It is Finished!

Psalms 139:16

16 "your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be"

This is one of my favorite scripture verses in the bible. I will never forget the day I first read it and how it just jumped out at me with such revelation!

Think about it!!! God already had your end planned with your beginning! Your life is already fashioned by God, every desires of your heart are already written down in heaven!

I can't wait for the day that I will get to heaven; besides running and giving Jesus a big hug and kissing Him, I am going to run straight to that amazing Library in Heaven and find MY book that has MY NAME written on it! I am going to open that book, hopefully with some heavenly brew and sit for hours to see all that I accomplished according to that plan. I know at that moment, it will not matter whether I truly fulfilled all of God's plans for my life, but right now I can't help but imagine that I am living every day according to His special design for my life!

I have seen and heard so many people that struggle with the "idea" of reaching a place called Destiny and I too am one that longs for that beautiful, amazing place of "destiny" but I have come to realize that every place where you are in the Will of God, that IS DESTINY! Many have assumed that through different routes they could attain their Destiny: sowing a "seed", praying and fasting, crying out to God through Intercession. Although, these are important in our walk and relationship with God, these are not what brings us to the perfect will of God or our Destiny. Destiny is a journey of right choices. God gave us the freedom of choice in the beginning by putting two trees in the Garden NOT to eat. These trees were not barricaded with steel walls, they were put in the Garden with all the other pleasures only guarded by the Freedom of CHOICE.

In the years of my journey with God have I only come across a few times where I had to make very hard choices. You can do all that I listed above, in your beautiful journey with God, but at some point you will be faced with making a decision. Do I move? do I change employment, do I leave a church, do I marry this person? and the list goes on and on. Only you know when you are faced with this "crossroad" experience. I have lived a very enjoyable life but there have been a few times I came to that crossroad of decision. It is YOUR choice to make. I love that freedom that God gave us; but it is so important we make the one God wants; not making an emotional decision or based on your circumstances.

Here are a few things you can do to help with your choices towards your Destiny:

1) Pray for WISDOM and Discernment
James 1:5 If we lack wisdom to ask of the Lord and He will give {wisdom} to us all liberally without reproach {or prejudice, respector of persons}.

2)Seek your most respected Mentor who has your best interested in heart
Proverbs 11:14 Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.

3)Have courage to make the right choice
Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”

4) Meditate on God's Promises
Psalm 37:23
The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD,And He delights in his way.
Psalm 119:105
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Proverbs 4:18
But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
Isaiah 42:16
And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.

REMEMBER ALWAYS!!!
Psalm 33:11
But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations

Thank you Jesus!

I love my Life!

Have you ever heard anyone say that before? "I love my life". With all the social media networks we have access to; I have seen that written on many occasions. What I began to notice was the difference between the lives that were being described. It ranged from a mom with 4 kids getting ready for the first day at school, a grandfather enjoying their grandchildren, a teenager spending the day at the water park, a single girl spending time with girlfriends or a Pastor’s wife loving her role in ministry. I am sure the single girl looking at the mom with 4 kids thinks, “how could she love her life?” assuming how much work and time children might be or the lady seeing the pastors wife role, thinking “no way would I want to do that” and on it may go!

The point is even though all of our lives are different, is that you can say, “I love my life”.

Your life can not examined by what others think your life should be. You are responsible to live the life God had called YOU to live. The Word says that God wrote a book about your life! I love that! I can’t wait to get to heaven and run to that grand library and find the book with MY name written on it and see that I fulfilled all that God had planned for me!

We have to be so careful that we are not looking at another person’s life and comparing it to our own. 2 Corinthians 10:12-13 talks about not to class or compare ourselves with those that think they are better than us or “know” better for us. Verse 13 says, we must stay within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us.

God knows exactly what is best for you and what timing is best for your life. When we start to compare ourselves with others we immediately enter the next stage called Jealousy. Jealousy is a powerful and damaging emotion. TD Jakes taught me that the feeling of Jealousy comes in our life because we don’t really believe God will do it for us. How true is that?!

