Category: Christian Poetry

In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?  I Corinthians 15:52-55

 

Today, I go to attend a memorial service for a lifelong friend, Rayla Stewart Hogue.  My first memories were as small children singing “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine” at a small country church.  Rayla did just that throughout her lifetime. Her light shone bright for all the world to see. Now she is singing with her amazing voice within the choirs of heaven.  Rather than feelings of sadness, I celebrate her life with this calm, comforting truth.  We will meet again, one day soon and what rejoicing that will be.  As such, I wrote this poem in tribute to Rayla, our friendship, and our bond as Sisters in Christ.

I Bid Adieu

By Effie Darlene Barba

 

Remember when we laughed that day

Our lives then went their separate way

We traveled paths down different roads

To meet again as life unfolds

 

As though our lives were ne’er apart

Just as we were, friends from the start

A peaceful place where we could share

Our darkest secrets or sweetest prayer

 

And know that in this realm of life

We’re safe from any harm or strife

For in this love of truest friends

Our flaws are filtered through this lens

 

A lens of Grace where love abounds

Where peace and hope our heart surrounds

And so, dear friend; once more we part

As you this world was bid depart

 

You went ahead to be with God

While I am left this world to trod

One day I know we’ll meet once more

Upon that bright and distant shore

 

And so, dear friend I bid adieu

Until I’m standing there with you

We’ll raise our voices then to sing

A song of praise unto our King

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2016

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.

A Desperate Cry for Truth to Heal This Land

by Effie Darlene Barba

 

I felt the anguish cutting deep

It pierced my heart and soul

The tossing, turning restless sleep

Was taking now it’s toll

 

The lies, corruption circling around

This country once was free

Now chained, the evil words abound

The truth we cannot see

 

Complacent to be so correct

In silence I had stood

My Christian duty did neglect

I hid beneath this hood

 

Oh wretched heart, I was to blame

Allowing this to be

Now buried in my sinful shame

I turned to look to Thee

 

Oh, Lord, please come and hear my cry

I fall here at your feet

As darkness draws, the end is nigh

I must not accept defeat

 

I heard Your voice, “stand up my child

Together we shall fight

Our spirits, hearts are reconciled

Your sin cast far from sight”

 

Arise in Grace, my precious one

The truth I have revealed

In Jesus Christ my precious Son

In Him your heart is sealed

 

I hear the cries for your dear land

So, trust me when I say

Revival is what I’ll command

And Truth shall find its way

I recently read this blog by Ravi Zacharias and wanted to share these words; please go and read the entire blog yourself.

Listening to the blistering political rhetoric, I am asked all over the world, “What has happened in America?” The question should go deeper. Whatever happened to the American soul? We are truly at the cliff’s precipitous edge and the fall could be long and deadly. Why? We have a deep crisis of the soul that is killing us morally and we have no recourse. We have no recourse because the only cure has been disparaged and mocked by the elite and the powerful…….We are sliding into the future with evil stalking us but no morality, no truth, and no reason to guide us. America may be flirting with a self-inflicted mortal wound. Or it could well be a killing that is designed by a postmodern ideology masquerading as political correctness. When liberalism, whose legitimate child is relativism, has played itself out it will be a Pyrrhic victory to find ourselves in the hands of those whose identity is no longer in doubt. And when they are in control, the very means they used to hide their identity will be silenced as well. They will preside over the last rites of politically correct enforcers and a “free press” that abused freedom and celebrated the lie ‘til they themselves were silenced, buried by the truth they never wanted to expose. There always has been, and is now more than ever, only one hope for rescue. If we abide in God’s truth revealed in his Son, then we shall know the truth and the truth will set us free. -excerpts from The Soul of America by Ravi Zacharias.

We, the American people,  are standing at a crossroads that will determine our Continue reading “A Desperate Cry for Truth to Heal This Land”

O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee.  To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses Daniel 9:8-9

 

HEAL OUR LAND

By Effie Darlene Barba

 

I heard the sounds of tears surround

As anguish did abound

Death, despair, the wretched sound

That rose from every side

 

I fell there on my knees, Dear God

In sin our earth doth trod

Unto You Lord we feign a nod

While drowning in our pride

 

I pleaded there to seek your face

And ask you show Your grace

Our shame Oh Lord you can erase

Though guilty we’ve been tried

 

I cried for all who walk this land

To turn and seek Your hand

On righteousness to take a stand

And in your Love abide

 

As I prayed, Your light revealed

The sin I must now yield

That first my heart must be healed

Of sin I had denied

 

I give to you my wretched heart

It’s sin I bid depart

Your righteousness to then impart

Your Spirit be my guide

 

Cleansed by your grace, now I plead

Once more to intercede

To cleanse our land of sin and greed

Our eyes to open wide

 

