STRAW-LESS

 I switched to stainless steel straws and , Starbucks Vows to Ditch Plastic Straws by 2020. 

In 2009 7-11 had  an aluminum straw for. 99 as part of a promo.I purchased the straw and I still have it as of 2018. The aluminum  straw from  7-11 is still durable. I later found out, the aluminum straw had  an epoxy resin that contains bisphenol according to an article from the smart mama at TheSmartMama.com.
  I also feel, I saved the landfills a lot of waste just from the amount of straws in which I didn't use. The price of stainless steel straws was very pricey at one time. However, the price of stainless steel straws are reasonable as of 2018.
I chose stainless steel straws to reduce waste and help make an environmental change. The straws come in straight or curved at the top. I chose not to use paper straws because the part of the straw in the liquid gets soggy. I enjoy using the stainless steel straws because it gives me a continuous cold temp through the straw.
I switched to stainless steel straws and, Starbucks Vows to Ditch Plastic Straws by 2020. 
 I have provided a link for buying the curved stainless straws at a reasonable price.Reusable stainless steel drinking straws

I'm an affiliate marketer with links to an online retailer on my website. When people read what I've written about a particular product and then click on those links and buy something from the retailer, I earn a commission from the retailer,with no cost to you.

Help reduce waste on Mother Earth.
ChocHands

Dedicate a week for your ENEMIES.

Dedicate 7 straight days for your enemies. Don’t skip a day. Make the days consecutive.
It doesn't matter which day you start on, the first requirement is that it’s seven straight days.

• Day 1.Pray a prayer of protection for your ENEMY or ENEMIES. It is written, 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,"Matthew 5:43-44 English Standard Version (ESV)

• Day 2. Pray a prayer of awareness for your enemy.Pray that GOD will make them aware of the wrong in which they have done.As it is written"And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.Luke 23:34(ESV)

•  Day 3. Pray that negative, wrong thoughts harmful thoughts, thoughts not of GOD will leave your enemies mind. Pray that your enemy has a clear mind, a mindset towards the will of GOD. Pray that the devil will leave the mind of your enemy. As it is written,^" Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."James4:7King James Version (KJV)

• Day 4.Pray for your enemy or enemies, salvation. As it is written."⁹ because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved."Romans 10:9-10(ESV) 

• Day 5.Pray your enemy excepts the word as it is written.Pray your enemy will not only read the Word of GOD, but apply it to their everyday living. Pray that your enemy changes through the grace of GOD. As it is written"²⁰ Anger does not help you live the way God wants. ²¹ So get rid of everything evil in your lives—every kind of wrong you do. Be humble and accept God’s teaching that is planted in your hearts. This teaching can save you.²² Do what God’s teaching says; don’t just listen and do nothing. When you only sit and listen, you are fooling yourselves. ²³ Hearing God’s teaching and doing nothing is like looking at your face in the mirror."James 1:20-23 Easy to Read Version(ERV)

•  Day 6. Pray God has removed all of your anger, bitterness and resentment against your enemy.Pray God gives you a clean heart. Pray that if the opportunity comes, you will help and not hurt your enemy.As it is written,"²⁹ Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. ³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹ Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. ³² Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."Ephesians 4:29-34 (ESV)

•  Day 7.Pray GOD continues to protect and guide your enemy through the power of the holy Spirit.As it is written,"¹³ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope."Romans 15:13(ESV) It is also written,"²⁶ And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. ²⁷ And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rule." Ezekiel 36:26-27 (ESV)

Remember this isn't about you, it is all about bringing another soul to GOD.
Let GOD be GOD!!!!

  

 Pray for those which has made you mad, angry or caused grief.

ChocHands

 

 

 

 

I'm an affiliate marketer with links to an online retailer on my website. When people read what I've written about a particular product and then click on those links and buy something from the retailer, I earn a commission from the retailer,with no cost to you.

The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting. Sun Tzu

An enemy doesn't have to be people at physical war.An enemy can be any person which opposes or is hostile towards a a thought or action.The best way to defeat any enemy is with self control,a tamed  tongue and patience.It is written,"Don’t be quick-tempered—that is being a fool".7:9 The Living Bible(TLV).
 Rifts in families,relationships both personal and business can  be eliminated through communication.Effective communication requires all parties involve to actively listen, asking clarifying questions,watching body language and facial expressions and both parties coming to a reasonable agreement.It is also written,"Listening to wise people increases your knowledge, but only nonsense comes from the mouths of fools."Proverbs 15:2 Easy to read version(ERV). 
  Ignoring a problem doesn't make the problem go away.It can sometimes grow into a much larger problem, This is why some family secrets gets worst over years. 
Relationships begin to break down through lack of communication and selfishness.Relationships requires including the well being of all parties involved.Relationships requires compromises,the only physical actions should be a hug,kiss or hand shake.
 Above all pray together for a answer to keep the relationship in tack.Without prayer none of the above will work for everyone. 

