The Honeymoon Effect

Kari BrowningBlog, General

Dr. Bruce Lipton, a cellular biologist, writes about the “Honeymoon Effect” and how it affects our health.

When we fall in love, our eyes twinkle. Our affection isn’t just limited to our partner; rather we are in love with life itself and it shows.

He urges us to rewrite our perceptions so we can create that head-over-heels in love state-of-mind again and again and again.

Lipton calls the quest to continuously feel “in love,” “the science of creating heaven on earth.” 💥

Science has spoken about such things, writes Lipton. For example, HeartMath researchers have found the impact of love itself is real and biochemically measurable.

According to Lipton, when subjects focus their attention on the heart and activate a core heart feeling, such as love, appreciation, or caring, these emotions immediately shift their heartbeat rhythms into a more coherent pattern. Increasing heartbeat coherence activates a cascade of neural and biochemical events that affect virtually every organ in the body.

Studies demonstrate that having heart coherence reduces the activity of the sympathetic nervous system—our fight-or-flight mechanism—while simultaneously increasing the healing activity of the parasympathetic nervous system. As a result, stress hormones are reduced and the anti-aging hormone DHEA is produced.

Love actually does make us healthier, happier, and causes us to live longer.

I have left “Christian City” and I am on a journey to find the Kingdom of Love, where I’ve heard that people fall in love over and over again with their beautiful King. He has become their “magnificent obsession.” Their eyes twinkle, they are love with life itself, and they experience “heaven on earth.”

Kingdom Culture

Kari BrowningBlog, General

The Kingdom of Love has a much different culture than what is found in most Evangelical churches.

In the Kingdom of Love, we are taught to bless and not to curse those that persecute us.

In the Kingdom of Love, we are taught to live in harmony with one another.

In the Kingdom of Love, we are taught not to repay anyone evil for evil.

In the Kingdom of Love, we are taught to live at peace with everyone.

In the Kingdom of Love, if your enemy is hungry, you feed him; if he is thirsty, you give him something to drink.

In the Kingdom of Love, you overcome evil with good.

The road is narrow and lonely to this beautiful Kingdom of Love. You have to leave the trappings of “Christian City” behind to find it.

Projection

Kari BrowningBlog, Healing

Projection is a defense mechanism where someone denies their faults and attributes them to others. They accuse you of doing things that they themselves are doing.

It often involves blame-shifting and shaming.

When someone projects, blame-shifts, or shames you, there is a temptation to explain yourself, defend yourself, or prove your point. If you get caught in this trap, you are wasting your precious time and energy.

Instead of defending yourself against a false accusation, the best thing is to not engage and walk away and end the toxic relationship if the person is unwilling to change.

Meet me There

Kari BrowningBlog, General

Jesus told us to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees (hypocrisy) and Herod (political power).

Churches and individuals that have been influenced by this “leaven” will demonize anyone who doesn’t agree with their beliefs. They begin to believe that “the other” is evil and that they are the enemy. It creates a culture of fear and distrust of anyone who is not a part of their group or their political party.

When religious hypocrisy merges with political power it can cause people to lose their soul and derail people from entering the Kingdom of Love.

The road to the Kingdom of Love is narrow. I’ve left “Christian City” behind and I am on a journey to find it, as it is where I want to live.

Safe People

Kari BrowningBlog, Healing

Years ago, a wise teacher told me “not everybody is safe.”

I tend to trust people too easily and too soon.

In the past, I’ve handed over my power to people who are not safe or trustworthy. Unfortunately, I have repeated this lesson over and over again.

Being able to trust realistically and to discern who is a “safe person” continues to be a learning process for me.

I am learning that trustworthiness is proven over time. Simple things like being on time, being dependable, and fulfilling obligations are indicators of whether you can trust someone. Breaking promises, even small ones, can be an indicator that the person cannot be trusted.

I am learning to trust my instincts and not to ignore “red flags.”

I am learning to listen to counsel and warnings. My husband has warned me not to trust certain people, but I have ignored those warnings and have jumped into relationships only to have to admit that he was right AGAIN.

