May-June Issue of Christian Woman's Voice is Ready!

Hot off the presses! The brand-spankin'-new May-June issue of The Christian Women's Voice magazine is ready for purchase! 

 

Every issue gets better & better, I don't know how our publisher does it.

Enjoy ~

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<>< 

Sage & Nettle Scalp Cleaning Tincture

So many of us like to wash our hair every day or every-other-day, usually depending upon how oily our scalp is. But there are times ~ like if you have a new perm, corn-rows, dreds, if you are sick and can't take a bath or shower, on vacation, camping in a remote area, on a missions trip, etc ~ that we can't just jump in the shower and suds-up with our favorite shampoo.

For those times, our scalp still needs a good cleansing and freshening so that our scalp and hair stays healthy and, frankly, we may start to offend those around us and our ~ eh-hem ~ "natural" odor. 

Here is a great scalp treatment tincture that you can use anytime, but especially during those times where & when we are hard-pressed for convenience. 

You will need:

~1 qt-sized canning jar w/tight-fitting lid (metal or gasket)
~1 pt or 1/2 pt-sized canning jar (for a possible container)
~1 eye-dropper OR dropper-bottles (for a possible container)
~1/4 c dried nettle leaves
~1/4 c dried sage leaves
~2-1/2 c vodka (w/no added sweeteners or flavors)
~plastic wrap

Directions:

1) stuff the dried herbs in the qt-sized canning jar & pour in enough vodka to cover the top
2) cover top of canning jar with plastic wrap and then screw on the metal lid or close the gasket lid tightly
3) Shake 30-45 times
4) store the jar in a cool, dark place for 4 weeks
5) **REMEMBER** shake jar for about 30 seconds EACH DAY for 4 weeks 
6) at the end of the 4 weeks, strain the herbs through a fine strainer; press or squeeze the herbs on the strainer to get as much of the liquid as possible for your tinture
7) pour tincture into another canning jar OR into dropper-bottles (which ever you choose for your container); store in a cabinet out of the light, tincture should last about 2 years

To use:

1) with a dropper, apply to various areas directly onto your scalp
2) 1-3 dropper-fulls should cover your whole scalp
3) with your finger-tips, gently massage your scalp for 2-5 minutes
4) USE A DARK TOWEL to blot any excess, DO NOT comb or brush out but let it air dry

Just so you know . . . 

Nettle is good for over-all health a added shine for your hair. ALSO . . . it has been known to help with hair growth, both on healthy heads AND for those who may be balding.

Sage also aids in hair growth by encouraging blood flow to the hair follicles, it reduces odor AND it naturally reduces gray hair :-D (you can thank me for that later ~ lol). 

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<>< 

Freshening Your Mattress

Saw this on Facebook and I thought it was worth passing on to you . . . 

This is a great way to freshen and quick-clean your mattresses.

You will need:

~1 c baking soda
~4 drops lavender essential oil
~mason jar w/lid
~kitchen sifting-type strainer

Directions:

1) pour baking soda & lavender essential oil into mason jar; screw on lid
2) shake to mix
3) strip bed(s) of sheets and bed-clothes
4) holding the kitchen strainer over your bed, pour about 1/4 c of mixture into the strainer
5) lightly shake all over the top of your bed; let sit for at least 1 hour
6) thoroughly vacuum the mattress

The baking soda draws moisture, deep dirt and even dust mites up to the top to be swept away. The lavender disinfects, leaves a fresh scent and aids in lulling you off to dream land.

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><            

Word-Filled Wednesday ~#85~ Praying for Yourself

"Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, 'Oh, that You would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let Your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.' And God granted his request." ~I Chronicles 4:10

Have you ever been reading your Bible and noticed that right in the middle of one train of thought, God plugs in something that just doesn't seem to "fit"? Makes that little song run through your head: "One of these things is not like the others, one of these things just doesn't belong . . . "

That's just how it is in I Chronicles ~ We're reading (and reading, and reading) about the lineage of humanity since Noah, and there ~ smack in the middle of chapter 4 ~ sits an incredible gem. A personal prayer. 

All we are told is that "Jabez was more honorable than his brothers" (vs. 9) and that his mother must have really suffered to bring him into this world, and then . . . Jabez prayed his short but pointed prayer. Everything in the Bible is there for a reason, I'm thinking God wanted us to see it ~ to find it ~ because it's certainly in a part of Scripture that we don't often turn to for comfort or advice. 

I know many of us find it easy to pray for everyone and everything else except ourselves ~ maybe, just maybe, God is telling us that praying for ourselves is OK. After all, we are the only ones, besides Him, who knows what's really going on in our mind and heart. Maybe this is a prayer to show us how to pray for ourselves.

"[B]less me . . . " How can we do the will of God unless He blesses us and our efforts? We need God to go before us (as He promised ~ Deut. 31:8) to open the doors and clear the way. "[E]nlarge my territory!" Maybe Jabez wanted to own a lot of real estate but I'm betting that what he really wanted was for God to bless and enlarge his sphere of influence. That's what we should want so that we can plant the seeds of the Gospel; time is getting short. "Let Your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." Our influence will mean nothing if the Lord isn't a part of it. His hand needs to guide and protect us from the enemy's influence and any scheme to inhibit the power of our witness.

And before God's Word takes us back into the clans of Judah, He leaves us with the best news of all . . .  "And God granted his request." Jabez prayed his prayer from a heart that loved God and wanted simply to be able ~ through blessing, through influence, with health and safety ~ to be a light that shines in a dark world to lead others to eternity with Him. And we are told that God said, "yes."

Is it OK to pray for ourselves? My guess is that God says, "yes."

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><           

 

The Simple Woman's Daybook ~#187~ 4/22/13

For today . . . 

Outside my window . . . gorgeous sunshine & blue skies; although chilly.

I am thinking . . . about the sad condition of our great country.

I am thankful . . . for answered pray & for a big step forward in my plans.

From the kitchen . . . bread baking day.

I am wearing . . . jeans, Healthy Alternative t-shirt, black drapie.

I am creating . . . a peaceful, Christ-centered home.

I am going . . . to take DD#2 to work and then work the Monday late shift. Ah, Monday, playing tag-team with my family . . . they come home from work & I go to work. :-(

I am wondering . . . if I'm putting the right ducks in my row.

I am hoping . . . and trusting that the Lord is going before me and working everything out for me for my project.

I am looking forward to . . . new beginnings.

I am learning . . . to document everything.

About the house . . . general pick-up, flooring estimates.

One of my favorite things . . . cooking and laughing with one or both of my daughters.

A few plans for the rest of the week . . . family time, work, blogging, writing assignment, project research and prep, Sunday worship with the saints.

A favorite quote for the day . . . "Jesus didn't come to make bad people good, but to make dead people live!" ~Ravi Zacharias

Scripture thought . . . "In reply Jesus declared, 'I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again . . . Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.'" ~John 3:3, 6

A picture thought for you . . . 

 

DD#1's dog taking a nap ~ lol

Connect with & read 100's of other Daybooks at Peggy's Simple Woman's Daybook!

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><