Peace at Last

Lately I have been very disturbed by Christians telling me that I'm ill because of hidden sin, not tithing, not taking authority, unforgiveness, etc. I've spent many years of my life searching my heart for truth in these theories. It's led to much confession of sin, much forgiveness, tithing on the first fruits, rebuking the enemy, and prayer. Those things are not bad in themselves, but my health is still lacking and it irks me that whenever I'm in Christian circles I'm judged as it being my fault I'm ill. They make it sound so simple...If I would only believe, confess, forgive, tithe, etc, I would be healed. I find myself beating myself up blaming myself for being sick...thinking I must be such a failure in God's eyes because I can't get it right. What is it God is trying to teach me through this illness, I keep asking myself. What lesson am I Not getting that is keeping me ill?

Then from reading of the testimony of a fellow sufferer of fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, and Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, I was introduced to a book called A More Excellet Way: Be In Health by Henry Write who even claims to know what sins exactly are connected with specific illnesses. Wouldn't it be nice if it were true? Perhaps I'm ill because I haven't found the right sin to confess? And Mr. Write could point me in the right direction for just $15.00. I did a little research on the book and found peace at last by reading a review on the book by Hampton Keathly IV.

The review is extensive and can be found at http://www.bible.org/page.php?page_id=1687. The reveiwer does not agree that this book is Biblical, and his words brought peace at last to my mind about this issue of the cause of my illness, and ultimately who is in control. My hope/prayer is that I will be able to remember the last line of this section of the review I've pasted here. <>

Lord help me to remember what defines an abundant life. And thank you so very much for answering my prayers to get this into perspective.

Marlena

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Why is He (Henry Write) so popular?
I think control is the number one area in everyone’s life that God has to deal with – whether it is anxiety attacks, money problems, submission to authority, you name it. And health is a big area where we want to have control. Nobody wants to get sick. And if you are sick, you want to get well. I think it was a Geritol commercial from a long time ago that said, “When you’ve got your health, you’ve got just about everything.” That’s probably a pretty accurate statement for most people.
Health and wealth gospels are attractive because they give us a sense of control. I think that Wright’s message is popular because he offers definite solutions to sickness. He identifies with great certainty the source for most diseases. If you will just examine your heart for sin and repent, then either you will not get sick, or if you are already sick, prayer will heal you. And of course, getting sin out of your life is a good and honorable thing, so who can argue with that?
Some people use nutrition to “control” their health. I’ve personally seen or heard of lots of folks cured of allergies, asthma, cancer, etc. just by changing their diet. I know it works. I highly recommend it! However, eating properly can actually become a form of control and be just like a religion.
Others blame demons2 and say you just have to cast out the demon to get well.
Is there any room for God to use sickness to glorify himself or to teach us some spiritual lesson? When the nutrition advocate eats right but gets sick anyway, could God be teaching them that they are not in control? What is the proper response to sickness? It is to recognize that God is in control and leave that control of your health/life up to Him. Go back to eating healthy, knowing that it really does have good results, but knowing that you could still get sick if God sovereignly designs it for your growth.
The wrong response is to try to find another way to control your life/health/etc. I think Henry Wright offers that promise of control. If you just find the right sin, you can cure the disease or if you take power over that demon then you can be healed of your sickness. He expresses no doubts about getting well if you “know the truth” (as he teaches it). Is that not a promise of controlling our destiny (health)?
And if you don’t get well after praying, then what must you conclude if you follow the teaching of someone like Henry Wright? You just haven’t found the sin that caused the disease, so keep digging. The result will be that a person who really has no problem with fear, but who has an illness which Wright says is cause by “fear” will have to invent fears to repent of. The result is a self-centered focus and not a Christ-centered focus.
God promises us the abundant life. According to the health and wealth preachers, the abundant life is only being healthy and wealthy. That is an earthly (unbiblical) perspective. The biblical perspective is that the abundant life is being able to have joy in the midst of trials – whether sickness, poverty, prison, or whatever. The abundant life is not found in circumstances. It is found in relationship with Christ, the Lord of and over our circumstances.

