11: Get Rid of the Junk

9 - "Sleep" - Secrets to Wellness"

10: Eat Your Fruits and Vegetables

What We Learned to Do and Watch Ingredients, you may be surprised

 During this sugar fast, I had noticed that the Aldi's peanut butter I was using had 2 grams of added sugar. At first I didn't think that was a big deal. Especially since I didn't want to spend the big bucks to get the natural peanut butter that had none. Thankfully my Mom bought me a jar of Smuckers Peanut Butter. Yummy! It was delicious. But again, I did not want to have to pay $4 something for peanut butter. 

Then I made a trip to Winco- It's about a 30 minute drive or so - so I don't make it very often. While there I found that they have machines that you can grind peanuts into peanut butter. $1.88 a pound!! They also have honey nut peanut butter, cashew butter, and almond butter you can grind. These cost more per pound. 

When I got home I realized that the peanut butter was still pretty thick, not creamy like the Smuckers. So what was I going to do? My husband started looking at what we could do here at home to make peanut butter. Found some reasonable machines on Amazon- with, of course, reviews stating that the machines didn't last long. Then he did more research and found out that we would put peanuts in the food processor and make it ourselves. Thankfully we had a jar of peanuts and so we began making peanut butter. It was fun to watch it evolve from peanuts all the way to creamy peanut butter. You just have to mix it long enough to get there. We scooped the peanut butter into half pint canning jelly jars. It is very good! Just like smuckers!  

And all that is in our peanut butter is roasted peanuts and 2 pinches of salt. 

Be sure and look at the ingredients in the natural peanut butters- I was surprised to see palm oil in some that said they were natural. It's sad because I am sure there are many people out there eating what they think is natural peanut but but it has ingredients that you may not want to be putting in your body. I know I don't want palm oil in my peanut butter. Anyway this is why am sharing this experence so you will know to be watching and how it is to make your own. Oh and by the way- if you have a Winco near by and you grind some peanuts to make peanut butter but you want it creamier- you can put it in your food processor and blend some more till it is creamy!! 

09: The Army Within Us

8 - "Sunshine" - Secrets to Wellness

13 - "The Day of Atonement” - The Sanctuary Salvation and Our Savior

A Three Word Year!

 I started at the results by picking the word THRIVE. But in my readings God has reminded me that I need to add 2 more words for this year. So apparently this will be a 3 word year! And honestly when you understand what I mean you will also realize that maybe every year from now on will be at least 3 words, maybe 4 word years! 

Do you know that story of Joshua and the battle of Jericho? If not you can find it in Joshua chapters 5-6. 

"For the walls to come tumbling down, God's people had to first shout the victory. In full obedience and faithful expectancy, they lifted up their voices to Him in praise." (This quote was found on page 38 of the book "The 40-day Sugar Fast") 

In order to get the victory they had to believe and praise. 

I already knew that victory was another word for this year. This word just keeps coming up so much that I couldn't ignore it. But I just kept feeling like something was missing. But today it became quite clear that is was praise that was missing. As I wrote the 3 words on an index card, I realized that my first word would need to be praise, because with out praise I will not experience victory or thriving. 

So for 2024 I will focus on Praising God because the same God who brought the walls of Jericho tumbling down is quite capable of bringing my strongholds down as well! By bringing these walls down, I will gain the Victory and Thrive.  

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

James 1:17

Real Bread is satisfying!

Jesus is known as the bread of life and He is very satisfying! 

08: Drink More Water

More great information to help us on our journey to better health! :O) 

Thriving....

 Almost a month ago I shared how the word for the year would be thrive. Little did I know at the time how very true this would be for me. I will share a bit more about that in just a bit. 

 I also shared how I would be participating in a 40 day sugar fast with a small group at my church. To be honest with you - I almost backed out. The night of the meeting that was planned before we got started- I got a lot of anxiety and decided I just might not participate in the challenge. I gave myself permission to just stay home. I prayed about it and let it go. Several days later, I felt peace about it and on Sunday, January 21st I started the fast. I must have gotten confused because the 22nd was actually the first day of the fast. But oh well I just have 1 more day under my belt than everyone else. 

I have been thrilled with how I have seen God lead. A couple of days before I started this challenge God brought the "Bread Beckers" youtube channel to my attention. I watched one video and knew I had to go back and watch from the #1 video in the Sue's Healthy Minutes series. And OH what a blessing they have been. They have led me to making some big changes in my life, I will explain more about these in another post. Speaking of seeing how God leads- Once I found the Bread Beckers youtube channel and had been watching quite a few videos I started thinking - oh yeah- I have a Bread Beckers Book. I went looking for it in my book case and there it was!! 

I don't even remember why I bought this book in the first place - but God was preparing me for such a time as this! 

I have noticed a big increase in energy since eating healthier. The truth is I love to eat healthy. I enjoy the foods that God created for us to eat. They contain the nutrition that our bodies need. And when you take some of those things out of your diet - your body suffers. If you have watched some of the "Sue's Healthy Minutes" you have learned by now that when you mill your own grains you get some much more out of your grains - ALL the nutrition that your body needs. Many people think they are gluten sensitive - but the truth is that it is just hard for their bodies to process the flour that has had it's germ and bran removed. And if they would give freshly milled flours to make their own breads and other things - they would notice a huge improvement in how they feel. 

One of the reasons I had not gotten back to eating healthy is because I didn't think I would have time with taking care of my 2 year old grandson. But the truth is I have been able to and not only that but it has made it so much easier for me to do so plus all the other thing I need to do as well. 

So if you would like to thrive- I suggest you pray and ask God what choices you may need to make. Listen to the Bread Beckers podcasts - they are so encouraging in making better choices for you and your family. It is WELL worth your time to listen to them. The only reason I am thriving is because God led me to the information I needed to make the best choices for my health. I am so thankful that He is guiding and directing - even when I realize that He is. And it's so fun to realize that he is when you find the exact book on your shelf in your bookcase that you need at a particular time - that you bought several years ago!! 

 

07: The Truth About Wheat

Sorry I am late today. It's been a busy day. Things are going well. I have some great things to share with you- I am just waiting for a bit of free time in order to get things typed up. I will be back as soon as I am able. I hope you all are doing well. :O) 

7 - “Environment” - Secrets To Wellness

12 - “The Sabbath and Sanctuary” - The Sanctuary Salvation & Our Savior

Bread Beckers ~Episode 06: Wartime Bread

Bread Beckers Episode 05

6 - “Nutrition” - Secrets To Wellness

11 - “The Ark of the Covenant” - The Sanctuary Salvation & Our Savior

Bread Beckers Episode 04 Interview

Today is an interview. I hope you enjoy. There are little health tidbits even found in these interviews sometimes so be listening to see what you can learn to improve your health. :O)