“Fashion With A Mission”

According to Valeri Reeves, “Anyone can create a trend, I want to create a keepsake…”. Reaves is a fashion designer, author, and child advocate … wife, mother and grandmother … among many facets. She is the founder of MyMeApparel Ready-to Wear Fashions, editor of the MyMeApparel Fashion News Blog and model booker of the MyMeApparel Faces of ME! Model Booking Services.

Between Reeves many hats she manages to make sure she is still active in giving back to the community. Through doing what she loves, Reeves has made it a point to incorporate a charity fashion show to 10 Georgia State Licensed Family Child Care Providers. Each recipient will receive a play center, such as a reading center, a dramatic play center, an outdoor play center, small/large manipulative center, etc. The next tour stop is scheduled for Thursday, September 22, 2011,7pm-11pm, doors open at 6:30pm. It will be located Downtown Conference Center, 6701 Church Street, Douglasville, GA 30134.

On the third week of September of every year, MyMeApparel hosts an annual fashion show specific to MyMeApparel Ready to Wear Fashion House and Model Booking Service. It is an opportunity to showcase only MyMeApparel garments and accessories, a piece from the MyMeApparel Expressions of ME! Apprentice, the MyMeApparel Faces of ME! models (and other models) and to identify and fund raise for the annual designated MyMeApparel Charitable Recipient.

During the 2nd Annual MyMeApparel Fashion Show & Charity it will be “A Memoir of a First Year Designer”, a bound compilation of the struggles and accomplishments, dreams-to-fruition projects, construction of garments and charitable contributions to society that Reaves has made during the first year of becoming the founder and head fashion designer of MyMeApparel, a Ready-to-Wear Fashion House and Model Booking Service, complete with color photos of garment construction, models, events, behind-the-scenes of events and photo shoots, charitable recipients, and more.

MyMeApparel Fashion Show & Charity Tour is actually the fourth of 18 scheduled fashion tour stops to take place over the next three years. The first three stops have already been completed: Columbia, South Carolina; West Palm Beach, FL; Tuscaloosa/Birmingham, AL. Each stop includes a model call, photo shoot, fashion display and local child advocacy related charitable recipient. For more information on MyMeApparel visit: www.mymeapparel.com

Matters of The Heart

Hello "Matters of the Heart," is growing you can now tune in on Tuesday,8-9PM on www.love860.com. We will be on TV soon so keep checking back.be sure to check out the youtube link attached. You all be sure to check us out our past shows of 1570am and on www.hbheart.org

We Deserve It All

After the divorce a daughter and mother’s relationship was deformed, for whatever reason the relationship this child had with her mother always seemed to be intricate. She had never been able to understand because the relationship she had with her other siblings seemed far from how their relationship was.

She would try so hard to please her only to have her feelings hurt in the long run. As she grew older she would expect her mother to be there for special events in her life such as giving birth to her grandchildren but no matter how many she had, the mother never made it. She anticipated that her mother would visit yet such desire never had come to pass.

Finally, the daughter realized she had to lower her expectations for her mother. Sometimes we have to lower expectations for man but with God we can expect it all.

This daughter was longing for something that only God could give her and only God can give us it all. We all want it all from our parents.

Our parents relationships are a merely images of the relationship that we as children of God have; nonetheless, the relationship we have with our biological parents are limited while the relationship we have with our heavenly Father is limitless. I know it’s immeasurable because in the book of John 14 we find Jesus talking to the disciples.

Jesus was preparing to leave and before He left He wanted to comfort the disciples He told them, “Do not let your hearts be troubled (John 14:1). Another way of saying this is, allow your heart to be held in reserve with full trust in God.

It was going to be a while before the disciples saw Jesus again and He was basically saying, I will see you later and in my place I will leave you a comforter. As Jesus continued He revealed to them that He was preparing a place for them with many rooms. Not only would they see Him later but they would live with Him.

Thomas was hurt and wanted to go with Jesus and Philip wanted to know who the Father that Jesus spoke of is. It was almost as if during the farewell speech they were trying to know how to locate Him in the future when they felt down, when they got hurt, they needed direction or when they needed no one but the Lord. Jesus on the other hand responded saying, "You have been with me all this time and you don’t know."

