Hi everyone, yes it is September and back to school!  I'm back to school too, just starting an online course at the Clayton College of Natural Health.  I'm studying for my Family Herbalist certificate.  There are three certificate programs altogether, so I plan to finish them to become a Master Herbalist.  This would allow me to open my own practice.  Actually I could do that before that level, I'll have to see what they say about what I can do after finishing the first one.
I hope you're all doing well.  I still haven't figured out how to respond to comments except to post and mention them.  I've had trouble with my screen reader not telling me a lot of the links on this page, that must be what it is.  Anyway, thanks Jennifer for your comments.  
and now to the article.  I got this through The Elijah List.  They are a ministry that sends out articles and some prophetic words at times.  They give permission to republish them.

Have a good month, and enjoy the article.

Meag

To Walk by the Spirit is to Walk in Love"
by JoAnn McFatter  Sep 9, 2009
It seems that so often when we think of walking by the Spirit we
think of the supernatural aspect of doing so. This is especially
true these days when that is "the draw" for so many people to gather
together to be amazed, whether it be at conferences or on the
streets. While that is a part of life in the Spirit, to move in the
same fashion as Jesus Christ while He was here on earth, it is
really just a byproduct of possessing the Spirit of God within.
Abilities such as walking on water, changing water to wine, passing
through a crowd in a way that He was there one moment and gone the
next, healing disease and raising the dead are just a few of the
more popular examples He left us with when He said we would do even
greater works than these.
However, He also warned us that seeking these things would not be to
our advantage, telling us to seek His face and not His hand. In
other words, seek the Giver of the gifts rather than the gifts
themselves, but not to the point that we ignore them. Time and time
again we have heard this, though I wonder if it's really ever gotten
through...selah. At best we vacillate in our awareness.
My point is—there is a way to live this life in this end time that
involves all of these things! It involves opening the depths of the
Word, meditation, communion with Him; signs and wonders, extravagant
giving, opening the mysteries of God that have been saved for this
dispensation in time; worship that breaks the barrier between Heaven
and Earth, angels and people ascending and descending, massive
salvation of souls...I could go on and on, but we have all heard it
so many times.
We know it all has to do with faith—as Jesus Himself told us that
even faith as a mustard seed would be enough to say to a mountain Be
moved and it would obey. To walk by the Spirit, in all that is
summed up by that phrase, takes trust in Him that we really can move
from having faith in God to that place where we move in the faith OF
God. It must be out of a place of revelation of who He really is—in
us. It's all so amazing and stimulating to our spirit man when we
dwell on the possibilities that lay before us. Of course, Jesus
Christ is our supreme example of walking by the Spirit as He was
fully man and fully God, leaving us a blueprint for walking life out
by the Spirit in its fullest expression.
One of the Most Powerful Things Jesus Ever Said
BUT...He also tells us that in ALL of this, the greatest of these is
love. One of the most powerful things said to us by Jesus' very lips
was that, above everything, we were to love Him with all of our
heart, mind, soul and strength. The more we know Him, the more we
love Him. But He didn't stop there as He continued by saying, "and
to love your neighbor as yourself." He said there were no greater
things than these. When the scribe questioning him agreed, Jesus
made an interesting statement to him by saying that he was close to
the Kingdom of God.
Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning
together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him,
"Which is the first commandment of all?"
Jesus answered him, "The first of all the commandments is: 'Hear, O
Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. And you shall love the
LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your
mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment.
And the second, like it, is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as
yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."
So the scribe said to Him, "Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the
truth, for there is one God, and there is no other but He. And to
love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all
the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as
oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices."
Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, "You are
not far from the Kingdom of God."—Mark 12:28-34
What amazing revelation this scribe displayed, full of wisdom and