(I love this picture, she's gonna get him!)

It says in James 3:16 (Amplified Bible)16For wherever there is jealousy (envy) and contention (rivalry and selfish ambition), there will also be confusion (unrest, disharmony, rebellion) and all sorts of evil and vile practices.

This is such a strong verse to the effects of Jealousy, wouldn’t you agree? It’s just not worth it!

In Psalm 119:105 it says, “Your[God’s] word is a lamp unto my feet and a light to my path” Rest your heart in knowing God is going to illuminate your path at every turn and in one moment your life can change!!

We need to learn to say and mean it: “I love my life!”

Down Memory Lane

I have a very fond memory growing up and I want to share it with you. For starters, let me introduce to you my Second Grade teacher from Christian Life School in Rockford, IL. I have recently reconnected with and it has been such a huge blessing! Her name is
Miss Caroline Seabaugh.

by Miss Seabaugh:

"My first year teaching Second Grade in St. Louis, a very dear Nun who taught 4th grade had my class and her class learn and recite the poem, "God Forgive Me When I Whine"...little did I know that it would become my favorite poem and have so much meaning. Every year I would teach my little people that poem and have them recite it any time they had an opport

unity. Another favorite of mine, was "Little Boy Blue" by Eugene Field. I never missed teaching that to all my Second Graders and when I came to CLC in Rockford, IL it was part of the curriculum"

Miss Seabaughs favorite memory of Barb:

One of my most favorite memories of Barb, was her sweet smile and her gentle spirit. She always had questions and she could always melt my heart with her sweet innocence. I loved the times we laughed together. She left footprints on my heart that is still there today.

By Barb and my favorite memory of Miss Seabaugh:

Even though I was very little I remember Miss Seabaugh loving being a teacher and loving the kids! One day after school, she took me to the mall shopping, we ate some dinner (even though I can’t remember what we ate) and she took me to church later that night. I thought that was the coolest things a teacher could do! She is still really cool today!

I wanted to share the poem with you that I have NEVER forgot. She taught that to us in our classroom and it really impacted me even into my adult life, I hope it blesses you as much as it did me:

God, Forgive Me When I Whine
Today, upon a bus,
I saw a girl with golden hair.
I envied her, she seemed so gay,
And I wished I was as fair.
When suddenly she rose to leave,
I saw her hobble down the aisle.
She had one leg and used a crutch.
But as she passed, she gave a smile.

Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.
I have two legs, the world is mine.

I stopped to buy some candy.
The lad who sold it had such charm.
I talked with him, he seemed so glad.
If I were late, it'd do no harm.
And as I left, he said to me,
"I thank you, you've been so kind.
It's nice to talk with folks like you.
You see," he said, "I'm blind."

Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.
I have two eyes, the world is mine.

Later while walking down the street,
I saw a child with eyes of blue.
He stood and watched the others play.
He seemed not to know what to do.
I stopped a moment and then I said,
"Why don't you join the others dear?"
He looked ahead without a word.
And then I knew he couldn't hear.

Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.
I have two ears, the world is mine.
With feet to take me where I'd go.
With eyes to see the sunset's glow.
With ears to hear what I'd know.
Oh, God, forgive me when I whine
I've been blessed indeed, the world is mine.

Author: Red Foley

~Pray for someone today~

Have you ever had someone say to you, “Hey, I was praying for you today” or “God really had you on my heart”? Remember the feeling that came over you when you heard that? It always makes my heart feel so happy. I think wow, I am not going through this alone and that person really loves me to take timeout just for me.

Mostly, the love of God rushes over my heart and gives me peace knowing that He care and everything is going to be okay because He put on someone’s heart to pray JUST for me!!

It is always an amazing feeling!

It says in James 5:16a “pray for one another, that you may be healed.”

Let’s take time today and ask the Lord, “Who can I pray for?” and spend a few minutes lifting them up to the Lord. Send them a little note, text, or tweet or facebook ‘em and just let them know! We don’t always have to have a lot to say, just the compassion to reach out!

