Living in and Loving the World

Posted on March 23, 2011 by Rhonda J. Smith

What Do You Think? Wednesdays

Be in the world but not of the world, we Christians are told, but to tell you the truth, I don’t always know what that looks like. I struggle with Paul’s statement that he became all things to all people to win some to Christ. What does that really mean? How did he do that? Even as I try to navigate the world system and not look like the world system, to win nonbelievers to Jesus Christ, I find myself waiting to hear step by step instructions from God. That’s the only way I’ve been able to attend secular gatherings and let my light shine, to speak of the Divine without compromise or condemnation. I believe the book One Thousand Gifts, by far my most favorite recent read, does just that. The book by Ann Voskamp is honest about her Christian struggles, questioning God’s goodness but eventually accepting all as grace from God. One Thousand Gifts goes into the world (including being on the New York Times Bestseller List), putting forth raw emotions and poetic language that many—Christians and non-Christians—can relate to, but it never embraces the world’s conclusions of creating a comfortable God who is easy to consume. Voskamp’s work is definitely a great example of being in the world and not of the world, maybe even becoming all things to all people to win some to Christ.

How have you come to understand Paul’s declaration in 1 Corinthians 9:2? What are some ways that your life demonstrates being in the world, not of the world, and winning folks to Christ?

God is Faithful

Posted on March 21, 2011 by Rhonda J. Smith

Standing in awe of God is something I did quite a bit last week when money, strength and words showed up just when I needed them. There was the call from one of my daughters in Christ whose childrearing issue stumped me. Hoping she would just vent and be content with me praying, she stated what I feared: “I don’t know if you have anything to offer me . . .,” she said as I shook my head no, knowing I needed to say something. I opened my mouth to offer an empty platitude until something sensible came through. Instead what came out was what I hadn’t conceived and this happened about five times. Continue reading →

Friday Feature: Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide

Posted on March 18, 2011 by Rhonda J. Smith

When cleaning my bathroom with bleach made me weak, gave me a headache and irritated my nose, I had to give it up. I know; nothing works quite like bleach. Put some in a load of whites, scrub a sink and a tub, and disinfect the garbage disposal and you will get clean and sanitized, but, like me you might get some other things you hadn’t counted on, like toxic fumes, burnt skin, eye irritation, or coughing and wheezing.
Instead of getting sick, I began to whiten my clothes with oxygenated products. There are a host of these available for all types of cleaning uses. You can do a web search or check a natural health store for brand name products. But my daily go to cleaning product is food grade hydrogen peroxide.

Hydrogen peroxide is made of hydrogen and oxygen, an oxidizing agent (one that transports oxygen), helping clean the body internally and externally and whatever our body encounters. It helps our bodies fight infections and keeps our immune system boosted. This substance kills bacteria, fungi and viruses. What a great all-purpose cleanser!

Though food grade hydrogen peroxide is non-toxic and is a powerful cleanser, disinfectant, food decontaminant and odor remover, like bleach it can burn your skin, even when mixed with the proper amount of distilled water, as it should be used. But I’d rather risk having small-scale, momentary burns for superior and non-toxic results than a product that makes me sick and may cause long-term damage.

Food treatment
I like to clean my fruit and vegetables in bulk. Like I do when cleaning with baking soda, I put my produce in my sink that’s filled half-way with water and add one tablespoon of food grade hydrogen peroxide. Like baking soda it removes dirt but it also sterilizes produce. Hydrogen peroxide zaps whatever pesticides and bacteria were there. Let the produce soak for about 15 minutes then rinse produce with cool water. I also have a one-quart spray bottle of distilled water mixed with at least an ounce of hydrogen peroxide. When I run out of my choice vegetable and fruit wash and I haven’t cleaned my produce in bulk, I use this to spray individual pieces of fruit and rinse after 2-5 minutes. I also have sprayed my meats to decontaminate them.

Surface treatment
Bathrooms and kitchens are the most used rooms in my house and, like yours, accumulate a lot of bacteria. I disinfect my toilets, countertops and sinks, especially after working with meats. Just like the everyday hydrogen peroxide you use on cuts, this food grade version turns surfaces white on contact with a contaminated source, making me confident that the product is working. I use this to freshen up my carpet, too. Just spray the stale area.

Body treatment
Add 20 drops to four ounces of water and you have a natural mouthwash. I also use this to clean a fallen toothbrush or one that I don’t get to change when I should.

There is a host of other ways to use this product, but, as always, I share only what has worked for me.

What ways do you (if you) use food grade hydrogen peroxide or another natural product you find equally useful?

Seek Connection

Posted on March 16, 2011 by Rhonda J. Smith

What Do You Think? Wednesday

Actually, you got What Do You Think? Wednesday on Monday. Today I bring you a typical Monday message:

When loss comes you realize what type of relationships you have. We see this when our loved ones die, when we lose a job or some other prestigious position, even when we lose our mind. We find out who is in our corner, who wants to be but who just doesn’t know how and about those who were just along for the good ride. With my own recent loss—that of my beloved constant connection to the world for about a week—I found out about some people in my life, especially me and my relationship to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Of course the loss of the Internet, home phone and cell phone use don’t compare to the above losses, but they definitely showed me:

1) That, indeed, I have great people in my life. After using the library’s Internet connection to post on Facebook my technology woes, my friend Adrienne called me from Arkansas and through the crackling line shouted her concern that nothing nefarious had caused the disruption. Another sister, Kamil, heard me through the statically line say I couldn’t even call her back on my cell phone; she had just upgraded her cell phone and offered to loan me her old one that I could use with my own phone number.

2) Life without ready technology causes you to be still and resourceful. Eventually after the home phone line went dead, I didn’t bother to even answer the phone. At first I ran to get it in hopes that the line was restored. I accepted that checking the line AFTER a phone technician had come to check the wiring would be best. Also, before I got Kamil’s phone, I decided that charging my cell phone every 20 minutes was something that I was no longer willing to do. As for being resourceful, I used the public library, help lines and my own experience with technology to reconnect to the outside world.

3) I don’t work hard enough to connect to God when our regular connection has been altered. With each child came a change in my quiet time and I had to find a new norm. I have accepted that my time may not be a dedicated, uninterrupted period in the morning with Bible readings and talks to Him throughout the day. Now, depending on the children’s needs, I may get that dedicated time, but more than likely my studying, reading and conversations can only be in spurts. Even though my consistent morning quiet time no longer works, I find myself spending too much time hoping the old way returns instead of pressing hard to connect with God in resourceful ways throughout the day.
I was a hardworking sister, trying to get connected to the outside world and that tired me out. I know my energies will be better spent seeking to connect to God with last week’s abandon. He promises that His burden is easy and His yoke is light. Now that’s the kind of weight and hook up we all need.

What have you learned from unexpected changes in your life?

Still Here

Posted on March 14, 2011 by Rhonda J. Smith

What are we to think about 500 mile per hour waters that didn’t kill everyone or the fact that that type of tragedy didn’t strike us? Listen to this video: