All posts by Treva Barnard

About Treva Barnard

She is the mother of 3 beautiful girls, an author, a mentor, an inspirational writer and a minister in the gospel. View all posts by Treva Barnard →

I Know Who Am

November 22, 2015InspirationalComplete, Drugs, IDENTITY, Money, PEOPLE, Sex, VoidTreva Barnard

Declaration:
I AM complete in him
Colossians 2:10 “And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power”

Have you ever wanted something so bad that you felt like if you had it you wouldn’t ever have to worry about anything again? That some how it would complete you, but once you got it you still felt empty or sometimes even worse? There is a void that only God can fill. No amount of money, sex, drugs, a person or stuff can fill it. When you know who you are SOME things are only suppose to be an enhancement. We are looking to the wrong things in our need, our search and our quest to be made whole. You can search all over this world and you will never be able to find anything or anybody greater than our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is only in him that we live, move, breath and have our being. Knowing who and whose you are makes all the difference. If you continue looking to other people and things to complete you, you will spend your life being broken, empty, miserable and confused. I grew up in church all of my life. Loved God with all my heart, but spent most of it looking to people and things to complete me and to tell me who I was when it has always been in Jesus Christ alone. It was all because I didn’t know who I was in him. It’s been a journey, but I know who and whose I am. It’s not to late for you.

Undeserving Grace

November 21, 2015InspirationalGrace, IMAGE, Jesus Christ, Manager, Sufficient, Undeserving, Volunteer, WaiterTreva Barnard

Yesterday me and some of the ladies from my Life Group went to the mall to volunteer for the Angel Tree through The Salvation Army and after we were through from there we went to grab something to eat. We were sitting there talking and getting caught up with each other from the week and our waiter came over to start taking our order. I had asked him a question about a particular item that I normally get and wanted to see if I could substitute something since I have a gluten allergy. I have been there several times, but I didn’t want to make the assumptions that they would still allow me to do so. Right off the bat the waiter was very argumentive and wasn’t really listening to what I was saying. To avoid a scene and making a big deal about it I decided to drop it and was like ok it’s cool. He still kept going on about it after I had dropped it and decided to go ask his manager. We were all in unbelief that he just did all of that. So in trying to enjoy the rest of the evening here he comes again. His approach was off, he was rude and still agrumentive. When he walked away I said yeah he just lost his tip. I am a firm believer in basing your tip off of your customer service. It took us forever before we even received our food and he didn’t even come and check on us or let us know how things were going. When we finally got our food mine was not at all how I asked for it be nor how I would normally receive it. At this point I was really unhappy with the service. The waiter came back and said so everything is good instead of asking was it good. I began to explain to him what was wrong and he immediately made an assumption and went back to our 1st conversation when what I was talking about now was totally different. Again he was being agrumentive and he wasn’t listening. At this point they would normally have their manager come over and he just walked off. One of the ladies asked one of the other waiters for the manager. The manager came over and we explained our dissatisfaction. He apologized and explained his follow up process. The one thing that stuck out the most is when he said, “because I see potential in him instead of throwing him away I will use this as a teaching moment to train and groom him into what I see and how it should be.” Immediately my mind went to Grace. 2 Corinthians 12:9 “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” As we were preparing to leave one of the ladies said what should I give as a tip. I told her what to give and I told them God said grace. According to how he served us he didn’t deserve it, but neither do we. He still has to live. One lady didn’t agree due to her prior experience being a waitress, but the difference is we are in Christ and we don’t think nor approach as the world does. That doesn’t mean that we agree with his action, but that we allow God to deal with him by our acts of grace. At that moment I realized just how much God’s grace is to me. I am so undeserving of his love, his grace and his mercy, but yet he still gives it to me. To whom much is given much is required. As much as God has given to us holds the same truth that we should extend to others as we are suppose to be the mirror image of Jesus Christ.

Saved By Grace

November 21, 2015InspirationalDIE, Excuses, Freed, get up, Old habits, Old nature, SinTreva Barnard

Declaration:

I AM delivered from sin
Romans 6:6-7

“Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin”

It doesn’t mean that I am perfect, that I never make a mistake or that I may never fall, but because I am now in Christ it is that I put away my old sinful nature. I don’t continue in sin. Every day I am striving to live in the image of Christ and even when I do fall, make a mistake or don’t hit the mark I don’t stay there and return back to the old man, my old nature, my old habits and my old ways. I get back up and try again not to return to where I had fallen. Once you are in Christ sin becomes a choice and the word of God is not an excuse for you to continue in sin. Whatever you feed the most is what will grow. When your spirit man is strong even in a weak moment it will over ride your flesh to want to sin. THANK YOU JESUS! If your flesh is in control strengthen the inner man (your spirit).

