Balm - For the body and soul

These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Acts 17:11

A friend of mine was selling flowers and herbs at the flea market this week. She happened to have one of my favorite herbs, bee balm. Bee balm is a member of the mint family. It has a beautiful showy flower head and a wonderful smell that attracts bees. The leaves, flowers, and stems can be used for teas, medicines, and potpourri. Naturally, I had to purchase some for my garden. As soon as it flowers I want to cut some stems to dry. I’ve never tried using bee balm. I just grow it for its beauty. Balm is a word for soothing, like an ointment on a wound.  I wonder if I have been missing out on some of God’s natural soothing.

In Jerimiah 8:22 the question is asked, “Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? Why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?” Jerimiah wasn’t talking about physical sickness. He was referring to the spiritual sickness of God’s people. The priest lived in Gilead. They were responsible for giving the Word to the people. But the priests and the people of God were in moral decay (Hosea 6:8-10). Sound familiar?

Decay is the forerunner of death. A tree that has decayed wood will soon die. People with tooth decay can die from abscessed teeth, if not treated. Toes, fingers, legs, and arms can become infected. Sometimes they have to be removed because the health of the person is not good enough to allow healing. When we don’t eat properly our health will decline. The same is true of our spiritual health.

Our nation’s families, even many Christian families, are in spiritual decay. We have become a nation of excuses to do what is right in our own eyes. The truth is, God’s Word is truth (John 17:17). When we fail to abide in the truth, spiritual decay begins to set in. But there is a balm. There is a remedy for our sickness. When we are sick we need to take medicine on a daily basis if we plan on regaining our health. The medicine can’t just be in the medicine cabinet. We have to take it. We need God’s Word on a daily basis to regain our spiritual health. Not only do we need to read it, we need to receive it with all readiness of mind. In other words, we have to be willing to do what it says if we intend to have a strong a Christian family, church, community and nation. Sometimes we don't like the taste of medicine but it is better than being sick.

Father, please make us aware of our sins, forgive us, and cleanse us, that healing might come to our homes, our churches, and our land. In Jesus name, Amen.

Perhaps you would want to come up with a plan for daily study of God’s Word. We would love for you to share your favorite time for Bible study. It may be an encouragement to others.

  The best time for me is during breakfast when there is no TV or radio.

Hey Kids!

Bee balm tea was a staple in American homes after the Boston Tea Party when the colonist dumped all the British Tea in the Boston Harbor.

You may want to try some yourselves.

Clip stems of bee balm with leaves and flowers.

Bundle them upside down with a rubber band.

Place inside a paper lunch bag for a few weeks.

When the stems are dry, crumble 1 tsp of bee balm into a cup

Have an adult add 1 cup of boiling water.

Allow the tea to steep 10 minutes, then sweeten to taste.

I’m thinking if our ancestors wanted to sweeten their tea, they would use honey. J

Information on teas was obtained from www.Gardensablaze.com  

Please note warnings for allergies and other conditions.

Dying to Live

 

Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. John 12:24

The garden is coming along nicely. I love seeing the little sprouts coming through the soil. Peas are blooming, beans and cucumbers are climbing, tiny tomatoes are forming green. In a couple of weeks, I’m going to need help harvesting and canning all these delicious, organic veggies. I’m wondering who I can enlist to help.

I think it’s amazing how a little seed contains all the DNA to create a huge plant or even a tree but that little seed has to die for the plant to live. The plant puts down roots to draw nutrients from the soil as it pushes the tiny leaves up through the soil to the sky. You say, sure I know all that, but have you thought about how we as Christians must be just like that plant. When we asked Jesus for forgiveness, we die to our old way of life and begin a new life. To grow, we must be rooted in God’s word and built up in the faith (Col.2:7). The little plants in my garden are soaking up nutrients from the soil through their roots. Their little leaves emerge folded as if in prayer, opening up toward heaven. If any part of the process fails the plant will wither and die. If we fail to study and pray, our testimonies will fail and we will bear no fruit.

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The plant that thrives produces flowers, then fruit. A Christian who thrives blossoms into a strong Christian who wins souls. If each of us follows through with God’s plan for us to be fruitful Christians, think of how the world would change, beginning with our own families.

Speaking of beginning, how about today? Have you spent time in God’s Word? Have you prayed to know God’s will?  

HEY KIDS: If you would like to see how a seed grows, soak several lima beans overnight. The coat on the seed will be wrinkled and easy to remove.

1.       Remove the skin from one seed.

2.       Carefully open the seed.

3.       On one half of the open seed you will find a tiny root and a tiny set of white leaves. Use a magnifying glass to get a closer look.

