The Battle You Can No Longer Fight

Feeling alone in a world of chaos can exist. There are many people walking this earth surrounded by crowds of people but yet they feel so alone. They put on this façade that all is well when in reality they are struggling. Struggling to keep up. Struggling to find a connection. A connection to what? They are unsure. They just know they are feeling alone.

A Work In Progress

A year ago I felt walking away from blogging was the best thing for me to do. I told myself, or maybe it was me believing the lies of the enemy, either way, I felt I just wasn’t equipped to blog anymore. I mean seriously, I am not equipped. My words are not eloquent and I tend to ramble. I am of flesh who sins frequently and falls daily. How can I try to encourage others or lift others up when I am walking this earth completely confused? I had no idea how lost I truly was a year ago. I am still lost, but His mercies are new every morning.

The Broken One

In May I decided to become a part of an amazing company. I was very hesitant and prayed A LOT about joining Arbonne. After I felt God giving me the go ahead I joined this company. It has been a ride the last couple of months and I am LOVING it! This past weekend I attended a vendor fair for my new company. I was so nervous and almost backed out, but then I remembered a pastor of ours once said “if you commit to something you need to keep your word.” So there I was ready to back out and those words rang through my head.

I decided to go.

He Loves Me For Me

Some days I look back on my life; my life growing up, middle school, high school, and after graduation. I remember hating life. I was a lost person looking for acceptance. I was miserable. I thought once I turned 18 I would be gone. I would move out, leave my hometown, and never look back. I did leave when I was 18 but looking back I was searching for something, but I was not sure what I was searching for.

All Things New

Today I begin day two of my detox. I had great results from week one AND I overcame temptations many times throughout the week. During this detox I am NOT having sugar, alcohol, caffeine, dairy, or gluten. I have switched over to cleaner personal hygiene products as well because I have learned a lot about mineral oils and how it traps in the toxins our bodies are trying to release. I need to release all these toxins my body has held in for almost my entire life. The more I cleanse my body on the inside and out, the more toxins I can release.

Life Changing Moments

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

This exact verse is one I have sent to a couple of my closest friends within the last week. Each facing some very scary struggles. One not knowing if she has cancer and another just finding out she is pregnant but unsure if she will make it past the first trimester. Each facing some very scary moments. These are just two of my friends facing scary moments in their life's at this very moment, but I have others hurting and facing the unknown. 

 Life changing moments.

Going Through The Motions

You attend every church service each week. You attend every church function. You volunteer in the church nursery. You tithe. You attend Bible study. You say you will pray for people. Sometimes you do, sometimes you don’t. You pray when things get tough. Sometimes you pray when you want something. Sometimes you do pray. Just not every day. You consider yourself a “good Christian.”

Top Priority for the New Year

 

I have been quiet the last month and a half because I feel I have been on a whirlwind of chaos. I have had to step back from many things in my life recently so I can truly hear God. To have that time with Him. To rest in His arms. To go deeper in His Word. To rejuvenate myself. To become stronger in my walk. To focus on Him and not on the chaos that is whirling around me.

He Loves Them Too

Yesterday at church I had the privilege of listening to a married couple speak about their missionary work in Tanzania. Their motto was, “our journey begins where the road ends.” This lovely couple showed us a video documenting part of their travel. They had to cross rivers with crocodiles! They travel deep into the country where not many people travel too. There are many tribes that have never seen people outside of their own tribe and these people travel to these people to share the Gospel.

While traveling their vehicles would get stuck in mud or their vehicles could not even make it to certain areas because of the terrain. At one point in the video the missionaries and their team traveled by bicycle! Two hours by bicycle to a village and two hours back. The terrain was not the only struggles they faced. They had to deal with wildlife and the lack of good water. A gentleman in the video said they prayed their water filter worked because they ran out of water and had to use water from a river.

These people face so many obstacles to reach the people in these villages. Their heart is to tell them about Jesus. To tell them of the miracles He can do. To tell them about His love. How He loves them, the people of the villages. The people who have witch doctors. The people who have never seen a white person. The people who have never heard of this Jesus. The people He calls His children.

God has done many miracles for these missionaries. He has opened many doors for this couple to go out into the deepest areas of this country to show His love.

