Dear Friends, Family and Fans,
I am not a biblical scholar. My only claim to fame regarding the “Good Book” is having read from Genesis to Revelations each year, for three or four years. I should be embarrassed. Each time I read the Bible it feels as if I’m reading it for the first time. Some parts seem familiar, while others, I only know I read because of the notes I made during previous readings. I’m not certain of the names of the individuals I want to reference…or how to pronounce all the names accurately. But I read again and again to gain insight, inspiration, and inner strength.

After I heard of Senator Kamala Harris being selected as vice presidential running mate to past vice president, Joe Biden, I thought of two women in the Bible, Deborah and Jael from the book of Judges. These two women exemplified strength, focus, wisdom and were moved by God to act and lead as He directed. How would these women, guided by God, prepared for their time, be characterized by some of those in power today?

Deborah was: a prophet; the only female judge mentioned in the Old Testament; one who not only inspired the Israelites to a major victory but who was a military leader. Jael, wife of the general Barak, put the final touches on the decisive victory by providing the defeated general, Sisera, shelter, milk and then planting a tent peg in his skull while he slept. How would these women of God, moved by God, be characterized by some of those in power today?

Today, women of substance, character and conviction are being castigated with pejorative terms thrown at them for doing what would be considered admirable if performed by a man.
But what man means for harm, God uses for good. We all know the story of Joseph. His brothers found him too ambitious, his dreams in which the brothers bowed down to him were too much. He was too loved to be allowed to live with them. He was the most beloved by their father, evidenced by Joseph being given the robe of many colors, a manifestation of that love.
The evil done to Joseph actually propelled him into his destiny as God ordained it.

We must prepare for a time such as this. We must call out the evil terms used against those who fight for us…man, woman or child. We must align ourselves with the Ultimate Power. The power of the Lord is here. I feel it in the atmosphere. I am prepared to be called “nasty” or any other despicable term used against those who fight the good fight and get in good trouble. I will vote…by mail, in person, socially distanced, mask on as necessary, or by any means necessary. Do you think I’m a nasty girl?

Don’t forget our children, whether they are early childhood, childhood, adolescent or young adult. We must take them with us. If they are too young to vote, they must walk with us, stand with us as we vote. They must witness us doing the right thing. We must help to prepare all of our young people to be proactive, not only in the streets, but through the ballot box. We must prepare them for a time such as this, for the multiple ways in which we must continue to fight the good fight. What they mean for ill shall propel us to God’s will. And as we insist that our young people fight via the ballot box, we must also value their approaches to righteous indignation. Not either or…but together we stand. Together we win. Together…we shall overcome…TODAY!!
Love and realness,
#lindamichellebaron
www.mylindamichellebaron.com

Dear Friends, Family and Fans,
I like doing what I like to do.
This statement seems simplistic at best.
Don’t we all like doing what we like to do?
The problem, for most of us is that we don’t spend most of our time doing it. Much of our time is spent avoiding what we don’t like, procrastinating, and then painfully doing it anyway. Is it better to beg, barter, or pay for the freedom of doing more of what you like? My answer is “maybe.”

One of my responsibilities as an elementary student was to iron my blouses for school. Blouses were cotton. Cotton was very different back in the day. Not a blend. Not wash and wear. Rough dried. Wrinkles on top of wrinkles. I’d have to sprinkle water, roll them up, and then carefully press with a super-hot iron. Maybe spray starch, as well. This was one of my least favorite things to do, but girls and boys needed white shirts for assembly every Friday. This particular week, all four of my white blouses were washed and rough dried. School assembly was the next day. What’s a girl to do?

I received a dollar allowance every week for much of my growing up. A dollar, in my world, was worth 200 pieces of a variety of candies, and gum; ten Ring Dings; or one movie. Or a dollar could pay for what I didn’t want to do. My idea was clear. Ask my aunt to complete the task I dreaded, for a fee, in order for me to have more time to do what I enjoyed. As far as I was concerned, paying her my allowance freed me to do something I liked to do: rollerskate; ride my bicycle; cut out paper dolls; or read. I mean, it was .25 cents a blouse. Totally worth it to me!

I did have multiple streams of income back them. I returned soda bottles (5 cents for the large bottles, two cents for the small.) I was a PK (preacher’s kid). Parishioners often gave my brother and me a quarter or even a dollar on Sundays. I certainly loved my grandparents, but in addition to the love they sometimes gave us an extra dollar.
But if I didn’t have the finances, I might have tried to barter, for instance, offer to go to the store for my aunt when she didn’t want to go. The only snag would be, as a child you don’t have much to barter with because if adults told you to do something, you just did it.

