lilies city
Lilies in the City - September/October 2017 - Issue 23
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Good, Better,
best!
FINDING (AND MAINTAINING)
PEACE
IN
Chaos
The Supreme
Healing
Physician
in the Bible
Health, Hope &
HEALING
Staff Picks!
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10 20
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lilies city
Š
Lily Lifestyle
6 Good, Better, Best:
The whole-foods, plant-based diet
10 Finding (and Maintaining) Peace in Chaos
Social Lily Practical Lily
14 The Supreme Physician
20 Healing in the Bible 26 Staff Picks
Unless otherwise noted, all scripture references are taken from the Authorized Version of the Bible (The King James Version). 3
EDITOR'S NOTE
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Saving Health
recently attended a viewing party for a controversial health documentary on the salient conspiracy between the meat & dairy industries and the leading medical & pharmaceutical organizations. My social media news feed was then littered with the excitement of a newly opened planted-based restaurant serving creations made from organic, locally sourced ingredients. And just before bed, my housemate stood in the hall sharing about her upcoming birthday trip to Hawaii. She was determined to only have a spinach salad for dinner, especially after her workout earlier. Health. What is it?
There seems to be a peaked health interest sweeping across the nation. In most major cities and towns you can find increased health food stores, more natural options for health care, 24-hour gym facilities, and even organic produce sections in local grocery stores. Restaurants are offering veg-friendly menu options; farm-to-table deliveries, bulk food co-ops and healthy cooking classes and workshops are ubiquitous. But what is health really? Is it what we eat? the type of medical care we choose? how often we exercise or how much we sleep? The Bible sheds some light on what God refers to as "saving health" (Ps 67:2). The Bible teaches that health does include what you eat. In the book of Acts, Paul is recorded admonishing, "take some meat 4
[trophē (greek): food, nourishment]: for this is for your health" (27:33, 34). By implication then, health is not only what you put in your body but your overall care of it. 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20 authenticates this thought: "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's" (see also 1 Cor 3:16,17; 1 Cor 10:31). How, what and when you eat then is important, as well as your sleep and exercise patterns. But there's much more. Scripture shows that health includes the whole being. More than food and medical care, health includes our words and thoughts (Prv 12:18; 16:24; 4:20-23), our social interactions (Is 58:6-8), and our spiritual well-being (Prv 3:5-8; 2 Jn 2). True health is wholistic, it includes the whole man and every aspect of the life. This comprises our mental, physical, spiritual and social lives, it is indeed "saving� health. In this issue we explore Biblical healing and the Source of true healing, and we look at the benefits of choosing plant-based whole foods and share some simple helps for common ailments. "...hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God" (Ps 42:11).
Administrative STAFF Almarie Hill Almarie is the Editor-in-Chief at Lilies in the City (LIC). Of things seen on this earth, she loves only sweet potatoes and bananas more than words, writing and editing. Almarie lives for ministry and has a passion for Christ's wholistic method of healing - naturally.
Akilah Ballard As the Financial Manager at LIC, the Lord has blessed Akilah with a knack for organization and attention to detail: two skills fundamental to finance and accounting. When not analyzing numbers, she loves to admire God through His created works: gardening has become one of her favorite interests. She suspects that the same excitement she has watching seeds grow is the same that God has in watching His Word bear fruit in our hearts.
Sarah Victor Sarah is LIC’s Account Manager and she has made it her personal goal to make the service of God the most attractive thing in the world. Whether she is sharing tasty, healthful recipes, sharing object lessons while gardening, or while making her all natural hair and body butters for Jane's Butters, there is always one goal: to show that there is great peace, safety, and most of all joy in the service of our loving God!
Have Any Questions For The Lilies Staff? Contact us: admin@liliesinthecity.org
Associate Editor: Delnita McDavid
Rochelle Mekowulu Rochelle, the Business Manager, provides strategic guidance to ministries in their marketing and development efforts. She has always had a passion for ministry and the furtherance of the gospel. When not working on various projects, she can be found in nature, doing a bible study or writing.
Jaleesa Almarales Jaleesa, the Marketing Manager, believes that Christ's method alone will give true success in reaching people. Therefore counseling and teaching combined with a few other talents are tools that God has given her to prepare people, especially an army of youth, to meet our God. In her spare time, she can be found working on a DIY project, painting or trying to learn to play the piano.
