Today my post is to plant “Natural” seeds of mood enhancement. To do this I must begin with this statement:

More and more each day I hear of people seeking a quick fix Pill for mood enhancement.  Even putting their young children on a pill to “calm” them so they are more “manageable”.  Now in some cases and certain times I know their is real need for medication to stabilize a person’s mood or chemical levels.  But, Not at the percentage of people on something there is in the world today. And parents ” Hello” children are supposed to be full of energy and active. And as parents we are called to give them Active things to do, not just sit calmly in front of a TV or computer.  Hiding or “running” with a pill is not a solution & all to often has many other adverse side affects. We wonder what is going on with everyone’s ” attitude” – that is one of the side effects of many of the “mood enhancers” out there today…a dullness or numbing of “emotions” Enough said, I am sure you get my drift here. So on that note, if you are still with me, here are some “natural seeds to plant in your inner garden, cultivate and will most assuredly bear the good fruit of enhancing your mood & your children’s mood as well.

1. LOVE –  on a personal note ” speak Love and Life ” to yourself and your children.  Proverbs 23:7 “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…”  What word seeds are you planting & cultivating within and without in your kingdom?

2. Vitamin D –  Feelin’ blue take a walk and get a little SUN, Kids anxious and won’t sit still – take them outside to PLAY!  And better yet, YOU play with them. They will Love the “time” with you and between the sun and activity you will both gain many benefits from the activity and the Sunlight. Here are just a few other benefits of the SUN ” in Moderation of course”  Sunlight and whole foods send breast cancer into remission – The sun’s light kills bad bacteria – Sunlight can CURE Depression: Sunlight deprivation can cause a condition called seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a form of depression. It is more common in winter months, but also common in people who work long hours in office buildings –  This is one I suffer from and can testify the “truth”  in this statement. Live where it is cloudy a lot try Ott lites – they do help a lot.  For more info on the benefits of Sun check out his site: http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-5999/10-Healing-Benefits-of-the-Sun.html

3. Foods – what you eat daily Does affect your chemical balance…garbage in creates the Blahs..good food in bears good fruit both within and without and that’s the truth.  Studies show some vitamins and minerals—like vitamin B—can boost your mood. Like one study proved omega-3 fatty acids have a therapeutic benefits in depressed children. If you begin when children are young feeding them well balanced foods with appropriate nutrients they will LOVE those foods and you will reap the benefits of a healthier and Happier child. A good dinner to share with your family full of omega 3’s is: Salmon Salad With Vinaigrette – you can of course look up a recipe online.  Another great source online with Healthy tips for the Body is my daughters site:  http://www.bountifulbotanical.com/ .  It is full of insightful tips on that will plant GOOD Seeds of Love within you.  As her site says, ” you will always find something beautiful in the garden” (that is within and without)

4. Speaking of gardens, Grow some of your own herbs and veggies. It is not only healthier but, very therapeutic to garden and it is a good way to get some sunlight and ” have Fun” with your child.  No yard. No worries you can grow in pots on the patio and EVEN indoors. They have Small greenhouses these days which take up very little space. I have a lot growing and I live in a One bedroom apartment with a small balcony.  And my friend, who suffers with severe chemical imbalances, is growing all sorts of stuff in one small corner of her patio. And I can testify again I have seen a real difference in her inner garden  since she began all the plating and growing of the outer garden.

5. Last but not least, planting of His WORD –  Be aware of what ” Words” you are allowing to be planted in your garden, to grow, and be spoken out of your mouth. One out and share in “others” gardens these powerful seeds can most definitely decrease or increase your moods. Words can create dry bones or bring Life with the Watering of the Word. Proverbs 18:19-21 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.
18:20 A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.
18:21 Death and Life are in the power of the tongue:   More than any seeds planted Our Words affect Our Mood and the moods of all those we encounter. WE with our Words can be mood enhancers.  Just think about how you feel when Loving, positive words are spoken to you and by you. Now think about how negative words affect your mood.

Life is ” all about choices”  and now it is your choice – what seeds are you seeking to plant? How much do you love yourself and those you Love?  A quick pill fix is not an answer it is a deceiving lie with consequences. Love thyself..seek HIM, pull out those weeds of darkness choking you and yours out. Choose the “natural seeds” found within and without in God’s creation and bear good fruit both within and without.  There are answers and promises in the Word & His creation here on Earth that work IF you work them.. OF this too I can testify.

