Quotes of the Week

Quotes of the Week

"It is good for us to get into the Word, but it is MUCH BETTER for the Word to get into us." —David J. Stewart

 "The Scriptures were not given to increase our knowledge, but to change our lives." —Dwight L. Moody

 Success is never final, and failure is rarely fatal. It’s the courage to continue that counts.  Author Unknown

 Faith is not belief without proof, but trust without reservation. — Elton Trueblood

 Men may spurn our appeals, reject our message, oppose our arguments, despise our persons, but they are helpless against our prayers. - J. Sidlow Baxter

 God’s grace is stronger than all the wrongs you’ve ever done. Michael Minot

The only people we should try to get even with are those who have helped you.  Brien Deverick

For anything worth having one must pay the price; and the price is always work, patience, love, self-sacrifice - no paper currency, no promises to pay, but the gold of real service.  John Burroughs

The Price of Success

Proverbs 18:1 (KJV) ¹ Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.

John Burroughs said and my Dad often quoted in a Dutch kind of way;

 For anything worth having one must pay the price; and the price is always work, patience, love, self-sacrifice - no paper currency, no promises to pay, but the gold of real service.

Solomon writes under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God this Proverb concerning gaining and attaining wisdom in our lives.

1.         You Must Crave Wisdom:

The word desire is the word used for craving.  It is the word used for appetite.  In other words there must be a strong desire for wisdom before one will pay the price to obtain it. 

In Reformers Unanimous I work with many people suffering from varied addictions.  One thing is common and that is how much they desire and crave their addiction.  The craving of addiction must be replaced by an even stronger desire for Jesus Christ.

In John 8:32 Jesus teaches;  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

According to John 14:6 Jesus said that he is the truth.  Connecting the two teachings we learn that in order to have freedom over sin of any kind we must know Jesus Christ.  The first step in knowing Jesus Christ is desire.

2.         You Must Disconnect from the World:

The word separate means to disconnect, disunite, to unplug.  In other words, if one is to gain wisdom they must first disconnect from the influence of the world.  The world is those people, places, and beliefs that are contrary to the Word of God.  It is the source of feeding our fleshly (worldly) appetites.  It is plain and simple giving up that which is sinful and not associating with those who intentionally practice sinful habits.

For there to be change, there has to be change! 

3.         You Must Seek Wisdom:

The word seek means to go after, to look for, to follow.  Wisdom does not seek you, you must seek it. 

Matthew 7:7 (KJV) ⁷ Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

Jeremiah 29:13 (KJV) ¹³ And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
Proverbs 8:17 (KJV) ¹⁷ I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.

Wisdom is defined as living life as if there is a God.  It is knowing the Bible and living it.  It is applying the principles of God’s Word to daily life.  Here in Proverbs 18 God gives us the road map to finding wisdom in our lives. 

This verse practically applied would indicate a need in all of our lives to read, study, memorize and meditate on God’s Word each day.  It would indicate a need to pray and seek God’s help in applying His Word to our daily lives.  It would require reading books that inspire and teach us concerning living the Christian life.  It would compel us to faithfully attend a church where the Word of God is preached and taught.

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day

I thank the Lord for my Father.  He was a good man who taught me the value of family, hard work, honesty, and character.  My Dad was the most influential person in my life and I think of him each day.  Dad went home to be with Lord in January 1998. 

I remember Dad and I watching this event in the 1992 Oympics.  It is an inspirational story of a dad supporting and helping his own soul. 



Quotes for the Week

Quotes for the Week

Each week the Lord guides me to quotes that help me in my walk with Him.  Here is the list from last week.  I hope they are a blessing to you.

“The greatest part of our happiness depends on our dispositions, not our circumstances.” ~ Martha Washington, first First Lady of the United States

God uses broken things: broken soil and broken clouds to produce grain; broken grain to produce bread; broken bread to feed our bodies. He wants our stubbornness broken into humble obedience.  Vance Havner

Those who demand freedom from all restraint have already become slaves to their own demands.

