Health Meditations

Grief: A Valley Experience

Grief is another word for the valley of the shadow of death.  In a valley, you cannot see what's next because the mountains block your view.  You must trust God to see you through.

A valley experience can strengthen your relationship with God; it is an opportunity:

To be still and know that God is God.
To focus on God and let Him keep you in perfect peace.
To walk by faith and not by sight.
To love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,
To worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.
To rejoice in the Lord always.
To seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.
To encourage and strengthen yourself in the Lord.
To receive the Spirit of adoption so that you become a child of God and enjoy all the privileges belonging to a child of God.
To receive the Holy Spirit.
To believe that God will never leave you nor forsake you.
To believe that all things work together for good for those who love God and who are called according to His purpose.
To pray without ceasing.
To believe that whatever you ask for in prayer in Jesus' name, you will receive it and it will be yours.
To repent for any doubts you may have so that your Yes is Yes and your No is No.
To turn your burden of sorrow and sadness over to Jesus.
To stretch out your hand and be healed.
To be anxious for nothing.
To be obedient.

A valley experience can strengthen your relationship with other people; it is an opportunity:

To love other people the way God loves you.
To serve in season and out of season.
To give honor where honor is due.
To let your light shine before men.
To acknowledge Abba Father, Jesus Christ and Holy Spirit before men.
To encourage and strengthen your sisters and brothers.
To pray for those who persecute you.
To turn the other cheek.
To go the extra mile.
To forgive.

Psalm 23:4
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

It doesn't matter how you ended up in the valley.  What matters it what you learn and what you do while you are there.  Make the most of your time in the valley and…

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Deborah White, MD, MBA

 

Grief: Another Word for Return on Investment (ROI)

Grief is deep or intense mental anguish, sorrow, distress, sadness or heartache caused by loss.  It comes from an old French word that means afflict, burden, oppress.

Grief can only occur if you've invested your heart in someone.  The bigger your investment, the bigger the return on your investment will be:

• The more extreme the anguish
• The more searing the sorrow
• The deeper the distress
• The more severe the sadness
• The heavier the heartache

You don't realize how much of your heart you've invested until it aches for what you've lost, especially when the loss is sudden and unexpected.

When you find yourself afflicted, burdened or oppressed by grief, remember the following:

Nehemiah 8:10
Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."

Psalm 30:5
For His anger is but for a moment,
His favor is for life;
Weeping may endure for a night,
But joy comes in the morning.

Romans 8:28
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

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Deborah White, MD, MBA

Truth Trumps Old Wives' Tales

In my June 26, 2010 posting, I listed eleven old wives' tales.  I stated that each one is completely untrue.  However, I did not give you any details.  So here is the truth to trump each old wives' tale:

Old wives' tale: Every normal female has a girl ovary and a boy ovary.

Truth: Both ovaries in a woman are the same.  Every egg in each of a woman's two ovaries carries an X chromosome.

The gender of a child is determined by the kind of sperm cell that unites with an egg.  When a male releases sperm, half the sperm cells carry Y chromosomes and half the sperm cells carry X chromosomes.

If a sperm cell carrying an X chromosome fertilizes a woman's egg, the result is a child with two X chromosomes.  A child with XX is a girl.

If a sperm cell carrying a Y chromosome fertilizes a woman's egg, the result is a child with an X chromosome and a Y chromosome.  A child with XY is a boy.

Old wives' tale: In every normal male, one testicle produces sperm that make boy babies and the other testicle produces sperm that make girl babies.

Truth: Both testicles in a man are the same.  Both testicles produce sperm cells that carry an X chromosome and sperm cells that carry a Y chromosome.

Each of a woman's eggs carries an X chromosome. 

If a sperm cell carrying an X chromosome fertilizes a woman's egg, the result is a child with two X chromosomes.  A child with XX is a girl.

If a sperm cell carrying a Y chromosome fertilizes a woman's egg, the result is a child with an X chromosome and a Y chromosome.  A child with XY is a boy.

Old wives' tale: A woman cannot get pregnant if she has sex with a man while standing up.

Truth: A woman can get pregnant if she has sex with a man while standing up.  If a man and a woman have unprotected sex and is pre-menopausal, she is at risk of getting pregnant, regardless of her position.

Old wives' tale: A woman cannot get pregnant the first time she has sex.

