The Wild Gems

Soften The Heart: Devotional #24

September 17, 2024 The Wild GemsLeave a comment

“Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father.

“You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews.

“But the hour is coming, and now is when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.

“The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.”

“Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”

John 4 21-26

After reading this full scripture it makes me think about times God has talked to me or communicated with me and I had not known. Just like the woman at the well.

I imagine her being like, “Uh, huh. Yeah when the Messiah is here he’s going to explain all of that.” And then here is Jesus like, “I’m Jesus Christ.”

What a humbling moment!

We think we know, and God reveals to us exactly that. We think we know. But we don’t. We have so much growing to do.

We are still children and acting as children do. No sense of boundaries, we hear what we want to hear, what are consequences you say?

I just described a toddler.

For some reason we think we know more than we actually do.

Eventually I feel like God makes it click for us, partly because of us His love for his children and because of his patience.

Then we begin to make the connections and understand.

If only we took things serious the first time could we have avoided some struggling. Maybe.

Let’s break down this scripture a little bit though.

What does “the hour is coming” mean?

When Jesus says “the hour is coming” in the scriptures, He is often referring to a specific moment or event in God’s divine plan, particularly His crucifixion, resurrection, and the coming of God’s kingdom. This phrase points to a future fulfillment of God’s purpose for salvation.

For instance, in John 4:23 as we read above, Jesus says, “The hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth.” Here, He’s referring to the future when worship will no longer be tied to specific locations or rituals but will be through a genuine connection with God.

In other passages, like John 12:23 (“The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified”), it refers to His upcoming death, where He would complete His mission on earth.

In summary, “the hour is coming” points to a pivotal moment in God’s plan, often linked to the transformative events in the life and ministry of Jesus.

But how do we worship the Father in spirit and in truth?

To worship the Father in spirit and truth, as Jesus describes in John 4:23-24, involves a deep, sincere connection with God that transcends external rituals and locations. Here’s how:

1. Worshiping in Spirit:

Worship in spirit means connecting with God on a spiritual level, from the heart and soul, rather than relying solely on outward acts or physical locations. It’s about an authentic relationship with God, led by the Holy Spirit, where worship is heartfelt, personal, and not limited to rituals or ceremonies. This kind of worship engages our whole being, aligning our spirit with God’s Spirit.

• Romans 8:14 says, “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” Worshiping in spirit is being led by the Holy Spirit, letting Him guide our hearts, prayers, and lives in a way that honors God.

2. Worshiping in Truth:

Worship in truth refers to worshiping God as He truly is, in alignment with the truth revealed in His Word, the Bible. It means worshiping with sincerity and understanding of who God is, grounded in the knowledge of Scripture. Jesus is the embodiment of truth (John 14:6), and worshiping in truth involves acknowledging and following Him as the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

• Psalm 145:18 reflects this, stating, “The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.” Worship in truth rejects hypocrisy or superficial worship and embraces an honest, authentic pursuit of God.

In summary, worshiping in spirit and truth means bringing together heartfelt devotion and sincerity with a grounded understanding of God’s Word and His true nature. It’s worship that’s both inwardly genuine and outwardly aligned with God’s revealed truth in Scripture.

Wishing you love and blessings.

May our hearts and ears hear when God is speaking to us. And even so, may we continue to have greetings at the well.

May God never stop revealing himself to us even when we have lost our sight.

May we share our wisdom with others when God makes it very clear who He is to us.

May we honor the Father and The Son.

Amen.

10 Sore Throat Remedies And 6 Things To Avoid

September 16, 2024September 16, 2024 The Wild GemsLeave a comment

Having a sore throat is awful! Especially those really painful kinds that every time you swallow it feels like your throat is catching on fire. Ugh, and if you’re experiencing that right now I am so sorry!! But you’ll get through it, okay!

I have some remedies for you! It won’t completely take the pain away but it will alleviate some of the discomfort until your body fully conquers the nasty virus!

Here for you.

10 Sore Throat Remedies

1. Saltwater Gargle: Mix 1/2 teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water and gargle several times a day. This helps reduce swelling and clears irritants or bacteria.

*I’m not going to lie, every time I do this I just about gag. It’s effing disgusting but the salt helps to kill those mothereffers that are causing you pain*

2. Honey and Warm Water: Mix honey with warm water or herbal tea. Honey has natural antibacterial properties and can help coat and soothe the throat.

