Relationship: When God Doesn't Answer Your Child's Prayer

The other day at bed, my littlest girl and I prayed a bold prayer for a contract on our home ... that night. She doubts God right now. She doesn't see things changing ... she doesn't see God working. We all really need something to change soon, but God doesn't seem to be changing anything right now.

I wanted God to do something amazing that night ... I'd even have taken the next day. In fact, I thought it probably would be the following day.

Unfortunately, it didn't happen. And the "somewhat interested" response from the people who looked at my house caused my faith to wobble a bit.

See, I've been reading a book that has encouraged me to pray big prayers so I can see God answer in big ways ... and I'm all for praying big prayers ... but I'm wondering if I pray big prayers for big answers, am I also praying big prayers understanding that God might not answer in a big way? His gentle and loving answer might be something like, "Not yet."

But I will be honest and tell you that I am tired of the "not yet" answer ... and the "no" answer ... I'd like a "yes." But even as I say that I know that some of the nos and not yets have been the very best answers to my prayers. And I do trust Him to answer perfectly.

Argh! But I so want to get out of this situation ... when I've used the word "desperately" to describe something in the past I don't believe I've understood it as deeply as I do now ... I desperately want to be released from this place God has my children and me. I don't want to be here anymore. But I also don't want to force it and end up in a place I'll eventually desperately not want to be either.

I'd rather trust God.

That's huge. Because right now, I can tell you I've had some conversations with God ... and they haven't all been holy.

But when given the alternative of figuring things out without Him, I'd rather trust God.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths" (Prov. 3:5-6).

When faced with decisions and dilemmas in this life, I'd rather trust God.

"Now no discipline seems to be joyful at the time, but grievous. Yet afterward it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness in those who have been trained by it. Therefore lift up your tired hands, and strengthen your weak knees. 13 Make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame go out of joint, but rather be healed" (Heb. 12:11-13).

When I'm trying to raise my children to love and honor Him, I'd rather trust God.

"All your sons shall be taught of the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your sons" Isaiah 54:13

When I'm exhausted and weary with nothing left to give, I'd rather trust God.

"But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore most gladly I will boast in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. So I take pleasure in weaknesses, in reproaches, in hardships, in persecutions, and in distresses for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Cor. 12:9-10).

When I have no idea which way to turn, I'd rather trust God.

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake" (Ps. 23:1-3).

No matter how strongly I feel that I know what would be best, I'd rather trust God.

"May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ" (2 Thess. 3:5).

Oh, how I need my heart directed. This has been an exceedingly difficult time ... and sometimes I don't think others can quite understand the challenges. I don't think I'm necessarily doing it with the grace I'd hoped, but the Lord continues to meet me where I am. He continues to love me through my doubts, fears and faltering faith. He continues to be faithful. I do trust that He will guide my family, that He is a shield about me, that He is my refuge and strength.

I do trust that He will enable me to do this life well ... even when it feels anything but wonderful.

And I do trust Him for the sale of my house and the purchase of our next home.

But most importantly, I trust that He will reveal Himself to my littlest girl in just the right way at just the right time. That I don't need to orchestrate things to convince my daughter of His love, faithfulness and existence! He will handle that ... I just need to love on her and pray.

So tonight, as I lay my head down on my pillow, I will be praying for my children and their faith and for me to trust Him without hesitation ... and for a buyer for my house!

Sue Birdseye

Health: Apple cider vinegar can help prevent blood sugar spikes

Goodbye bad bacteria, and hello good!

An apple a day may keep the proverbial doctor away, but a daily splash of apple cider vinegar may be just what your trainer ordered. Fitness pros are gung-ho on the ingredient’s better-body powers, and for good reason. Here’s why:

How It Helps: “Apple cider vinegar has a positive impact on gut health because it’s anti-microbial. It helps to break down bad bacteria and feed the good,” say New York City-based master trainerJosh Stolz.

“My digestion improved when I added it to my diet so I started recommending it to clients. One had chronic bad breath that may have been linked to an imbalanced digestive system, so I got her on a daily apple cider vinegar protocol and her breath, digestion, and skin improved within weeks.”

Consistent ingestion of apple cider vinegar has been tied to moderate weight loss as well. “Some studies suggest the acetic acid in it can boost satiety between meals so you may eat less,” says Brian St. Pierre, R.D.

How To Try It: Stir a couple teaspoons into a glass of water and sip before meals. Another trick: Add 1 to 2 tablespoons to seltzer water then add stevia to taste (optional). “It’s like drinking a non-alcoholic, non-caloric sparkling cider,” says Stolz, who advises keeping your daily ACV dose to 2 to 3 tablespoons max.

