We at “Freedom Quest International” have a passion to see marriages not just make it in life but to flourish with life. Applying these four tools is a great way to begin the rebuilding process.

1. Time
2. perseverance
3. Humility
4. Grace

But, we must be deliberate if we want to experience freedom in our marriage, and yes it’s a process. Does not happen overnight. Not only do we want to  experience real freedom but we desire to mature daily in that freedom, so that we might empower others to do the same. Check out these two couples from one of our  Empowerment Weekends as they held nothing back. They were desperate and very deliberate about taking time off, persevering through pain, walking in humility and releasing lots of  grace to one another. Now that is a great way to begin to rebuild!

Join us for another Empowerment Weekend September 27-29 in Lawson Mo! Or schedule one for your area TODAY!

Kelly

Enough said… here’s the recipe for you to taste and see for yourself!

POWER MALT BARS

1/2 cup raw tahini (sesame seed butter)
1/2 cup barley malt
1/4 cup organic pure maple syrup (grade B)
1 cup oats
3 tablespoons of dried apricot pieces, unsulphured
2 tablespoons sesame seeds
2 tablespoons sunflower seeds
2 tablespoons flax seeds
2 tablespoons pumpkin seeds
2 tablespoons hemp seeds
2 tablespoons pistachio nuts, chopped

Blend together the tahini, barley malt and maple syrup in a food processor. Add enough oats to make a “gooey” dough consistency. Transfer dough to bowl. Blend in the apricots, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, flax seeds, pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds and pistachio nuts. Lightly grease a square pan with coconut oil and press in the dough. Chill and cut into bars.

Optional: fold in carob chips, raisins or shredded coconut. Enjoy!
Kelly

For more raw desserts with mouth-watering photos and over fifty motivational tips that will encourage and educate  you in your quest for health – body, soul and spirit … take a look over in the right column and order your very own “Sweet Encounter with Raw Desserts” book today!

Yes, the author of  Sweet Encounter with Raw Desserts, Kelly Parr, forgot what eating healthy was all about. It would be fine if she could stop at eating one slice of pie and be done with it. But noooo … she had to have one slice from each of her momma’s desserts and then nibble on chunks of pie crust the rest of the day!

How could one resist those home-made cinnamon rolls dripping with vanilla glaze, hot apple pie with a crust to die for and a sweet southern peach cobbler (topped with vanilla ice cream) that screams – slap your momma! Well not literally but come on mom, what’s a daughter to do when trying to watch her mid-life curves!

Enough!

That was yesterday and today is a new day. I’m going to choose to….

1. Give myself some grace
2. Focus on family
3. Enjoy life

and… celebrate!

If you are like me and couldn’t resist those home-made desserts…

I’m offering you TWO not just ONE, but TWO opportunities to give you a FRESH SPRING START!

1.  Receive my new Sweet Encounter with Raw Desserts book at a very special price of 24.95! (retails 29.95)
by visiting our on-line book store HERE!

2. If you haven’t already come join me and seven other generous gift givers to receive your free downloadable inspirational health gifts – today!  http://www.eatingforradiance.com

Have a FRESH SPRING START and enjoy life!
Kelly

PS. I decided to keep tradition and honor  family by dedicating the last section of my new book  Sweet Encounter with Raw Desserts to some family recipes I grew up on – including my mom’s famous apple crisp!

Breaking a fast can stir so much within the heart. This makes me realize how I often react, respond and live life through unhealed emotions. Emotions that change with the wind, instead of making a deliberate choice to believe and live life from God’s word - which never changes. Easier said than done for many of us but it is possible when doused with lots of grace.

So… how I am going to break fast? 5pm I will begin sipping on a thick almond smoothie to slowly awaken my digestive system. Then about 6pm I will introduce some pureed steamed veggies in a veggie broth. Awakening my body slowly is vital and takes a great amount of discipline, especially when coming off a fast. Here… read this post to see how NOT to end a fast!

As I have posted my journey during this 40 day fast, may you be encouraged, educated and challenged. My heart is that we grow and learn together!

Be of good health – body, soul and spirit and please drop me a line letting me know your experiences of coming off a fast!

Kelly

But whether you are fasting or not, this is what I have discovered – two Sonne’s products that are the best colon cleansers around!

Sonne’s #7  a bentonite clay that helps remove metabolic toxins from the body as well as heavy metals, bacteria, viruses, pesticides, and chemicals. This along with Sonne’s #9 - a psyllium husk powder and seed containing fiber and no laxative or herbal stimulants.

Sonne’s psyllium husk may be used daily to help with normal bowel movement, where most of your laxatives and herbal preparations cannot, as they only stimulate the peristaltic muscles of the bowel and if used over a prolonged period may create a dependency that will weaken the normal function of your colon. This is not good for your health in the long run.

Take note: for best results use Sonne’s #7 and Sonne’s #9 together. Because it’s a slow but very deep cleanse,  it might take 2-3 days to see results – so be patient!

Another tip to make your fasting experience an enjoyable one!
Kelly

1. Listen to instrumental worship music while you sleep and to the bible on tape as soon as you awake is a great way to feed your spirit.
2. Sip slowly from a mason jar filled with flavored citrus water will help stabilize your blood sugar levels.
3. Warm vegetable broths or herbal teas are  other drinks to enjoy throughout your day.
4. Staying away from large crowds and noises helps you to stay calm and peaceful!
5. To slow down your detoxification process, make drinks “with” pulp using a high-powered blender.
6. To speed up your detoxification process,  make drinks “without” pulp from a juicer.
7. If you feel dizzy, try kneeling down on one knee and wait a few seconds. It works every time!
8. Your skin is the largest organ for elimination during a fast, so why not try using a loofah instead of soap to scrub away dead skin cells. Your skin will love you for it! :)
9. Use raw coconut oil after a bath in place of lotions is another way to love your skin.
10. Spray perfume directly on your clothes instead of your skin. It will free up your skin to do its job with greater ease – especially during a fast.