*THIS. Lots of this. Stick with the caffeine free tea though. Your body really needs to rest not that fake caffeine energy. Sometimes I even just get a spoon and put honey on it and eat it that way*

*I’ve also read about mixing honey with cayenne pepper*

3. Hydration: Drink plenty of fluids like water, warm herbal teas, or broths to keep your throat moist and help flush out any infection.

*I know this is so hard to do especially when your throat is THROBBING. And to just swallow takes courage. What I have found to be helpful is drinking through a straw. I fill up my tumbler with ice cold water and drink with a straw. I fill my mouth up with the water, tilt my head back, and then just let the water spill onto my throat.*

4. Warm Soups/Broths: Warm, soothing soups can provide comfort and hydration.

*get you some chicken noodle soup. This is proven to help, look it up!*

5. Throat Lozenges: These can help stimulate saliva production, which keeps your throat moist.

*These are hit or miss. Sometimes they help, and sometimes they just can steal that pain away. Always worth the try though.*

6. Humidifier: If dry air is irritating your throat, a humidifier can add moisture to the air, making it easier to breathe and reducing throat dryness.

*Night is always the worst. Especially when all you want to do is sleep. I can’t say I’ve ever tried this one but I may need to if I ever have a sore throat like this most recent one that I had. The dryness of my throat would wake me up and it felt like someone had cut my throat and it was bleeding out! If you don’t have a humidifier, I would suggest NyQuil for the nighttime. It will knock you out.*

7. Herbal Teas: Teas with ingredients like licorice root, chamomile, or slippery elm can be soothing for sore throats.

*as I mentioned previously, stick with caffeine free tea*

8. Apple Cider Vinegar: Mix 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with warm water and honey. This can help break down mucus and fight bacteria.

*never tried this one. If you have, leave a comment below!*

9. Over-the-counter Pain Relievers: Medications like ibuprofen or acetaminophen can help with inflammation and pain.

*Yes to this, especially if your sore throat is accompanied with a fever.*

10. Vapor Rub: rub some on your throat and chest to help you breathe more easily and cough less.

What To Avoid With A Sore Throat

When you have a sore throat, it’s good to avoid certain things that can irritate it or make it worse:

1. Spicy or Acidic Foods: Foods like citrus, tomatoes, and spicy dishes can irritate the throat further.

2. Dry, Crunchy, or Hard Foods: Chips, crackers, and other rough foods can scratch and aggravate the throat.

3. Caffeine and Alcohol: Both can dehydrate you, which can make the throat drier and more irritated.

4. Carbonated water/drinks: they can actually cause more irritation!

*I know drinking a carbonated drink feels so good on a sore throat. It does, like a super good burn. But you actually may doing more harm than good. Stick with the cold water and teas.*

5. Shouting or Talking Too Much: Resting your voice can help prevent further strain on your throat.

*you have my permissions to ignore every single call when you have a sore throat.*

6. Lemon: some people add lemon to their teas, however if your sore throat is sever AVOID adding lemon to your drinks.

*I know this one from experience. Another burn that feels good, but the next day your throat will feel WORSE! Don’t do it!*

Avoiding these irritants can help your throat heal faster and keep it more comfortable!

I’m so sorry friend that you are hurting right now. I know how that feels. The light is near. Get lots of rest. Sometimes these sore throats can last a couple of days! I had one that lasted 6 days and I kept saying Jesus take the wheel! It was horrible! You’ll get through this!

I hope this blog helped you.

Peace and love always.

