HOME SICK

For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. - Philippians 1:23

There is a story of a little dog named Jack, who was walking across the street one day and, tragically, was hit by a car.

His sad owners took Jack to some bush nearby and buried him. They were so grieved they would never see their precious little dog again.

But three days later, they heard some scratching at the gate. Much to their surprise, they found Jack at the gate. They could hardly believe their eyes. They opened the gate and let little him in.

He was covered with dirt but alive. It turns out their little dog wasn't dead after all. They had buried him alive, but the industrious little dog clawed his way out and found his way home.

There is no place like home. And it is important you keep in mind that there is a home waiting for every child of God, a future destination for all believers. It's called heaven.

We all need to long for heaven. Though we have never been there, we still have something God has built within us that gives us a certain homesickness, a desire to be there.

It is fascinating the way the apostle Paul put it when he said, "For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ. . . . Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you" (Philippians 1:23-24).

God has put a homing instinct inside every man and woman, a sense that there is something more to life.

In fact, Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, "He has put eternity in their hearts." Because of this, we will never be fully content in this life. The Lord is preparing a glorious city for us.

Prayer: Thank You Lord, for making me a citizen of heaven.

Scripture Reading: Philippians 1:23

Hair: When to trim OR when to dust you ends

Do you know when to trim your hair OR when to dust your hair ends, this will give you a healthy hair and you gonna love the outcome. Watch this video by SistaWith RealHair it will surely help you.

SERVE YOUR WAY TO THE TOP

For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves. - Luke 22:27

Service is at the heart of every call of God. God does not call us to be bosses; He calls us to do His will by serving the people He places in our care. When we serve, we allow God to use what He has given us to touch other people's life.

The problem is, many of us have a negative, stereotypical image of what a servant is. We equate service with slavery and servitude.

We think the role of the servant is degrading and something that puts us down instead of it being something that lifts us up.

We associate servants with low achievers. As a result, when the Bible calls us to service, we immediately see it as a call to take a step downwards instead of a step upwards.

The reality is that to go up, we must go down. Before a tree shoots up, it has to have to go down with its roots. Without deep roots, a tree cannot go high enough and still remain standing.

A high-rise building must have deep foundations in order to go up high. The depth determines the heights. That is what service is all about.

When we serve, we build the foundation for the heights that God has called us to. Until we are ready to serve in humility, we cannot reach out to the high calling of God for our lives.

Many of us may never be able to reach the high calling of God for our lives because we are not ready to really serve with humility.
Prayer: Teach me O Lord, not to despise any service that You call me to offer.
Scripture Reading: Luke 22:24-30

NEVER GIVE UP

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. - Hebrews 12:1

The Olympic Games of 1968 produced many exceptional performances and world records but by far the most remarkable performance belonged to John Stephen Akhwari, the marathon runner from Tanzania.

More than an hour after the champion for his race had been crowned, Akhwari, bloodied and bandaged, limped into the practically empty stadium.

He moved slowly around the track toward the finish. He crossed the line with a weak smile and satisfied look on his face.

Why had he taken so long to finish the race? He had fallen earlier in the race and hurt himself and got left by everybody but he persisted in finishing the race.

Later journalists interviewed him and asked the question on everybody's mind, "Why didn't you quit? There was no chance for you and you could have injured yourself permanently."

In halting English, Akhwari made the statement that personifies the attitude of real winners. "My country did not send me 5,000 miles to start the race," he said. "My country sent me 5,000 miles to finish the race."

As Christians, we do not run for an earthly country but for the Kingdom of our God and His Christ. Our race must not only be started but it must be run with conviction till the end.

All the biblical heroes of faith ran this race to end and their stories encourage us to run till we finish the race. No matter the trial you may face, don't ever give up. Hold on to the end and you will receive the crown of life.

Prayer: Ask the Lord to strengthen you to endure to the end.

Scripture Reading: Hebrews 12:1-11

Health: Apple Cider Vinegar Will Totally Transform Your Skin & Hair

If you’re still only using apple cider vinegar in your salad dressings, you’re missing out. As odd as it might sound, the all-natural, all-purpose kitchen staple is also becoming a preferred beauty potion. As someone who can’t even cut an onion, putting something as pungent as a vinegar on my skin and hair was not easy the first time. But the trans-formative beauty benefits of ACV kept me coming back until I finally just moved the bottle from my kitchen cabinet to my medicine cabinet.

As a Face Toner
I used regular toners for a few years, but I can’t say I ever really saw a big difference. Enter ACV, and my skin is brighter and tighter. “Skin is naturally acidic but when vinegar is used as a toner, it helps skin find the ideal balance between dry and oily,” says Dr. Karen Hammerman, cosmetic dermatologist at Vanguard Dermatology in New York City. I dilute a tablespoon of ACV with a few drops of water and apply with a cotton ball three to four times a week. If you have extremely sensitive skin, try adding more water to the mixture and use less frequently.