I don’t want to put up a wall around my heart and be distrusting of people. I do, however, want to feel safe with those I allow in close to my heart. ❤️

Food as Medicine

Kari BrowningBlog, Nutrition

We all know that we are what we eat.

We feel alive, awake, and energized when we eat whole foods that are fresh, colorful, and nutrient-dense.

When we eat and juice greens, we are literally eating and drinking light – the energy of the sun.

Fruit has antioxidants that will boost our immune system and reduce inflammation.

Raw, unsalted nuts and seeds are a great source of protein and fiber, and they also contain healthy fats like omega 3s that our body (and especially our brain) need to function properly.

Let food be your medicine and raise your energetic vibration by choosing to eat well. ❤️

Bible and Science

Kari BrowningBlog, General

Important health principles have been in the Bible for hundreds of years before they were discovered by medical science.

There was a plague in Europe in 1346 to 1353 that killed 75 to 200 million people. Historians estimate the epidemic wiped out 45-60% of the population.

Only one city in Croatia imposed a quarantine. They required a 40-day isolation period for anyone entering the city. (This is the origin of the word quarantine – it comes from the Italian words quaranta giorni, which means 40 days.)

Centuries earlier, the children of Israel practiced quarantines to preserve the health of their nation. Those with contagious diseases had to live outside the camp until they recovered.

The Children of Israel were instructed to wash their hands under flowing water. Up until the 1800s, doctors washed their hands in a basin of still water, leaving invisible germs that resulted in the death of multitudes. Running water, as the Bible prescribes, is needed to wash away germs.

Another example involves waste disposal. The Bible instructed the Israelites to bury their human waste outside the camp. Prior to World War I, more soldiers died from disease due to the presence of human waste than died from war-inflicted injuries.

God also gave dietary laws. For instance, Jews were forbidden to eat pork. We now know that viruses, bacteria, and parasites are easily transferred from the pig to us. There were also laws regarding the humane slaughter of animals. The Bible states, “Ye shall not eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field” (Exodus 22:30). We now know that when an animal is stressed (by being chased or slaughtered in an inhumane way), stress hormones are released and we ingest those stress hormones. 😲

Scientists say it is highly likely that the coronavirus came from eating bats. The Bible forbids the eating of bats. Leviticus 11:13-19: “These are the birds you are to regard as unclean and not eat because they are unclean: the eagle, the vulture, the black vulture, the red kite, any kind of black kite, any kind of raven, the horned owl, the screech owl, the gull, any kind of hawk, the little owl, the cormorant, the great owl, the white owl, the desert owl, the osprey, the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe and the bat.”

Super Moons

Kari BrowningBlog, Prophetic Words

We’re currently enjoying a season of three super moons: March 9, April 7-8 and May 7, 2020.

March 9 was Purim. (Purim is a story of deliverance.)

April 8 is Passover. (Passover is a story of deliverance.)

May 7 is also an important date on God’s calendar.

May 7, 1983 was the date that Mike Bickle, founder of the 24/7 prayer movement in Kansas City, called a 21-day fast for revival.

Mike had been given “Daniel 9” on April 13, 1983, and was told to call the city to a fast for revival. On April 14, Bob Jones was visited by the angel Gabriel and was told to give Mike “Daniel 9” and that he would understand. He also said the promise of revival would be confirmed by a comet unpredicted by scientists on the date Mike called the fast.

The comet (unpredicted by scientists) arrived on May 7, the date they started the 21-day fast! They all thought revival would break out immediately because of this amazing sign. However, on the last day of the fast, Bob Jones said revival wasn’t going to come immediately. He prophesied that there is an “appointed time” and an “appointed season” for America, and when the Lord says it’s time, it will not be one day late.

During the fast, a promise was given that “no disease known to man would stand before this people.” (May 7 is also the date William Branham, the catalyst for the Latter Rain Revival, was commissioned into the healing ministry by an angel in 1946. William Branham had one of the greatest healing ministries of all time.)