Have a Blessed day. IF there are any errors in my words today,  I apologize but, I gotta go get ready for church an listen to some ” mood enhancing ” Word !

How often do we say, ” God gave us free will choice? ” Or have you heard someone say that? And on the flip side of the coin, how many times have you heard, ” God is in control and we have No Choice”?  In actuality Nowhere in the Bible are the words ” free will choice”  actually used.  Yep, I have researched, and as a dear friend says, I googled it, & the words “free will” are not to be found. But the fact that we are ” free to choose ” whether to Serve Him or Not is the theme throughout the Word.

I believe “Free-will” is a term that WE, mankind use to describe the actions we’ve seen WITHIN the Bible. Are there references that imply we have “free will”?  Yes, all through the bible. Here are a couple I like:Joshua 24:15–And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
Deuteronomy 30:19–I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and acursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.

It is my opinion, verses such as these that have “created” the term ” God gave us free will choice.”   I for one can testify,     “Life is all about choices” and the consequences of those choices belong to me too. Even though I do believe God is the Almighty Lord, my Creator I do not believe He is a dictator who lords over me stripping me of my Right to choose. The family of God wants us, their family to Love them from the Heart just as They love us. Just as we want our families to Love US.  For me this one verse sums it all up, proving that “in this house” we have the authority & freedom to choose…

Gen 1:26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, to be like us. Let them be masters over the fish in the ocean, the birds that fly, the livestock, everything that crawls on the earth, and over the earth itself!”

Can I get an AMEN?!!

On that note:  as Kariamu says, “Choose Good Things!”

today’s view by Rev. Jones

Ever feel like your energy got up and left you?  I used to think age played no part in the loss of energy. I believed this due to how active I see the seniors here in California & now where I live.. in an Active over 55 apartment complex. I am noticing as I age and hang out with more people in there golden years, I hear it said, ” It sure isn’t like it used to be. Back in the day, I could run around all day, stay up till midnight dancing, sleep a few hours, and do it again.”  I hear myself saying, ” Amen, I feel ya.”  Of course they laugh at me cause I am the baby of the group but, I DO feel them. I am a pretty high energy person as many of you know but, like my neighbors say, ” I am not like I used to be.”  Now it is a couple of days a week I can hang pretty hard and the rest of the time all I can say is, “Praise God He slowed my fast pace desire down a notch or two.”  Do I also have days of being in denial & tellin’ myself ” you still got it – you just gotta get it revved back up. ”

I do know ” exercise, yes exercise” provides more energy in your day to day. Stress reduction helps tremendously, and Water! Go ole water…it is that inner garden thing again…it must be watered if you want it to thrive and reach for the heights of potentiality. So on that note..I am off to take a walk.   Oh & did you know Coconut Water will give you a boost?

Check out this website for 8 healthy energy drinks. http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/8-healthy-energy-drinks-that-can-give-you-boost-without-caffeine.html

All to often we get caught up in the ” what about Me?” blues.. yet, if you really think about it, the question should be,

” How can WE serve, how should we love, how can We?….. ”