Angelique Manning As the administrative assistant at LIC, Angelique is dedicated to using the skills the Lord has blessed her with to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. She believes that true happiness is found in unselfish ministry and with that, loves to serve whether it's by encouraging her family and friends or sharing the love of Christ with people in her community. Layout & Design: Abiola Osinjolu Photography: Glenn Ballard (Cover, p.2, 3, 20, 21, 23, 25)
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Good, Better,
best!
The whole-foods, plant-based diet – Rochelle Mekowulu
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ood! Better! Best! Many of life’s choices fall within these three buckets. It’s not that “good” or “better” is bad, but nothing beats the “best.” The “best” is defined by God’s ideal, and I always try to shoot for this although I’m not always successful. Yet, many in life sadly, settle for the “good.”
A number of years ago, a friend introduced me to the concept of a plant-based diet. In fact, it was my last year in high school. Coming from a Caribbean family, meat was a staple in the diet. No meal was complete unless meat was present on the plate. There are some things that we are afraid of asking God what to do about because we are afraid of what His answer might be. This was one of them. That initial encounter with my friend led me to look into the topic of diet, not just from a health perspective but from a spiritual one. And I was amazed by just how much the word of God had to say about it. The Bible reveals God’s ideal and no book tends to do better in this revelation than the book of Genesis. It’s the book of beginnings and reveals God’s ideal before sin reared its ugly head. In the first two chapters of Genesis, God creates a beautiful paradise that the best artist portrayal would fail to capture. In this perfect environment, He puts Adam and Eve. In this spectacular, sinless and perfect world, He outlines for Adam and Eve the best fuel to run the magnificent specimen called the human machinery. We find that ideal diet in Genesis 1: 29, “And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.” In Genesis 3:18 after sin entered into the world, God also added the herb of the field to the diet.
“Something that is dead cannot produce life. So it’s impossible to eat food that is dead and expect it to sustain life.” 7
In the ideal world, God chose for man a diet that would be considered whole foods and plant-based. Now, the question is why? According to Genesis 2:7, God formed man out of the dust of the ground. It’s interesting to note that the very substance that God formed man out of is the very substance that God designed man’s food to come from. “And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden…And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat” (Gn 2:9,16; see also Ps 104:14). Science has now discovered that the elements found in the human body can also be found in the soil (or ground). It is my belief that it was God’s intention that the food we eat should come from a root system that enables man to be nourished by the very same elements of which he is composed. This plant-based diet instituted in Genesis 1 and 2 was the diet that God’s faithful children followed until after the flood. It was in Genesis 9 that God instituted what I like to call an “emergency diet.” In this diet God allowed the use of animal flesh in the diet, but not all animals, only the clean ones (v. 3,4; see also Leviticus 11). The emergency diet was necessary because of the barrenness of the earth after the flood. Yet, it was not God’s intention that we should permanently be stuck on the emergency diet, as it was not His best for us. In fact, we simply have to note the drastic change in the life span of man when meat was added to the diet. Yet, there was more that spoke to my heart. The commonality in the herb bearing seed and the fruit yielding seed is the concept of the “seed.” In fact all plant-based foods develop from a seed, whether nuts or grains. Seeds contain life and thus are able to impart life. Throughout the Bible, Christ is referred to as a seed (see Gn 3:15, Gal 3:16). As in Jesus we find life (Jn 14:6) even so in the literal seed we find life. When we receive Christ we receive life and that life is able to reproduce life in us. Likewise the foods we eat should reproduce life, and only life begets life. Something that is dead cannot produce life. So it’s impossible to eat food that is dead and expect it to sustain life. These gems that the Lord shared with me, and more, led me to embrace a plant-based diet. So often when we shoot for God’s best, it requires sacrifice on our part; there might be things we have to part with that we enjoy or things we have to now do that make us uncomfortable. But in my experience, I’ve found that I can trust the heart of God. He really does have my best interest at heart. 8
“...it was not God’s intention that we should permanently be stuck on the emergency diet, as it was not His best for us.”
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FINDING (AND MAINTAINING)
PEACE IN
Chaos
– Nadia Agnant
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“I have personally experienced God’s peace.” “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:6-7, NKJV).
