Cellular Nutrition The Body Craves

Below is an article that I wrote as a guest writer for Naturally Sports & Wellness's blog. Enjoy!

Desiring to find a supplement that works best in helping you with endurance and recovery during your training and competing? Looking for something that helps your body heal from inflammation? Seeking proper nutrition for optimal health and prevention as you age? Well, we all know how crucial nutrition is for the body to function optimally. Sadly, our fruits and vegetables have lost their nutritional value and it's simply too difficult to possibly consume the crucial amount of nutrients that our cells need just through eating. Our bodies are fighting toxins daily and become weak from lack of nutrition, so supplementation is becoming a necessity.

I was on a search to find just the right nutritional supplement for my health and that of my family. My daughter has an auto-immune blood disorder that affects her body's ability to fight off bacterial infections. I needed something that would give her immune system the nutrients it needed to be strong and healthy. I was also on a quest to find the right supplements to keep all of us healthy. I wanted something natural and safe but kept coming across ingredients in supplements that I questioned were even safe. Sodium benzoate is one very common preservative in liquid supplements. I prefer liquid over pills, so those are what I mostly researched. Sodium Benzoate is okay until it's combined with ascorbic, citric acid or Vitamin C. When those are mixed, it creates a chemical reaction making it carcinogenic. To me, that defeats the whole purpose of taking a nutritional supplement!

Thankfully, I came across the safest nutritional supplement that I could find. My searching was complete and problem solved! It's called Seven+ by a company called eXfuze®. Another great thing I found out was they have a product called Seven+ PROformance that is designed to help the body with stress and give it increased energy by adding a Panax Ginseng extract and adaptogens of Eleutherococcus and Astragalus. This product is designed for inflammation and has been great for athletes. Because of that, eXfuze® even made sure that the product was BSCG certified! They have also formulated a safe and healthy energy shot called GreenZilla that has been a great energy enhancer. These products are all plant-based (organically grown or wild-crafted) and have no synthetic ingredients, no added caffeine, no artificial sweeteners and no harmful preservatives. So, for optimum performance and quicker recovery, consuming Seven+ PROformance and GreenZilla have been very effective. Even their formulation for the brain called Seven+ Focus has made an excellent addition in helping with athletes focus during competitions. That's what I love about eXfuze® products; they work together synergistically!

With that said, Seven+ products give the body true cellular nutrition from whole-food extracts. The enzymes remain active through a very sophisticated extraction process that is used. I love how pure and potent these are, that I only take one ounce per day. I get my vitamins, minerals, omegas 3,6,7,9, CoQ 6-10, fatty acids, amino acids, anti-oxidants and more from the synergistic blend of botanical extracts these have. I feel great and can tell that my daughter's immune system is boosted!

Below are the seven main botanicals that you will find in Seven+ products and a quick detail of some of the benefits they offer. The plus factor of Seven tells you that there are more extracts in these that give the body more nutrients. The benefits that these products offer for better health are endless!

 --Noted for its anti-inflammatory and immune system

    support*

--Strong vascular health and cellular rejuvenation*

--Rich with anti-oxidants and amino acids

--Contains trace minerals and beta-carotene

--Aids in detoxification*

--Combats and neutralizes free radicals*

--Rich combination of nutrients to aid in
   cardiovascular health*


                      ~Information from eXfuze® product brochure.


*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.


Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, registered nurse, or licensed dietician, just a home-schooling mom. Any information I provide is for general education purposes only. I recommend that everyone work alongside their personal physician while pursuing treatment for any condition.

A Heart To Live Well

Here's a question for you. What do you do to "live well"? Definitely an interesting question to contemplate! First thing that I think of is, what does it mean to "live"? We know what it means to do things well, but to "live well" in particular is quite a thought and something to pray about. Am I living well for my own good, for the good of others or in obedience to God Himself? Could it be for all three and where's the balance there? Who am I living well for and what does that really mean to live?

