Going green is good

I believe most of us know that the colour green represents life...there's even more to that. We recently talked about the health benefits of green and other bell peppers. There are green benefits all around us.

Some of us may be blessed to have had bitter leaf, ugu, spinach, collard green and/or bok choy as part of our diet - and they are all green - I guess that's obvious. It goes without saying that most if not all green (leafy) vegetables are good for us - must be why most good mothers insist that we "eat up all our veggies." 

Did you know that "leafy vegetables are ideal for weight management as they are typically low in calories?"*

I remember when I was pregnant for our first child, my doctor recommended that I crush ugu leaves and drink the "green" water to increase my blood level. Ugh - drink green water? Well I did - I drank as much as I could and included it in my meals too. Needless to say, it paid off. Now that was a couple of years ago.

Now, I've decided to keep "going green". Now I'm on to green tea...ugh!!! I know, that's how I felt the first time my pastor's wife suggested I try it.

I resisted it for quite a while and now I've decided to try it and look into it some more. I wonder if knowing that more ladies are "going green" with me will help me stay the course. In intend to stay the course regardless...you're welcome to join me.

I read that in addtion to helping with weight loss, drinking green tea helps prevent: cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, high cholesterol levels, cariovascular disease, infection, impaired immune function and much more. I even read that it helps with acne - cheaper than astringents too.

I guess the bottom line is that going green is good...so let's all go green and live healthier and happier lives. Invite a friend to join you...

Sources:
* http://www.vegetarian-nutrition.info/updates/benefits-of-green-leafy-vegetables.php
For more on leafy green veggies also see:
http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/lowcarbsuperfoods/a/greensnutrition.htm
http://www.vegetables.co.nz/nutrition-green.php
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/vegetables-and-fruits/index.html

For more on green tea, see:
http://chinesefood.about.com/library/weekly/aa011400a.htm
http://www.greentearesource.com/

What can you do for you?

A few days ago I heard an interesting conversation, more like the beginning of a conversation, that got me thinking. One person was saying to the other: "What can I do for you?" and before the response came, the person continued, "Or should I say, what can you do for you?" Now that puts an interesting spin on things.

In reflecting on the second question, I've been asking myself: "What can I do for myself?" Or to put it in context, "What can I do for myself that I've been expecting others to do for me?" As I type, some examples run through my mind - I'll share one.

Living sacrifice or leaving sacrifice?

We've talked a bit about sacrificial giving and sacrificial living - I want to approach this form a slightly different angle. Our brother Paul said (emphasis mine): I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.* (Romans 12:1)

It's so easy to talk about how we should be living sacrifices whose sole aim to do whatever the Lord directs, whenever He directs, to/for whomever He directs and however He directs - well I hear about it in sermons too. But is it really that easy to be a living sacrifice? I say talk is cheap, walk costs.

My heart desire is to be wholly available to God. This refrain puts it nicely:

Lord, I'm available to You,

My Will I give to You, I'll do what You say do

Use me Lord, To show someone the way

And enable me to say:

"My storage is empty, (and) I am available to You"**

So stop here and ask yourself: Are you a living sacrifice or a sacrifice that goes and comes based on convenience? It has been said that the problem with living sacrifices is that they leave when they see the fire coming?

You know in being truly available to God, there will be trials - in fact He promised us fire and waters: "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.. (Is 43:2 - NKJV)

There will be times when you will be persecuted, even in the church, for being available to God - hang in there, don't leave the altar because of the fire. There could also be times when the needs of the ministry seem like they will drown you, don't look at the waves - keep looking at the Lord. 

I've said this to some of my friends - we're wired to outlast the blasts of the enemy. He knows that if he can get us off the altar often and long enough, we will not achieve our full potential and purpose in God. And if we don't pay the price, we cannot expect to receive the prize.

I'll say to you what I say to myself - be a living sacrifice not a leaving sacrifice - gold is not any good until it goes through the fire...

*Amplified Bible
**Lord I’m Available To You by Hezekiah Walker


You gave my hands to reach out to man,
To show him Your love and Your perfect plan,
You gave me my ears I can hear your voice so clear
I can hear the cries on sinners, but can I wipe away their tears.

You gave my voice to speak Your words,
To sing all Your praises to those who never heard.
But with my ease I see a need for more availability
I see hearts that have been broken so many people to be free

Refrain:
Lord I’m available to You
My will I give to You, I’ll do what You say do.
Use me Lord to show someone the way and enable me to say
My storage is empty and I am available to You.

