I want to see clearly

"I can see clearly now the rain is gone, I can see all obstacles in my way. Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind..."

Johnny Nash sang that song many years ago. I still remember. We are driving in a beating rain and it is so difficult to see clearly. The roads are slick, and it is no time to be distracted. We drive back from Fredericksburg again, interested in another piece of property wondering about "the one that got away."

I say to my husband "but it was perfect." and he says "God must see something we can't see." I agree and just "want the rain to stop" so I can see clearly. One thing is certain,that is not the property God has for us. We come up with all sorts of ideas like maybe it floods, maybe there is an unseen issue, maybe there will be issues with the well or electricity. Who knows...if only the rain would ease up.

We continue to drive when we see it...a firetruck coming the wrong way on an exit ramp with his lights on. We assume someone has had an accident. We go a little further and see it. A pick up truck has lost control in the rain and hit a guardrail. He would have hit the cement
pillars except for the barrels filled with sand stopped it. (driver shaken up but fine)

I tell my husband that is much like our situation with the property. God has said no to that location...we can't see why but if we insist on making it happen our way, we could end up like the fella in the truck.

Leave it alone, drive through the rain, you may not be able to see God's plan but stand firm believing that one day, you will see clearly...when the rain is gone.

"For I know the plans I have for you" declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

Teach away...

Today was my day to teach. I am very blessed to be in the company of some very gifted ladies and some of the best teachers in our church. It is an honor to be in such company. I am a member of the Designer Woman Bible Study Class headed up by Mrs. Dottie Charbineux.

We have had many wonderful speakers that have mesmerized me. I am not a teacher by profession but I do have a passion for speaking and I had a tough subject. For His Eyes Only, the title of the presentation tells it all.

Now that it is behind me, I can look back and say "God was all over that!" having been in law enforcement for 30 years, I have never had a difficult time telling people what to do. I've extended counsel, advice and sympathy. I've enforced laws, stopped traffic with the wave of a hand, and taken control with the blow of a whistle. I don't believe it was the whistle, a wave of a hand or anything about me.

I belive it was the uniform I was wearing. A uniform that exudes power and authority. You can look at the shiny gold on my uniform and it will tell you alot but it will not reveal my heart. I love that position, I love that organization, I wear that uniform with honor.

I represent something else now. I represent a Savior that gave His life for me. What does that look like? What do I put on to represent Christ? Do my clothes say "I honor God." I can tell you it is much easier to take someone's freedom than to try to tell a woman what they should wear. I don't pretend to be able to do that.

As women, we are attached to our clothes, our style and our statements. That's why I know "God was all over that" because I was merely the instrument he used to deliver what is in His Word. We can not fail if we follow the guidelines He has left us in His Word.

I can only say thank you ladies for a kind reception. I pray that God will also make me that designer woman that represents Him with honor and I pray that my clothing reflects my love for Christ.

D-Destined
E-Empowered
S-Singled Out
I-Important
G-God's Daughter
N-new Heart
E-Enabled
R-Ready

(c) 2012, Barfield-Designer Woman

Strength and honor shall be her clothing and she shall rejoice in days to come. Proverbs 31:25

Safe and secure

I was having lunch with a friend last week and we got to talking about feeling secure. She told me that she recently realized that her security system which was installed a couple of years ago was inactivated. The problem was she did not become aware of it until recently.

She stated that all these months she has gone to sleep feeling secure in her alarm and security system with no concerns of anyone tampering with her home. Rest came easy at night as her faith in her alarm system was sure. She had nothing to fear.

You see, she switched to another internet provider and that switch affected her phone line inadvertently disabling her alarm. What a surprise to discover that all these months there was no alarm. There would be no alert of an intruder, no warning of danger, no notification of a threat and yet she slept safe and secure.

There is an old hymn that goes:

Leaning, Leaning safe and secure from all alarms
Leaning, Leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.

Our security is not in an alarm system, it is in the everlasting arms of our Savior. I too am fanatical about activating my alarm system, bringing in my "guard dog" and taking other precautions to "ensure my safety" but I realize and acknowledge that my security is in the arms of Christ. His watchful eye remains on me and my household. How much more safe and secure can one get?

When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. Psalms 56:3-4

Marriage....easy?

As I was looking through some material, I located a poem I wrote in 2011. I had probably forgotten about it as writing is one of my passions and I tend to "store" alot of it and then forget it. As we see the divorce rate climb, including in Christian homes, I found this interesting. No one has ever said that marriage would be easy yet my in-laws were married for 64 years. My parents have been married 56 years. They were both married during the hardest of times.

Today, our lives seem to take different directions, communication exists through technology and time...well if there is any left, is minimal. Marriage is not easy but it is a sure failure if there is no commitment to making it work. Regardless of the issue, God calls us to a higher standard. We are a society that wants expediency and convienence. Sometimes, marriage offers neither. However, what it does offer is promise. God's promise.

I must say that I wrote this poem in my car having just left the bookstore. I did not purchase or read the book it is referencing...I got distracted with writing.

Marriage Isn't Easy

I saw a book today
It really caught my eye
I thought that I would read it,
Although I can't say why.

Marriage Isn't Always Easy
is how the title read.
I wanted to forget it
And put it back instead.

I don't need you to tell me
That marriage can be tough;
I don't need another book,
I truly have enough.

This is not an option,
God says He "hates divorce"
He seeks your faithfulness,
And we must stay the course.

God does not take this lightly
Marriage is for life,
And it will last forever
When a man takes a wife.

