Category Archives: Blog

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Can You Really Know the Will of God for You?

November 15, 2018 Effie Barba Leave a comment

This year has certainly been one in which I so needed to know the Will of God for me. My life had reached a point of great joy. Here I was with full contentment. I loved my job with even all its challenges. At home I was at perfect peace with being alone for it gave me so much time to spend alone with God. In fact, I had started an on-line endeavor to gain my master’s degree in Theology from Liberty University. How I loved the challenge and the opportunity to learn more from God’s word. Certainly, I believed I was in the center of the Will of God for my life. Peace flowed through my spirit with overflowing joy. Then, the call came from my son in Florida. Mom, I need you here.

When I came to Missouri, I was certain that was the Will of God for me. All the blessings that had flowed into my life had been the reassurance. All the wonderful people I met here. The wondrous opportunity to be near my oldest son and his beautiful family filled my heart with joy. It was here I first saw Mom happy. God’s presence filled my life to the overflowing with joy. Never did I think I would move back to Florida; but I knew my youngest needed me. I heard the plea in his voice. Could “perfect love” as Christ taught us deny that plea? Yes, my selfish heart railed against the thought. I would have to give up most of my possessions to make this move. “Things” I had grown to cherish as gifts from God’s gracious hand.

Knowing the Will of God

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Is God Calling You to Be a Mighty Warrior?

November 13, 2018 Effie Barba Leave a comment

Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord. So, the Lord delivered them into the hand of Midian for seven years (Judges 6:1-2). The Midianites drove them into caves, stole all their provisions, both produce and livestock. All their labor vanished before their eyes and they were helpless. Yet, when they turned their eyes once more to God, He sent a mighty warrior to save them. Not all had turned from their idolatrous worship. In fact, Gideons own family were worshipping the idol of Baal. Gideon was not a man of stature nor great courage; but he was the one God chose. The Angel of the Lord appeared to him, and said to him, “The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!” (Judges 6:12). Gideon questioned God. “Why have you allowed such devastation?” Yet, God’s reply: “Have I not sent you?” (Judges 6:14).

Gideon saw himself as weak and unworthy, so he questioned God’s choice. He even questioned whether it really was God who spoke to him. Quite patiently God confirmed His presence and that He would be with Gideon. He would be the strength and the victory. Once Gideon was assured that it was certainly God who called him, he was willing. Yet, he was filled with fear. Not the mighty warrior one would think of. Each of us are called to be Ambassadors of God, mighty warriors spreading the gospel to the world by standing strong in our faith through love. Our battle is a spiritual battle; yet, God is there to guide us each step of the way as He presented the blueprint for our battle gear in Ephesians 6:10-20.

Mighty Warrior Facing Fear

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How to Know Peace and Joy when Life is Devastating

November 10, 2018 Effie Barba Leave a comment

Life is filled with complex relationships, pains, heartbreaks, and sorrows. There are times when the circumstances around us appear impossible. We don’t know how to survive the storms of work, relationships, politics, finances, illnesses or life itself. There appears to be no way out as our hearts break, our will is destroyed, anger builds, and the night becomes so dark we see no way out. The last thing we think is possible would be to find peace, much less joy amid the devastating circumstances of life. Our mind circles in chaotic turmoil with dark depression proclaiming our own defeat. Such can be our lives at times. Human instinct desires to scratch and fight our way out as the devastating box of circumstances closes in around us. Or we resign to exist within a world of quiet desperation, never knowing peace or joy.

There is a way to truly know peace and joy even when life is devastating. This is something I have spoken of often and wrote in detail about in “Abiding, Steadfast Joy-Never Again Bound in a Life of Desperation”. My Christian Journey has been through many devastating circumstances. Often impossible mountains to cross! There were moments when glimmers of joy and peace seemed within arm’s reach; but, once more the crashing waves of life would pull me under. Well, that was then. Now, there may be moments in which devastating circumstances would try to pull me under. Moments in which my focus is pulled away from the truth I had learned along the way. Or those moments when I take my eyes off God, forsaking to start my day with His word and prayer. However, He reminds me quickly He is my Joy before I am bound again in desperation.

WHEN LIFE IS DEVASTATING

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How to See Everything Through the Eyes of God

November 7, 2018 Effie Barba Leave a comment

As we come to the end of Lord’s prayer, we are reminded to see everything through the eyes of God. “For thine is the kingdom, and the power and the Glory forever. Amen.” (Matthew 6:13). Whatever happens, we are assured of this. His Kingdom will reign forever! This earth will one day be destroyed; yet, He will create a new heaven and a new earth. Our life on this earth is but a fleeting moment in comparison to eternity. Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God…Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (I John 3:1-2).

Our hope is not in this world. The foundation of our hope is in Him. He reigns sovereign over all. His Kingdom, His power, and His Glory are certain. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. (I Corinthians 15:19). Yet, this is our assurance, our hope is in Him. He will accomplish all that He has planned. I need not fret or worry; because, He is with me. He is our hope both now and throughout eternity. But we must not lose focus, we must through faith see everything through the Eyes of God. We all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Seeing Everything Through the Eyes of God

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Where Really is Our Help When Evil Surrounds?

November 5, 2018 Effie Barba Leave a comment

We hear the word evil used a lot today. But what is it really? Evil is anything that draws us away from God, His Truth and His Word. Pure evil is the absence of God’s righteousness and goodness. Therefore, anything that separates us from God is evil. But all too often, we are confused by the flippant use of the term evil. The word evil is used by many to create division and confusion. It is used to try to denote that “one group” is good because it calls another group evil. Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! (Isaiah 5:20). There is a spiritual warfare where evil surrounds us. Yet, the true battleground we must be concerned with is the one within our own hearts.

Jesus said, ‘There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man. Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man’ (Mark 7:15,18-23).