Truth: A woman can get pregnant the first time she has sex.  It doesn't matter whether it's the first time or the 101st time.  If a woman has unprotected sex and is premenopausal, she is at risk of getting pregnant.

Old wives' tale: A man cannot get a woman pregnant if he pulls his penis out of the woman's vagina before he ejaculates.

Truth: Even if a man pulls his penis out of the woman's vagina before he ejaculates, the woman can still get pregnant, because some sperm are released even before the man ejaculates.

Old wives' tale: You can tell by looking at someone if they have a sexually transmitted infection.

Truth: You cannot tell by looking at someone if they have a sexually transmitted infection.  Some sexually transmitted infections can be present without causing any signs or symptoms.  So it is possible to look healthy and still have a sexually transmitted disease.

Old wives' tale: You will always know if you have a sexually transmitted infection.

Truth: Some sexually transmitted infections can be present without causing any symptoms.  So it is possible to feel fine and still have a sexually transmitted disease.

Old wives' tale: You cannot get a sexually transmitted infection from oral sex.

Truth: It is possible to get a sexually transmitted disease from oral sex, including but not limited to infections like gonorrhea and herpes.

Old wives' tale: A woman who has never had sex is not a virgin if she uses tampons.

Truth: If you have never had sex, you are still a virgin, even if you use tampons.  Using a tampon does not affect your virginity in any way.

Old wives' tale: A woman will not get pregnant if she showers or douches immediately after intercourse.

Truth: Showering or douching immediately after intercourse will not prevent pregnancy.  Sperm cells move very quickly.  They can rapidly move through the cervix and into the uterus where douching and showering cannot reach them.

Old wives' tale: Once a male has an erection, he must have intercourse, or he can be harmed by not ejaculating sperm.

Truth: A male will not suffer any harm if he has an erection and does not have intercourse.  He may feel uncomfortable for a brief period of time, but he will not be damaged.

John 8:32
And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

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Deborah White, MD, MBA

WDJS

You may be familiar with the abbreviation WWJD.  It stands for "What Would Jesus Do?"  When you stop to consider what Jesus would do, all you can do is speculate and conjecture.  Based on what you know about Jesus, you can make your best guess.

WDJS stands for "What Did Jesus Say?"  When it comes to what Jesus said, no speculation or conjecture is necessary.  You need only pick up a red letter edition of the New Testament.  The words of Jesus are printed in red.  So you can see what Jesus said about Himself, God, Holy Spirit, eternity and humanity. 

So why speculate about WWJD?  Read the New Testament and find out for yourself: WDJS?

Matthew 4:4
But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'"

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Deborah White, MD, MBA

Healthy by Choice

If you are healthy by choice,

You prefer prevention to intervention.
You proactively pursue health and wellness through your lifestyle.
You are not looking for a quick fix or a magic bullet to right decades of decadence and indifference.
You opt for long-term discipline rather than short-term detox.
You partake in things that are non-toxic, nurturing and nourishing.
You embrace and enjoy exercise.
You treasure your fearfully and wonderfully made temple.
You know that good health doesn't just happen.
Your health reflects the quality of your choices.

Deuteronomy 30:19
I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;

Always choose blessing.  Always choose life.

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Deborah White, MD, MBA

A Lifelong Work in Progress

Your body is a work in progress from beginning to  end.

The beginning of your life and the beginning of your body is the moment of conception.  At that time, egg and sperm become one and combine with the spirit that God ordained to be you.  The one cell formed by the union of egg and sperm and imbued with your spirit begins to divide, differentiate and develop.  From the one come many, the countless cells that make up your body.  The process occurs the entire time you are in the womb.  It continues after birth, through childhood, adolescence and adulthood.  Cell division, differentiation and development cease when your body dies.

Your conception, growth, differentiation and development are a manifestation of just how fearfully and wonderfully made you are.  The exquisitely complex physiology and the functional simplicity of your body exemplify God's handiwork.

Ephesians 2:10
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Psalm 139:14
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.

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Deborah White, MD, MBA

The Advantage of Being Chosen

Sometimes being first is not an advantage.  The first one is often not the chosen one.

Abel was the second-born son of Adam and Eve, but he brought a more excellent offering to God than Cain, the firstborn.  When Cain murdered him, Abel's blood cried out to God.  Cain was marked as a murderer for the rest of his life.

Seth was the third-born of Adam and Eve.  Seth's lineage survived the great flood because Seth's direct descendant was Noah.

