A short story by C.Gabriel.

This was sent to me by a mother whose daughter had just gone on her first school camp and she wrote it straight after she'd left.

"Once upon a time, you were with me everywhere I went; you'd watch my every move... long before you could crawl or articulate yourself well or navigate friendships and responsibility, you'd sit on the grass in the sun, watching me hang clothes on a line. You probably wondered what the fuss was all about: pegs and wet clothes, etc. Us humans are funny creatures. And today, almost a decade later, I continue this strange tradition of pegs and wet clothes, except... you're not here. You've travelled what feels like 100 miles away (we don't even measure in miles here, baby girl, by now you know this). You're only gone for a short time, but your absence represents what the goal of parenting is to begin with: to let go. Letting go starts with your first breath and finishes with you leaving the nest for good. I understand this. But right now I'm in between these two ends, letting you go, slowly and gently: watching you pack your own bags, watching you make decisions that could alter your childhood, watching you flourish and turn into a bigger version of your former self, and not just physically. Today I let go in an effort to let you grow. It's beautiful, it's sweet, and it's heart stuff too. And I pray that you enjoy yourself and learn new and better things as you watch not only me anymore, but others around you, and that those around you may provide a compass that will always keep you grounded and moving forward in life, whatever that may mean to you. I hang these clothes and I think of you and remember your tiny face of yesterday, and envision your face in the future, maybe travelling, maybe staying... but no matter what, hopefully - more than anything, hopefully - you'll be right here beside me from time to time, sitting on the grass in the sun, watching me hang clothes on a line."

God Knows Our Cry

As a mother, I've heard a lot of crying, I've come to know what they are and what they mean. I know when my child is hurt, unhappy, tired, frightened or needs a nappy change. This cry allows me as a parent to know something has disrupted my childs security and comfort in one way or another. My mother or husband my hear my son and because they are not always with him, they don't know him like I do and I continually have to explain to them what he is doing or why he is crying, that crying doesn't automatically mean he is upset for a reason they may believe it is, like he is tired when the infant is grumbling because he is hungry.

God really brought this to my attention in this way, that God really knows us as his child and He knows why were crying but as adults we are able to understand it fully and God encourages us to grow through it not just cry, but come out the other side. When people see us, they see what we want them to see, a mirage or mask over the true nature we may be feeling or suffering with, but God sees behind all of that, He knows your "hungry" cry from your "tired" cry, He knows how to recognise, differentiation and to really help in that situation. Though as adults we become less trusting as a child and we push away help, even Gods or sometimes we allow the wrong help in. 

In a society where fully understanding what a loving parent can physically look like and can be experienced in every home, our vision and full understanding of God as a loving father, too has become lost behind the haze of devastation and pain we see everyday and for some people it is an everyday reality they have faced. Growing up in a christian home, I knew religion before I knew God. I saw church buildings and glorified sinners who did more damage than good, who could recite the bible and talk at people and give terrible advice against the word of God. 

Amongst all of this, only God revealed His love and salvation in my life. They say a parents voice becomes a childs inner voice and for me this became very true, I would think very little of myself, most of the time hate myself which was expressed through how I viewed myself physically, emotionally and spiritually, eventually projecting how people treated me negatively upon God. Assuming this role upon him, that He would hate me, that I was whore for the way I dressed or I was just a woman so I really didn't mean anything. I was expected to cover everything I was in order to, what I thought I had to do, which was please people who were supposed to be trustworthy, but were really in it for control. I eventually felt and soon realised after that I was set up to have no real direction or future, that I had lost 'me' amongst it all trying my best to get people to just stop talking at me and telling me how I'm not good enough for them let alone God.

Yet somehow without my understand or acknowledgement at the time, His love along the way would fan the flames of my heart and strengthen and carry me through their useless hatred. It has taken me a long to to fully grasped that He replaces and silences all those voices in my life that once spoke negatively to me and about me, to His role as my loving father who speaks words of life and love over us and into us and His voice is now my inner voice. That I AM loved, I AM worthy, I AM forgiven, I AM a child of God. That I was no longer projecting the world onto God and his persona of who he "was" but now I was projecting God onto my world and into my life of who He actually IS. LOVE.

