160130 Overcoming Study

God tells His people to study and then to teach what they have learned. Studying has its rewards. Peace comes from knowing of the value that God places on us, in understanding from where strife originates, and in the realization of the power available to those who believe. Belief is not just admitting that there is a God. Belief is also in knowing what God will do, and in knowing how to operate the power which He gives us.

1 John 5:4-5

(4) For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

(5) Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

"Overcometh", "overcometh", and "overcometh" are all the same Greek word:

"G3528

νικάω

nikaō

nik-ah'-o

From G3529; to subdue (literally or figuratively): - conquer, overcome, prevail, get the victory.

Total KJV occurrences: 28"

This particular word appears twice in the Gospels, twice in Romans, and six times in the epistle of 1 John. It appears three times in the two consecutive verses I just quoted! Then, it appears seventeen times in Revelation to show how Christ Jesus has defeated The Enemy.

"G3529

νίκη

nikē

nee'-kay

Apparently a primary word; conquest (abstractly), that is, (figuratively) the means of success: - victory.

Total KJV occurrences: 1"

Of interest to this study, however, it this word that appears only once. A word used once should get our attention. Why did God choose to use this noun here? Only once does νίκη (nike) appear, and it is nestled among the only time that the verb form νικάω (nikeo) is used three times in such a short space. Does God want us to know that Our God is stronger than anything the World has to throw at us?

People use words haphazardly. Americans especially like to dismiss the meanings of words until someone latches onto to some innocent word or phrase to imbue it with hidden trigger meanings, which may have nothing to do with the actual meaning of any word. God, however, uses words precisely. Like signing a check or a receipt, He magnified His Word above His Name: Psalms 138:2. His Word is more precious than wealth: Psalm 19:9-11; Psalm 119:162; Psalm 12:6. If God is perfect, the Word He gave must be perfect, because He guarantees it. God had people record it; people are fallible, so it is up to us, individually, to search out that perfection for ourselves, 2 Timothy 2:15; Proverbs 24:2.

Wouldn't you like to know how to have victory? Would you like to be a super-conqueror? (Romans 8:37) Would you like to have the peace of God? (Philippians 4:7) Or the confidence of God? (Mark 11:22-24)

Take a word, and study it with a Lexicon and Concordance. Work in fifteen minute segments, but do at least one segment per day. Who can't carve out fifteen minutes among the one thousand four hundred and forty each of us has every day? God will honor your efforts, and will send help.

The APA wanted to make belief in an unseen God a psychiatric disorder, but were forced to amend that. Too many of us know better. Don't ever fear the future. God is already there, and has us covered. That's why every Christian can believe that we have overcome. It's not about skin color, the shape of one's nose, nor political beliefs. It's whether we believe what God says about us.

*Indented quotes come from the King James Version and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance.

160127 Pro-Choice and Pro-Life

I taught my children the Word of God, and that they should think for themselves. Although it was a surprise, it was perfectly in character for my daughter to slap a Gary Johnson sticker on the back of her car in 2012. Since Gary announced his candidacy recently, I expect to see another one on her second car. If my younger daughter had a car, she'd probably put something like, "When you speak, I always here 'Punch me in the face,' but it's usually subtext." She's wordy like that, and hates politics.

Why do some people assume that because Person A supports Option A, that it automatically puts Person A into Catagory C? All my life, this kind of muddled thinking has frustrated me. Since the 1980s, which was the last time any idiot shot an abortionist, someone has tried to tell me how stupid I was to support the Pro-Life cause. The person(s) telling me this just assumed that I was going to go out and shoot an abortion doctor because I happen to confess Jesus as Lord in my life.

• First of all, labels are lazy shortcuts that let people get angry without thinking.
• Second, every person has to determine in his or her own heart and mind whether to believe anything. Smart people avoid blanket statements.
• Third, very few people, even among Christians, actually know what the Bible says about most subjects. Even if they can quote something, most forsake context and the most basic principles of research.
• Fourth, it behooves the Christian to study and to follow those who have worked even more diligently to unlock what God said. God did not give His Word in English, so we each need to learn Aramaic and study Classical Greek to find out what God really said.

Abortion is a complicated subject, but the loudest people reduce it to slogans and support politicians who agree with the slogans. Slogans circumvent thinking. That's why I hate labels. Forget labels and think about the words themselves. Everyone should be pro-life, because we all have a right to live. We should all be pro-choice, even if the choices of others disagree with the choices we ourselves would make. (For instance, while I agree with many Libertarian ideals, I will not be voting for Gary Johnson.)