living beyond his dispensation of time: the revelation of love
surpassing all the rest, even to the point of overtaking the burnt
offerings and sacrifices. Jesus said that very revelation put him
"not far from" the Kingdom of God, even BEFORE the full revelation
had been revealed.
Out of all the things we are admonished to go after and possess,
again, the greatest of these is love. We, of course, all know 1
Corinthians 13. We are told that if we have all the gifts and
abilities that walking in the Spirit entitles us to, but we don't
love, it's all just noise. So of all the things God is going to pour
out in these last days by His Spirit, love would have to be at the
top of the list. The Spirit without measure would bring love without
measure; a revelation of love that will rock both our world and the
world around us!
In these days of uncertainty and want, we must remember love. Wisdom
would have us asking for the grace to love unconditionally, that we
might be moved with the same compassion that Jesus worked miracles
from. More than once it is said He was moved with compassion and
healed someone. God IS love! His Spirit is referred to as The
Comforter.
As things shift all around us we must remember love. It's easy to
love when everything is going well for us, just as it is easy to
give in a time of abundance. I believe one of the most difficult
things to be an overcomer in is our tendency for self-preservation
in the midst of crisis; unfortunately, to the point of gathering to
ourselves all that we can, even at the expense of others.
To Walk By the Spirit is to Walk in Love
It's almost humorous that when we thought Y2K was going to be some
big deal, everyone hoarded things for themselves in preparation with
the purpose and mentality of taking care of the proverbial "us four
and no more." Some were even buying guns to hold off the masses from
getting what they had so wisely stored up. And while we can
appreciate the wisdom of preparing in the years of plenty for the
years of lack, we have to ask ourselves what would we do if our
neighbor was not so well prepared?
Maybe they didn't have the money to store up, or perhaps they just
didn't see it coming. My question is, would we actually refuse
others food, drink, or even shelter in that hour? As if in His love
we could say, "No," to another in need. God Himself put the example
out there of the widow who gave her last to the prophet, and then,
and only then, did she receive more than she could imagine.
As we ponder this place of walking by the Spirit in all the
interesting and stimulating things it has to offer, we must first
and foremost remember love, for without it, all of our effort is
null and void. To walk by the Spirit is to prefer others. To walk by
the Spirit is to think of others more highly than ourselves—not in
some funky religious mindset, but truly caring for them first and
then ourselves. Believe me, as I write this I am painfully aware of
my own shortcomings in this way of living life—this way of love that
is so foreign to our culture. As we seek to overcome adversity and
keep our faith we must hold onto love above all else.
Our American mindset would send someone down to the mission shelter
before opening our home to them. We can't deny it. Our first thought
is How are we going to feed our family for the next four months,
rather than to share this day what we have with ones who don't have
today? Seriously...are we going to say No, you can't have our food,
even though you are starving? God help us all!
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not
love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though
I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all
knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove
mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all
my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned,
but have not love, it profits me nothing.
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not
parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not
seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in
iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all
things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail;
whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is
knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy
in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is
in part will be done away.
When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I
thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish
things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face.
Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of
these is love.—1 Corinthians 13
What more can be said, other than to know Him is to love Him. To
love Him is to love those that He loves. For God so loved the WHOLE
world that He gave His only begotten Son...Perfect love casts out
all fear. To walk by the Spirit is to walk in Love.
JoAnn McFatter
WhiteDove Ministries
Email:
contact@joannmcfatter.com

