Where is your heart?

I have updated this Bible study presentation on the heart.

Heart

A power point presentation for Bible study click on Heart above to open and enjoy.

 

Things That Grow

I love plants. I love to watch them grow. They bring life into the room. They clean the air. They are beautiful.

I grew these Avocado plants from seeds. It takes up to 3 months before the seed sprouts, but each time I see the first root, it gives me joy. I love to share these as gifts.

This is my little grapefruit. I grew it from a seed from a grapefruit given to me by a friend who get the fruit from their trees in Florida. I did not know if it would grow when I planted it, and the day I saw the sprout coming up out of the soil I was so excited.

I have grown plants from cuttings.

I have enjoyed using different kind of containers, from coffee cups to tea pots, and I even used an old cookie jar. I liked the character the container gave each plant.

Now there is a lesson that comes from growing all these wonderful plants. Each seed or cutting that grew reminded me of the seeds we plant with our words. Speaking life makes things grow, and it does not matter what the vessel looks like, God can use anyone. It does not matter what mistakes you have made, or what has been done to you. You can be that vessel that grows beautiful and has life to be shared. All of these plants are different and are planted in various containers, and I have given away many as gifts. The thing they all have in common is that they are alive and they are growing. Just like you and me, we are different and have lived different lives, but we are alive. We are growing in Christ everyday. Sharing His gift with anyone who will receive what we have to share. The life we share is one of forgiveness and love. When we look at a person we see a person who Jesus loves and died for. We see a vessel that if willing can be used to carry His life to another. At least this is how I choose to see people. Soil ready to be planted, and watch grow in His beauty and love.

Power in The Blood/Spiritual Health/Physical Health / Bible Study

Spiritual Health / Physical Health

Study on Blood

(note; this is a condensed version of this study, There is so much on the blood of Jesus and human blood, you could write volumes on the subject. I only hope that in this study, you find something that you can use and apply to your life in a way that brings His healing and glory to you.)

     Blood is constantly moving. It is pumped from the heart, throughout the body through arteries. It then returns to the heart through the veins. It carries oxygen and nutrients to all of your body. Without blood you would not be alive. Yet the blood that truly gives you life is the blood of Jesus.

Leviticus 17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.

Life is in the blood. John 6:53-58 (KJV)⁵³ Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.⁵⁴ Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.⁵⁵ For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.⁵⁶ He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.⁵⁷ As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.⁵⁸ This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live forever.

Blood plays an important role in both our physical health and spiritual health. Without it, our bodies would die. Without the blood of Jesus Christ we would not be cleansed from our sins. Matthew 26:28 – For this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

Nothing but the Blood

There is Power in the Blood

Are you washed in the Blood?

These are just three hymns that have blood in their title. The blood sung about in each of these songs is the blood of Jesus. Sing praises to our Lord and Savior. Singing songs of praise and worship is one way we enter His presence. There is something that singing does for our body as well. Singing is an aerobic exercise as well.

Professor Graham Welch, Chair of Music Education at the Institute of Education, University of London, has studied developmental and medical aspects of singing for 30 years and he says the health benefits of singing are both physical and psychological. “Singing has physical benefits because it is an aerobic activity that increases oxygenation in the blood stream and exercises major muscle groups in the upper body, even when sitting. Singing has psychological benefits because of its normally positive effect in reducing stress levels through the action of the endocrine system which is linked to our sense of emotional well-being. Psychological benefits are also evident when people sing together as well as alone because of the increased sense of community, belonging and shared endeavor.”

http://heartresearch.org.uk/fundraising/singing-good-you

 

Scriptures

1 John 1:7 – But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Hebrews 9:22 – And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

Hebrews 9:12 – Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption [for us].

Revelation 12:11 – And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

Exodus 12:13 – And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye [are]: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy [you], when I smite the land of Egypt.

