Lesson 1: What is Faith?

Faith is the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen.

Example:  On a windy day you feel the air, and you see objects blown around.

The wind cannot be seen. Yet, it is the substance and the evidence by the air you feel, and what you see happening. You know that the components within the wind are powerful.

The key word is Hope. It is the power beyond the things you feel and see: It is the power you can focus on to reach your goals. Hope is a component of faith. Faith is power. It is a gift from God.

Do not focus on a challenge, regardless of the force it present

The one big mistake you can ever make in life, as you travel upon your path toward your goal, is to focus on a challenge. What happen when people focus on a challenge? They lose hope. Fear of failure take over their thoughts, they panic and fail. This can cause a person to revert back to the past.

Reverting back to the past life, removes the focus away from the future. It is impossible for the past and the future to be focused on at the same time.  When looking back while going forward, something happens within the mind that causes an imbalance: Fear and panic starts to take control of the body and mind: The person then loses control of the ability to believe that he or she can move forward.

 A life story:

(Scene: The ship is in the middle of the sea, and there is a great storm)

If you have read the story of Peter, a disciple of Jesus, who was able to walk upon the water at Jesus command to come to him upon the water: as long as Peter kept his focus on Jesus he was able to get off his ship, and walk upon the water to meet Jesus. He made the one big mistake:  He took his eyes off Jesus, and begin to focus on the strong wind; immediately, he started to sink because of fear, and he panic. He realized he needed help, so he cried out in distress, “Lord, save me.”  Immediately, Jesus stretched out his hand, and caught him. He then said to Peter, O thou of little faith, and Jesus asked Peter this question: Wherefore did you doubt?

Jesus identified himself when he approached the ship by saying, “Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.” And Peter answered him and said, “Lord, if it be thou, bid me to come unto thee on the water.” And he said to Peter, “Come.”

The writer of this story informs us, the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves; for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when his disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying,” It is a spirit.” And they cried out for fear. And he said to them, “Be of good cheer; It is I; be not afraid.” Source of story: Matthew 14: 24-31

Through the storms of life, we long to hear the words Jesus spoke to Peter and those on the ship that was tossed by the strong wind and waves. Be of good cheer. It is I. Be not afraid.

God is our power of hope. Through prayers, and songs of inspirations as well as music, our faith and hope is increased, and many goals are achieved.

Written by Ellen Jean Barrier

Primary website: http://barriersbooks.1wp.com/

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The Prisoner of the Suicide Demon

A dark evil presence can harm a person’s entire being, and cause him or her to harm him or herself and others, if this monster living within the mind is not controlled, and is soon defeated.  There is a reason why such things occur within the mind of a person.  Let me take you to a place where a better understanding of such darkness can creep into the mind, and take over a person’s spiritual being.

When evil things happen to people, they can become depressed, and the mental pain becomes too much to endure.  When medications, and alcohol or drugs no longer work, they toss and turn: Sleep no longer welcome them, the desire for food and things they once had the pleasure of enjoying, no longer exist. They live in a world of darkness, tormented by evil. Such a person become lost, the mind will look for ways to escape from this imprisonment.

Nowhere to Run and No Place to Hide

In the mind of such person, another spirit dwells within it, and control the thought process: Panic attacks take over the mind, and interfere with the body chemical makeup:

That person become incompetent to make rational decisions: Death appears to be the answer for many individuals, when voices are telling them to end his or her life.  They shut down their communications with others, because they believe that humans don’t have the answer they need.

The demon living within such a person, do not want that person to pray, because that spirit fear prayer. Prayer brings a spiritual force into the presence of a demon, that cause fear of being forced out of the body it possess.  Demons can be cast out by people possessing the Spirit of God.

Personal Story:

When I was a child, my dad became depressed and contemplated suicide. He was dealing with some financial problems and a boss on his job, that was too demanding, impatient and mean spirited, that overloaded his work production. These problems brought about, issues that became too much for him to endure. I recall hearing him talking about how difficult his boss was to work for. It was his only source of financial income. Finding another job, would have been next to impossible for him, at that particular time. His boss knew that, which is why, he treated my dad with cruelty.

It was through prayer, and other means of family and friends support of interventions that helped my dad to deal with his mental health problems: Showing love, and caring with patience, helped him to overcome the voices he said he heard, telling him to end his life. He started going to church, and singing in a group, and playing piano. He found the strength he needed, to live a peaceful and productive life.