Further in the text Jesus answered saying, “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time... Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. Whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it (John 14:9-13).

This text points out several things first it expresses how some us are with the Father daily and don’t even recognize. Second we see the cure in opposition to this dilemma of mind. It suggest that by us believing in Christ or just looking at His creditability of what He has done in our life grants us access to being comforted.

We neglect that when we woke up this morning that God worked a miracle, when we took a breath of air God worked another miracle, when we where able to go to a house at night while it was cold outside, we weren’t laying under a rock shivering, God worked yet another miracle. When we look at our loved ones and they are still there it doesn’t matter if you two are kicking and screaming at each other you are still there alive, God is yet working another miracle.

The proof is there merely because you’re still there breathing and as you as waking up each morning God is working a little on you and working a little on the other person, but we as children of God must believe in Him and not the trouble within our mind.

The next point He makes is when you believe in Christ you do the works, He has everything in place for you. In other words, you will continue the legacy of Jesus Christ but they will be even greater things. Finally, Jesus states because we recognize Him, believe in Him and continue His legacy, yielding our self, the Lord will give us “whatever you ask in my name and anything you ask for in my name I will do.”

When we ask in Jesus name we are pleading. It is by His merit and intercession that we receive such gift. This is interesting because in order to get the I want it all , which is appropriate for our condition we have to give Christ all of us. We have to deplete all the negative cruel ways of thinking, we have to be sold out to Jesus and serve Him and our reward is whatever we desire, which actually lines up with what He desires because we would have stopped thinking opposite of how the Lord thinks. We would be doing what Jesus would do, not what my flesh wants me to do, for we have the victory.

The young lady mentioned previously, might not have the relationship she desires with her mother today or even tomorrow but she has what she needs in Jesus every day. He keeps supplementing the support and relationship that her mother lacks and even what the daughter lacks but one day because this daughter believes and continues to live out the legacy of Christ Jesus she will get it all because she deserves it all and we deserve it all. We deserve to be happy, have joy, be healed, be loved, we deserve it all!

Consider our Father is the Father of all Father’s, He is Alpha and Omega and because God created this world, created all of us we have access to it all and deserve it all, in 2011 let us not fall short because we lack to believe, we lack to do the works of the Lord but let us get it all, for we deserve it all! Let not your hearts be troubled ( John 14:1).

Talk, Walk & Act

I recall seeing a family member and they asked me if I was a Pastor. I had never been asked such thing. This person went on to remind me of all the things I did in the past that was negative. I know the Spirit was controlling me because I did not say a word.

After leaving the person I thought, "I wonder why my relative can only remember the bad." As I thought more and more I was reminded of the good I did which has lead me to the person I am today. I thought of how God has been using me and continues to use me inspite of how I allowed the enemy to use me.

My mind travels to the book of Romans where it states, “This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." Romans 3:22-24

We note in the first verse it is explaining how righteousness from God comes from believing in Jesus. In other words, in order for you and me to talk, walk, and act within the condition that is acceptable to God we have to completely trust in Christ.

As we continue the next verse says why- because all of us, not just you, not just me, all of us have missed the mark, at some point and time. We have all refrained from talking, walking and acting as we ought to in the sight of the Lord, which is acceptable to God.

The final verse says we are justified freely by his grace through Christ. Because of the releasing of payment that Christ paid for us, we are seen as God wants, we are able to talk, walk and act in accordance to what is acceptable to God because we have faith in Christ.

When I was a child, I thought as a child. I did what I wanted, when I wanted but as I grew in the Lord and continue to grow in the Lord; He is being glorified.

We as children of God must be reminded that even though we let the enemy use us from time to time, there has been some high light moments for the Lord. There have been some times of ex halting the Lord. We cannot get engulfed with our mistakes and disappointments for perhaps it was not God's appointed time. We can't keep driving in reverse trying to go ahead in shame. We have to look to the heavens above and know that God looks at us through His son, our savior and that is why we are able to do things, impossible things.