He that lies down with dogs, shall rise up with fleas.  Benjamin Franklin

Attempt something so impossible that unless God is in it, it’s doomed to failure. — Author Unknown

"It is not so much the greatness of our troubles, as the littleness of our spirit, which makes us complain." —J. Taylor

 "I never saw a useful Christian who was not a student of the Bible." —Dwight L. Moody

It is better to die for something than to live for nothing.  Dr. Bob Jones Sr.

 Many missionaries estimate difficulty in light of their own resources, and thus they attempt very little, and they always fail. All who have done great things for God first reckon on His presence and power to guide them. — Hudson Taylor

The Fool (Part 13)

The Fool

There are 36 references to the word fool in Proverbs alone and over 80 references when you consider its derivatives.  Most of Proverbs deals with comparisons between two people, the wise and the foolish. 

Here is the 13^th mention of the word fool in the book of Proverbs.
Proverbs 10:21 (KJV) ²¹ The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.
Looking at the preceding verses the Bible is speaking of the topic of the tongue or the words spoken from our lips.  In this proverb, fools die for want of wisdom. What exactly does it mean?  Let us the RU dissect and define method of breaking down this verse.
Fool:      One who lives life as if there is no God.
Die:        To die, kill, or have one executed.  To cease to live, to come to an end.
Want:    Lacking, without. The absence of that which is necessary or useful.
Wisdom:          The Hebrew word is translated heart, understanding, and mind.  It is in reference to                          judgment or common sense. 
Putting this all together we come up with the meaning of this verse.  The person living life as if there is no God has a tendency to speak words lacking sound judgment and common sense.
Let me illustrate.  Eighteen years ago my wife and I sat in a meeting where a psychiatrist made this statement:  I have come to learn in life that there is no right and no wrong. I sat in disbelieve.  Really, there is not one thing that is wrong and there is not one thing that is right!  My brother had a saying concerning highly educated people saying highly uneducated statements; they are educated beyond their intelligence!  I believe this kind of statement is exactly what God is teaching us here in Proverbs 10:21.  The words of fools lack judgment and common sense.
I think the illustration of this little girl makes sense here.  A little girl wrote an essay on her favorite American president, Abraham Lincoln.  In trying to magnify the greatness of Lincoln she wrote: Abraham Lincoln was born February 12, 1809, in a log cabin he built himself.
I have listed some humorous sayings to help illustrate this verse:

I wonder how much deeper the ocean would be without sponges.
Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
Sometimes I look at that Frisbee and wonder why it is getting bigger. . .than it hits me!
Nobody goes there anymore. It’s too crowded.
There are 3 kinds of people, those who can count and those who can’t!

I, like you, have had conversations with people that just lacked common sense and sound judgment.  Here is one that comes to mind when I was in college. A jobless college student said; I need a job so I am going soul winning this afternoon. I responded, soul winning is great, but shouldn’t you go out and put in job applications?  He responded; no, if I go soul winning God will give me a job.  I responded, if you go soul winning, God will give you souls.  Three months later he had won many people to Christ, but was financially withdrawn because he never got a job.

A fool’s speech is lacking sound judgment and common sense.