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n this world of perpetual noise, constant stimulation and over exposure to each other lives through social media, it can be difficult for a Lily to find peace. Amongst the 8 doctors of health (Nutrition, Exercise, Water, Sleep, Temperance, Fresh Air, Rest, Trust in God), we often overlook the crucial importance of the latter, trust in God. Our society is crippled with anxiety at a very early age. The pressure of appearance, performance, and living up to the standards we see through our friends and acquaintances pushes us to be very critical of ourselves. It leads us to analyze every action, every picture, every decision, and every aspect of our lives in ways we did not even consider just a few years ago. Other expectations, such as being married or having a family by a certain age, have also been a continual burden on women’s shoulders. However, God tells us in His word to be “anxious for nothing” and to allow His peace to keep our hearts and minds from anxiety. But what does that really mean? God desires to fill us with the assurance that he oversees everything and that we need not worry about anything. Our lack of power should not be a source of anxiety: it’s a source of freedom. Knowing that our only mandate is to obey God liberates us from the stress of making sure that every decision we make is the right one, while assuring us that every mistake we make isn’t fatal. He is in charge; He will inspire and guide us, allowing us to live the best life we can and promising that “all things work together” in our favor, as long as we’re seeking to please, honor or obey Him.1 With the principles He has established and 11
with the wisdom He bestows upon us, we are able to go through all the steps of life without fear or anxiety. That being said, we are human and most likely we will struggle to experience that promise in our lives. What can one do in these moments of intense stress or anxiety? 1. Set our eyes upon creation. In moments of stress, nature has a way of grounding the mind and reminding us of how small we, and our problems really are. The constant dance of seasons, the beauty of the flowers and trees, the sounds of nature and the silence that we can only experience in nature have a way of appeasing the soul. Whether you go out of town or simply to a park in your neighborhood, bathing in the testimony of God’s almightiness seen in nature is always a source of peace. 2. Log out. It is excessively hard to disconnect from work and social media now that we have smartphones, tablets, laptop and even smartwatches. But being constantly exposed to the outside world leads us to overthink details, to work almost 24/7, and to be constantly solicited by calls from clients, colleagues or employers wanting us to do just one more thing. 3. Be silent and have prayer. Taking a quiet moment of prayer in the morning and at night is a life changing habit. Rushing through our morning routine or processing through it like a robot deprives us from the energy and positivity we can experience through morning devotion and evening worship or prayer. Setting our eyes on God’s word first thing in the morning and last thing at night really changes our dis12
position. It reminds us that life’s troubles are no match for the One who lives through us and desires to dwell in us. We need not fear anything, except disconnecting from Him. I have personally experienced God’s peace. In a troubled time of my life, where I had broken off my engagement in my long-term relationship, it was impossible to find peace. I was constantly bombarded by overwhelming thoughts. It was unbearable, as if an ambulance siren was sounding in my head day and night. I was desperate for peace. I went to Bible studies and I prayed, yet, I could not find a way to shut the alarm off. Ironically, my now husband (but then stranger) convinced me to make a resolution to begin having personal morning devotions. He gave me a whole study on the power of devotion and how Jesus Himself made sure he had devotion during His time on Earth. It only took a few mornings alone with God before my life changed. The siren turned off and I began my days with more energy than ever to the point that my colleagues thought I was working out in the morning (as if!!). God’s ways are incredible and undeniable. Let us refuse the stress and anxiety of the world; we do not have to be fashioned according to it.2 God wants to protect us and keep us safe in his peace; a peace that is unshakable irrespective of the circumstance or moment. Be blessed! 1. “All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose” (Rom 8:28). 2. “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God” (Rom 12:2).
"God wants to protect us and keep us safe in his peace; a peace that is unshakable irrespective of the circumstance or moment."
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The Supreme
Physician – Ikemba Balogu
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“A physician is 'a person skilled in the art of healing.”
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esus Christ is indisputably the supreme Physician. This absolute fact can never be justly controverted nor rightly denied. For concerning Himself, it is written that He “went about all Galilee teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing ALL manner of sickness and ALL manner of disease among the people” (Mt 4:23).
