St. John's Wort ~ Not Just for "Ladies' Days"

Ask most any woman, "what was the first medicinal herb you used or heard of?", and she will probably say, "St. John's Wort" because it's most well-known use is for the easing of headaches, back pain and other menstrual symptoms. And well it should be the first for many of us, because it is a wonderful herb for all sorts of relief.

St. John's Wort is one of the most useful and safest** herbs and can be used in so many ways and for so many issues ~

~Premenstrual/menstrual backache
~Depression and moodiness
~Depression
~Anxiety
~over-all feeling of tension and stress
~Tense, tired, aching muscles
~Insect bites and stings (cream/oil)
~Neuralgia
~Chickenpox, shingle relief
~Cold sores
~anti-inflammatory (cream/oil)
~pain relief (cream/oil)
~eczema (cream/oil)
~psoriasis (cream/oil)
~peptic ulcers (oil taken internally)
~heals burns and other minor wounds (cream/oil)

St. John's Wort can be taken in several ways:

~~Capsules ~ click HERE to find out how to make your own capsules, or buy them at your local, TRUSTED health food store (I DO NOT recommend supplements from grocery or drug stores; supplements from health food stores go through different quality checks than grocery store/drug store products) 

~~Infused Oils ~ very easy to make. St. John's Wort (and other herbs such as calendula) is made as a "cold" infused oil, meaning that they do not need heated during preparation. 

You Will Need:

~glass jar (clear) with a tightly fitting lid
~enough fresh or dried herb to fill jar to 1" from top
~olive oil (olive oil is the best oil for infused oil because it is slow to become rancid)
~muslin cloth OR very fine sieve/strainer
~funnel
~amber bottles or jar with tightly fitting lids
~a sunny window

Directions:
(**You may use this recipe for most other infused oils**)

1) stuff herb into clear jar to 1" from top
2) carefully pour olive oil until it completely covers the herbs
3) tightly close jar and shake thoroughly
4) put the jar on a sunny window ledge, shake a little every day or two, let steep for 4-6 weeks; the longer you leave it, the stronger it will be
. . . at the end of 4-6 weeks . . . 
5) pour your oil and herbs through the muslin or sieve, press, strain and squeeze as much of the oil out and into your AMBER glass containers as you can (amber glass protects the strength of the product from being diluted from light)
6) throw used herbs away
7) top bottle/jar with a tightly fitting lid

To Use:

1) Topically ~ use liberally on aches and pains
2) Orally ~ for peptic ulcer ~ 1 ts 1-3 times per day

~~Tincture ~ for depression ~ Click HERE to learn how to make medicinal herbal tinctures. To use: 1-2 dropper-fulls in a cold cup of water 3 times per day

~~Cream ~ for eczema, psoriasis, neuralgia, stings, wounds, burns, muscle pain relief 

You Will Need:

~1 oz dried St. John's Wort OR 2 to 2-1/2 oz fresh
~4 oz grated bees wax (I buy bars of bees wax and grate them because I find that the grated melts better than the pellets)
~2 oz vegetable glycerine
~1-1/2 c water
~tea tree essential oil
~amber glass jars with tightly fitting lids
~double boiler pot and heat-proof glass bowl that fits inside
~muslin cloth OR fine sieve/strainer
~medium-sized mixing bowl
~wooden mixing spoon

Directions:

1) in a glass bowl inside a double boiler with boiling water, melt the beeswax
2) once melted, add ~ in order ~ the glycerin (stir), water (stir), and herbs (stir)
3) simmer and stir occasionally for 3 hours
4) carefully (it's HOT) strain the herbs through your muslin or strainer into a bowl
5) slowly stir, CONTINUOUSLY, until it cools and turns into a lovely cream
6) stir in 2-4 drops of tea tree oil to stop mold growth
6) once cool and set, scoop cream into amber jars with tightly fitting lids

To Use:

~apply cream to wound or itchy area 2-4 times per day

So many wonderful uses from such a lovely little flower. God is SO good to us.

