The Burden of Fear

Every since I was a little girl I remember being afraid. I woke up often with nightmares retreating to my parents room looking for comfort. As an adult the fear has followed me, every thing from current events, to my child growing up to be a serial killer.

I read in a book by Linda Dillow and received one of the best pieces of advice I can remember, she said to write down everything you can remember being fearful of in the past and how it actually turned out. As I pondered this I realized not once had my worst fear come to fruition, and in most cases they never would. I think on this often now as fear comes in waves every few weeks and I at times am paralized by it, unable to see outside my self. Is this the way God intended me to live? NO! "The Lord has not give you a spirit of fear but of truth, love and sound mind, (some versions say power, love and sound mind). The bible also says that "the enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy", and I am being stolen from! If I choose fear, (and at times it does not feel like a choice), then I have given way to the enemy (the devil, satan, evil whatever you call it)there is no deniying that there is a force working against all that is good. But if I make the choice to battle against this force then good ultimatly wins. I I serve a good God I know this, and I have also questioned this. My God is Love, if I give way to fear I am serving it and it is my God, I cannot serve two masters. I think women in general fear more, it's just the way our minds work we are not compartmentalized we are very complex in our thinking. For some it is hard to separate truth, from feelings. I know that each time I face my fear and choose to trust God instead I get closer to overcoming. I heard of life not as a circle but a spiral you go around and face a lot of the same challenges but each time you are a little higher above than you were.

We make choices every day some conscience some instinctual. The truth is when facing our demons, we HAVE to CHOOSE peace & love, knowing that patience and willingness to walk through darkness trusting God will bring us triumph. Nothing good comes easily. Do not give up on facing and overcoming the darkness that invades, be strong and of good courage!

The God of Nature

Whoever said God and Nature are a separate? He is the creator of nature, of all things supernatural from the parting of the Red Sea to the butterfly emerging from it's cocoon. We assume that works of nature are separate, but perhaps they are God.

When it's Time to Stop

Our lives are busy, very, very busy, but why? What is all this about? Is it all worth it? My conclusion is no. We obsess over, clothes, food, our homes, our social lives, the academia of our children everything under the sun must some how fit into our limited time. I feel like we've missed something beautiful. Instead of putting all of our energy into one place we have tried to fill the outlet with too many plugs. Have you ever had too many things on at once in your home and noticed the lights flicker, or even have a power outage? This is what we are doing to ourselves! We are overloading the circut. Is everything we do so important? And if so why are we always, empty, tired, and even lonely?

In a stunning imagery given by our Lord he says "Look at the birds of the air they neither reap nor sow or store away in barns, yet your heavenly father feeds them. Are you not of much more value than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about your clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They neither labor or spin. Yet i tell you not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these...But seek FIRST the Kingdom and His righteousness, and ALL THESE THINGS WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU AS WELL." (Matt.6:26-29;33-34) We are to put our energies into drawing near to our Father, and in turn he will direct our every move- "trust in the lord with all you heart and lean not on YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING, in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make straight your path" Prov. 3:5-6. Problem is we are too busy with accomplishing our own will we miss His voice, His direction and perfect will. We are so obsessed with our own entitlement saying "I need this, or I deserve that" when in all truth we are entitled to nothing. People in Most countries, live on a quarter of what a lower middle class American lives on.

I have become a bit sidetracked, back to the main point, why are we so busy? It's ok if our house is a little messy, it's ok if our children don't read at 2, it's ok to sit, to pray, to be silent, to drive nowhere, to give to a stranger. We HAVE to slow down, with heart disease, depression, sleep problems, anxiety and so many other health problems at an all time high we are dying too early. For me to be free is to live, I don't want too many obligations I want room for God, for life, ABUNDANT LIFE for God's sake and ours. We weren't meant to run on empty, we were meant to stop and re-fuel frequently. Do some thing spontaneous, something to make you feel alive, play in the rain, act like a child. Jesus said that we must be like little children to enter the kingdom (Mk. 10:13-16), which by the way is within us (Luke 17:21) not a place we go after we die. Life is precious don't waste it away, enjoy it and live! May it be well with your soul!

Excellent giveaway!

This is my friend heathers blog, she has lots of good info. about local, natural foods. Check her out and enter this awesome contest!



http://www.mommypotamus.com/healthy-snack-giveaway/

Chamomile rosemary cleansing hair rinse

This is a great one to rinse out all the build up we get in our hair. Its simple too.

4 chamomile tea bags
2 cups distilled water
1/4 cup fresh rosemary (dried would be ok)
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

Open tea bags, and pour into a bowl. In saucepan bring water to a boil, then pour over chamomile. Add rosemary, let the mixture steep for 15 minutes.

Add vinegar. Strain and discard herbs, use immediately.

All natural purifying room spray

In honor of the earth day I have decided to post a new natural beauty and home recipe every day until earth day!

So I like a fresh smelling room, but not a big fan of super parfumey room sprays. This spray is so easy to make and cost just a few cents if you have the oils already, if not they are worth investing in. Essential oils have many uses, from aromatherapy, to laundry additives, to curing skin care problems. They re natures way of offering is peace, cleanliness, and purity.

The tea tree oil in the spray serves as a disinfectant, and the lavender serves as a purifier. Theses two oils work in harmony to cleanse the air in your home. Use as you would febreeze or any other room deoderizer. This is just one simple way to have a lighter footstep on the environment and your wallet.

You will need:
32 oz.(give or take a bit) spray bottle of any sort try to re-use one
30 oz. of water
7 drops of tea tree oil
12 drops of lavender oil

fill water bottle put in drops and there you go

Healthy living at the cost of our brothers and sisters dignity.

I have to get something off my chest...I am angry, not perpetually, but the past few days I have seen much judgement passed.

I have to say that I am a very heathy eater, I cook all my meals at home, I choose organic when budget allows, and stay away from processed and chemical foods. In fact some times people think I 'm a little wacky because I don't want my son eating cupcakes (he's only 14 months!). That being said I AM NOT SINGLING OUT ANYBODY WHO CHOOSES A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE! I am one of those people.

Here is my problem, I have more and more lately run across people who seem to think of themselves as some sort of Elite group because of their food choices. I myself have felt judged many times. This "group" of food elitist offer much criticism and judgement to those who do not make the same choices as them, many of them Christians. As followers of Christ we are not called to judge (Mt. 7:1-6)for we are all sinners and fall short of the glory of God (Rom.3:23). Our food habits do not make us any better than the next. One man may struggle to eat healthy, treating his body with carelessness, but spends his days caring for widows and orphans, which is considered pure worship (James 1:27), while one man may struggle with his porn addiction, committing adultery in his heart (Mt 5:28), eats a pure diet. Who is better?Neither they are both sinners. It is important to lead others to healthier more fulfilling lifestyles, but we are called to do so in loving manner by "speaking the truth in love" (Eph. 4:14-16), not with judgement and criticism, we are able to see others flaws but are blinded to our own (Mt. 7:1-6). We have become too proud in our ways, we must not forget that it is by the GRACE OF GOD we have been saved (Eph 2:5). If we are to change lives we are to be humble for "he gives grace to humble and opposes the proud" (James 4:6).

I too have been found guilty of passing judgement on brothers and sisters and for that my heart has been broken and I have repented. There are many people sharing their healthy discoveries with grace and love, such as my friend Heather (http://www.mommypotamus.com), and Lindsey at http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/. My goal is not to frustrate or anger but to encourage, those who have examined their hearts, and go about their efforts to change the world the right way, leading people to and not away from Christ!

Much love,
Katie