Chronic Fatigue & Fibromyalgia Part 4

Chronic Fatigue & Fibromyalgia Part 4

by Dr. George Crabb

I pray that these blogs have brought greater awareness to these two disease processes and that foundational to treatment is meditating on the Word of God. I have put these blogs together to help you be energized and overcome CFS & fibromyalgia and that good nutrition plays a role. If your diet contains excessive sugar, fat, starch and salt, you are probably experiencing fatigue and even CFS. Balanced nutrition helps your body fight off fatigue and sustains you through demanding and stressful situations. If your symptoms are caused by yeast infections, prolonged use of antibiotics or by food allergies, a specialized diet for three to six months will change your life completely. Cookies, candies, cakes, pies and soft drinks will feed candidiasis to the point at which the yeast grows out of control. Changing your diet is the most important thing you can do to begin treating chronic candidiasis. Start by avoiding, eliminating or radically reducing the following: #1 All sweets #2 Milk products - Milk and all milk products should be restricted. The sugar in milk, which is lactose, actually feeds the yeast, as does regular sugar. Milk protein is also one of the most common food allergies. #3 Vinegar - Food containing vinegar, such as soy sauce, barbecue sauce, steak sauce, mustard, ketchup, mayonnaise, salad dressings, horseradish and pickled vegetables should be avoided because they contain yeast. #4 Meats that have been processed or smoked should also be avoided. #5 Dried fruits. #6 Coffee. #7 Peanuts and peanut butter. #8 Melons. #9 All alcoholic beverages. #10 Food allergens - The most common ones are eggs, milk, wheat and corn. #11 Starchy grains and vegetables. But remember, the main foods that make yeast or candida grow are high-sugar foods. What can I eat? #1 Meat and fish proteins. #2 Low starch vegetables. #3 Grains and nuts. #4 Starchy vegetables after 3-4 weeks. Liver Detoxification: detoxifying the liver can be extremely important in overcoming severe candidiasis. The two phases of liver detoxification of the liver are referred to as phase one and phase two detoxification. Nutrients that can help detoxify the liver include: #1 Milk thistle #2 Silymarin #3 Black currant oil #4 lipoic acid #5 DL methionine #6 Phosphatidyl choline #7 Beet root #8 Garlic Let's talk about fiber. Many individuals don't get enough fiber and water in their diets - and chronic constipation is the unpleasant result. In order to clear yeast from the GI track, it's important to have regular bowel movements. Fiber binds yeast and prevents it from being reabsorbed in the body. During the process of clearing yeast from the body, you need to take in good bacteria so that the bowel will be recolonized with it. I recommend approximately three to six billion colony-forming units of lactobacillus acidophilus and lactobacillus bifidus. There are other good forms of bacteria, including lactobacillus plantarum, lactobacillus salavarius and lactobacillus sporogenes. You may be thinking, Where do I find this? You can find the "good bacteria" in capsules or powder form at the health food store. It may be called Probiotics or Intestinal Flora. Since CFS and fibromyalgia may range from mild tiredness to extreme exhaustion to distressing muscle pain, it is best to seek out your doctor's advice early. The longer it persists, the longer it takes to turn the problem around. Make a decision to start eating for energy right now. Vitamins and supplements: #1 B5 (pantothenic acid) #2 Zinc #3 Vitamin C #4 5-HTP #5 Multivitamin #6 Melatonin #7 DHEA #8 Valerian #9 Passionflower #10 Ginseng #11 St. John's Wort #12 Nystatin Make sure you are getting proper exercise and rest. Whether your CFS and fibromyalgia are caused by yeast, allergies, antibiotics or ant of the other culprits that may be taxing your immune system and stealing your energy, the FIRST place to go for answers is always Jesus Christ. He understands your body, for He created it. And He loves, and understands you. And just as every good father wants the best for his children, He longs for you to experience a richer, more abundant life. Have you ever used sugar or breads and pastries to fill a physical or even an emotional void? Sugar is not the source of your power or energy in life - God is. In fact, the Bible says that the bread of life is Jesus Himself. Your dependence on yeast products in the natural may be robbing you of more important spiritual focus in your life - Jesus Christ, the bread of life. If you have a dependence on bread and yeast or sugar products in your life, then turn to the true bread of life as your source. When you become hungry for bread, remember His promise to you, "I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst." John 6:35.

Chronic Fatigue & Fibromyalgia Part 3

Chronic Fatigue & Fibromyalgia Part 3

By Dr. George Crabb

When chronic candida infections, food allergies, excessive stress, sleep deprivation and depression take their toll on an individual's immune system, CFS & fibromyalgia can result. I normally find a suppressed immune system and low adrenal gland function in my CFS patients. Let's take a closer look at the causes of CFS & fibromyalgia.