Mark that. He did not heal only some of the diseases that existed during His time but all of the diseases that existed at that time. That is to say, there was not an ailment, sickness, or disease that was incurable to Jesus. And as “Jesus Christ” is “the same yesterday, and today, and for ever,” there is not a disease today that is incurable to Him nor can there ever be a disease in the future that will be incurable to Him (Heb 13:8). This alone is sufficient to show that Christ is indisputably the supreme Physician. The source of Christ’s power to heal was God the Father. For Christ Himself testifies: “I can of mine own self do nothing” (Jn 5:30). “The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do: for what things soever He doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise” (Jn 5:19). Paul also declares: “God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself.” Therefore, it was through the power of God that Christ was able to heal. More than this, it was by the same power of God that the twelve disciples of Christ were able to heal. “For when He [Jesus] had called unto Him His twelve disciples,
He gave them power… to heal ALL manner of sickness and ALL manner of disease” (Mt 10:1). Thus, as it was by the power of God that the twelve disciples of Christ were able to heal, it will be by the same power of God which is in Christ that His disciples today will be able to heal; for Christ is “the power of God” (1 Cor 1:24). Now, according to the words of Christ: “They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick” (Mt 9:12; Mk 2:17; Lk 5:31). According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a physician is “a person skilled in the art of healing.” Therefore, as the sick are in need of a physician and as a physician is “a person skilled in the art of healing,” then it is only proper to conclude that a physician, in the truest sense of the word, is a person that heals the sick. Mark that. A physician is not a person that merely prescribes a drug to the sick and expects that the sick will continue to take that drug for the rest of their life. No, no, for that is not true healing in any real sense of the word. A physician is a person that actually heals the sick. Therefore, as it was through the power of God that Christ and His disciples was able to heal all manner of sickness/ disease and as a physician is a person skilled in the art of healing, it certainly follows that the power of true healing comes from God and God alone. Thus, God is the only source by which true healing takes place, making Him the supreme Physician. To further illustrate this point, there was a 15
great empire of antiquity that gave the title “physician” to some of the inhabitants of its land (Ex 5:2). This ancient empire was that of Egypt. Concerning the death and burial of Israel (Jacob), the father of Joseph, it is written: “Joseph fell upon his father’s face, and wept upon him and kissed him. And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father: and the physicians embalmed Israel” (Gn 50:1, 2). But Joseph, being the second most powerful ruler of ancient Egypt at that time, had—as a result of his eminent position—Egyptians as “his servants” (see verse 3). Thus, as Joseph’s servants were of Egyptian descent and as Joseph’s physicians were explicitly called “his servants,” then it follows with absolute certainty that the physicians who embalmed the father of Joseph were indeed Egyptians. And approximately four hundred years later, shortly following the exodus of Israel from Egyptian captivity, the apparent ineffectiveness of the medical practices of these Egyptian “physicians” were exposed when God declared unto His people : “If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in His sight, and wilt give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee” (Ex 15:26). Some of the diseases that plagued Egypt are recorded in the twenty eighth chapter of Deuteronomy as a warning to the people of God: “… The Lord will smite thee with the botch [or boils] of Egypt, and with the emerods, and with the scab, and with the itch, whereof thou canst not be healed” (Dt 28:15, 27). For this is “the word of the Lord… against Egypt” (Jer 46:1, 2): “Go up into Gilead, and take balm, O virgin, the daughter of Egypt: IN VAIN shalt thou use many medicines: for thou shalt not be cured” (v. 11). Therefore, the apparent ineffectiveness of the medical practices of these Egyptian “physicians” were recorded in the Sacred Writ “for our admonition upon whom the ends of the world are 16
come” “that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope” (1 Cor 10:11; Rom. 15:4). It is worthy to consider the reason why the medical practices of the Egyptian “physicians” were so ineffective. This is revealed the words of Pharaoh during the time of Moses, when he said: “Who is the Lord that I should obey His voice…? I know not the Lord…” (Ex 5:2). Therefore, it was Egypt’s unbelief in God and disregard of the instructions of God, which led to the absolute futility of their medical practices and the utter failure of their physicians to heal the sick. Thus, the Lord proclaims unto His people today as He promulgated unto ancient Israel centuries ago: “I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.” And in another place, He declares: “Out of Egypt have I called my son” (Ex 20:2; Mt 2:15). But despite the proclamation of the Lord to ancient Israel, they rebelled against God. As a result, they mimicked the art of healing that they had witnessed in Egypt in that they did not believe in God and would not regard His