God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  Romans 5:8

Christians know the truth of this verse.  While we were sinners, Christ died for us.  Knowing that we are saved by Grace and Grace Alone; yet, what about when we fail or when our feet slip.  Quickly, we rush to condemn another dear child of God when they have fallen and cover up our own failures as best we can; until, one day the truth shines forth.  What then?  Where is the hope for the followers of Christ when they fail.  Is it not the same?  The sinner’s cry passionately crying forth from a broken heart, knowing we have failed our Savior.  Only to discover, In Christ, I am God’s own Beloved.

A SINNER’s CRY

We see this so clearly both in the tears of King David and those of Peter, when they failed God.

Listen to David’s Plea in Psalm 51:

1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. ² Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. ³ For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. ⁴ Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

Peter’s Betrayal

Jesus told Peter that he would betray him.  Because Peter loved Jesus dearly, he didn’t believe it possible.  He could never betray Christ.  What he didn’t realize was his own weakness, apart from the strength of Jesus Christ.  He thought way to much of his own abilities to serve God; never, realizing his desperate need. Then, he denies Christ three times; each being with greater vulgarity and force.  Suddenly, Jesus turns and looks at Peter.

Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly. Matthew 26:75

This was the truth which caused me to write this song.  None of us are too good; but, what we can fail God.  The bitter pain of sin is beautifully depicted in the original drawing of my son as featured above.  The truth is we are never too far from God’s Grace.  We can come before Him at the foot of the cross where there is peace and redemption from our sins.

In Christ, I am God’s own Beloved

Accused, Condemned in eyes of men

Rejected, hated for my sin

No one stopped to see my heart

Cast aside some broken part

That no one cared to see inside

The scars and sorrows that abide

A heart so filled with hopes and dreams

Of meadows green and crystal streams

Lay shattered, broken cast away

With nothing good or kind to say

Chorus

Then God’s Dear Grace that loved me so

Looked deep within and bid to know

Each crevice of my heart and soul

Each broken piece to then make whole

In Christ I am set free from sin

My guilt and shame all taken in

And bore upon that rugged cross

My strength to stand though all else loss

My sins all covered by His blood

In Christ, I am God’s own Beloved

How quickly men’s own selfish pride

Does cast away and cast aside

A fallen one—a broken heart

Who needs your hand to help them start?

Christ had come to heal the lame

To lift their guilt and take their shame

He called the sinners to His side

To know His love-in Him abide

So why do we not give our hand

To help a fallen one to stand

So, prideful man with heart so small

Be careful lest you too shall fall

Chorus

For it was God’s dear Grace that loved me so

Looked deep within and bid to know

Each crevice of my heart and soul

Each broken piece to then make whole

In Christ I am set free from sin

My guilt and shame all taken in

And bore upon that rugged cross

My strength to stand though all else loss

My sins all covered by His blood

In Christ, I am God’s own Beloved

Concluding tweets

[tweetthis]My sins all covered by His blood In Christ, I am God’s own Beloved[/tweetthis]

[bctt tweet=”In Christ I am set free from sin My guilt & shame all taken in bore upon that rugged cross” username=”effiedarlene”]

[bctt tweet=”Grace is God’s Gift to all who seek Him at the cross, transforming sinners into His Beloved” username=”effiedarlene”]

[bctt tweet=”A Sinner’s Cry of Repentance is always heard by God-He lifts them with His love & points them to the cross” username=”effiedarlene”]

 

 

This is an original Drawing by an amazing artist. Check out his work: http://roninron.com .

You cannot copy or duplicate this picture without permission; because of copyright laws.

 

 

 

featured picture at the top of the post is used by permission of http://roninron.com  and is protected under copyright laws

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2017

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post.  I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

 

 

Along with our inner desire for love and happiness, there dwells the desire to succeed.  Deep within our being, there is a longing for Glory; because, everyone is born with the desire to seek Glory.  We long for things of beauty and excellence.  We yearn to belong and be a part of that which is eternal.  This is true of everyone; even, the atheist wants to leave some indelible mark on this world.   All too often, we want to know the how to ascend to the Edge of Glory; without wondering about the who or the why. Our purpose becomes skewed; as we see the end as more important than the means.   Precisely, the reason so many Christians also are deceived into believing we were created that we might bring God Glory; instead of realizing, that He graciously wants to share with us His Glory.

There is a very fine distinction between the two.  The idea that I might bring God Glory, focuses on me and my accomplishments.  Self-focus can, during moments of success, bring elation and joy.  However, it brings great despair; whenever, we fail to succeed. After all, with so many people on the planet; we cannot all be number 1, all the time.  Sometimes, we win and at other times we may lose.  Often, because others and we, ourselves become focused on personal achievement, we become obsessed with our failures. Then, we turn to lives of quiet desperation, feeling rejected, lonely and inadequate.  It is no wonder our society is plagued by depression, addictions, suicides, anger and selfishness.