Cocoa-Banana Frozen Dessert

Cocoa-Banana Frozen Dessert

Description
The flavors in this simple dessert remind us of beach fare – frozen bananas on a stick coated with chocolate. This is a healthier version that you can whip up in no time. It contains no added sugar or dairy and is very versatile. Improvise by adding different flavors. Make this a few hours before you plan to serve - it's best when just frozen. Any leftovers will keep for a couple of weeks in the freezer.
Food as MedicineBananas are rich in potassium - one banana contains 450 mg, one-fifth of the adult daily requirement - and offer a fair share of magnesium (33 mg), too.

Ingredients
4 very ripe bananas
2 tablespoons pure unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 tablespoons real maple syrup

Instructions
1. Peel the bananas and place in a blender or food processor along with the cocoa powder.
2. Add the vanilla extract and the maple syrup.
3. Blend till very smooth. Pour into individual custard cups or small bowls and freeze until just frozen.

Eggplant Dip from Dr. Weil

Eggplant Dip

Description
Eggplant Dip has a great texture with a tangy, vinegary, seasoned taste that is mellowed with the pita. You also can smear the dip inside warm crepes for a different kind of presentation.
Food as MedicineRich color in vegetables usually indicates abundant heart-healthy antioxidants, and deep-purple eggplant is no exception. Eggplant is a particularly good source of an antioxidant called chlorogenic acid, which is among the most potent plant-based free-radical scavengers ever discovered.

Ingredients
1 eggplant (1 1/2 pounds)1/2 medium onion, grated or finely chopped2 tablespoons capers2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil1/2 teaspoon dried oregano 1/2 teaspoon salt or to taste3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper1 tablespoon red wine vinegar 4 pitas1 tomato, peeled, seeded and diced1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 375° F.2. Set the eggplant on a baking pan or dish and pierce it a few times with a knife. Bake it until it becomes soft, about 30 minutes; it should pierce easily with a fork. Remove it from the oven and let cool. When completely cooled, peel the skin off and put the flesh into a blender or food processor. Add the onions, capers, and lemon juice. Turn on the machine, then gradually add the olive oil. Continue to blend until the eggplant is smooth and creamy. Transfer to a bowl and stir in the oregano, salt, pepper, and vinegar.3. Warm the pitas briefly on a baking sheet, then cut each of them into 8 wedges. Arrange them on a plate or platter. Just before serving, stir the tomato and parsley into the dip.

God is blessing

I've exercised 3 days in a row now without the fibro symptoms coming back. I have sore muscles, but not fibro pain. And I've been having tons of social interactions that sometimes can be very stressful... went to the dentist to have two fillings replaced, talked to my sister for her birthday yesterday, went to visit my friend with cancer going through chemo last night, attended my daugthers scout meetings yesterday with the other (more perfect) moms.

I've been walking with my mother-in-law every morning for the last three mornings. Our water has been contaminated and we've been advised not to use it for consumption or washing dishes, thus a very messy kitchen, and kids are home from school. I also had a surprise visit late last night from my dear friend who has decided to keep me accountable for reading God's Word. She is the same one who was so discouraging a year or so back who told me that God has already healed me and that I just need to claim it and walk in it. She has become quite an encouragement to me. And the lady who was so critical of my housekeeping was hosting the scouting meeting at her home and asked me to overlook her mess as I went to find a place to change Olivia's diaper. There was no mess, not even a speck of dust as far as my eyes could see. I laughed and told her she's kidding me, right? She lauged too, and I didn't become over-stressed. Also, I've been working evenings with Mike trying to finish up a hotel we started wiring a few months ago. They finally have the drywall finished and we are putting all the faceplates on...like 120 of them...lol. There are a lot of toxic smells from the new construction, but I seem to be tolerating them well. It's obvious that God has interviened. So many people are praying for me, and I'm being faithful to start each day reading God's Word, and to finish each day as close to 10pm as possible. My church has gone on a 21 day fast, and those who cannot fast food have been asked to fast an activity they crave. I have chosen to fast from the activity of staying up late. God is blessing.
Marlena

Homeshooling Responsibly from HSLDA

‘Am I Homeschooling Responsibly?’
Dear Friends,

Happy New Year! And welcome back from what we hope was a joyous and memorable Christmas break. Can you relate when we confide that it’s a bit difficult for us to get re-engaged into the real world of responsibilities after the holidays? Or, are we the only two sluggards we know?