Hi everyone, I hope you're doing well.  I haven't written much in here because I've had a lot of trouble with this blog since they've made some changes to the system.  I'm hoping this goes through so I don't just disappear because I'm thinking of switching to another blogging site, got any screen reader friendly ideas?
I was at my Grandmother's for awhile helping her after her carpal tunnel surgery this summer.  Before that I was down to visit her during spring break, and then in April I headed over to my sisters and their families in Minneapolis.  I really enjoyed meeting my youngest niece for the first time and of course seeing everybody else.  It had been awhile.
Other than that, I've been trying to keep cool out of this hot weather, it gets a bit much for me as I am very heat sensitive.  So Quantas and I go for walks early in the morning so we can be back before it heats up for the day.
I had made some reference several months back about last year being difficult for me.  My Grandpa passed away back in May 2008 after suffering with Alzheimer's disease for ten years.  It got very hard toward the end and I was with him when he died, along with my Grandma and Mom.  I had prayed with him bak in 2000 and he accepted Jesus as his saviour.  I was so happy and I still am, knowing I will see him again.  I felt peace in his room during his last moments, and several days after he died I kept thinking about him as he once was before the Alzheimer's.  I remembered things about our times together when I was younger that I had forgotten.
Mom opened up her copy of Our Daily Bread and read the verse for the day after he died.  It said, "Behold I go to prepare a place for you, that where I am, you may be also.  See John 14:2-3.
This was such a comfort to my Mom and to me.  It just increased the joy I felt knowing I had been priveledged to lead him to Jesus.  It has been hard at times.  I miss him.  It is still hard to believe. There were things that were so hard to witness happening to him during those last few weeks, but I am thankful I could be there for him.  I wouldn't have changed it.
I'll close for now.  Do you know the love of my life?  His name is Jesus.
I hope this gets posted after all this, hahahaha.
Talk soon I hope.
Meag

Hi everyone, it's been a long time I know, but the past year has been hard for me.  Before I get into that, I want to share a poem with you that I came across in my 2007 journal.  I hope it will grab your attention and stir you up to the realization of how deeply you are loved.  The complete truth, yes complete and without flaw is that someone loves you.  So are you curious about this poem yet?  Here it is.

The Crux

They say that your feet and your hands held you there,
On that cruel cross that day,
But in the crux of that cruel cross,
Your heart did choose to stay.

Oh the crux of the cross where the two beams meet,
Was the place where sin found its full defeat,
Oh the crux of that cross, broken tears did spill,
Down the face, o'er the chest,
Then your heart lay still 

It would seem now the end of this story of love,
A perfect free gift sent down from above,
But the crux of the matter had not come to pass,
Angels rolled away the stone over twig and grass,

And the light that did shine from that empty tomb,
Brings glory to every heart making room,
Oh the crux of that cross lifts your heart to His,
In His death sin is gone,
In your life He lives.

 

The blood of Jesus is like a never ending rain of love upon our hearts.

 

February 1, 2001

God’s mercy and faithfulness have been astounding.  His power has been evident in my life.  I have been healed of a stomach problem.  My friend Helen from Kenya who is new in the States prayed for me concerning this, and I started shaking under the power of God!  I have felt much better!  I know God is with me, yet I long for the comfort of His love even more.  My life is hid in Him.  I seek His face, not His hand.

Note:  I believe I had an ulcer because my stomach bothered me all the time for a year.  When Helen prayed, the burning and nausea instantly went away.

 

 

14   And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother lying sick of a fever.

15   And he touched her hand, and the fever left her; and she arose, and ministered unto him.

Matthew 8:14-15 ASV.

 

Yes, it says that Jesus touched her hand, but of course with His own hand.  Jesus did things differently every time.  One thing about him, he wasn’t a stickler for tradition and following the most sensible plan.  He was one who didn’t follow the crowd, but they followed him.  He didn’t let society explain how to do things, he did them far better than the changing fads of fashion and the shifting ideas of psychology, art and culture.

What Jesus did may seem so simple and unimportant.  But as always, whatever he did was, and is spectacular. 

 

He touched her hand with his and she was healed of the fever.  She was so relieved and refreshed that she got up right away and probably gave him a hug and said something like, “Ya hungry?  Sit down.  Let me get you something.”

 

What a touch Jesus still carries today.  I remember the first time I prayed for someone and their sickness went away.  I had just been reading this account of Jesus healing Peter’s mother in law.

 

I got ready for church that evening and a couple I knew were there with their children.  They had decided to go to church and have him prayed for and then if he needed to go to the hospital they would take him before the service was over.

