Self-Reliance Tip of the Week - Would the REAL Strawberry Please Stand Up? 9/25/14

Can you identify the real strawberry? How do you know?

I just LOVE guessing games don't you? And I LOVE trivia...especially useless trivia! Ask me just about anything that could fit in the "gee wiz" file and I can pull it up quick as a whip! Now, information that isn't useless... I'm more of a whipper snapper. I can't pull it up nearly as fast. Now why is that?

I'd like to play a little guessing game with you about someone we've been told about, but how much can you recall?

-  It will be rumored that he performs "miracles". 

- He will appear to bring peace to the world.

- Most (if not all) of the governments of the world will support him.

- His appearance has been prophesied.

Think you've got it? Let's see. 

"The" Anti-Christ.

Our spiritual self-reliance deepens when we understand the things that have been prophesied about our day. When we understand and identify truth, fear is replaced by confidence in Heavenly Father's plan for our day. There have been (and will be) many "anti" Christs. But there will be a very significant one. His appearance and acceptance by most of the world will deceive many - even the very elect will likely be deceived if possible. It kind of reminds me of the elect who have been deceived about current cultural moral shifts. They think they should be accepted by Lord...you know...times are changing... and so should He? 

How will we know the difference between Jesus Christ and the imitation? 

Just like we know the difference between a real strawberry plant and felted strawberry plant stuffed with polyfill. By the fruit you'll know.

Lets take a peek in the New Testament (Matt 24:23-27): 

23 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 

24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 

25 See, I have told you ahead of time.

26 “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 

27 For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

So, clue number one is that : When the Savior comes, it will be in an unmistakable, undeniable manner.  It won't be in a back closet of some secret building in a land far away. It will be visible to everyone - glorious and magnificent.

Acts 1:9-11

9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;

11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

And clue #2: He will return in the SAME manner in which he left. It won't be on a float in the Macy's day parade, as a baby, or tossing the first pitch for a  Dodger's game. 

Just like the Egyptian priests who fabricated miracles for the Pharaoh when Moses tried to free his people, this individual will deceive many with the same types of imitations. 

Is there a potential applicant? It appears so. On his resume, he has made it clear that he is the foretold Messiah of the Jews, Krishna, Buddah and the Imam Mandi (Muslim Messiah). So, you might be able to guess who else he claims to be. His abilities have been advertised in the United Nations Share International Magazine. His teachings are share, share, share. But who is sharing...and who is receiving? Is it voluntary?

Here is an example of his ideas:

http://www.shareintl.org/archives/political/po_bsfuture-UN.htm

Whether or not this person is "the" one who was foretold or not, you will be able to spot an imitation miles away. The fruits of the true Messiah will be real and delicious, like a real strawberry. 

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Self-Reliance Tip of the Week - We Didn't Start the Fire

I can't help it...its so beautiful!

On Monday evening, my family missed our school's "Reading Under The Stars" activity (which is A LOT different than Dancing With The Stars). We decided that on Tuesday night we'd do our own family one.  I promised the kids we could read and roast marshmallows by a campfire (which is not allowed at the school activity :) ). 

Tuesday, it rained (not complaining)...all day. By the time evening rolled around, all our wood was wet. It is kind of hard to roast marshmallows without fire. I couldn't back out because we already missed the school activity. I had made a promise to all the blinking blue eyes. I found as many "dry" pieces of wood that I could find, pulled out a couple of fire starters I'd made previously (instructions found here http://diyready.com/how-to-make-firestarters-egg-carton-dryer-lint/#), and started blowing. It was a bit smokey, but the fire stayed lit and the kids had a great time. 

Then I started thinking...( I know, scarey and not recommended), "What if fire was the only way we could cook? Am I good enough at starting fires to keep my family alive?"

Fire is one of the essentials to self-reliance. We use it for warmth, to cook food, sanitize stuff, and...lets face it...entertainment. Sometimes I feel like one of those bugs that can't help staring at the beautiful dancing light...ZAP! If you have a supply of matches and lighters, what do you do when those matches are gone? Do you have alternatives that you know how to use? Here are a few ideas:

1. Hand drill method - I am working on getting a live demo/lesson from one of our very own sisters...you'll be shocked...she rocks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WjHZJbebJc&feature=related 

2. Using a magnifying glass - I watched SEVERAL magnifying glass videos. None (that I saw) but this one actually made fire. They usually smoked. The difference is the size of the magnifying glass. Chances are, other video makers didn't know what they were doing either.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCuXQONbuEU 

You can purchase this size of magnifier here:

 http://www.amazon.com/Fresnel-Lenses-Magnifier-Projection-Projects/product-reviews/B00B0HW99M/ref=dpx_acr_txt?showViewpoints=1

I also found this REALLY COOL website - it had way more ideas than I'd ever heard of (complete with how-to videos). Seriously, check it out, because you never know when you need to light a fire...with a soda can, flashlight, and yes, even WATER!!! If nothing else, it is entertaining. However, entertainment won't build a fire if you need one, so practice the ones most intriguing to you.

http://graywolfsurvival.com/3137/creative-ways-start-fire-without-lighter/

I need to keep in mind that the sun cannot be used to start a fire (or use a solar oven) if it is raining or cloudy. That is why it is important to have more than one way to start a fire if you are in need of one. As much fun as it would be to pull an "Elijah" and call down fire from heaven to get it started and bbq the whole lot, Heavenly Father will not do for us what we can do ourselves. We would be wise to learn how to not only start fires, but build them the right way. You can ask my husband...it took me a LOOONG time to learn to build one the right way to keep it going. Never mind, don't ask him .