Just because I am pro-life does not mean that I disagree with the death penalty, as more than one commenter has touted. Some people have proven their inability to judge between right and wrong. The Bible trumpets forgiveness, but also supports the death penalty in certain cases. Just because I am pro-choice doesn't mean that I agree with getting an abortion. Abortion is heart-breaking, and the costs verses the benefits should be weighed very carefully. This is an individual decision, not a legislative one.

Do you know what a "spontanious abortion" is? It is, or it used to be, a medical term for a miscarriage. A spontanious abortion occurs when a woman's own body detects that a fetus is not viable. This happened to me four times. I wanted those children, but my body refused. The Bible says that children are blessings. Some people just don't want to be blessed. Those are their choices. They don't have to be blessed. We'll all be much happier if we just let people make their own choices and deal with their own consequences instead of trying to make 'moral' laws. Legislatively forcing morality may in itself be immoral. That also goes for the environmental issues that some view as moral, but that's another story.

160126 Dearth

Once I decided to write more, I wrote less. I added someone to my Live Journal that I regret. I could just delete her from my feed, but then I'd be doing what I dislike about what others do when they hear diverse opinions. I guess it's the haughty, "I'm right, and you're stupid" attitude she exudes. She's right because it feels evolved, and not so stuck in the mud of human history. We humans recycle this attitude every eighty years or so, and my 90 year old father does like to point out the American similarities to certain German attitudes of the early 20th Century. In this case, the common enemy has become vocal Christians who actually read their Bibles.

People with partial knowledge attack the Bible. It has become quite vogue to point out what is not included and what contradicts. They don't know how we got the Septuagint, nor why certain writings were included and others excluded. Most churches and denominations place more importance on their own interpretations and commentaries than on the actual Biblical texts, and it makes for a confusing, humanistic argument. All the books of the Bible were physically written by a human hand, but God was the Author. Either one believes, or he disbelieves. If one does not believe God, then the Bible is flawed. If one does believe God, however, then the Bible reveals God. The supposed flaws were attempts by the Adversary to discredit God. The closer one looks at the Bible as it was originally written, the more one sees that God had a hand in making it as perfect as possible in a world run by the free will of man.

The world will not continue as it has. We are due for a major shift in how life is conducted on this planet. It won't be towards the Star Trek Utopia that so many adore. People don't change. They endlessly repeat the mistakes of the past. The names change, the settings change, but the results continue to be the same. Civilizations rise and fall, while people sift through the same recycled ideas that lead to the same risings and fallings of previous civilizations. That's why I read Proverbs. People still respond to the same stimuli and behave as they did five thousand years ago.

160115 Consented to Chemicals

About midnight, pain was a 10, and my daughter, who doesn't have a driver's license, almost tried to drive my 6-speed to the ER while I whimpered in a fetal position. I kept asking for ten minutes until we both fell into fitful sleep. When I woke, the pain was down to dull ache, so I thought I was through the worst of it.

At noon, the pain meter started to rise again, so I took myself to the clinic. As usual, the medical people frowned and asked me how I was tolerating this, and prescribed a lot of med. I have massive infections in both ears, all my sinus' are totally blocked with infectious crud, and one eye is diseased. Also, the creeping crud is attempting to make a foot hold in my lungs. While I was paying the bill, my right eardrum burst, so they dragged me back to the examination room to clean that, too. At least the pain quit, even if once again, I have to see a person's lips to know what he or she is saying.

They worked with me on the drugs, so it didn't take my life savings. After one set of doses, however, I remembered what really bothers me about Albuteral, and that I have to continually remind myself why Predisone is so very bad for me, because steroids make everything OK. (Reading warning labels NOW!) I find it funny that opiates make me paranoid and receive my undying hatred, but steroids make me feel really, really good. (I am, in fact, indulging in a little gluten right now, because Predisone keeps its horrible reactions away.) Tomorrow, I will be getting some drops for the infections in my eye and ears. I'm supposed to pick up over-the-counter Flonase, which I hate, so I'll pass. I cannot take showers until my ear heals, but I can breathe steam when I make tea. That will take care of most of what Flonase is supposed to do.

I'll be drinking lots of fluids, including Jewish Penicillin. The doctor thought this started as Cedar Fever. "Cedar Fever" is actually an allergy to the pollen from Mountain Cedar. Pollination started a few weeks ago and will continue through March. I moved into the worst place possible for Cedar Fever. It will develop into an infectious disease when the immune system is shocked or weakened. Driving 3000 miles with little sleep and emotional stress qualifies as a system shock. Next year, I shall prepare myself for this Hill Country gem.

