Wednesday, October 16, 2013

A long Rest and Now Returning

I have not posted to this blog very regularly. I tend to do so as the spirit hits me but I suppose I can find more time in the month to be posting.

This post is mainly a reflection of the last few months

1) In February I grew fond of a young man at the college I attended. We have not formally hung out with each other. I found out he was fond of me too.
2) In April I turned 19!
3) In June I discovered that there was a bible believing group on campus! Yay, new friends!
4) In August I began my third semester of university.
5) Now in October, I am aiming for the highest marks in my current subjects and defining my overall future goals: paying off loans soon, getting the career of choice, and living frugally.

I am so happy to announce that I am working on my first religious book. What better for me to write about than the bible?

From now on I will try to be more frequent with my posts.

Blessings,
               D.L

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

The New Year

It is a blessing to have made it to another year. This is another year to give thanks to God, and to grow in the fruits of the spirit. Every year people want to make improvements to themselves whether it is losing weight, getting a boyfriend/girlfriend, or finishing a project.

As for me, I want to improve my patience. I am trying to grow my hair long. It has grown only 2 1/2 inches so far. I hope that by May of this year it grows 2 1/2 more inches. I am still learning how to take care of my hair. Instead of loads of products I am doing the no-poo method of hair washing. I wash my hair with baking soda and apple cider vinegar, two products that come to  $1.50 at my local grocery store that will last me about 2 months on average. Baking soda is harsh enough to clarify my scalp of oil but gentle enough not to remove all the oil from my hair. Apple cider vinegar is great in only a few cap fulls mixed with water. I take about 2 Tablespoons of baking soda and add a little water to it in a cup. It makes a nice paste. From there, I wet my hair in the shower or sink and apply the paste to my hair and scalp and rub. Then I take the apple cider vinegar with water and rinse it through my hair. Any other residue I have in my hair I continue to wash out with plain water.

My hair has not had dandruff. I've been using this method for what feels like a year but I can safely say about 6 months. I use mayonnaise (in the winter) or avocado (in the summer) once a month to provide a deep conditioning protein treatment. I use a dollop of extra virgin olive oil I purchase at the grocery store (1-2 tablespoons to condition my hair and scalp) and Burt's Bees Body lotion to give my hair moisture about once or twice a week.

I may switch olive oil for cheap coconut oil when I run out but olive oil does the best on my hair.

In sum my products are:
Baking Soda $0.50 ( l standard small box)
Apple Cider Vinegar $1.00 (12 oz)
Extra Virgin Olive Oil $5.00 (22 oz)
Burt's Bees Honey & Orange Wax Body Lotion $9.00 (8 oz)

(rarer usage)
Wild Growth Hair Oil $8.00 (4 oz)
Hellman's Mayonnaise (depends)
Avocado (depends)
Lou Ana Pure Coconut Oil $6.00 (31.5 oz)

I want to grow my hair to two feet long. I think that is an achievable goal. Even your hair grows at a slow pace of 4 inches a year it would take 6 years (and that's if you were completely bald).

I hope I can achieve that goal.

Currently I am working on a book as well which I plan on finishing this year. It takes a lot of work but I can do all things through Christ.

Friday, December 14, 2012

A Very Small Miracle

I was thinking what I should right but then I couldn't think of anything. Then, I went to my favorite diner to get something to eat. I was distressed about not finding anybody.

Would anyone truely love me?
Why do I keep meeting guys only interested in sex?

And I kept getting discouraged, looking down at my plate, and looking to the right of me self-conciously because a man was sitting there reading his paper. I wondered if he was looking at me.
If he was, I concluded, it wasn't in the way I wanted. He tried to engage me once asking me if I needed the syrup for my pancakes. I told him I didn't and he left me alone.

Then, out of nowhere a middle-aged hispanic man comes in and says "God bless you all." His face is calm and his voice unwavering. He continued to hand everyone little religious pamphlets until the manager of the diner showed her disaproval.

All the other customers were disgruntled after he left. The manager felt the need to apologize to everyone. They took the pamphlet to be kind and some were annoyed. We live in a culture that despises religion, especially Christianity. The pamphlet was titled "You Have an Appointment with Death". It was a call for anyone who asks to lead a life of following Jesus Christ.

Although the man did not know me, he couldn't have, I felt as though God directed this message to me so tha I would not give up and so that I would stand for what I believe in.

The clerk behind the counter asked me, "Do you want me to get rid of that for you?"
I told her, "No, really, I'm fine."

I paid for my meal and left.

