ColleensLife

I’m starting to lean this way…though… I cant forgot the parent I met back when I worked at Giant Eagle who used to be a vegan, organic, natural EVERYTHING.  Like, think of the most natural, organic loving, vegan nut you know…. that was her.  She eventually gave it all up when she discovered that, nothing is really “organic” these days.  Our world is so polluted, to find something “pure”  anymore, is impossible.  This is the short version of her story.  But, it is a creditable one.  If I could only remember all that she shared…

But I digress…

I still want to be as natural and healthy as possible.   I am now that nut, minus the vegan part.  I could never give up meat.

Anyway, to the point: I was searching for a natural sunblock for Pearlie.  She has sensitive skin and I noticed that she has also developed some eczema.  After inquiring on Facebook about a good natural sunblock, a few people sent a very useful site my way.  Its called  The Environmental Workings Group.  This website is a fantastic resource if you are looking for safe products to use, foods that are safe to eat, water….pretty much anything related to safety in terms of keeping our bodies and homes safe and healthy.

CLICK HERE and you will be taken to a page where you can type in your everyday products you use or apply to your body and it will tell you how safe it is to use.

It rates the safety of the product based on a 0-10 scale.  Zero being the safest and 10 being most dangerous.

They also share “Ingredient Concerns” of products based on: Over All Hazards, Cancer, Developmental & reproductive toxicity, Allergies & immunotoxicity, and Use restrictions

….you wouldn’t believe how many baby products are a 7…..  And you wouldn’t believe how many “organic and natural” products are a 5 or higher….

Making My Own Products: HELP

Because of some of this information I found, I would like to now make a few homemade products.  I am looking to make 3 things as of right now:

-Shampoo, for both me and Pearl

-Soap, for both me and Pearl

-Laundry detergent

This is where I need YOU!  Does anyone have any experience making any of these?  If so, will you be willing to share your recipe and how much you like it?

 

Community: Part 1

Community: Part 2

Community: Part 3

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. -Proverbs 27:17

Conflict Resolution

I don’t particularly like conflict.  I don’t particularly like confronting it.  I don’t particularly like being wrong.  I don’t particularly like admitting to being wrong.  And I don’t like having to change.  I don’t like being humbled by someone.  And I don’t like feeling vulnerable or weak.  We all can feel these things when it comes to conflict.  Conflict can be messy, it can be hurtful.  When dealing with conflict, there is so much “unknown”.  What if the person doesn’t care to work it out?  What if I confront the person and our situation gets worse?  What if I find out I’m wrong?  What if.  What if.  What if.   Why do we shy away from conflict?  Why do we see it as negative instead of an opportunity to grow a relationship (be it romantic or friendly)?  Why do we choose to be passive when it comes to conflict?  Why are we not more eager to resolve issues with each other?  Why are we so quick to assume we are right?  And why would we rather ditch a relationship then try to make peace?

Healthy Community Promise (From my days at BG):

I will not speak a negative word about you to any staff or fellow student, before coming to you first.

After processing with the Lord, if I still feel frustrated, hurt or annoyed by you — I will come to you as soon as possible with my thoughts.

I will not assume that I know what is going on within your heart.  I commit to asking clarifying questions, before jumping to conclusions.  I commit to believing the best in regard to your motives, decisions and actions.

As I seek to resolve tension with you, I will commit to being first concerned with how I have wronged you, before examining how you have wronged me.

Biblical Reference (In support of the above promises):

-We are not humble.  Confronting conflict humbles us because usually, we are the one who is wrong.  Rarely have I ever entered conflict with someone where only one of us was wrong.  Pride says, “I’m right you are wrong”.  When we enter conflict assuming we did nothing wrong OR the other persons feelings are not valid, disaster is to be had and eventually will lead to a broken relationship.  Humility says, “Let me know how I’ve wronged you, and try to change.”

- To piggyback off that last one – we don’t like being weak or vulnerable.  Going to a friend or partner to face conflict shows you care about the friendship  Sometimes, when you are the one showing you care, not only is it vulnerable because you don’t know if the person actually cares to wrk out the difference, but, it can feel like you are weak too.  WHat if the person doesn’t care enough about me or our relationship to work it out? What if i am wrong and the person wont forgive and forget?  Hard stuff, but not a reason to avoid conflict.

-We seek what is most comfortable.  Conflict is awkward and uncomfortable.  Because of this, we avoid it all costs and would rather loose a relationship then try to make peace.  Avoiding conflict is easier.  What I have found with walking with God is, He rarely calls us to the easy path.

- How do I word this next one….  Hmmm…  Ill put it this way:  When we have a genuine Godly love for our brothers and sisters in Christ (be it spouse or friend), if they have done something that has hurt us, or we have bitterness about something – the love we have for them SHOULD spur our hearts to confront them so that both parties can walk closer with God and each other.  We owe it to each other to sharpen each other…because of love.

- We assume the worst about each others hearts and intentions.  I think this is one of the BIGGEST problems.  We don’t assume that the other persons intentions about “fill in whatever you are hurt by” are Godly.  We are quick to assume the worst.  From this, lies start to form, until all of a sudden you have huge hate or bitterness that is so deep it destroys and divides.

