As some of you may know, I work in a health food store. One of my favorite things about working there is to tell people about alternatives to expensive, chemical-laden products ranging from skin care to pain killers.
So many healthy alternatives can be found by simply buying bulk herbs & spices & making your own teas or even tinctures. One of the most popular ~ & effective ~ bulk/tea purchases you can use is Hibiscus; not only does it taste great (even without honey) but it's probably the most effective, non-prescription way to lower your blood pressure. In my opinion, the best (freshest & cheapest) way to purchase dried hibiscus flowers to make your own tea is to buy it in bulk. Put 3-5 ts (depending upon your taste) in a tea ball & steep in a cup or mug for 5-10 minutes. (Try filling a jug w/water, filling a tea ball w/dried hibiscus flowers & making some sun tea. It's good hot or cold.) You will probably find that there is no need to add sweetener.
The current Spring 2012 issue of Mother Earth News has a fantastic article about it. Lots of great information & explanations in non-medical language. :-) Here's a part of it . . .
Recent studies show hibiscus tea can lower blood pressure as effectively as some standard hypertension drugs can. hibiscus is widely consumed around the world as a ruby-colored, lemony beverage (it's the main ingredient in Red Zinger tea). Hibiscus is safe &, unlike most blood pressure drugs, rarely causes side effects . . .
Hibiscus Has been used to treat high blood pressure in both African & Asian traditional medicine. In 1996, researchers in Nigeria confirmed this age-old wisdom by showing that hibiscus flowers reduced blood pressure in laboratory animals. Soon after, researchers . . . showed the same benefit in people. After measuring the blood pressure of 54 hypertensive adults, the researchers gave them 10 oz of either black tea or hibiscus tea for 12 days. Average blood pressure decreased slightly in the black tea group, but decreased a significant 10% in the hibiscus group.
Since then, several additional studies have confirmed this effect, including two that tested hibiscus head-to-head against standard blood pressure medications . . .
How does hibiscus lower blood pressure? Recent research suggests a combination of reasons: It has diuretic properties, it opens the arteries, & it appears to act as a natural angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, which means it slows the release of hormones that constrict blood vessels. In addition, hibiscus boosts immune function & provides valuable antioxidants.
Dose recommendations vary from about 1 ts of dried "flowers" per cup of boiling water up to the 5 ts used in one of the studies. Steep 5 to 10 minutes . . .
I enjoy Hibiscus tea . . . just "because;" you do not need to have high blood pressure to enjoy it . . . but if you have an issue with high blood pressure, you may want to try it for yourself. It is a hot seller at the store so it must be working for a lot of people.
Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><
PASSAGE: "Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in His presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honored His name.
"'They will be Mine," says the LORD Almighty, 'in the day when I make up My treasured possession . . . '
"'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 3:16, 17; 4:2 [emphasis mine]
LESSON LEARNED: May 20th will be my 30th birthday in the Lord. WOW! Who'd-a thunk it, huh? I often say that I have lived two utterly and completely different lives. I am a living example that the Lord "causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." (Matt. 5:45) He kept me safe and alive until the time of His choosing ~ the day of my salvation. (II Cor. 6:2)
Days turn into weeks, turn into months, turn into years and as life goes on and seasons of hardship can take their toll. There are times when old temptations, old stirrings might want to come back ~ the devil, never missing an opportunity ~ quietly steps up to whisper in our ear and remind us about how "good" or how "fun" those old days were.
THAT'S when we MUST shake off those temptations and REMEMBER all that the Lord has done for us! REMEMBER all that He has brought us through and blessed us with. REMEMBER, if you can trace your salvation back to a particular day, how you felt to be free ~ to be washed clean as clean could be. Did you dance in your new birth? Did you leap for joy like a new calf bounding out of the barn door into the fresh air and sunshine? Did you breathe deeply and feel that NOW you were really alive? Did you bubble-over with the Good News of your salvation? Then remember those days and actually write them down if you need to. The Lord's work in your live is your HIStory!