Hebrews 13:20 – Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

Revelation 1:5 – And from Jesus Christ, [who is] the faithful witness, [and] the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

Hebrews 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

 

Foods good for your blood

Have some blackstrap molasses

Here’s what we definitely know: It’s rich in iron and minerals that help your body produce red blood cells and support your immune system, which is why it’s often recommended for women who suffer from bad menstrual cramps and have fibroids or endometriosis. Some people credit blackstrap molasses — the unsulfured kind! — with helping keep swelling down, which is not surprising given its anti-inflammatory properties. Two to three teaspoonfuls a day should do it. And don’t worry. Add it to oatmeal or sweeten your tea with it. Word on the street has it that it complements almond milk quite nicely as well.

Don’t pass on the spicy food

Well, if you can stand it and don’t suffer from any hiatal hernias or other gastroenterological issues, then go for it. Spicy food is a source of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), which is essentially a taxi service that shuttles fats and cholesterol in the water-based solution of your blood stream and helps your body dissolve any blood clots that may postentially form. The capsaicin in hot peppers helps tackle inflammation, too, and because spicy foods are rich in vitamins A and C, they raise your body’s temperature, which increases blood flow and gets your blood swooshing around in there as it should.

Ginger and turmeric root

Ginger, similar to those spicy peppers, can help jumpstart that blood flow, as can turmeric root, which has anti-inflammatory properties. Think of it as the best traffic cop or crossing guard you’ll ever meet. Turmeric prevents clogs and bottlenecks and other annoying obstacles that will render your circulatory system sluggish and your blood from getting where it needs to go efficiently.

Foods to Increase Red Blood Cell Count
Vitamin B diet:To take care of folate deficiency, eat a diet rich in green leafy vegetables like spinach, fenugreek, beans, lentils like masoor dal, moong dal, toor dal, urad dal. It’s also important to avoid overcooking vegetables and avoid leaving them out at room temperature for an extended period of time as this can significantly decrease their folic acid content.

Foods to Increase Red Blood Cell Count
Iron:Asparagus, sesame seeds, almonds, figs and black raisins are rich sources of iron. Eating a few almonds, black raisins and one fig, can ensure a good supply of iron in the day. A sumptuous mid meal made of sautéed asparagus, with sesame seeds speckled and some almonds, black raisins and a dried fig can boost one’s iron and folic acid levels.

Foods to Increase Red Blood Cell Count
Vitamin C:Increase your intake of vitamin C with foods like strawberries, sweet limes, guavas, broccoli, capsicums as vitamin C helps with the absorption of iron. Sour lemon squeezed on food is an inexpensive and palatable form of taking vitamin C to aid iron absorption.

Read more at http://livinggreenmag.com/2013/07/10/food-health/eight-ways-to-improve-your-blood-circulation/#kllrcgUythxiom5W.99

 

This week’s breathing exercise

Nadi Shodhana or “Alternate Nostril Breathing”

How it’s done: A yogi’s best friend, this breath is said to bring calm and balance, and unite the right and left sides of the brain. Starting in a comfortable meditative pose, hold the right thumb over the right nostril and inhale deeply through the left nostril. At the peak of inhalation, close off the left nostril with the ring finger, then exhale through the right nostril. Continue the pattern, inhaling through the right nostril, closing it off with the right thumb and exhaling through the left nostril.

When it works best: Crunch time, or whenever it’s time to focus or energize. Just don’t try this one before bed: Nadi shodhana is said to “clear the channels” and make people feel more awake. “It’s almost like a cup of coffee,” Pacheco says.

You can find this and other breathing exercises at this website:

http://healthland.time.com/2012/10/08/6-breathing-exercises-to-relax-in-10-minutes-or-less/

 

 

How Does the Body Make Blood?

http://kidshealth.org/kid/talk/qa/blood.html#

It’s not made in a kitchen, but blood has ingredients, just like a recipe. To make blood, your body needs to mix:

• red blood cells, which carry oxygen throughout the body
• white blood cells, which fight infections
• platelets, which are cells that help you stop bleeding if you get a cut
• plasma, a yellowish liquid that carries nutrients, hormones, and proteins throughout the body

Your body doesn’t go to the store to buy those ingredients. It makes them. Bone marrow — that goopy stuff inside your bones — makes the red blood cells, the white blood cells, and the platelets. Plasma is mostly water, which is absorbed from the intestines from what you drink and eat, with the liver supplying important proteins. Put all these ingredients together and you have blood — an essential part of the circulatory system. Thanks to your heart (which pumps blood) and your blood vessels (which carry it), blood travels throughout your body from your head to your toes.