There is just so much time in a day. You can’t get everything done, especially if you try to do it all yourself. So now I’m all grown up. And I still like doing what I like to do. So, I prioritize. I find opportunities to choose what brings me joy, and make the time to do them. I have to decide which things must be done, that only I can do; cross off the time wasters; then delegate some of the other stuff. I’m still left with pain in the neck stuff…but a lot less of it and more time to enjoy. I’m willing to pay to make the time to play.
Love and realness,
#lindamichellebaron
​www.mylindamichellebaron.com

Dear Friends, Family and Fans,

I was about to pray this morning and had just gotten to the “Dear God” part when I realized most of my “Dear God” prayers are asking Him for something. “Dear God...Please bless me and/or bless so and so,” “Dear God please heal this such and such,” “Dear God please give...” “Dear God please forgive...” I realize I treat my heavenly Father less like my creator and more like my personal sugar daddy. I ask Him to do everything in the world for me and yet, what have I done for Him lately? Have I asked Him what He wants me to do for Him? And when He answers can I even hear him? I can’t I hear the “still small voice” because I’m too busy bombarding Him with my “Dear God’s” that I call praying. God wrote a whole library of books, placed them in the Bible, telling me who He is, and what He wants. I have read it like a textbook rather than savoring His Holy Word. I revisit my favorite parts and quote them where they fit into my life rather than where they need to be for His purpose. I end my prayers with “Thy will be done...” Actually, I’m asking that my will be done... of this earth instead of as it is in heaven. I’m thankful God hasn’t taught me a lesson like some of my teachers did... by putting me in a corner for talking too much; or have me write my infraction on the blackboard 100 times. “I will not chew gum in class. I will not chew gum in class.” I thank Him for not making me write a note explaining what I did wrong, begging for forgiveness and promising never to do it again!! And then keep my note in the desk drawer as a reminder of my promise should I ever make the same mistake again. His Son has already forgiven me.
This morning after the “Dear God” instead of asking Him for favors I thanked Him for favor. I woke up this morning with a prayer of thanks. Thanks and thanks and thanks. Thanks for what He’s done for me; thanks for what He’s done for those I love; thanks for when His answer was “yes,” in spite of me; thanks for when it was “no” for my own good; thanks for the twists and turns in my life that lead me to where I have arrived today; thanks for the opportunity to travel through the rocky roads ahead…knowing, trusting, believing that He is traveling with me, without me having to ask. And thank you Heavenly Father, for sending me my own personal angel of unconditional love, and sacrifice, my Mommy. I call her my angel, not because she was perfect, but because she was perfect for me. She taught me to enjoy and appreciate life. So, this morning I want to thank you, God, for the gift of my mother, the gift that keeps on giving.
My angel gave me lessons that came directly from You. I thank you, God, first and foremost for showing me, through her, that loving You does not have to be ostentatious. You can show the love of God, by how you live your life. You show it through how you love others. She showed it with her generosity of spirit, and her willingness to give joy. Her laughter, and ability to make others laugh was one of the greatest gifts. She was always willing to laugh at herself. I can still hear her laughter and feel the spirit of joy that surrounded her and continues to embrace me.
My angel practiced what she preached. She believed in telling the truth. She valued truth and modeled telling it. I’m not sure how “scout’s honor” became the pinnacle of truth. She was never a scout, neither was I…but “scout’s honor,” to her, was equivalent to placing your hand on the Bible. Tell the truth and you won’t be punished. Tell the truth and shame the devil. Maybe the message was, you don’t need a physical manifestation of truth, “word is bond.”
Another life affirming lesson my angel gave me was love of self. If I just looked at her, rather than watching her, and experiencing her, I might have thought that “love of self” was surface. I could have thought it was something that came with being born beautiful, having the face and figure some would die for. But that was not it. That was not her. She believed in and modeled presenting yourself to honor God, the God in you…presenting who and what you are, as the masterpiece He designed you to be…worthy of love, self-love, respect, and dignity.
God anointed my head with oil, my cup runneth over…surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life. Yes, my cup spills over in so many ways…So, as the song says, I’m going to continue to count my blessings, and name them one by one, every morning and throughout the day. Yes, I’m going to spend more time listening to Him and thanking Him before asking Him. As my Father, He already knows. I’m going to start my prayers by counting and recounting my blessings.

Dear God, first on the list of my blessings, that are actually too many to count, I thank you for the gift of my mother.