As a child of God, I cry small droplets to waves furiously crashing in the ocean from pain from hurts being released and layers being stripped away in my heart. God knows them all, but I realised as a child when we become so driven by our emotions we forget to listen to what our loving father has to say, giving us the guidance we really need. We can't forget to listen because He is there running to our aid but also telling us everything is in fact okay, we just tripped, got a little graze but we are in fact, OKAY. I have seen this a lot in christians, they cry very loud but never listen to the calm instruction of their father, like they've forgotten He is right there because is always with us even when we believe He isn't and cry a little louder. For all the parents who can relate, you'll understand what it means especially when its not about you and your routine anymore. 

The older we get the more capable we are of focussing and listening and we can understand when our parent says we are indeed fine and to have another go at life and that we will. This builds our character, confidence, strength as individuals and resilience against what is worth crying over and not, it's as the saying goes, 'dont cry over spilt milk'. God does this with us, He encourages us to grow spiritually, to become spiritually mature so that when the storms of life come, because he knows they are, we will not cower we will prepare, when we spill our milk by accident, we will not cry but will clean it up and simply get another glass. Do not forget to grow in every way; mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually with the help of God.

I really want to encourage you today, no matter what your circumstance, your current situation that seems all to real, it is an impermanent position, that God is continually  moving forward and so are we, that He leads and guides us in the right direction, that God hears our cries but dont forget to know His voice and listen because He will respond. But, do not forget to do your part, to listen, to follow, to obey. Do not be a fool that follows foolish people who in fact don't know what tomorrow brings or what harm lies around the corner. Trust God, trust His voice that He will not lead you away from good things but into good things. Don't be afraid of what He is going to say because He is love and his love is directed towards you and for you.

When words fail and music speaks, this ones for you.

The Power Of Death and Life Are Held In The Tongue

Proverbs 18:20 - 21 is a powerful but simple verse but teaches us about how to powerful our words really are and the power it holds. If you have ever had an argument with someone and words started getting nasty, you understand what it means to be either on the receiving end or possibly the one causing hurt. 

From the fruit of their mouth a person’s stomach is filled; with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied. The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

James 3 also teaches us about the how the tongue can be like a bit in a horses mouth or a rudder for a large ship, though it may be small it can steer our whole being, that being mental, emotional and physical, a certain way whether it is the truth or not. We speak every day words that are seeds of life being planted to grow from the root, watered by emotion and brought to fruition with our mindsets. We need to change how we talk, from negative to positive, from life to death. Even science has proven words have life, they vibrate into the surrounding atmosphere. I just want to encourage you all to remember our God, our identity and the truth. So next time you go to say "I can't" stop and think, God didn't make us to be so sheepish but brave, capable and blessed us with gifts. You can change your course and you can live a fruitful existence all by changing how we speak and believing it. Speak life into your life then BELIEVE IT and LIVE IT.

Speaking control or fear over someones life is not pleasing to God, you pray to him for things to bless you, don't speak curses over others. He is not ok with this. SO DON'T DO IT.  I urge you all, speak life, speak love and speak into a situation to cause a positive reaction. Our world needs more love and patience and less attack and destruction. We can all sort our differences out without the use of harsh words.

For those who do not know God or do not wish to acknowledge His existence, I encourage that you do take away this: that words are life and you can change your circumstances and mindsets and control your emotions with positive words. Thinking before you speak is so crucial and a lot of relationships breakdown due to a lack of communication, broken trust and hurtful words (I should know). Understand that your emotions are natural but you hold the power in your tongue to end an argument, to silence a chance for hurtful words, to control a negative situation into a positive one and overtime, people will see this, the walls come down and lines for communication, love and real connection open. 

"The path to hell is paved with good intentions."

I never really understood this saying, until recently. I was listening to John Ramirez, share his experiences regarding, halloween, the ice bucket challenge and charities. For those who aren't familiar with John, he was a former satanist, who gave his life to God and has been sharing his testimony like wild fire all over youtube and safe to the world.

He was sharing about as a satanist what practices they would have during halloween, and had some great questions when it came to the church who would involve themselves in what may seem like harmless fun, which in reality isn't. He address the ice bucket challenge and made aware how people believe they are doing it to raise money for a charity, which he has no problem with helping others, but the reality behind that practice and its relations to voodoo. The last point he came to was about involvement in charities and specifically when it comes to christians who are constantly trying to be seen doing things in the name of God and for God.

He made a very simple point, those things we considered good, but they weren't Godly. Now God is not against helping others, that is in His word to reach out and to love. There is healing in the name of Jesus, but as he described going out on the street and sharing then coming home and talking to God about it and God being honest and saying I was never in that, that is a little more humble pie for the eager evangelist.