Let’s find out more about each ingredient.

Red Blood Cells Red blood cells (also called erythrocytes, say: ih-RITH-ruh-sytes) look like flattened basketballs. Most of the cells in the blood are red blood cells. They carry around an important chemical called emoglobin (say: HEE-muh-glow-bin) that gives blood its red color. Blood and breathing go hand in hand. How? The hemoglobin in blood delivers oxygen, which you get from the air you breathe, to all parts of your body. Without oxygen, your body couldn’t keep working and stay alive.

White Blood Cells White blood cells (also called leukocytes, say: LOO-kuh-sytes) are bigger than red blood cells. There are usually not a whole lot of white blood cells floating around in your blood when you’re healthy. Once you get sick, though, your body makes some more to protect you. There are a couple types of white blood cells that do different things to keep you well:

Granulocytes You know how your skin gets a little red and swollen around a cut or scrape? That means the granulocytes (say: GRAN-yuh-low-sytes) are doing their jobs. They have a lot to do with how your body cleans things up and helps wounds heal after an injury. Granulocytes also help prevent infection by surrounding and destroying things that aren’t supposed to be in your body and by killing germs.

Lymphocytes There are two types of lymphocytes (say: LIM-fuh-sytes): B cells and T cells. B cells help make special proteins called antibodies that recognize stuff that shouldn’t be in your body, like bacteria or a virus you get from a sick friend. Antibodies are very specific, and can recognize only a certain type of germ. Once the antibody finds it, it gets rid of the germ so it can’t hurt you. The really cool part is that even after you are better, B cells can become memory cells that remember how to make the special antibody so that if the same germ infects you again, it can kill the germ even faster! T cells also battle germs that invade the body, but instead of making antibodies, they work by making special chemicals that help fight the infection.

Monocytes  Monocytes (say: MON-uh-sytes) are white blood cells that fight infection by surrounding and destroying bacteria and viruses.

Platelets Platelets, also called thrombocytes (say: THROM-buh-sytes), are tiny round cells that help to make sure you don’t bleed too much once you get a cut or scrape. Cuts and scrapes break blood vessels. If a platelet reaches a blood vessel that’s been broken open, it sends out a chemical signal that makes other nearby platelets start to stick together inside the vessel. In the marrow, there are hematopoietic, stem cells. These cells are the mother of all cells. If the body needs more red blood cells, it tells the stem cells to make red blood cells. If your body needs more white cells or platelets the stem cells make what they are told to make. After the platelets form this plug, they send out more chemical signals that attract clotting factors. These clotting factors work together to make a web of tiny protein threads. The platelets and this web of protein come together to make a blood clot. The clot keeps your blood inside the vessel while the break in the blood vessel heals up. Without platelets, you’d need more than a bandage to catch the blood when you scrape your knee!

Plasma Plasma (say: PLAZ-muh) is a yellowish liquid that is mostly water. But it also carries important nutrients, hormones, and proteins throughout the body. Nutrients are chemicals from the food you eat that give your body energy and other things your body’s cells need to do their work and keep you healthy. Hormones carry messages throughout your body, telling it what to do and when. An example of a hormone is growth hormone. It gets your bones and muscles to grow. Many proteins in plasma are really important to your body, like the clotting factors that help you stop bleeding if you get a cut or a scrape. Plasma also carries away cell waste — chemicals that the cell doesn’t want anymore. Nutrients, hormones, proteins, and waste are dissolved in the plasma — kind of like the cocoa mix that dissolves in a cup of hot water. What are the marshmallows? The blood cells — they float in the plasma.

Hey, What’s Your Type?