Self-Reliance Tip of the Week - The Skinny on Pink Eye 9/11/2014

The most painful part of watching "The Three Stooges" is the eye poke. Just thinking about it makes my eyes water. I had to close my eyes when any of my roommates in college put in contacts because...my eyes are so sensitive to the thought of something in them. One time, I had an eye infection and my best friend had to literally sit on me to put eye drops in. Needless to say, she wasn't my best friend for about a week. :)

So, today we are going to discuss a very sensitive subject. I hear it is making its rounds in some of the schools. Conjunctivitis - it makes my eyes water just thinking about it. We know it more commonly as "Pink Eye". Did you know there is a way to take care of it in a natural way? Then you can stick your hand directly out from your nose and say, "Cool it Moe! These eyes are MINE!"

As a mom I have come across pink eye a time or two. When I learned of this simple remedy it has been my go-to treatment of choice because I can do it at home. Conjunctivitis is a bacterial infection. So, first we need to address the bacteria. I have had success with using colloidal silver, Oregon Grape Root tincture, and Golden Seal Root tincture. Silver you can take directly under the tongue several times a day  in teaspoon size quantities. The tincture extracts one or two squirts in some water spaced throughout the day. All of these should be taken for 5 to 7 days.

Now the real relief with a crazy little thing called "Eyebright". Oh I love this stuff! This can be found in a health food store in tea or tincture extract form. Take it orally. Do not put it directly on the eye. Within two days of beginning treatment, the redness, dryness, and itching will be all but gone. Ahhhh. Rolaids got nothin' on this baby. This herb was designed to strengthen the eye, so it has other "bright" uses for the eye.  Eyebright has also been used for sinus and allergy problems.

You can read more about it here: 

http://www.herbs2000.com/herbs/herbs_eyebright.htm

If you or one of your children continue to have reoccurring infections of conjunctivitis, consider also taking yarrow or yellow dock to strengthen the spleen. A weak spleen will allow reoccurring infections to take place because it is not making enough red blood cells to fight the infection in the first place. 

Oh, the future is so bright!

Self-Reliance Tip of the Week - Seeds Glorious Seeds 9/4/2014

Some of the most important lessons we can gain from the Book of Mormon are the people who had to pack it up and move out. Why? Well, they packed and took the necessities of life with them ( a little more than just the shirt on their back) for spiritual and physical protection. When we learn what the necessities are, we are less likely to store the things that are of less worth. If time is money, so is the space to store essentials. Can you imagine these people carrying an acre's worth of fresh veggies for months of travel?

We learn from the Lehites (1 Nephi 8) a few things about their preparations before they left.  They "had gathered together all manner of seed" before they left into the wilderness. Before they went down into the ship (1 Nephi 18:6 ) they took fruit, meat, honey and the seeds they had gathered before they left Jerusalem into the wilderness.

Our second witness comes from the Jaredites ( Ether 1) they took animals, family (even though it may have been tempting to leave some of them behind )  , and "seeds of every kind" into the land northward. Before they entered the unique vessels to cross the ocean, again they gathered seed, honey, and animals (including fish and birds). I wonder if the animals traveled in a vessel by themselves because...woah, what a smell!
Seeds produce so much more than the "musical fruit"! Seeds are nearly magical the way they were designed, with so many varieties to choose from. The catch is, sometimes they don't grow so well in different climates. So practice is the key as well as learning how to harvest the seeds. 

If you are unsure of which plants grow here, this link will give you some starters:

http://www.almanac.com/gardening/planting-dates/AZ/Safford
Now, how to store seed? There is a debate trying to understand if it is safe to put an oxygen absorber in with your seeds. Will it kill this dormant living thing to take away all oxygen?
USA Emergency Supply answers some questions in this regard with a Q&A page on their site:

https://www.usaemergencysupply.com/information_center/packing_your_own_food_storage/seed_viability/seed_viability_myths.htm#.VAiq_haBUTI

Heirloom seeds are preferred because they have been left as nature intended. Hybrid varieties often cannot produce a second generation. You can find many varieties that are not available locally at this site:

http://www.burpee.com/heirloom-seeds-and-plants/

Because you have stored and practiced using your seeds, you will be able to change your song from "Seeds glorious seeds...." to "Food glorious food!" within a matter of months. If you have no seeds...you will only hear crickets chirp.