A new year always brings fresh resolutions and goals, so we want to suggest that you consider reviewing and reevaluating your goals for the rest of the school year. The overarching question to ask is: “Am I homeschooling responsibly?” We’d like to help you honestly assess how well you are managing your high school homeschooling responsibilities.

The word “responsibility” rightly carries with it the idea of being accountable to somebody or for something. Often accountability is viewed in a negative or discouraging way. But as we look at homeschooling responsibly, we want to emphasize the positives. You may discover ways you need to change or to do things differently, but if the end result improves your homeschool and the quality of education you are providing for your teen, then it is a commendable and worthy objective!

Let’s look at some areas to keep in mind as you appraise your homeschooling:
The Use of Time
Each of us is given 24 hours in our day—no more, no less. In general, how are you using your time? If your mind begins to add up the number of days when other priorities took too much of your time, leaving too little to adequately devote to schooling, then it may be that you need to re-prioritize. When we homeschooled, we clearly remember the constant tug-of-war between preparing and teaching our children’s lessons and completing other tasks—cleaning, cooking meals, laundering, service and ministry activities, and on and on. If schooling is left on the back burner more days than not, perhaps it’s time to structure your day differently. Would it work better for you to start school a bit earlier in the day? On the other hand, if you and the children took just 30 minutes at the start of the day to get the house in order, would the remainder of the school day be more productive?

Staying the Course or Switching Gears?
To evaluate another area, discuss with your teen his academic course load. How did last semester go? Was the number of courses just right? Too few? Too many? The academic schedule you planned may need adjustment because sometimes you can’t discern if it’s too much or too little until you are in the midst of it. Don’t be afraid to make adjustments. You may need to drop or add a course—remember the “Drop/Add” period in college? Mistakes do happen—you bite off more than you can chew; or on the other hand, an opportunity only comes around once (such as your sister saying she would love to teach your teen Trig) necessitating that you carve out time to take advantage of this option. Homeschoolers are famous for saying that we have flexibility—but then we find ourselves being rigid and unwilling to see or make changes that would be helpful. Are there changes that you should make academically this year?
Out With the Good, In With the Best

Do you ever notice how many times our choices involve distinguishing the good from the best? Take time to chat with your teen about each of the extracurricular activities in which he is currently involved. Each of them when considered individually may be “good.” But, as you think about all of them—including jobs, sports, music, clubs, hobbies, volunteering, etc.—are there any that should or could be eliminated? In our experience, homeschoolers are more often involved in too many activities rather than too few. If you and your teen are running ragged, it’s time to take inventory. Cutting down on the miles driven to and from activities will not only save money, but it will free up time so you and your teen can unwind, read a good book, or discuss important issues without being interrupted. Down (or margin) time is essential if you want to conserve energy and finish the high school years strong.

Also, it is possible for your teen’s schedule to fill up with so many extras that course work begins to suffer. If this is the case, then remember that a few activities well done are much better than many activities participated in half-heartedly. Be ruthless in evaluating this area, and you’ll reap the benefits of a leaner—but more fruitful—schedule.

Interruptions as Detours—or Simply a Dead End?
Unforeseen circumstances can catch us off guard. An elderly parent suddenly needs care, a home remodel project veers out of control, a child incurs an injury, or a homeschooling parent becomes ill. These are definitely interruptions that set us on detours! But, hopefully, even when you come to a homeschooling detour, you will still be heading in the right direction, though it may take a little extra time to get back on the interstate highway.

However, if the detour leads to a dead end rather than returning to the expected course of action, then careful consideration and judgment may need to be exercised to implement a new plan. Begin by drawing up an overall plan to recover, enlist help from others if needed, and prudently map out the precise steps required to keep moving forward. Remember, there are no hopeless cases, but always a number of options to consider. For example, you may find revamping your school schedule from days to evenings or from a weekday to a Saturday will allow for necessary recovery. Or, if circumstances have prevented much math or history from being accomplished this first semester, then you and your teen may need to map out a summer course that puts you back on track to complete the material that needs to be covered. Maybe the English compositions were not evaluated because mom was tending to a sick child. If that’s the case, then an alternative might be to sign your teen up for an online writing course with an outside instructor who evaluates the compositions for you.