Isaac was the second-born of Abraham's sons, but he was the son of the covenant between God and Abraham.  He was the son God promised to Abraham and Sarah.

Jacob was the second-born of Isaac and Rebekkah's twins, but he was the son God used to give rise to the nation of Israel.

Rachel was the second wife of Jacob, but she was his true love.  He loved her so much that after being tricked into marrying Rachel's older sister Leah, Jacob was willing to work another seven years to have Rachel as his wife.

Joseph was Jacob's eleventh son, the first-born of Jacob's true love Rachel.  Joseph was Jacob's favorite son, and that blatant favoritism prompted envy and hatred in the hearts of Joseph's ten half-brothers.  Their distain for Joseph initiated a series of events that positioned him to save the nation of Israel from seven years of famine.

Moses was not the firstborn son in his household, but he was the one God chose to lead Israel out of Egyptian captivity.

David was the youngest of Jesse's eight sons.  He was of so little significance to Jesse that Jesse did not present him to Samuel when the prophet came to anoint a new king of Israel.  But David was God's choice for king.

Solomon was not the firstborn of David's sons, but he was the one chosen to succeed David.  Solomon was the one God chose to build his temple.

Jesus was the last Adam. 
The first Adam was created from the dust of the earth.
The last Adam is the only begotten Son of the Father.
The first Adam disobeyed God.
The last Adam was obedient, even to death on the cross.
The first Adam brought death and spiritual separation from God.
The last Adam came so that men could have life more abundantly and everlasting life with God.

1 Corinthians 15:45
And so it is written, "The first man Adam became a living being." The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

Matthew 20:16
So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen."

Don't worry about being first.  It's more important to be chosen.

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Deborah White, MD, MBA

Royalty

Royalty identifies a supreme ruler and their family.  Royalty describes a person belonging to the lineage of a supreme ruler.  Royalty expresses the regal dignity, power, status, authority, rank and position of a supreme ruler.

If you are a child of God, you are royalty and you have the power, status, authority, rank and position befitting the lineage the Supreme Ruler.

John 1:12-13
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Romans 8:15-17
15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

1 John 3:1-2
1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

1 Peter 2:9-10
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

You are royalty because God was merciful enough to adopt you.  Show the same mercy that you have received.

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Deborah White, MD, MBA

Study

Study originated from a Latin root word that means eagerness; that root came from another root that means to be diligent, to be pressing forward.

Study means:

• To read carefully.
• To apply the mind purposely to the pursuit, learning and acquisition of knowledge or understanding of a subject, especially by reading.
• To examine closely and consider in a comprehensive way, in detail, and to subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning.
• To examine so as to determine accuracy, quality, or condition.
• To follow, discover, or ascertain the course of development of something such as a concept, a storyline or a character in a story.
• To reflect deeply on a subject.
• To use or exercise the mind or one's power of reason in order to make inferences, deductions or conclusions.

A book club is a group of people who meet regularly to discuss, examine, analyze, reflect deeply upon and draw conclusions about books they have read.

My question is:

How odd is it for a group of people to attend a book club meeting without having read the book scheduled for discussion at that meeting?

I guarantee you that the person leading the discussion has read the book at least twice, possibly three times, in order to prepare for the discussion.  If you belong to a book club, have enough respect for the person leading the group to diligently read and study the book, the entire book, prior to attending the meeting. 

2 Timothy 2:15

Amplified Bible (AMP)
Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth.

King James Version (KJV)
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

New King James Version (NKJV)
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

New International Version (NIV)
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

The Message (MSG)
Concentrate on doing your best for God, work you won't be ashamed of, laying out the truth plain and simple.

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Deborah White, MD, MBA

Body

A body is something singular, particular, separate and distinct; an entity that is distinguishable from surrounding entities.  It is the entire material or physical structure of an individual.  It is the physical part of a person; the flesh, as opposed to the spirit

A body is also a collection of particulars, individuals or ideas spoken of collectively and regarded as a single entity because the collection has a common tie, relationship or purpose.  So a separate, distinct and singular entity can be part of a body of evidence, a body of knowledge, a body of doctrine, a corporate body or a governing body.

In light of these definitions, consider the following questions:

When do you prefer an identity as separate and singular?
When do you prefer the commonality of a collective?
What governs your body?

Contemplate your answers, and…

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Deborah White, MD, MBA