To elaborate and share a little more personally, as a child, I absolutely hated church and pastors and everything to do with it, I remember having fights with my mother especially about having to go. It was made a big deal of and that I disagreed that God was in the sanctity or holiness of a building, filled with (again in my opinion) false people and liars. At a young age, I already knew what religion was, I saw it constantly, I realised the two sides and always was shown the truth of who they were and what was really happening within certain groups. I knew and still hold onto, God is not in church, he is out there and he is in me and how we treat each other. Are we really honouring God and listening to Him or are we just following a religious reign. Do we really know Him? I believe He cannot be found amongst them, but in the love we receive and give.

God also brought to my attention Matthew 7 verse 21 - 23 which addresses True and False Disciples

.

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?' Then will tell them plainly, "I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

This really confirmed for me what I had know for a long time and had been made to feel like I was wrong over. There are many things in this world, spiritual and physical, that will present itself to you in a way that seems so promising and beautiful, but once you're in, you see after time who people really are and what is really happening behind closed doors.

Jesus said in John 14 verse 6 , 'I am the way, the truth and the Life, no one gets to the Father except through me.' So no one or thing can offer you salvation except Christ and hey I would rather put my trust in him, than in some of the human nature around here. So don't fall for any hype or be so desperate to trust a human for your source of healing and guidance, trust God, to talk to those who really know Him, to be Him in your life, in this world and so you can heal, be free from reigns and be like Jesus.

Here is the link to the video, it is quite long, so if you get some downtime it is well worth the listen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRP6r59_46Y

I really just wanted to share this all with you, it was really encouraging and I don't want any else who feels forced to do things, to continue doing those things that just don't feel right. Whether it is in a relationship, in a religious organisation or be told by anyone you HAVE to do something you know isn't right especially by you and that would cause you to lose something. John 10 verse 10, 'Thief comes to steal, kill and destroy, I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.' 

Tomorrow is another day and with Gods help we can make this world a better place.

Know Your Yoghurt

Yoghurt has always had an association with probiotic health and the ties of imagery with a healthy choice made by consumers especially for breakfast or snacks, but in recent light and research awareness of what has been included in our foods. This has struck a chord, especially as a parent, that I need to be vigilant in my label reading especially when they say sugar free. 

Sugar has always been known as a "unhealthy" food additive, especially artificial sweeteners. So why is it being included in our some what deemed healthier options after multitudes of facts and research being released about how much damage it does to the body.  

As far a health goes ever since we are little yoghurt was always known as a "healthy food" but how healthy is it these days. I have recently done a lot of researching into different brands and read all the information until a was full to the brim and realised once again, when something is being advertised it's best to really read the fine print and in this case, how much preservatives, additives and sugar was going into my so called, "healthy and all natural" yoghurt.

Little was left to choose from, people can advertise alternatives but then taking factors like saturated fats into consideration again defeats the purpose of why we have yoghurt, for it probiotic properties. What I did take away though was when choosing a yoghurt what I should be looking out for and in what amounts, what was considered too high or how to tell if there was anything that was unnatural or added.

Choose full fat - This I was taken aback by as I was told "low fat is less fat." What is meant by this is, it essentially is healthier and your dietary choices should be swayed by things that simply say what they are less in but not realise what they substituted for to try and keep the texture or flavour that was removed with the initial fat layer. Also all the goodness of is in the top fat layer that is scooped off in low fat and replaced either with sugars, additives and preservatives and sometimes they try to add the already inclusive vitamins and minerals. 

The less ingredients the better - You want to see lactobacillus acidophilus, bifidus and lactobacillus bulgaricus, they are key. For example this is off Chobani Plain Yoghurt: Cultured Pasteurized Nonfat Milk, Live and Active Cultures: S. Thermophilus, L. Bulgaricus, L. Acidophilus, Bifidus and L. Casei. That's all you really want to and need to see.  Even when it comes to fruit being in yoghurt you are better off adding real fruit as their "real fruit" is really sugar. 

An important tip I learnt was how much sugar was natural and what was added and to do that this was the guide: anything over 4.7g/100g is added sugar, anything under is natural. So the next time you want some yoghurt add your own fruit and raw honey, if you can find honey with the comb even better!

These links provide a simple and useful breaking down with what you need to know as far as; 

Better options for yoghurt: 

http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/diet-and-fitness/which-yoghurt-is-best-20140710-zt22p.html

Breakdown on sugar and the negative effects it has on the body:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kristin-kirkpatrick-ms-rd-ld/dangers-of-sugar_b_3658061.html

It is so important for your health that you know what is in your foods and if it is really "healthy." 

