Healthier choices? But WHY?

Anyone Who knows me knows that I am extremely health conscious as I became quiet yesterday afternoon I had a tug on my heart to share reasons for my “health conscious craziness”. Back in 2015 late in November I have been vomiting for a consistent two weeks straight, normally I would first try and play doctor at home and would try out home remedies (bahaha) can anyone else relate? Well my condition became worse in the second week. Decided to go see a doctor but he said it was just oily food and gave me something to treat the nausea and the vomiting, so I decided to just relax. A few days later my condition worsened while driving on my way to the shops (sitting behind the steering wheel) I then started feeling weak and dizzy and decided to drive back home immediately, packed a few things and drove myself to the hospital and signed in for admittance.

Doctors did examine me and ran a few tests on me but could not tell even after 3 days of being admitted what the prognosis was. As stubborn as I was I then decided discharge myself from the hospital and literally lied to the doctor that I am feeling a 100% fine and that I would prefer going home. To be honest I couldn’t handle being in the Hospital for 3 days and doctors not telling me what was wrong with me, they just kept injecting me with something to stop the nausea and the vomiting. Doctor was convinced and then discharged me from the hospital that same day in the afternoon. Midnight on that very same day I was re-admitted again as my condition worsened at home to be honest this was the scariest season of my entire life. I felt helpless and just cried out to God for help and clarity, the doctor who was on call that very same night attended to me in the morning she started doing some more tests and later during the day gave me the diagnosis which was H-Pylori seemed like it was caused by food poisoning. 

(While on the recovery mend February 2016)

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a type of bacteria. These germs can enter your body and live in your digestive tract. After many years, they can cause sores, called ulcers, in the lining of your stomach or the upper part of your small intestine. For some people, an infection can lead to stomach cancer.

The lining in my stomach was badly hurt so most things I ate after my discharge from hospital (even healthy food) was causing discomfort and pain, my face was swollen for months. I was booked off for a full month to recover at home, I started doing exercise, started cutting out sweets, sugar, fizzy drinks, I tried to cut out most unhealthy food also medication which consists of ASPIRIN and foods that would add to the acid in my body especially while out with friends at restaurants I would always prefer a healthier option even if it is not a 100% healthy. The transition has been difficult but persistence has definitely been very rewarding at least after 10 months of persistence my life started becoming normal again. Doctors did give me medication for the treatment for some time and I actually became very dependent upon the medication as I had so much fear, I then started praying to God to heal me, to guide me, and to help me, I would meditate on healing scriptures. It was during this season that the Lord started teaching me more about taking care of my body especially if I desire to live longer for the edification of His body. Since I started making more healthier choices especially towards my diet this are the results:

·  I have a lot of energy

· My sleeping pattern is normal

·   Don’t feel as tired and weighed down anymore.

· I can hear the Lord speak to me clearly

· My emotional, hormonal, spiritual, physical well-being is more balanced

· My skin is healthier and clear

                                    Transitioning tips:

·  I try my utmost best to wash my hands regularly.

·  Prepare food at home and take to work (which means less spending on fast food)

·  Blend Smoothies for breakfast.

· Prepare my meat, fish and chicken in a more healthier way e.g in the oven then: 

· I use plant based spices e.g Italian herbs, mixed herbs, coriander, sea salt etc

·I try and use olive oil and coconut oil for cooking, dressing and frying (especially the coconut oil).
 

To be honest eating more unhealthy drains you emotional, physically, spiritual and mentally, and I know not everyone wants to hear that however I do not regret embarking on this journey as it gets better every day and it starts with discipline scripture does say:

 Galatians 5:16-18 (NKJV)

 ¹⁶ I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.”

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NKJV)

⁹ Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? ²⁰ For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body^[c] and in your spirit, which are God’s.

There is a constant war between the flesh and the spirit. It is not about the gratification of the flesh our body is the temple of the Holy spirit and self control is important in every area of our lives, we cannot always be lead by our feelings or what we want to eat.

