Happy Birthday, Alberto

A bundle of cheer was born that day

A precious little lad

His tiny perfect body still

Had made my heart so glad

 

And as he grew, a sparkling smile

Would lite the darkest night

For all the world seemed perfect joy

When e’er he was in sight

 

A diplomat he grew to be

By age of six or seven

A wisdom learned or had it been

A gift to him from heaven

 

I cannot tell you how or when

It seemed just yesterday

A baby then a man became

A moment’s time I’d say

 

I see him now this man he is

And marvel at God’s Grace

The strength and honor now I see

Is written on his face

 

A wondrous gift my son has been

To warm this mother’s heart

His faith, his hope, his joy I’ve seen

Unto this world impart

 

I know twas God who took His hand

And lead him to this place

And God it is who’ll lead him on

Each step along this race

© 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.”

The covenant of God is built upon His plan of redemption to save His creation from their own darkened selfish, self exalting hearts so that they might see, feel, experience and enjoy the pleasure of abiding in and with their creator.  He pleads with man and patiently tarries the final judgment so that the remnant who would choose Him, might do so.  He has endured the evil, the rejection, the foolishness of many that He might save the remnant that would believe.  He could have (knowing the choice that Adam would make) have decided to never create man or to have destroyed it all at the instant that Adam sinned; yet, He did not because of the love, joy, and hope He desired to share with all who would believe.  It would appear obvious that Adam did not even recognize the magnificent beauty of what was his with the relationship with God until it was gone or he could never have chosen the creation over the creator.  Thus, step by step and over all the corridors of history; God has reached out and saved a remnant who would believe so that they might through faith enjoy His fellowship. 

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

He was willing to send Christ and to pour out the full wrath that justice demanded upon His very flesh so that His Grace, Mercy and Love could save this wayward bunch. Can I experience the magnitude of Grace if I did not see the depravity and darkness of my own heart? 

Yet, in the beauty and grace; I can come boldly before God having been washed by the very blood of Jesus that I might draw near—knowing that I am covered by His Righteousness.  The chosen people of the covenant through Abraham as a nation became once more “self righteous” in their thoughts and desired to “work their way toward God”.  He allowed this dispensation that He might reach out to all of mankind who would believe in Him through faith.  Paul wrote a very detailed discussion of just that fact from Romans 9-11.  We have been given the

Continue reading God’s Covenant of Love, Grace, and Mercy (Part 7a) Mankind →

As we saw in Malachi at the very beginning of this series, God remained faithful to His own word.  He has remained faithful to fulfill each part of His covenant with mankind and His covenant with Israel. 

Drawing used with written permission of Ronald Barba. © 2012 Ronald Barba and is protected under copyright laws

GOD has with great patience, mercy, and grace endured the evil of this world perpetrated by the very ones He had created to bestow His love, His Joy and His Glory upon. God despises sin; yet, He has allowed and endured it that those who would believe in and follow Him might fully understand the magnitude of His righteousness, His love, the Joy of His presence, and His Glory.

We have looked at the covenant given to Adam, Noah, Abraham, and Moses. Each step of the way we have seen that God has remained faithful to His covenant of redemption through faith and His faithfulness to fulfill all that He has ordained. As we read through the old Testament, we watch a nation of people wax and wane in their faithfulness; while an Almighty God holds true in His faithfulness.  All that He promised would come to pass.  The corridors of history have shown this to be true.  The redemption song came into full view with the

Continue reading God’s Covenant of Love, Grace, and Mercy (part 6)-A New Covenant for Israel →

Give Me a Faith

By Effie Darlene Barba

 

Give me a faith that works for you Lord

A Beacon through the night

That shines forth your Glory

Revealing you’re my delight

 

Give me a faith that stands firm against

The howling of the wind

When storms of life surround me

Your strength I can depend

 

Give me a faith that says I’ll follow

And chase away the fear

Because I know you love me

And you are always near

 

Give me a faith that makes me willing

To go where you may send

Standing firm within your word

Your truth I will defend.

 

Give me a faith that will rely on

The Promise in your word

To freely give my life, my wealth

Beyond the tithe I’d heard

 

Give me a faith that will rise above

This weary, lonely heart

To sing a joyous song of Praise

Your hope to all impart

 

Give me a faith that says I trust You

In all I say and do

That everyone I meet today

Might see a glimpse of You

 

Even our faith is a gift of Grace. How often in my life (and I daresay yours if you were honest) would I, like the father described in Mark 9 have to cry out that God help my unbelief to be transformed into unwavering faith?  Mark 9:”23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. 24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.”  Faith is not blindly looking, never seeing the danger.  Faith is staring the dangers, perils, and sorrows straight in the face while still marching forward where God commanded, in the manner He commanded and knowing that God has a perfect plan of love in the midst of it all.  It is knowing that He provides the strength, the hope, the joy and the peace that is His Essence in the midst of the darkest valleys.  It is knowing that the greatest mountaintop experiences with God are found in those dark valleys.  It is knowing He is the greatest treasure and that each valley only draws my wayward heart closer to Him.  It is knowing the height, the depth, and the width of His Love for me so that I might rest in His arms of love as He sings His joyous lullaby of love over me. (Zephaniah 3:17)

 

© 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.”

They had said they would follow all of God’s commands, they had seen the miracles, they had seen the clouds of smoke surround the Mount as Moses went up to speak with God.  As God wrote the tablets of stone and gave Moses all the parts of the law, the people became filled with fear and wondered if Moses would return.  They wanted someone to lead them and then made idols of Gold to worship and to be as their God.  We may look at them and say, “What a foolish people they were. If God had done all that in my life, I would never doubt Him.”  Don’t kid yourself.  They did not have the gift of the Holy Spirit inside them to guide them as we do.  They saw God as “a thick unapproachable cloud—as is the case under the law”.

 

 

Artwork used by written permission Ronald Barba

Can you count the number of times that you thought you had heard God’s voice you had said, “Yes, Lord.”  Then in the dark recesses of the night or when trials seem to arise, you would fall before Him defeated.

Oh, neither am I making excuses for them; but, merely saying we are so much like them.  When God sends us to a place and the command as to the next step tarries, do we not also try to fix it all with our own hands?  We turn our backs on God and we seek pleasures from this world.  We seek recognition, position, and self fulfillment.  When Moses returned, he found the people dancing around and worshipping the “golden calf” that they had made.  Were it not for grace, all would perish.   Then the question that was of utmost importance.  “Who is on the Lord’s side?” (Exodus 32:26).    So, all those who chose to follow God were saved and those who did not perished.  So let me help you distinguish here—those of us who know Christ as our Savior, may at times struggle in

Continue reading God’s Covenant of Love, Grace, and Mercy 5B—Mosaic Covenant with Israel →