Whiter Teeth!

I know, this is not a normal kind of blog I post, but it was just too great to pass up! Here is an all natural recipe that will whiten your teeth! It really works too!
I promise you, it will make your teeth so white they will sparkle! Money back guaranteed! Well, not really, but if it doesn't work, you can post mean comments on my blog page! Deal?? =)


RECIPE:
Baking Soda
Salt
Peroxide
Your Favorite toothpaste

Mix Ingredients:
Put equal measurements of baking soda and salt in a small Tupperware container and mix real good.

Put your favorite toothpaste on the brush and dip into the mixture and brush your teeth while listening to your favorite song from start to finish, which is usually 3-4 minutes long. (go ahead and dance around and enjoy yourself if you'd like)

Gargle with peroxide and swish throughout your mouth for 30 seconds.

Spit!

After you spit you may find that the peroxide continues to bubble up in your mouth and that is normal! Do not panic. Just Spit again! and again! well.. and again!

Rinse and Repeat if necessary =c)

"Believing when no one Else Believes in You"

“Without weakening in his faith, he [Abraham] faced the fact that his body was as good as dead- since he was about a hundred years old- and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he has promised” Romans 4:20,21

Abraham was a perfect example for us to follow when it looks like in the natural what God promised you would never happen. It may look like what God said is dead and has passed you by; but what I loved best about this verse was that Abraham noticed his natural ability had faded away, but it never robbed Him of his faith in what God spoke to him.

Though nearly 10 years of waiting for fulfillment of a seemingly impossible promise, Abraham’s faith, rather than growing weak, grew stronger, while he continued to give glory to God!

Remember, even if you are the only one standing and believing for what God has spoken to you; that is ALL that matters. Paul encouraged the Roman church and I encourage you today, Abraham KNEW God had the POWER to do what He had promised, but Abraham also was FULLY PERSUADED that God would do it!

A Suddenly Moment

I have been so excited in my spirit for the past two weeks. I can feel that God is up to something big! If you have been believing God for a miracle and you have been trusting Him, GET READY because God is about to unveil your miracle and it is going to be Suddenly!! It’s going to be like an unveiling of something that has always been there, but we just couldn’t see it because God has not allowed it!! But now He is going to open our eyes! The word says “He has prepared a table for us” “He goes to prepare a place for us”. He told the children of Israel, “I’ll bring you to a place which is prepared”, God is a God of preparation! It’s ALREADY there, prepared just for you!! The wall of separation from you and the miracle is about the come down! God is not scampering around trying to get your miracle ready; the question is ARE YOU READY???? As the great Bishop TD Jakes is known for saying, “Get ready, get ready, get ready” It’s a time to rejoice like you have already received your promise because it is here!


The other day I was driving my normal route to go home; it’s a route that I have taken routinely everyday for almost 9 months and this particular day as I was driving I looked just ahead of me and for the first time I saw this amazing, beautiful mountain. There it was sitting in the distance so beautiful as the sun was setting around it. I gazed at the mountain for the remainder of my ride and thinking to myself what an amazing creation of God; it has always been there, but in my limited ability and in my familiarity of my surroundings, I had yet been able to see it. It must have been the trees that blocked it at certain times or maybe the clouds. I remember thinking, my goodness how could I not see something that has always been there, something so big even? As I was thinking this, just that quick The Lord shouted in my heart the word SUDDENLY! He said, ”I am about to move in Suddenly moments for my people, I about to give them the ability to see what has always been there!

Check out what the word Suddenly means in Hebrew/Greek and Webster: pith'owm : surprise, unexpectedly
a : happening or coming unexpectedly
b : changing angle or character all at once
c : marked by or manifesting abruptness or haste
d : made or brought about in a short time

There are many occasions in the Word where God moved Suddenly. I encourage you to read and study this to get a personal revelation for yourself, but what I could find as common thread over and over was:

1. God or the people DESTROYED their enemy: SUDDENLY
2. Angels: Stood in situations: SUDDENLY
3. Holy Spirit: came on the scene SUDDENLY

Doesn’t this excite you?!