We live in a fallen world, but it is a world where the Lord still works wonders in your life and mine. When the devil tries to take advantage of a weary moment, take out your "scroll" and fight fire with fire ~ there's nothing like evidence of the Lord's work in our lives to combat the flaming arrows of the enemy.
Is your Scroll of Remembrance waiting to be written?
Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><
". . . When I found the one my heart loves. I held him and would not let him go . . ."
~Song of Songs 3:4
Happy Valentine's Day to THE Man ~ I love you now & forever.
Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><
"Then it was that Margaret, sitting alone with tears dropping often on her work, felt how rich she had been in things more precious than any luxuries money could buy ~ in love, protection, peace and health, the real blessings of life."
Little Women ~ Ch. 18
Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><
Got this in an e-mail . . . it's too good not to share with you.
Me: (in a tizzy): God, can I ask You something?
GOD: Sure.
Me: Promise You won't get mad?
GOD: I promise.
Me (frustrated): Why did You let so much stuff happen to me today?
GOD: What do you mean?
Me: Well, I woke up late
GOD: Yes
Me: My car took forever to start
Me (growling): At lunch, they made my sandwich wrong and I had to
wait
GOD: Hmmmm . . .
Me: On the way home, my phone went dead, just as I picked up a call
GOD: All right
Me (loudly): And to top it all off, when I got home, I just wanted
to soak my feet in my foot massager and relax, but it wouldn't work. Nothing went right today! Why did You do that?
GOD: Well let Me see . . . The death angel was at your bed this
morning and I had to send one of the other angels to battle him for your
life. I let you sleep through that.
Me (humbled): Oh . . .
GOD: I didn't let your car start because there was a drunk driver on
your route that might have hit you if you were on the road
Me (ashamed): . . . . . . . . . . . .
GOD: The first person who made your sandwich today was sick and I
didn't want you to catch what they have, I knew you couldn't afford to miss work
Me (embarrassed): Oh . . . . .
GOD: Your phone went dead because the person that was calling was
going to give a false witness about what you said on that call, I didn't
even let you talk to them so you would be covered
Me (softly): I see, God
GOD: Oh, and that foot massager, it had a short that was going to
throw out all of the power in your house tonight. I didn't think you wanted to be in the dark.
Me: I'm sorry, God.
GOD: Don't be sorry, just learn to trust Me . . . in all things,
the good and the bad
Me: I WILL trust You, God
GOD: And don't doubt that My plan for your day is always better than
your plan
Me: I won't, God. And let me just tell You God, thank You for
everything today
GOD: You're welcome, child. It was just another day being your God
and I love looking after My children.
~Scriptural References: II Samuel 22:31, Proverbs 3:5, Hebrews 2:13
Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><
"Father, Marmee, this is my friend, Professor Bhaer," [Jo] said, with a face and tone of such irrepressible pride and pleasure that she might as well have blown a trumpet and opened the door with a flourish.
If the stranger had had any doubts about his reception, they were set at rest in a minute by the cordial welcome he received. Everyone greeted him kindly, for Jo's sake at first, but very soon they liked him for his own. They could not help it, for he carried the talisman that opens all hearts, and these simple people warmed to him at once, feeling even the more friendly because he was poor; for poverty enriches those who live above it, and is a sure passport to truly hospitable spirits. Mr. Bhaer sat looking about him with the air of a traveller who knocks at a strange door, and, when it opens, finds himself at home . . . The women telegraphed their approval to one another, and Mr. March, feeling that he had got a kindred spirit, opened his choicest stores for his guest's benefit . . .
A stealthy glance now and then refreshed her like sips of fresh water after a dusty walk, for the sidelong peeps showed her several propitious omens. Mr. Bhaer's face had lost the absent-minded expression, and looked all alive with interest in the present, actually young and handsome, she thought . . .