This health scare was literally a wake-up call to be intentional to look after myself emotionally, physically, spiritually and mentally.  Living in Kolkata, India laid the foundation as I had no choice but to become a vegetarian  for one year (and it was during this time I learned how to cook without meat etc.) and I should say God is so faithful and strategic as He knew I needed that season of preparation to be intentional now. While cleaning my apartment on a Sunday morning recently I just heard the Holy spirit say: “If you are so concerned about keeping your apartment clean and to live  in a clean & tidy place how much more your body?  Which is the temple of the Holy spirit?” Quite frankly I literally got a shock and threw the broom one side (laughs) since I am a very neat and tidy person (Holy spirit conviction). 
I really do not want to get to age 50 and have so many non communicable diseases, after marriage I still want to see my babies grow up and walk in their purposes (hehe).

It is always easier to choose what we want now and not what is beneficial for ourselves in the long run and obedience is so much more better than sacrifice and yes, it is not an easy journey and I am growing to learn that  it can only get easier by leaning on His grace daily. Well it has been 14 months of healthy bliss(yeah) I have not been to the doctor in these months except for treatment regarding a terrible flu. I have been changed, healed, freed, and delivered God is so so so faithful and to Him be All the Glory and All the Honor!!

For more information regarding H-pylori here is a few more links:

https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/h-pylori-helicobacter-pylori#1-3

https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/h-pylori-helicobacter-pylori#2-5

https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/h-pylori-helicobacter-pylori#4-9

If you are going through a health scare season? Don’t panic? Ask God to guide you, heal you, try healthier options and meditate on healing scriptures. He is our Great Physician!

In His love

Ndeshi Jameson 

(On my birthday recently 10 October 2017)

Tough valley? What are you saying?

As I was reading Ezekiel chapter 37 on a Saturday morning God dropped this in my spirit “what are you speaking in your valley”? 

Psalm 23:4 says

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley I will fear no evil, for you are with me; Your rod and your staff they comfort me.”

A valley- is a season or period of time where you feel alone (even though you are not) in your suffering or trial into it... whether physically or mentally. It is a time that is very difficult and extremely hard to work through, it is a silent season, it’s not death, but it can feel just as difficult emotionally to deal with.

Natural valley- an area of low land between hills or mountains, often with a river running through it.

Valley fact: When the water flows from a mountain, the steeper it is the faster the water flows , and the deeper the valley it is that is created.

I have been going through a valley season which for me has been very challenging, as the Lord has been directing me into a different and new dimension in my life, at times when God give us the promise and direction to steer us into His will and purpose for our lives we sometimes get too excited and quickly haste to give birth to the promise, we casually go into it without taking it to Him through prayer and supplication asking for wisdom, guidance and understanding or rather too impatient to wait for His answer. I believe it is in the valley that we need to sit at His feet, allow His word to wash us  Many times, when God says this is “what I am going to do” we think it is just going to come easy and that’s what I thought too many times in my walk with God. Serving God will cost you everything my darling and you need to be willing to let go of everything in order grow, need to be willing to lay down your life daily, to submit to Him in everything you say and do, to take up your cross and follow Him daily, to let go of the old wine skins (mindsets) in order to embrace the new in a new season because you cannot pour new wine into old wine-skins (mindsets).

Growth takes places in the valley too because there is water, and water can sustain us which represents the WORD of God. 

I believe it is in the valley that we are challenged to get quiet to hear Him like never before, to press into His presence like never before. This is a season to cultivate our spirit, to spend time with God, grow and rest in Him. 

Ezekiel 37:1-6 (nkjv)

“The hand of the Lord came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones. 2 Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed, they were very dry. 3 And He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” So, I answered, “O Lord God, you know.” 4 Again He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! 5 Thus says the Lord God to these bones: “Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. 6 I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the Lord.”’

