Learning to live "In Christ”-“Abiding in Christ" is of the utmost importance to each and every one of us as we walk through this pilgrimage journey. Through an understanding of all that is ours as a result of God’s gift of salvation through faith because of Christ’s atonement for our sin, we become empowered to allow the Holy Spirit to utilize these gifts. Our position is held secure because of Christ and God’s covenant plan of redemption. Our position is not held by our own power; but, rather held firmly by His Faithfulness to complete all that He began in us. The more I am able to grasp the truth of “who I am in Christ” the more His beauty becomes magnified in my heart and the more I am able to see His Glory. The more I see His glory the more I become transformed into His image. The more I become transformed into His image, the more I am able to feel, understand and comprehend His love toward me. This is all a result of the Holy Spirit’s work in me and is because of God’s transforming work in me. There is nothing innately in me that performs this. Yet, as I begin to learn about who I am in Christ—I am able to rise far above what this human heart would be capable of and therein to serve humbly, joyfully, faithfully, boldly facing whatever trials confront me. Whatever formerly seemed impossible, becomes possible in Christ as I focus upon these truths. God did not leave me powerless; instead, he gave me all I could ever need  from His own overflowing power and might.

Original picture courtesy of Jamie Easley

All too often, we as Christians don’t comprehend the great and mighty treasure of what we have been given in Christ. Our ignorance of this leads to our living out lives of mediocrity. When we feast upon the truth of our positions in Christ, our sorrows are transformed into joy because we see them through the eyes of God; recognizing, His plan of love for each one of us. (Jeremiah 31: 13) When I know what Christ bought on the cross for me, despair is replaced with Hope, (Psalm 146:5-6) trials are changed into opportunities, (Romans 5:3-4) and desperate loneliness is overcome by perfect, unconditional love.

This is such a miraculous mystery that in Christ, the weak become strong, the ugly becomes beautiful, the unlovely transform to beloved, sinners become righteous, and broken hearted sorrow filled people become joyous.

Continue reading Power Filled Positive Thinking—Chapter 1C- Beyond Mediocrity →

This is a poem from my archives.  I wrote it in 2010 as the end to the final chapter of my book a “Broken and Contrite Heart”.  I thought it befitting our current series.  Where do we find the strength which can make us bold, fearless and joy filled as we face our lives here on this journey of life?  Where is the power that can lift us up to a life of being truly positive thinkers when bombarded by evil, temptations, sorrows, and even guilt?  And when this fragile, feeble soul trembles–my strength is built upon the truth of God’s promises to me.  My prayer for you and for myself is that which Paul prayed for the church of Ephesus:  Ephesians 1: ¹⁷ That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:¹⁸ The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,¹⁹ And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,²⁰ Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,²¹ Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:²² And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,²³ Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

The Grace in Which I Stand

 by Effie Darlene Barba

Oh feeble heart, Oh fragile soul

Where is the hope on which you hold

With all the failures of your past

Where is the faith to make you bold

Where is the faith to make you bold

 

There was a King though blameless He

That came to pay my penalty

And in that act He set me free

To follow Him in liberty

To follow Him in liberty

 

It is His love that drew me out

And in His Grace I shall not doubt

That He who started this work in me

Will finish it with a Glorious Shout

Will finish it with a Glorious Shout

 

One day the finished work be done

That I might look then like God’s son

Sifted, shined just like pure Gold

As Glory shines forth, Glorious One

As Glory shines forth, Glorious One

 

And in this hope my faith conformed

I know my life will be transformed

I stand upon this future grace

So for His work my passion warmed

So for His work my passion warmed

 

So in this faith I firmly stand

That formed in me as God had planned

No force on earth can shake me free

My future held by God’s great hand

My future held by God’s great hand.

 

© 2014 Effie Darlene Barba

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to any 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 regarding the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

I have pointed out in the previous writing that understanding the truth that God is Sovereign over my life changes how I react to circumstances that come into my life; but, let’s take this one step further. A mere head knowledge of God’s Sovereignty would not be enough to keep me joy filled, peaceful, fearless, nor strong against the storms of life if it were not for an understanding of God’s Grace and Mercy toward me. In fact, head knowledge alone could even lead to a life filled with guilt, sorrow and fear were it not for an in-depth knowledge of the truth of who I am in Christ.

original photo courtesy of Sarah Barba, for more of her photos please visit http://fineartamerica.com/art/all/sarah+barba/all

When I accepted Christ as my Savior, my position changed and I became a new creation “in Christ”. Yet, unless I fully understand the riches of that position, I could still be walking around like a beggar and a pauper spiritually. Understanding who I am in Christ is the key to becoming a Power-Filled Positive Thinker—endowed with the Holy Spirit’s power to be filled to the overflowing with joy, hope, love, peace, and the light of glory regardless of the circumstances that surround me.