The Super Woman’s Prayer

November 7, 2015Inspirationalability, anointed, gifted, hero, needed, opportunity, self sufficient, STRENGTH, super womanTreva Barnard

Lord I thank you that you have given me the ability to do so many things. That you have gifted and anointed me with the power to create something out of nothing and the strength to lead. My girls in which are the biggest gifts and opportunity you have given me in raising them into mighty woman of God. Thank you for giving me access to favor and continue to open the doors of opportunity and sooo much more. In all that you’ve given me I have picked up the role and the need to be Super Woman, not only because of the things in which I know I poses that I want to share with the world, but the very thing that society has put on us as women because we can and most of the times do it all. The thing I failed to realize is that in all that you have given me and called me to do you never meant for me to do it in my own strength and I was never meant to do it alone. Lord help me to stay humble enough in knowing that I will ALWAYS need you and that I would never be ashamed or prideful to accept or ask for help. That I don’t become self sufficient to the point that I become self inflicting and I become damaged by my own walls. Thank you for sending on the help I need to carry out your plan for my life. Help me to appreciate what and who you send. Help me not to be selfish, but with a grateful heart even though it may not be what I want or desire, but help me to see what I need. I release the cape of the Super Woman mentality that not only society has placed on us, but in my own need of wanting to help others or is it really the feeling of being needed. Eventhough I know that I can, I was never created to do it all on my own or alone. Load realeased.

I May Become Cracked But I’m Not Easily Broken

October 26, 2015InspirationalBREAK, BROKEN, build up, destroy, egg, shell, strengthen, Word of GodTreva Barnard

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-EnCJsF_GnyaWlzdmU3VnRQM2M/view?usp=docslist_api
^^^^VIDEO DEMONSTRATION ^^^^

When you look at the anatomy of an egg it has 8 layers. The outer layer which is it’s shell protects you from getting to the inside of it. In order to get to the inside you would have to literally break it open. Though it’s outer shell can become cracked it can still stay in tack due to the layers that is underneath it’s shell. Even if the egg becomes broken it can still be used. When an egg is boiled it increases the strength in the layers of the egg and makes it even harder for you to get into. Even if you crack the egg you still have to peel back it’s shell and break into it’s other layers before you could ever get to the center of the egg. The enemies job is to keep what’s on the inside of you from growing and being produced. In order for him to even destroy what’s on the inside of you he would have to breakthrough the many layers of you which is your mind, your heart and break your spirit. He knows if you ever produce what is on the inside of you his kingdom would be destroyed. The more that you strengthen your inner man it becomes harder for him to break through in your life. A long this journey you may become cracked, but it is from the cracks in life that we draw strength and builds up our resistance. In time all wounds heal. Though they may leave a scar it is an outward testimony that you survived and have overcome a fall. The thing about the fall is that you may have become cracked, but your not easily broken.

I Didn’t Know My Own Strength

October 25, 2015Inspirationalbullying, control, GIANTS, grasshoper, HEART, insecurities, intimidating, kyrptonite, manipulation, power, stronger, superman, think, weaknessesTreva Barnard

As I was taking my girls to school the other morning, I was talking to them about the opportunities they have available to get their homework done instead of waiting until they get home. I mentioned the ride on the bus and one of my girls said no because I might loose my paperwork and then she went on to say that they might rip up my paper. Some of those people on that bus are mean. We then started talking about bullies. She agreed with what I had said and how they had just talked about that in class the day before. Bullies only have power because they prey on those that they think are weak and innocent. Their need of power and control is because of their own insecurities and weaknesses. In their own eyes they really see us as giants and themselves the size of a grasshopper which is intimidating, but in our own inabilities to recognize our own strength then are they able to gain control. Superman’s greatest moment wasn’t in the fact that he was faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, but the moment in which the kryptonite no longer had control over him. People and things gain control over us when we don’t know who we are and what we possess. Proverbs 23:7 “For as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee” Bullying is a learned behavior and if that behavior is not addressed at an early age as an adult it turns into a great power of manipulations and control which we know is a form of witchcraft. It is sad to say, but bullies don’t just exist on the school ground, but they can be our church leaders, our spouses, our bosses, our family members, etc. and some don’t even realize what they are being controlled by. I am sure that in all of our lives at some point or another that we have walked in fear of these. 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of love, power and of a sound mind” Fear is not from God, but a work of the flesh and we don’t have to walk or live under that. You have the power to overcome anything with the help of the Lord. What is in you is greater than the force on the outside of you. The moment you can realize your own strength they become weak, helpless, powerless and loose all control over you. No one should EVER have that much power and control over you, but God. Romans 8:31 “What shall we then say to these things? If God is for us, who is against” There is a greater power that lives on the inside of you. You’re much stronger than you think.