There you have it! These fasting tips will definitely make your fasting experience more rewarding. I would love to hear what you have discovered during your fasting experiences. Just leave a comment below so we can all learn together.

Happy fasting
Kelly

When you are on a fast you begin to recognize the healing process that takes place not just spiritually, mentally and emotionally, but physically as well. Last few days it’s been my kidneys as I have had a bit of cramping in my lower back. Amazing how our bodies heal on a priority. That is what I love about fasting… it gives our bodies a chance to heal!

Researching a bit more, today I discovered that my kidney’s produce more than just urine. Thought that would interest you! Everyday these two bean-shaped organs called kidneys, located in the middle of your back just below your ribcage, sift through about 2 quarts of blood, removing wastes products and excess fluid. But that’s not all! These two little power-houses also…

• stimulate red blood cell production
• regulate blood pressure
• balance the bodies fluids
• balance chemicals in your body
• releases hormones
• produces vitamin D helping promote strong healthy bones
• controls calcium levels

Wow impressive huh? So whether you are fasting or not, be kind to your “kids” and blend them up a drink they will enjoy!

Happy fasting,
Kelly

It was last week when God used a friend of mine (who didn’t even know I was fasting nor was she!) to sit down with me and shine light on a toxic area of my heart - an area that was hindering my growth spiritually. This was an area that caught me by surprise as I felt pride swell up on my behalf. Guess God knew this time around it would take more than just Him and I probing my heart alone. It would take Him speaking through a friend, showing me that I could take forgiveness to another level.

My friend revealed areas in my life where I had already forgiven, but expectations were still held high on those I forgave – leaving no room for growth for them or myself. The expectations I put on others had grown into judgments and judgments will always keep one bound.

It has taken me a few days to slowly chew on this morsel laid before me, but now I can look back and thank God for a friend who was not afraid to speak truth in love. A friend who cared enough to present an opportunity for my spiritual growth, a friend that knew how to hear God’s voice and walk it out in obedience, even if it was with great trepidation. Do you have a friend like that? Hope so, because fasting is always for heart change if we welcome it.

Enjoy your fast!
Kelly

No wonder people don’t like to fast! The detoxification process is no fun but is inevitable and very much plays a role in your healing – body, soul and spirit.

The headaches, fatigue, joint pains, hives, cough, indigestion, bad breath, sore throat, skin rashes, stiff neck, constipation, backache, depression, frequent colds, insomnia, sinus congestion, dizziness, fever, anxiety and mood changes are to be expected but not always easy to endure!

Always remember each fast is different and builds upon the next – so fasting does get easier.  

Here are 5 paths of elimination that are accelerated during a fast.

• Lungs:  take in pounds of pollutants and are constantly eliminating volumes of toxic gases each minute. Oxygen is our most important nutrient.
• Skin: our largest eliminative organ
• Kidney: eliminates fluid wastes from the body and continuously purifies the blood stream.
• Colon: eliminates solid wastes and absorbs water from foods.
• Liver: most important detoxifier of all the organs because it takes poisons, neutralizes them and stores what it good.

So during a fast, how can we work with these 5 paths in order to make way for elimination? Try a few of these simple tips and LET GO of those toxins!

• Lungs: Exercise is one of the best ways to detoxify the lungs. So get moving!
• Skin: Loofa, exposing your skin to sun and air, saunas and steam baths all work wonders. If you live near a beach, the ocean water makes for a great cleanser too.
• Kidneys: Give the “kids” a rest and drink lots of water, herbal teas or juice it up with some watermelon or cranberry juice.
• Colon: Colonics, enemas, (I know…not very fun), psyllium seed drinks, herbs and teas for this pathway!
• Liver: Fasting with raw juices and herbs will make your liver very happy, plus don’t forget to exercise.

Believe it or not, utilizing these 5 easy path-ways will help make your fasting experience much more enjoyable!

Kelly

PS. One of my favorite ways to help in the detoxification process is to get a full body massage (light one of course) which is one of the best ways you can do to assist in your cleanse!

Sometimes when we fast we have thoughts of “what’s the use”, ”I don’t since anything happening”, or “is this really worth it?” These thoughts and more swirl through my head during a fast and even the days that follow.

I am reminded….

Of the time when my husband Bob and I were in Indonesia and God prompted us to a fast. I began a 3 day absolute fast. No food. No water. I was desperate. My focus? My children. I was adamant to see God move in their lives as I cried out on their behalf all through the night. When I completed the 3 days, I remember thinking how nothing really major seemed to happen – in my life or my children.

But a few years later after that particular fast… 

My son called me full of excitement telling me about a remarkable discovery that just took place in his life. Just as our phone conversation came to an end, immediately God spoke to my heart saying, ”Kelly remember that 3 day fast a few years ago in Indonesia? Well… his discovery is a result of that fast!”

Be encouraged… your fasting is not in vain! 

God is moving heaven and earth for your family members. You are shaking the atmosphere as you draw aside in fasting and prayer. Just as God did for my Great mom and the generations that have followed her, so it shall be for you and your generations!

The Joys of fasting!
Kelly