This last few weeks over and over again it is being revealed to me just how BLESSED I am & how all through my life if it were not for “We” there would be no Me.  As one of my favorite songs says,  ” It shoulda been me, coulda been me, woulda been me, sleepin’ in my grave”  As I sang along it hit me, IF it weren’t for so many with the hearts of ” how can we ” ( help you, serve you, do for you )  That shoulda, coulda, woulda been dead sleepin’ in my grave verse woulda belonged to me. And    not once, not twice, but, three times IF He hadn’t made ole Death behave.. you ask, how was Death made to behave?            It was in thru the hearts of those who asked, ” how can We?”  And then they listened when Jesus showed up and gave them the answers saying, ” come and I will show you the way WE can Save her.”  Now mind you, I’ve known for years it is by the grace of God I am here today. But, somewhere along the way, all to often, I let my gratefulness turn into what about me?     So, when my parents called 3 years ago my mind went straight to, “what about me?, what about my life in Cali?”  Part of that  what about me was fear, I was afraid of going back into the darkness that surrounded them. But, the other part was just plain selfishness, having taken His blessings for granted & responding like a spoiled child. But, my spirit and His Spirit had a come to Jesus meeting and I listened and now I am so thankful that I did. Was it a cake walk ? – Oh no..but, God did use the situation not only to His good but, for my good, my parents good, & a few others along the way.  And there were a lot of times we had to ask, ” How can We…get along, help one another, get thru this? ”  As I always say, God was on time all the time and showed us ” the Way to and thru.”  Now I, like my song, go forward in testimony saying,   ” I’ve Got So much to thank the Lord for – forgiveness, a great home back in Cali, a job I love, & once again ole death was made to behave. ..ohhhh I am so full now with the spirit of grateful & do so love the Lord from the bottom of my heart.”  There is a verse that tells us to leave the dead to the dead and to go with Jesus and LIVE.  That’s where He is leading me Now, on the Journey of Life and LIVING.     In a place full of Light and Joy where I can enjoy my golden years.  Home, in the finest city in America, San Diego and I am So Grateful to be back. There were many things of the past that I had not realized still held me in bondage and oddly enough somehow the time spent with my parents & their death broke those chains and set me Free. I didn’t realize that for a bit..my heart was hurting but now, It is like they took the past to the grave with them. What a Beautiful parting Gift they gave me.         I thank Them for the things they shared with me before they left & the lessons I learned from them, for they were many in a short amount of time. And most of all,  I Praise God, who is an awesome God, I thank Jesus for being right there on time all the time, and I sincerely thank all those angels who were there for me with hearts of ” how can we?”   That list of angels would be to long to list and I wouldn’t want to miss not one name but, you know who you are…all of you my family, my friends, and even those strangers unaware…I thank You for your hearts of ” how can we when it came to me.”  Smile

Yes, God sure does work in mysterious ways.

All I can do now is give Praise and be SO GRATEFUL to be a part of the family of God who is a how can We..serve you, love you, help you, Save You  kinda family. Yep, I just LOVE this family and as He says, ” In this house WE will serve and Love”

Have you ever said to yourself, ” If I could just have a Do Over” ? While reading the accounts the Levites gave of God’s faithfulness in Nehemiah Chapter 9, it hit me Hard how God Does give us “Do Overs”  over and over and over again. At first when I was reading I thought, ” Geez, what hard heads, look how many times they rebelled horribly and He gave them another chance.”  That’s when the Holy Spirit hit me Hard, ” How many times have you been given another chance, nothing has changed, just like You, mankind is still needing Forgiveness over and over and over again.  ”  OUCH!! ” Right behind that ouch Love overwhelmed me over and over again.  I had flashes of memories of the many times and the many people who gave me    “Do Overs”.  Who loved me in spite of myself. But, most of all the memories flowed of how Jesus, even when others didn’t, showed up saying, ” come on, get up, let me show you The Way Again.” Talk about Love, Mercy, Patience. And all the while blessing me with all my needs and many of my wants…over and over again.   Think about it…think about how many times Loved ones, co workers, your boss maybe, children, friends, and Most especially God Have given you another chance to start Over Again.

A ” Do Over”

Now think about how many chances, because you have Love in your Heart, you have given others and God another chance.

A ” Do Over”

This moment with the Holy Spirit showed me this is what Relationships are all about, ” Do Overs”.  Now some things we learn the lessons and Praise God we don’t have to ” do over ” but, all to many times we do, we have, and we will experience again  ” do overs”. Or if you want it softened up you can call it a ” de ja vou moment “.  Any way it goes, it is a repeater. I pray YOU like me, once you think on it, will find it will soften your heart once again or more. Cause another thing we all fall into is a hard heart at times. Remember, We are called to reflect our BFF, Jesus. To grow continually in Love, Mercy, & Patience that we might be continually blessed & continually Bless others. To do this we must grow in the ability to be able to turn the other check one, two, 77 x 7 times.  Why?  Cause we all make mistakes, we all have tough times, bad days, pity party woooo is me days, and all to often in those times it brings out emotions that are not meant to feel like a personal attack but, they do. And most of the time we so regret the words we can’t take back…all we Can DO, just like they did in times of old, is ask & pray Again for a ” Do Over.”

Peace, Love, and Hugs!

P.S. I am not saying abuse in any form is ok, nor that we should allow a do over in that moment. I am not saying we shouldn’t Ever forgive either but, God does not call us to endure Abuse. The Abuser needs help and until they receive it and are Healed we must Step Away, leave them in God’s hands, shake the dust off our feet, send up prayer they will come to know God’s Love and move on in our purpose and Journey. Leave that situation to God to grant the ” do over ” and IF God wants you to show and give a “do over ” once they are healed..He Can and Will let you know….till then, stay out of the Way..                    that battle is not yours.

