Category: Christian Blog

Really knowing the love of God as my Heavenly Father should produce demonstrable virtues in my life. Since God demonstrated His love for me with such compassion and grace, why do I sometimes fear love? Why is it hard to constantly keep loving and providing for an elderly mother who has always been judgmental, trapped in her own world of negativism? I find it so easy to love my grand babies. Beyond that it is easy for me to show love and compassion to my patients at work. It is even easy for me to even do random acts of kindness to strangers.

It is a matter of the heart, you see; and, that is where mine needs to grow just a little bit bigger. The only way for that to happen is to keep my eyes focused on my heavenly Father and remind myself that in Christ, God is my Daddy. The one I can fall before unashamed with my tears, my failures, and my fears. I can lay all else aside and trust His love for me to make it all better. He will and He will fill my heart with so much of His love that my heart will grow too. That is what He has promised. Continue reading “5 Virtues Gained by Really Knowing The Love of God”

Early November 1998; as I walked into the breast center, there was a bounce in my step; certain the news would be good.  After all, I had prayed and felt a great peace.  Within thirty minutes, everything changed as I listened to the Doctor telling me the biopsy demonstrated a very aggressive cancer hidden behind the mass, obscurely out of view.  The mass biopsy negative; however, I had breast cancer.  Immediately, I thought of my sons.  Hadn’t they lost their Father already.  Both still in high school, what if I died, also?  Years of walking with God taught me that He had a plan I could trust; but, I couldn’t imagine what that plan could be in this.  Now looking back, I can say cancer proved a blessing; because, I learned about living by facing death.  I died to many desires that year and found new life.

I wonder if Paul entertained the same thought, as he wrote this letter to the church at Philippi.  Certainly, Paul faced death when stoned a few years prior to these writings.  Now, imprisoned; he awaited his sentencing.  Although, he believed God would release him to visit the church of Philippi again; he certainly knew that his sentence could be death.  It is in that thought that Paul wrote:

According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.  But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. Philippians 1:20-22

Continue reading “How Can Facing Death Bring New Life?”

We live in a world  filled with abounding knowledge and advice.  With a touch of a button, you find a video explaining how to fix anything around your house or your life.  Because of this plus 24 hour news, thousands of voice books, eBooks, and friends;  we are overwhelmed by knowledge. With so much knowledge; how, can we ever discern what is best or true. How can we find true wisdom to guide our lives or to make a decision?  In a World of Abundant Knowledge; is Wisdom lost to all the rhetoric and ideologies?

Throughout scripture we are told to seek wisdom. All too often, we think that the Bible is referring only to spiritual questions when speaking of wisdom or that perhaps that wisdom is reserved for only a few elite Christian scholars.  Certainly, Paul was not speaking to an elite few when he wrote:

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Colossians 3:16

Continue reading “In a World of Abundant Knowledge; Is Wisdom lost?”

How can peace rule in our hearts? All around us there appears to be an angry, chaotic world bent on riots, protests, and war.  We might say that Paul certainly was not speaking to us now!  After all, he wrote this over 2000 years ago, to the early church of Colossae!  Yet, history would tell us that they faced persecution, wars, and constant opposition as well. They faced every bit as much chaos, anger and opposition as we do; only they were fewer in number, and had less support.  They did not have a Bible to comfort them.  Indeed, their lives were more akin to the persecuted Christians in China and the Middle East. Still, Paul commanded them to let the peace of God rule in their hearts, called in one body, and to be Thankful.

Did you gather that? He not only commanded that we were to let the peace of God rule in our hearts; we are to be thankful as well.  As one body, the church standing firm in harmony with peace ruling our hearts.  Peace ruling our hearts means there is no space for anger, jealousy, rage, nor fear.  Because we are in Christ and He indwells us through the Holy Spirit; we put off rage, anger, blasphemy and lies.  We put on love, hope, joy, and a spirit of humble forgiveness with grace. Our hearts are transformed into new hearts; that join as one harmonious body of Christ who proclaim the name of Christ to the world by our deeds more than our words.

Colossians 3:15

let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

Stop for a moment and think about that!  Do you feel that calm in the depths of your heart?  A calm assurance that all is well; because, your heart has found peace with God through Jesus Christ!  Faith knows that God is the great I AM and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him.  Ah, I see; you fear that maybe you don’t diligently seek Him, so perhaps; that promise is not yours.  It is not about getting it right all the time; however, anyone who has tasted of the goodness of God will seek Him, desire Him and want Him. It at first may be the smallest of spark; but, it will grow. There may be moments which seem sporadic; but, ultimately, you will discover He is the only treasure that is worthwhile and the only Joy that is everlasting.

