30 Days of Praise Day 19 - Health

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Father, I praise You that I can see . . . and hear . . . and walk . . . and talk . . . and think . . . and that I have strength.  Oh, Father, I don't take it for granted.  It all comes by Your hand.  Thank You for my life!!!  I've lived to be an old woman and I praise You for my body that works . . . and my mind that is strong.  I just want to give You glory!  Haleluyah!

Thank You for doctors . . . and medicines, both healing drugs and healing plants . . . all healing comes by your mercy.  Thank You for doctors and surgeries . . . treatments and hospitals . . . these are from your grace, too.  One of Your names is Rapha (Healer).  It's who You are.

Father, I pray You will heal the people affected by this coronavirus - and destroy this plague.  Heal people and heal our world.  Restore us to complete health, mentally, physically and spiritually.  The world needs healing and You are the Healer.  I pray people will be pressed into You, and bow the knee to You, and recognize that all blessings flow from Your power.  I pray for a revival . . . a healing revival.


** I don't know the source for this graphic.

I hope you'll leave a word of praise for our Heavenly Father in the comments below - even if it's just one word - Haleluyah!  Let's praise Him together every day during April.  
 Be sure to visit Day 1 to learn about my giveaway on May 1.   


**I do not know the source for this graphic

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Party In Your PJs

Elderberry for Flu -- Who Knew?

photo source - Wikipedia

Rabbi Jem and I believe it's important to heed the advice of the CDC and President Trump during this time of combatting the Corona Virus.  We decided to stop all gatherings at the synagogue until this pandemic is over.  We're encouraging our congregation to listen to the warnings and stay at home if at all possible.  It's the wise and common sense thing to do.

It's also important during this time to remember this verse:  

"Be still, and know that I AM God." 

(Psalm 46:11)

Since we're all supposed to be staying out of public places in order to slow/stop the virus, it's a perfect time to:

• be prayer-full - pray for your loved ones, neighbors, family, and leaders 
• be thank-full - make a list and add to it daily.  I'm thankful for Walmart's online ordering with curb service and for the "senior shopping" hours started by our local grocery stores
• be worship-full - I love music and keep it playing all day long.  I have a large list of songs here on my blog -- on the right, under Labels.
• be thought-full - I'm reading the Word and keeping that foremost in my mind. Last week's POST - My Corona Virus Safety Plan has some wonder-full scriptures to focus on (instead of the news on television)
• be help-full - often, in stillness, God will bring someone to my mind. I pray for them, and then if they keep coming to mind, I'll contact them.  I'm trying to remember to reach out with a kind offer to help my neighbors, friends, family and congregation members.
• be grace-full - this is a stress-full time for people.  Some people are very fear-full. I'm mind-full of being kind and patient with those I come in contact with.  I want to be an encourager.

I think it's also wise to use the things God made for our health and healing.  I'll be talking about two of those today. 

In the fall of 2019, I learned about elderberry and started making and using it.  A friend gave me a bag of dried berries, and I made both the syrup and tincture. This is the recipe I used for the syrup:

Elderberry Syrup:

• 3/4 cup dried elderberries
• 3 cups water
• 1 teaspoon dried cinnamon or 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 teaspoon dried cloves or 4 whole cloves or 1 drop clove essential oil
• 1 tablespoon fresh ginger or 1 teaspoon dried ginger or 1 drop ginger essential oil
•  3/4 - 1 cup raw honey (depends on your tastebuds for sweetness)

Instructions

1. In a large pot, bring the elderberries, water, cinnamon, cloves, and ginger to a boil.
2. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer till liquid has reduced by half (40-45 minutes).
3. Let mixture cool, then drain the liquid using a fine-mesh strainer or cheesecloth.
4. Press all liquid out of the berries with the back of a wooden spoon.
5. Add the raw honey and mix well. 
6. Store in an airtight glass container in the refrigerator for up to four months.        

This is a small batch of elderberry tincture - made in November

The elderberry tincture is different and is easier to make, (just add 80 proof brandy or vodka to the berries) but takes longer. I made some in November and it's now ready to use.  I found some great information about the syrup and how to make the tincture at Deep Roots At Home, which is a lovely blog that I highly recommend.  Jacqueline is a former nurse and writes great articles about health and natural healing remedies.  

We've been taking elderberry syrup since November, and have not had any colds or flu.  If we feel a sore throat or cold symptoms, we take a tablespoon of the syrup and the discomfort goes away. 

I'm a big believer in essential oils for health, too.  We've been using DoTerra's On-Guard blend daily.  I use the oil on my big toe and thumb at bedtime, in hand soap, and I keep a roller bottle in my purse.  Before I go out, I roll the oil on my throat and upper chest so that I'm breathing it in while around people.  I also use it in my diffuser as well as at the synagogue.  Here's the link to my website.  Click on Essential Oils 101 to read about the benefits of using On-Guard during cold and flu season.  

