"They see the works of the LORD, And His wonders in the deep."

Psalm 107:24

I will not be posting my normal weekly post as I will be enjoying the beauty of the ocean with my family!  Every year I am privileged to spend a whole week in an oceanfront beach house with my mom's side of the family.  The total people count, in one house mind you, is thirty-five!  Yep.  Never a boring moment!  May you enjoy the beauty God has you in this week!

Learning to delight in Jesus,

Hannah

P.S.- Just thought I'd share how excited I am to be a big sister once again!!  Can't wait for the new little one in April!!

The fruit of the Spirit is...

I love little ones!  My sister and I had the privilege of teaching a whole group of five and six year-olds at church today.  My lesson was on the first fruit of the spirit- love.  As I sat in my chair facing the youngsters I asked them if any of them knew any of the fruits of the spirit.  Several confident voices rang out.  "An apple" one said.  "No, a pineapple" another exclaimed.  "Well, how about a pear or a strawberry?" several questioned. :)  I then continued to explain to them the fruits of the Spirit.  I read to them the famous story told by Jesus when a young lawyer questioned Him- the story of the good Samaritan.  I outlined the three things the Samaritan did to show love to the wounded man.

1. He carried the man on his own donkey
2. He took him to an inn and took care of him.
3. He paid for his treatment and promised more money when he returned to check up on him.

Now, granted we do not ever generally find wounded people lying on the side of the road :) but there are other ways to show love to family member, friends, and strangers.  Just like an apple or pear have seeds that are spread over the ground, so we should spread the seeds of love, joy, peace, patience, etc. wherever we go.  Do people notice our love after just meeting us?  Is there evidence that the Spirit lives in me?

May I never get so caught up in this busy live that the fruits of Spirit are forgotten!  May we live each day like it's our last and spread the fruits of Spirit constantly!

Learning to delight in Jesus,
Hannah   

Health and Medicine: Part 2

Well, hello everyone.  This week I will continue our study on vitamins and herbal remedies.

First we have Zinc.  Zinc is a mineral that you do not need very much of in order for it to be effective.  It not only supports the immune system but also fights acne and other skin problems.  We don't generally take it daily (although many health books recommend you do) but when we're sick we take no more than 50 mg a day.  Some of us avoid it as it seems to upset our stomachs so be careful.  Take it after you've eaten and maybe take it in smaller amounts throughout the day.

The second one on our list is Colloidal Silver.  What??  How can silver be healthy for me?  Colloidal Silver tastes and looks like water with a slight aftertaste.  It actually has very small particles of silver which go throughout your body, latch on to harmful bacterias and such, and dispose of them.   Drink a couple of tablespoons occasionally throughout the day when you're not feeling well.  It is also helpful to squirt it up your nose if you have sinus problems or drop into your ear during earaches.  We have a colloidal silver manufacturing machine (we go though it :) and have found the investment well worth it.  Research it and make the best decision for your family .

The last one I want to talk about today is Vitamin A.  This vitamin also assists the immune system when sick.  Some food sources where vitamin A occurs naturally includes fish liver oil (can anyone say yum...), dark green leafy vegetables, yellow fruits and vegetables, butter, and egg yolks.  When sick feel free to add up to 35,000 mg of vitamin A to your daily diet (by capsule).  It is also fine to take up to 10,000 mg daily (just to keep your immune system fighting).

Thank you, ladies for once again reading this post and taking control of your health so that one day you can direct your family's (Lord willing).
Learning to delight in Jesus,
Hannah

P.S. Most the info above I received from "What the Bible says about Healthy Living" by Rex Russell and "Smart Medicine for Healthier Living" by Janet Zand, Allan Spreen, and James LaValle.  And once again I am not a doctor nor are the suggestions above meant to replace his/her recommendations. :)    

Health and Medicine: Part 1

Hello Everyone,


I think it is very important that we, as young ladies preparing to (hopefully) be wives and mothers, should have a good grasp on natural and homeopathic approaches to medicine.  As our family has grown larger and larger mamma has not been as quick to go to the doctor for every little thing, rather she has searched for ways to heal the common sicknesses at home.  Thanks to her research and dedication we've grown up with this mindset: dr's are good (and necessary) for major illness (and we're very thankful for them), but the majority of sicknesses can be easily cured, over time, at home.

The Lord has created our bodies with miraculous immune systems.  I think sometimes we forget exactly how complex the immune system is and how much it does to protect us from foreign invaders.  The more you study this body of ours the more you realize just how complex and incredibly intelligent our Creator is.

Earlier last week about half of our family came down with some cold/flu-like symptoms.  I'd like to share with you some things we did to treat it along with other illnesses.

~ We began taking Echinacea.  Here is a quote from Dr. Daniel B. Mowrey in The Scientific Validation of Herbal Medicine that explains the use of this herb: "Laboratory studies how that the herb increases the ability of white cells to surround and destroy bacterial and viral invaders in the blood.  It stimulates the lymphatic system to clean up waste material and toxins, and it has definite antimicrobial activity."  Now Echinacea can be toxic if taken too long or overdosed.  We generally only take it if we feel like we're coming down with something or are already ill.

~ We eat tons of garlic!  "It is a powerful antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial herb." Beyond Antibiotics   It is best if you can eat this herb whole but many (including us) just can't stomach it :).  Instead we swallow garlic capsules or add it to soups and stir-fries.  I've read of putting a whole garlic clove in the outside portion of your ear to help ear infections but I've never actually done this.  Let me know if it works ;).

~We immediately increased our intake of Vitamin C.  Vitamin C is not poisonous to humans in large quantities (although it can cause lower tract issues (if you know what I mean :) when taken in excess) and is actually quite helpful in maintaining good health and assisting your immune system during illness.  I generally take 1,000 mg daily in my orange juice (using a vitamin packet called Emergen-C) but when I'm feeling down I take at least another 1,000 mg.

We'll learn about Zinc, Colloidal Silver, and Vitamin A next week in Part 2!

"Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord and depart from evil.

It will be health to your flesh,

And strength to your bones."

Proverbs 3: 7-8

Learning to delight in Jesus,

Hannah  

P.S.- I am not a doctor and these suggestions are not intended to replace your primary care doctor and or his/her recommendations. :)