What are we to do when everything seems uncertain? What happens when we look deep into the future and we don’t know how God is going to provide? We look at our own choices over time and worry that perhaps God cannot bless because of our own foolishness—what then are we to do? Throughout my lifetime I have been at that point more often than not. I stare into a darkness not knowing where God is leading; but I know He must be leading somewhere. Some would say, “Why pray if God is omnipotent and your future determined anyway?” If God has the plan worked out, what purpose is there to prayer? After all, God already knows what I need. Yet, He has said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.²⁴ Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” (John 16) Because of this verse, others play out the “Name it, claim it game” and become angry or disillusioned when God doesn’t give them that Porsche they asked for.

Artwork used by written permission of Ronald Barba.  It is copyright protected ©2010 Ronald Barba.

So what are the keys to pray and hope when all looks bleak?

Let us turn to Psalm 37 for some clues.

Continue reading Trust and Delight in the Lord-How when your future is unknown? →

“Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;

² In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

³ But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour” Titus 1

Chosen, redeemed before the dawn of time.  I cannot tell you the exact answer to the questions that may raise; although, as I have tried to display the fact that God does not work within the same time/space continuum that our minds do.  I do know that it is pure grace by which I was chosen and not because of anything special.  Indeed, I remember a young Christian girl who wanted to prove herself worthy of His love.  At 15, I was teaching Sunday school, witnessing for Christ, and trying to “be all that I should be”.  I remember, in hopes that God would be pleased praying, “Lord, are you proud that I am not like the others who have followed after sin?”  That came right before I fell down head long into failure after failure.  Struggling and trying to pull myself back out, trying to be worthy of His love; wanting so desperately to feel deserving of Him.  My failures had not come from defiance but came while struggling to follow Him.

It was a journey which would step by step, through many trials and struggles lead me to an understanding of the depth of unconditional love with which God loved me.

  His presence in the middle of the night when I awakened frightened or troubled, His ever present whispering voice when loneliness tried to grip my heart, the steady peace which carried me through when trials tore my heart wide open, and His ever present joy that over rode the pain which came as I walked through years of illness ultimately allowed me to see Him as my only treasure.  No longer did it matter why He chose me, I only stand in awe and wonder that

Continue reading The Good Pleasure of God’s Will (Part 7) →

Before we move on into a discussion regarding evangelism as a part of the good pleasure of God’s Will, let us try to summarize this series thus far. The major points, if they can be summarized I see as:

1.  God is a very Happy, Joyous God innately as the central core of His Being.

2.  God exists as soul, body and spirit (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) distinctly separate and yet one.

3. God’s greatest delight (pleasure) is His love for the Son—which engulfs the Trinity with such love as to be like an overflowing fountain of love and joy.

4. God created the heavens and earth which displayed His Glory; then He created man so that He could lavish mankind with His love, His joy, and His glory.

5. For mankind to fully feel or experience that love and joy, it would require man to have free will within a time/space continuum.

artwork used by written permission of Ronald Barba  ©2012 Ronald Barba

6. God existing outside of that time/space continuum knew that mankind as a whole would choose to worship the creation more than the creator; thus, God would have to be willing to suffer sorrow, pain, rejection and the agony of pouring out all His wrath against sin upon His beloved son in order to save a remnant of His creation.  He would offer this salvation to all; but He knew only some would accept.  Yet, His love was so great that He was willing to endure it all.  He would have to become “sorrowful; yet, always rejoicing.”   Those who would follow by necessity would experience the same.  2 Corinthians 6: “We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.² (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)³ Giving no offence in anything, that the ministry be not blamed:⁴ But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,⁵ In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;⁶ By pureness, by knowledge, by long suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,⁷ By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,⁸ By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;⁹ As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;¹⁰ As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.”

Continue reading The Good Pleasure of God’s Will (Part 6) →

Time and Space Encircling Me

Time and space encircling me

You came to save and set me free

That I might find eternity

Forever there your glory see

Guide me Lord within this life

To lay aside all doubt and strife

That I might live eternity

Fix my eyes your face to see

You came to earth to bear my pain

To wash away my sin laid stain

My hope now based eternity

Forever there Your love to see

Teach me Lord, draw me near

That I proclaim for all to hear

The Joy you share, eternity

Salvation’s song for blind to see

Titus 2: ¹¹ For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,¹² Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;¹³ Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;¹⁴ Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

When trials, sorrows, loneliness, rejections come upon us in the world; we need to keep our eyes focused upon Christ our Savior and our King.  All sorrow or pain on this earth is but a second in time compared to eternity with HIm.  There is no sorrow too great to endure for the salvation of one soul.  You do not know but what the trial you are enduring at this very moment may be the key God uses to save another as they watch your faith unfold before them.  Keep your eyes fixed upon Your Only Hope, Your Exceeding Joy, and Your Truest Love—which is Christ Jesus.

©2014 Effie Darlene Barba

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

Step by step through this series, I have tried to lead you and myself into a deeper understanding of who God is before we begin to look at the question of predestination versus free will.  Please bear with me to the end of this writing before making a conclusion or closing your mind. The first verse for which this series began was found in Ephesians 1: “3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” 

photo used by permission ©istock

God existed in His same state of love before the idea of time was created. Indeed, when asked the question is it free will or is it predestination; my answer is yes.

The very thought of predestination for many believers and non-believers brings an outcry of what they might say is an unjust nature within God.  The crowds might say, “How dare He not choose all or by what criteria would He choose one while condemning another!!”  Then why was freewill a necessary part of being able to see God’s beauty and to seek after Him as one’s greatest treasure or to be able to experience loving Him because of experiencing the grace of being adopted though unworthy?  If I was unable to look into the depths of darkness within my own selfish, self-exalting heart, would I be able to experience the joy that grace brings?  Would I be able to experience the magnitude of

Continue reading THE GOOD PLEASURE OF GOD’S WILL (PART 5) →