I want to encourage you today to write your spiritual resume. Reflect on not allowing disappointment to bring you to a halt. Consider not looking back at what you did in the past of shame and hold fast to your hall of fame in honor of the Lord. I want to encourage you to embrace the God in you and live life to its fullest. Man might not be able to accept you as a new creation but God does. Remember what Christ did for you and me so we have the victory!

No Doesn't Mean Stop, Does It

The other day my four year old got in trouble. He decided that everything in the house was a ball and it was his goal to throw it on the wall. I have spoken to him as well as his brothers about throwing in the house but somehow that is an ongoing chant in my house with three boys. After my son was disciplined from throwing, he went on as if nothing ever happened. It was then that I realized his actions were ministering to me.

I quickly thought of the book of James, "My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry," James 1:19.

This text is so simple to me. It is very direct and straight to the point. It tells us to respond by paying attention and listening. It tells us to not be fast to get our two cents in, don't be so quick to say all that is on our chest because we want the first and final word. Finally, don't lose control and become angry.

How is it that a child can be disciplined and go on with life as if it is a box of chocolates. Nevertheless, when some adults are told no or when adults are dealing with the consequences of their actions he/she reverts back to being a toddler. The adult has a two year old tantrum. The interesting thing is this tantrum can last for years. Life becomes postpone in their mind because of being told no or because we don't like to deal with the consequences.

Every ‘no’ is not meant for you to stop. Let me repeat that, every no is not meant for you to stop. Sometimes no means not right now, try again, give me your best. Sometimes no is there to simply test your character and see if you will focus on what God has to say about the situation and not just what you have to say.

I encourage you to take time to listen to what the Lord is saying. Look to God about the bumps and curves you might be traveling today and know that even in the midst of all the chaos God is still speaking to you as His powerful, priceless and precious child of God. Remember God does not put you through anything that you cannot handle. Be sure to check out our video for our upcoming event. We welcome you to come and be blessed with a friend. If you cannot make it send a donation as HBHeart continues to reach out to the homeless and any amount will help this endeavor to be a success. You may pledge a donation on our site www.hbheart.org.Blessings!

The Blessings of Women of Excellence Conference

The Lord has shown us His grace once more and we are most honored. We had a wonderful time at our second series of the Women of Excellence Conference, August 14-15. The ladies joined us from the shelter with their children and everyone was empowered in the Lord. One lady gave her life over to Christ and we are still filled with joy! We want to thank God for blessing us with the support of Clique Connections, Dr. Michael Woods of Ministry With Excellence, Bishop Fowler of Big Miller Grove Church, Pastor Mike Lewis and the Mt. Calvary Baptist Church Family of Atlanta, Minister Heddi J of Poetic Ministree, Zaxby's and Chick Fila of Lithonia, Hyatt Place, DOC Development of Conyers, Jerry Jackson, Shantell Mallard, Kenneth Morgan, Margaret of Hannah Loves Angels and Aaron Riley. We are especially grateful to all of our volunteers and your special prayers. We are looking forward to our third series to take place October 1-2. We ask that you continue to pray about the success of this event and the many blessings going forth to bless each participant!

Visionary Writer's

God has certainly moved us with the Visionary Writer's Camp this summer. Thank all the parents for allowing your children to be apart of this camp. We were blessed to have 17 students. We thank our sponsors and music instructor Shirley Partee and wonderful volunteers, Ashley Shy, Brenda Willins and Karmen Simmons. Additionally, we thank Borage Grill for our magnificent cooking camp. All the students did a fabulous job on their stories and songs! They worked hard preparing to go back to school.

Leading by Fear or Faith

Making decisions can at times be terrorizing. I recall when I had to decide to tell my parents I was having a child. I had one more year to complete college and I could imagine my father’s response before I even told him. I contemplated if my mother would be disappointed and think my life was over. My thoughts were consumed with negative thoughts and nothing positive. It was as if I made up in my mind to only highlight depressing things, instead of encouraging.

Recently, since I have been in the capacity of being a leader of Healing of a Broken Heart Ministry decisions have been a natural part of the job description. Decisions have to be made daily and some require less than 24 hour responses.