 

I heard about the baby’s fever and I asked if I could pray for him.  I touched his forehead and said, “I command this fever to go in the name of Jesus.”  I could literally feel the temperature going down under my fingers until his forehead felt normal.  I said, “There it goes,” and sat down.  By the end of the service, I heard that the baby was fine.

 

It is not my power, I did not do it myself.  Jesus was right there, touching the baby, through my own hand.

 

 

 

Hi friends, yeah it has been awhile!  I guess it was writer's block.  I got to thinking about things I'm interested in and here's one of them. 

I’ve been studying the subject of herbal medicine off and on for quite a few years, but more actively during the last year and to me it is fascinating.  I know some people put a lot of mysticism into it and it seems out there to some people, but I’m a person who just enjoys trying new things and finding that a lot of the time they work for me.

 

I always read up on the contraindications which include ways of preparing the herb and precautions if any.  Many times there are none, or not unless taken in excessive doses.  Sometimes though, there are certain things to be watchful of, such as using herbs with prescription medications.

Don’t use herbs with them unless you ask your doctor first. 

Also, some herbs are not to be used while pregnant.

 

There are some that are very beneficial to use while pregnant such as raspberry leaf tea.  It helps women to have easier births.  You can drink it two or three times a day.

 

And here’s something really interesting.  Maybe you’ve never thought of using things like rosemary, thyme, and oregano for anything other than sprinkling into your food.  But these three herbs make very good teas, and with great benefits.  Having a bad day and feel stressed out and upset?  Sit down to a cup of mild rosemary tea, it calms the nerves, alieviates pain and has a nice soothing mint background to it, which is the camphor contained in it.

 

Oregano is used as a pain reliever among other things.  I brew a cup of oregano tea with a pinch of rosemary to get rid of a headache as I feel it coming on.

 

Is your throat sore?  A cup of thyme tea will soothe it.

These are just a few things I wanted to share with you.  I use a lot of other things, and I’m always learning.  So are the experts, smile.  Enjoy these herbs as teas and it will make life interesting.

 

I went to visit a church out of town with a friend.  It was awesome!  One of the songs they sang has really stuck in my head!  One of the lines was, “God’s love came to earth like a sloppy wet kiss.”  And they sang, “He loves you, oh He loves you.”  My heart swelled with His love and I am still feeling His presence now as I write.  It is always good when we have an encounter with the author of love, and thinking of my last post, of grace, and of everything light and free.

The more we know Him, the less we know Him, but that’s all good because we are never to the point where we know Him completely and He can do so many new things in our lives beyond what our natural minds could believe.  He asks us to forget what we think we should say to Him or how we should act to please Him, and let Him teach us how.  His way is so much simpler and freeing, and without fear of messing up.  Religion says, act right, jesus says, take flight with me like a bird gliding on the wind and I’ll teach you by example that I’m with you in every little thing, and I won’t let you fall.  I can carry it all little friend.  At least, that’s how He’ll talk to you if you’ll let Him.

That’s relationship, religion being tossed away for the friendship of God.

This blog will be something different every time, and if this stuff is new, (it’s fun to learn new things right), well, come back again and hang out at MeagsPlace.

Bye.

Meag

 

 

 Hi friends, sort of a new column in my blog so to speak, Journal Jaunts.  These will be jaunts into the past and present, taking a peek into my personal journals.  This entry was one of the few not dated, but it is from 2006.  If the topic seems like something you wouldn't read, it may surprise you.  This came to me in a really different way, it reminds me of some of the writers of a long time ago.  Still, the words are just as current for right now.
Meag

Grace

 

“For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephessians 2:8-9

     when I see myself through the old mirror of imperfection, I am painfully reminded of the fact that apart from Christ I can do nothing, John 15:5.  But I am made into the likeness of Christ by His shed blood which has taken away all my sins, past, present and even future, would that I could remain abiding in him in his perfection, avoiding even a trace of the old man.  So many scriptures come to mind as I write, so many times I have seen grace, He is Grace, work so loving a miracle in my heart so as to bring me even closer to his heart, to hear it pounding out my very name, just as mine pounds out His, only His heart speaks thunderously in comparison to mine.  Oh the reality of His active forgiveness, not just something done a long time ago, but something finished in His heart and springing life into my deepest mind and innermost spirit.  To renew my mind in the Word of Grace Himself is to be awash with the fire of intense and passionate reality of His ever present cleansing.

