Faith & Health Stewardship

When we hear about oil being used in the Bible, it may be easy to glide over the word and move on……( at least it was for me years ago) until I learned the historical uses for essential oils and pure carrier oils (like olive, coconut, jojoba, etc). Once I knew, reading the Bible became a 4th dimensional experience because I could grab an oil and thru smell and application, step into the pages. 
There is a document called The Papyrus Ebers which contains recipes for health and wellness. It is the longest and most famous document relating to the practice of ancient medicine, written about 1500 B.C.. The Bible is ripe with medical information that coorborates the Papyrus Ebers….. not surprising considering the Bible is to be used as a handbook for living life well ( and healthy!).
When Jesus was given gold, frankincense and myrrh, the latter two had more value than the gift of gold for their health benefits (and monetary value too).
A good shepherd knew the medicinal value of oil that came from plants. He would know which plants repelled flies, made the best poultices,  or healed a wound. This information was passed down from generation to generation. Neither man, beast, or plant has changed much over the centuries, and God has not changed at all.
He gave us what we need in the garden🙏. It’s up to us to use it.
xoxo~ liz
(If you’d like to learn more, let’s chat!)

Happy St. Paddy’s Day!
Most people know St. Patrick thanks to a day filled with all things green and Irishness, but do you really know the man behind the day? His story is a pretty inspiring one!
 ☘️St. Patrick is the patron saint and national apostle of Ireland.
 ☘️Contrary to popular belief, he wasn’t Irish. He was born around A.D. 375 in Britain, probably somewhere in Scotland, though the exact date and place are unknown.
 ☘️According to several sources, he is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland. He was probably partly responsible as well for the Christianization of the Picts (an early Scottish people group) and Anglo-Saxons.
 ☘️When he was 16, St. Patrick was kidnapped by pirates and sold into slavery in Ireland to herd and tend sheep.
 ☘️After six years in captivity, he escaped after having a dream sent by God, telling him to leave Ireland by going to the coast where he would find a ship waiting to sail to Britain.
 ☘️He later became a priest and a bishop and is known for two short works: Confessio and Letter to Coroticus.
 ☘️In Confessio, he tells about a dream sent by God. In it, he was given a letter with the heading “The Voice of the Irish.” He heard the Irish people calling out to him to come back to Ireland and walk once more among them.
 ☘️After overcoming doubts, and motivated by a deep sense of purpose, he returned to Ireland, where he preached and converted people for 40 years, amid opposition and formidable difficulties—not a small accomplishment, given the circumstances at that time.
☘️His Letter to Coroticus was a denunciation of British mistreatment of Irish Christians.
 ☘️According to legend, He used the shamrock to help explain the concept of the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) to unbelievers. 
 ☘️ I’m not sure where the green beer, leprechauns, and pots of gold fit into St Patrick’s story 😂! Sometimes what we think we know has nothing to do with what is true. 😉
St. Patrick’s life was guided by a strong sense of divinely inspired purpose. Some pretty significant icky moments and obstacles didn’t appear to get in the way of what God asked him to do. I admire people who know their purpose in life!
Enjoy your day and get your green on in honor of St. Paddy! 
☘️💚☘️💚 ~ liz

by Stephanie Gregory

Have you ever felt like you’re running on empty? Like the world is spinning faster than you can keep up? Friend, I’ve been there—and I want you to know something important: you’re not alone.

In my work with women overcoming anxiety and burnout, I’ve learned that prioritizing self-care isn’t just a luxury—it’s a spiritual act of stewardship. God didn’t design us to survive, but to thrive.

The Quiet Power of Intentional Rituals

Over the last decade, I’ve helped hundreds of women reclaim their peace through faith-based holistic support. Today, I’m sharing six transformative practices that have been game-changers for my clients and myself.

1. Daily Soul Check-Ins: Listening to Your Inner Voice

Before the noise of the day takes over, create a sacred space for reflection. This isn’t just self-care—it’s hearing God’s whispers.

Ask yourself:

• What do I need to surrender today?
• Where is God inviting me to rest?
• What boundaries need gentle reinforcement?

Essential Oils for Grounding:

• Sacred Frankincense (for spiritual connection)
• Cedarwood (for clarity and presence)
• White Angelica (for emotional protection)

2. Meditation: Rewiring Your Brain through Faith and Presence

Meditation isn’t just a wellness trend—it’s a biblical practice of stillness. When we quiet our minds, we create space to hear God’s guidance.

Oils for Spiritual Alignment:

• Valor
• Northern Lights Black Spruce
• Peace & Calming

3. The Healing Power of Gratitude

Gratitude is a powerful spiritual discipline. It shifts our focus from what’s wrong to God’s abundant grace.

Try this: Each morning, write three things you’re grateful for. Let this be your prayer, your worship.

4. Emotional Energy Clearing

Your emotional space matters. Just as we cleanse our physical environment, we must tend to our spiritual and emotional landscapes.

Emotional Release Ritual:

• Use Release or Palo Santo for energetic cleansing
• Apply White Angelica for spiritual protection
• Reflect on what you’re surrendering to God

5. Mindful Movement: Honoring Your Body as a Temple

Movement is a form of worship. It’s about connecting your body, mind, and spirit—not punishment or perfection.

Supportive Recovery Oils:

• PanAway
• Peppermint
• Cypress
• Lemon

6. Smile and Let Joy Interrupt Stress

Did you know that smiling—even when you don’t feel like it—can release mood-boosting chemicals? It’s science meeting grace.