My dad never told my family that he was feeling distressed.  One day, he left home, and was gone longer than usual on his day off from work.  My mother and brothers went to search for him because they felt he might have been harmed by some physical means. When they found him, he was preparing to take his own life. That was when he told them, about his mental illness. Fortunately, they found him at a time that was helpful in preventing him from taking his own life.

The demon that had to be cast out:

Demons can be cast out by people possessing the Spirit of God

This particular person was a female, who had attempted to take her life. She had tried to cut her wrist on this night, her family brought her to church for prayer.

During church service, she stared making loud noises that sounded like an animal: Her eyes became unusually looking, her tongue became like that of an animal. It hung on her chest drooling. When I along with some of the other church members, approached her, she fell to the floor and started rolling over, screaming blood curdling sounds. We placed our hands on her body, and commanded the demon to come out, of her.  He did.

After that night, she kept coming back to church faithful, and giving us positive updates on her health. She read the Bible and sang praises to God, and prayed.  She had experienced some personal problems that were too difficult for her to handle.

Being in a dysfunctional relationship, dealing with financial issues, working in an unfavorable job environment, or dealing with other issues that overload the mind, can result in stressful situations that can cause health problems. Such problems are anxiety and panic attacks that result in loss of sleep and poor or no appetite, along with other mental and health problems.

How to Prevent Becoming the Prisoner of the Suicide Demon

Family and friends can help by listening and giving their Love and Support. Never shut people out of your life.

Talk to God: demons fear him.

Scripture: Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of Peace and Truth (Jeremiah 33: 6) King James Bible

Written by: Ellen J. Barrier (Spiritual Counselor License in 1971)  

September 27, 2015

Book to read:  How to Trust God When All Other Resources Have Failed

For this article:  How to Deal with Stress 

Author: Ellen J. Barrier                              

 Barrier’s Books & Associates @ http://barriersbooks.1wp.com/     

Motto: *We are not defined by belief or by faith nor religion. We are the family of God. 

The Rules of a Strong Woman

“On the left side of a strong woman, stands a strong man; he is strengthened by her character.” 
― Ellen J. Barrier

Rules of a Strong Woman

“The person who is rich is the one who possess kindness, caring, help others when needed, gives things that money can't buy, and spend time with those who need someone to listen to their stories. Sometimes money isn't needed.” 

"She does not focus her energy on less important things in life: To focus energy on the less important things in life, hinder creating a solution to solve those problems that are of the most importance.” 

Desire is inspired by motivation, which gives us hope to believe in ourselves that we can set goals and pursue them successfully.” 

We have the ability to write the blueprint for our own goals, and decide how we want to pursue them. If we allow others to do it for us, we won’t achieve our full potential to be the best we can be.” 

“Perfection is an everlasting goal to pursue. It reminds us that we are mortal beings capable of making mistakes. When we correct them, it gives us an opportunity to become better people.” 

“Books open and broaden our minds allowing us to challenge ourselves to become more than we are, by setting positive goals for ourselves, and overcoming doubts about our ability to receive the education we want to achieve.” 

“We are not going to always agree with each other, but we should have the dignity to always respect each other’s freedom of speech and of choice. Democracy is practiced when we have respect for human rights.” 

*Praying women are strong. From their prayers they gain wisdom from God as a gift. With his  blessings, he enables them to accomplish their goals.

Quotes by Ellen J. Barrier on Goodreads 

Husband Kills Cheating Wife Judge Favor Husband’s Decision

Headlines In The News

A truck driver found his wife and another man in their bed in the act of sexual misconduct; when he arrived home early one night. After the man and his wife argued about her unfaithfulness, he shot her in the head with a shotgun; the woman died.

Neither the judge nor the prosecutor showed any sympathy for the woman in this case. The judge stated, “I seriously wonder how many married men-married for four or five years, would have the strength to walk away, without inflicting some corporal punishment? I am forced to impose a sentence, only because I think I must do it, to make the system honest.”

The prosecutor stated “This may sound cold, but it was only one shot.There was no history of domestic violence in this case.“

Punishment for the husband was a sentence up to 18 months in jail, with possible work release, and 50 hours of community service in an unspecified domestic violence program for murdering his wife.

Visit my primary website for great books and much more @ http://barriersbooks.1wp.com/

 Written by Ellen J. Barrier

Author of The Price We Must Pay For Our Father's Sins

Broken Trust

Damage Caused and the Family It Separated

“Trust compared to a valuable stone that has been shattered, cannot be restored to its original form.”

__ Ellen J. Barrier

If someone commit a wrongful act against you, and you forgive him or her, does it mean you should trust that person?