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

**This herb MAY interact with prescription medications by reducing their effectiveness ~ this could cause serious health problems. MAKE SURE you talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking**

**See obligatory disclaimer at bottom of page** 

Making Homemade Herbal Capsules

 Google Images

If (IF) obamacare has been responsible for ANYthing good, it has made people want to (have to) start living more frugally and to take better care of their family's health needs. Weather you use medicinal teas, tinctures or, as we will discuss today, make your own herbal supplement capsules, it's always good to take charge and to know everything ~ and to be able to pronounce everything ~ that goes into our bodies.

Many of the ingredients I have given you for the medicinal teas or tinctures can be used in a much smaller amount for homemade supplements. However, many people prefer to have a single ingredient in their capsules. 

 Google Images

Empty capsules come in several sizes, the most popular being "0"/500 mg, "00"/750 mg, and "000"/1,000 mg ~ "0" being the smallest most people use (although there are smaller sizes) and generally, the one that most store-bought bottled herbal supplements use. You may purchase them made from gelatin (made from a "clean" beef source and are usually kosher), or vegetarian (usually made from a poplar tree cellulose).

 
 Google ImagesMaking the capsules can be, honestly, a little tricky until you get the knack of it. Once you do it a few times, you'll have mastered the technique and will make less of a mess each time. :-) There are basically 2 ways to fill your capsules: 1) put your prepared (crushed, pulverized, crumbled) herbs in a small bowl and simply scoop the largest end of the capsule through the herbs, tap a couple times to settle the ingredient(s) and place the other half of the capsule on and squeeze together. 2) most health food markets have a "capsule machine." This is especially good if you are making more than . . . say . . . 20 capsules at a time.  

 Google Images

If you are interested in good over-all health homemade supplements, try: 

Thieves Oil Wellness Supplement

~2-3 drops Thieves Oil (an essential oil blend with MANY uses, you can find my original recipe HERE)
~4-6 drops EITHER safflower oil or grapeseed oil
~use "00" capsules
~~Take 1 per day

Thieves Oil Antibiotic Supplement

~10 drops Thieves Oil
~6 drops Oregano Oil
~2 drops Frankincense Oil
~use "00" capsules
~~Take 2-3 per day for duration of illness 

Other supplements are ~

Pain Relief Herbal Supplements

~see some of the pain relief herbs listed in THIS POST and decide which fits your need
~fill your capsules
~~ALWAYS begin by taking ONE herbal capsule at a time until you adjust your dosage to fit you needs

Vein and Circulation Supplement

~cayenne powder, enough to fill approximately 1/3 of the capsule
~ground ginger root, a large pinch
~fill a "0" capsule
~~take 1-2 per day 

Echinacea Supplement

~crumble or pulverize dried echinacea root
~fill a "00" capsule
~~take once per day for on-going immune support OR 2-3 times per day to shorten the life of a cold or flu

Gentle Anti-Inflammatory Supplement

~licorice root powder
~fill a "0" capsule
~~take as needed; no more than 6 per day. May take for: digestive problems (gas, reflux, GURD, indigestion), peptic ulcer, constipation, canker sores, inflamed joints, arthritis, hoarse cough

Constipation/Irritable Bowel Syndrome Supplement

~psyllium husk powder
~fill either a "0" or "00" capsule
~~take as needed; no more than 6 per day.

Allergy Supplement

~nettle, dried
~fill either a "0" or "00" capsules
~~take 2 capsules once or twice per day. Nettle helps with: hay fever, asthma, gentle detox and mild diuretic, anemia, heavy mentrual bleeding, anti-inflammatory

Eye Health Supplement

~bilberry, crushed or pulverized dried berries
~fill "0" capsules
~~take up to 4 per day. Bilberry is an antioxidant and is widely known to help protect the eyes from tissue damage and prevents cataracts, helps heal the intestines from inflammation, helps circulation, varicose veins, bruising, blood flow,  helps with bladder and urinary tract infections; works BOTH as a mild laxative and to stop diarrhea

Headaches and Migraines Supplement

~feverfew, dried
~fill half or whole "0" capsule
~~take 1 or 2 per dose, no more than 4 per day. 

