The Beauty of Life


(The Pillow case angel is a beautiful design for pillows)
The butterflies represent the beauty of life and the ever changing process it brings as we take each step forward. Along our journey through life, we grow from our youth to adult years. Life is an experience we embrace because of the beauty we enjoy with family and friends throughout the years.

The smiles we share during the times we gather for the holidays over games, social events and lots of food and fun, are beautiful memories we each hold in our hearts and never let them go. Those of us who prepare meals for the family gathering and plan our activities, we do them with the spirit of love that the joys of life brings with each of the colors of its own beauty in every family, as seen in the picture with the angel holding the butterflies above.

In our hearts we each are thankful for our family and friends and for the memories that we all share. And we pray there will be more beautiful memories of life we will share, along our journey of life stories.
__Ellen J. Barrier

Self- Restraint from Sexual Temptation


For at the window of my house I looked through my casement,
And beheld among the simple one, I discerned among the youths,
A young man void of understanding,
Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,
In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:
And behold, there met him a woman with the attire of a harlot, and subtil of heart.



(She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:
Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)
So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,
I have peace offerings with me;
this day have I payed my vows.
Therefore, came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.
I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.
I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves.
For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey:
He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.

With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.
He goeth after her straight way, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;
Till a dart strikes through his liver as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.

Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.
Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her path.
For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.
Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.

Source of information: King Solomon
Proverbs 7:6-27 (K.J.V)

 Questions:

How would you describe this woman?
Is there anything about the woman in this story that is different in her life style from some of  today's women?
Is this woman single or married?
Would you characterize this woman as a ‘player’?
Does it appear that she and her husband have an open marriage?
What is your opinion on open marriages?
What are your views about people who allow themselves to get involved in a relationship of this kind?
Is there anything about such relationship that can lead to harm?
What advice would you offer to both males and females that might be of some help in preventing themselves from getting into the situation that the people in this story are involved in?

__Ellen J. Barrier
Author

Demonic Behavior


   These are Acts of Demonic Behavior Committed Globally


WOMAN BRUTALLY BEATEN and KILLED
  (Crowd Look On and Cheer)

A 33-year-old woman and mother of a 13-year-old daughter, who was presently working and attending college to obtain a degree in marketing, was beaten by three men while in the presence of dozens of onlookers who did nothing to prevent her death.






The Incident as reported:

At about 3:00 a.m. the woman was involved in two minor traffic accidents. In this particular area where the accident occurred, traffic is said to be heavy on weekends. One of the cars, reportedly, involved in the accident had three men in it.

 Ages reported: a 19-year-old and two 20-year-old. The three men reportedly chased the woman’s car onto a bridge that corners the island of the city of Detroit, and rammed her car, forcing her to stop. One of the three men then, smashed her car with a crowbar and pushed her from the car, ripping her clothes. Then after pushing her against the car, he beat her. She tried to run, but was unable to get away from her attacker, who is described as weighing about 300 pounds. The woman was said to have weighed about 115 pounds and was 4-foot-11. Her attacker reportedly, chased her with a crowbar onto the bridge. At some point, the woman was either pushed from the bridge by her attacker or perhaps jumped from fear of him. Reportedly, the woman vanished in the water.
Detroit, Michigan (1995)

Two Teenage Girls Butchered an Elderly Woman  
In March of 1993, two 17-year-old girls were imprisoned for butchering a partially blind 70-year-old woman. The woman was throttled with her dog’s leash, stabbed and slashed 86 times, then stomped. The injuries to her body were described as: five broken ribs, a broken nose, and injuries to her scalp. The injuries to her scalp were caused from the girls’ attempt to scalp her. After they had murdered the elderly woman, they robbed her of $81.72 in pension money. One of the girl’s was her next door neighbor, who reportedly, had tormented the elderly woman for years.
London, England

TEENAGE BOYS KILLS TAXI DRIVER
Three teenagers, two 15-year-old, and a 16-year-old, were arrested for the murder of a 53-year-old taxi driver. One of the boys was said to have had a business card that read, “Crime Company Inc.” and a detailed plan to rob a bank and kill any witnesses. Another boy was said to have bragged about the murder at school, the next day. According to report, “All three teenagers had previous records, but mostly for petty theft.”
Herzliyya, Israel (1994)

THE WORDS OF A CHILD MOLESTER and MURDERER

At the age of 31 years, in December of 1993, a child molester and murder told the court that if he was granted clemency, he would “kill and rape children again and enjoy every minute of it.” He was charged with the deaths of three children. In 1989 he strangled a 4-year-old boy and hung him in a closet, and fatally stabbed a 10-year-old and his 11-year-old brother a month later.