God sat Ezekiel down in the midst of the valley and asked him if those dry bones could live, Ezekiel gave a skeptical answer “O Lord God, you know” he too was not so sure if they could live especially as he could physically see how extremely dry it was. God reminded me that I do not have to continue to fight for victory in my own strength but that I should be fighting from victory won at the cross for me 2000 years ago, with His spirit at work in me, more often I would try and do things in my own wisdom and strength and get frustrated when things don't work out (bhaha) can you relate?  And it is in times like this that He reminds me to know Him in all of my ways, because He is my Father, and then awesomely reminds me of the power we as His Sons truly do possess through the blood of the lamb, power to speak to dead situations, power to break every chain, to speak healing, power to uproot mountains etc. The enemy has blinded us so much so that we cannot fully grasp what Christ did on the Cross for us, He says in:

Mark 10:19

 “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you”

I allowed myself to be distracted, my focus was more on what my natural environment dictated to me than what God said I was more frustrated than prayerful.  As I was meditating on Ezekiel 37 on that specific Saturday morning spending time in His word the Holy spirit ministered to me and reminded me of the power given to me, reminded me how I didn’t speak life to the dry bones in my valley, I murmured, complaint, I felt tired (emotionally, physically spiritually and mentally) and felt like running away from what God has purposed for me (like Jonah did) and that’s all the more reason why I didn’t see any fruit or progress during this season in my life. You see barrenness sets in if and when we murmur, and complain, by not cultivating our spirit in Him, spend time at His feet and in His word we will not see any fruit. The enemy is after you because of what's inside of you, when he cannot destroy you, his job is to distract you from your purpose and everything else. The best thing about the Lord speaking He tells us the truth about ourselves yet still loves and pursues us relentlessly with all our mistakes etc. He is such an intentional and faithful God truly He is, He keeps reminding me of His great power at work in me and how I can authoritatively use it to speak life in every area of my life, to speak what I desire to manifest (and it will be so). I was more focused on how I felt and not on what His word said about me, my life and circumstances etc. We are the music we listen to, the movies and series we watch, we are the company we keep. It is very important to discern what seeds we sow and doors we open up in every season we transition into. Guard your heart above all else? What seeds are you sowing in your life and that of others? Are you running to the Lord in prayer or are you running to people?

Ephesians 3:20 (NCV)

20 “With God’s power working in us, God can do much, much more than anything we can ask or imagine.”

You will not understand every part of the journey that's why the Holy Spirit has to be your most trusted advisor while faith serves as your mode of transportation. Don’t be too hard on yourself? Don't park there? Move on and continue to press on towards the mark of the high calling? Praise Him in your valley? Worship Him? Give Him all the glory and honor regardless of what it looks like it is never easy but so much more worth it God promised to never bring us this far to leave nor forsake us, He can't because He lives inside of us. Remember your purpose is not about you but it's about what God wants to do through you. It is normal to go through a valley season, when seasons change trees shed leaves to prepare for the next season in fact we will go through different seasons continually these seasons are needed to equip, prune, purge, purify and mold us into vessels He desires us to be for His glory in and out of season. 

This season is teaching me to:

1.Speak life in every area of my life and those around me daily.

2.My feelings are never constant, to have an attitude of PRAISE!

3.To stay rooted and build up in God and scar my mind with His word continually.

4.To press into the Lord daily and cast down every care unto Him

5.To seek more of His kingdom, and pursue His desires, His will and purpose for my life.

6.To surround myself with like-minded believers, to fellowship together by the breaking of bread (word of God) and giving myself fully as unto the Lord to build others up, pray for them and encourage them in the Lord.

7.To love and give myself fully through serving without expecting anything in return. 