To see the truth, to You belong

Our praise and worship song

Teach us to know right and wrong

To lay our sin aside

 

Transform our hearts by your dear Grace

Teach us to seek your face

Heal our land by Your embrace

Let us be purified

 

My heart broken, by the news medias, cries out in pain and sorrow.  Oh, yes; I heard the tape as it was played over an over again as if once were not enough.  I listened to the vulgarity of the words, as my heart broke and bled.  I thought of Melania and the pain she must feel.  I thought of Mike Pence and the despair he must have felt.  Nausea filled the pit of my stomach as I pleaded with God to help me understand.  The news flash barely mentioned the 900 deaths in Haiti; a country whom the Clintons had misappropriated the billions of dollars donated and left the people with no running water, shelters, or sewage.  They had no place to go to get out of harms way.   Barely a mention was made on the news of Continue reading “Heal Our Land (A Prayer)”

Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more. For thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called. For the Lord hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God. Isaiah 54:4-6

 

For me this week has been amazing as I have watched the steady hand of God answer so many prayers.  Most of all, I am overwhelmed by a steadfast joy that sustains my heart with peace; yet, thrusts me out to reach a hand of love, hope, and strength to others in their pain.  It is not a desire to run from the sorrows of this broken world; rather, it is the strength to walk into the fire and sit down with a hurting soul to say—God is enough! God is the treasure your heart is longing for!  Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life!  There is no sin outside the reaches of Grace, if only you believe and accept the atoning work of Christ on the Cross on your behalf.

This week my heart is touched as a dear friend battles cancer, another sister in Christ battles heartbreak-a widow struggling to find her way, a young mother tries to know how to guide her children with fears of not knowing how, men who are struggling to regain their life after years in prison, a dear, sweet Christian aunt dealing with recent widow hood, and a nation torn apart by despair.  All of this touches my heart; yet, under-girding me remains the steadfast truth of God’s love, God’s Grace and God’s Sovereignty. The echoing sounds as I heard my son give God praise for each blessing and miracle in the midst of what others might have considered despairing times.

As I looked through the archives of my poems, I found this.  I realized that this poem was a prayer of mine; which, God answered.  So let me share it with all of you who are hurting today.  Let me come up beside you and sit for a while to remind you—God loves you, God desires for you to find your joy in Him.  He is your strength when you are weary, your hope when skies are grey, your faith when yours is failing, and your light through each dark day, He is the love to your lonely heart when it is breaking in despair, He is all in all your everything when you look to Him in prayer.

 

Come Quench This Thirst

I’ve been searching for love all of my life

Someone to hold when life brings me strife

A Friend, A Companion, someone who cares

About all my dreams, my life song he shares

With Broken Heart—I cried out to You

You Came and You Loved –my heart was made new

CHORUS

You are the rivers, You are the wine

Come quench this thirst with Your love divine

Hold me so tight that I can’t let go

Filled with Your Spirit-my heart aglow

Give me Your Joy far beyond measure

Until I know truth:  You Are my treasure

 

I’ve been searching for dreams, success – a name

A message, a truth, something to proclaim

Surely the world should know I’ve been here

Hold my head high—the crowd would then cheer

Broken by failures, I cried out your name

You came and You loved – I’ve not been the same

 

CHORUS

You are the rivers, You are the wine

Come quench this thirst with Your love divine

Hold me so tight that I can’t let go

Filled with Your Spirit-my heart aglow

Give me Your Joy far beyond measure

Until I know truth You are my treasure

 

I’ve been searching for joy in so many things

Houses and cars or big fancy rings

Chasing a dream where ever it leads

Thinking these things will fulfill my needs

Drowning in debt, I turned then to You

You came and You loved—Your Glory in view

 

CHORUS

You are the rivers, You are the wine

Come quench this thirst with Your love divine

Hold me so tight that I can’t let go

Filled with Your Spirit-my heart aglow

Give me Your Joy far beyond measure

Until I know truth You are my treasure

 

I’ve been searching for You by labor of mine

If I try hard enough, surely I’ll shine

I would work so hard and make You so proud

I would stand high above the rest of the crowd

Chained in my sin, I turned then to You

You came and You loved-humbled by Grace I’m new

 

CHORUS

You are the rivers, You are the wine

Come quench this thirst with Your love divine

Hold me so tight that I can’t let go

Filled with Your Spirit-my heart aglow

Give me Your Joy far beyond measure

Until I know truth: You are my treasure

[bctt tweet=”When God takes everything else & we are left with Him, we find He is all we need” username=”effiedarlene”]

[tweetthis]God’s Abounding love overflows and must spill out to others in our path[/tweetthis]

[bctt tweet=”My Joy can never be complete until I am willing to humbly bare another’s sorrow” username=”effiedarlene”]

Photo used by permission: https://unsplash.com/@geetanjalkhanna

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2016

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.