♥Hi Friends!
I’ve had some thoughts on my mind recently and they start with a question and it’s this, “How many times have you heard (or said) the words ‘It’s my one vice’ when someone speaks about a Diet Coke or Dr. Pepper or any carbonated beverage?” It often comes with a defiant, rebellious, even proud tone. I mean we should at least be willing to recognize and call it what it really is. An addiction. And although it truly can be said about any SPIRITUAL, PHYSCIAL or EMOTIONAL toxin, I referred to pop since that’s the one I hear on a regular basis.
I looked up the actual definition and was surprised to see that there were two different spellings and two different meanings, with the latter the one I had in mind. They are as follows,
VICE -“moral depravity or corruption; a moral fault or failing; a habitual and usually trivial defect or shortcoming; blemish, defect.” (Merriam-Webster.com) Hmmmm.
VISE -“any of various devices, usually having two jaws that may be brought together or separated by means of a screw, lever, or the like, used to hold an object firmly while work is being done on it.” (Dictionary.com) Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
Either way, do we really want pop or UNHEALTHY food, UNHEALTHY thought patterns, sin, or any other “vice” to have us in a “vise”? And is it something we should be proud of?
In the scriptures we read: “And I, the Lord God, spake unto Moses, saying: That Satan, whom thou hast commanded in the name of mine Only Begotten, is the same which was from the beginning, and he came before me, saying—Behold, here am I, send me, I will be thy son, and I will redeem all mankind, that one soul shall not be lost, and surely I will do it; wherefore give me thine honor.
“But, behold, my Beloved Son, which was my Beloved and Chosen from the beginning, said unto me—Father, thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever.
“Wherefore, because that Satan rebelled against me, and sought to destroy the agency of man, which I, the Lord God, had given him, and also, that I should give unto him mine own power; by the power of mine Only Begotten, I caused that he should be cast down;
“And he became Satan, yea, even the devil, the father of all lies, to deceive and to blind men, and to lead them captive at his will, even as many as would not hearken unto my voice” (Moses 4:1–4).
Friends, let’s be clear who our opponent is, who the enemy is! Satan wants all the glory and power and has only one purpose: Fill us full of SPIRITUAL, PHYSICAL and EMOTIONAL vices (aka toxins) in an effort to recruit us to his team, where once we have switched he will happily kick us off the bus and leave us by the roadside on the way to the game (which he does on a regular basis). If that doesn’t work, he will do everything he can to slow us down and make us less effective players for “Team Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ” (go team!)
The last thing I want to do is allow the Adversary to get me in a “vise” because of one of my “vices”. Easier said than done! It requires me to humble myself (ugh!), be a little more self-aware, pray a little harder, and be a little better. But I know our Heavenly Father has given us the right equipment (SPIRITUAL, PHYSICAL and EMOTIONAL tools) to compete with and win! We have agency to choose what we will or won’t do. And, because our Older Brother Atoned for all of us, we can be better! We can overcome and move past our “moral depravity or corruption…failing…defect” or “blemish”.
We don’t have to be perfect, but we do need to move forward so that we can HEAL. And there is always hope, because hope and HEALING is what the “good news” of the Gospel is all about! Yay!
♥Love you!
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I know what you might be thinking, “Be done with the Basil thing already, would ya!”. But Basil is just so exciting! So please indulge me with one more smoothie recipe that includes my beloved Basil. I’ll admit, although it’s really more of a burgundy color, this is a fairly green tasting one. But if you’re brave, or if you’re like me and have grown to love the less fruity tasting ones because of the total SPIRIT/BODY/MIND experience you have while consuming it (pretty trippy!), then try this one. And can I tell you how amazing this energizing, detoxing, and repairing smoothie is for you? Well…it’s so amazing for you! Since the majority in our home like them a little fruitier, I make this one for me and it last for two days. Yum! Happy! Joy! (Katie)
GREEN POWER SMOOTHIE
- greens of choice halfway up the Vitamix container
- raw green powder of choice (if not having any more greens the rest of the day)
- 1 Tbsp chia, flax or hemp seed
- 1/2 cup Basil (a few sprigs)
- 1 celery stalk
- 1 chunk cucumber
- 1/2 of a lemon
- 1 nub ginger
- 1 apple
- 1/2 cup dark berries
- strawberries
- purified water to just below top line
Fill 64 oz Vitamix jar (or adjust amount for smaller blender) with ingredients in order listed. Blend on high for 1 minute, adding more strawberries while blending for a thicker smoothie.