instructions. In the story of Asa, king of Judah, who “did that which was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God... Therefore he [Asa] said unto Judah.. we have sought the Lord our God, we have sought Him, and He hath given us rest on every side” (2 Chr 14:2-7). Furthermore, Asa not only believed in the Lord but he received instruction from the Lord when:“The Spirit of God came upon Azariah… and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa… The Lord is with you, while ye be with Him; and if ye seek Him, He will be found of you: but if ye forsake Him, He will forsake you. Now for a long season Israel hath been without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law. But when they in their trouble did turn unto the Lord God of Israel, and sought Him, he was found of him…And they entered into a covenant to seek the Lord God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul… And there was no more
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war unto the five and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa” (2 Chr 15:1-12, 19). And a reign of peace and freedom from all war would have been his only experience to the very end of his life if he had only continued to “seek the Lord.” Nevertheless, Asa, in a time of potential war and near the end of his reign, began to rely upon man and not upon the Lord. He began to seek the help of men and not the help of the Lord. He began to trust in man and not trust in the Lord. And the record of the final years of his life are given unto us as a lesson of his unbelief in God and disregard of His instruction; for of Asa, it is written: “Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great; yet in his disease he sought NOT to the Lord, but to the physicians” (2 Chr 16:12). And what was the result of his seeking “to the physicians” and “not to the Lord”? “Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign” (v.13 ). Asa was not the only one who did not believe in God as the supreme physician and would not heed His instruction. For we read of the physicians of Israel during Christ’s public ministry, whose methods of healings was just as futile and ineffective in the healing of the sick as were the physicians of Egypt. “A certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, and had suffered [or permitted] many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse” (Mk 5:25, 26). Now, this woman was sick for “twelve years.” Are there not people today who have borne sickness for twelve years or more? She “spent all that she had.” Are there not persons today who have spent literally all the money that they have on medical expenses? And as a result of the healing practices of the “physicians,” her condition did not improve in the slightest but rather grew worse. Are there not individuals today whose condition has not improved a tittle but has only grown worse after being treated several times by numerous physicians? I should clarify. The Word of God does not, in any way, teach that one should not go to a physi18
cian. For even Christ Himself said: “They that be whole need not a physician, but [or except] they that are sick” (Mt 9:12). That is, the sick naturally have a need for a physician. Nor does the Word of God imply that the practice of healing by a physician is always ineffective. For Paul called “Luke,” “the BELOVED physician” (Col 4:14) and a physician is usually not called “beloved” unless he truly heals and seeks to help others maintain good health. The Word of God is unabashedly and unapologetically declaring that the source of all true healing comes from God. Therefore, Christ—and God in Christ—is indisputably the supreme Physician. Thus, as all true healing comes from God and as God in Christ is indisputably the supreme Physician, any physician who does not recognize God as the supreme Physician will find his own practices to be largely, if not entirely, ineffective in the healing of the sick. And in this, the words of Job are utterly applicable. For he said: “Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God. But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value” (Job 13:3, 4). And the inquiry of God concerning Gilead, which was inhabited by the ancient Israelites, is also worthy of consideration: “Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? Why then is not the health of the daughter of My people recovered” (Jer 8:22)? Therefore, it is invaluable for all to study the Lord’s way of healing in both the Old and New Testaments over and over again so that we may know for ourselves whether we believe God and regard Him as the supreme Physician and the only source of true healing. And when we have done this and submitted ourselves to God in regard to all the principles that have been revealed in His Word, the one chief and preeminent wish of the supreme Physician will finally be fulfilled: “Beloved, I wish ABOVE ALL THINGS that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth” (3 Jn 2).
“The source of all true healing comes from God.”
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Healing
in the Bible – Queenette Jenkinson
A A
s we search the incidences of healing in the Old and New Testaments, there are some not-so-obvious recurring themes. Firstly, we notice that healing is synonymous not only with physical illness but a restoration of balance in other areas of life as well. We also see a strong link between healing and spirituality. And finally, we notice the importance of praying for healing and that although we should pray, it does not guarantee how God will answer.