Challenge

-If you see a growing bitterness in your hear about someone, confront that person and share.  Get it out in the open so it can be dealt with.  Light and forgiveness are life to any relationship.  Seek to resolve tension

-Are you believing the worst in someone?  Share what you are believing with that person acknowledging that what you are assuming is probably wrong.  Let them speak truth to the wrong thoughts you have towards them.

-Pick a person you are afraid to confront about something.  Just do it.

-Commit to those you are in friendships with that, you will not shy away from conflict, that if you see any bitterness or resentment building in your relationship you will confront it in love.

-When dealing with conflict, enter in assuming YOU are wrong.  Seek first to hear out the other persons hurt before you share yours.  Start by asking “How have I wronged you?”

-The bible says “Don’t let the sun go down on your anger”.  Practice sharing your hurt or frustration before the day is over.

-Begin to model healthy conflict –  especially you with little ones.  Let your children observe your healthy conflict, so that, when they grow up they will have healthy conflict and not be afraid of it.  Lets stop the cycle.

-Be open, friendly, and loving if someone is confronting YOU about something.  Let them know how thankful you are that they love you enough to want to work out conflict.  Be quick to listen, slow to speak.  Be quick share truth, and be quick to hear truth.

- Forgive. Forgive.  Forgive. Forgive.  Forgive.

 

And just remember, the reason this is important is because:  People are watching, and people are hurting.

Community: Part 1

Community: Part 2

The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’- Matthew 25:40

Be Encouraging

I think encouraging fellow believers, encouraging anyone actually, is a lost and forgotten art.   It doesn’t seem to happen much, at all.  Why is it so difficult to encourage those around us?  Why is it hard to point out great qualities to those around us and encourage them in who God made them?  I know very  few people who do this.  I’m excluding myself from those people.  I am a horrible encourager.  It’s something that I feel God is asking me to begin to practice.

As brothers and sisters in Christ, we are to be encouraging to each other, daily.  This is not an option, it is a command.

Healthy Community Promise (from my days at BG):

-As we interact, I will look not only as to how I can give to you, but eagerly seek the blessing of receiving from you.

-Knowing that God has uniquely created you to be who you are, I will seek to encourage you in your particular strengths, giftedness and opinions – without trying to make you become like me.

-I commit to you verbal expressions of appreciation and love.  If I am encouraged by your life, growth, successes, decisions or gestures – I will not rob you of the joy of hearing how you have blessed me.

-If I see you have an emotional, relational or physical need, I will prayerfully consider that which will best tangibly minister to you.

Bible Reference:

- not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near. – Hebrews 10:25

- and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you as to your faith, – 1 Thessalonians 3:2 

- Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. – 1 Thessalonians 5:11

- And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.- 1 Thessalonians 5:14

- and let us consider how to spur up one another to love and good deeds, - Hebrews 10:24

- Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. – Ephesians 4:29

- But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. – Hebrews 3:13 

- Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. – Galatians 6:2

- And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart.. – Ephesians 5:18-19

Hindrances: Self Reflection and Observation

I think I expect others to be like me, and when they aren’t I don’t encourage them OR appreciate the unique way God made them.  I see the parts of their personality that are different then me as “wrong” because I can’t understand them, and rather then encourage who God made them, I draw back or judge – which is probably pretty discouraging to them.

As I observe here and there what others around America have shared with their experience with this, it seems pretty common.   It’s a rarity to find a group of people who can really enjoy and appreciate all types of people for who God made them.

Another thing I notice about myself is that I joke around way to much…to the point it could hurt others when I don’t mean to.   I don’t think joking is wrong, but, there is a line and we need to walk in the spirit.  I’ve seen some people pretty discouraged  and then hurt because of coarse joking, we need to be encouraging each other…in every way possible.

….And then there is “the least of these”.  Who are these people?  They are the ones we would define as the “most difficult to love”.  Who wants to encourage them?  No one.  Why?  Because we all know that when you take time to encourage someone, that person will be drawn to you because you are giving them life.  Because of this, these people are not encouraged or sought after.   Not only am I probably the most guilty of all in this, but, darn it, I AM the least of these, especially in this season of life.  It’s hard being around “the least of these”.  But, the bible is clear –  whatever we do for the “least of these” we have done to Christ.

A Challenge: To Myself and Others

-Take time to love those who are hardest in your life to love currently.

-Choose one friend a week and love on them and encourage them all week.  Do you have a blog?  Facebook? Any social media?  Honor them this week with these avenues.

- Find a friend who is most opposite of you-  call out their giftedness.

-Find  a brother or sister in Christ who is bearing a heavy burden.  Ask them how you can help.  Don’t just help for the day or week, or until you feel “done”, help until that brother or sister has finished walking through whatever burden they bear…even if it takes years.

-Befriend someone who is completely and totally opposite of you in every way.  Get to know them, be in their life, appreciate them, learn from them, and mostly – find Christ’s character and personality in those characteristics that are most different from you.

- When you are tempted to harshly joke with someone, even in “good fun”, choose instead to encourage.