You can do a word study on "live" all day, but I will spare you from too much and just bring out the main terms that stick out at me for this particular question. Below are just a few ways how the 1828 Noah Webster American Dictionary defines "live" that I find quite interesting.

• To have the bodily functions in operation, or in a capacity to operate.
• To live, emphatically; to enjoy life; to be in a state of happiness.
• To be inwardly quickened, nourished and actuated by divine influence or faith.

Would you agree that all of these are essential to "live well"? I can give a generic answer stating that I live well by trying to eat right & taking care of my body, helping others and knowing God's love for me. But, there's more to it than that. Why do I want to be healthy and take care of my body? Why do I want to help others so badly? Why do I have a heart for God? I believe and trust that God has put those passions and desires in me and I just pray that I give them all back to Him. That I don't take them all for myself and forget Who I should be living well for. And, to be content when life doesn't always go my way. To trust in the One who understands all and whose hands my life is in. That is what I should be living for with a joyful heart daily...as unto the Lord!

So, as we strive to "live well", my prayer is that we know why and who we're doing it for!

"Ye shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess."



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A Special Word Study...

A thought just came to my mind that I have not shared this! My Mom serves in the Air National Guard and was promoted to Chief Master Sergeant last year. This was a great accomplishment for her and I decided to do a word-study of "Chief" for her, since that is now what she is being called by at work. I printed these out on patriotic paper and placed these in 3 separate frames for her to have. Enjoy the study below!

I defined the term "chief" in the 1828 Noah Webster Dictionary:

Chief = Highest in office or rank; principal or most eminent, in any quality or action; most distinguished; having most influence; commanding most respect; taking the lead; most valuable; most important; a word of extensive use; first in affection; most dear and familiar. A commander; particularly a military commander; the person who heads an army; equivalent to the modern terms, commander or general in chief, captain general, or generalissimo.

• Rank = Grade of official standing, as in the army, navy, or nobility; An aggregate of individuals classed together; a permanent social class; an order; a division; degree of dignity, eminence, or excellence.
• Principal = A leader, chief, or head; one who takes the lead; one who acts independently, or who has controlling authority or influence.
• Leader = One who, or that which, leads or conducts; a guide; a conductor.
• Authority = Legal power, or a right to command or to act; as the authority of a prince over subjects, and of parents over children. Power; rule; sway; The power derived from opinion, respect or esteem; influence of character or office; credit; as the authority of age or example, which is submitted to or respected.
• Distinguished = Separated or known by a mark of difference, or by different qualities; separated from others by superior or extraordinary qualities; whence, eminent; extraordinary; transcendent; noted; famous; celebrated.
• Qualities = Disposition; temper. Acquirement; accomplishment; character. Superior rank; Persons of high rank, collectively.
• Character = By way of eminence, distinguished or good qualities; those which are esteemed and respected; and those which are ascribed to a person in common estimation. Adventitious qualities impressed by office, or station; the qualities that, in public estimation, belong to a person in a particular station.
•  Influence = To move by moral power; to act on and affect, as the mind or will, in persuading or dissuading; to induce. To lead or direct.
• Move = To persuade; to prevail on; to excite from a state of rest or indifference. To propose; to recommend.
• Lead = To conduct, as a chief or commander, implying authority; to direct and govern; to precede; to introduce by going first; To draw; to entice; to allure.
• Govern = To direct and control, as the actions or conduct of men, either by established laws or by arbitrary will; to regulate by authority; to keep within the limits prescribed by law or sovereign will.
• Respect = Regard; attention; that estimation or honor in which men hold the distinguished worth or substantial good qualities of others; good will; favor.

• Affection = Passion; desire; inclination.

• Commander = A chief; one who has supreme authority; a leader.

