On this Mother’s Day I want to say Thank You to  God for my wonderful and incredible children.  It has been God’s grace that allowed me to be their Mother.  No one could have been so blessed as I.  What incredible grace of God to allow me to watch and see the adults they have become, the parents that they are.   I never deserved so much Joy; but, God reached forth with love and mercy to me.  Christ willingly gave His life that I might find life in Him and then He gave me so much more.  How could I ever praise Him enough? 

Some Would Say I’m Lucky

by Effie Darlene Barba

Some would say I’m lucky

Some would say achieved

Yet, Lord I know the truth to be

It was an act of your pure grace

That Showered down on me

 

A little girl with doll in hand

You chose and called her name

To follow you, the life you planned

With glee, she quickly came

 

She dreamed of love, the perfect life

With children running round

White picket fence and never strife

Where joy it must abound

 

In eagerness she ran ahead

And could not see the peril

She wanted just to please, instead

She donned her guilt apparel

 

Amidst the dark and treacherous path

She feared God’s love had gone

Each trial seen, she thought was wrath

For all that she had done.

 

A ray of glorious hope shone down

As in her arms God laid each child

And on each child He placed His crown

God’s gift of love so gentle, mild

 

And then I looked back o’er the years

And realize it was God’s Grace

That lead me through so many tears

That I might see His face

 

I see my children fully grown

Their babies in their arms

I marvel at the grace you’ve shone

Their life displays your charms

 

My treasure Lord, in you I’ve found

My storms of heart you calm

Your gifts of grace o’erflowing round

Your precious saints that call me “MOM”

 

Some would say I’m lucky

Some would say achieved

Yet, Lord I know the truth to be

It was an act of your pure grace

That Showered down on me

© 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.”

“Thou hast created us for Thyself, and our heart is not quiet until it rests in Thee.”-Saint Augustine

Yet, how do we rest in God.  We are born with such a desire to seek pleasure.  We long for beauty and we long for happiness.  Yet, in the midst of that longing there seems to always be a part of us that remains dissatisfied.  When in high school, we believe happiness is around the corner when we are on our own.  If single, we think it can be found in marriage.  We search for it in friends, careers, houses, cars, clubs, success, and things; only, to find ourselves once more dissatisfied, unhappy, and despairing of life itself.  All those things lead us ever deeper into a pit and away from the only thing that can truly satisfy our soul. 

Drawing used with written permission of Ronald Barba. © 2014 Ronald Barba and is protected under copyright laws.

Proverbs 14: (AMP) “¹² There is a way which seems right to a man and appears straight before him, but at the end of it is the way of death.”

  None of those desires are bad in themselves.  They seem to be good things to strive for.  Yet, when we find they don’t satisfy the longing of our hearts we begin to look around and follow after “fun times”.  Maybe we should just join the party crowd and forget about being so responsible.  Yet, there again we find ourselves in a place of brokenness.  Then we find ourselves saying, “Sure, those people appear to be having a good time, but all that laughter will end in heartbreak.” (Proverbs 14: ¹³ (MSG)

Continue reading Fountains of Wisdom-A Study in Proverbs- Part 25 The Path to True Joy →

There are moments in this study I must say that I want to jump ahead or get done quicker; but, I recognize impatience is certainly not a virtue to pursue here. There is way too much rich knowledge packed tightly into the book of Proverbs and so onward I must go, step by step as I take us on this journey through Proverbs. At this point we have reached chapter 14. As I studied and prayerfully pondered upon this chapter it appears to me to be divided into three sections. Although once more each verse can stand alone; I see somewhat of a clustering of thought as well. Verses 1-11 refer to how a wise woman can build up her family, verses 12-27 contrasts counterfeit joy with real joy, and versus 28-35 address the need for God’s wisdom in a nation’s government. So, for today let us look at verses 1-11.

photo courtesy of istockphoto.com

Proverbs 14:1 (NIV) “The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.”

Seems obvious doesn’t it?  What woman would want to destroy her home and her family?  No one would do that, would they?  Yet, too often we destroy the family unit with arguments, selfish desires, pity parties, and an unforgiving spirit.

Continue reading Fountains of Wisdom-A Study in Proverbs (Part 24)- A Wise Woman Builds Her House Strong →

As we come to the next part in Proverbs, I would like to take a moment to address multiple scriptures which are repeated by Solomon on various occasions through Proverbs concerning discipline.  So let us look at some of the verses concerning discipline, compare the rod spoken of  to the shepherd’s rod, look at this from the perspective that Solomon may have seen from his own life story, and end with the love of our heavenly Father displayed in His hand of discipline.

Proverbs 13 (NIV) “Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them.”

Proverbs 23: ¹³ Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. ¹⁴ Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.

Proverbs 22: ⁶ Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22: Folly is bound up in the heart of a child,
but the rod of discipline will drive it far away.

Many heated arguments occur over these very verses between those who support spanking as the only biblical means of discipline versus those who might wish to believe otherwise.  These arguments seem to surround; yet, never address the real issue of parenting.

We are to teach, train, guide and correct our children by teaching them the truth of the gospel and by living forth examples that they may follow.  If we say one thing and do another, they are more likely to do as we do than to do as we say.

  Yes, they must learn that our actions have consequences and that we all are accountable for our actions.  Discipline is a must; although, hitting a child because we are frustrated, because we can’t be bothered with listening to their thoughts or because we cannot think of a better means of punishment is not truly disciplining in love either.  So, let’s look at the “rod” used by our great shepherd.

Continue reading Fountains of Wisdom-A Study in Proverbs (Part 23)-How to be the best Parent, Ever →

Proverbs Chapter 13 once more is an accumulation of individual phrases of wisdom with each verse standing alone or as a whole.  The gathering of wise words which had been spoken by Solomon, words that at that time brought peace among the nations surrounding Israel.  Solomon had chosen well when he chose wisdom and had stood for God with fervent worship at the beginning; although, in the later years he had himself fallen to folly as pride and selfish pursuits overtook him.  The wisdom found in these words still are relevant today.  They were the words of wisdom given to Solomon by God stand firm as the truths we need.

Drawing used with written permission of Ronald Barba. © 2011 Ronald Barba and is protected under copyright laws 

In addition to wisdom, God gave Solomon everything a man might think he could want.  He gave him wealth above all of the earth, fame that spread around the world, honor, peace, and power.  Perhaps it should stand as a warning that when we have everything, we forget our need for God and evil is always lurking at the door to draw us away.

  So let us look at some more of the words of Wisdom with their earnest plea to listen.

Continue reading Fountains of Wisdom-A Study in Proverbs (Part 22)–A Word to the Wise →