160111 Joy and Happiness

Joy in Your World

What's bringing you the most happiness in your life right now? Why is it such a good thing for you? Has it been present a long time, or is it a recent addition to your world?

Right this moment, it is hard to determine, since happiness is situational. For the first time in five years, I am fighting a cold. When I started with essential oils, certain illnesses became a thing of the past, but even these oils can't stand against a sick child who wants to rub her germs on my face. :(

On the other hand, the joy of the Lord is my strength. As I remember those things for which I am thankful, it does bring a smile to my face. My elder child is surviving adulthood. She takes care of herself more and more, and has graduated college without debt. She also has a job. The younger one, who brought me the current respiratory distress, will turn 18 this year and plans to move out of the camper ASAP. As much as I love her, I love to see her claim responsibility for her own life.

This nomadic lifestyle suits me. It sounds like the opposite of what many have proclaimed for decades, but less stuff makes the brain work better. Stuff requires care. At first, I wondered if I would miss certain things, but as I do without, I wonder why I thought I needed stuff in the first place. Yep. Doing more with less makes me happy.

160110 NO Condemnation

Romans 8:1-4
(1) There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
(2) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
(3) For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
(4) That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Quoting the Word is not condemnation, it is simply restating what the rules are. Human nature, which is not from God, may make iy seem that way, and the recipient may take it that way from hidden guilt, but quoting the Word is not condemnation. God merely wants everyone to be saved.

1 Timothy 2:3-4
(3) For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
(4) Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

Therefore, anyone who feels oppressed by someone quoting the Word, that oppression is not coming from God, and the person quoting may only have the recipient's best interests in mind. The only thing tricky about this comes from our Adversary, the devil, who walks about seeking whom he may devour. God doesn't trick people. He has no darkness at all.

Remember, no one can make you angry without your permission.

160109 Oily Thoughts

Since 2010, I've been using Young Living Essential Oils, and believe them to be of the most consistently high quality. After I became a distributor, I signed up for Essential Rewards. This qualified me to receive 'gifts' of oils. I have amassed quite a few of them, so did some research on possible uses, which I'm sharing now.

Oils to use, because they were free, or I bought too much of them:

Acceptance (blend):

Acceptance stimulates the mind, compelling us to open and accept new things, people, or relationships in life, allowing one to reach a higher potential. It also helps us to overcome procrastination and denial. 

(Use for low blood glucose, or when feeling pressured.)

Forgiveness (blend):

This blend helps to release hurt feelings and negative emotions. It also helps release negative memories, allowing one to move past emotional barriers and attain higher awareness, assisting the person to forgive and let go. 

(Use when upset or during high blood pressure events.)

Eucalyptus Blue

Supports respiratory function to promote normal breathing, relieves sore muscles, calming, invigorating, expectorant, diaphragmatic, insecticidal, oestrogenic, anti-fungal, antiviral, antibacterial. 

(Diffuse against Agent Em's cold.)

Ginger

Anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, digestive aid, anesthetic, expectorant, anti-fungal; for rheumatism, digestive disorders, respiratory infections/congestion, muscular aches/pains, nausea. 

(Give to Agent Em and diffuse, because she likes it.)

Helichrysum

Anti-coagulant, anesthetic, antispasmodic, antiviral, liver detoxifies, chelates chemicals and toxins, regenerates nerves, blood clots, circulatory disorders, skin conditions. 

(Save for First Aid.)

Hung Kuai

Anti-fungal, anticancer, immune support, respiratory support. 

(Use on self to protect against Agent Em's cold.)

Idaho Blue Spruce

Antibacterial, pain relief, insecticide, antioxidant, expectorant, induces relaxation, prevents oxidation of LDL. 

(Use after physical therapy.)

Ledium

Anti-inflammatory, antitumoral, antibacterial, diuretic, liver-protection, obesity, water retention. 

(Use in conjunction with weight loss program.)

Ravintsara

Antitumoral, antiviral, antibacterial, pneumonia. 

(Use for lung infections.)

Spearmint

Obesity, intestinal/digestive disorders, nausea, hepatitis. 

(Use in conjunction with weight loss program.)

Tsuga

Respiratory conditions, kidney/urinary infections, skin conditions, VD 

(Apply to kidney area on back.)

Vetiver

ADHD, anxiety, rheumatism/arthritis, depression, insomnia, skin care. 

(Add to homemade skin cream.)