Power of Prayer

"Christ's lessons in regard to prayer should be carefully considered. There is a divine science in prayer, and His illustration brings to view principles that all need to understand. He shows what is the true spirit of prayer, He teaches the necessity of perseverance in presenting our request to God, and assures us of His willingness to hear and answer prayer." ~Christ Object Lessons, p. 142

If you would like to read the whole chapter - that this quote is borrowed from - click on this link.

Heart Gifts....series

Where Can We Find Him?

 

Where can we find the Holy One?

Where can we see His Only Son?

The Wise Men asked, and we're asking, still,

Where can we find this Man of Good Will?

Is He far away in some distant place,

Ruling unseen from His throne of grace?

Is there nothing on earth that man can see

To give him proof of Eternity?

It's true we have never looked on His face,

But His likeness shines forth from every place,

For the Hand of God is everywhere

Along Life's busy thoroughfare...

And His presence can be felt and seen

Right in the midst of our daily routine,

The things we touch and see and feel

Are what makes God so very real...

The silent stars in timeless skies,

The wonderment in children's eyes,

The gossamer wings of a humming bird,

The joy that comes from a kindly word...

The autumn haze, the breath of spring,

The chirping song the crickets sing,

A rosebud in a slender vase,

A smile upon a friendly face...

In everything both great and small

We see the Hand of God in All,

And every day, somewhere, someplace,

We see the Likeness of His Face...

For who can watch a new day's birth

Or touch the warm, life-giving earth,

Or feel the softness of the breeze

Or look at skies through lacy trees

And say they've never seen His face

Or looked upon His throne of grace!

 

~Helen Steiner Rice

Treasures Found

 Ok - So I had meant to get on here yesterday morning and write out the next poem for our Heart Gifts series, but I ended up having to take care of a few things instead. So that post might be delayed till tomorrow since right now I am more of a mood to share with you some treasures that I found.

I went to my favorite little thrift store in a town nearby and I found some awesome cookbooks!! These first 3 cookbooks are usually 12.00 or 15.00 dollars. I paid - $1.00 a piece for them! You can't beat that. That is why I love this thrift store! I just have to be patient.

 

One thing that I really love about these cookbooks is that they have so much more than just recipes in them. At the beginning of each book there are a few extras. This first book has a couple of pages that tell of home remedies- like essential oils, charcoal and herbs. It has a pages that explains what Omega- 3 is and why it is important in our diets and how we can incorporate more into our diets. The next several pages tell of different ingredients and why they are so important in filling our nutritional needs. Then there are a couple of pages telling of the benefits of fruits and veggies in our diet - and what nutrients that they provide and also the good that they do for our bodies

With 150 recipe in this book there are plenty to try out and I am sure to love some.  

At the beginning of this next book - you will find a broader explanation of the "Simple Home Remedy- Charcoal." Next up is a page telling of "Spices, Condiments and Leavenings." Then a "Glossary- Food Dictionary" here again different ingredients are listed and there is important information on them.

At the back of this book - it has a section telling how to make "Healthy Baby Foods" 

So we are at book three in this set. At the beginning of this book - we find a section called, "Water, Water, Water"

"In health and in sickness, pure water is one of heaven's choicest blessings.

 Its proper use promotes health."

 quote from Ministry of Healing, page 237)

Next we find the author's testimony - along with a page or two of other testimonies.

Then another food glossary. This is to help because there may be ingredients in these books that you have not heard of before. 

This next cookbook that I found- I actually have a copy of it already. My copy is well worn and the cover is long gone. So I was happy to see this nice copy- in much better shape than how I got my copy. It was written and copyright date of 1979 and revised in 1983.  This cookbook was written by Agatha Thrash, M.D.
If I understand correctly Agatha Thrash and her husband(both have passed way) were the founders or part of the founders of Uchee Pines which is a lifestyle center that puts on seminars and training programs. On the website there are counseling sheets that have some information that may be very helpful in dealing with different health ailments. I am including links to both the home page and the counseling sheets pages - just in case anyone is interested.