Some advocates favor the pungent tonic first thing in the morning, but pairing it with your starchy meals may be your best bet. “Research shows apple cider vinegar can help prevent blood sugar spikes because it interferes with starch and carbohydrate absorption,” says Stolz. Pros agree that reducing the glycemic response in the body is especially important if you’re diabetic or have insulin resistance, but anyone can benefit. Notes St. Pierre: Ingesting it with a higher carbohydrate meal can decrease post-meal blood glucose levels, which can also lower inflammation and protect blood vessel linings. yahoo.com

Yet another super-worthy stat: Apple cider vinegar enhances the nutrition of bone broth. “Add it to the bones, water, and seasonings—1/8 cup for 1 pound bones, ¼ for 2 pounds of bones, and so on—about a half an hour before boiling. This helps pull more minerals from the bones,” says Stolz.

YOU ARE UNIQUE

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and , knit me together in my mother's womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous — how well I know it. - Psalm 139:13-14

The Bible says you were prescribed before birth. God knew what you would be like. He chose you, and He chose your characteristics.

This means you are unique. There is only one you. There is nobody else who could be you. If you don't be you, who is going to be you? You are irreplaceable.

I read recently that there are 25,000 varieties of orchid in the world. If I had been God, I would have made a yellow orchid, a blue orchid, and a red orchid. Not God. The Creator loves variety — He made 25,000 different varieties of orchid.

What's even more amazing is, there are 4 billion varieties of people. And God made them all. You're unique. Nobody can be you.

David says be grateful: "Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous — how well I know it" (Psalm 139:14 NLT).

Be glad you're you. God didn't make you by accident. Can you imagine an artist whose paintings all look the same? Think about an artist who paints 12 pictures and puts them up in his living room, then the pictures come to life and vote to all become like one.

The artist would be disappointed. God doesn't want you to be like anybody else. He wants you to be you. When you understand this, you will be less likely to fear rejection.

Prayer: Father, thank You for making me so wonderful and unique.

Scriptural Reading: Psalm 139:13-18

Prayer for new week

Whatever situation you might find yourself in I speak victory in the name of Jesus! I decree every obstacle in your life now a stepping stone to your miracle! The Lord will showcase his glory through you and many people shall come to see it in Jesus name! Claim it.  Your great dreams, aspirations n revelations will surely manifest. You will not live in the shadow of God's masterplan for your life In Jesus Name.

Even if you have made the worst mistake and miss the road to the top, Christ will cause all things to work for your good in Jesus Name.

Happy New Week from us ASB-World. 

Health: Remove Teeth Plaque At Home Naturally

Maintaining good oral health is important for overall health and confidence, and plaque is a common problem. Plaque turns to tartar when left alone, it’s formed by accumulated bacteria in your mouth. You may notice it as a hard yellowish layer, also called calculus, on your teeth. Removing plaque usually requires a visit to your dentist, however you can remove it at yourself at home using natural remedies.

Here are some to help you maintain your lovely smile:

• Baking soda

This is the most well-known and often used tool for removing plaque. Simply pour a little baking soda into a small container, wet your toothbrush, put some baking soda on it and brush. You can mix a pinch of salt into the baking powder for more cleansing power. This removes tartar effectively for pennies.

You can even make your own mouthwash: You will need one-half cup baking soda, one cup water, 10 drops essential lemon oil, 4 teaspoons vegetable glycerin, and 1 teaspoon aloe vera gel. Mix all the ingredients and store in a bottle, use once or twice a day.

• Strawberries and Tomatoes: Strawberries and tomatoes have good quantities of vitamin C which is excellent for oral health. Rub these fruits directly onto your teeth and let sit for 5 minutes, this will soften any tartar build-up. Then rinse your mouth with baking soda mixed with warm water to remove plaque, leaving you clean pearly whites. You canalso use other vitamin C rich foods like bell peppers, berries, lemons, papaya, oranges, and lime the same way.

• Food Coloring:  Using food coloring is a great way to spot plaque on your teeth. First dab a little petroleum jelly to your lips to prevent staining, take a couple drops of food coloring in a teaspoon of water and swish it around your mouth. Spit it out and rinse with clear water. Look for colored areas and remove them with your toothbrush. When performing regular brushing pay special attention to those areas of your mouth.