If God can reach people who are in the deepest darkest parts of the world then why do we feel He cannot reach us right where we are at?

This post is linked with What Joy is Mine.

Breaking The Chain I Put On Myself

Last month my daughter and I had the privilege of attending a Women of Faith conference in St. Paul, Minnesota. We had such an awesome and blessed time. We bonded. We laughed. We were exhausted. We were blessed to hear some fabulous speakers, which one of those speakers was my favorite author, Lysa TerKeurst. The one thing Lysa said that stuck out to me had a huge impact on me.

Less Means More

How many times does God show us what He wants us to do but we do not pay attention? How many times does a topic keep coming up around us and we think “wow, I have heard so much about this lately?” Maybe we need to realize it is God trying to get our attention. Within the past month He has done this with me; trying to get my attention on a certain topic.

My Name Is

I read the words that came across the screen of my phone. “Jesus has already won this battle for you honey never let that devil defeat you. You are strong Barb and you are a child of the most high God. You can and will get through this.” Of course! Those words speak truth! A dear friend of mine sent me these words months ago when I was struggling. How could I forget the most important title I hold? Child of the Most High God.  

The Invasion That Stole Their Joy

As I sat in the arena surrounded by women my heart was aching. As I was sitting there I made a full turn so I could see the arena of women standing. Hurting. Crying. In despair. My heart hurt so much for these beautiful women. I wanted to leave my seat and just hug each and every one of these ladies. Many of these ladies felt defeated. The enemy had come into their lives and stole their joy. So many women are standing. I cannot believe what I was witnessing.

Conviction, Confirmation, and Teenagers

When I look back upon my life and think about the different seasons in my life. I come to the conclusion that the teenage years were the hardest. I was part of a blended family where I was trying to find where I fit in, not just in the family but in school as well. I felt pressure to look a certain way, act a certain way, and I would find that I would be criticized for who I was. At that time in my life I had no idea who I was or where I will end up. A lot of changes were occurring in my life during the crucial time in my life. Oh why do the teenage years have to be so hard?

Him or Others?

Every single day in life we have to make decisions. Some decisions are easier to make and some not so easy. Some decisions we make do not affect other people, such as what flavor creamer do you want in your coffee? Or should I eat a sandwich for lunch or have a salad? Then there are some decisions that do affect other people such as changing jobs or making the decision to homeschool your children.

Are We Showing His Love?

Love.

Not the love of a husband and wife or even the love of a child, but the love from our God. Many times we think we are showing His love but can I ask are we truly showing His love? Not the love we think is His love but truly His love.

We Are Worth More

We have all made mistakes sometime in our life. We have learned from our mistakes or we have not. We may continue making the same mistakes. Sometimes we dwell on the mistakes we have made. We sit and wish we did not make certain mistakes in our life. However, in the end, the mistakes we have made or making cause us to be the person we are today.

I Am Done

Food.

That is my main addiction.

I am addicted to food.

I love all things food especially the food that is not so good for me. Then there are some foods that I cannot stand like vegetables. I cannot stand vegetables. BLAH! I would rather eat brownies, fettuccine alfredo, pizza, or drink tons of sweet tea from Chick-fil-a. I have no self-control when it comes to these particular items. I feel I have to eat every last bite or drink the entire gallon of tea.

Embrace the Season

Photo Credit
 

 As the weather changes, we begin to see new seasons arriving outside. Fall is not that far around the corner. Next thing you know we will be dawning warm fuzzy socks, comfy sweatshirts, sipping hot chocolate while sitting around the fire pit. We turn off the air conditioner and open windows to allow fresh air to sweep through our homes. We go pumpkin picking. Sip apple cider. Burn candles that smell like fall. We watch as the leaves begin to change and know in due time they will begin to fall to the ground. We begin to embrace the new fall season.

Stepping Back

Just recently I decided to step away from my “everyday” life and focus on Him. I found myself getting caught up in sin that I was slowly fading away from Him. I did not like who I was. I was saying things and doing things that I knew was wrong. I would feel His conviction but disregarded it without really knowing that I was disregarding Him. I would justify my behavior.  I was so caught up in the flesh that I lost sight of who Christ wanted me to be.