“Mediating on any form of love, including God’s love, strengthens the same neurological circuits that allow us to feel compassion for others.” How God Changes Your Brain-Andrew Newberg, M.D.

The Passion Translation states three times in 1 John chapter 4, that God is love. Those who love are fathered by God, and have intimate knowledge of him. Love is defined in 1 Corinthians 13 as long suffering, patient, kind, not arrogant or boastful, bearing up in all things, and never failing. How often do we meditate on all the evil things of the world such as the news or on who has hurts us? What would happen if we chose to meditate on love? How would that change us or the environment around us? God’s love is perfect, and He revealed His love by sending His Son into the world so that we might live through Him. It was God’s love for us, not our love for Him, that drove Him to send His Son as an offering for our trespasses. Mediating on God’s love will be transforming to us and those around us. This weeks mediation is from 1 John 4:18:

Love never brings fear, for fear is always related to punishment. But love’s perfection drives fear of punishment far from our hearts. Whoever walks constantly afraid of punishment has not reached love’s perfection.

Epigenetics is the study of phenotypic cellular changes that occur in response to environmental experiences. These external, environmental factors either “turn on” or “turn off” gene expression causing phenotypic changes. Studies are revealing that these phenotypic changes can be passed on to a persons’ offspring. A study on pregnant women, who lived through the Dutch famine of 1944-1945, revealed a higher incidence of schizophrenia and breast cancer in their children. Furthermore, if the pregnant woman was in her second trimester during the famine, her child had a higher incidence of lung and kidney issues. Researchers have described epigenetics as a form of cellular memory. Most of our memory involves brain cells (Krippner and Barrett, 2019).

Maybe this is why the Bible tells us to be transformed by the renewing of our mind (Romans 12:2). Galatians 3:13 tells us that Jesus took all the curses on the tree. Christ purchased our freedom from the curse of the law. Epigenetics is an exciting new field of study and we will dig deeper into this study in the weeks to come. This weeks meditation is Galatians 3:13.

Christ purchased our freedom [redeeming us] from the curse (doom) of the Law [and its condemnation] by [Himself] becoming a curse for us, for it is written [in the Scriptures], Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree (is crucified).

Krippner, Staley and Deirdre Barrett (2019) Transgenerational Trauma: The Role of Epigenetics. The Journal

of Mind and Behavior. Winter 2019. Volume 40, Number 1, pp. 53-62.

Now may God, the fountain of hope, fill you to overflowing with uncontainable joy and perfect peace as you trust Him. And may the power of the Holy Spirit continually surround your life with his super-abundance until you radiate with hope! Romans 15:13

This weeks meditation is from the book of Romans. This verse is a prayer that Paul prayed over his brothers and sisters in Christ living in Rome. May you be filled with uncontainable joy and peace as you trust Him. Joy and peace are emotions that have been linked to physical and emotional health.

Interestingly, Vitamin D has also been linked to physical and emotional health. Vitamin D is a steroid-like fat soluble vitamin that is synthesize in the skin by exposure to sunlight. Vitamin D is also found in fatty fish and other fortified foods. The brain uses a lot of vitamin D and studies are revealing it’s neuroprotective effects. Low vitamin D has been linked to disease like dementia, autism, cardiovascular disease, and depression (Anjum et al, 2018). I suggest that taking 2000-5000 iu daily.

As you trust Him this week, take time to meditate on the joy and peace that is promised to you. Jesus said “I am Light of the world”. Let His Light shine on you. Peace be with you all.

————————————————————————————————————-Anjum, I., Jaffery, S. S., Fayyaz, M., Samoo, Z., & Anjum, S. (2018). The Role of Vitamin D in Brain Health: A

Mini Literature Review. Cureus. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.2960

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Jesus replied, “If you only knew who I am and the gift that God wants to give you, you’d ask me for a drink, and I would give you living water.” John 4:10

Water is essential to life. The human body is composed of mostly water, but most people do not drink enough. Water helps maintain our body temperature, lubricate our joints, and helps our cells perform their vital function. Many common aliments like heartburn, muscle aches, and head aches might be alleviated by just drinking enough water. One simple way to find how much water you need per day is to take your body weight and divide it in half and that is how much water you need per day. For example, a 120 pound woman needs 60 oz. of water per day.

Our mediation this week is from the Book of John. The word that stood out to me in this scripture is the word “gift”. How many of us are going around thirsty, because we have not recognized the gift of living water given to us through the death and resurrection of Jesus. Water in the bible often symbolizes the Holy Spirit. Jesus tells us that whoever believes in Him will have living water flowing from their innermost being (John 7:38). Jesus also said that he would give us another, a Comforter, that would remain with us forever (John 14:16). The living water is the Spirit of Jesus. It is His Life giving Spirit that is as vital to the body and the Spirit as the physical drinking of water. Have you ask Him for a drink? Are you thirsty today? Are you hurting physically and spiritually? Come and drink the life giving water! You will never be thirsty!