Everybody’s blood is red, but it’s not all the same. There are eight blood types, described using the letters A, B, and O. Those letters stand for certain proteins found on the red blood cells. Not everyone has the same proteins. In addition to getting a letter or two, a person’s blood is either “positive” or “negative.” That doesn’t mean one person’s blood is good and another person’s blood is bad. It’s a way of keeping track of whether someone’s blood has a certain protein called Rh protein. This protein is called “Rh” because scientists found it while studying Rhesus monkeys. If your blood is positive, you have this protein. If it’s negative, you don’t. Either way is totally fine.

People have one of these eight different blood types:

1. A negative
2. A positive
3. B negative
4. B positive
5. O negative
6. O positive
7. AB negative
8. AB positive

Blood types are important if a person ever wants to donate blood or needs a blood transfusion. Getting blood of the wrong type can make a person sick. That’s why hospitals and blood banks are very careful with donated blood and make sure the person gets the right type.

People might need blood transfusions when they’re sick or if they lose blood. Without enough healthy blood, the body won’t get the oxygen and energy it needs. Healthy blood also protects you from germs and other invaders.

List of Blood Diseases

http://atozhealthtopics.blogspot.com/2011/01/list-of-blood-diseases.html

In our body blood is the life-maintaining fluid that circulates through the body’s heart, arteries, veins, and capillaries.
Blood disease, any disease of the blood, involving the red blood cells, white blood cells (leukocytes), or platelets (thrombocytes) or the tissues in which these elements are formed—the bone marrow, lymph nodes, and spleen—or of bleeding and blood clotting.
Blood diseases affect the production of blood and its components, such as blood cells, hemoglobin, blood proteins, the mechanism of coagulation, etc

List of Blood Diseases and Disorders 

• Anemia
  • Aplastic Anemia
  • Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome
  • Blood and Marrow Stem Cell Transplant
  • Blood Tests
  • Blood Transfusion
  • Bone Marrow Tests
  • Clinical Trial
  • Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT, Thrombophlebitis)
  • Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC)
  • Excessive Blood Clotting
  • Fanconi Anemia
  • Hemochromatosis
  • Hemophilia
  • Hemolytic Anemia
  • Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP)
  • Iron-Deficiency Anemia (en español)
  • Lymphocytopenia
  • Polycythemia Vera
  • Pulmonary Embolism
  • Pernicious Anemia
  • Rh Incompatibility
  • Sickle Cell Anemia
  • Thalassemias
  • Thrombocytopenia
  • Thrombophlebitis (Deep Vein Thrombosis, DVT)
  • Thrombocythemia and Thrombocytosis
  • Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP)
  • Von Willebrand Disease
  • Bacteremia
  • Sepsis
  • Anemia
  • Staph infection
  • Hepatitis

Reminiscing

I am just thinking back to a camping trip with my mother. It is the same story I shared at her memorial, but it is one that makes me smile as I remember her.

You see it was my mother who taught me to enjoy the outdoors. She taught me how to pitch a tent, bait a hook, clean and cook the fish I caught, and other things that you do when you go camping.

She also taught me the importance of being a lady. So I am just as comfortable out in the woods, sitting by a creek, or paddling a canoe, as I am dressing up and going to the museum or a theater.

One thing my mother was not happy about me during this camping trip, to put it into her words, “Catching fish with your hands is cheating!” We were camping at Big Rock Creek in the Angeles Forrest. The water in the creek is perfectly clear. I got tired of the trout swimming around my baited hook, so I slowly got into the ice cold water (it was a snow fed creek). I patiently watched as the fish swam close to me. When they continued to swim around me I quickly grabbed one with my hands. When my mother who was further up the creek saw me in the water she yelled at me, and told me I was cheating and that I needed to be patient. What she did not realize is that I had really wanted to go hiking and knew she would not let me go until I caught my limit. So I caught my limit by hand, and even though she had wanted me to throw my catch back into the stream, she let me go hiking . Of course I had to clean my catch first.

Sometimes I think that it is because memories like this I enjoy the outdoors and hiking so much. My other reason is I feel closer to God, and now that she is with Him when I get a moment to escape to the outdoors I can feel closer to both.