As a wife and mother, decisions must be made minute by minute and responses have to be declared as quickly, as a second, depending on the situation.

We are all leaders in some capacity which require for us to make the ultimate decision. Considering decisions, captures my mind to two leaders in the Bible that many are familiar with, Saul and David. When Saul was called to be king he was in hiding (1 Samuel 10:22-23); on the other hand, when David was called to be anointed as king he came with ease (1 Samuel 16:11-13).

Throughout the recordings of Saul he displayed not wanting to take responsibility because of lack of wanting to be held accountable. David’s recordings display him as courageous. Even as a child before he entered being a king he was practicing being courageous fighting bears and lions to secure sheep.

Some call Saul a coward because he sent a child to do the work of a man. Some call David crazy because he would do things without thinking it completely through. My perception is the difference between the two is Saul lead by fear and David lead by faith. Saul would use his own logic, while David typically used his faith in God. Saul and David made mistakes but Saul practice running from making decisions while David practiced activating his faith in God to make decisions.

We all have something we are responsible to make decisions towards and deal with the consequences. The consequences are either positive or negative, yet with each decision that is made a lesson is learned and we are to grow in our faith in God, as we seek Him to help us discern the best decision to make.

How are you leading today? Are you leading by fear? Do you have all these things in your head you know you are supposed to do but because of fear and looking at what you have or don’t have you remain stuck in life? Are you leading by faith? Do you have the courage to take a chance and step out on faith to do what you feel in your heart? Do you hear what God is saying and you move even if does not make sense logically?

Consider leading by faith. Trust in the Lord with all thy heart, acknowledge God in all thy ways and He will direct your path (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Seeing Beyond

Often I tell my husband, “God is telling me to do something I cannot do or does not make any sense.” Recently, I spoke it but meditated on, “Why me?” Last year, God spoke to me about the many events He desired for Healing of a Broken Heart Ministry to hold, “How exciting,” I thought. I did not understand why and how I would participate. However, God knew and has always known. As this year has progressed, all I can wonder is, “what if I said no, when He said go.”

Logically, nothing that this ministry has done makes sense to the eyes of humans; simply because it appears as if, we never have what we need initially. I was always encouraged to make sure you have everything you need before you consider a date for an event. Yet God always pushes me out when I barely had anyone or the things needed to accomplish the set goal, He has had in place all along.

I recall the story of Samuel being sent off to look for the king for the Israelites. Samuel saw Eliab and thought he is the king but God said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or his stature, because I have refused him. Man does not see what the Lord sees, for man sees what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart,” 1 Samuel 16:7.

This text teaches us several lessons. It warns us as believer’s two things we should not focus on and reveals characteristics of our heavenly Father area of expertise.

It warns us to not look at the appearance. We are not supposed to have our eyes fixed on the exterior or outer shell of the situation.

Then it warns not to look at his stature. We can not get tangled with the size of the situation, the physique or how tall the issue is. Following, the text tells us why- because I have refused him. God has rejected and despised what He has warned us not to look at.

Next, is says because God can see what man cannot see. God can see beyond our narrow vision of today, yesterday and tomorrow. The Lord can see the whole situation, from the beginning to the end and we need Him to get to where we cannot see.

Has God called on you to do something? Are you looking at your Goliath? God has cast off that thing, why should we look to the very thing He has cast off? If God detest that issue, what is the point of us giving our attention to it? Are you stuck on your abilities and not what you can do through Christ? Have you been looking at the past? When God told Lot to leave He said, “Don’t look back.” His wife looked back for the last time.

Maybe you feel inadequate to do what He is calling you. Perhaps you feel unworthy or possibly your logic says, “None of this makes any sense.” God does not look at who we are but He looks at the potential of who we are to become. He can see our heart, the very thing we at times cannot see.

Consider trusting God with all your heart. Pray to God to help you not make decisions based solely on your own logic or first impression. Ask the Lord to forgive you when you knew Hs answer but chose differently. Call out to our heavenly Father to help you as you wait on His answer, so you can move when He says Go. For the Lord sees beyond what we see and looks out for our best interest.

