Victory’s Battle Cry—A Study in Joshua Part 14- When I Am Most Fragile

Have you ever noticed that whenever you experience an amazing victory in Christ that suddenly there seems to be an all out attack against you? Suddenly, yesterday’s joyous strength and hope seems only a memory. You awoke feeling less than victorious. Suddenly, you remember how fragile you are and the weight of your ineptness seems to overwhelm. Everything around you gives the appearance that you are being attacked from every side. You know that God gave you the victory yesterday; yet, suddenly you wonder if He will today.

Photo used by permission of Sarah Barba to whom the copyright belongs—click on link

In Joshua 11, we find that very scene. The fame regarding God’s Children being victorious in gaining all the Southern lands of Canaan had quickly spread. Joshua had returned to Gilgal; perhaps to rest before going out to take the lands of the north. The Kings of the North began joining forces to launch their attack on the Children of Israel. They did not desire to bow to God Almighty. Instead, they planned to annihilate the people of God before they could spread northward into their lands. Much the same response we get when trying to go forth and spread the gospel. These warriors from the north were stronger and had great horses and chariots with which to attack the Israel Nation who were on foot.

What was God’s answer? Oh, that I will get to in a moment after I confess that for the last three days I have been the one who felt very fragile in this pilgrimage journey.

Continue reading When I Am Most Fragile →

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 →