Our Vision
We believe
Everyone is an artist, created in the image of God.
You have the capacity to shine.
In stillness we hear the voice of God; in darkness we see the stars.
No matter how tiny your light, you add beauty to the world.
All things were created in goodness.
“Rejoice always” is a command worth learning to obey.
To be childlike is to be uninhibited.
God’s Word is a window into mystery.
The Holy Spirit is a safe, trustworthy guide.
Jesus is our pioneer.
Do whatever it takes to forgive others and yourself.
Why Firefly Life?
One 4th of July I stood on the shores of Mullett Lake in Northern Michigan and watched through binoculars as a barge loaded with professional fireworks blazed out of control. No one was seriously injured, but that was the crowning fiasco to several days of annoying late night bangs and booms that drove our dog mad since local revelers couldn’t wait for the mid-week celebration. As I turned away from the chaos and started back to the cottage I happened to look at an old weeping willow and noticed the a tiny glow. Silent. Magical. The firefly spoke to my soul.
Small, insignificant, easy-to-miss. Beautiful. Mysterious. Holding light within themselves they evoke joy, bring comfort. They make us stop and wonder; they draw us near. That’s how I want to live my life, a firefly life.
Firefly Facts
Fireflies/lightening bugs/glowworms are actually beetles.
They contain an organic compound in their abdomens called luciferin. As air rushes into the abdomen, it reacts with the chemical and creates bioluminescence, or “living light.”
The firefly can regulate the airflow to create a pulsating pattern.
Most known firefly species are bioluminescent as adults. However, all known firefly larvae and eggs are bioluminescent.
The male firefly uses its bioluminescence to dance in the sky in a weaving “J” or “S” shape to attract a nearby female of the same species. Each firefly species has its own particular pattern.
Another reason that fireflies glow is to avoid predators. Fireflies are filled with a nasty tasting chemical called lucibufagens. But some frogs don’t seem to mind the bitter taste; they eat so many fireflies that they themselves begin to glow.
When a firefly is under stress—such as being caught in a spider’s web—its taillight glows brightly. Even the shock of a firecracker or thunder may cause a field of fireflies to flash in unison.
A firefly’s light is sometimes called “cold light” because it generates so little heat. Nearly 100% of this energy is given off as light whereas in an electric arc light bulb, only 10% of the energy is light and the other 90% is given off as heat.
Fireflies exist on every continent except Antarctica, with approximately 1900 species worldwide. They produce green, yellow, or orange light depending on the particular species.
Fireflies aren’t the only living things that glow. More than 80% of all ocean animals show at least one of the three kinds of luminescence – internal, external, and bacterial luminescence. Most squid have all three. Predators such as the dragon fish and the angler fish use trickery with lights to lure a meal.
Projects
Painting Revelation DVD
God Created Plants for our Healing
From the beginning of Genesis to the end of Revelation, the Bible points to the healing powers of the plants God that created for our blessing. For the past four years we have been exploring the amazing properties of therapeutic grade essential oils and are learning how to use them for our physical, mental, and emotional heath. After taking classes, reading books, and talking to professionals, we are thoroughly convinced that God intends for us to use the “life blood” of the plants for our healing, just as plants provide us with oxygen, food, shelter, clothing, and beauty. We hope to provide information and ideas to help you understand what essential oils are and how you can begin to use them yourself.
A little history
Essential oils were the very first medicines. They were used throughout the ancient world as shown through Egyptian hieroglyphics (3000 BC) and written about by Hippocrates around 400 BC.
When thieves broke into the tombs of the Egyptian pharaohs they stole the jars of essential oils and left the gold and jewels behind. When the Magi brought their gifts to the baby Jesus they gave him frankincense and myrrh. When a woman anointed Jesus’ feet the New Testament says the oil she used was worth more than a year’s wages.
During the great plagues of the Dark Ages, thieves stripped dead bodies of their jewelry and robbed their homes without getting sick—because they were perfumers and spice traders and knew how to protect themselves with oils such as clove, cinnamon, lemon, eucalyptus, and rosemary.
What are essential oils?
Unlike the familiar fatty oils we use for cooking (which are very large molecules and are part of the seed that “feeds the baby plant”), essential or aromatic oils are the lifeblood of the plant. They regulate plant growth like hormones and help with metabolism like enzymes. They serve as the plant’s immune system warding off dangerous viruses, bacteria, microbes, fungi, parasites, and insects. When a plant is injured, the essential oils flow into the wound and initiate healing.
Essential oils can do many of the same things for human and animals. Their molecules are so small and vibrate at such high frequencies that they vaporize and become gases. That’s how we smell them. That also means they are able to penetrate human tissues and reach all parts of our bodies through the blood stream. They can even cross the blood-brain barrier. Unlike man-made pharmaceuticals, they have no adverse side effects. A single oil may contain hundreds of constituents that are molecularly aligned in exactly the right manner to trigger a number of quick and significant results. The properties of essential oils promote well-being by supporting the body in cleansing, building, and protecting. Bacteria and Viruses cannot mutate sufficiently to escape the complexity of Therapeutic Grade essential oils.
Purchasing Therapeutic Grade Oils
In order to experience healing with essential oils, you must be certain the oils you use are high-grade therapeutic grade oils grown organically, distilled properly, and bottled undiluted, unadulterated, and unchanged from their natural state.
Unfortunately, most essential oils available in stores and online are food or fragrance grade oils which are not necessarily organically grown, are often extracted with chemical solvents, may contain synthetic components, and/or have been denatured, refined, or diluted. Such oils are not therapeutic.
We recommend Young Living Essential Oils, Inc. as the most reliable source of high quality, therapeutically active oils. You can order online by linking with our sponsor member #812 881. We will be happy to help you get started and share our resources with you. See more on our BLOG.