The Power Of A Thought

October 20, 2015Inspirationalbelief, CONSUME, control, HEART, imagine, LIFE, MIND, opinion, power, remember, think, thoughtTreva Barnard

One word that comes to mind is “THINK”, which means:
*to have a particular opinion, beliefs, or idea about someone or something

*direct ones mind toward someone or something, uses one’s mind actively to form connected ideas
*call something to mind, remember *imagine
When you think about certain people or certain things it causes a reaction good or bad. For example, when I think of the goodness of Jesus and all that he’s done for me my soul cries out Hallelujah. Just that thought could cause me to go into shout or a praise. It will cause my hands to go up, it may even cause tears to fall from my eyes. Like wise if I think of someone who has hurt me and I am not fully healed it may bring up pain, anger or take me into a not so good place. Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things”
What ever you keep replaying or rehearsing in your mind becomes a part of who you are. You give it power and cause it to come alive as that one thought can control or consume your life. You have power to take control over the thoughts that go on inside your mind. Once your thoughts enter into your heart it then produces into your life. Take control of them before they take control over you.

Hidden To Be Found

October 16, 2015InspirationalBoaz, FOUND, hidden, LOST, Ruth, SEEDS, VALUE, worthTreva Barnard

I have never been much of a breakfast person although I love to cook and prepare it. They say that it is one of the most important meals of the day as it starts your day with a well balanced meal that supplies adequate protein, carbohydrates and fiber. It also fuels you up and prepares you for each day. The older I become the more healthier I want to be. So now I have purposed to try and eat breakfast every morning even if it just consists of fruit, which I love. As I was in the grocery store the other day I decided that I wanted to try something different and I chose the pomegranate. I have never had the actual fruit by itself. I talked with some of my co-worker’s to get their opinions on it and their answers were all the same, that they love it. They for warned me that the seeds are hidden, hatd to get to and it is very time consuming to get them out, but it is worth it. I was so excited that I even went on youtube to watch a video explaining the best way to open it. I wanted to make sure as my first time that I did it correctly. I had talked about it so much that I decided to give it a try and I did just as I was instructed by the video. I was amazed at how many seeds there were in that one fruit alone. There had to be a hundreds of seeds in there and their colors are so bright. My co-worker’s were right it wasn’t easy to get to them and they were hidden and protected by what is called the membrane. You had to be very careful when pulling them out and apart so that you didn’t bust the juice out of the seeds. Around the seed was this gel like substance which held the juice inside that surrounded the seed and it was protected by another coat that you had to bust it open in order to get to the inside. Some of them were embedded very deep, but once I tasted them it was worth the trouble of going to find them. As I was continuing with this process the scripture that came to mind was Proverbs 18: 22 “He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord” When you think about the word “FIND” it means a discovery of something valuable or succeed in obtaining. In order for something to be found it has to first be lost. If we are not lost, how do we expect him “BOAZ” to find us. Forcing yourself to be noticed will not only cause more hurt, more damage, but for you to be overlooked. Our goal as women is not to search nor claiming every man that comes a long our path to be the one. If we hold no value in ourselves and aren’t preparing ourselves to be “RUTH” how do we expect them to. We attract what we are. Have you hidden yourself enough to be found? Good things don’t come easy they are very hard to get, but worth it once found.

Eagles Wings

October 15, 2015InspirationalDREAMS, EAGLES, enourage, fearfull, flight, hawk, JUMP, ledge, try, visionsTreva Barnard

In May of this year I went on a classroom field trip with one of my girls as a chaperone to the US National Whitewater Center in Charlotte. It was AMAZING, as we were able to go white water rafting, rock climbing, zip lining and so much more. It was getting close where it was time for us to go, but we had enough time to do one more thing. We all decided to do the Hawk Jump. I had never heard of that before and yes it was just like it sounded. When we approached it we were like OMG! You had to climb up at least 13 feet and when you got up to the top you stood on a ledge just like a hawk would before it takes off. Before we went up there they put us in protective gear that would help us in coming down or if anything should happen. In order to get down you had to jump. Looking from where we stood it seemed like it might have been a piece of cake, but you had some kids who would get up there and were scared to jump and wanted to come down. They had some that had been up there for15-20 mins, so they had to go up there to get them because they weren’t coming down. As our group started to go up we would encourage each other. Some were afraid of heights, but faced their fears that day by jumping. There was some who got all the way up and just couldn’t jump, but at least they tried. I was very proud of my group. Well it was my time to go up and everyone was cheering me on. I had never been one to be afraid of heights. You could get me to do just about anything. It wasn’t until I got half way up and decided to look down that I became nervous and to be honest a little afraid. I know now why they didn’t want to go through with it. I got all the way to the top and there was hardly any room to turn around. As I stood there for a moment, fear was starting to set settle in. All I could hear from below was my group telling me to jump and that I could do it. I found myself now having to encourage myself with the same words that I had given to everyone else. As I reflected back on this moment today the thought came to mind that some people will never take flight with their dreams , visions, etc because they get stuck on the ledge, fearful of the jump. What if I don’t make it? What if I mess up? What if, what if, what if? 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of love power and of a sound mind” You can never fly unless you jump. When the Eagle teaches their babies how to fly they take them high up in the sky and they drop them, but they never let them touch the ground. They continue this process until the baby begins to fly on its own. Sometimes we delay our process because of the fear of the unknown, but God said that he would never leave us nor forsake us and he would always lead us in the right path if you would only trust him with each step. Stop trusting in your own ability or inability to fly. Trust God and jump.