Spiritual Health Physical Health Lesson 1

Spiritual Health / Physical Health

     When our body is in pain or we are sick, we cannot function to the best of our ability. This will even interfere with our relationship with our Lord. You may question your own faith if you are sick long enough. Others may cause you to question your faith as well and make you ask yourself, “What have I done to deserve this?” Read Job and you will see that his friends did not come to comfort him, but criticized him. Even His wife at one point told him to curse God and die. Not something that is very encouraging. We come together to encourage one another to edify each other and to share the love of Jesus with each other. We are many parts but we belong to one body. Our individual bodies need attention too, and that is what these lessons will be about. For scripture does tell us our bodies are His temple.

1 Corinthians 3:16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?

John 2:21 But the temple he had spoken of was his body.

1 Corinthians 6:19( ESV) 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,

We need to take care of our body, and we do this by seeking wisdom and applying what we learn to our life. Our body belongs to God we are its care taker.

James 1:5 – If any of you lacks wisdom let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

Romans 12:1 (NIV) Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

Matthew 4:4 (ESV)4 But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

We need to feed our body and our spirit. We feed our body food and our spirit His Word.

Proverbs 4:20-23 (ESV) ²⁰ My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. ²¹ Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. ²² For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh.²³ Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.

We need to continually feed on the Word of God. If we do not we grow spiritually weak. We also need to have fellowship with other believers.

Hebrews 10:25 (ESV) not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

If we do not feed our body properly we make it weak and it becomes easier for it to become sick. Today we shall focus on protein. This is a nutrient that if we do not continuously feed on we lose because our body does not keep it stored. It is used by the body and needs to constantly be replenished. Just as our spiritual muscles are weakened by neglect our body suffers if it is neglected as well. Our muscles need protein. We also need to exercise our muscles. This does not mean we have to lift weight and become body builders or athletes. If water does not move and no fresh water comes into it the water becomes stagnate. This water is then useless and it stinks too! If we do not keep our body fed and moving it too will become stagnant and worthless.

Now meat is one way of getting protein, but beans are an excellent source of protein as well and they also contain fiber which is good for our body as well.

Canned

Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 1 cup
Amount Per Serving
Calories from Fat 6 Calories 218
% Daily Values*
Total Fat 0.7g		1%
	Saturated Fat 0.18g	1%
	Polyunsaturated Fat 0.3g
	Monounsaturated Fat 0.06g
Cholesterol 0mg		0%
Sodium 922mg		38%
Potassium 739mg
Total Carbohydrate 39.74g		13%
	Dietary Fiber 16.6g	66%
	Sugars –
Protein 14.47g
Vitamin A 0% Vitamin C 10%
Calcium 10% Iron 26%

Boiled

Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 1 cup
Amount Per Serving
Calories from Fat 134 Calories 312
% Daily Values*
Total Fat 14.85g		23%
	Saturated Fat 1.978g	10%
	Polyunsaturated Fat 7.263g
	Monounsaturated Fat 4.819g
Cholesterol 0mg		0%
Sodium 414mg		17%
Potassium 609mg
Total Carbohydrate 34.13g		11%
	Dietary Fiber 8.3g	33%
	Sugars 1.24g
Protein 11.82g
Vitamin A 0% Vitamin C 0%
Calcium 6% Iron 13%

What’s New and Beneficial About Black Beans -Recent research has shown that black beans provide special support for digestive tract health, and particularly our colon. The indigestible fraction (IF) in black beans has recently been shown to be larger than the IF in either lentils or chickpeas. It has been shown to be the perfect mix of substances for allowing bacteria in the colon to produce butyric acid (Role in Digestion Humans have this acid in their digestive tracts, too, and it is one of many stomach acids that helps break down food for energy. The colon also produces it as a byproduct of some types of fiber digestion, particularly oats and raw bran. Many experts say that this acid is the main reason human gas and flatulence smells bad in so many instances.)

 

Now we should begin exercise with learning to stretch and to breathe.

We all breathe but it is what is called shallow breathing. Just like our muscles need protein, it needs oxygen as well. Deep breathing increases the oxygen our body needs. Breathing deeply can also calm the body and lower blood pressure.