Taking a Spiritual Inventory
Homeschooling responsibly is foremost a matter of integrity. You are involved in a mighty work with the ability to have a major impact on your teen. Ask yourself these questions and honestly reflect on how you can improve:
Do I have a lazy or unmotivated attitude towards schooling?
Do I push my children too much academically out of pride?
Do I share openly with others about my homeschool struggles and in humility ask for their input?
Am I careful to plan, or do I just hope for the best?
Do I fall into condemnation for things I am not doing well, but then make no effort to improve?
Can I mentor another family and encourage them to also homeschool responsibly?
True conviction in any of these areas is not a millstone. Instead, see true conviction as a stepping stone to change for the better. Each of us has room for improvement! Think of just one or two items that need revamping in your homeschooling, and then start off this new 2008 year by making revisions to your homeschooling that will benefit both you and your teen. Trust the Lord to give you wisdom, guidance, strength, and energy to homeschool responsibly for His glory and for your teen’s good.

Next month, we’ll give you some suggestions for chasing those February winter blahs away.
Keep going, stay the course, and know that there is abundant grace for you today,
Becky Cooke and Diane KummerHSLDA High School Coordinators

How To Save Money At Christmas

http://www.budgetch ristmas.com/ news/frugal- christmas/ how-to-save- money-at- christmas. html

Is there such a thing as an affordable Christmas holiday? A holiday when you aren't shopping at the last minute with no real idea of what gifts you want to buy? Of course! Just imagine a holiday with plenty of food, fun occasions with family and friends, and gift giving that doesn't exceed your time and dollar limits. It will all become reality when you learn the tradition that lots of families share each year.

So what's the secret? The tradition (and it's really no secret) is drawing names for Christmas gifts in your family or group. Some people call it Secret Santa. Basically, you put everyone's name in a hat and each person draws a name. Instead of giving a gift to every person in the group, you give just one gift to the person whose name you draw. That's one gift instead of many. Uno.

Giving just one gift has great merits. First, it's easy to be thoughtful when giving one gift. You can't say that when your list has 20 or more people on it! But thinking of one person can be lots of fun. And it doesn't put a strain on the wallet. When you choose a different person every year, you eventually give a gift to almost everyone in your group. Just not all in the same year. Now that's special.

To make drawing names real simple for your group, just follow two guidelines:

- First, draw names early in the season. Give everyone plenty of time to think about their drawn person and decide on a gift before the holiday gets busy.

- Second, define rules and limits for the group to follow.

Plan your gift exchange while you are together with your family or friends on vacation or during Fall holidays. In your office, organize your secret santa in October or early November. Draw names early, and you'll have months to choose just one gift.

Remember, your goal is to keep the gift giving simple and the get-together fun and meaningful. As you draw names, set the gift-giving rules. Here are some examples of rules that groups set for having fun and keeping it easy:

- Most groups set a dollar limit for their gifts. People usually want to give a gift that's roughly equal in value to the gift that they will receive.

- Many groups keep the draw a secret, and then guess the giver after the gift is opened. This makes the event into a party game that everyone looks forward to each year.- Some groups decide that the gift must be homemade or pre-owned by the giver. This is a great idea, especially when children are included, to show how it's the thought that counts. It also ensures that the exchange is affordable for everyone.

- Some groups decide that the gift must fit in a Christmas stocking. Then they fill each other's stockings. Small candies and chocolates can be added for fun.

- Some groups decide on one particular gift each year, like everyone gives a picture frame, a hat, or a calendar. Then they change the chosen gift every year.

- Some groups have a "white elephant" exchange, which is to give silly, crazy, or even bad gifts that no one would ever want! Watch out if you choose this type of exchange, because it can quickly get out of hand.

- The whole idea is to have fun together, so be creative! Some groups change the rules every year.The reality of having a secret santa is that you limit your shopping time and keep your budget reasonable. The magic of drawing names is that everyone in the group has fun and feels special. It's no wonder that families make a tradition of drawing names.

Plan early, and you'll sail through those once busy months of November and December this year. Try it, and you'll never go back to the old days of endless shopping.Happy holidays!Janie Schaeffer is the founder of http://www.DrawName s.com, a free online secret santa service that organizes holiday gift exchanges for families, coworkers, and friends.