Feed Your Gut

Putting the right foods into our bodies is an untold importance, that not many people follow and with an increase in sickness, diseases, allergies and viruses, now is better than never to change your lifestyle, knowledge and understanding of health and what it means to be healthy. I have compiled a list of foods to show you the foods that will really kick-start your gut flora and feed your microbiome and in turn, boost your health and restoration.

Probiotics:

Kefir

Yoghurt

Soft cheeses: cheddar, feta, Gouda, provolone, Edam, brick, Emmental, Gruyere, and caciocavallo.

Soy drinks

Miso paste

Sauerkraut

Eating probiotics will help with lowering the number of bad bacteria including inflammatory in your digestive system, which also helps prevent illness. It stabilises the good and bad bacteria and helps improve mental health and fight depression.

Fermented Foods:

Kimchi

Tempeh

Kombucha

Fermented foods are full of probiotic benefits but more importantly help with easing digestive discomfort (produces acidity when hydrochloric acid is low and protect the stomach lining when acid is too high), produce acetylcholine (helps with bowel movements and constipation), improve pancreatic function which is beneficial for those with diabetes and proved to be the most effective at killing strains and ‘super bugs’ resistant to antibiotics.

Prebiotics:

Whole grains

Chicory root

Onions

Bananas
Garlic

Honey

Leeks

Artichokes
Fortified foods

Beverages

Dietary supplements

Prebiotic Fibre:

Insoluble fibres or roughage include: wheat bran and high-fibre cereals, brown rice, and wholemeal breads. It promotes regular bowel movements.

Soluble fibres include: barley, fruits, and vegetables. Slow digestion, lower plasma cholesterol levels, and even out glucose uptake to the blood

Resistant starches include: legumes (lentils and beans), cold cooked potatoes or pasta, firm bananas, and whole grains. They contribute to health by feeding good bacteria in the large bowel, which improves its function and reduces risk of disease.

Prebiotic foods and fibre protect your digestive system from damage including DNA damage to colon cells which is also know as a prerequisite for bowel cancer. Prebiotic foods and fibre also nourish the good bacteria in your gut and are an important part of your immune system. 

Eat right, Eat variety.

Get Your Gut Back On Track

Our guts are the centre of our very own body eco-system, it affects every part of our health and wellbeing more so than we realise. There are many people today that suffer from food allergies, food intolerances, allergies, frequent illness or chronic diseases. This can be brought back to their microbiome, the very bacteria that helps us break down the food and absorbs its nutrients.

The bacteria in your gut has a massive effect on your insulin sensitivity and how your body responds to carbohydrates, more specifically how it turns it carbs into fats which is based on your insulin sensitivity. The more you increase your insulin sensitivity the easier it will be for your body to burn carbs. To really get the most from your gut and in turn your health and wellbeing throughout, you need to begin to make daily changes in routine to prevent things like "leaky gut" and other health problems. 

From thorough research and experience, I have found that eliminating sources that cause, for example, inflammation or bloating from your diet despite exercising or eating healthy really makes an impact.  Intakes of alcohol, caffeine, processed foods, bad fats, gluten or dairy affect everyone differently and sometimes the best thing you can do is to cleanse your body of them. This does not mean though once your body and gut are back on track you can't have an ice cream with the kids, balance is key and awareness is priceless. Once I had started with a "blank slate" for getting my gut health on track, did further research into not only foods that where beneficial for gut health and health in general, but also what was actually in them and realised some healthy brands, were not so healthy. 

I now live by a rule when grocery shopping, if what I'm buying has more than what it says it is, it goes back on the shelf. This process is all about making informed decisions and if I can find a yoghurt that doesn't contain added sugar, thats a bonus and they are out there. Repairing your gut should not be considered a short term goal but a life time process, it requires care and respect everyday to function the best it can everyday. No one puts dirty fuel in a car and its the same with your body. SO when it comes to repairing your gut you should begin to get an intake of L-Glutamine, omega 3 fatty acids, zinc, antioxidants especially A,C,E, quercitin, aloe vera and turmeric.

The next stage for healing your gut requires the restoration of it which involves introducing probiotics or Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium lactis. These maintain the gastrointestinal tract health and fight bad bacteria combatting any overgrowth of bad bacteria as well.