"Blessed art thou o'land when the princes eat for strength and not for drunkenness."

Ecclesiastes 10:17

SO that was all the cookbooks that I got.

Next is something so very cool! I found a Mr. Christmas Santa's Marching Band!

I have looked it up on google and I think that they play 35 different Christmas songs. One of the people on ebay had a photo of the songs but I could not see the photo big enough to see what the songs were. I do have 1 of the ringer rods-(what the people hold that they use to hit the bells to make music) missing. The set came with 2 replacements - originally - I saw that in the ebay ad as well. Wish we had a replacement want thing. I am hoping somehow I can figure out how to get one or maybe we can figure out how to make one.

You have to see a close up of Santa. And notice the clear bulb on his hat- it lights up when he hits a bell.

The Marching band people have a little red light that lights up on their heads as well.  

And for now this is where I have them - on my table - around my new center piece. Eventually I am thinking of setting up a place on our bar - and putting them around a small Christmas tree- but we don't have the Christmas tree - right now so that will have to wait till we get the tree.  

 

In the photo you saw the other cool thing that I found- for only $1.00 - I found a great thing to put in the middle of my table!

 

And finally when I took my MIL to the Dr this week - we saw this great sign. I took a photo of it because I thought we all need to be reminded of this. While we are going through this season- many times it is easy with so much to do - we can feel overwhelmed - but be sure and not get your tinsel in a tangle!

 Oh please do keep me in your prayers. I have to go back to the sleep study place tonight- to try out a machine to see how I do and how best to set up the settings for me. Please pray that I am able to get some sleep and that I can get used to what ever it is that I am going to have to use. Thanks so much! :O)

Sleep Study and more

So sorry, but I am just now getting a chance to get on here and share with you what has been going on and also share with you about the sleep study. I had hoped that I would not have any problems and would not have to go for the second night - to try out what ever device that might be needed, but I was not so lucky...

Last Tuesday at 9:15pm - I checked in at sleep study place. You either need to wear something comfortable that you can sleep in or change into pajamas. I changed into pajamas.

After I changed the attendant hooked up to all sorts of wires and things. Keep in mind you can not see everything that was hooked up to me in this photo, but it give you an idea:

So there are also 4-5 different leads hooked up or glued to my head- that was fun to wash out later. They have to put really thick sticky stuff onto your scalp in order to keep the leads where they are suppose to be. I also had 2 things connected to each of my legs and then one lead to each side- of upper chest - up and over a bit from the underarm. I also had an heart rate thing pinched onto my pointer finger. And right now that is all I can remember.

Once you are hooked up - you are kind of confined to a small area. You are given a wrist bang thing that had a call button for the attendant. This is important because if you need to go to the bathroom(or need any other help) you will need to call them and let them know. They come in and unhook you from the equipment  and you carry a lot of the stuff with you to the bathroom. I always have to get up at least once( sometimes more) to go to the bathroom.

The bed was comfortable and they had 2 different types of pillows so you will probably find one you like. They do usually let you bring your own pillow if you think that would help.

I tried to go to sleep - believe me I really tried. I have to say here- I have a hard time going to sleep when I am away from home. So I knew I would have problems I did not realize that I would have this much trouble. Oh and I also really like a pretty dark room to sleep in. It is better for you to sleep in as dark of a room as possible. My room had a pretty big gap at the bottom of the door to the floor and the bright lights in the hallway shining under the door did not help in my efforts to sleep. There was a fan that I turned on so that the noise would help me go to sleep.

I did end up sleeping for about 1 1/2-2 hours and then needed to go to the bathroom. I think that he bright lights in the hallway and bathroom made it harder for me to get to sleep the next time. I finally got to sleep and may have slept about the same amount as before - then I woke up. Then I just laid there for the next 45 minutes to an hour. Then the attendant came in and unhooked me. And told me once I was change I could leave. It was about 5:20am when I left. It was cold outside and there was frost on my windows. So I had to wait there long enough to clear my windows.