4.       Place the remaining seeds with the coat still attached on a damp paper towel.

5.       Place the towel inside a ziplock bag and place the bag in a sunny window.

6.       Check the bag every day to see the seed dissolving as the plant emerges.

7.       Remove the paper towel with the emerging plants from the bag and place in the garden or a pot of soil.

8.       Keep watching to see your plant flower and produce fruit.

I’d love to read your observations. Photos would be cool too. Won’t you post them in the comment section as your plants grow? Please share how you are growing in the Lord as well.

                                                                                                                 

Where's the Towel?

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Psalms 119:105

“Okay everyone, lay out your towels before you hit the water!” Groan. My family knows that’s the number one requirement before anyone goes anywhere on the beach or in the water. The towels give us a point of reference. By keeping the towels in sight, we know where to find each other. We know when we’re wandering too far down the beach or too far out from shore. If we simply dumped everything in a pile, I’m sure I’d lose myself and everyone else. Keeping our towels in view helps all of us feel more secure.

Opening God’s Word every day before I face the world helps me in much the same way. God’s Word is always my point of reference. It helps me when I’m making decisions. It helps me recognize the right crowd. It makes me feel secure knowing I have the Truth to show me the way. If I simply dumped my Bible on the coffee table until next Sunday, I’d surely lose my way during the week.

When I’m feeling a little misplaced it’s good to know all I have to do is open up my Bible and God will show me the way. Please let us know how God's Word is showing you His way by posting a comment.

Courageous



Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: I Peter 5:8

Have you ever been to a reenactment? The first weekend in October at Walnut Grove Plantation there is a reenactment of a battle in which Bloody Bill Cunningham was killed. He had massacred many patriots just weeks before. No one seemed to know he was near Walnut Grove. The children were playing in the yard when the alarm sounded that the British were coming. People ran to get the children to safety. British stormed the house where a patriot was being treated. Militia filled the yard along with British soldiers and a battle ensued.

What if no one warned the children? What would the enemy have done to them? The enemy walks about even now seeking whom he may devour. Our enemy is not the British, but Satan himself. He will devour our children, our homes and our country if we are not vigilant in watching and training children to watch as well. They innocently play while Satan uses every means available to reach into their hearts and minds to destroy. Do we have trouble finding something to watch? Is shopping for clothes easy? Do we have to be mindful of the radio stations?

The patriots didn’t just rush in and shoo the children to safety. They stood their ground and fought against the invaders. They didn’t just rush in untrained. There were sessions to drill the men in resisting the enemy. The children and wives were at the training drills as well. It was almost a social day. Everyone watched. Little ones played at militia games. Have we trained ourselves in God’s Word to stand against the Devil? Are we training our little ones? Do we rush our little ones to safety and stand our ground in defense of our families and our country? As one of the men in the film “Courageous” says, “Where are we men of courage?” And might I add, “Where are we women of courage?”  

How can we be more effective in standing our ground in defense of our families? Leave us a message with your ideas.   

Blessings!!

Dead or Alive

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? II Corinthians 6:14

Take a magnifying glass and examine a starfish. Feel its rough texture. Notice the small star-shape on the very top. Now turn it over. See the mouth in the center? Tentacles run down the length of each arm or ray. On the tip of each arm there are light sensors so the starfish can tell if it is light or dark. I doubt if we can actually see the light sensors in its hardened state. Just think, once this beautiful starfish was soft and pliable. It had no bones and pulled itself along over rocks and shells and anywhere it wanted to go. It wrapped itself around tightly closed shells and with strong arms pulled the shells apart for tasty morsels of clams and mussels and other shellfish. Now it lies motionless on the beach or in a shell arrangement. Its strength is gone, its light sensors put out. Its part in the food chain of life is finished.

There was once a man whose strength was renowned. He pulled down the gate of a walled city. He killed a lion with his bare hands. He knew the Light of the World but he played in the edges of darkness. Playing on the edge of darkness caused Samson his strength and his sight. It cost him his ability to do great and mighty things for God. Samson was used to pull a mill. He was taken into a temple of a false god. He spread his feet and arms like the starfish and bowed his head. With a mighty prayer he pulled down the columns of that temple and destroyed more of the enemies of God in his death than he had in his life. How much more could Samson have accomplished for God had he not entangled himself with friends who did not know God?

How often do we entangle ourselves with the things of this world? We choose friends that we think will make us popular but we fail to befriend those who would strengthen our spirit.  We busy ourselves with technology but forget to look into God’s Word. Our eyes are put out to the Truth. We play on the edge of darkness with the friends we choose and the things we allow in our minds through our eyes. Will we one day find ourselves hardened by the darkness, unable to affect the spiritual lives of the lost because we have lost our own spiritual lives?

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. II Corinthians 6:1