A year prior to calling the fast, Mike Bickle heard an internal audible voice say, “I will change the understanding and expression of Christianity in one generation.” He instinctively knew it had to do with how unbelievers perceived the Church.

I believe we are in a time of great CHANGE – and the change is LOVE.

King David is an example of “the new government of love.” (See Isaiah 16:5, Msg) I believe that those who are not operating in love and humility will be removed and will be disqualified in this next season.

King Saul was mad, insecure, jealous, threw spears, and built a monument to himself. King David, on the other hand, was humble and quick to repent when confronted. (In 2 Samuel 24, God sent a plague that killed 70,000 because of David’s pride in numbering the fighting men. He quickly repented of his pride and the plague was stopped.)

“The war between the house of Saul and the house of David lasted a long time. David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.” (2 Samuel 3:1)

The first thing David did when he became king was bring the ark of God back, for they did not inquire of it during the reign of Saul. (See 1 Chronicles 13:3) The ark represents the presence of God. (Years ago, Bob Jones saw a group of young people carrying the ark of God down Blue Ridge Street in Kansas City to Arrowhead Stadium. They represented the apostolic ministry.)

Purim and Passover are “appointed times.” I believe that God is raising up deliverers like Esther (Purim) and Moses (Passover). I believe that there is an “appointed time” for revival and healing to come to America.

I believe the super moons on these significant dates are heralding a message, for those who have eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to understand.

Grief

Kari BrowningBlog, Healing

Many are experiencing grief right now due to the loss that the pandemic is bringing. The loss of normalcy; the loss of connection; the loss of finances; and, for some, the loss of loved ones.

Many of you are acquainted with the five stages of grief that were outlined by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. David Kessler, an expert on grief, talks about a sixth stage: finding meaning.

We don’t always go through these stages in a prescribed order. We may feel one, then another, and then go back again to the first one.

Many are in the shock and denial stage right now. They don’t want to believe that this pandemic is happening. They only want to hear good news and positive reports. As you accept the reality of what is happening, you can begin the healing process.

Anger is a necessary stage of the healing process. The more you truly feel it, the more it will begin to dissipate and the more you will heal. Anger is a secondary emotion and there can be many emotions under the anger. For example, most of us don’t like being told what to do and being told we have to stay home may bring up feelings of being controlled.

Bargaining is when we will do anything to stop what is happening. For example, believing that if I just social distance for two weeks, then everything will be all right. We may make promises to God, in order to persuade Him to stop the suffering. Guilt can also be associated with this stage. We think thoughts like “if only” and “what if.”

Depression or sadness is an appropriate response to a deep loss. To not experience sadness would be unusual.

When we come to a place of acceptance, it is not that we no longer feel the pain of loss. Sadness can still be present in this stage, but our survival techniques of denial, bargaining, and anger are less likely to be present.

Finding meaning in our loss is important. Viktor Frankel, who survived the holocaust, wrote a book entitled “Man’s Search for Meaning.” He said, “When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” During this time of uncertainty and loss, we have the choice to change ourselves. We can recognize what is truly important. We can be grateful. We can learn to love.

No Coincidences

Kari BrowningBlog, General, Uncategorized

It is not a coincidence, I believe, that the coronavirus quarantine falls at the same time that the plagues occurred in Egypt.

The plagues persuaded Pharaoh to let the children of Israel leave Egypt. Passover is known as the “Season of our Freedom.”

As they left Egypt on Passover, Moses took with him the bones of Joseph. Joseph had made the children of Israel swear, 400 years prior, to take his bones when they left. (See Gen. 50:25)

Why did Joseph ask them to take his bones with them?

I think he was looking ahead to the resurrection. I believe he longed to be a part of that which was yet to come and he made provision to have his bones taken to the Promised Land because he saw what would take place in the future.

Jesus was crucified on Passover on the same date (approximately 1500 years later) that the lambs were slain in Egypt and the blood was put on the doorposts to spare them from the plague of the death of the firstborn.

Following Jesus’ resurrection, the graves of many of the saints were opened and they went into the city and appeared to many people. (See Matthew 27:51-53)

I wonder if Joseph was among these that were resurrected?