When I got home - I knew that my husband did not have to wake up for 10 more minutes or so - So I moved his vehicle where it would be easier for him- and then I scraped the windows on his car. There was a thicker layer at home for sure.

After my husband left- I went and scrubbed the sticky stuff off of either side of my forehead. I did not want that stuff getting onto my pillow. I then changed into my pj's again and laid back down. I was about to sleep about another hour and 45 minutes.

I am telling you - I needed that last bit of sleep. I would have been no good during the day had I not done that.

When I left the sleep study - I did not have any information about how I had done during the night. I was discouraged because when my husband had his done several years ago - he came home knowing that he had sleep apnea.

I waited and waited to hear some results. Well when we set up my first appointment - they set up a second appointment with you so just in case - you will have it set up. They had sent the results to my primary Dr but because it said that I had a follow up appointment with the sleep study - she thought I already knew results. Anyway so on Monday at 4:30pm - I decided I would call my Dr to see if she had gotten results back - sure enough she had. I do have sleep apnea - she said I had a 87% saturation- or something like that. So basically ideal is that your oxygen level stay at 100% or as close as possible - but I was having some issues with interruptions of breathing and it caused my level to go down. It isn't a horrible case but it is something that I need to take care of. So as much as I really do NOT want to go back - for another rough night - Thursday night I will. And hopefully we can get through the night with a bit more sleep. I have a few things that I will do differently - I will be wearing a short sleeved top(I may have gotten to hot last time) and I will see if I can put my hair up in a pony tail. I always do and I sleep better than having hair all over. I am also going to see if I can go in at the 10:15 appt. instead of the 9:15 apt. Maybe if I am more tired- I will be able to sleep easier.

Anyway I know that there are at least a couple of you reading this that may need a sleep study done. And I would have to say - it isn't fun and games but in order to get a better nights sleep(I am assuming that I will get a better nights sleep once I get used to the machine) And sleep is really important for us. It helps our bodies recover from the assaults that it endures. I have also heard that getting plenty of good sleep helps in weight loss.

Speaking of weight loss~ I know that being over weight can cause sleep apnea. So I am really going to be trying to lose at least 10-20 pounds if at all possible. My plan is to get back onto a more plant food based diet. With my husband not wanting to do a plant based diet- I can not go 100% but I can work towards a bigger percent of what I eat being plant based and work on getting a variety of nutrient. It is much better to get your vitamin from food. So anyway I am hoping to be able to lose weight and I am hoping maybe eventually I will not need a sleep apnea machine - but for now it is what I need to do to be healthier- so I will do it. I will come back and share with you about my next experience with the Sleep Study.
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Ok - so an update on my step-dad: He is still in the hospital. The Drs and the physical therapist have said that they think it would be best for him to go to a skilled nursing center -to help build his strength back up and to control pain in the process and it looked like he was willing to go yesterday afternoon. But apparently he has changed his mind. He wants to go home. I am leaving this worry in God's hands. Please continue to pray for them.
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Well I had planned....

Well I had every intention of getting on here on Wednesday after my sleep study and telling you all about it. However Tuesday morning my step-dad had a heart attack. So he has been in the hospital since then. I will try to get on later and share about the sleep study- oh and by the way - you might get to see a photo of me all hooked up....it's too funny not to share. I really believe going through the whole - no hair things has helped me be a lot more able to share photos of me - not at my best. I used to hate photos of me looking crappy- I still don't really like them but I have come to figure out that photos only give a small glimpse of who a person is - and there is so much to who people are than their looks. And if someone is going to think poorly of me because of how I look - I really feel sorry for them for not taking the opportunity to get to know who I really am. Anyway I do have a photo I just don't have time at this moment to get it where I can upload it and get a post written up about it.

