I wrote this poem today for all you mothers out there.  Whether your children are newborns or 50 years of age, I think you can relate.  It is so much easier to accept the tribulations or pains in our own lives and understand them as part of God’s perfect master plan of love for us; but, it is much harder when it is heart of our heart that is hurting.  We want to cover them with our wings and protect them.  Yet,the truth is God understands us right there where we are and His patience is ever flowing.  I hope you find some hope and comfort in this poem.

A Mother’s Prayer

by Effie Darlene Barba

There is no pain so great, so deep

As when I see my dear child weep

When sorrows come or dreams are dashed

Their Heart is broken; hopes are crashed

The wrenching pain cuts deep my heart

I fear that it shall rip apart

 

My tears pour down like searing rain

I cannot bear to see their pain

Oh Lord, dear Lord for this I plead

Please let me take their bitter reed

This is my prayer both day and night

Give me their darkness, them the light

 

And then I felt your arm’s embrace

And saw the tears upon your face

The tenderness within your eyes

Had made me realize

That you had felt my pain before

When Christ my sin had bore

 

How great the pain you felt that day

My sin upon your son did lay

Your love for me, the guilty one

Endured the pain and watched your son

Bearing the wrath that sin demands

Rejected, beaten, nail scarred hands

 

And so, dear Lord, help me to see

Your plan for them as was for me

To drive them deep within your arms

Away from all these worldly harms

That they may hear Your Joy-filled song

Sung over them amidst the throngs

 

In You their life remains secure

Your love for them is ever pure

And gentle eyes become their gain

Wisdom and hope that’s born from pain

And points their eyes to always see

Glorious Grace- Eternity

 

Zephaniah 3: 17 (KJV) ¹⁷ The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

© 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.”

Victory’s Battle Cry—A Study in Joshua Part 13—When Heaven and Earth Stood Still

As we move on to Chapter 10 in Joshua, I believe that there are three main lessons within this chapter that we must learn and take to heart to help us in the battles of life against sin.

photo courtesy of @istockphoto.com

If we learn these three lessons we can be victorious in our battle against sin.  These include having the heart of a servant toward God, honoring our commitments, and remembering that there is power in the name of God.

Continue reading When Heaven and Earth Stood Still →

Victory’s Battle Cry—A Study in Joshua (Part 12)—Greater Grace, Sovereign Love

As I have pondered, read, reread and searched—I was initially baffled by what comes next in Joshua Chapter 9. The Israelites were victorious over Jericho because of God’s guiding hand. They had then initially failed because they did it their way against Ai. Ultimately they won against Ai after repenting and learning to once more follow God’s plan. Now we come to Chapter 9, which I hope you have read. As I explain the plot of the story, I hope to give justice to the deeper meaning for our lives.

Used with written Permission of Ronald Barba who owns the copyright. Click on link for more information.

We will see an alliance formed by deceit that becomes honored. We see a nation once more fail to seek God’s guidance; yet, He graciously provides anyway. We see God’s majesty, sovereignty and grace displayed to an undeserving people. GOD NEVER CHANGES WHO HE IS-THE GREAT I AM, FOREVER AND ALWAYS.

The story is that all the other kings inhabiting the lands that God had given long ago to Abraham are suddenly afraid and want to join forces together to try to beat the Israelites. That is all except for the Hivites. The Hivites dwelled in the cities of Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth and Kirjath Jearim. The leaders from the main city which was Gibeon made up a story that they had traveled from very far away and wished an alliance with the Israeli nation because they feared God. Joshua 9: “¹⁴ ¶ And the ^[i]men accepted their tale concerning their victuals, and counseled not with the mouth of the Lord.¹⁵ So Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, that he would suffer them to live: also the Princes of the Congregation swore unto them.” Once more, the leaders move on to make a pact without talking to God first—a very foolish move. Later they find that they were tricked by these people; however, the people remained true to their part of the bargain and become the

Continue reading Greater Grace, Sovereign Love →

Victory’s Battle Cry—A Study in Joshua Part 11—Victory Arising from the Ashes of Defeat

As we move on to Joshua 8, we must not forget the failures of faith and the sin that lead to the battle being lost in chapter 7. What are the lessons learned in our valleys of defeat that result in greater, glorious displays of God’s sovereignty over our lives?

picture used with written permission of Ronald Barba who hold the copyright.  click on picture to follow link if you desire to learn how to obtain a copy.

Out of the ashes of our desperateness, blazes forth God’s victory in and through us. That is Grace Revealed and that has been the Gracious Love of the Gospel given freely by God since the very beginning of creation. The story of God’s Loving Gifts, man’s misuse, failure, and defeat, brokenness leading to repentance–followed by God’s forgiveness, grace, and victory. That has been the story repeated over and over throughout the pages of history.

The same has been true in the history of my life. So often we want to question what God has done. The truth is all He has done is to demonstrate patience, grace and mercy to all these foolish lumps of clay that deserve nothing. It has all been Grace. You or I would have said, “Enough” so long ago; but, not God. So as we turn from chapter seven’s shameful defeat of the Israelites by the people of Ai to the victory in chapter eight; we must strive to learn some valuable lessons of how to let God turn our failures into victory. Let us look at 7 lessons we might learn. 

Continue reading Victory Arising from the Ashes of Defeat →

Not Tonight

By Effie Darlene Barba

 

Into the deepest darkest night

Where evil lurks-hid from his sight

An Officer goes-prepared to fight

With all His strength and all His might

Praying to God, not tonight

 

He gently pulls His children near

Their smiles can lift his heart with cheer

He kisses boo-boos wipes their tears

And as He leaves for work He hears

Daddy, don’t go, not tonight

 

She kisses him, to work he goes

And all the time, too well she knows

That he must face such evil foes

Phone clutched tight, her eyes then close

Lord, don’t let it ring, not tonight

 

A mother awakens to whisper a prayer

Protect my son from sin’s dark lair

Your warrior of truth-just and fair

Endowed by you with virtues rare

He’s yours to call, please not tonight

 

Forgotten and paid a pauper’s wage

Media and public he must assuage

While calmly holding back the rage

When violent criminals do engage

Pleading to God, not tonight

 

These officers protecting you

They sacrifice more than you knew.

When will you value what they do

Or even stop to say, “Thank You”?

Shame on you, if not tonight

Officers often have less than a split second to make a decision.  When they hesitate for even a split second it is their life they may be sacrificing as has been the case all too often.  Maybe we need to walk in their shoes just for a moment to realize that too often they don’t have time to think.  As Christians and as citizens, we are commanded to be subject to the rulers and authorities placed over us.  The only exception would be when they tell us that we cannot pray or worship–even then, we are to continue with humility to pray and worship.  If we are arrested and jailed for praying, we go peacefully.  If we are killed for bowing before Christ; like Stephen, we die without violence.  Short of that we are to obey the authorities. 

Titus 3:1 (NIV)“Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient”.

With so much pain, sorrow and struggles we need to take a moment to sing this song along with Aaron Keyes–Sovereign Over Us.  Let the words of this song whisper to your heart and let it be filled with God’s Love, Joy, and Peace sustaining us  in the midst of tears, chaos and pain.  No, I don’t mean a phony smile and giddiness. I mean that steady deep abiding strength and peace that flows forth with the rivers of our tears.

New International Version(NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

© 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.”