Visionary Writer's Presentations

Visionary Writer's has been blessed to have 12 outstanding students. We had a wonderful time with all the students and enjoyed their presentations of all their work. The students had very creative story's, moving songs and made terrific food. We are grateful to the parents that allowed the students to participate and our sponsors, Rockdale Democratic Party, Dr. Brenda Scruggs and Mr. Graham Hugh. We thank Grace Baptist Church and Grace Cafe for allowing us to have the students at their facilities as well as Connie A Photography and Visionary Star International Records of Conyers. The children had a great time recording the song. You all all can check out a glimpse of the song at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leI8HCJg6pA. Email us today to register for our July Writing Session or to order a copy of the CD for $7 plus shipping. We welcome teens for our teen writing workshops!

Don’t Let Your Gift Go

When I was younger my father would take us to the Farmers Market. On the way to the market, he would talk to us about our gifts. I remember one trip he told me to be the best that I could be. He had a vision of my potential in writing and I could not see such vision, after all, everyone went to school to learn to write.

We would arrive at the market and get loads of fruit. As we traveled back home the car had the sweetest aroma of peaches, mangoes, plums, grapes and strawberries.
My dad would direct us all to help take out the fruit and bring it in the house. We would be excited knowing soon we could enjoy this delicious fruit, but mistakenly we left one peach behind.

The smell of these items carried a scent like no other but after a few days we saw annoying gnats. This peach that was left behind sealed in the car without any circulation began to soften. As the days went by a development of mold formed.

After several days, when you have forgotten about the fruit but notice irritating gnats you ponder, “What is attracting these gnats?” Nevertheless, you have a molded piece of fruit that is developing all sorts of gnats and bacteria issues so your focus is magnified with removing the gnats and you can’t seem to grasp the root of your problem was caused by neglecting to make sure you collected all the fruit.

Fruit reminds me of the gifts our heavenly Father gives us. The Lord grants children with parents to help mold them into the gift that they are. Some parents have forgotten about the fruit that lies within their child and are focused on the annoying tendencies that that child has. From time to time a child can forget their gifts and it takes our Father to remind us.

My mind is captured by the book of Ephesians, it states " Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord,” (6:4).

This text gives four forms of guidance for the father. One, it tells the father to turn away from making their child mad and drive them away. This text says control your anger as the Father because the Lord does not want the child to be banned from home. After all God does not ban us from heaven but welcomes us by the covering of Christ blood.

The second form of guidance pointed out is it advises the father to bring them up, nourish the child to maturity. When a child makes a mistake he/she needs to know they are forgiven and still loved. When the child does something great remind them that you are proud of their accomplishments.

The third point made is in training-this originally means the whole training and education of children. It is saying lay the foundation for your child and help with developing your child’s mind so that the child is equipped to maturely grow into the gift that the Lord has placed upon the child. Help the child to be disciplined which will take correction of the child’s mistakes.

Finally, the last point of guidance given is it says to instruct “give the child the instruction of the Lord.” When giving the child the instruction of the Lord the father will then warn the child and discipline the child from their mistakes.

Maybe you have a gift that has been left behind like a peach rolling in the car. Perhaps you have children and wondered what their gift is. Children are gifts to each parent and the world. They are gifts stored with many gifts to blossom. Sometimes in life we neglect our gifts and they begin to soften being sealed without circulation, our gifts begin to mold with gnats flying around, the once sweet aroma begins to spoil and that gift just gets rotten from being deprived.

A child might not notice the vision but still they are excited to apply their unknown gift. It never clicked as a child that my gift was writing but one way or another my parents knew. Somehow along the way when life hits us, our path can often change gears. We can ride around with our gift like a left over peach in a heated car.

Consider, not letting your gift grow mold. Ask God to help you not neglect your gift to help develop other’s gift to their full potential. Call upon the Father to help you not lose all control with your child because he/she did not bring the proper grades home or even if they brought a child home. Pray to God to give you the discernment to notice how you can help encourage others and not drive them a part but towards their gift. For, “Where there is no vision, the people will perish, Proverbs 29:18.