Taking charge of your own health ~ and that of your family ~ is a wonderful way to love your family and save time and money. Do some research and find out what other herbs may work for you.

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><
**Please see the obligatory disclaimer at bottom of page**

Word-Filled Wednesday ~#115~ A Fool for Christ

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."

~ 1 Cor. 1:18

"Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; 

not many were influential; 

not many were of noble birth. 

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; 

God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world 

and the despised things ~ 

and the things that are not ~

to nullify the things that are, so that NO ONE may boast for Him."

~1 Cor. 1:26-29

"We in our foolishness thought we were wise

He played the fool and He opened our eyes

We in our weakness believed we were strong

He became helpless to show we were wrong.

So we follow God's own Fool

And only the foolish can tell

Believe the unbelievable

Come, be a fool as well."

~God's Own Fool

by Michael Card

I don't know about you, but I believe we are seeing the birth pangs of the last days. More and more, I look to the sky and wonder, "How long, O, Lord?" 

These days do seem to be dividing the sheep and the goats (Matt. 25:31-46) ~ the middle ground seems to be shrinking. One one hand, the Lord is drawing many to Himself and on the other hand, those who are lost seem to be drifting farther and farther away. Although, I DO NOT give up hope of salvation for ANYONE until they draw their final breath on earth. 

It also seems that "those who are perishing" try so hard to  make a spectacle of "those of us who are being saved." While they blindly believe in such myths as evolution and chance, they laugh and point at us who believe the truth of God's Word, of His creation and the once-for-all sacrifice of His One and Only Son, Jesus, that paid the penalty for our sin so that we may spend eternity with God in heaven. 

Even if you put the Bible aside, secular history and fossil records for geological science record that Jesus, in fact, walked the earth, that the places where He visited were real places, the people talked about in the Bible were real people. Secular "science" says that we "evolved" from nothing, to something, to amoeba, to ooze, to apes, to something-in-the-middle, to human . . . with no proof. Any "fossil record" loudly proclaimed in scientific journals to show some sort of fake "missing link" is ALWAYS quietly retracted at a later date. ALWAYS.

Secular "science" crumbles, but the TRUTH of the Word of God stands forever. Who is the real fool?

To go even further with the truth of Creation ~ Even though modern "science" has never, and will never, prove evolution, it HAS in very recent years VERY begrudgingly come to admit that genetic studies show that it just might be possible that all mankind has a common set of parents. Dare we say it? Dare we NAME them? . . . Adam and Eve?! Some have even dubbed this study "The Eve Hypothesis." 

Secular "science" crumbles, but the TRUTH of the Word of God stands forever. Who is the real fool?   

750 years before Jesus walked the earth, secular "science" thought that the world was flat, even though God's Word said, "He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth . . . " (Isaiah 40:22[a]) God told us that the earth was round, a sphere, long before mere man "discovered" it.

Secular "science" crumbles, but the TRUTH of the Word of God stands forever. Who is the real fool? 

Secular "science" understood that the waves of the ocean are governed by currents, but they didn't know that those currents could be charted and systematically followed; that courses could be reliably charted by them until the mid-1800's when Matthew Maury, the Father of Oceanography, began charting currents and proving that they were the road map of the seas. He consistently credited Psalm 8:6-8 ("you made him ruler over the works of Your hands . . . and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.") as his inspiration to prove the truth of God's Word. 

Secular "science" crumbles, but the TRUTH of the Word of God stands forever. Who is the real fool?

Every day, the TRUTH of God's Word is being proven over and over again. Even though the Lord wants us to walk and believe by faith, He is so good to supply a little proof of His love and good works to boost the faith it takes to believe what we cannot see.