Book Club Questions – General, Deeper Exploration, And Emotional

September 8, 2024September 8, 2024 The Wild GemsLeave a comment

General Questions

1. What themes stood out to you the most in this book?

2. How did the characters evolve throughout the story?

3. Were there any moments that surprised or shocked you? Why?

4. What was your favorite quote or passage from the book, and why?

5. How did the setting impact the story?

6. Did you find the ending satisfying? Why or why not?

7. How did the book’s structure (chapters, time jumps, narrative style) affect your reading experience?

8. What did you think of the author’s writing style?

9. If you could change one thing about the book, what would it be?

10. Did the book remind you of any other books, movies, or personal experiences?

Character-Focused Questions

1. Which character did you relate to the most, and why?

2. Were there any characters you struggled to understand or sympathize with?

3. How did the relationships between characters develop or change throughout the book?

4. Did you find any of the characters particularly inspiring or frustrating?

Deeper Exploration

1. How do you think the book would have been different if told from another character’s perspective?

2. What social, political, or cultural issues did the book address, and how effectively were they explored?

3. Were there any symbols or motifs you noticed in the book? What do you think they represented?

4. If this book were adapted into a movie, who would you cast in the main roles?

Emotional Exploration

1. What emotional journey did each character go through to reach the relationship’s outcome?

2. Were there any moments that made you feel frustrated with the characters?

3. Did you find the ending satisfying for the romance, or would you have preferred a different conclusion?

4. What did the book say about love or relationships that resonated with you?

Soften The Heart: Devotional #23

August 28, 2024 The Wild GemsLeave a comment

Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court.

Psalm 127:4-5

In this scripture we understand the significance of children. It is made clear how much of a gift that they are. Children are the arrows, they are the direction, they are the way. If we pay attention to the children they will lead us to the answers that we seek.

You’ve heard before that, “Children are the future.” Thats because they are THE FUTURE.

To have any children in your life is a blessing. Whether you have children of your own, nieces or nephews, maybe you’re a teacher, counselor, you’ve adopted, etc. “Bless is he whose quiver is full of them.”

(A quiver is a case that holds the arrows of the warrior.)

God has placed the children in your life as a blessing. See them as such.

With this awareness you can become more mindful of your influence around children. With this awareness, you understand that you are the one shaping them. Whether you have given birth to them or not, you are apart of their “maintenance and care”. So that they, like arrows, may be strong and sturdy. That they may hit their intended target.

Born doesn’t just mean to to give birth, it mean’s “to bring forth”. Any children brought to you in your life are a blessing. The scripture tells us this.

This scripture also tells us that we need children as much as they need us. How does a warrior fight without his arrows? How does an arrow fly without its warriors?

We are to be strong warriors with our bows and arrows (patience, calm, precision, is what makes a good archer) and we are to direct them. We are responsible for the accuracy and sharpness.

God has given us the best weapon to defeat the evils of this earth. To restore peace and love. We have been given the gift of children.

God also reminds us that we will struggle inevitably out there on the courts. In life.

However the more arrows that we have in our quiver the better. Which I interpret as the more children you influence in a positive way the more that they will influence others in positive way.

For every hand you touch, you touch every hand they touch as well.

We have great power to influence children and this awareness helps us to be more observant and patient with them. WE are what shape those arrows, WE are the ones that pull the arrows back and release.

Arrows that are shot with no intention can hurt and destroy. It’s important and vital that we understand who we are, that when the time comes to launch our children out into this world, they too will be warriors.

10 Questions About STRESS Answered – Gaining More PEACE In Your Life Gives More PEACE To Others

August 15, 2024 The Wild GemsLeave a comment

First of all I want to acknowledge this awesome photo who I wish I knew who to give the credit to. I love how it depicts stress. We can appear calm but be fuming on the inside where it feels like our heads are actually on fire and we are covered in dark, heavy smoke.

We may be so use to the smoke that it’s just become apart of our day to day life. With this blog I want to extinguish some of that fire and help you to see through the smoke.

Your heads still going to catch on fire from time to time let’s be honest but maybe we can make a fire extinguisher more accessible for you and for others.

10 Questions About STRESS Answered – Gaining More PEACE In Your Life Gives More PEACE To Others

1. First of all what is stress? How is it defined?

Stress is a feeling of emotional strain and pressure. Stress is feeling out of control. Stress is a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances. It’s feelings of tension.

Stress is your body’s reaction to a change or challenge. Stressors can be positive and negative.

2. How do we react when we are stressed?

There are mental, physical, and behavioral ways of reacting to stress.

Examples of mental could include feeling overwhelmed, loosing your temper, feelings of irritability, thoughts of self harm, racing thoughts, etc.

Examples of physical could include headaches, digestive problems, muscle tension, even your breathing can change.

Examples of behavioral could include jaw clenching, biting your nails, even becoming verbally or physically aggressive.

3. Who gets stressed?

EVERYONE experiences stress. Even babies and children.

4. What are things that cause stress?

An overall answer to which causes stress could be lack of control over a situation.