Peace in Change

Change has been a condition that has occurred consistently, for the past two weeks in my life. Every day the twist and turns of a roller coaster has been so present that the only alternative I have had has been to call out to the Lord.

My husband told me, it is now a time in many lives that change is occurring but we have to push through the change. I thought, “What a timely statement," for we must be reminded to keep going forward.

As my mind contemplates pressing forward, I seek peace to endure the entwining curves. In the book of Isaiah it says, “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you," Isaiah 26:3.

This text tells us if our mind is committed to the Lord we will be granted with peace. We will have peace on the inside, on the outside, peace with God, peace of our very conscience at all times, and we will have peace in every event, if we rely on the Father for that peace.

When life seems like a roller coaster, those who trust in God shall not only find in him, but shall obtain from him, strength that will carry them through to that sacredness.

Life might be pulling you one way today and another next but God is the same forever. He is looking for those who will trust Him through it all. He is looking for those who will be committed to look to Him.

Are you committed? Who are you looking at today in the midst of trails? What has your attention in life’s unwinding changes?

Consider not fretting over what is visible to the eye. Allow God to help you grow in Him. Pray to God to help you trust Him like never before. For the “LORD, You will establish peace for us, Since You have also performed for us all our works,” Isaiah 26:12.

Healing of a Broken Heart "Visionary Writer's"

The Lord has blessed H. B. Heart with a wonderful opportunity to work with children this past week to prepare students from the ages of 5 to 14 to write a song and a book. In addition, they have learned how to cook a meal! It has been most rewarding for us all. We want to invite you all to come out and support these young author's of 'Visionary Writer's Camp' Saturday, 10AM at Grace Baptist Church, Crowell Road, Porterdale, GA 30014.

Time for a New Phase

Many people are graduating during this time. It is a time for a new phase for many. For some this is a moment they have been mapping in their head for years yet after the graduation what is there.

I remember being in middle school and I had every intention to leave home. I worked hard to make sure that nothing would get in the way from me graduating and going off to college.

Interestingly, I spent six years contemplating to go to college but beyond college was not something I considered, as a teenage girl. I was not living under the awareness of the shortness and uncertainty of life. As the time drew closer for me to conclude college I thought I would continue the path that I had already began in writing in journalism. Nevertheless, life hit me and I went through a spell. I was held up in traffic for seven years trying to figure out what do I do next.

As I reminisce, my mind is captured by the expression that Moses said, “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom,” Psalms 90:12.

This text points out the urgency for us to understand the discipline of prioritizing the days of our life. The statement "number our days" communicates putting in order, arranging the use of time.

Our days are numbered and we should take time in prioritizing those days to make sure we are marching towards our destiny and not away from our purpose.

The next point that is made is it says “that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom,” This phrase means to bring our souls, our inner being near wisdom of religious affairs, skill, war or ethical matters.

Each day we must arrange order within our days to good purpose, the divine appointed purpose for us and have our hearts engaged to the wisdom of our heavenly Father.If our days are prioritized then we can reflect on our works and compare them with our days. Maybe you have a child that is graduating. Perhaps you are the person graduating or moving to another phase in your life and you are mulling over, “What should I do now?”

Have you taken time to write the vision? Do you have a business plan laid out so that as you move about your days, you can evaluate your time, accomplishments and mistakes?

Consider not wasting four years, six years only anticipating getting a degree or completing a training course. However, think beyond the degree or certificate and insert time to apply seeking the wisdom of God to order each and every day of your life to complete the very purpose you are created for. Pray to God to help you not live for the moment but an eternal life. Ask God to help you live by faith and get wisdom and understanding. “Do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light,” Romans 13:11-12.

Women of Excellence Kick Off

We had a wonderful time being empowered about our worth as a woman of God! The ladies from the shelter joined us and were pampered, Praise God!! Special Shout Out to Fleur Elysee Salon and all the stylist who stepped up making this year a success. The ladies were all delighted and thankful. We thank Bizette Anthony for all of her continued support and allowing H.B. Heart to come in to continue the mission to empower women and help encourage the ladies from the shelter!