So I have been very busy. Oh and on the sleep study - no results yet. I was SO disappointed. Several years ago when my husband had it done - he got the results before he left the place. I have to wait - I guess at least 5 days. So maybe I will have the results by the time I have time to share about it.

If you could keep my step-dad - David in your prayers - I would really appreciate it. It has been a stressful week for him and my Mother, pray for her also. There are problems with him that really need a bypass done - but the Drs say it is too risky. Hoping to be able to find a combo of meds to help manage his health. Thanks so much! :O)

Heart Gifts....series

Anywhere Is a Place of Prayer If God Is There

 

I have prayed on my knees in the morning,
I have prayed as I walked along,

I have prayed in the silence and darkness

And I have prayed to the tune of a song-

I have prayed in the midst of triumph

And I've prayed when I suffered defeat,

I have prayed on the sands of the seashore

Where the waves of the ocean beat-

I have prayed in a velvet-hushed forest

Where quietness calmed my fears,

I have prayed through suffering and heartache

When my eyes were blinded with tears-

I have prayed in churches and chapels,

Cathedrals and synagogues, too,

But often I've had the feeling

That my prayers were not getting through,

And I realized then that our Father

Is not really concerned where we pray

Or impressed by our manner of worship

Or the eloquent words that we say...

He is only concerned with our feelings,

And He looks deep into our heart

And hears the "cry of our soul's deep need"

That no words could ever impart...

So it isn't the prayer that's expressive

Or offered in some special spot,

It's the sincere plea of a sinner

And God can tell whether or not

We honestly seek His forgiveness

And earnestly mean what we say,

And then and then only He answers

The prayer that we fervently pray.

~Helen Steiner Rice

 



Insight about the Burdens that Cause Discouragement

So yesterday we talked about how times of discouragement give us opportunities to be courageous. Well this morning as I was reading one of my devotionals - I just knew that I needed to share it because it goes right along with discouragement. And I think it is some great insight and will better help us to deal with the things in our lives that cause discouragement. I hope you are blessed.

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Streams in the Desert Devotional for December 1st:

There remaineth, therefore, a rest to the people of God (Heb. 4:9).
The rest includes victory, "And the Lord gave them rest round about;... the Lord delivered all their enemies into their hand" (Joshua 21:44).
 "Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Cor. 15:57).

An eminent Christian worker tells of his mother who was a very anxious and troubled Christian. He would talk with her by the hour trying to convince her of the sinfulness of fretting, but to no avail. She was like the old lady who once said she had suffered so much, especially from the troubles that never came.
But one morning the mother came down to breakfast wreathed in smiles. He asked her what had happened, and she told him that in the night she had a dream. She was walking along a highway with a great crowd of people who seemed so tired and burdened. They were nearly all carrying little black bundles, and she noticed that there were numerous repulsive looking beings which she thought were demons dropping these black bundles for the people to pick up and carry.
Like the rest, she too had her needless load, and was weighed down with the devil's bundles. Looking up, after a while, she saw a Man with a bright and loving face, passing hither and thither through the crowd, and comforting the people. At last He came near her, and she saw that it was her Saviour. She looked up and told Him how tired she was, and He smiled sadly and said: "My dear child, I did not give you these loads; you have no need of them. They are the devil's burdens and they are wearing out your life. Just drop them; refuse to touch them with one of your fingers and you will find the path easy and you will be as if borne on eagle's wings."
He touched her hand, and lo, peace and joy thrilled her frame and, flinging down her burden, she was about to throw herself at His feet in joyful thanksgiving, when suddenly she awoke and found that all her cares were gone.
From that day to the close of her life she was the most cheerful and happy member of the household.

And the night shall be filled with music,
And the cares that infest the day,
Shall fold their tents like the Arabs,
And as silently steal away.
--Longfellow