On March 8, 2023 I woke up with cloudy vision in my left eye and I reached out for prayer. Trusting this personalized word “But NOW thus says the Lord, He who created you Barbara, O daughter of Jacob, He who formed you Barbara — FEAR NOT, for I have redeemed you; I have have called you by name Barbara, and you are Mine.” Isaiah 43:1 – Fear can be like a blubbering monster that uses wolves in sheep’s clothing to promote lies. The liar is always murmuring about things that could go wrong. Various monstrosities erupted into my conscious like loss of sight, the failure of the surgeon, probable cause of disease — but I chose to rebuke ALL such nonsense! Fearing abandonment by God is ridiculous! My Creator called me by name and God Almighty declared that Barbara is His. I walked in confidence into Walgreens after my left eye exam, knowing that by His stripes I am healed. Comforted and assured that I am in His hands, I chose to walk without fear. I believe that God has already delivered me from evil, and that my Father has already given me a full measure of faith. On this day my fear got arrested in Plano, Texas! “Their Redeemer is mighty” Proverbs 23:11 ESV

To walk in confidence is possible for those who receive Jesus as their Lord. We accept God’s Word as truth and He says we are His. We are children of God, and we were bought with the precious blood of Jesus. “Be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is — that good and acceptable, and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:2 KJV –God asks His children to “get wisdom”. The Book of Proverbs affords us all great VALUE as it gives us revelation of how to apply wisdom to all sorts of situations and encounters with people, pastors and information. Proverbs convey wisdom for living by making comparisons or contrasts. By their nature proverbs bring together experience and insight, life and light. Life is carefully observed, thoughtfully analyzed, evaluated by experience, and lessons are distilled resulting in a principle (proverb). That proverb in turn when applied back to life brings improvement and excellence! God called us to be His servants, His ministers of power, healing and grace. Therefore, I choose to promote truth and speak the truth obediently “in all manner of conversation” 1 Peter 1:15 If I speak words out loud or to myself, my Father knows WHO I believe in. In all manner of conversation means as we think privately, secretly, silently on the word of God, what we treasure in our hearts, comes up out of our mouths in all manner of ministering thoughts to ourselves and to others. I will be held accountable for every word of life — or doubt that I speak. Therefore I choose to speak LIFE and HOPE in JESUS and HEALTH. Dr Ali checked both eyes and confirmed that my vision will be fine. A final check on March 20, I fly home March 21. Eyes to See

I pulled the plug on unbelief because I know that I was given a FULL measure of faith. PONDER THIS: The faith of Jesus was imparted unto us — and it does not grow. We have already received a full measure of faith when we believed. We simply must release the power of such a great faith. The faith of Jesus has been given to us and as we read God’s Word our faith in Who He is and What He has done for us…..expands. Have you ever felt like it would be easier if Jesus were right there next to you? Well, Jesus Himself said we have something better—we have the Holy Spirit with us wherever we go. And having the Holy Spirit is better than having Jesus here in His physical body. Read John 16:7. How can we better understand the ministry of the Holy Spirit? First, place a HIGH value on what Jesus said about the Holy Spirit. AGREE with ALL of what the Bible teaches. “Then the oil stopped flowing.” 2 Kings 4:1-6 Why did the oil stop flowing. Read the whole story and ask the Holy Sprit to answer your questions. The blessings continue to flow as long as we provide the receptacle, a willing heart.

We are wise to fully embrace the power of the Holy Spirit in us! Walk by faith not by sight. “It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it.” 3 John 1:3 —“Therefore, since we have a great High Priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.” Hebrews 4:14 — “Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.” 1 Timothy 3:13 —“Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.” Matthew 15:28 NIV Abraham staggered not —about being too old to have a child. Abraham was fully persuaded and He chose to trust God.

God included a story for us about a man who approached Jesus with a wee bit of faith. A man brought his son to the disciples to heal his son who had fits of seizures. The disciples experienced frozen fear because of the kid who was having a fit. Jesus rebuked His disciples “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I suffer you?” Matthew 17:17 KJV — Jesus had the kid brought to Him and rebuked the devil and the child was cured. The disciples asked Jesus why they were unable to heal the kid. Jesus replied “Because of your unbelief, for verily I say unto you IF you have faith as a grain of a mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” Matthew 17:19 KJV The size of our gift of faith is the SAME for all of us. The issue was WHO they placed their faith in? Do we place our faith in the circumstance, in the diagnosis, in the preacher — or in God? “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.” John 14:12 KJV — Today I choose to place my faith in the indwelt Spirit of God to do greater works—through me. Not in my visible or cloudy vision. “Trust in Me and know that I am with you Barbara and I will never depart from you.”