Now I’m giving back to You all the tools You gave to me
My hands my ears, my voice, my eyes
So You can use them as You please
I have emptied out my cup, so You can fill me up,
Now I’m free I just want to be more available to You.

Refrain:
Lord I’m available to You
My will I give to You, I’ll do what You say do.
Use me Lord to show someone the way and enable me to say
My storage is empty and I am available to You

Just in...

Guess what I found last night?

You guessed right - a new resource....

I started reading it - ok not really. I flipped through and started reading it from the middle and got some nuggets which I'll share in subsequent postings.

I guess the reason for this short and sweet posting is to encourage you to get this book...

you'll be blessed - I can sense it "a book away".

Gotta to go...and find time to read the whole book.

Sacrificial giving & sacrificial living

What is a sacrifice? David defined it in 1 Chronicles 21:24 - And King David said to Ornan, "No, but I will pay the full price. I will not take what is yours for the Lord, nor offer burnt offerings which cost me nothing."*

Encarta defines sacrifice as: "a giving up of something valuable or important for somebody or something else considered to be of more value or importance."**

A few things to note here:

1. You cannot take something that belongs to another person and say that is your sacrifice. For instance, if you ask someone to join you in praying (&/or fasting) for a particular reason and the person does it but you don't, you cannot say you fasted. (P.S. our pastors are not Prayer Consultants.) If you desire prayers, feel free to ask for prayers but pray as well. There's no reason why you should "go to sleep" and expect others to "stay up" praying for you. Your sacrifice should cost you something not cost someone else something. Let's read the verses that follow: And King David said to Ornan, No, but I will pay the full price. I will not take what is yours for the Lord, nor offer burnt offerings which cost me nothing. So David gave to Ornan for the site 600 shekels of gold by weight. And David built there an altar to the Lord and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings and called upon the Lord; and He answered him by fire from heaven upon the altar of burnt offering.*(1 Chron 21: 24-26) I wonder if God would have accepted the offerings if he hadn't paid for the land...hmmm
   

The donkey in the well

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do.

Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway; it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.

He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well.

At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down. A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw.

With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up. Shake it off and step up, shake it off and step up, shake it off and step up - sounds like a dance step!

As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!

MORAL :

Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt.

The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up.

Each of our troubles is a stepping stone.

We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up!

Shake it off and take a step up.

(Author unknown)

Obviously, when we try hard enough, we can help any and everyone in need of help. Never give up on anyone including yourself - even if everyone else has.

Your prayers and actions can make a difference in their lives and yours. God bless.

Men on Motherhood

On Thursday night, my husband and I listened to a Mothers' Day message. The message was rich - I encourage you to listen to it. In rounding up, the presiding Bishop shared some "gemstones" (as I call them) too good to keep to myself. Overnight, I appreciated how Jeremiah felt when he said: "his word burns in my heart like a fire. It’s like a fire in my bones!"* I just had to share these precious gemstones.

As usual, I've added a few more gemstones and my comments are in green.

The child you pamper today will tamper with your peace tomorrow. ~ Bishop David Oyedepo – this is another way of interpreting Proverbs 29:17, which says: Discipline your children, and they will give you peace of mind and will make your heart glad. (NLT)

Teach your children to do what is right not what they like. ~ Bishop David Oyedepo – does this sound like Proverbs 19:18**, Proverbs 22:6***, Proverbs 29:15**** all rolled up in one? Sure does to me.

That best academy, a mother's knee. ~James Russell Lowell – I’m sure most of us would agree with this when we think about our mothers; the question then is: "Would our children agree with this when they think of us?" Hmmm...

The mother's heart is the child's school-room. ~Henry Ward Beecher So what’s in your heart? Remember to guard yours with all diligence because all the issues of life flow out of it. (Proverbs 4:23*****)

I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life. ~Abraham Lincoln This is a personal challenge for me, obviously he saw his mother’s prayer life and felt the energy and love emitted from it...I must do the same starting today.

Endnotes:
To watch the message I referred to, go to: http://davidoyedepoministries.org/archived-media-center and choose services on May 9th, 2010.

* Jeremiah 20:9b
** Proverbs 19:18 Discipline your children while you still have the chance; indulging them destroys them. (The Message)
*** Proverbs 22:6 Teach your children right from wrong, and when they are grown they will still do right. (Contemporary English Version)
**** Proverbs 29: 15 - Wise discipline imparts wisdom; spoiled adolescents embarrass their parents. (The Message)
***** Proverbs 4:23 Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. (New Living Translation)