CANDIDIASIS:
A common cause of these diseases is prolonged candidiasis, commonly called yeast infection. Candida yeast normally lives in the gastrointestinal (GI) track and the vagina. Only small numbers of yeast candida are normally present in our GI tracks. However, when we take potent antibiotics, especially over a prolonged period of time, much of the good bacteria are destroyed and the critical balance of microorganisms in the GI track is upset. The result is that the yeast can grow unimpeded. Other factors that can cause yeast overgrowth include cortisone, birth control pill, pregnancy, environmental chemicals, diabetes, certain foods (especially sugars) and allergies.

Candidiasis can cause impaired memory, distractibility, irritability and agitation, inability to concentrate, feeling drunk without consuming alcohol, anxiety, depression and insomnia. GI symptoms include bloating, swelling, spastic colon, diarrhea, loud intestinal rumblings, cramping, excessive gas, itching of the anus, mucus in the stools and heartburn.

Candidiasis yeast will actually compete with the body for nutrition and rob it of nutrients. It releases toxic by-products such as alcohol, acetaldehyde and as many as seventy-nine different toxins that can circulate through the blood stream and affect other organs and tissues.

Candidiasis is only one cause of CFS & fibromyalgia. Stress is another culprit.

STRESS & FATIGUE:
If you keep the headlights of your car on all night, the battery will run down. At first, you will be able to restart the car by jump-starting it. But if you leave the lights on continually night after night, eventually the battery will be so depleted that jump-starting it won't help anymore.

The same thing occurs in our bodies with excessive stress. We stress our bodies with our face paced lifestyles, juggling demanding jobs with even more demanding family responsibilities. Daily we dodge traffic jams, race to prepare dinner and jog through malls and grocery stores to shop. Our schedules can leave us overworked, overwhelmed, spent and exhausted.

As you rush through your mornings, do you gulp down a cup of coffee with a doughnut, trying to get an energy jump-start? Year after year of stressful living and "jump-starting" the body daily with caffeinated beverages and high sugar foods will eventually leave the body depleted.

As an Internal Medicine Physician, most of my regular patients complain of too much stress. Stress that persists for years and decades will eventually drain the adrenal glands and leave us tired, run down and chronically fatigued.

FOOD ALLERGIES:
Food allergies can cause adrenal stress. Therefore, I suggest a comprehensive food allergy or food sensitivity test in order to determine the foods to which you are allergic.

SLEEP DISTURBANCES:
Stress is harmful to the body in so many different ways. Stress can seriously affect your ability to sleep at night, in addition to other sleep disturbances, which is another cause of CFS & fibromyalgia. Sleep disturbances and depression are the most common causes of these diseases that I see in my practice. A variety of sleeping disorders, which we will discuss in greater depths in later blogs, can interrupt sleep and eventually trigger a pattern of chronic fatigue.

YOUR FATIGUE:
You've probably realized by now that CFS & fibromyalgia are not simple diseases. Many factors, or a combination of factors, may be responsible for your fatigue and pain. As we have discussed some major causes of CFS & fibromyalgia, have you seen your own symptoms? Throughout the rest of this four part blog I will be providing natural and spiritual remedies that will arm you to battle your enemy and defeat CFS & fibromyalgia and their symptoms forever!

GOD'S PLAN FOR YOU:
As I stated at the beginning of these blogs, God's plan for your life is only good - filled with good events, spiritual prosperity, health and uplifting relationships. But to experience His plan, you need energy and strength.

Start getting energized daily by reading God's Word and meditating on it throughout the day along with a constant season of prayer. Let your desire echo the words of King David, "I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge" (Psalm 71:7).

Claim the promises of God's strength and protection throughout your days. Read Scripture, memorize Scripture so that you may meditate on the Scripture. Use these verses as medicine for your soul.

In our next blog we will start to look at the natural remedies that can help an individual who is suffering from either CFS or fibromyalgia.