Oils for Joy:

• Joy blend
• Lemon
• Orange
• Citrus Fresh

Final Reflection: You Were Made to Shine

Remember, self-care isn’t selfish—it’s how we show up fully for our purpose. As I often tell my clients, “From fear to freedom” isn’t just a tagline. It’s a promise.

Your light is meant to be bright, not dimmed by burnout or overwhelm. These practices are your pathway to peace, one intentional moment at a time.

Breathe. Trust. Align.

💛 With love and faith, Stephanie

Tools:
      Grounding (bottom of your feet, back of your neck, or diffuse)….Sacred Frankincense
      Reflecting on your goals…  Envision
      Alignment or clarity…  Cedarwood
      Joy and togetherness…  Joy
     Creativity…  Lime
     Focus…  Peppermint
     Strength & security…  White Angelica
     Calm…  Lavender
     Motivation…  Motivation, Awaken, or Envision
     Passion…   Ylang Ylang
     Grounding…  Frankincense
     Positive mindset…  Lemon, Citrus Fresh
     Positive energy shift…   Abundance

Two of the most well known essential oils, 💧Frankincense and 💧Myrrh, pretty much owe their claim to fame to three wise men over 2000 years ago. Now that’s some kind of successful advertising campaign! 😉

I’ve been celebrating this Christmas season by walking thru a 25 day devotional, “The Soul Felt its Worth”. Each morning has been like an Advent calendar for me as I learn history and relevant Bible verses and theology expressed through 25 traditional Christmas carols.

As I write this, I’m on day 11: “We Three Kings”…..written in 1857 by American clergyman John Henry Hopkins Jr. Spoiler alert…. The Bible never put a number on the wise men who travelled to see infant Jesus ….. Nevertheless, this carol is where we get the 3 kings/wise men from!

Although it’s considered a Christmas hymn, “We Three Kings” is really a poetic tribute to Jesus’ whole life, with Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh representing some very key attributes:
(verse 3)
“Born A King on Bethlehem’s plain
Gold I bring to crown Him again
King forever, ceasing never
Over us all to reign.”

Gold (referenced in verse 3) has been a sign of royalty, wealth, and power since nearly the beginning of time. Giving the gift of gold to Jesus was an acknowledgement to the birth of the King of Kings.
(verse 4)
“Frankincense to offer have I
Incense owns a Deity nigh
Prayer and praising, all men raising
Worship Him, God most high”

💧Frankincense was used in the temple as an incense and anointing oil, and was a symbolic acknowledgement of God and spiritual leadership. (You will be learning so much about the historic healing properties of Frank and Myrrh next week! Stay tuned!!❤ )
(verse 5)
“Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume
Breathes of life of gathering gloom
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying
Sealed in the stone-cold tomb.”

💧Myrrh had many historical uses, including that as a key embalming agent. Its name comes from the word ‘marar’ which means bitterness. For myrrh oil to be attained, the tree’s heartwood must be pierced/tapped allowing the gum resin to trickle out in red droplets called ‘tears’. The gift of myrrh symbolizes Jesus’ earthly a bitter death and subsequent burial. .
And finally, the phrase “Guide us to Thy perfect Light” in verse 2 leads us to the truth of the matter. The kings/magi-astronomers were looking for something far more significant than the bright star they were following. They were looking for THE Light. ☀️
God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. ~ I John 1:5.
Enjoy the journey this coming week friends!
xoxo~liz

#Hegaveusthetoolsinthegarden
#sharingiscaring
#WiseIndeed
#GoldFrankincenseandMyrrh
#oilsoftheBible
#ThanksYL

Hey Wellness Prepper friends! A month ago, God watered a seed in my soul that had been planted twenty years ago. 
If I am nothing more, I am a child of God with a desire to walk in integrity in all that I do and say. I will not waver from that.
In 1991, I graduated from pharmacy school and during the graduation ceremony, I made an oath👩‍⚕️ that contained parts of the Hippocratic oath to do no harm. My full intention as a pharmacist has always been to help people live fuller and healthier lives. The industry that is pharmacy has changed over the last 30 years, and so have I. The more I have learned in an effort to truly help people heal, the more my integrity became tested.
While there will always be a time and a place for westernized medical care (emergent care immediately comes to mind), until we learn to love ourselves enough to WANT to #dothethings predominately outside the system of Big Pharma, we will never achieve optimal health. Big Pharma does not want that for any of us. Chronic illness is a cash crop with a guaranteed harvest. The harvest is exponentially larger the more medications someone is on. Patients are ultimately a commodity.
For this reason, I have made the decision with my sweet husband’s blessing, to step away from corporate pharmacy practice so that I can focus on helping people achieve health in a fully holistic manner.  Speaking truth and light freely could only be done by stepping way from a paycheck that was indirectly also a muzzle.  
Unmuzzled, I’m now free to fully practice pharmacy in a way that few do…. holistically.  I understand the inner workings of how Big Pharma affects the body and mind. I also know that It IS possible to live “outside the system”, using allopathic medicine only when absolutely necessary.   
Interested in working on your health in a truly holistic manner?  Let’s chat. 📞…..I’m in it for the long haul and am stepping out in faith to help others using the gifts, talents, and 30 years experience God has given me. I was created for a time such as this as Esther (4:14) would say…. to help you find your wellness sweet spot, so that you can be all God created you to be too. #Hehasbigplansforeachoneofus
Here’s my story~
xoxo~liz