Romans 5:1-5

Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. … not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; patience, experience; and experience, hope:   hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Just wait a little while and you will see that all the struggles, trials, and difficulties you are facing right now are preparing your heart to understand the depth, height, and breadth of God’s love for you.  Day by day, He is ever about transforming us, preparing us to know the fullness of joy one day when we see Him face to face.  As time goes by, I have learned to find that calm, restful, peace deep within my heart.  Because of that, when I faced emergency surgery; I could do so without any fear, worry, or frustration.

Certainly, that is not who I use to be, even as a Christian.  It is who I have become; because of  the years of trials, pains, and tribulations.  During the trials, God taught my heart to trust in Him.  Peace came to rule in my heart, as I learned to abide in Jesus Christ.

PEACE THROUGH THE POWER OF THE HOLY GHOST

Christ has sent the Holy Spirit to indwell each believer.  Because of that, Christ lives in us through the Holy Spirit to be our comforter and guide.  He guides us through the tough times; teaching us scripture, sending counselors when we need them, and through the church. There are no mistakes with God.  There are no “oops”! He uses every incident in our lives to guide us to a greater knowledge of Him; because, there is where we will reside in fullness of joy.

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. Romans 15:13

PEACE WITH GOD, KNOWING THE VICTORY IS OURS

And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. Romans 16:20

The God of our peace shall bruise Satan under our feet soon.  Christ Jesus crushed Satan’s power of eternal death and destruction for all who accept Jesus Christ as Savior.  Yet, note here; because of that truth; God with whom we have peace, gives us the power to bruise Satan under our feet.  Our power over sin and its desires comes from God.

EVERLASTING PEACE

Remember when Jesus rebuked the wind?  In Mark 4 we are told about a big storm that came and tossed the boat that the apostles and Jesus were in.  Jesus slept calmly, peacefully in the boat; while, the apostles were frantic and worried they might drown. They woke Jesus up, crying for help.

And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. Mark 4:39

Because Jesus Christ lives within us, we too can know that peace which allows us to rest in the middle of the worst storms of life.  He has promised us His peace.  Sometimes, it takes many encounters before we learn to rest in His peace; but, let me assure you that one day you will.  His promise to us is that He will give us His peace.  Not the kind the world gives us.

 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid John 14:27

CONCLUDING TWEETS

[bctt tweet=”Because Jesus Christ gives us His peace, we can rest secure during the storms of life” username=”effiedarlene”]

[tweetthis]Peace with God, founded in Jesus Christ; gives us a heart of gratitude.[/tweetthis]

[tweetthis]Thanksgiving toward God, equips us to know real peace[/tweetthis]

[bctt tweet=”When peace rules your heart; life is a beautiful place of joy, hope and love” username=”effiedarlene”]

 

Photo by permission: https://unsplash.com/@kfcrosby

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2017

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.

Because of who we are in Christ; love should be our beacon of hope lighting the world around us.  We need to be Perfected in Love by God’s love filling and transforming our hearts. Our lives should reflect the same sacrificial, forgiving love that presents Christ to the world.

Paul wrote to the Colossians advising them to put off anger, malice, wrath, vulgar communications, lying, and blasphemous language.  These negative attitudes represent the filthy rags of our sin.  Casting them aside we are to then put on the cloak of righteousness that we are given by Jesus Christ through His redemptive work on the Cross.  When we look at the Grace and love which He provided us; we  recognize how we are supposed to behave toward others. When we remember His love toward us, we are humbled by the magnitude of His love, our unworthiness, and His Grace.  Paul continues as he wrote to the Church of Colossae.

COLOSSIANS 3:12-14

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

EXAMPLE AND POWER OF CHRIST IN OUR ABILITY TO LOVE

We are to love and forgive others; as Christ did us.  Remember, He gave His life for us while we were yet sinners who despised Him.  It was His Sacrificial love that accepted us as we were; knowing, that overtime He would transform our hearts: if only, we believed and accepted that love.  He saw who we would become in the Light of His love and chose to love us.  Continue reading “What Does It Mean To Be Perfected In Love ?”