Whole Whea Chocolate Chip Cookies

Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Cookies
Serves: 36

These classic chocolate chip cookies use slightly modified ingredients- -whole wheat flour, applesauce and Splenda--to make them healthier, yet just as tasty as the original!

INGREDIENTS
1 cup all purpose flour
1-1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup Splenda
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup butter (unsalted, and softened)
1/4 cup applesauce
2 egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
12-ounce bag of semisweet chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS
Preheat Oven to 375 degrees F.
In a large bowl sift together flours, baking soda and salt. In a separate bowl cream together Splenda, brown sugar, butter, applesauce, egg yolks and vanilla extract.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and pour in chocolate chips.
Stir until combined, don't overmix.
Scoop onto baking sheet covered with parchment paper.
Bake 13-18 minutes.
Makes about 3 dozen cookies.

NUTRITION INFO (per cookie) Calories: 148.7Fat: 8.9 g Carbohydrates: 17.5 g Protein: 1.7 gIf you like this recipe, you might also like:80-Calorie Chocolate Chip CookiesWhole Wheat Pumpkin Chip Mini MuffinsFind and rate more recipes at SparkRecipes. com

Cuban Rice and Beans

Cuban Rice and Beans
Courtesy of our free Healthy Crockpot Recipes Newsletter

1 lb dried black bean, sorted and rinsed
1 large onion, chopped
1 large bell pepper, chopped
5 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 bay leaves
1 14.5-oz can diced tomatoes, undrained
5 cups water2 Tbs olive oil
4 Tbs ground cumin (optional)
1 finely chopped jalapeno
1 tsp salt
3 cups hot cooked rice, for serving

Soak beans overnight and discard soak water. Combine all ingredients except rice in crockpot and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or until beans are tender and most of the liquid is absorbed. Remove bay leaves. Serve beans over rice.

I Wish You Enough

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray the day may appear.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting.
I wish you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.

Another Day of Mental Struggles

Merry Christmas. I love Jesus, or do I? I hate his birthday. I love my husband but I hated our wedding. I love my family, but I hate being with them. What I hate is my inability to cope with stress...good stress, bad stress, etc. My adrenal glands don't know the difference. I want to die. I've been in bed 26 hours trying to recooperate from Christmas Day and I just feel worse for not being more involved with my kids today. They don't ask how I am or if I need a drink. Perhaps they are downstairs sulking because I haven't asked how they are or if they need me to make dinner. I feel that I've failed them. I'm failing God. I can't stand to be in my skin. I want to die. I want the nightmare to be over. My mind is not right. My body hurts every day. What use am I to God. Of what use am I to my family except to keep disappointing them. I dissapoint myself. I know it always gets better somehow, but at what cost? How much do I put my family through. I wish not interacting was the answer, but it only makes things worse. Interacting makes things worse too. There just is no answer. I'm just going to pretend I'm dead until I feel life in me again. I'm so ashamed.

My step mom said that if I can't handle my perfect life, how will I ever be able to handle a real problem. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I hope she chokes on her money and dies. I hate her. I truely do. I hate her devaluing me and my kids. I want her to go away from me forever. She wants my house. I wish she'd just take it and get it over with so that we can find another place to live even if it is under a bridge. I hate greed and she is full of it. She is poison. She came to my house uninvited. I stayed in my room. I've been here 26 hours now. I want to be dead, then I won't be hurt that nobody cares if I have water. I've been fighting the urge to hurt myself, to destroy myself. I really don't expect God to care at this point. I'm such a disappointment to him. Why should he care? He gives me everything and I still cannot find it within myself to be grateful. I only want to die. Is that not the ultimate rejection? I've searched for reasons that I'm such a mess. I understand adrenals, neurotransmitters, etc. But ultimatley there is no explanation. Because I'm told all I have to do is confess that I'm well and the power of God within me will make me well. It's not working. I know God is real. He either doesn't want me well, or doesn't care. I don't blame him. I just wish I was well, dead, or can learn to cope. Why can't I learn to cope? Mike wants a counselor to fix me. She can't. She doesn't know what is wrong any better than I do. Suicide seems to be the perfect solution to everyone's problems. But yet I know it's not. The game is to wait it out and then to pick up the pieces over and over and over and over and over again and again and again. The cycles seem to never end. Oh Lord, hear my cry. Answer my plea for help. Please do something. Amen.