When we practice deep breathing exercises, the breath helps to remove toxins from our vital organs and promote improved blood flow throughout our body.

Check this out with yourself right now.  Turn your attention to your breathing. Do you see anything moving? If the answer is no, you are likely taking shallow breaths. Where there is stress, there is usually shallow breathing. The good news is that with very little effort, deep breathing can become an easy and unconscious practice.

 

First, sit upright in a comfortable position, with your hands on your knees and your shoulders relaxed. Now, in your mind, make a conscious decision to focus on your breath. Close your eyes and exhale completely. Your lungs first need to be empty in order to allow you to inhale fully and deeply. Slowly breathe in through your nose for a count of five. Breathe deeply into your lower abdomen. If it helps, picture your lungs expanding with air as you breathe in. As your lungs expand they push down on your diaphragm causing your belly to expand. Once you have taken a good deep breath in, hold in your breath for a count of three. Then slowly exhale the air out through your nose while counting to five. At the end of your exhale, hold once again for a count of three. Take another slow breath in through your nose, again counting slowly up to five.

Remember to breathe deeply down into your belly and let your belly expand as far as is comfortable. There is no need to force it.

Repeat this deep breathing exercise 5-10 times, which should only take a few minutes.

When you do this deep breathing exercise, expect your mind to wander. That is what the mind does.  When you notice this, simply bring your attention back to your deep breathing and begin your count again.

If you practice this deep breathing exercise on a regular basis you will notice that it becomes easier to focus on your breathing and eventually you will notice that you regularly breathe deeply without having to think about it at all.

We can also use this time to meditate on a scripture of your choosing. You can replace counting with a scripture.

Now we should stretch

Let’s learn a stretch we can do while sitting.

1. With legs wide, slowly curl your spine forward, dropping your torso toward your thighs.
2. Allow your head to relax and your hands to reach down toward your feet. Hold for 20 -30 seconds and slowly rise back up. You can increase time as you become more limber.

This stretch will elongate your spine and increase blood flow to your head. Use caution when you first rise from this exercise. You may become dizzy, this is why this a good exercise to do while seated.

Your physical health and your spiritual health

I want to thank all of you who take time to read my blog posts. Your comments encourage me to continue writing, and sharing with you all that God has been so gracious to give me.

I am beginning a new study that has truly  inspired me. I will be continuing to post from my ‘Letters from God’, but I have been inspired to dig deep into scripture regarding our body and it’s health and how it affects our relationship with our Lord Jesus.

It is like the Butterfly effect. One thing makes an impact on another without you even consciously realizing it. When we are not in the best health and our body is in pain, it influences how we relate to God, even if we do not realizes it at the time. If you are hurting or are sick you may not want to be around other people. So this effects our time of fellowship with other believers. Then there is our time in His Word, to be honest how much time do you really spend in reading when your head is hurting or you feel sick? Even a bad mood can discourage you from reading. We also do not feel like talking with anyone when we feel sick or are in pain, which also means our conversations with God even shorten. We do not mean to separate ourselves intentionally we just flat do not feel well. Without realizing it at the time we weaken ourselves by doing this. We need fellowship, this gives us encouragement and also lets us know we are not alone and that we are care for. So if you have someone you know who you stop hearing from or spending time with you should check on them and see how they are doing. They may not be feeling well and need the encouragement of a visit or even a phone call offering to see if there is anything that they need. This is also a great time to pray for each other. You can also share a verse that helped you when you were not feeling well this too will encourage and comfort the one not feeling well. I already mentioned praying together which brings God into the mix, making Him the focal point and not what is making the person feel bad.

We all have both spiritual and physical needs. I am hoping that by sharing my study here it might be of encouragement and edification of someone else who may be in need of this. I have good days and bad days. The physical pain and limitations that have been put on my body has been a stumbling block for myself. Yet the good that has come from this has taught me that for one I am not alone. Others have their afflictions and understand what I am going through. Two by sharing what I have learned can help another making my pain worthwhile. Then by sharing my lessons others can share their story and I can learn from them.