I’ve learned that when I don't pull aside for the Lord in this fast-paced life, I eventually end up running on fumes or depending on myself and get extremely overwhelmed! I don't believe that it's the will of our Father to be so distracted, exhausted and busy that we no longer spend time with the Lord. Saying "yes" to everyone and everything can very easily clutter your Spirit man. AND, it's NOT worth it! Are you going through a valley season right now? Could be in your marriage, loss of a loved one,  in your career, your family etc. Do you feel tired and overwhelmed? I encourage you to make time for the Lord, run to Him? Vent your heart and frustrations out before Him? Spending time with the Lord gives us perspective, it refuels us and gives us hope.

Stay rooted and build up in Him saints, stand firm on the promises of God and let your mouth always be filled with praises? He who is in us is greater than He that is in the world we are fighting from VICTORY! 

In His love
Ndeshi Jameson

In Pretoria, South Africa on holiday recently (December 2016)

Ashes to Beauty

I gave my life to Jesus about 6 years ago Looking back I had a low self esteem always compared myself to others and what they possessed I was on the verge of trading my inheritance in Christ Jesus for the temporal things of this world. Serving Him was portrayed as “boring”, I lost all my friends and tried to fill the void within me with baggage, validation from people and dysfunctional relationships. 

(Isaiah 43:1-4) NKJV

But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob,
And He who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name;
You are Mine.
² When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,
Nor shall the flame scorch you.
³ For I am the Lord your God,
The Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I gave Egypt for your ransom,
Ethiopia and Seba in your place.
⁴ Since you were precious in My sight,
You have been honored,
And I have loved you;
Therefore I will give men for you,
And people for your life.

The Lord gave me this scripture when I gave my life to Him and this is such a precious promise: All who are redeemed with the blood of his Son, He has set apart for himself but I still couldn’t grasp the reality of this promise. When I felt like I couldn’t go on anymore totally surrendering to the Father was not an option for me, I felt like I could handle it all by myself. It was extremely painful and difficult to surrender all my baggage; insecurities, doubts, fears, self-worth, & lack of confidence. That in itself affected how I related relationally with friends & family as I was bound to those things. 

(Jeremiah 18:1-5) NKJV

"The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying: ² “Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause you to hear My words.” ³ Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something at the wheel. ⁴ And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make.⁵ Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: ⁶ “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?” says the Lord. “Look, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel".

 This scripture clearly says how the Lord is the Potter and we are the clay in His hands, if and when we allow Him to mold us like marred clay in His hand we allow Him to cleans us, strips us, breaks us of things that are detrimental to our relationship with Him & today looking back I am immensely thankful for every trial & tribulation, I am so so thankful for the process that lead me to His precious Promises. We want the promise but want to abort the PROCESS, however it is the process that prepares us for the promise. I murmured and complained constantly which resulted in being stagnant but when I asked the Father to open and enlighten the eyes of my understanding I started seeing the purpose and value in the PROCESS, all of a sudden my mouth was filled with praises, I started blessing Him in my valley regardless of how I felt or how it looked like. I always wanted to bypass the process as it isn’t comfortable & pleasant but as my eyes were enlightened I started inclining my ears to hear and abide in Jesus and at the same time obey as blessing comes as a result of obedience. 

The moment I totally surrendered to the Father throughout the process & allowed Him to mold me into the women that He wants me to be, (The Lord has given us the Liberty to choose/to choice) I chose and said yes to His best in Him, I felt chains falling off of me as He striped me of different mindsets, I started feeling lighter, I started gaining confidence & boldness in Him, I cannot begin to explain the joy, the peace that comes with totally surrendering & sharing in your Son-ship/ relationship with God through Jesus Christ. His love is unfailing, He loves us with an everlasting love, He bought us with a high price, His Grace is sufficient for us, He has nothing but the very best interest at heart for us.  I have traded my ashes for beauty and the peace that comes with it is indescribable, peace that surpasses all understanding & Joy unexplainable nothing and no one can take it from me. My heart throbs and overflows with so much love, Grace, peace I’m in a puddle of gratitude as the Father keeps revealing His Father heart towards me, I am not the same I have truly been changed in His glory.