Are you using any herbals or oils during this season?   And, are you finding any specific scriptures use-full during this time?  Please share in the comments.

Stay safe, Gail-Friends, and have a blessed "stay-cation."

 ~~~

Medical Disclaimer:

I am not a doctor or a nurse. I'm a beginning student of herbal remedies and natural health. The things I am using are my own personal health choices.  Be sure to consult your physician or health professional about your own personal health choices and decisions.  NO information on this site should be used to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure any disease or condition without consulting your health professional.

Gratitude - Day 7 - Health

Health is a beautiful gift

My Jamaican friend, Carmita Polson, taught me to pray this way: "Thank You, Father, that I can see, and hear, and walk, and talk, and think, and that I have strength to work for You."  She taught me this twenty years ago, when I was younger and healthy.  I didn't fully appreciate this prayer until the last few years

Eighteen months ago, I had a total hip replacement.  This, after I suffered increasingly intense pain over a period of two years.  A fall down a flight of stairs caused injury to my hip I was not immediately aware had occurred.  When taken to the emergency room, my only injury appeared to be to my left leg, which thankfully was not broken although it appeared to be.  The worst injury was to my right hip, due to my twisting my body in an effort to avoid falling.  I didn't become aware of a problem until many months later.

Over a period of time, my ability to walk and do many other activities become limited due to the pain in my hip.  Toward the time of my surgery, I had lost the ability to walk without a cane or walker.  During those months of pain, which very heavy narcotics did not even touch, I grew very grateful for the ability to walk.  I had taken it for granted up to that point.

During recovery after my surgery, I went to Walmart and decided I'd try a motorized cart.  What an eye-opening experience.  I found that I was evidently invisible to the people around me.  Why?  Because no one gave grace to my handicapped state.  No one waited for me to get by in the aisle, but just kept going like I wasn't there.  This disturbed me because I was reared to notice others in need around me no matter where I am.  Well, it didn't happen for me, so I determined to be even more kind to those who are impaired in some way, including the elderly...especially since I am going to be a part of that crowd soon.   

Going through the experience of being handicapped taught me lessons for which I am grateful.  I don't take it for granted that I can walk, and I thank G-d for that ability, especially since I walk now without pain.   Also, going through major surgery and having to rebuild my strength made me aware of what a gift and blessing strength is. I also had to depend on my husband and others to do things I had taken for granted being able to do alone before.  How thankful, I am for him and others who helped me during those months. 

I don't know if most people take their health for granted, but I certainly did, having been very healthy all of my life.  The experience also taught me to give grace to those in pain.  There were times when I didn't want to talk or socialize because of the pain.  There were times I gave in to crankiness and was short tempered with those around me.  I learned that sometimes people are just having a bad day and to look over it.  You never know what people are going through.

My gratitude mentor, Carmita, would be pleased I think, to know that I learned her lesson well on being grateful for health and strength. Losing them for a time was a very humbling experience and taught me gratitude. 

Thank you, Father, for health.  What a wonderful gift it is.

I'm linking up today with:
Monday Musings
Sharing His Beauty
Monday Meet Up

31 Days of Praying For Our Children - Day 19

I beseech you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of G-d, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto G-d, which is your reasonable service.
 (Romans 12: 1-3)

Father, I pray for my children to recognize that their bodies are the temple of Your Holy Spirit and to take care of them.  Help them to make wise choices about the foods they eat and about exercise.  Good health habits pay great benefits, and I pray they will be in health all of their lives.  I pray they will recognize that You made their bodies and that they are used for the work You've called them to do.  

Father, since You've asked us to present our bodies to You as a sacrifice that is holy and acceptable, You want us to abstain from unholy things.  This includes foods and behaviors.  You preserved Your Word over thousands of years for our good.  It includes great details about health and our bodies.   Help my children to accept Your guidelines for healthy foods as a blessing, not a burden.  Help them to accept Your wisdom even thought it may not make sense to them or others.  

Help my children to know what holy means.  Our culture tells us lies about holiness.  It holds up unholiness as the normal thing, and disdains and mocks holiness.  May they honor Your temple by dressing in a becoming way that does not appear immodest or unholy.  

May they not mark or pierce Your temple as the world does.  May they receive Your wisdom that this is a sign of slavery and idol worship.  May they see the pain inflicted and blood shed as a form of self-abuse.  

Father, I pray my children will not present their bodies to any type of sexual perversion.  You left great details about what is perversion in your Word.  I pray they will learn these principles and obey them.  Our world, and even some churches today, tell many lies about what is allowed in the bedroom.  I pray they will read what Your Word says and obey it.  All of Your guidelines and precepts bring life.  

Father, I pray that my children will look to what Your Holy Word says about our bodies.  I pray they will receive what Your Word says about what is holy and what is unholy.  I pray they will receive what Your Word says is acceptable to You and reject the ways of the world that are unholy.