It is not a time to be sad or discourage in God. Maybe you have waited a long time, maybe you have lost your hope and feel like your miracle has passed you; but God is saying to you to begin to rejoice in Him and begin to shouts praise of thanks to God. He has always been behind the scenes maneuvering His perfect will and way of escape for you!!

Tell the Lord, thank you for my Suddenly moment and get ready because when you least expect in you will see your Majestic Mountain that has ALWAYS been there!

The BEST is yet to come!

All I keep hearing in my heart is “The best is yet to come!!” This is not a time to settle for less than God’s very best for you or settle for less than what He has promised you because He is a faithful God and He will fulfill His promise to you!

The past few days I have felt the wonderful, sweet presence of God. It is what I like to call the “kisses of God”. There are time when we serve God by faith and we do all that we are suppose to do and we are faithful to Him and then one day you wake up and you actually can feel His presence; filled with His love, His mercy, His tenderness. It’s like everything that was lying so heavy on your heart, in one moment you just knew God was in control and you may not know how things will transpire but you just “know” they will! Life seems brighter, hope fills your heart and you feel like you are even look’n better!

Then, there are those times where we may not feel that closeness or intimacy of the Father, it may even be a time where you just simply wonder “where are you God?” It is in those moments where you have to hang on, because your redemption is drawing nigh. So many people give up right here, throw in the towel and quit believing or just settle without their promise. But, I hear God saying so loud “the BEST is yet to come!!”

The other day as I was driving I turned the corner and in my amazement was this beautiful, bright alluring rainbow! I only saw a portion of the rainbow at first but was so amazed; I had to get out of my car to see it and take pictures of it! When I saw the rainbow, I heard God say SO loudly within me, “I am a faithful God and I am a God of Promise, EVERYTHING I have promised will come to pass, I will never let you down”. I got so excited!

Then, for the first time ever I saw the COMPLETE rainbow, from beginning to end, and God shouted to me I am the ALPHA and OMEGA and I am the God of completion! As I write this, I feel so strong in my heart that God is saying to you that He is remaining faithful to you and He will complete that which He has started in your life! Don’t settle, don’t be discouraged!! His Promises are YES and they are AMEN! So, until you can say YES and AMEN over that thing you are believing for, then don’t settle and don’t stop believing!

You need to see the other end of the rainbow! The completion of your promise!! I couldn’t see the entire rainbow at first, but as I continued to drive, the entire rainbow was clear in sight!! Continue in your faithfulness and obedience and before you know it, you will see your entire rainbow too!

Here is a scripture just for you today! Isaiah 44:21

“ Remember these, O Jacob, And Israel and _____________ (put your name in) for you are My servant; I have formed you and you will not be forgotten by Me!


Celebrate~The Best is yet to Come!!

Free To Be ME
~Barb~

Out of Reach!