Story:                        Brother Sexually Assault His Sister and Shows No Remorse

On this particular day, Amnon who is sexually attracted to his sister Tamar, has raped her by tricking their father into allowing her to be alone with him through false pretense. Amnon pretended to be sick, in order to carry out his deceitful plan: When his father came to visit him, he said to him, "I pray thee, let Tamar my sister come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand." Then David sent home to Tamar, saying "Go now to your brother Amnon house and dress him meat."

So Tamar went to her brother Amnon house: and he was laid down. And she took flour and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight and did bake the cakes. And she took a pan and poured them out before him: but he refused to eat. And Amnon sent all the men out.  And he said to Tamar, “Bring the meat into the chamber, that I may eat of your hand.” And she took the cakes to him.  He then, took hold of her, and said, “Come lie with me my sister.” And she replied, “No, my brother, do not force me.” She tried desperately to convince Amnon that such and act was considered to be against their family values. 

She asked him, “Whither shall I cause my shame to go?”  Ignoring her, he forced himself on her and raped her.

After Amnon had raped his sister Tamar, he treated her with cruelty: She was banished from his home. Then Amnon hated her exceedingly: so that the hatred he now had for her, was greater than the love wherewith he loved her.  And Amnon said to her, “Arise, be gone.”

And Tamar said to Amnon, “There is no cause: This evil in sending me away is greater than the other that you did to me.”  In response, he kicked her out of his house and locked the door behind her.

On that day Tamar being a virgin, was wearing a garment of multi-colors, which was the tradition of her culture.  Having become a victim of sexual assault with cruelty, she became heartbroken and in pain and sorrow: and Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment and laid her hand on her head crying.

 Tamar’s Brother Absalom Comes to Her Defense

When Absalom saw Tamar he asked her, "Has Amnon been with you?" Then he said to her, "Hold now your peace my sister, he is your brother." And he took her to live with him. So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom home.

The Damage Caused

When David heard of the wrongful act Amnon had done to Tamar, he was very wrath.

Absalom hated Amnon, and refused to communicate with him. And  he planned to kill Amnon for raping their sister, Tamar.

The Separation of Family

As planned, Absalom had his brother Amnon, killed for raping Tamar.

Two years later, after Amnon had raped Tamar, Absalom had a Ball-Hazar, and invited Amnon with their father's consent. He instructed his men to watch Amnon for intoxication of wine, and at his command to “Kill him” further informing his men, to show no fear, to be courageous and valiant.

After Absalom had Amnon put to death, he fled to Geshur, and was there three years. And the soul of his father, King David longed to see him, but refused to visit him. He was very angry with Absalom for the death of Amnon. 

King David decided to invite Absalom back home conditionally: He was to go to his own house. He was not permitted to see his father’s face. After having been back home for two years, Absalom became disappointed with his father for distancing himself from him, and sent him this message:

“Wherefore, am I come from Geshur? It had been good for me to have been there still: now let me see the king’s face; and if there be any iniquity in me, let him kill me. “

Trust

Trust is the foundation every successful relationship is built upon.

When trust is broken, that relationship is unstable, it has become weaken.

The survival of a broken trust relationship is questionable.

Written by Ellen J. Barrier

Story Background: II Samuel 13 & 14 chapters

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Where Did I Go Wrong?

There comes a time when our wrongdoings will confront us, and force us to ask ourselves, Where did I go wrong? The person who refuses to live by the moral values, he or she was taught and deliberately choose a wrong path in life, will be haunted with that question. And they will search for the answer.


“Death is the Inevitable Price We Must Pay.”  Tony said.

“How can a dead person reach beyond the grave and continue to destroy and dominate someone else’s life?” Priscilla asked.

Priscilla was a beautiful young woman who graduated from law school, with a promising future in the field of law. However, on the day she became Mrs. Jim Elliott, every one of her dreams were destroyed. Jim Elliott was not an ordinary man. He was possessed with demons, a man without a conscious. But, Priscilla didn't realize this horrible truth about her husband, until it was too late. She had been warned by her parents to not get involved with Jim Elliott. Despite their warning, she married him, knowing very little about him. She too ask the question, Where did I go wrong?

View the Novel  for The Price We Must Pay for Our Father's Sins
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From the author: Ellen J. Barrier

God is Watching You

Treat others the way you would want to be treated.

What goes around comes around.

You will reap what you sow.

“Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity and sow wickedness, reap the same.” (Job 4:8)

God holds each individual accountable, for wrongful acts they commit.

Be kind to others, and God will be kind to you. If you commit evil acts against others, the wrath of God will be upon you.

__Ellen J. Barrier

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