He told the court he started molesting youngsters when he was 14. He was placed in a sex-offenders treatment program. He said he agreed to attend the program only to avoid going to jail, and to continue molesting children. The child molester and murderer confessed to having committed crimes that were so terrible, that it makes him sick to think about them.
Spokane, Washington (1993)

The Mind without a Conscious
Conscious in this sense is used in reference to one having the ability to make a logical judgment between right and wrong.   There are some who are intelligent people and can make educational decisions about things, and appears to be normal people. Yet, many of these same people commit wrongful acts and have no consciousness of guilt.  What is it that causes such a problem to exist among so many individuals?

My Thoughts:
We hurt ourselves emotionally and physically when we separate Spirituality from our everyday life. It becomes easy to commit wrongful acts against others and feel no remorse.  We as human beings need desperately to seek spiritual guidance from our creator, to help us in our daily life; to treat others the way we want to be treated, to guide us in our decision making, in order for us to be  better people.

__ Ellen J. Barrier
Author

Do you want to be free from a negative situation in your life?



There are many negative situations that oftentimes occurs which we have to deal with. Some are sickness, failed relationships, losses, and all kind of things that can cause worry and stress. In the story below we can understand, there are times when we need help that reaches far beyond our abilities.









Story as told:

When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him,
"Wilt thou be made whole?"
The impotent man answered him, "Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another step down before me."
Jesus said unto him, "Rise, take up thy bed and walk."
And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked.
John 5:5-8 (K.J.V)

What this Story Teaches

God has compassion for each of us and cares deeply about our health and all of our needs. This man had been suffering from a disease that left him unable to be self dependent. He was very weak and needed someone to carry him. But he desperately wanted to be cured. He worked hard at trying to get to the healing water. He never gave up. When Jesus saw him, he knew his condition, and that he wanted to be free from the disease that had attacked his body for 38 years.

 Regardless of the situation, God has the power to change it. If it is sickness, loss of income or whatever the case may be he can deliver. An angel blessed the water in the pool during a certain season. Afterward, whoever entered the pool first was cured from whatever disease they had. The man was too ill to get there in time to enter the pool. Someone else always got there before him. That was the hinder for him receiving the cure in the water for his disease. Although, it is human nature to get frustrated, after having worked hard to see opportunities keep passing by, one must never give up.

Things occurs that hinders people from receiving cures for their health problems and from reaching their goals, or repairing a failed relationship.

But we know this, when the master of all cures comes on the scene, he can deliver healing.
Do you want to be free from a negative situation in your life?  God Can Make It Happen For You.


__Ellen J. Barrier
Author

Supernatural Intervention in Times of Financial Needs


There have been times in my life when I have fallen down on my knees and prayed for financial intervention or to get a job. There are  more people needing financial security nowadays than ever. However, there have always been the needs for Supernatural intervention, even in the days of
St. Peter who was in desperate need of having to pay a debt immediately and had no money.

__ Ellen J. Barrier








Story as told:

And when they (Jesus & Peter) were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said,
"Doth not your master pay tribute?”  He said, “Yes.”

Peter did the same thing as I have done and so many others

And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, “What thinkest thou, Simon?
Of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? Of their own children,  or of strangers?”
Peter said unto him, “Of strangers.” 

Something Required to Do

Jesus said unto him, “Then are the children free. Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them,
Go thou to the sea, and cast a hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast
opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee."

Obedience and Work are Required Before Receiving a Request From God

We know that Jesus could have given Peter the money miraculously. However, had he done so, it wouldn’t have taught Peter obedient and trust in times of more challenges that would test his faith in God.

There are times when answers don’t come easy. We have to remain steadfast and focused on our goal. Sometimes the road to success is paved with many obstacles.
And it seems that the harder you work the more challenges you will face. But, from my own personal experience I can say, God has never failed me.

I am stronger and wiser because of the challenges I have overcome with my trust in God and his interventions in my life, I have been successful in accomplishing the goals I set before me. Presently, I am looking forward to completing several new goals.

 What this Lesson Teaches

From this lesson we learned; God understand the need for us to have financial means to get the things we need and pay for the services we use. God is our provider of the things we need for security. We also, understand that we have to work. We each have been given special talents and skills. Its up to us to have the desire to use them. In order for us to succeed in society, we must be willing to work hard and follow instructions. Peter was given specific instructions to follow in order to get the money he needed, by using his skill.

Source of Information:
Matthew 17:24-27 

__Ellen J. Barrier
Author

The Journey of Life

“Never trust someone else to write your life story. Take the pen, and write it yourself.”
__Ellen J. Barrier

Ellen J. Barrier
Owner of Barrier's Books & Assoc.


 Life is a journey for each of us. We travel it on a long path that is often winding and adventurous. Along the way we encounter many challenges and face many obstacles.

Our goal is to reach a certain destination.  Many of us have several goals to reach. Some will reach all of their goals while others will reach a few.
Never trust someone else to write your life story. Take the pen, and write it yourself.

We should always keep in mind, there are new travelers entering into our paths each day who will face some of the same obstacles we faced, and offer to them a helping hand.

__ Ellen J. Barrier