Common examples could include; life changes, work, family, financial problems, health.

Not so common examples could include; unrealistic expectations and even procrastination.

Most things that cause stress fall under one of those categories above.

5. When do you feel stressed?

When you are under lots of pressure.
When you face big changes in your life.
When you are worried about something.
When you don’t have much or any control over the outcome of a situation.
When you have responsibilities that you find overwhelming.
When you don’t have enough work, activities or change in your life.

6. Does our stress affect the people around you?

The short answer is ABSOLUTELY. There is such a thing called ‘secondhand stress or stress contagion’ if you can believe it!

Stress from others can affect your own stress levels even if there is no direct interaction.

Stress contagion can happen through social and biological mechanisms, such as pheromones, social cues, and emotional expression. For example, people are four times more likely to catch stress from someone they know, such as family, friends, or coworkers.

People that are stressed release a chemical that can be inhaled by those around them, causing these people to become more anxious, as well.

When Is The Right Time?

August 8, 2024 The Wild GemsLeave a comment

When is the right time?

I don’t know what you’re going through, but maybe this blog can resonate in some way.

In some cases there is no “right time”. You just go, and trust it will work out or that you will figure it out.

However in some cases there is such thing as a right time. But it takes work to identify. There are cues and signs, you have to pay attention.

Have you ever gardened before? Or maybe grown a fruit tree? Let’s take a lemon tree for example, before they turn yellow and are ready to pick they are small, hard, and green. Picking a premature lemon robs it of its process. It cannot grow anymore once it’s picked from its tree.

You have to be patience and wait until the right time. When they are brightly yellow, they are ready and it’s time.

So some things do have a right time and trying to fasten things up is impossible. This lesson of a lemon tree can apply to many things. Learning to trust yourself is being able to identify the cues if something is ready or not.

Trusting your timing is so important in whatever your journey is. Deep down you can feel when something is right or not.

Understand that some things can be a go for it now type thing. But if there’s something you’re waiting for, well, you may have to wait a little bit longer. But that is okay, it’s more than okay.

Life is on your side always, no matter what. It will all work out as it always does.

I don’t even feel like I have green lemons yet on my tree. Right now my tree is barely sprouting. 😉

Lots of love,

Marie

Hello My Readers – I’m Still Here

August 8, 2024 The Wild GemsLeave a comment

Hi my beautiful readers!

I have not posted in awhile and I am so sorry for that! As most of you know I have 4 little ones and they keep me very busy! It’s been hard to get moments to really write or share anything.

I do want to share though that I can be followed on Facebook and instagram where I share things on there as well 🙂 .

Instagram – thewildgems

(On this instagram I share all sorts of things! It’s kind of like an abstract painting lol. There’s a lot going on)

Facebook – the wild gems

On this Facebook page I share videos that I’ve watched that inspired me, quotes, feel good things)

And I did create another instagram very recently where I kind of just share my thoughts under

gemwilde

Looking forward to connecting more! You all mean so much to me! I am grateful to share this journey with you all! I feel truly thankful.

Lots of love,

Marie

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread

July 12, 2024July 12, 2024 The Wild GemsLeave a comment

What You Need:

1 large zucchini or 2 small ones finely shredded

1 beaten egg

1 1/2 cups of flour

1 handful of dark chocolate chips

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup of sugar

1/4 cup of vegetable oil

Steps:

1. In one small bowl whisk together the flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda.

2. In a separate medium/large size bowl mix the beaten egg, sugar, vegetable oil, and shredded zucchini with an electric mixer.

3. Begin adding the dry ingredients (the flour and spices) to the wet ingredients (the egg and oil) slowly till batter is consistent. Add in the chocolate chips.

4. Generously butter up the loaf pan and pour batter into pan. Bake at 350 for 45-50 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

5. Allow bread to cool for a moment and enjoy!

Dear Readers, My Birth Mom Passed Away

June 7, 2024 The Wild Gems2 Comments

My birth mom passed away. It’s been a week now. It’s lead to an indescribable type of grief that I feel very alone in if I’m honest. And I feel compelled to just release some of the things that I’m feeling at the moment.