 His faithfulness remains constant & my hearty prayer is to is to encourage you to keep pushing in Him regardless of how it might look like, regardless of how you feel, regardless of what people have to say don’t listen to the opinions of people, there is so much peace that comes with fearing God and pleasing Him. We are worthy & valuable in the Father’s eyes, we are complete in Him.  He has helped me a lot with how I see myself, spending time at His feet has helped me to see myself the way He sees me because I struggled with that. God has put me in circumstances and in places where He’s showing just what He’s capable of doing through me and I think He’s just waiting for an invitation from us a lot of the times but It’s very short and simple…just know that you’re not ”too far gone” or a failure just because you fail or fall, get back up and start again and lean ONTO him He’s steady enough to take all of your weight and carry you too! 

(Galatians 5:1 NKJV)

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”

There is so much liberty in Christ Jesus He desires us to be the authentic person He has made us to to be without alteration. Get to know Him the same way you would a new person, spend time alone with him, the bible has everything about Him it’s His word and talk to Him every day and every night, ask him to make himself shown and known to you, to be a real person to you and He will.

 God allows these trials for the purifying purposes of our characters. You are gold! God is on your side! Nestle yourself in His word (I love Psalms for these times) where you can ask God to show Himself strong. “Lord, Your word says this, show me Lord, help me to believe it “ – a simple prayer like that has really helped me. God’s hand is not too short that He cannot reach you, find friends that will lift you, search the scriptures that will fortify you from further doubts and lies of the enemy and keep your head high!

“Prayer is the channel of communication between our souls and God. God speaks through His word, we respond to Him through prayer. To strengthen this relationship and satisfy our emotional and spiritual needs, we must learn the power or prayer.” (E.G White, Prayer)

I pray you are encouraged thank you for reading God bless & abundance be yours!

In His love
Ndeshi Jameson

Me (on the left) and a dear friend in Christ

Entering God's rest by FAITH

 I have been having a busy week after returning from a trip two days ago. Everything around me was hectic and at the same time I became frustrated as there is so much that still needs to be done. My frustration had the best of me and I couldn't focus neither did I have the energy to get everything done, I spoke to a friend yesterday and she kindly invited me to a home cell gathering which was today. My day was hectic but then later decided to accept her invite to the home cell group and what surprised me is how the Lord spoke to my heart through the word that was shared

Hebrews 4:1-3

" Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.

² For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

³ For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world".

Through this word I was convicted of how I allowed my unbelief to make me restless and frustrated I was thinking of a whole lot of things that I'm trusting the Father for but I wasn't fully convinced that He'll do it again for me as my circumstances says otherwise and that in itself took me out of my rest, my unbelief made me restless and frustrated me. We can truly only enter into God's rest if we belief, the work of faith is just to believe but our unbelief shuts us out of God's best for our lives and we are robbed of peace. Those who do not believe, shall never enter into this spiritual rest, either of grace here or glory hereafter. God has always declared man's rest to be in him, and his love to be the only real happiness of the soul; and faith in his promises, through his Son, to be the only way of entering that, love, joy etc. I am reminded once again that the burden that Christ has for us is "light" to carry; it is light upon our soul and not burdensome or does not cause us to be heavy laden. We as believers are carrying the wrong burdens and have wrong yokes. It is not for us to carry the burden of our own salvation, to carry the burden of our own righteousness or justification or to earn eternal life. These are all gifts of grace to us from God, by the riches of His grace and mercy, through the death of our Lord Jesus Christ. The burden we should carry is the assignment God has for us. In times of distress, confusion and fear Jesus is our refuge, He is our rock, He is our shield, & he healer of our soul. He keeps us and hides us in the shadow of His wings.

 

Pray you are encouraged God loves you unconditionally don't allow your emotions, circumstances etc. to rob you off your rest in God we are not fighting for victory but fighting from victory in Christ Jesus.

Thank you for reading God bless & abundance be yours. 

In His love
Ndeshi Jameson