I was watching a three year old little boy, Sam, playing one day. he was running back and forth laughing, completely enjoying life! As he was running fast across the room he spotted a bright yellow helium balloon floating in the air that was attached by a long curly string. I watched him stop with eyes bright and look up at the balloon in amazement. It was as if you could read his mind, "this is the most coolest thing, I can't believe it's actually just sitting here and no one else seems to see it, it must have been placed here just for me!" With all his courage raging, he mustard up every bit of strength he could and then jumped with all his might; his little hand open to grasp that ribbon and show off what he had found! To his amazement, he realized very quickly it was just out of his reach. You could see the shock in his face when he came down and realized the balloon was not in his hand. He frowned his eye brows and looked up at that balloon as if to say, "I can't believe I didn't get you, but I am going to have you" so he jumped and jumped and jumped and failed over and over again. At this point, He began to grunt and get very frustrated. I notice that the string was not very far from his reach, but it was still unreachable. In Sam's mind it seemed miles away. He went through many ranges of emotions while trying to reach the balloon. He went from pure elation that here was this balloon that was seemingly put there just for him and his adrenaline rising with excitement and anticipation, to feeling frustrated and angry that after many attempts he just couldn't do it, he began to whimper and cry to get someone's attention to help him. The room was every busy and everyone was doing their own thing and didn't even notice what his heart was going through. Just when his voice was about to raise at his highest and he was fed up and ready to throw the biggest fit a three year old can give, his big brother, Joshua, walked by and without any difficultly or hesitation pulled the balloon down, which was of no effort in his reach at all and gave it to Sam and just kept walking by. Sam, kind a rattled by his experience just stood there for a second, shocked. He actually had the balloon that he so desired for, worked so hard to receive and here it was in his hands. He quickly released all his feelings of questioning, frustration, anger and sadness to total elation and with a huge smile on his face as if he had won the best gift of all and took off running across the room with his prize to show all his friends what he had found.I sat there and thought to myself, wow, how difficult and how far away it seemed for Sam yet how easy and desirable it was for his big brother to give him. Then immediately I thought in my heart, what a perfect picture of our lives with God. There are many things that we are looking up at and desiring so desperately in lives. Some of us may be like Sam and we have reached and tried with all our might, but because of so many attempts and failures, maybe you have given up, maybe you are just angry and maybe failure has grasped your heart that you have no fight left in you. I don't know what emotion or stage you are in, in the process of 'life' but God's word says in:Isaiah 59:11 Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear.Just think about how amazing this verse is! God's hand is there for you where yours seems to fall short. What seems so impossible to us and is out of our reach, is completely easy for God and it is in His heart for you.God's ear is not heavy for you, tell Him today what your desires are, tell Him what you are longing for and He will hear you. I believe that even as you are reading this, the heavenly Father is reaching down and putting your desires in your hands. Once they are fulfilled you will forgot all the memories of the struggles and only rejoice in the victory of fulfillment!

There is Hope!

It was so strong on my heart to day to send out a message of encouragement! The verse that is ringing in my heart this morning is Psalm 107: 19, 20 ...they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and He saveth them out of their distresses. He sent his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
God has heard the desperate cries of your heart and He is moving on your behalf to perform His word. It can be very difficult to do all that you know to do; you may have fasted, prayed many hours, cried so many tears; as Dr. Spurgeon calls "liquid prayers", and yet you have not seen the manifested miracle of God. I know this can be very discouraging. What is so wonderful and yet seems to be so hard to do; is that all God is asking on our part is to trust Him at His Word. We feel like we need to try to help God out, try to move His hand or His heart or manipulate a situation. Those are all attributes of fear. Fear causes us to move in our own ability and that is when we get let down, discouraged and begin to feel hopeless. God is asking a small but HARD thing of us and it is to simply trust Him: trust means: assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something. “God’s word does not return void, but it accomplishes that to which it was sent” PRAISE GOD!! His word will never fail us, His promises are yes and they are AMEN!
We are familiar with the story of Joseph; the favored son, the set apart one and all the dreams and visions God gave him over his life at a very young age. I am sure just like us, Joseph never imagined the journey of his life to experience a pitfall, brother's betrayal, seduction, imprisonment, abandonment and all the incredible circumstances that looked NOTHING like his promise. As I studied his journey there was one consistent flow in His life and I challenge you today to go read his journey in Genesis and you will see over and over it said, “but the LORD was with Joseph!” Through every trial, every let down, every lie, every dark and lonely place the LORD WAS WITH JOSEPH!! And guess what, the LORD is with you today. He says,” I will never leave you and I will never forsake you”
Joseph’s dreams did come true! All that he saw, desired and longed for came to pass because he stayed faithful to God and TRUSTED God at His word.
The Joy of the Lord is your strength today! Take a few minutes and give God all your cares. Cast them at His feet and allow God’s joy to pour so deep in your heart. God is on your side, He loves you and He has NOT forgotten you! Your promises are in His hands and it will come to pass!!