My aunt (my birth mom’s sister) texted me last Wednesday telling me that she had passed. I had never met her. That wasn’t my choice. I’ve been wanting to meet her my whole life and I actually almost did last spring but it just didn’t happen because she had somewhere to be apparently. Who knows what the full truth is. I can feel I’m not being told everything. I know she was mentally unstable. Suffered from schizophrenia. But how she died seems to be unknown. She checked into the hospital for something, was there for a few weeks, and passed “with family by her side”.

I was really upset at first, clearly I still am. My birth mom was in the hospital for a few weeks and my aunt didn’t tell me? The opportunity to meet the woman who birthed me is gone and it breaks my heart.

All of this pain as being an adoptee has resurfaced I don’t even know how to handle it. I just keep crying. I never knew any biological family until I turned 29. I always felt so completely alone growing up.

I haven’t even told my adoptive parents that my birth mom has passed because it’s just going to make them uncomfortable and they’ll probably say I’m sorry and that’s about it.

When I told them I had found biological family on ancestry there was no happiness for me. There was fear. Never have they ever really talked to me about how I felt being adopted. But they didn’t know, I know that. I was just a grateful child who hid the wounds very very well.

Having adopted two children (my niece and nephew on my husband’s side) I will be a different parent. Their wounds will get the oxygen they need. And I will help them find answers.

I’m just sad right now. I’m just really really sad and another adoptee told that I’m experiencing disenfranchised grief. Basically it’s a grief that’s not understood or validated.

It’s lonely. It’s lonely to want to share this with more people in my life but they won’t get it but also I think…I don’t want to share because I’m not ready to fully reveal how much I’ve been holding in and for so long. Plus I can’t talk about this without crying.

I think that’s why I love this blog world so much. I can be so raw and just let it out. And no one close is going to read this because hardly anyone I know reads my stuff, and if they even do they never say anything.

And if you just read this, wow, thank you. Thank you for hearing me for a moment. Thank you for letting me cry and share.

To be a grown up and still this lost at times and here I am raising children…..

How do you guide children when you aren’t even sure of the way,

Ps – I do have a picture now of my birth mom when she was probably about 18. My youngest daughter has her eyes. They’re so beautiful.

Cheesy, Saucy, Baked Pasta

May 24, 2024May 24, 2024 The Wild Gems1 Comment

What You Need:

Between 1 1/2 lbs and 2 1/2 lbs of ground beef or sweet ground up sausage or you could do a lb of each of meat

2 jars of your favorite marinara pasta sauce we like ragu

1 lb of your favorite pasta noodle (ziti, rigatoni, macaroni, or spiral pasta are all good ones)

3 zucchini’s chopped green and yellow

3/4 of a sweet onion finely chopped

4 – 5 tablespoons of Olive oil

1 heaping tablespoon of jarred minced garlic

2 cups of Mozzarella cheese or extra depending on your cheesy level

1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese

Steps:

1. Heat up a large skillet while you chop your onion, and zucchini. Once skillet is heated through add about 2 tablespoons of olive oil and sauté the onion, zucchini, and garlic until soft. Lightly season with salt and pepper. Then set aside.

2. Cook pasta as directed in a large pot. (Tip: once the water begins to boil, add a few dashes of salt. THEN add your pasta. That will flavor your pasta) Once cooked, drain your water, and add the pasta to a 9 x 13 baking dish.

2. In the same skillet you cooked your veggies, add your meat. If using ground beef season as you normally would (I like to use salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, thyme, a little turmeric, and maybe a little oregano.) If you’re using the sausage you don’t need to season, should already be seasoned. Once cooked, drain fat if needed.

3. Add the veggies to the meat and mix well. Add both jars of pasta to the meat and veggie sauce, reserving about 1/2 cup of sauce. Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the sauce and a tablespoon of Italian seasoning mix. Allow the sauce to cook for just of minutes or until heated through.

4. Add the reserved pasta sauce to the naked pasta in the baking dish and mix well. Along with a tablespoon of olive oil.

5. Next add the meaty and veggie sauce to the pasta and mix well. Then add in 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese and 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese, give or take and mix well.

6. Once fully mixed, top with the rest of the Parmesan cheese and then top with the remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake at 375 for 25 mins covered with foil. Once the 25 minutes is completed, removed foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes.

7. Allow to sit for a few minutes, garnish with fresh parsley (optional ) and serve with your favorite crusty bread with unsalted butter.

Enjoy!!!