It is a privilege to represent God and walk in His full counsel. We are either a member of the wretched faithless generation or we trust God and His Word. To know wisdom: We’re living in the ‘information age,’ but we certainly aren’t living in the ‘age of wisdom. Many people who are wizards with their computers seem to be amateurs when it comes to making a success out of their lives. God expects that we take hold of the gift of faith and command with authority that sickness depart. “It is finished” is what Jesus cried out from the cross. “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 — “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1 — “let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” Hebrews 10:22

“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. Before Him will be gathered all the nations, and He will separate people one from another as a Shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.” Matthew 25:32

Proverbs 23 ESV does not tell us to trust those with a large audience. “When you sit down to eat with a ruler, (a man who has many followers)  observe carefully what is before you, and put a knife to your throat if you are given to appetite. Do not desire his delicacies, for they are deceptive food. Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist. When your eyes light on it, it is gone, for suddenly it sprouts wings, flying like an eagle toward heaven. Do not eat the bread of a man who is stingy; do not desire his delicacies, for he is like one who is inwardly calculating.   “Eat and drink!” he says to you, but his heart is not with you. You will vomit up the morsels that you have eaten, and waste your pleasant words. Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the good sense of your words.” Dallas Theological Seminary students use http://www.soniclight.com. While you conduct your own research ask the Holy Spirit to give you understanding and guidance. Proverbs 26:4-8 ESV What does this scripture actually warn us of? Beware of those who twist the meaning of God’s word to deceive you. “Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself. Answer a fool according to his folly,  lest he be wise in his own eyes. Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence. Like a lame man’s legs, which hang useless, is a proverb in the mouth of fools. Like one who binds the stone in the sling is one who gives honor to a fool.” God did not call us to convert people to a certain theology. God called us to be a light, be a warning, and to disciple others in His way. Jesus did not require Lazarus to imagine himself alive while he was dead in order for Lazarus to rise from the dead.  

The Bible is the basic textbook in the home. It was once the basic textbook in the educational system, but even if that were still true, the Bible in the school can’t replace the Bible in the home. Modern parents sacrifice time and money to help their children excel in music, sports, and social activities; however, today’s parents should be even more concerned that their children excel in knowing and obeying the Word of God. The fact that the very first chapter of Proverbs sounds the alarm of the dangers of bad company. Wisdom suggests that folly is not just an individual matter but a social one as well. We travel in groups—whether they are our social friends, our church club, our prayer partners, our walking group, our business colleagues, or the neighborhood street gang. What we become is determined in some significant measure by the company we keep. Be careful who you are becoming by examining the company you keep. Proverbs 23:8-11 commentary: “Do not speak in the hearing of a fool” This assumes that the one doing the speaking is not himself a fool and is a wise man. “He will despise the wisdom of your words” The fool will not receive or appreciate your wisdom. It will be as Jesus later described – like throwing pearls before pigs (Matthew 7:6)

“Their Redeemer is mighty” The orphan and all who are vulnerable have a special protector, a Redeemer. He has vowed to plead their cause against all who would come to take what they have. Redeemer is the meaningful Hebrew word goel. “The Redeemer/Avenger (goel) was usually a powerful relative who would champion the rights of the defenseless; but if there was no human goel God would take up their cause (see Isaiah 41-63). Do not neglect wisdom. Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to words of knowledge. Wisdom can be given out, but it must be received to be of any lasting. Commentary source: https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/proverbs-23/

“And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate (Helper, Counselor) to help you and be with you forever.” John 14:16 NIV —Our Father kept His promise and sent the Holy Spirit, our Advocate intercedes on our behalf when our UNBELIEF negates our faith. The Holy Spirit will lead us into all truth.” Do NOT reject the word of God. Every word of scripture was God breathed and the Spirit of God will lead us into all truth. Our God is faithful to His word.