See The Best In You

After my two oldest children prepared themselves for school my son asked, “Can we watch TV?” My reply was the same today as any other school morning, “No, you can fold some clothes.” As my son gathered some items, he looks up to me and asked, “How many do I have to get and what about…” I stopped him right there, saying,” You get some clothes and your sister will get some clothes also.”

His sister then comes in from out of the kitchen to say, “Can I have some more juice like…." I stopped her and replied, “Ask for more juice because you want it not because your brother had more. Tell me what you want based on you, not your brother.” She turns her big eyes up and bashfully says,” May I have more juice?”

Then all of a sudden, I was captured by a scripture I was going over yesterday, the Apostle Paul wrote, “Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load,” Galatians 6:4-5.

The Apostle Paul was basically saying everyone has an accountability to prove their work. When we are aware of our own heart and ways, then we will not spend time being jealous of another yet rejoice because we know who we are in Christ. We rejoice appreciating the gift God created in the other, without spending time despising others and we are most apt to help them when they are struggling.

As we face each day we should be most concern about our self and the work we are doing. Eah of us are all a work in progress. At the same time we are children of the most high. Let us hesitate to compare our self to another because when we take an interest in our self then we can see the ‘Best’ in us that the Lord see’s.

Consider not searching the web for what someone else is doing, how somebody else made it and search your heart with the scripture. God has a plan just for you. Today I encourage you to embrace who God created in you. Allow the Lord to show you how valuable you are in His sight and rejoice, forever more!

Standing in Gloomy Skies

The other day I looked at the clouds and on one side of my house was bright skies, on the other side the sky was gloomy. Then all of the sudden the side that was gloomy began to stretch out over the sunny side and as the gray clouds covered the sunny area there was a beaming ray of sunlight, slightly beaming through the gray clouds.

Later,I saw a squirrel in the road. I began to slow down and the squirrel was confused as ever. He ran right then left, then right a second time and decided to go back the way he came. It was at that moment the visual of the clouds and squirrel captured my mind to the book of James.

James said, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind,” James 1:-6.

This text is pointing out that when we go to God about an area in our life that we lack knowing and we ask Him for His divine wisdom the Lord is going to give His wisdom to all liberally. This word liberally means-simply, openly, frankly, sincerely. God is going to tell you how to do the thing you have been hesitant of doing by making it plain and simple. It continuous saying, the Lord is not going to criticize you;nothing you ask will be a stupid question.

The next verse gives two points, it says but let him ask in faith, with no doubt. This means we have to believe what we are asking God for and have no uncertainty.

The prior descriptions let me see how we are from time to time bright and sunny skies when it is all going well but the moment the eviction notice comes in we get gloomy skies. We run from side to side just like the squirrel and often times we go back the way we came instead of leaping out on faith.

Maybe God has been speaking something in your heart for years yet because you lack wisdom you hesitate. Perhaps, you feel in your heart you do what God says but all you can see is the Goliath and not the David in you.

Have you been sitting on a dream for years? Did God bless you with a gift that has been stored away far too long? Where does your faith stand today? Is your faith tossing in the wind or standing tall?

Consider God’s word never returns void. Allow the Lord to prepare you for the blessing, let Him help your unbelief. Pray to God to pour His wisdom continuously. Shout to the Lord to make it plain so you can get it and press forward. Don’t grow faint my friends, stand strong and believe Him for the impossible. Call upon the Lord and say, “Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus,” Acts 4:30.

H.B.Heart Ministry Giving to Others on Mother's Day

Thank you all for your support and prayers. The ladies at the shelter were blessed and pampered from head to toe.

Kicking and Screaming in Change

For Mother’s Day I reported to my family, “I want a new Bible!” I grew very comfortable with my old one but the pages were now falling out. While on a road trip, my baby decided to rip out the first few pages and it was then that I knew I really had to let go of my favorite Bible.

As the day began, I forgot about my declaration but my family did not. Lying on the table was a card, a dozen of roses and a green embroidered covered Bible with silver pages. I was excited and eager to get to church.