I am very excited about what God is still teaching me, so as I prepare each lesson I will be posting them here. I am looking forward to hearing from you and lessons you may have to share, and let me know if these lessons help you in any way.

 

Proverbs 18:21 Power of life and death are held in the tongue.

Proverbs 18:21  ESV  Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.

     A few years back I had come to realize that my speech was ugly and hateful. I had so much anger and resentment over the abuse and wrong doings that had happened to me were controlling me. I always felt the need to protect myself and the slightest wrong would allow me to justify to myself, a reason to retaliate. I did not have the physical ability to do harm but the words that came out of my mouth were as damaging as any physical damage a person could do. I had no intention of forgiving those who had hurt me. Then one day I heard the words spewing out of my mouth like lava from a volcano and realized that it did not matter how long ago I asked Jesus into my life, I had not learned to forgive as I had been forgiven. If I did not learn how to forgive all the hatred and bitterness of forgiveness would destroy me and anyone I cared about. I learned that forgiveness was not an emotion that I needed to feel, but an action I had to do, so that I might find peace.

     I started keeping a journal and decided that I had to change how I spoke. Going to church alone was not going to make the necessary changes I needed to make. So every day I had to make the decision to speak words of life, encouragement, healing, praise and thanksgiving. This was not an easy task, and I failed many times, but I wrote down my failures keeping myself accountable. When I blew it and let anger or any other negative emotion raise it’s ugly head and spoke harsh and hateful words, I confessed to Jesus, repenting and giving Him thanks for His grace. I also knew that I could not do this on my own, so I searched His Word and submitted myself to His will. I knew the days of demanding my own way had to come to an end. I am no where near perfect but I am thankful that He is transforming me into a woman that is pleasing to Him, and that it is His Word that gives me the direction that I need.

A few of the scriptures I have focused on are
Proverbs 18:21, Proverbs 15:4, Psalm 141:3, Psalm 34:13
1Peter 3:10, the book of James, but some specific verses are 1:26,
and 3:2-10. Search the scriptures for yourself, because there are so many more than these few. God can change you if you allow Him to.

Forgive (Matthew 6:14-15)

If you do not forgive, you are only sentencing yourself to prison. So forgive and receive the freedom that forgiveness brings.

Many feel that to forgive means to forget. That is not true. If you forget, all you have done is forgotten. Forgiveness takes place when you know the wrong that has been done and you show mercy and do not hold it against the one who has wronged you. This will not undo the pain and hurt that was caused by the wrong acts of the other. It just means that you are no longer carrying the burden of being their judge. Forgiving someone that has wronged you also does not mean that they will change or even be sorry for what they have done, and that you will continue to let this other person hurt you. You are free to love and be healed. What they do with the forgiveness offered to them is up to them. Some may ever think that they have ever done anything wrong. Your forgiving them will not change this. Still forgive them and pray for their salvation, so that they can experience the One Who came to forgive all who will receive Him, Jesus Christ the Author of Love and Forgiveness!

December 1, 2015

This is the first time in Four years that I have decorated for Christmas since my mother died and I lost my daughter,without being told to do so. The first year I didn’t decorate at all. My apartment no longer felt like a home since my daughter was gone from my life and for the first time I was truly living alone. I saw that decorating was a waste of time and it would only make me feel worse. Then the following two years I would be asked if I was putting up my tree and I would answer no, their response would be it would be good for me. Of course my response would be there is no point. I am alone and I would be the only person to see the decorations. But my friends did not give up on encouraging me. So I would bring the tree out and that would be that. I am sharing this because even though I have been battling my depression more as the holidays have approached, this time I did not need encouragement. The tree came out, I hung the garland and the lights. I even brought out decorations that I have been keeping boxed up. The penguin was a gift from my mom from the year before she died, it plays Jingle Bells. Listening to it sing brings me joy because it was a gift from her, just as the stocking was a gift she gave my daughter. I can look at these now and not feel the pain of missing them but remember the good times. There is a hole in my heart that no one else will ever be able to fill but now  instead of the dread of missing them that holidays brought, I can now focus on the good memories. 