• Cheese: Eating an ounce of an aged cheese, like Swiss or Cheddar, before meals helps neutralize the acids that affect plaque production. More aged, fragrant cheeses work best. Mothernature.com explains that a component in aged cheese acts as a buffering agent. The Student Care Center at the University of Chicago suggests eating raw peanuts for the same effect, neutralizing acids in the mouth and re-mineralizing teeth.

Besides these remedies there are a few other things you can implement into your oral health regimen:

• Brushing teeth regularly with a soft brush using vertical strokes. Concentrate on the space where teeth and gums meet.
• Floss regularly to remove food particles and bacteria between your teeth.
• Eating spicy food will also help keep your mouth clean. When you eat spicy food it stimulates your salivary glands, that saliva cleans your mouth naturally.
• Rub an orange peel on your teeth before going to bed and do not rinse off. This will help your teeth fight bacteria.
• Quit smoking, tobacco products contain tar that sticks to your teeth which results in plaque buildup. source:jcmysavior.org

DON'T FEAR REJECTION

I, even I, am he who comforts you. Who are you that you fear mortal men, the sons of men, who are but grass. - Isaiah 51:12

One way to overcome the fear of rejection is by keeping the right perspective. You can listen to the opinions of others, but never overvalue what they say.

In our verse today, Isaiah says our life here on Earth is temporary, so why be afraid of other people's opinions? Other people are not God, and their opinions aren't going to last, anyway.

The secret to success is to outlast your critics. Isaiah says if mortal man puts you down, don't worry about it. God is the one who counts.

Don't assume that their judgments are infallible or straight from God. You don't have to automatically accept someone's criticism; you ought to judge it for what it's worth.

When people's approval becomes all-important to you, you're setting yourself up to fear of rejection.

The Bible says, "What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31).

If you recognize how much God is for you, it gives you the ability to withstand rejection. For most people, all that matters to them is popularity, fame, or applause. "What do other people think of me? How do I look to everybody else? Image is everything!"

If you live that way, you are at the mercy of everybody else's judgments. If they think I'm a loser, I must be a loser! If they think I'm ugly, I must be ugly!

What a miserable way to live? Who are you more interested in pleasing? The crowd or God? You can't seek the approval of both at the same time. You have to decide who you want to impress.

Prayer: Lord, what You think of me is what matters to me.

Scriptural Reading: Isaiah 51:9-13

Signs You’re Idolizing Something or Someone

Let’s be honest, we are all passionate about something. Whether it’s a career, a hobby, material things, or a relationship. You have something that makes your heart sing, so to speak… something or someone that you love more than anything on this earth. We are taught from a young age that when we love something or someone we are to put our heart into it and give it our all. But, if you’re not careful, that passion and love can easily turn into idolatry.

Many of us have celebrities we like, look up to and even emulate. Some of my favorite celebs are Yolanda Adams,  Denzel Washington, and the late Maya Angelou. I like them all for different reasons and feel they inspire goodness. But as much as I like these celebs, I know I am not so enamored by them that I idolize them. I only have one idol (Christ). He’s the one I put before everything.

Today, I ask you this: Where does God fit in your life? Is He #1, #2, #3, or a better question would be… Is He even a priority in your life at all?

In Matthew 22:36, one of the Pharisees poses a question to Jesus: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

Jesus answers that we are to love God with all our heart, with all our soul and with all our mind … to give God our complete and unwavering allegiance. God is jealous for us and He does not want to share us with anyone or anything.

Sometimes we place our relationship with God on the back burner without even realizing it. We don’t give it our all like we do everything else. 

Here are 10 Signs You’re Idolizing Something or Someone:

1. You find your worth and value in them because they give you status, popularity, and power.

2. When you think of your life without them, you feel empty inside.

3. When you’re away from them, they are all you can think about. Night and day, Day and night.

4. You often feel like they give your life purpose. Without them, there’s no you. Does this sound familiar?

5. They have a major influence on the way you feel and think about yourself. They have total control of your self-esteem.

6. Most of your time is consumed by them. If you could, you would spend 24/7 with them. As the saying goes… “You eat, sleep, and breathe” them.

7. You schedule everything around them. You try to squeeze God in wherever you can instead of making Him the priority to begin with.

8. You neglect other important aspects of your life in order to focus on the one thing  that really matters to you. Read here

9. You’d rather put your faith into someone or something other than God.

10. You found yourself nodding throughout this list, reaffirming that you’ve got work to do.

If so, try not to be so focused on material things or relationships that you forget about your relationship with God. Switch the energy you’re currently putting into your distractions and refocus it where it’s needed, on Him!

That’s why it is so important for us to fast from things that we might be giving too much of our attention to and not giving God enough attention. Just remember God is all you need.