God does NOT lie (Numbers 23:19) ~ if He says it, it surely MUST be. 

"Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of His purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, He confirmed it with an oath. 

God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD TO LIE, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure . . ."

~Hebrews 6:16-19(a)

If you MUST do something "foolish" in the world's eyes, be a fool for Christ. You will be in great company.

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

Queen of the Meadow Herb a.k.a. Meadowsweet

 There is an herb in my kitchen collection that is growing in use the more I use it and the more I find out about it. It's gone by many names over the centuries: Meadow Wort, Gravel Root, Queen of the Ditch (because is grows well in rural ditches), Queen of the Prairie, Bride's Wort, Trumpet Weed, Purple Boneset, Joe Pye Weed, Lady of the Meadow . . . But it is most commonly known as Queen of the Meadow or Meadowsweet. 

It is a pretty, weedy-herb that grows in damp ditches and along creeks, rivers, ponds and streams mostly in Great Britain and European countries but it also grows in America in the same sort of areas. If you grow it at home, it prefers a semi-damp, semi-shade area. 

What makes this herb so popular is that you can use the flower AND the stem; once dried, you can use it in a tea/infusion (which is my preferred method), in a tincture or in pill/capsule form (either from your favorite health food market or make your own). 

The other reason Queen of the Meadow is so useful is that it is BOTH a pain reliever (containing Salicylic acid, which aspirin is made from) and it neutralizes stomach acid.

[**NOTE** If you are allergic to aspirin DO NOT use this herb.]

As a pain reliever, Queen of the Meadow is even better than aspirin because, NOT ONLY, does it relieve pain and reduce inflammation ~ much like Turmeric ~ which makes it very effective for arthritis sufferers, but ~ unlike aspirin ~ it does not thin the blood or tear up the lining of your stomach. As a matter of fact, it actually helps to protect the stomach and intestine lining.

Another plus for your tummy is that it reduces the acid level in the stomach ~ helping those of us who suffer from acid reflux (GIRD) and chronic or occasional heartburn ~ PLUS ~ it reduces acidity throughout the body ~ which ALSO helps those with joint stiffness, rheumatoid arthritis and gout. Oh, happy day!

And something else ~ Meadowsweet helps to calm diarrhea (even in children), IBS and cystitis cause by a UTI. 

See why my admiration for this little herb is growing by leaps and bounds?

Try it and let me know what you think.

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

**Please see disclaimer at bottom of blog page**

Word-Filled Wednesday ~#114~ Where Everybody Knows Your Name

"Making your way in the world 

take everything you've got,

Taking a break from all your worries

sure would help a lot.

Wouldn't you like to get away?

All those nights when you've got no lights,

the check is in the mail;

And your little angel hung the cat up

by it's tail.

And your third fiancée 

didn't show.

Sometimes, you want to go

where everybody knows your name,

and they're always glad you came.

You wanna be where you can see

our troubles are all the same.

You wanna be where everybody

knows your name."

~Cheers theme song, 

by Gary Portnoy~

"This day is sacred to our LORD. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." ~Nehemiah 8:10(b)

"Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another ~ and all the more as your see the Day approaching." ~Hebrews 10:25

I love my church. 

I have loved something about every church I have belonged to. Each church has it's own personality. 

Some churches have various ministries, clubs, Bible studies for all ages and especially for the kiddos; some churches are sweet, small and humble; some are beautiful, majestic historic buildings where you can almost hear grand hymns of the faith that were sung my the faithful for centuries resounding off of the rafters; some churches have worship that stirs and edifies, the kind that you can almost feel the angels standing next to you rejoicing with you. And sadly, there are some churches that barely go through the motions of faith and you sometimes wonder how (or why) they keep their doors open.

But to me, church ~ as a place of community worship ~ is one of my favorite places to be.

It starts out that many of my favorite people are there. Everyone I see, once I walk in the door, brings a smile to my face. I know that most everyone (just being honest) is there for the same purpose I am ~ to worship the Lord in community, to edify and build each other up in the Lord. We are there to care for one-another, to pray for one-another and to worship.