Winter Blues

I am not going to be discussing colors, even though blue is in the title of this writing. Winter Blues, SAD(seasonal affective disorder) is something too many people suffer from, and for those of us who deal with depression on a regular basis this time of year is or can be more difficult to deal with. Most people do not recognize this is happening to someone they know for multiple reasons. The person who deals with depression or Winter Blues may be very good at wearing a mask and concealing what is going on inside, end even when asked they simply answer ‘I am fine, or I am okay’ even when they know they are not. They either do not want to burden another with their problems or they do not want to come across as weak or less of a person. This list goes on as well, but hiding it or ignoring it will not make it go away. I know I have gone through all the extremes when it comes to dealing with my own depression. The thoughts that float through my mind especially during this time of year even scares me. I am afraid of the day where I will give into my depressed thoughts. Yet I have continued to fight and keep pressing forward in hopes of a day when I will not feel the dark suffocating force that I feel when depression outweighs my peace or joy. How can I have peace or joy? For one I have learned that peace or joy can be in me in spite of my circumstance or how I feel. It is the calm assurance that no matter how dark and hopeless things are, it is not over and I will be okay. Unfortunately this is not how I feel on most days. Yet this is what keeps me going. I look to scripture for encouragement, as well as people who are supportive and understanding. These people do more than just listen to me, or just sit with me when I do not feel like talking. They don’t pretend there is nothing wrong, but they are compassionate and loving without being overbearing. They do not try to fix me but they walk with me and offer me a hand when I am down and need help getting back up. If I pretended everything was okay and hid my inner battle from them they could not do this. Yes it may seem that I am making myself vulnerable and weak, but it takes a special strength to open up and let the right people in. Depression, blues, anxiety, anger, etc… make us want to keep people at a distance if we even want to see people at all. By doing this we are only letting these things control us instead of us controlling them. I want to live free from these disabling emotions. To do this I have to make a choice daily not to give into them, some days I do good, and there are days when I fail and I let them overcome me. But I do not give up. Not because I did it all on my own but because of Scripture, prayer and people who love and pray for me. Then my important source of comfort and encouragement, Jesus, who died for me to show me how much He loves me, for the Holy Spirit He sent to me to be my Helper and Comforter. (John 14:26 (AMP) ²⁶ But the ^[a]Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name[in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will help you remember everything that I have told you.) He is the One who is always with me even when I am alone. Loneliness is a companion of depression because when I am depressed or Blue I feel cut off, disconnected, even when I am in a crowd of people I can feel all alone. To help me deal with this feeling I focus my thoughts on Jesus (Who is the Word made flesh. John chapter .) I think about His words and how they tell me of His love, His peace, His Joy, and His victory for my life. I will not say this is easy but if it was not for His love and His Word I would not be here today sharing a part of myself with you today. I have bad days, it does not mean He does not love me, but it does mean that I am not going through the bad days alone. I like how the church (that is you and me who have received Jesus as Lord and Savior) is compare to being His Bride. Then I think of the wedding vows ‘For better or for worse, in sickness and in health, never to part’, and how this applies to our relationship with Him. He never gives up on us He hangs in there with us when life gets ugly. Do not let the Winter Blues get the best of you. I know depression is overwhelming and you may feel like you cannot go on and there is nothing you can do, but don’t give up. Say a prayer, even if it is only these simple words, “Jesus Help!” Then talk to someone and find help.

Here are some scriptures  and links to encourage you included are a link to Web MD and to the Mayo Clinic. I am not a professional but I am a person who has fought depression and PTSD for many years and I am doing better with help. I hope these will help get you started.

a link for scriptures on the Holy Spirit as Comforter and Helper  http://www.openbible.info/topics/the_comforter

a link for scriptures on depression  http://hopefaithprayer.com/scriptures/against-depression/

Philippians 1:19(ESV)  for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance,

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Deuteronomy 31:8 – The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

links on depression and Winter Blues

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)

http://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/seasonal-affective-disorder

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