Little Women ~ Ch. 44
Dedicated to our future son-in-law.
Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><
There's nothing better that I could leave you with for the weekend than the Gospel presented in such a beautiful way.
As many of you know, I play a hammered dulcimer ~ Rich Mullins was my inspiration. If you've ever wondered what I'm talking about when I mention that I play a hammered dulcimer, here's an opportunity for you to see & hear one played like Rich played. 3rd Day & Brandon Heath have done an amazing version of it here.
God bless you as you listen.{Please remember to turn off my music at the bottom of the page before watching the video.}Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><
Last night, I made tacos & burritos for supper. Since our finances dictated that I go back to work in 2010, & I work so many nights, I don't get to cook as much as I used to. Breaks my heart. I never thought I would miss cooking for them so much, but I surely do. One of my family's favorite things for me to fix has always been my tacos & burritos along w/my homemade Pico de Gallo. Mmmm mm!
So, as I was browning the meat & adding my taco seasoning, I realized that I hadn't ever given the recipe to YOU! Like I always say: Once you start making your own products ~ whether health & beauty, home cleaning, spice mixes, etc. ~ you won't want to go back.
Here's you'll need ~
~2 TB chili powder
~1/2 ts garlic granules or powder
~1/2 ts onion powder
~1/2 ts red pepper flakes
~1 ts oregano
~1 TB cumin
~2-1/2 ts sea salt OR real salt
~2 ts. ground pepper
Directions ~
1) With a whisk, blend all ingredients together
2) Store in a clean, re-used spice shaker container OR a container with a wide enough mouth to get a measuring spoon into. Both should seal tightly.
3) Use approximately 1 to 1-1/2 TB (or to taste) to each pound of taco meat.
Enjoy!
Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><
PASSAGE: "Despite their fear of the peoples around them, they built the altar on its foundation and sacrificed burnt offerings on it to the LORD . . . But the eye of their God was watching over the Jews, and they were not stopped . . . [Tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphrates wrote to King Xerxes:] 'Now if it pleases the king, let a search be made in the royal archives of Babylon to see if King Cyrus did in fact issue a decree to rebuild this house of God in Jerusalem' . . . A scroll was found . . . [it said] 'Let the temple be rebuilt as a place to present sacrifices, and let its foundations be laid . . . Do not interfere with the work on this temple of God . . . The expenses of these men are to be fully paid out of the royal treasury . . . whatever is needed . . . must be given them daily without fail, so that they may offer sacrifices pleasing to the God of heaven . . . I Darius have decreed it. Let it be carried out with diligence.'" ~selected verses from Ezra ch. 3-6
LESSON LEARNED: Am I alone, or does anyone else ever wonder to yourself: "Lord, I thought I felt your nudge, I thought I heard You tell me to do something . . . but was I wrong, because NOTHING is going well, nothing about this is easy and 'the powers that be' are all against me. Did I really hear You?"
You do? Whew! I thought it was just me.
When the Lord calms my heart and assures me that, yes, I have felt His leading, then I need to get out my Scroll of Remembrance (Malachi 3:16) and let Him bring to mind all those past hard-fought-hard-won victories of my life. And victories hardly ever come easily or without fear or without opposition ~ especially if it is something that will ultimately bring honor and glory to the Lord.
I am particularly encouraged by the verse that says, "Despite their fear of the peoples around them . . ." When we set out to do something of significance for the Lord it can be a scary thing, it may seem that there are road-blocks around every corner. But if the project is truly of His making, then He IS with us and He WILL make a way. Look at how He ultimately not only made a way for the Israelites to rebuild their temple, but He even provided that those who were against them would pay for the whole venture! And there it was all in writing ~ in a decree from a king.
And we have His promises in writing, too . . . our Bibles. Through the whole Story, we are reminded that the Lord of All cares, leads and supplies.
Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><
Edinburgh