I love to worship at my church. I know we all have our favorite modes of worship, tastes in music, etc., and we TRY to make as many "happy" with our choices as we can, but I am mostly a Contemporary Worship sort of girl. I love praise music ~ I love to rock and I love the sweet folk-type acoustics. Yes, I love the old hymns of the church, but I also love it when they are modified a bit with a more "current" instrumentation.  What an honor and deep, deep privilege it is to be a part of a praise team and have the honor of helping to prepare hearts for the hearing of God's Word.

(**Now, I don't want to get into any "discussion" about TASTES in music or what's "bad" or "good" ~ let me just say 2 things: 1) I serve THE GOD OF CREATION and He CAN AND WILL use anything He wants to to draw someone to Himself and He CAN AND WILL use whatever type of music He chooses. Having said that, it leads me to 2) I was saved at Christian rock concert. You cannot convince me the God didn't use that type of music to draw His children to Himself. I am living proof.**)

I love to be taught the Word of God: the Bible. I love to listen to good preaching, to a sermon that I can take into my life and use . . . that I can LIVE. My favorite kind of preachers are those I call "preach-teachers" ~ those who read the Word of God, then divide it and teach it in such a way that I can take it with me and APPLY it in my life, my family's lives and on into my community. 

I love to fellowship with my friends ~ fellow saints of God. I love to hear what God is doing in their lives ~ to be encouraged that if He brought them through something, that He WILL bring me through, too; to be able to help others know the same from my life and experiences. I love to pray with my brothers and sisters . . . what a special thing to be able to go before God's throne and ask His blessings and help for others and KNOW that He hears us. 

It is a pleasure and a privilege to go where people know you and love you in the Name of Jesus.

I hope you have a church where everybody knows your name. 

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

Homemade Spiced Chai Latte Mix

I know it's almost summer, but if you're like me, ANY SEASON is CHAI LATTE SEASON! 

 I dressed my canning jar up a little by adding 

a pretty piece of fabric over the lid

We like to go to our friends' cottage in Lakeside, Ohio ~ a Christian resort town on Lake Erie ~ and inside that precious gated community is a little sandwich/coffee/dessert shop called Ooh La La's. And believe me, the shop is just as cute as it's name. All that to say: my absolute favorite thing to get there is their spiced chai latte . . . hot. Yes, they have a cold version, but I don't care if it's 100 degrees with 100% humidity outside, I love their HOT spiced chai latte. 

Have you ever had a favorite taste treat like that?  But we can't always go there :'( so, improvise, we must . . .

Well, there are tons of recipes out there for lattes, but this is the one that I like. It's easy-peasy and tasty, too. 

You will need:

~1 c. coffee
~1 ts. cinnamon
~1/2 ts. cardamon
~1/4 ts. ground nutmeg
~1/8 ts. ginger
~whisk
~small mixing bowl
~air-tight glass container

Directions:

1) whisk to mix all ingredients together in a mixing bowl.
2) carefully pour into air-tight glass container

To use:

#1 ~ use 1/3 c. per mug, fill with hot water, stir to mix.

#2 ~ if you are making a pot of coffee and want something with a little kick, especially on a chilly day or night or around a camp fire, add a heaping TB of chai mix per scoop of coffee to your coffee maker. A great taste treat! 

Enjoy!

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

A Word to Homeschool (or any) Grads . . .

As you start this new chapter of your lives, there are a few things you should consider . . . 
 