Each day God is revealing not only how important it is to have a relationship with Him but, with Myself…How important it is to LOVE myself as He Loves ME!  Here are a few Steps to remember as we move forward in our Life’s journey.

If it feels wrong, don’t do it!

Listen to that still small voice within

Never give up on your hopes and dreams

Never speak bad about yourself – (or others)

Avoid negativity as much as possible. We are Blessed and Loved..embrace all Life has to offer.

TGIF !!!!

Since July I have been reading the Bible, from the beginning and reading thru like you would any Good book. In the past I have read segments, even whole chapters but, never from beginning to end.  At 1st it was a hard read, then I prayed about it being difficult and how God seemed so angry so often and how that is not the God I know. I asked God to reveal himself as I know Him and help me understand why He reacted in what seemed such hostile ways in the Old Testament. I didn’t have to read much further and I began to see the words I was reading from the eyes of a Loving parent whose children were out of control, more than disobedient,  and just down right off the hook wild. Taking the gifts and blessings given and Slapping their Father and all His Love and Blessings in the face every time He looked up. As I continued reading God, the Father keep trying again and again to Forgive and try again with His children. Once again He would abundantly bless His children asking ONLY One thing; Be obedient and follow My guidance while ” in this house” (on earth, his Creation given to his children)                But, Ohhhh no, repeatedly His children showed their colors of greed, lust, disrespect, and blatantly I might add. More and more I was understanding. Many things were brought to my mind, both as a parent and as having been a disobedient child. Do any of you remember the saying, ” I brought you here and I can take you out too”?  I remember it well. How many of us have felt that way when Highly disrespected?  Now as I read the life stories of those in His Word Much is being revealed. God’s Love, forgiveness, Mercy, and His continuously asking only One thing, Be Obedient in my house.

Then tonight as I read Samuel 1 Chapter 15 verses 20-25 I saw myself and others in the scenario I was reading. The message really Struck a cord. Then I heard the Spirit say, ” Share these verses and pray they speak to your friends that they might see my Love, the Love of a Father & pray they too desire more than ever ” in this house ” to Be Obedient ” to My Word.

Verse 20: ” But, I have obeyed the Lord ” , Saul insisted. ” I did what he told me to; and I brought King Agag but killed everyone else. And it was only when my troops demanded it that I let them keep the best of the sheep and oxen and loot to sacrifice to the Lord.” Samuel replied, ” Has the Lord as much pleasure in your burnt offerings and sacrifices as in your obedience? Obedience is far better than sacrifice. He is much more interested in your listening to Him than in your offering the fat of rams (your stuff )  to Him. For rebellion is as bad as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as bad as worshipping idols. And now because you have rejected the word of Jehovah He has rejected you as being King.  Saul admitted , ” I have sinned, Yes, I have disobeyed your instructions and the command of the Lord, for I was afraid of the people and did what they demanded. Oh please pardon my sin and go with me to worship the Lord.”

How many times have you let the urges of “the people” override what you know in your heart is right and wrong. How many times instead have you turned your back on the Lord and participated in things you know are an act of disobedience?              I confess, I have and like Saul I can say, ” I have sinned”.  I can also testify and give thanks for God Loving me sooooo much that He gave His son, my brother Jesus, who takes all my sins and then gently takes my hand to guide me along “The Way”  Why do they do this? : Because they Love me so much that they are willing to break it down in The Word and show me the error of my ways.   It is times like this I pray & say, ” Thank You for never leaving me even when I have disobeyed. Thank You for your Mercy and LOVE. It is because of your everlasting Love & your Word bringing my spirit into oneness with your Spirit,  I am finally with my hard head, getting it !  It is the desire of my heart to live “in this house” as your obedient child, always growing and becoming. Personally, I want nothing more than to hear my Father say, “well done my child”. And you know I do hear Him say these words! Ya know when? It is when I spend time in His Word, when I listen and am obedient to His call when He asks me to do something, like in the sharing of these words I am posting right now. SMILE

May you all have ears to hear and eyes to see.  Shalom.

I think it is safe to say, ” we all have times of weak moments.”  Times of worry, doubt, and fears.