In his gospel, the physician and disciple Luke details those who were healed by Christ. A search of Scriptures for the word “healing” will reveal that healing is not isolated to situations of sickness. Jesus surely brought physical healing to the lady with the issue of blood (Mt 9:2022), those who had congenital diseases (Jn 9:1-6) and even those who had died were revived (Jn 11). Apart from healing of physical conditions, however, the Bible
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talks about healing as restoration. This is important as it applies to other areas of life such as spiritual, mental or emotional health. Consider 2 Chronicles 7:14 which reads, "then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." In Isaiah 57:18, we also read, "I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners." Healing and restoration is promised to Israel in the book of Jeremiah. "For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the Lord…” (Jer 30:17). "Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel” (Jer 31:4). APPLY IT: Oftentimes we fail to recognize that we need healing. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal areas in your life, other than your physical health, where you need healing: mental, emotional, sexual, social, etc. Seek the Lord to reveal what healing is necessary to bring full restoration to your life as a child of God. The next powerful point we notice by searching the Scriptures is the link between sin and healing. Jeremiah 30:13 talks about a tragic situation where there are no "healing medicines" for Israel’s wounds. In verse 14, it reveals that this state is the result of the "multitude of thine iniquity” and because their “sins were increased.” Falling to temptation and into sin, can result in a situation where we are in spiritual bondage and not living according to the will of the Father. Since striving against sin and self is part and parcel of this Christian race we run, we must always be aware of the need to pray, study the Bible, and seek forgiveness from spiritual illness. Knowing, living and seeking, God’s way through His Word provides such a promise of sure steps and healing. “The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide” (Ps 37:31). “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land" (2 Chr 7:14). APPLY IT: Since there is practical spiritual work to be done in the process of receiving healing, prayer22
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fully read Psalms 51 and 139: 23, 24. Ask the Father to reveal to you any sin or areas or spiritual health in your life that may be impeding complete healing. Finally, in the Old Testament account of King Hezekiah, we notice a heart-warming exchange where the king prays to God, pleading for healing. In 2 Kings 20:5 God responds to Hezekiah saying, "I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee." It is a powerful point in the Christian walk when we can recognize our need and that only God can supply this need, by grace through faith. Just as King Hezekiah prayed, we can pray for healing and then trust that God will do what is best, whether that is to heal or not. The key is to ask, then wait (see Jer 14:22). God has a purpose for every trial and challenge and God’s purposes are greater and more important than His “why”. Stories abound of entire groups of hospital staff converted to the gospel as a result of seeing the Divine hand at work in a Christian’s illness while in hospital while others have been permitted to sleep in death and leave this life with a record of faithful service and toil. APPLY IT: Sometimes we’ve lived with an infirmity for so long that we are comfortable with it and don’t recognize our need. Pray and ask the Lord if there is an area in your life that you’ve been just “coping” with. This could be any trauma, abuse, difficulty, or social trial (such as deep feelings of neglect, abandonment, betrayal) etc. Once He reveals it, plead and ask Him if healing is in His will or if He wants you to find strength in His grace (see 2 Cor 12:7-10).
"Healing is synonymous not only with physical illness but a restoration of balance in other areas of life as well." 24
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Staff Picks! FOR COMMON AILMENTS
Jaleesa's Picks!
1. for cold sores.
At the first tingle you know it's coming: cold sores Once you feel that tingle though, don't touch! Rub some ice on the area to help reduce the inflammation. Then rinse the surface with water and hydrogen peroxide, the latter helps to disinfect, and then lightly dab on the "goods" (recipe follows): "The Goods" In 1 tablespoon Vitamin E oil, add 3 drops tea tree oil and 1 drop peppermint oil. Mix well and use as needed. With the simple steps above, you can combat the dreaded cold sore. But if you need more help, here are some additional tips: -Boost your immune system! Take lots of vitamin C, echinacea and goldenseal. Stay away from immune neutralizers: sugars, fatty foods and stress! -Make and apply a corn starch paste (equal parts cornstarch and water). This paste neutralizes the pH of the sore and creates an alkaline environment which viruses hate. 26
Angelique's Picks!
2. for period pain
Catnip, a herb true to its name is most commonly known and used for sedating or soothing our feline friends, cats. Catnip also lends its same calming effect to humans as it does to cats! In the face of painful periods, I brew some catnip tea. After boiling, I let the herb steep for 15 minutes, making about 1-16oz mason jar of catnip tea. About one hour after drinking the tea, the painful menstrual cramps has subsided and I am ready for my own catnap!
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