What Is Love?

Love is...watching  your children play and being comforted in the fact that they currently have all that they need.
Love is...the foresight to plan ahead for them beyond today so that the future their minds don't yet have the capacity to see, will avail itself to their dreams.

Love is...knowing that while you do all these things for your own offspring in the name of love, God's perfected Love is doing the same for you, giving you present day provision while preparing you for the bounty of your future.

If that ain't love, I don't know what is!

Love, BLJ

Thanksgiving

When you approach this life with thanksgiving, there are no small things for which you are grateful-only big blessings in small packages. Enjoy your day, and reflect with grateful hearts on all of the blessings that have been bestowed upon you.---Love, BLJ

The Waiting Room

Things are not always going to happen exactly when you want them to. But, if you would just stay encouraged and continue the necessary work, they will eventually happen. If you allow yourself to become discouraged, then you have given up the most critical component to the manifestation of dreams. That, my friends, is COURAGE. It takes courage to dream and reach beyond your mind's capacity. It takes courage to continue pressing towards a dream when everyone and everything around you is seemingly in complete opposition. It takes courage to muster up the patience necessary to surmount doubt. 

Be courageous, even in the waiting room of your biggest dream. For, when you give up on a dream, you have given up on a promise that is so much bigger than you!

Love, 
BLJ

Creative By Design

This is a day handcrafted by the Creator with the same loving hands that designed you. He was satisfied when He stepped back from His creation, because everything that you would ever need to be successful in your lifetime was divinely downloaded in your DNA from conception. You were not an accident. God made you on purpose, wonderfully and fearfully created. As a purpose filled creature, know that you are also a creative being by design. Even if you never paint like Van Gogh or have the ability to compose symphonies like Mozart, creativity is innately at your disposal.

You see, we were not intended to live a life void of creative expression. Instead, our words were meant to create sentences that have the power to propel others towards their destinies. Our hands were made to bring forth peace to all those we touch. Our feet were crafted to charter paths of greatness for all those who will come after we are long gone. We are creative beings by design. Every facet of your being was meant to innovate! Think about it. If there were no need for you to do something on this Earth that has never been done before, you would have never been created. But, Aha!--- Here You Are. Don't underestimate the power you possess as a purpose-filled, creative being.

Go out today, and create a way out of no way!
-Love,
Baria Leshea Jennings

Active Ingredient

While brushing my teeth this morning, I glimpsed over at the back of the mouthwash bottle and had a revelation about something that I probably saw hundreds of times before. On the back of the label there were the words, Active Ingredient:Sodium Flouride....Purpose:Anticavity. Immediately, I thought about how the manufactuers made it their business to make the consumer, me,  aware of the one ingredient that truly made their product effective. Of course, I extended this line of thinking to the spiritual realm and began to acknowledge how true this was for all of God's beautiful creations walking upon this great land.

It makes so much sense doesn't it?! In order for us to get down to the nitty gritty business of our purposes, we must first identify our active ingredients. What is it that God has placed within you, His divine product, that will make you truly effective to all those who are in dire need of whatever innate gift you harbor within your being? If you are not sure, think of the one thing that rises to the surface above all of the other inactive ingredients, the thing that not only makes your spirit smile but illuminates the lives of others. Put your finger on that thing, and share it with the world!!! This is your ACTIVE INGREDIENT! One thing that I know for sure is it was not intended solely for you. Instead, this gift of yours was meant to help you fulfill your purpose by making you more effective wherever the Lord has assigned you. Go out and activate that potent ingredient in your divine elixir, and trust that God will give you all of the Directions for proper use! ...Love, Baria L. Jennings

More Than Meets The Eye!

"My almost two year old son was looking through a pair of his binoculars yesterday, and he kept saying "Look mommy, look!" You see, he desperately wanted me to see what he could see, just the way he could see it. Not satisfied with my response though, he moved on to his older brother with an intent on getting SOMEONE to see his magnified point of view. As I watched his exuberance and desperation for someone to confirm his vision, I thought about how so many of us are on a nebulous quest to merely get others to see our vision, to affirm the grandness of God's promise for our lives, when it was never even intended for their eyes. Every vision that the Creator has placed before the binoculars of your spirit was not meant for someone else to see or even understand. In fact, if noone ever believes what you know you are called to do on this planet, the vision-the promise-that God has placed within you will change none the less! So, give up on trying to get others to confirm what you know is your grand design and begin the work that makes the binoculars unnecessary. Believe the Creator, Focus on the Vision, and Walk Boldly in the direction of your dreams. Before you know it, you will be face to face with a reality that the naked eye of your past could never grasp."---Love, Baria Leshea Jennings

The Seed

"The very moment that you were a divine thought, there was a seed of purpose planted in the depths of your being. If you find that your seed has not yet sprouted, or the tree that was once overflowing with fruit is now barren, don't be afraid to dig. That's right, dig deep within the core of your being until you tap the seed. You see, the beautiful thing about the seed of purpose is as long as you have breath, there in your spirit, it will be...just waiting for you to remember it. It could very well be that your seed needs a little love. So shift it around in the soil of your soul, pat it, water it, and most of all sprinkle it with the light of your gifting. In no time at all, you'll find that your life will spring forth with evergreens of hope, love, and truth that not even the most bitter winter could devour."--Love, BLJ

The Truth

The truth has never been an easy pill to swallow, but it is one worth gagging on. It may have a bitter shell, but if you can endure the bitterness long enough to bite into its love-filled center, it will cure the worst case of denial, blame, and shame. The truth, in all of its potent glory, has the power to unlock all spiritual, mental, and physical cages of bondage. The truth has never lied, and it shall surely set you free. Have you had your dose of truth today?

Mind your Mind

Whatever makes its dwelling place in your mind, will kick off its shoes and get comfortable in your daily dialogue and activities. So, whatever thoughts you find floating around in the crawl space of your mind, be sure to check out the intent preceding the thought. Those thoughts that are intended to rob, steal, and destroy your purpose must be immediately evicted before they make themselves at home. However, those thoughts that have come to inspire, motivate, and transcend you out of your current circumstance must have their own chamber in your psyche, because such affirmative thoughts have the power to carry you anywhere your mind will ever dare to imagine.
--Baria L. Jennings

Live, Love, Laugh

Live today as if EVERY tomorrow depended on it.

Today, love SOMEONE you never thought you could as if love itself were becoming obselete.

On this day, laugh and bring laughter to ALL who are in your presence.

For whatever you give the power to take life, love, and laughter have already claimed YOU.

BLJ