Secondly, I found Scripture to go with those key words. From Scripture, we can determine that the Lord is in control and is our main authority. We seek Him for direction! :

Zechariah 3: 7 … “This is what the Lord Almighty says: 'If you will walk in my ways and keep my requirements, then you will govern my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you a place among these standing here.”

Romans 12: 7-8 … “If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.”

Proverbs 11:16 … “A kindhearted woman gains respect, but ruthless men gain only wealth.”

Ephesians 6:5, 9 … Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. … And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.”

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 … “Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.”

Daniel 6:3 … “Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.”

Deuteronomy 1:15 … “So I took the leading men of your tribes, wise and respected men, and appointed them to have authority over you--as commanders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens and as tribal officials.”

Deuteronomy 17:10 … “You must act according to the decisions they give you at the place the Lord will choose. Be careful to do everything they direct you to do.”

Psalm 119:35 … “Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight.”

Joel 2:11 … “The Lord thunders at the head of his army; his forces are beyond number, and mighty are those who obey his command.”

2 Timothy 2:3-4 … “Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs-he wants to please his commanding officer.”

Lastly, by using these key words and what I learned from them, I defined the word "Chief" for myself and personalized it for her. We can look at this definition and see how our character can reflect Christ:

CHIEF

A “Chief” describes a person who has supreme authority,

being given a grade of an official and distinguished standing.

A person who achieves this rank is one of

excellence, respect, honor and favor,

as she desires to be an influence to those under her command.

She is a leader and a guide,

using her extraordinary qualities of character and authority.

She is one who takes the lead with the most respect

and is given honor in her accomplishments.  
 

Overwhelmed On My Own Strength

Overwhelmed? Yes, that seems to define me lately. I'm trying to figure out if this is a good thing or not. I guess it's all based on perspective and if anything is being neglected. Or, as I'm thinking about this, doing it all on my own strength. How can one person do so much without feeling guilty about something that isn't being accomplished on the long list of things-to-do? I know that I need to do this and that and so much more. How can it all be done, I'm always asking myself? Well, that's when things aren't done for me. I get overwhelmed, so nothing seems to fully get accomplished. It's either all or nothing for me and this is a terrible fault of mine. I'm in constant prayer about this and need help with obedience in the most important priorities. It's also all the little things that adds up and I just don't know where to begin! I look way ahead of myself and get easily overwhelmed just at the thought of it all. I know that I need to just take it day-by-day and this is not natural for me as I am very much a future thinker. As I'm torn with all the responsibilites I have, I want to define what it means to be overwhelmed and ask the Lord to show me how to handle it all.

The 1828 Noah Webster Dictionary defines the word overwhelm as this:

1. To overspread or crush beneath something violent and weighty, that covers or encompasses the

whole; as, to overwhelm with waves.

2. To immerse and bear down; in a figurative sense; as, to be overwhelmed with cares, afflictions or

business.

3. To overlook gloomily.

From that, the term immerse also means "to involve" or "to engage deeply". The term overlook also means "to oversee; implying care and watchfulness", "to pass by indulgently; to excuse" or even "to neglect".

There's a great balance that needs to be understood from being overwhelmed. How to handle it is another thing; on our own strength or with God's help. I don't want to miss out on anything that God has planned for me if I continue to struggle and focus on this state of being overwhelmed in a negative (gloomy) manner. So, I desperately seek God's help in this area of my life right now and pray that His mercy will help me through this! I pray that the important things will not be neglected over all the little things that don't matter when it comes to the hearts of my children and their relationship with the Lord. We need to seek the Lord's help in all things, especially when we're feeling overwhelmed with the pressures of this life and to not do it all in our own strength. Psalm 61 is a beautiful passage for this!

^"1Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.

 ²From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

 ³For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.

 ⁴I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.

 ⁵For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name.

 ⁶Thou wilt prolong the king's life: and his years as many generations.

 ⁷He shall abide before God for ever: O prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him.

 ⁸So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows."

  

What do Fractions have to do with Jesus?