As a Hair Rinse
Ever notice how your shampoo seems to stop working after a few weeks, leaving you to assume that you need to buy a new brand? That could be the result of product buildup. It’s easy to forget that our scalp is skin and, just like our faces, needs a good deep cleaning every once in awhile. “Apple cider vinegar contains acetic acid which, when applied to your scalp, removes excess buildup left from styling products and shampoos,” says Hammerman. Twice a month, after shampooing, I pour one to two cups of the vinegar on my hair; I massage it into my scalp and let it sit for a few minutes before rinsing. Don’t worry, the smell won’t stick around—but if you’d prefer, try a clarifying shampoo like Fekkai’s Apple Cider Shampoo.

To Soothe Burns
If the thought of rubbing highly acidic vinegar on red-hot, tender skin makes you wince, you’re not alone. My face still scrunches right before I apply ACV to a sunburn, but, fear not because it doesn’t actually hurt. Amino acids in ACV “can help balance hydration in the skin and calm irritation,” says Hammerman. Massage onto sunburns or razor burns to turn down the heat. Read here

To Clean Makeup Brushes

ACV can de-gunk every tool in your application arsenal, from blush brushes to brow brushes. And the malic acid in ACV makes it antibacterial, says Hammerman—so, you’re washing out germ buildup, too. Hammerman suggests combining one cup of warm water with one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar, and one or two thick slices of lemon to scent the concoction. Clean brushes with the mixture, rinse with water, and lay out to dry.

DECISION MAKING

And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. - Colossians 3:15

While God speaks to us first and foremost through His Word, God also can speak to us through circumstances. Having said that, I also want to say that I don't base my decisions on circumstances alone.

We talk figuratively about doors being opened, but God is not the only one who can open doors. When Jonah disobeyed God, he bought a fare on a boat that was going in the opposite direction.

The devil opened all the doors for Jonah's disobedience. So just because things are coming together circumstantially, does not mean it is God's will.

First, what you are considering needs to be scriptural. It shouldn't violate any clear biblical principles. Then, I believe that if it is God's will, He will confirm it circumstantially. So you need to trust the Lord to direct you.

Secondly, it is important to have the peace of God in your heart. Colossians 3:15 says, "Let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts."

There have been times in your life when you were about to do something but somehow you didn't have peace of God in your heart about it.

Circumstantially, everything looks great. You can't see it violating any Scriptural principles. But there is a sense that you should not do it. That may be the voice of God.

Finally, sometimes it is as simple as the timing. Just as important as the will of God is, the timing of God is crucial. Is the time right for what you want to do?

So as you seek God's will, if the request is right and the timing is right and you are right, then God will say go.

Prayer: Lord, teach me to hear Your voice and show me the path I should take.

Scripture Reading: Colossians 3:1-17

Recipe: Strawberry Pisco Punch

Everybody loves punch. It’s fun, fruity and easy to drink. Best of all, where there’s punch there’s a party. I adapted this recipe from a cocktail my partner and I created back in my beverage catering days. It was always a big hit at events. Just like any well-made punch, it appeals to a variety of tastes. Unique enough to impress your guests, yet simple to prepare in advance, your friends will happily serve themselves a glass . . . or four.

Ingredients:

• 750 ml bottle of pisco/non alcoholic pisco 
• 1 cup St. non alcoholic Germain elderflower liqueur
• 1 1/2 cups strawberry syrup
• 1 1/2 cups lime juice
• 2 750 ml bottles sparkling apple cider
• 2 limes for garnish
• ice block

Strawberry Syrup:

• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup water
• 1 1/2 cups strawberries (halved)

First you’ll want to make the strawberry syrup. To do this, first make a plain simple syrup by combining the sugar and water in a saucepan over medium heat until sugar is dissolved. Bring to a simmer and then remove from heat and let cool completely (approximately 30 minutes) before adding strawberries. I like combining the strawberries once the syrup has cooled because you get a bright, fresh strawberry flavor, rather than a cooked, jammy strawberry flavor.

Once you’ve added the strawberries to the saucepan with the syrup, use a potato masher to smash them to a pulp. If you don’t have a potato masher you can use the bottom of a glass. Then, pour the resulting mixture through a fine mesh strainer, removing the strawberry pulp. What is left is your strawberry syrup.

On to the easy part. To make the punch, simply combine all the ingredients except the sparkling apple cider and ice block into a pitcher or mixing bowl. Cover and refrigerate for several hours, so that the mixture is very cold. During this time, also refrigerate the bottles of sparkling apple cider.

When you are ready to serve, place the ice block into your punch bowl, remove the mixture from the fridge and pour over ice. If you have a small punch bowl, you can always keep half of your punch mixture in the fridge to refill throughout the party. Just remember to keep half of the apple cider in reserve as well.

Top with sparkling apple cider, stir, and add lime wheels for garnish. Your punch is now cold, bubbly, and ready to serve!

by HonestlyYUM