Foods to include in your everyday diet should be prebiotics in the form of fermented foods like kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi and PH Balancing and Alkaline Foods such as apple cider vinegar, kombucha, chlorella, spirulina, kale and spinach. Fibre intake is very important in keeping your gut healthy and flushing your body daily of waste, to help with this drinking enough water is not only for staying hydrated but to ensure your digestive system keeps working because if there is too little water in your body it slows the bodies ability to pass stools resulting in a build up of bacteria. 

To really get healthy and stay healthy, it is an everyday process that I have learnt a lot from, especially to be patience with my body. In a society where the "now" isn't fast enough, I learned time and patience make a lasting result. I have not taken upon a new fad diet with supplements and cutting out certain food groups. I simply learnt about my body and what it requires to run properly, combining this with rest, relaxation, exercise and fresh organic ingredients. 

I have seen a big change already and knowing how I view my body isn't based purely on how my body matches societies "perfect body"  but how healthily it is functioning inside which affects the outside. I see now that changing and undoing unhealthy habits has resulted in having a much more positive view of myself and a new found confidence to feel good about my whole being.

Honey Meringue and Coconut Cream

There's nothing worse than getting your health on track and being faced with cravings of cookie dough ice cream, chips and fried foods. We are only human sometimes, but mistaking this craving for a certain sugar or salt can easily be misinterpreted as a craving chocolate and its actually your body telling you that you are lacking magnesium. So in order to overcome this dilemma, I found a dessert I love the good old meringue and did a lot of research and put this bad boy together. It tasted delicious and I was pretty happy when I got my meringue to stick to the bowl when I flipped it upside down to see if it was done. 

What you'll need:

4 x Egg whites
220g x Raw Honey
Coconut Cream in a can
Fruit of choice - I love berries and they are packed with antioxidants and kiwi fruit for vitamin C 

Method:

Coconut Cream:

Pour the can into a container with a lid and leave it in the fridge overnight, this will allow the it to separate into the solid cream part for whisking and a liquid part. This will give you the best results for making the cream, even if you like just a thicker cream not necessarily whipped. I didn't do this first go just to see the difference between the overnight procedure and it still will whip well if you don't have the time to plan for this or like me, decided then and there it would be good to make.

Meringue:

It follows the traditional way in making a meringue, whip your eggs into firm peaks and to see if it is done, flip the bowl over carefully, if the meringue stays in the bowl, perfect if it moves a little when trying to flip, keep whipping and try again. Note: When whipping make sure it is on a high speed and it should only take a few minutes. When my meringue was almost firm enough I add honey instead of sugar and sweetener. Once it is whipped and firm, add it to your tray already covered in baking paper and flatten out into an even layer of meringue not too thin or if you want to pipe it out you can as well. If you want to make it like a cake, draw out the circle size you wish to have first onto baking paper and then fill it in carefully, you can neaten the tops and sides with the back of your spoon. Bake at 140C for 30-40 minutes, then turn off the oven completely and allow the meringue to sit in the heat to dry out for 3-4 hours. I again was a little impatient and managed maybe 2 hours, my meringue was crisp but soft in the middle, which I didn't mind.

My tasty treat, guilt free.

Wholemeal Spelt and Honey Banana Bread

I love bananas, they are packed full of goodness that help the body with heart health, vision, depression, bones, protective cancer and digestion and weight loss. Making a banana bread combines all the best things in one simple snack, you have bananas full of goodness, cinnamon, raw honey or honey with its comb (even better!) macadamia oil, spelt wholemeal and wholemeal flour,coconut and walnuts. All things natural, with these ingredients combined you can't go wrong. No excessive sugars, or artificial ingredients.

What you'll need:

4 - 5 smashed ripe banana
2 eggs
120g honey
100g olive oil or macadamia nut oil
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla paste or extract

175g coconut, desiccated or shredded
90g spelt flour, wholemeal

90g wholemeal self raising flour

1-2 cups crushed or whole Walnuts

Coconut Sugar (to top)

Method:

Mash bananas with a fork and whisk eggs together, then add the two with honey, cinnamon, vanilla and oil.

Add the spelt flour, wholemeal self raising flour and coconut and mix until combined then add in the walnuts.

Pour mixture into a loaf tray and to decorate you can add whole walnuts, coconut sugar and cinnamon to finish.

Bake on 150C for 45 minutes to make sure the mixture has cooked well through then bump up the heat to 180C for another 15 minutes just to create a nice top on the loaf.

once cooked to your liking whether moist or a little crunchy around the edges, allow the loaf to cool in tray and then once cooled pop it out of the tray onto a cooling rack, chopping board or pop away into a container if it is cool enough.

Enjoy it as a snack or breakfast treat!