gets you thinking

Okay so if you are not into all the spicy stuff, rest easy there will be other topics in between, but honestly I can say that this journey is already changing the way I cook and so I can't wait to see what the long term outcome will be from this path of discovery for the soul and spirit. 

Next is Turmeric.  Being a root as well it has many of the same healing properties that ginger has:  natural anti-inflammatory; increases body's antioxidant capacity; neutralizes free radicals; lowers the risk of heart disease; assists in treating cancer; helps arthritis and may help delay aging.

The exciting factor with Turmeric is that it improves brain function and lowers brain diseases, including strong benefits against depression and helps prevent and treat Alzheimer’s disease.  It could even help improve memory and make you smarter.

In order for Turmeric to work at its best it should be consumed with pepper.  I believe the Word of the Lord is our Turmeric for scripture tells us that it goes to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow.  It judges the thoughts and intents of the heart.  In order for us to gain the best advantage from the Word it should be combined with solid fellowship in the Church of God.  And yes, reading the word will make you smarter too, Lol!




Sunday, February 7, 2016

Cancer of the soul

When you look at it for its medical uses Ginger is a most exciting spice.  The list of uses is extensive starting with treating digestion and stomach related ailments, arthritis, colic, lowers blood sugar and cholesterol which assists with heart conditions, flu, headaches and muscle pain.  It is a powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant.

What I am most excited about though is that Ginger is now believed to be one of the best non-chemical treatments for cancer.  Initially believed to only assist with nausea from chemotherapy it is not being discovered to be 10,000 times stronger than chemotherapy due to the component 6-shogaol because it targets the root cause of cancer malignancy.  

That got me thinking about the conditions of the soul we deal with.  We all have aspects or areas in our lives where we have been hurt and feel pain.  Over time and life experiences these areas become areas that the devil chooses to build as strongholds in our lives and he will inflict pain on us to continually reinforce our insecurities in those areas.  These areas become a cancer of the soul.

As much as ginger goes to treating the root cause of the cancer, so too the Holy Spirit works in our lives to heal the root cause of our insecurities but continually showering us with the love of God and with His Holy presence.  Yes it may take counselling or psychological support but the Holy Spirit is always in control and guides us to those whom He knows can administer the best treatment to us.

If you are needing a little ginger for the soul then move into the loving presence of God and you will soon feel and experience His love and His power in ways you never imagined!





Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Taming the shrew

A while back I was complaining that with the drought my garden was practically dead.....well that has changed for the better.  I once again have overgrowth that I can hardly control.  Although it is looking slightly messy, it really does look beautiful.  It is going to take some discipline to get to work on it though and I'll have to get stuck in soon. 

Talking about discipline though I was reminded the other day that I had let my bible reading discipline slip again.  It really is so easy to get so busy that we forget to make time for the things that are really important to us or that really mean something to us.  

The beauty about our relationship with God though is that God doesn't nag us when we wonder away from His presence, no He simply waits patiently knowing that like any small child we won't wonder far before we come running back into His loving arms. 

How about joining me and running into God's love through His word today! 


Monday, February 1, 2016

Bare necessities

Communication is a very strange thing.  People say what they mean then they don't.  Words can say one thing and behaviour something completely different.  Those in the know call this text and sub text, but where does it all start from?  Everything we do and say emanate from whatever is brewing deep within our soul.

Interestingly scripture talks about this often and three scriptures which you will find below say it well:  The mouth speaks what the heart is full of!  Have you ever been in a bad mood and just had a bad day?  I certainly have had many, and many times I have had to stop myself in my tracks and think about what is going on deep inside and forcefully pull my attitude straight.

How do we do this, how do you change your frame of mind and pull things in the right direction?  Philippians 4:8 (also below) gives us the tools to use.  To put it more simply I'm reminded again of that cute South Pacific song "Happy talking, talking, happy talk...talk about things you like to do."  Okay I'll stop singing now.

Sounds simple but then it wouldn't be powerful if it wasn't simple and true, that's why books like "Don't sweat the small stuff" became so popular, but if you are still stuck and can't get it right....remember Mogly from the Jungle Book....

Look for the bare necessities
The simple bare necessities
Forget about your worries and your strife
I mean the bare necessities
That's why a bear can rest at ease
With just the bare necessities of life


Now that should get you smilin!  

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For your own study read:


Their tongue is a deadly arrow; it speaks deceitfully. With their mouths they all speak cordially to their neighbors, but in their hearts they set traps for them.

You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

Philippians 4:8

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.