1. Just as you spent this time under the protective umbrella of your parents, particularly the headship of your dad, don't forget that you are STILL under the protective umbrella of your Heavenly Father. As the pathways of your life expand, don't forget that umbrella ~ it will protect you both physically and emotionally. Spend time in God's Word to know Him more deeply and to remember where those protective boundaries are. Cultivate your relationship with Him ~ relationships do not grow unless time is spent together. We grow in our relationship with the Lord by spending time with Him, time reading our Bibles, time spent in prayer, time in worship and time in the fellowship of the saints. When you leave home, you may be tempted to take a break from the regular fellowship of church-going or reading your Bible ~ DO NOT DO IT. Some of these disciplines are also habits; once you get out of the habit of fellowship or devotions, the enemy of your soul will give you as many excuses as you want to justify staying away, until you no longer recognize that still, small Voice of your Father. Remember how much He loves you and all He has done for you; how can you NOT want to spend time with Him?

2. Cultivate a willingness to help others. This will help improve relationships in your home and cause you to grow a good reputation within your church and community.
3. Collect “stones of remembrance.” In Joshua 4:4-7, once the Lord had, again, helped the Israelites cross the Jordan on dry land, Joshua had the men gather stones and make a monument to commemorate the occasion so that the generations to come would never forget the goodness of God. Now, I'm not saying that you need to make a monument, but if you think about it, keep a little somethin'-somethin' that reminds you of something God did in your life, make notes in the empty pages of your Bible to record answered prayer ~ because ~ life in this fallen old world is not always good, BUT GOD IS. Every-now-and-then, you will need something tangible to remind you.
   4) Make good friends. A quote recently went through Facebook that said, “The Scripture says in Proverbs 13:20, “He who walks with wise men will be wise.” Take a look at your friends. That’s what you’re going to be like in a few years. Hang around people who make you better.” Couldn't have said it better myself.
   5) Don't neglect your family relationships. For better or worse, no one knows you better or should love you more. These are the people who will be with you when you're sick and when you're successful. When times are hard, these are the strong shoulders that will hold you up ~ and you will be there for them. Friends come and go, family is forever.

Now, you will be praised, celebrated, cheered and applauded today ~ and rightly so. But remember that all the praise and glory of a high school graduation could never compare to the thunderous applause of GOD or hearing HIS “well done, good and faithful servant.” Now, it is up to YOU to remain faithful and to nourish and maintain your relationship with Him. THAT will be the greatest accomplishment of your life. And remember, no matter where this life takes you, God LOVES you, YOU are the apple of His eye.

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

Crazy Mid-West Weather

Well, the old saying goes: "If you don't like Ohio's weather, stick around for a few minutes, it's bound to change." And southwest Ohio is also known for being part of Tornado Alley because we get some crazy, CRAZY storms . . . and yesterday, our area was hit with torrential, horizontal rains, hail and terrible flooding. Everything BUT a tornado ~ although funnel clouds were spotted. 

Our whole county was hit particularly hard by the flooding and we are praising the Lord that our home was spared the worst of it all, however, beginning just less than a mile from our home, things started to get really bad. 

Our DD#2 works in a neighboring town and since we share the truck, I needed to pick her up when she called saying that water was coming into a side door at the library and the basement (where all the media, historic documents, antique books and some computers are) was being flooded! 

The worst of the storm seemed to be over at our house and so, with hail still laying all over the roads, I started out to get her, a mere 8 miles away. Only a mile from our home, the flooding began. The ditches were torrents of deep, running water, yards were flooded up to and past the homes and barns . . . 

This shot was taken at my 2nd pass of this property ~ the 1st time I went through, the hill on the left was a massive waterfall that ran down into the horses' paddock, flooding the area and inside the barn. The poor horses had to SWIM until the rain stopped and the waterfall went away and left some soggy land for them to get onto. 

Just past that was where some real trouble began . . . a business's WHOLE parking lot had turned into a raging river ~ probably 50' wide, and NO ONE was going to go through that. At this point, everyone turned around and I tried to find another way to my daughter.

I drove for over 2 hours trying to find a way, but every road had flooded areas. I shouldn't have, but being as I drive a big ol' truck, I went through some fast-flowing flooded roads until I was simply too afraid to go into some really deep, really fast waters and had to TRY to find another road. Along the way, I saw this sweet little, brand new mule foal and his family trying to find some high ground. 

