Finally...

... an article that supports my coffee addiction! This article was published as part of a Medscape Continuing Education Package, and its great for all of us women who drink WAAYYY to much coffee!

Coffee Intake Associated with Decreased Stroke in Woman

February 19, 2009 — "A new analysis of data from the Nurses' Health Study
shows that long-term intake of up to 4 or more cups of coffee per day was not
associated with an increased risk for stroke and actually appeared to be
protective against stroke in women who did not also smoke.

Among women who currently smoked, there appeared to be no effect of
coffee intake, neither raising nor lowering stroke risk. No association was seen
with other caffeinated drinks, including tea or soft drinks, and decaffeinated
coffee still showed a trend toward a protective effect.

"Our data support the hypothesis that components in coffee other than
caffeine may lower the risk for stroke, although the association was modest and
the biological mechanism is unclear," the researchers, with first author Ester
Lopez-Garcia, PhD, from the Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Spain, and
colleagues at the Harvard School of Public Health, in Boston, Massachusetts,
conclude.

Through the Fire

"So many times I’ve questioned certain circumstances
Or things I could not understand
Many times in trials, weakness blurs my vision
And my frustrations get so out of hand
It’s then I am reminded I’ve never been forsaken
I’ve never had to stand the test alone
As I look at all the victories, the Spirit rises up in me
It’s through the fire my weakness is made strong

And He never promised the cross would not get heavy and the hill would not be hard to climb
He never offered victory without fighting but He said help would always come in time
Just remember when you’re standing in the valley of decision and the adversary says give in
Just hold on, our Lord will show up and He will take you through the fire again

I know within myself that I would surely perish
But if I trust the hand of God, He’ll shield the flames again

And He never promised the cross would not get heavy and the hill would not be hard to climb
Just hold on, our Lord will show up and He will take you through the fire again
Just hold on, our Lord will show up and He will take you through the fire again"

I like this song that BBC's Cross Wind did one year. I like the message that it gives Christ's Followers, and its something that i struggle with. As a follower of God i want things to be easy, to be sunshine and roses because after all i am doing His Plan. But lets face it that's not what Christianity is all about.

The past little while i have been struggling with a few things, wondering why things just aren't working out. I'd love to be settled and at peace and out of the distress and storm life has thrown my way. But then i listen to this song, and i am reminded that God hasn't left me. He isn't throwing me to the wolves, he is mearly strengthening me. God's word promises that with Him we can do all things and even in the valley of the shadow of death we do not have to fear because GOD IS WITH US. I guess sometimes i get so caught up with my own life that i forget that God is there and He is going to help me and if i trust Him He will bring me through the fire. And just like a refinery or a pottery Kiln it takes heat and fire to create something beautiful. I look forward to seeing all the beauty that God will bring out of this either now or in eternity!

Is There a Peter in all of Us

Many have heard the storey of Peter denying Christ. Its a integral part of the Passion Storey. Today a member of our church spoke of Peter's denial in the service, it was the spring board to something else(another day's storey perhaps) but it got me thinking, is there a bit of Peter in all of us. I doubt that many of us on any given day blatantly DENY Christ, but i wonder are there other things in our lives that are denying Him? Are there words we are using that go against him. Are there things we are doing that dishonor or displease Christ, are their things we SHOULD be doing that we aren't? If we can answer yes to these then in essence are we too not denying Christ??? It really hit me. Are there any of these things in my life that i need to evaluate? At the end of my life i want to be able to stand before Christ and know that i lead a life pleasing to Him, and in THIS life i want there not to be any doubt that I am a Christ follower. Its hard at times, but in the end whats more important, this life? or the next?