We are drowning in an ocean of  hearts seeking Glory, without understanding true purpose. Furthermore, ashamed to admit the critical tapes in our own heads, we push on: wanting success, wanting to find the edge of Glory.

A SHIFT IN FOCUS

Continue reading How to Ascend to The Edge of Glory →

Alone, broken-hearted; I wept bitterly through the night.  After all the years of what I thought was serving God, here I was.  Not only was I alone; having been betrayed by my own search for love.  Now, I faced betrayal at work.  The one place where I had diligently served and had rose to a place of respect; the only place I believed I was loved.  Perhaps I had grown too proud of my position. After all, it brought me great joy to know I was looked up too.  I had fought for Christ so many years; or so, I believed.  Yet, there still were all those “if only” thoughts that would plague me at times.  If only I were successful, or had more money, or was a little thinner.  Perhaps, still the biggest; if only someone loved me: then, I could be happy.

Happiness and joy appeared so often in my life like a see saw.  One moment up and the next crashing to the ground.  This time, it came with a crushing blow.  The one place, I always excelled was in the workplace.  Now, I was the accused.  Months went by and in fact, I  resigned and started my move to Missouri from Florida before everything was cleared.  Yet, I felt a sadness deep within.   Then, in Missouri; God left me with a part time job where I faced many difficulties, criticisms, and struggles at first.  My applications for a second job marked denied. Never had I faced rejections of this kind before.  Suddenly my last stronghold of self pride, crumbled within me.

DISCOVERING THE SOURCE OF TRUE JOY

Continue reading How Can a Devastating Loss lead to Perfect Joy? →

Have you ever loved someone dearly with all your heart, only to have that love rejected? The desperate agonizing feeling when you come to realize the truth, the nauseating sensation in the pit of your stomach, and the despair that follows; all because they did not see or accept your gift of love.  You would have sacrificed anything, just to make them happy; but, alas, they turned their back and walked away.  Or perhaps a friend, a parent, or even a child; who despite the love you poured out upon them, returned disdain and spewed hate toward you instead.  Imagine this, God created the world and humanity that He might lavish His love upon a people; instead, the vast majority have turned their backs upon that love, spewed hate filled words, sought after other loves, and rejected the greatest gift that He could give-eternity in the presence of perfect love.

God created the heavens and earth, with all that therein lies to shower His love upon a people.  He created us with a body, soul, and spirit with which we could feel the emotional impact of love and joy.  We could see splendor, beauty and the exuberance of Glory.  His Divine Purpose was to shower us with love, fill us with His joy, and to share with us His Glory.  Yet, for us to experience the fullness of His Glorious Being, we were given choice.  Just as I cannot know the splendor of light, without having experienced darkness; neither can I understand God’s perfect Righteousness or Justice, without having seen the absence.  Perhaps, Adam had not fully realized what he had; until, it was gone. Adam had walked each day in the garden with God.  He had God’s love lavished upon him.  Never had Adam been without joy!

REJECTED

Continue reading How Can Perfect Love Be Rejected So Easily? →

The more precious I recognize Jesus to be in my life, the less I consider the cost.  Whatever the cost may be, I realize that true joy, hope and peace can only be found in Him.  As He becomes the central focus of my life, circumstances of this world fade from my view.

Whatever the Cost, Your Praise I’ll Sing

By Effie Darlene Barba

 

It was a cross that set me free

And purchased there my victory

While Jesus there my case did plead

So willingly to die and bleed

Never shirking such wretched pain

He bore my sin, it’s crimson stain

To cloak me with His righteousness

Though I am merely nothingness

 

I have no Glory I can bring

No accolades of which to sing

Until I find my place in Him

From darkness, then His light can beam

Upon a World so filled with need

That then my heart desires to plead

On bended knees, their case in prayer

I willingly my cross do bear

 

Whatever sorrow I must face

To point someone to God’s dear Grace

Dear Lord, my life I give to You

To do with as You wish to do

My journey guided by Your hand

Your strength alone on which I stand

So, take my life and let it be

Whatever You desire for me

 

And If for me you choose a cross

That I might count all gain but loss

Compared to You, my Lord and King

My Joy will still Your praises sing

Philippians 3:7-9

 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

CONCLUDING TWEETS

[tweetthis]Whatever the cost, I surrender all just to know Him[/tweetthis]

[bctt tweet=”I have no Glory I can bring No accolades of which to sing Until I find my place in Him” username=”effiedarlene”]

[tweetthis]Every trial I face is but a stepping stone to God’s Glory[/tweetthis]

[bctt tweet=”Dear Lord, my life I give to You To do with as You wish to do Your Glory shining through” username=”effiedarlene”]

This is an original Drawing by an amazing artist. Check out his work: http://roninron.com .

You cannot copy or duplicate this picture without permission; because of copyright laws.

 

 

featured picture at the top of the post is used by permission https://unsplash.com/@robinvet  Although, I added the inscription

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2017

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post.  I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.