When it was time to follow along with the reading of the scripture, I noticed this new Bible was a bit different. The words were a different version than what I was used to reading. I frantically thought, “were are the devotionals, this Bible doesn’t have encouraging devotionals?” Then I said, “Oh well, I will have to get used to this one.” Later my husband asked me, if I liked the Bible and I curiously said, “yes, it is a different version than I am used to.” He insisted I took it back and I said no the change is good, I will keep it. At that moment God ministered to my heart.

My mind thought of the book of Luke and Jesus was talking to a group of people.He told them I came to bring division not peace. He told them from now on there will be division in the house of five, father against son, mother against daughter. He continued to say to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, 'A shower is coming.' And so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, 'There will be scorching heat,' and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?" Luke12:52-59

In the text Jesus was telling the crowd you can predict the weather but you hypocrites you cannot discern what you are prophetically going through.

‘Ooch that hurt’, when we get to a point in life and we have to choose something new it never means there will not be heartache, anguish or sorrow about letting go of the old. There are countless stories in the Bible of faithful people of strife and division, stories of disruption caused by the choice to letting go of something that is most familiar, what is comfortable or accustomed to in exchange for a new and more faithful way that God has for us. Grief escorts a change of a rainbow. Our heavenly Father expects more of us, He has given us so much proof yet we stand in negligence.

Have you been told to let go of something old? Has God pressed upon you to stop doing some negative things and you feel like you are wrestling?Are you kicking and screaming? Do you have things falling apart as you try to hold fast of the old?

Maybe you have to make a change today but you are still looking at how it was ‘Back in the Day.’ Perhaps something has been kicking your behind as you go against the grain because you won’t let go of the old to choose the new.

Choosing the new way can cause pain, it can cause some discomfort. When Abraham followed Jesus it caused some chaos. He had to take his family somewhere and he did not know where. When Peter followed Jesus it caused pain and division for he left his family. He left his job of being a fisherman that supported his family that he abandoned. Today you might feel like the tables are turning upon all that is familiar but our God sent us a Savior who is a healer. He sent a healer that healed the uncertainty in Abraham’s family and the brokenness in Peter’s family making their names great.

Perhaps the flames you feel are meant so our God will heal all the brokenness of division, of discomfort of the usual and old ways turning to new. Consider allowing the Father to do His job as you follow His path. Pray to God to help you be more discerning of the changes that He is allowing to take place. Pray to endure the change with grace. Call upon the Lord and thank Him for bringing you through the change of the old into the new. God has set us apart placing His hand on us for a specific purpose. "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end," Jeremiah 29:11.

Not Becomes Possible

The other day I found myself looking at what I have not done and wondering when I will have time to do those things. I thought, “God why did you ask me to do all of this? You know I can’t do all of this, it is impossible. I have many responsibilities at this house, my husband needs me to do this, my children need me to do that and my church needs me to do this. I don’t have, I can’t get, but what about..." I heard Him all so clearly say,"Who Am I?"

I felt like a little kid in trouble with my head hanging low. I turned in everything that night and said I will try again another day, "Lord forgive me. I will do what you ask of me." When I woke up a great friend emailed me and his message read

Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God," Mark 10:27.

In this text Jesus looks at the disciples considering their statement to assure them that if you are relying on a human being rather male or female, animals or plants or if you are relying on another source it is without strength, powerless, weakly and disabled.

However, if you look to the Father, God, Alpha and Omega, all things -each individual thing, each and every whole thing. He says, if you rely on God every collectively thing is able. It is possible to move forward and have all power, wealth and might with God.

This shook me up because God reminded me as He is reminding all His children today, with God it is possible.

What are you hoping for today? Who are you looking to to get that thing done? Are your desires aligning with God? Maybe you are trying to do something quick that’s not legit. Perhaps you are just considering how to get for yourself or get money for the moment.

Consider seeking God about how to help the kingdom of heaven. Pray to God to help you set your eyes on what He desires for what He has willed for you is where the power is. Remember, "all things are possible through Christ," Phil 4:13.