Before we begin to look at the characteristics of who we are in Christ; let’s look at Paul the Apostle who is the Master Teacher of Power Filled Positive Thinking and living a life in Christ.

Continue reading Power-filled Positive Thinking-Chapter 1b-Master Teacher of Positive Thinking-Paul →

POWER FILLED POSITIVE THINKING-CHAPTER 1a Why is how I think so important?

It had been a very restless night, as I kept awakening to pray in the darkness. Earlier that day at work something had happened so unexpected and so out of character for the job. I had walked into the office of my boss, a man whom I loved as a brother and respected as a leader where I was suddenly accused by another of having done serious crimes against the practice. The accusations mounted had been being “investigated” and multiple meetings of the board had occurred over the previous 9 months without so much as a question to me or a clarification of the facts—all based on accusation and rumor of one power hunger person wanting to rise. The thing that hurt most, after ten years was that my boss believed the lies as though the truth of who I was had suddenly been forgotten. Instead of defending me, he joined in the accusations. I stood accused, tried, and condemned of a crime not committed. “Anyone else I would have fired” rang out his words; “but, because of all your years of dedicated work—we have decided not to fire you.” Before I left the office that day, I asked the one who had started the accusations why had no one come to me before now and she loudly said in front of all the other employees, “Because we needed to consider whether we were going to make formal criminal charges against you.”

original picture used courtesy of Cheryl Delashmit

So I spent the night in deep prayer.  I knew that God was Sovereign over every detail of my life; so, I needed to know why this?  What could be God’s purpose?  Why did I feel like a knife had been thrust through my heart and I had been left to bleed to death?  I did not doubt that God had planned something good in this for me—I just needed clarity as to the next step—God’s plan, God’s will, and God’s timing.

Continue reading POWER FILLED POSITIVE THINKING-CHAPTER 1a Why is how I think so important? →

This world with all the complexities, the trials, the conflicts and the sorrows that surround our hearts and minds daily would crush the strongest of mankind were it not for hope, inner peace, joy and a knowledge of purpose which allows one to rise above the clamoring noise of destruction. Perhaps that is why so many run to cling tight to new age philosophers, positive thinking, and even the prosperity gospel which has penetrated our churches. We so want to avoid any emotional pain and to find some way to stop those voices in our head. The methods given by the new age philosophers are alluring and filled with methods which at first glance appear fundamentally sound.    Indeed, they seem to work at first; yet, the problem is not the methods as much as it is on what they base their trust upon.  They base their philosophy upon digging deep within, surrounding  one’s self with positive thoughts, looking  in the mirror while proclaiming one’s self as powerful, beautiful, successful, and filled with peace. The power they believe comes from one’s own mind.  Still, what about when you do it all; yet, tragedy strikes? Or when your heart has been broken one too many times and the hard cold casing you have surrounded your heart with becomes a lonely and dark casket, what do you do then? What about when the mind is lost in a coma, alzheimer’s, or a brain injury? If my only hope is in the power of my own mind and my inner strength, what then? Oh, yes; I do with all my heart believe in positive thinking; but, the difference is on what I place my hope. The foundation of my hope is in the Great I am, God—my Creator, my Savior, my sustainer and my Father. That relationship can only be found through the redemptive work of Christ. It is Christ in me, my hope of Glory. (Col.1:27)

orignal photo courtesy of @istockphoto.com

Knowing who I am in Christ is the key to true fountains of joy bubbling up within me even when the world crashes in around me; not, some counterfeit outward joy that I must prop up with my own mind or self-boasting, self-exalting behaviors.

It is only knowing the truth of God’s fathomless, unconditional love for me which can mend this broken heart of mine and fill it with so much love that I can shine forth that love to those around me. It is the knowledge of the exceeding Greatness of God’s Power toward me that can give me hope in the face of every road and turn I take. Imagine this, the Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent creator of the Universe loves me and is guiding my every step—what do I ever need to worry about.

So, we need to be careful when we read the “positive thinking” philosophies that we remember who we are in Christ. Paul even warned us of this very truth.

Continue reading Power Filled Positive Thinking-The Real Key to Success (Part 1) Introduction →