 

 

Hi friends, it’s been awhile I know.  The sun is shining in my window and I’m feeling like going for a little walk.  Gotta get out there before the sun goes down and wakes up my sister in Jordan.  She’s ten hours ahead of me.  Quantas is snoring by my chair, probably wondering when I’m going to get off the computer and take her for that promised walk. 

 

A friend of mine came over this morning and we enjoyed sitting around and drinking coffee, and studying the Bible with a really cool, (and very accessible I might ad) program called Bible Seeker.  The program and the Bible translation ad-ons are free!  It’s the easiest and best Bible software program I’ve ever used.  The only thing I found that was a little confusing at first was when you look for verses.  There are several edit boxes that had no explanations as to what they were.  Well, when my friend was here, she explained that all of the boxes were for key words.  I was just using the one, but I think there are five.  So thanks to her eyes, now we know that even though there are no tags on them, that’s what they’re for.  So now, it’s at least in my estimation, perfectly accessible.  If any of you use it and find something you have trouble with, let me know and I’ll take a look at it.  Whoever put it together, thank you thank you thank you!  Go to:

http://www.bibleseeker.org

For you Spanish speakers, the Reina Valera translation is also on their site. 

Ok well better get moving so I can catch the sun, maybe I can talk it into sticking around for awhile and letting my sister sleep.  She’s got a six month old so she could use it.  Darn, guess that won’t work, oh here I go again with my silly sense of humor.

Talk soon.

Bye.  Meag

 

 

 

 

 Hi my friends, and welcome to the two people on my friends list.  I enjoyed seeing you, I'm still trying to figure out the comments thing, so if I missed something you said, sorry about that, and I'm sure I'll figure this out eventually.

I went to two nursing homes today and played my recorder and shared a verse from the bible at their church services.  The verse is agreat one!  First Corinthians 2:9.

When I got home I went and listened to a CD with a neighbor friend of mine and we had a great time.  I came back upstairs to my apartment and did a few odds and ends.  It's cold here, supposed to be icy all week.  Hope it won't be too bad out there when I take Quantas out.  A friend of mine from Australia asks me, "How's the flyin' dog?"  Hahahahahhaa.  

Well, guess that's it for now.  Have a good week and come back and hang out at Meag's Place soon.
Bye.
Meag

 Hi again, well you didn't have to wait long, four hours or so.  Here I am.  I was hoping to upload a picture of me and Quantas my guide dog.  She's very cute.

Hmmm, not much else has happened.  I've listened to a tape letter from my friend Amy, and I made a big pan of fried potatoes.  Yum, one of my favorite foods.
So what are your favorite foods?  
Anyway, just stopping by so we'll talk soon.
Meag

Hello again my friends.  yes, it has been a long time.  I figured I'd better get in here before Meag's Place is no more and I have to recreate it.  I'm sooo powerful, hah.  What can I say, I'm being silly again.  

It's time to share something interesting.  I think we adults should be more childlike.  No, not childish, but childlike.  Not selfish, but selfless.  Not putting on a show, but being part of the show that someone else puts on, hey even God.  He's got all these people here on earth and they all have some purpose and meaning right?  yeah!  Of course right!  Oh no, I sound like the girls in Fiddler On The Roof now.   
Yenta is the matchmaker trying to find them husbands.  So in a different way we can be matched forever, spiritually with Jesus.  Interesting huh, never know what will come to me next.  hey, think about it and mull it over too while you're waiting for me.  Shouldn't be as long, and if you have any thoughts, share.  Bye.  Meag