God's perfect timing continues to amaze me! I had an unplanned Math lesson with my 7 year old daughter on Good Friday. The next lesson in our RightStart (TM) Mathematics curriculum was on fractions. So, I looked up the word "fraction" for her in the 1828 Noah Webster Dictionary. This is where it all begins!

FRAC'TION, n. [L. fractio, frango, fractus, to break. See Break.]

1. The act of breaking or state of being broken, especially by violence.

2. In arithmetic and algebra, a broken part of an integral or integer;

any division of a whole number or unit, as 2/5, two fifths, 1/4, one fourth,

which are called vulgar fractions.

 

Wow! That FIRST definition popped out at me and I was so excited when I read it to her. I explained to her that this didn't have to do with just numbers or plain-old arithmetic at all. I asked if this reminded her of what we just talked about in our Bible reading that morning. That Jesus' body was broken for our sins. That He suffered greatly for us in such a violent manner. Isn't it amazing to find out how fractions go back to Jesus?! Imagine how much more we can learn about Jesus and God's character by using such an approach as this. Through this, you can learn how there is a much bigger purpose behind Math than just numbers. And, this isn't just with Math, it's for each subject that we learn. There IS a reason for everything in all of life!

Amazingly, our Math lesson that day led us to the Bible with this verse: "And when he had given thanks, he brake [it], and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me." ~1 Cor. 11:24

So, we were able to finish our math lesson that day with excitement. We had our minds fixed on Jesus and His great love for us as we worked on learning the second part of the definition. I will be honest and say that I hated fractions but I absolutely can't say that now. I LOVE FRACTIONS!

Prevention

Are you living a life of prevention? Do you eat healthy to prevent illness? Are you in God's Word to prevent wrong behavior and making the wrong decisions? Do you keep your children home to prevent them from gaining a secular education? There is a lot that we do to prevent us from things that we want to avoid or work on for our own good...whether it be for our faith, our safety, our health or our relationships. This is a lot to ponder and we can seek the Lord to help give us wisdom on what we can work on in terms of prevention for His glory.

I love the defnition of "prevent" in the 1828 Webster's Dictionary. It means "to go before; to precede, as something unexpected or unsought; to anticipate; to preoccupy; to pre-engage; to attempt first; to hinder; to obstruct". A lot to think about as all of these convey an action from us!

What are the things in your life and in your childrens life that you want to prevent? Ask the Lord what changes He wants you to make. Please join with me in meditating on this! I pray that "mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word" (Psalm 119:148).

Health...a Biblical Perspective

Health...what does that mean exactly? This is what the 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language says about it:

HEALTH, n. helth. [from heal.] That state of an animal or living body, in which the parts are sound, well organized and disposed, and in which they all perform freely their natural functions. In this state the animal feels no pain. This word is applied also to plants.

          1. Sound state of the mind; natural vigor of faculties.
          2. Sound state of the mind, in a moral sense; purity; goodness.
                  There is no health in us.
          3. Salvation or divine favor, or grace which cheers God's people. Ps.43,
          4. Wish of health and happiness; used in drinking.
                  Come, love and health to all; an elliptical phrase, for, I wish health to you.

I completed a word study on this term in 2009 because natural health has been a passion of mine. Word studies are a great way to get a deeper meaning out of something and to be able to search God's Word. Researching the Scriptures helps you find the Biblical purpose and origin of any term or subject that you are studying. So, as I defined those key words that are underlined above, I then researched the Scriptures. These are just a few things that God says about health in His Word:

• Gen. 2:7 - "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul."
• Matt. 10:28 - "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."
• 1 Cr. 6:19 - "What know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?"