Every where I went, I met with flooded roads and could not get to my daughter. Just as I was considering getting onto the highway and going all the way into a neighboring town to come in another way, I drove up to the on-ramp and there were cars using it to get OFF of the highway because IT was flooded as well! 

 Photo credit: Dayton Daily News

As this point, I called my daughter and asked if she could contact some friends who live close to the library and see if she could spend the night at their home. What a blessing they are ~ the whole historic downtown was flooded and so was our friends' street, but they braved the waters, DD#2 waded out to their car and they, even though their power was out most of the night, took her in. Praise God for wonderful friends. This was their road . . .  

 Photo credit: Katie Worthen

And as it seems to be after so many storms ~ today is such a lovely sun-shiney day. God IS so good.

Your prayers are appreciated for all those who have lost so much and are cleaning up today. Thank you.

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><   

Word-Filled Wednesday ~#113~ Treasured Possession

"'They are Mine," says the LORD Almighty, 'in the day when I make up My treasured possession, I will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him. And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not . . . But for you who revere My Name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall." ~Malachi 3:17-19; 4:2

Do have a treasured possession? Perhaps and picture of a lost loved one, something that belonged to a love one, a memento from a once-in-a-lifetime trip . . . ? Isn't it lovely to look upon that item and think of who or what it represents? 

I have my parents' wedding rings and I often wear one of them, especially on their birthdays or their anniversary. It's a way that I can still feel them with me in some way. I have a small collection of canes that my grandpa made from tree branches, these have come in handy during illnesses when walking was a chore and now, THE Man uses one. I have three beautiful fall scene paintings from an artist in West Virginia that my grandma had in her home, my parents had in their home and I have had throughout our nearly 30 years of marriage. 

Treasured possessions.

Did you know that YOU are God's treasured possession? Incredible, isn't it?! Having accepted Jesus as our Savior, WE have been adopted into God's family (Eph. 1:5). And just as we treasure our children and things that remind us of them, so God, our Heavenly Father, adores and treasures all that reminds Him of us.

Treasured possessions.

YOU are one of God's treasured possessions. 

Amazing love.

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

Zap Those Zits!

If you have read my blog for a while, you know that even though I am 55 (as of this writing), I STILL have oily, acne-prone skin. :-( That doesn't mean I look like I'm 16 anymore (I wish), but it has always spurred me on to find remedies that work (like my face wash and toner) for myself and my family . . . who are also on the oily side.

Something that's always handy to have with you is a little tube of homemade Zit Zapper. And you won't believe how EASY this is to make . . .

You Will Need:

~small pot

~1/8 c. raw, virgin coconut oil (NOT refined)

~3-5 drops tea tree essential oil (depending upon how strong you want it)

~3-6 empty lip balm tubes (depending upon the size you get)
~1 dropper OR small syringe (WITHOUT needle)
~rubber band

Directions:

1) in a small pot, gently melt the coconut oil ~ it won't take long because coconut oil begins to liquefy at 72-75 degrees ~ it does NOT need to be hot, just warm enough to melt
2) remove from heat
3) add tea tree drops to the coconut oil; stir to blend while warm

 

 [Google Images]

4) the easiest way to fill the tubes is to tie them together with the rubber band (so that they don't fall over), fill the dropper/syringe with the warm mixture and drop it into the tubes until they are full
5) put caps on the filled tubes
6) place tubes in the refrigerator for 15-30 minutes; they will actually be ready to use in 15 minutes, I wait 30 minutes to make sure
7) when you see or feel something about to erupt, simply take it our of your purse and dab a little on and around the blemish; carry one in your purse and keep the rest in the refrigerator until needed

**NOTE** REMEMBER that coconut oil starts to liquefy above 72-75 degrees, which means it may be wise to keep it in a baggie inside your cosmetic bag on a hot day. 

That's it! Easy peasy. Let me know how much you LOVE it.

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><