Foods that Heal

Foods that Heal is a discussion about scriptures (foods that heal the soul) and recipes (foods that heal the body). I know you have heard the phrase "garbage in, garbage out." That applies to your spirit as well as your body, so join us. Replace the garbage that has been pumped into your mind with healthy Biblical information and replace the garbage in your frig with healthy foods! You'll have fun and feel better!

Proteins for your Teens

Here is a helpful tip on how to get proteins for your teens; stuff they'll actually eat.

My daughter was in the marching band in High School and her schedule was similar to that of someone in boot camp. She is a fast food kind of girl, and because of her hectic, strenuous schedule, she started looking rather ran down. I knew she needed more protein, but couldn't get her to eat anything that resembled healthy food. I tried some protein shakes and she would have no part of that either. I consulted the book "Foods that Harm, Foods that Heal and learned that pasta mixed with legumes was an excellent source of protein (more so than pasta alone).

I found a quick and easy pasta salad with chick peas and red kidney beans included that she actually loves. Here it goes:

• Use a whole-wheat multi grain pasta
• Add Kroger brand frozen fiesta style vegetables (contains chick peas and kidney beans, plus carrots and broccoli)after the pasta has boiled approx 5 minutes
• When pasta is done, place it in a strainer and rinse with cold water
• Put in a bowl and add one package of Zesty Italian dressing mix.
  
• Add Lite Zesty Italian Dressing to moisten and stir.
  
• Top lightly with real Parmesan Cheese
  
• Refrigerate for approximately 30 minutes.
  

Keep this dish in the frig. They'll actually eat it as an after school snack.

Praise God for Good Food

The key to healing our fears and anxieties is to praise God for what He has given. Before you can do that, you must realize what He has given. This is a good place to start.

Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. (NIV)

Thank you Father God for provision. You left nothing for me to worry about.

Bible Study

I am currently working on a Bible Study called "Seven Questions for a Pregnant Virgin." Sounds strange, I know, but intriguing you must admit. Obviously, the study is about Mary.

This is because I am a seeker, and I believe that all seekers are the same as Mary; pregnant virgins, so to speak. Therefore, I am going to take a look behind the scenes of the Christmas story. After all, the nativity scene is supposed to be reinacted in my life, so I need to know how it happened, right?

I can't think of a better way to understand how Mary arrived at the nativity scene, than to ask her.

Positive Thinking

Positive thinking is so very critical that I am pulling pieces of two previous posts from Blog for Life, my forum about healing from depression and anxiety. I believe these two pieces are vital to a closer walk with God. Apparently, thinking differently is a "must do" AND a first step. Why else would John the Baptist preach repentance before Jesus came on the ministry scene? (Matthew 3)

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Rene' Descartes' philosophy, "I think, therefore I am," has been debated, quoted, discussed, written about and THOUGHT about for centuries now. I have only recently, begun to understand it and I fear that it is absolutely true! My thought life is something that I have struggled with for years now. It was the reason I fell into depression. It was the reason I could not climb out. I made me spiritually, physically and emotionally unstable!

I have noticed, simply through observation that people who think negatively are sick more often than those who think positively. Those who think bad things are always going to happen to them, always experience bad things! My husband thinks positively every day about his health, finances, etc. He never gets sick and he is never late on his mortgage! more

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Recently, after reading the scripture above, I felt the need to look up the word repent. Obviously, I thought I already knew what it meant, but just wanted to look a little deeper. I had always been told that it simply meant to turn away from sin; stop what you are doing and do what is right. More than likely, you have heard the same. I was amazed to find that all it really meant was to think differently.

Later, that same day, I heard a remarkable sermon about repentance from Dr. Stephen Manley. He explained that repentance not only meant to think differently, but to CONTINUOUSLY think differently. It's not something we do once. (You know the usual drill: Repentance - Baptism - Go to Church...) It's something we must always do. more

Forgiven

You are forgiven, no matter what you have done or what has been done to you. FORGET ABOUT IT. It is time to "GET UP." Now, I know what you are thinking, and you don't have to go back to church just yet. Just start talking to God. Ask Him for the truth about yourself and for the truth about Him.

Phil 3:12-14
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. NIV

Who wrote that? Paul - the one who used to persecute Christians. He was forgiven.

Healing Anxiety

Healing anxiety requires you to lose your fear. Losing your fear requires you to change your focus. What is most important to you? Think about that for a moment and consider the fear it brings you. Then, read on.

This is a favorite to many people, BUT most get it backwards as usual. You hear lots of people saying "Don't worry about it, God is in control."

Take a second look at these verses. Jesus is not saying don't worry. He is saying, "Change your focus, then you don't have to worry." God is really not in control until we GIVE Him control. Remember, we have free will.

CHANGE YOUR FOCUS:

Matt 6:19-23 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 22 "The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO MONEY:

Matt 6:24 "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money. NIV

THEN, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO WORRY.

Matt 6:25-33 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

28 "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 So do not worry , saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. NIV

Read a more detailed study on healing anxiety.

The Healthy Food Groups

Did any one tell you the USDA changed the basic healthy food groups you learned about as a child? No one told me. Well, here they are as of 2005:

Grains - eat 6 oz per day
Vegetables - 2 1/2 cups per day
Fruits- Fresh, frozen, canned or dried - no so much fruit juice
Milk - 3 cups per day
Meat & Beans - 5 1/2 oz every day.

Is anyone out there making this happen. If so, I would like to hear your tips, recipes and ideas.

Get details.

Feeling Anxious and Depressed

So you are feeling anxious and depressed. Not much to live for? Can't think of anything that brings joy into your life?

Think about this. Write it down or print it out and carry it with you. Meditate on it for a few days or a few months if you have to.

John 3:16 (What does it mean?)

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

1. For God so loved (write your name here) - Get this into your head. For God so loved (write your name here)... For God so loved (write your name here)... Say it, think about it, shout it.

2. that He gave - He gave. He didn't take, He didn't squash, He didn't destroy, He gave. Let go of those lies you have been taught about Him. He doesn't steal, kill or destroy. He gives.

3. his one and only Son - This one speaks for itself. Would you give your only child for anyone?

4. that whoever believes in him - Whoever believes. Not whoever is perfect, whoever performs the best, whoever looks the best, whoever earns the most or even gives the most. Whoever believes.

5. shall not perish but have eternal life. - Eternal life versus eternal sadness, eternal confusion, eternal depression. Eternal life begins in this life. Choose to believe and choose eternal life.