According to His Word, as children of God, we are to Be Strong and of Good Courage , as He will Never leave or forsake you, If you walk in His Word not turning from the right hand or the left, you can rest in this;  you may prosper wherever you go.  You ask, ” what and how do I do that? “

In Joshua 1: 8-9 God is letting Joshua know how. ” This book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall Meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and you will have good success. Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.     Notice God is saying, “don’t just talk about His Word, don’t just read it out loud to be heard or just reading along.” But, Meditate in it day and night, that you may Live in it. Benefit from it, Grow in it’s Wisdom.

These days so many say, ” the book of the law” of the Old testament does not apply. ” Not so” according to the Word of our Lord, Jesus: Matt. 5:17 “Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose.”     He came to show us the benefit and Love found within the book of the law.
There was and IS reason for the book of the Law; As with any Loving Parent God’s Law was given to His children to remind us of who we are & who we Can Be. Revealing what is needed to Live the Good Life God planned for our lives & save us from being led astray into the depths of darkness possible in a reprobate mind. The law is Not written to be used as a ” damnation” tactic but, instead as a guide of His Love, that we not loose site of right and wrong as we walk in the ups and downs of the trials and temptations of the world. The law is Not of No effect but, instead when we meditate on it, all of it, day and night, it is of Great effect ! Each day we grow, see, and experience how “all things do work to the good” for them who Trust in the Lord. So, as His Word says, ” be Strong & Courageous” seeking Him & His Word that you might have a Personal relationship with God the Father, Holy Spirit Mother, and Jesus the Son of God. Seek His Word with All your heart & mind, & body. In this your spirit & His Spirit become One and you will experience Living LIFE with God and walking in all His promises. You, like the children of Israel will be brought over and through any and all trials and temptations that may come your way. In this, like Joshua, you can rise up each day knowing, that you and yours will inherit all God has planned for You, His children who Love and Obey His Word. 

Praise God,  By experience I can testify His Word and Promises work when you work it.

His Way is The Way & the Light thru all things in this world. It is a fact we can not live All in the Positive nor is there Life all in the Negative. It is also Truth that it takes Both for existence to Live Life fully. Like a tight rope walker, he begins at the beginning and  does not turn from right or left but, with confidence, trust, strong, & courageous he steps out walking forward left foot, right foot on a narrow straight path, pulling what is needed as he goes until he reaches his goal;

the other side.

It is our nature to seek and in that seeking we will fall as we learn to walk, and Praise God we do have His Love and Grace thru the teachings of His Word that pick us back up and set us back on The Way until we too reach our goal; ” the other side”

Hugs to all and be of good cheer, we are never Alone.

Thank You Lesa for this post on FB. Thought it a great one to share on my Daily Living page for those prone to Migraine’s. Or maybe your day has just given you a plain ole Headache. Try this out and feel better.
It sounds very refreshing too..hmmmm think I need to hit Sprouts!

1/2 Pineapple
3-4 Kale leaves
1 stick of Celery
1/2 cucumber
1/4 lemon
1/2 inch of Ginger

Put it all together and BLEND into a great smoothie.

Enjoy!

How often have you heard or Said ” I just want to live a balanced life.” Or how about those that say ” here are the keys to living a balanced life” Can’t tell you how many times I myself have said that or sought out trying to live “the balanced life”. Then I gave up, coming to the realization there will always be ups and downs and occasional balance, but not to often. Praise God – I learn from it all. In God’s plan of nature here on Earth, there is the positive and the negative and without it we can not Live here on Earth.
Osho said it much better than I so, I will share this tidbit of his wisdom, cause he said it just right: “One of the most fundamental misunderstandings down the ages is that you can leave pain and walk in only pleasure, that you can avoid the moments of hell and have only heaven, that you can avoid the negative and can have only the positive. This is a great fallacy. It is not possible in the very nature of things. The positive and negative are together, inevitably together, indivisibly together. They are two aspects of the same energy.
Life consists of extremes. Life is a tension between the opposites. To be exactly in the middle forever means to be dead. The middle is only a theoretical possibility; only once in a while are you in the middle, as a passing phase. It is like walking on a tightrope; you can never be exactly in the middle for any length of time. If you try, you will fall”….Osho

So, on that note: Pay attention to all that comes your way, there is Life and Lessons in each moment. Love you all.