Jesus came to show us the Father. He obeyed the Father out of love, not in fear of punishment or to prove himself. He (Jesus) understood His obedience to the Father had a bigger purpose than himself. His obedience to His Father would reinstate the would back to Himself, redeeming the whole world.

We are are called to live in relationship with the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) in Love and obedience. When we understand the power of the cross and the Love that drove Jesus, there is no other response, but to surrender to King Jesus in obedience and love. It is our of love for Him (Jesus) that drives us to respond to His love by loving others.

Jesus brought the Kingdom of Heaven to earth, and those that followed Him, brought the Kingdom of Heaven to a hurting world. We are called to be conduits of His Love, bringing the Kingdom of Heaven to earth. If we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us. The Kingdom is not about eating or drinking but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. The Kingdom of Heaven is not about you and me, and what God can do for us, but about you and me dwelling in the secret place and releasing the Kingdom of heaven everywhere we go.

In order to bring heaven to earth, first and foremost, we must spend time with Jesus in order to know Him. We have to let go of the things of the world that keeping us from developing a close relationship with Him. Go to Him today. He is a good King who rules in power and truth. He is a safe place of refuge and of radial transformation. Radial obedience will lead to radial blessings in all areas of our life and right believing will lead to right living.

A happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing, but a broken spirit dries up the bones. Proverb 17:22

Medical studies are confirming that a healthy mind contributes to a healthy body. Our brain is connected to our immune system through small vessels. Fearful, negative thoughts release negative stress neurotransmitters. Over time, these negative neurotransmitters can accelerate cellular aging and damage the brain. What you mediate on matters! Our mediation this week is from the Song of Songs 2:14-15:

For you are my dove, hidden in the split-open rock. It was I who took you and hid you high in the secret stairway of the sky. Let me see your radiant face and hear your sweet voice. How beautiful your eyes of worship and lovely your voice of prayer. You must catch the troubling foxes, those sly little foxes that hinder our relationship. For they raid our budding vineyard of love to ruin what I’ve planted within you. Will you catch them and remove them for me? We will do it together.

“Foxes” are thoughts and attitudes of the heart that distract us from fully engaging in our relationship with Jesus through worship and prayer. “Foxes” are areas in our life that we have not fully surrendered to the Victory of Christ. This week, will you catch these “troubling foxes” that are keeping you from going to the secret place to spend time with Jesus? He calls you His beloved and he thinks you are beautiful and your voice is lovely!

For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life. For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him. John 3:16-17

This weeks meditation is John 3:16-17. For believers, this is a very familiar passage, but one that really needs to be pondered. Love is something that everyone needs and desires. Love is at the root of feeling secure. Jesus gave up His life, so that those who believe in Him, shall not perish but shall have eternal life. His love never fails and never changes. Jesus also gave a command: love God, love your neighbor, and love yourself. Today, think about the kind of love that drove Jesus to the cross for you and me. Also, ponder on the love that God has for you as His most prized workmanship. Lastly, think loving thoughts about yourself. You have have been fearfully and wonderfully made. You have gifts and talents and the world needs you. You are valuable to the world and those around you. My prayer for you today:

May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love, That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God’s devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it]; [That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]! Ephesians 3:17-19

There are multiple reasons why many are sick today. Diet, lack of exercise, and genetics play important roles in health, but one overlook area to health is our thoughts and emotions. What one thinks and speaks does matter. The bible tells us that as a man thinks so he is in his heart (Proverbs 23:7) and out of the fullness (superabundance) of the heart the mouth speaks (Matthew 12:34). The things of this world are temporal or temporary, but there is a Kingdom that is eternal. There is also a King that has come and will come again to establish His Kingdom on earth-King Jesus. This week, instead of mediating on the things of the world, shift your focus to Jesus and His Kingdom. His Kingdom is full of grace and filled with the abundance of life. He has loved you from the foundation of the world and wants to give you life and life more abundantly. The scripture for this week is John 10:9-11. As you read it, take one or two words from the scripture, and intentionally think and speak those words throughout the day and throughout the week. Changing your thoughts will change your life!

John 10: 9-11 I am the Gateway. To enter through me is to experience life, freedom, and satisfaction. A thief has only one thing in mind-he wants to steal, slaughter, and destroy. But I have come to give you everything in abundance, more than you expect-life in its fullness until you overflow!