Love and realness,
#lindamichellebaron
www.mylindamichellebaron.com

Dear Friends, Family and Fans,
​
I finally had to turn off the tv, stop listening to or reading the news. It’s too much. It doesn’t stop. I felt totally overwhelmed by all of the events of the last few months, and certainly the last few weeks…until I remembered that where we are isn’t where we’ll be. I had to remind myself that there is a Higher Authority. And He doesn’t move on our time…but on His. With that in mind, I decided this was a good time to repost this poem.
Love and realness,
#lindamichellebaron
www.mylindamichellebaron.com

You Go, God!
by Lindamichellebaron

When I think of what I haven’t done, I get depressed,

In spite of what some others call “success.”

I revisit every move I’ve made. Then I second-guess

Suppose? What if? Perhaps?

I confess,

I wind up labeling myself a “hot mess.”

But like you, I am so wonderfully blessed

God takes me off my self-imposed shelf.

Looks at the label I’ve assigned to myself.

He checks all of the ingredients. He knows what He created.

And He approves each one of the ingredients I have berated…

He takes me, His creation, and handles me with such care,

He reminds me that everything I need is in-there.

Right inside of me, where He placed it.

None of my issues or self-doubts can erase it.

Remember He is the Head Chef. He is the Source.

Where do I get off thinking “I’m the boss!”

If I want to fulfill the work that He has assigned,

I need to get out of His way and get aligned.

I’m not in charge… Let go and let God!

It’s the devil trying to make the work seem too hard.

The devil tries to make a slam dunk.

You could almost see him smile,

When all my money shrunk,

And hear him ridicule every thought I had ever “thunk,”

Like he was sending my dreams out to drive drunk,

Just to make me feel as if all hope had sunk.

You ever been there?

Filled with despair?

Bemoaning the fact that life isn’t fair?

Thinking your situation is beyond repair?

Measuring your problems as too BIG for prayer?

Well, get thee behind me, Satan.

Remember this and Do Not Discard.

It may be too much for us, but nothing is too hard for God!”

Dear Friends, Family and Fans,
This morning I woke up and got hugged up! Not by a physical person, but by a gift. A few months ago, I received a throw. I think thats what its called, a kind of small blanket used to throw on a bedspread, as decoration, or to throw around you, for warmth.
I know something about the process it took to make it because I went through some of it with my sister-love (a sister by love). When we spoke by phone, she would say she was working on a project. She never said what it was, or the purpose it was to serve, but shed share some aspects of the process while we talked. There was a special yarn color she was looking for. I was on the phone with her when she found it. We celebrated, even though I didnt know what the color was, or how it was ultimately going to be used. Or one time, the crocheted/knitted stitches did not come out as she desired, so she pulled all the stiches out and started again. Whatever she was creating was obviously a labor of love.
I admit, I suspected the project had something to do with me. She had mentioned how much she liked my rose-colored bedspread when she last visited me. My suspicions were confirmed. I received the lovely addition to my décor. It matched my bedspread exactly, while giving it an additional spark. So, every day, I made certain to make my bed first thing in the morning so my gift can be displayed all day. But not today. I needed more.
There is so little physical contact during this period of social distancing and being sequestered in place due to the viciousness of the current pandemic. I needed a hug. I wasnt cold, but I took the throw off the bed and wrapped it around my shoulders. It became my hug.
During this time, we need to get our hugs from unusual places. Perhaps this is the time to look for reminders of items with love attached to it. Maybe the necklace, earrings, gloves, scarf or hat (or in my case even a wig a new best friend took off her head after her fabulous singing performance, saying Just let me take the hairpins out of it, and comb my hair) given after you admired it. Or maybe an inexpensive gift: a sign proclaiming something you enjoy; a tee shirt in your favorite color; a coffee cup with a special saying; or a trinket bought based on a thought of you. Signs of generosity of spirit and loving hugs. When you find it, let it be your hug.
Perhaps this is the time to get our hugs from the deepest recesses of our heart and mind, from behind the misunderstandings, hurt and anger that separated you from a person you once loved. Maybe this is the time to search your heart, soul and spirit and ask God to help heal you so you can forgive by remembering the love you shared before the virus of hurt and anger consumed you. The person doesnt need to be hugged in public or to even virtually hug you back. Social distancing can work with this. Just let your spirit give and receive the virtual hug from a time long past. Give it. Receive it and move on. Give yourself the gift of forgiveness. And stay hugged up.
Love and realness,
#lindamichellebaron
​www.mylindamichellebaron.com