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

The Unmarried Woman

She has many names and some are not so nice but the Lord will see her through. She is not a feminist, she would like to be married but it is just not in God's plan or God may have blessed her earlier in life with a husband who has passed.
Whether single virgin, single non-virgin, divorcee or widow, God has a plan for the unmarried woman.

I'm single now. I am prepared to never marry or have sex. I feel that God is more concerned with me being holy than happy. It is definitely the harder path but following God is not supposed to be easy. In this evil world, as we get closer to the Lord's return and tribulation marriage seems less ideal.




Here, the advantages of being single are clearly outlined.
1. I will not have brought children into the world to experience God's wrath and punishment due to the moral decline of man.

"But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people."
(Luke 21:23 King James Version)
2. I am promised a spiritual family anyway.

"For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband."
(Galatians 4:27 King James Version)

3. I can focus more on the Lord.

There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.
(1 Corinthians 7:34 King James Version)

4. I can show myself faithful to God.

Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.
(1 Corinthians 7:25)

But this is only for a few people. It is not the path for many men or women. If you don't have the gift don't worry just marry.


"But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given.
 For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it."

(Matthew 19:11-12 King James Version)

Prayer of Purity

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

(Psalms 51:10-11 King James Version)

Amen.





Wolves in Sheep's Clothing



The presence of these people may hinder a Christian person's walk in the Lord.

Sometimes we will have to avoid these people if they are hurting us too much with their actions.

"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." (Matthew 7:21-23 King James Version)

So, Christians are to observe these people but not worry about them. God feels they are spiritually dangerous.

Let's pray for strength in our convictions: 

"From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus." 
(Galatians 6:17 King James Version)

Amen.

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Verses I found Interesting


Leviticus

Lev 10:1-3
(Lev 10:1)  And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not.

(Lev 10:2)  And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.

(Lev 10:3)  Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace.


I think that because they were doing strange practices God killed them, this "strange fire" seems like a euphemism for a fire God could not recognize as a holy fire for him. I think about how other religions light candles. Are these fires for the one true God? Wicca for instance uses candles for magical purposes. Nadab means liberal and Abihu means worshipper of God. However, we see that holy people end up doing incorrect things too. God not pleased and took their lives in verse 2. God states in verse 3 that he will be glorified. We can assume that God was not being glorified by the unfaithfulness of their servants or their lack of listening to Moses' instruction.

Lev 11:44  For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

In context this is in Chapter 11 of Leviticus and it states that we should not eat certain animals and does not prohibit eating animals, like some people say that it does. This is just one evidence of that. This was addressed to Moses however it seems reasonable that God would want us to eat healthy.

Each time I read "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying," I think that the following verses will be instructed to Moses alone. Are the commands still profitable to read? Of course, to learn about what these leaders were required to do and learn about the culture at that time.

Chapter 26 is where the Ten Commandments are found but they were addressed to Moses and his people. Look here:

Lev 26:46  These are the statutes and judgments and laws, which the LORD made between him and the children of Israel in mount Sinai by the hand of Moses.
This is the last verse of that chapter.

Now look here:
(Lev 27:1)  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

(Lev 27:2)  Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When a man shall make a singular vow, the persons shall be for the LORD by thy estimation.

This is also addressed to Moses. Is a singular vow a vow to remain single or offer oneself up to God. Nuns, priests, hermits and consecrated virgins may actually have a biblical bases. This more about vowing or promising something great to the lord, may it be land or something else. But this is not to be a direct command simply an option for those that want this. In this chapter God shows his guidlines for this formal process.


What about the head covering?

This is a very controversial topic that comes up today. In several christian traditions we see head coverings of all different styles.

So what qualifies as a covering?

I've seen a Christian ladies sport the doily, headscarf, satin bonnet, turban, hat, snood, hijab, and even kerchief as options.

 
(crossover.ellison.net;onlinebaptist.com;wikipaintings.org;masterfile.com;sunshinecreations.vintage.org;depositphotos.com)

What does the bible say?

 1Co 11:5  But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.
1Co 11:6  For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.
1Co 11:7  For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.
1Co 11:8  For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man.
1Co 11:9  Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.
1Co 11:10  For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.
1Co 11:11  Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.
1Co 11:12  For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.
1Co 11:13  Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?
1Co 11:14  Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?
1Co 11:15  But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.

The bible makes clear that hair is a covering in verse 15. In verse 6, another covering is recommended on top of her hair. If the woman does not wear a head covering she should cut her hair. If she doesn't want to cut her "glory" she needs to cover her head.

In Judaism wigs are considered coverings. Though, I am a believer I choose to wear a wig cap under my wigs to symbolize a headcovering. This way I am covering my hair without bringing attention to myself.