Pray for relationships
ChocHands 

I'm an affiliate marketer with links to an online retailer on my website. When people read what I've written about a particular product and then click on those links and buy something from the retailer, I earn a commission from the retailer,with no cost to you.

 

Be kind to yourself

It's not too late to stop negative self talk. Are you verbally abusing yourself? Are you unaware of the negative self talk? Some negative words are almost undetectable. Small words such as IF or BUT.Here is a small list of negative

words and phrases.

• The word "IF"
• It's taking too long.
• Give up.
• This is how it will always be.
• They are better.
• Be cautious when using, BUT because it excludes.

Write every negative thing you have said to yourself or another person. Then write a positive list to replace the negative.
Once again, look over your negative list and ask yourself these questions.

• Have you ever said. ANY of the negative words to someone else?
• Have you ever spoken YOUR negative self talk to someone else ?
•  Have you destroyed someones' self esteem by saying the same negative words you tell yourself ?

Don't beat yourself up if you have used negative words on someone else.
TODAY, apologize to someone you have said negative words to.
Tell them, "I have used  negative self talk on myself and I am sorry for saying negative comments  to you."
"I never meant to crush your dreams or  cause damage to your self esteem.".
Negativity can appear harmless while destroying dreams, goals and self confidence in ourselves, love ones and coworkers.Like a viscous virus, we use negative words towards someone else without thinking.

I'm an affiliate marketer with links to an online retailer on my website. When people read what I've written about a particular product and then click on those links and buy something from the retailer, I earn a commission from the retailer, with no cost to you.

Have a good talk with "YOU".

CHOCHANDS

The reason I started using essential oils.

I started using essential oils about seven years ago when my daughter was a freshman in college.My daughter has asthma however she never had an asthma attack while she was away at school.We attributed not having asthma attacks to the fresh mountain air.

Then one day when she came home and walked through the doorway we heard a PSST. It was my automatic room freshener.  My daughter started coughing instantly.

I would buy a new air freshener in her favorite scent before every home visit.Needless to say I haven't used any aerosol fragrant sprays since that day.
That's when I started looking for natural forms of fragrance. I couldn't use incense  because of  the smoke. The two only brands of candles that I could use was Yankee candles or Bath & Bodyworks.

While both candles smelled really great the fragrance was very overwhelming for her.Then I noticed both candle makers used fragrance extracts and essential oils.That's when I got the idea to try  essential oils. I have never looked back since then I have discovered how essential oils can elevate aches pains, be used for skincare,hair care,natural pest removal,and a host of other diy projects.And of course candles.

I'm an affiliate marketer with links to an online retailer on my website. When people read what I've written about a particular product and then click on those links and buy something from the retailer, I earn a commission from the retailer,with no cost to you.

Breathe Healthy

ChocHands

Essential reasons to use Vetiver

Vetiver is essential when having difficulty with focus,anxiety or ADHD. Vetiver has many other uses however,I have found that it works best for me as a calming agent. I place a few drops neat in the palms of my hands an inhale to help me to focus.

 I like to blend Vetiver with Lavender oils or Bergamot oil.I have used Vetiver alone however it has a earthy smell.The smell isn't offensive but it can take some getting use to.
I have only used it as inhalation with a diffuser however it can be used in the bath and shower or for massages.

There are many brands but the only one I have ever used is Piping Rocks at pipingrocks.com.  I use Piping Rocks because of it's good value and price.Piping Rock has Vetiver essential oil recipe blends on it's site as suggestions  .The are many articles on the uses and effects of Vetiver essential oil. I have learned a lot of information from draxe.com , Aromaweb.com and

Rocky Mountain oils

Happiness unexplained

Finding out a prayer you prayed for SOMEONE ELSE  has  been answered is a feeling of sheer jubilance. Tears of joy stream down your face uncontrollably. You shout until you are tired.You also get to enjoy the benefits of seeing the joy of the recipient. A prayer being answered for SOMEONE ELSE is a feeling of victory,where there is shouting,jumping,automatic tears,and laughter.Every emotion is displayed when you get to participate in the joy of someone else,try it.

It doesn't matter who the prayer was prayed for, all you know is to give GOD his glory for the answer.The reward is unexplainable.

It starts with praying for SOMEONE ELSE. 

Remember James5:13

ChocHands

I'm an affiliate marketer with links to an online retailer on my website. When people read what I've written about a particular product and then click on those links and buy something from the retailer, I earn a commission from the retailer,with no cost to you.

What does the Bible say?

Need an answer to a question? Go to Openbible info and type in the topic that interests you. Find the topical bible tab.Then type in word of concern.
For example the word, grateful will give you thirty-four bible verses. It will also give you a link to double check the answer from  the Bible.
It's easy,fun and a good form of addictive.

Have fun with the Bible
ChocHands

I'm an affiliate marketer with links to an online retailer on my website. When people read what I've written about a particular product and then click on those links and buy something from the retailer, I earn a commission from the retailer,with no cost to you.