No, marriage isn't easy
But God will see you through,
So keep the faith and run your race
And He will honor you.

(C) 2011 Barfield, All Rights reserved

God Knows Marriage Isn't Always Easy
Maureen Rogers Law and Lanny Law

Has not the Lord made them one? In flesh and spirit they are His. And why one? Because he was seeking Godly offspring. So guard yourself in your spirit and do not break faith with the wife of your youth. I have divorce says the Lord God of Israel. Malachi 2:15-16

Keep Singing

I often get my car washed at a local carwash. Instead of the high dollar pampering wash, I usually run it through the express which is the same carwash with less human attention.

At this particular wash-which I might add is excellent-I normally sitback and soak in the music or read some material and just let the wash take it's course. The very first time I was there, the guide cautioned against leaving the antenna on since the force of the water and cleaning aparatus could damage it.

Well, I'm not going to get out of my car just to remove the antenna so I leave it on...everytime. And everytime, I say "Please don't break. Stay intact just one more time." To this day it has and in looking back, I don't ever remember saying "Yay. Thank you for not breaking."

Every time, it's "please...just one more time" knowing that there will be another and another and another. Why do we do that? Wouldn't it be much easier to just remove it and take away all doubt, apprehension and concern?

I began this story three weeks ago and never finished it...today I know why. I woke up this morning with a heavy heart. Don't really know why except that I am teaching a pretty strong message and the enemy is trying to distract me. I walked out to my car with my wimpy spirit and guess what- my beautiful black vehicle that I just washed yesterday is covered with a yellow dust. Ugh! What more to dampen my spirit.

What more? I head out and then I was advised that a friend passed away this morning. "No More!" I cry out. "No More." I go wash my car and on my way I hear a song by Mercy Me.

Another rainy day, I can't recall having sunshine on my face
And all I feel is pain and all I want to do is walk out of this place
But when I am stuck and I can't move when I don't know what I should do
When I wonder if I'll ever make it through
I gotta keep singing, I gotta keep praising your name
Your're the only one that keeps my heart beating
I gotta keep singing, I gotta keep praising your name
That's the only way that I'll find healing
Can I climb upon your lap-Jesus sing over me........
I gotta keep singing

I drive up to the car wash but this time they remove my antenna and the attendant hands it to me as he sees my weepy eyes. He solemnly says "have a nice day." I examine the antenna and see that it is beaten and worn. The paint is chipped in places from all the pressure of the cleanings. As I look closer through tears, I see that the antenna is bent but it has not broken.

It has suffered many tests and trials and survived them all. We too will suffer trials. We will bend but we don't have to break. Just keep on singing, keep praising his name, climb upon his lap. I drove home and when I had heard the song enough; when I had prayed; when I felt God's peace come over me....I walked out and placed my antenna back in it's rightful place. It has survived the test of time. It may bend, but it didn't break and through it all, I will keep singing.

"I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble but take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33

But I didn't know

Yesterday as I mosied along getting ready for my bible study class, one of the morning shows had a story regarding women going through a hair straightening procedure called "Brazilian Blowout."

The story was that this expensive procedure performed at hair salons was deemed unsafe by the FDA due to the formula containing "dangerously high levels" of formaldehyde.

The morning show went undercover asking numerous questions to the point of irritating some salon owners. Their insistance was that either their product did not contain formaldehyde or if it did, the amount was so minimal that it could not cause harm.

I love one lady's quote when she was asked if the product contained formaldehyde, she stated "No-it does not!" When the investigation was revealed and the reporter identified, the question was asked of her "Why did you lie?" The salon owner replied..."I lied to you because they lied to me-if I lied to you it's because I didn't know."

There are many individuals that will try to sell you an idea. Whether it's to glorify themselves, their "religion" or something else. Some might refute the belief that Christ came, he died, and rose again. They might have their own ideas about worship or Christ being the Savior.

I am one that deals with truth. The word of God is truth. If someone tells me something contrary to what I believe, I go to the Word of God. I don't ever want to say "I lied to you because they lied to me..."

I don't ever want to find out that I was in error because I didn't know the scripture. That is where I go first so I won't have to say "but I didn't know!"

Jesus replied "You are in error because you did not know the scripture or the power of God. Matthew 22:29

He's lost

Several years ago, our high school class was planning a high school reunion. There was difficulty in locating some of our classmates. We had a fairly large class and some were more difficult to locate than others. The letter was divided into a couple sections.

One of those pages included names of several individuals and was simply titled "LOST." I thumbed through the names and located a name that I was very familiar with. It was the name of a friend that grew up in our neighborhood, so I had known him for years.

He was a friend whose mother was a Godly, faithful woman, with a heart for missions. Her prayer as a single mother was for her boys to come to Christ. She attended my childhood church for years and I would occassionally see her son there. He was a friend that helped carry me through Math class, a friend that served as a "lookout" to us girls in the neighborhood and yet he was on a list titled "LOST."

When I saw the letter, I remember thinking "He's not lost, I know exactly where to find him." Then it hit me...he is not living a life of Christ, he is not attending church, and whether or not he has accepted Christ as his personal Savior is unknown." Lost, what a concept. Lost-not having direction, not having assurance of eternal life, not having Christ in your life.

I saw him once again recently at his mother's funeral. The years of bad choices have taken their toll. He lived with his mother and now she has gone on to eternal glory. My prayer is that he will one day find that he has a Savior. He is not lost, God gave us the precious gift of His Son so that none of us would ever be lost.



Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost." Luke 19:10