After this research, you are able to reason through what has been shown to you and relate it to your life. The whole process of this is called 4-R'ing (research, reason, relate and record). In conclusion, this is what I came up with in regards to "health":

"Health begins with God forming us and breathing life into us. There is an internal and external aspect to our health that affects each other. God gave us our body and formed it perfectly to function as it needs to live. God also gave us a soul to complete our living body. Our bodies can be healthy or it can be sick, determining how we take care of it. We have a choice. It is seen how God cares about us by looking at how He formed us perfectly and how everything works together as it should. It's important that we take care of what He has given us. We must take care of our physical bodies as well as our soul."

I encourage you to do a word study of your own on any topic that interests you. Through that, God will show you so much as you "commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established." (Proverbs 16:3)

Philosophy of Education...Simple, But Not Easy

What is your philosophy of education? Have you even thought about that? You may be asking, what do you mean by having a philosophy of education? To understand what I mean, you have to define "philosophy" and "education" from the 1828 Noah Webster Dictionary.

• Philosophy = The love of wisdom; an explanation of the reason of things.

• Education = The bringing up, as of a child, instruction; formation of manners. Education comprehends all that series of instruction and discipline which is intended to enlighten the understanding, correct the temper, and form the manners and habits of youth, and fit them for usefulness in their future stations.

If you ponder those definitions and allow the Lord to guide you through His Word with them, you can come up with your own Philosophy of Education. By doing this, it will give you wisdom that governs all of your choices and decisions that you make for instruction and discipline. It will give you a vision to aim for as you strive to give a Christian education. As you are submitted to God's Word, make it the heart of education so that it produces a Biblical Christian Worldview in yourself and in your children. Your philosophy of education should be rooted in the authority of God's Word. We must cultivate the hearts and minds of our children by instilling Truth in their hearts.

The Lord has simply given us His Word, but this is not easy! We, as parents, have to begin by continually renewing our minds and being transformed into His likeness. Parenting and teaching are heart-to-heart. It takes diligence, perseverance and seeking the Lord to do so. As I write this, I am convicted because I know what I ought to do, yet don't. Just like what Paul says in Romans 7:19, "For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice". I am challenged to not follow my own flesh, but to follow the will of God and walk in obedience. Oh, I need His help daily to do so!

It is my prayer that, through the Lord's help, our children will be raised with a desire to be more like Jesus. That they will grow and become strong in spirit, just as Jesus did. That they will be filled with wisdom, just as Jesus was. That the grace of God will be upon them, just as Jesus had. ~Luke 2:40

My Journey So Far

My husband and I made the decision to homeschool when our older daughter was a toddler. We knew that we did not want to put our children into public school and could not afford to put them in private school. We didn't even feel led to do that anyways, so that was out. Homeschooling was really the only option we considered. Our desire for our children was not to be academically successful. Sure, academics is important, but that has not been our main concern. Our desire for our children was that they would grow up to know and love the Lord with all their heart, soul, mind and strength. Their eternal well-being is most important.

Three years ago, I attended a learning session on a homeschool approach that was posted on our local homeschool loop and I am so thankful that I did. It was exactly what I desired for my children and what I was praying for. It's called the Principle Approach. It excited me when I heard that the Bible is the focus for ALL subjects. It's not separate from the subjects and just an addition, but it is a part of each subject. God's nature is revealed through everything, even Math...I never knew! The purpose of this approach is to train our children up to learn how to reason everything from the Bible. That they would grow up having a Biblical Worldview. I was intimidated and felt so inadequate learning about this approach, but trusted that God brought me to it and I accepted the fact that I have a lot of learning ahead of me. My mind has be renewed because I sure wasn't brought up learning how to reason through the Bible. It was not part of my education and I have so much of that public school mindset in me still. So, I see the Principle Approach as something not only for my children, but for myself. It's not only just for "education", but for all of life! This is not only a school curriculum, but a tool that helps us to learn how to reason biblically and have a closer walk with Christ. It's definitely a journey that I'm looking forward to. Yes, I still struggle with feeling overwhelmed and inadequate. Yet, "I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that He considered ME faithful, appointing ME to His service." ~1 Timothy 1:12.