Category: Christian Poetry

Poetry Sunday—A Broken Vessel’s Vow

When two people take their marriage vows they enter a union which they hope, believe with last.  As each begins to unpack the fears, traditions, pains, frailties and realities of who they are and what baggage they bring; there is the risk that all the brokenness can split the marriage.  For within each of us is brokenness which we bring to the union.  Too often we enter with expectations.  Expectations that the other person will fill the empty recesses of our own hearts.   As you know from the series I have been writing that was the case.  Pete and I both had arrived with a lot of baggage.  Then, a miracle happened.  God reached down to touch my heart and fill me with a deeper love than I had known.  For me to lay aside my brokenness to vow to stay and love no matter what because I saw the beauty of who Pete could be in Christ.  Well that was God’s miracle of Grace!!  God, alone could give me the strength and the love to do that.  In the process, God alone was healing my brokenness as well.  What a mighty and wondrous God He is!!!

 18 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit (Psalm 34).

couple walking

A Broken Vessel’s Vow

By Effie Darlene Barba

Two hearts had joined as one that day

And never saw the dark pathway

That lay ahead and lay behind

Two hearts that joined in hope to find

A strength in love to shine a light

Upon their lonely darkest night

Each had brought with them their fears

Their brokenness and all their tears

And as their story did unfold

Two broken hearts their sorrow told

It wasn’t what they’d hoped that day

Can broken hearts still find a way

A miracle is what they’d need

If ever they were to succeed

God’s gracious love must touch a heart

To help them stay, to not depart

Two broken hearts can beat as one

Because of Grace from God’s own son

The broken hearts are me and you

I ran to hide, to bid adieu

And then I saw your tear stained face

My heart was filled with love and grace

I saw the beauty of your heart

The tenderness you could impart

A brilliant mind so trapped within

I saw the man you could have been

If only you had known God’s love

His strength could help you rise above

And so I vow to love you dear

Today and through each passing year

My strength must come from God alone

As now I bow before His throne

I’ll lay aside all my desire

That God might flame my passion fire

To rise within to find the strength

That I might go the final length

To love you better stronger still

For this I know has been God’s will

I cannot pretend to know what obstacles you may be facing today; but, what I do know is God understands.  I ask that you seek Him and His guidance.  If He then leads your heart to love no matter what, then He will show you the way.  His love filling the heart of one can transform both hearts—that is His miraculous Grace at work.  I would love to hear from you or if you have a poem you would like to share, please use the comments below or email me. 

Photo courtesy of https://unsplash.com/pichler_sebastian

©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.

POETRY SUNDAY Out of the Ashes-A Joyous Love Song

All too often as we face the trials, pains, and sorrows of this life; we  don’t understand why or how God would allow this.  It is those moments when we become so undone by all that surrounds us and the desperate despair within.  Yet, it is an all wise Sovereign God who because of His tremendous love for us allows the sorrows, the pains, and the evil of this broken world to touch us. He steadies His Hand of Justice so that He can reach out His hand of Grace and draw us in closer to His Bosom.  He knows that this heart of mine would be so content with counterfeit joys that I could never find the fullness of Joy He holds for me in Christ.  He knows that I would cling to lesser loves and lesser treasures  if He did not tear them from my hands so I could see Him.  Ever tear I shed, every pain I have born, and every dark night had great purpose in God’s Hand of love to turn my face toward Him.  What I might have once thought of as my undone, I have learned was God’s doing miraculous and wondrous things for me. What amazing grace, mercy, patience and love He has shown to this undeserving heart.  What joy, peace, hope and strength I have found in Him.

photo-1438979315413-de5df30042a1

Out of the Ashes-A Joyous Love Song

By Effie Darlene Barba

 

I don’t understand

Why the nail scarred hand

Why you had to bleed

To fulfill my need

Oh can you help me see

This great mystery

Why the joy we sought

With your blood you bought

Yet, we’re blinded still

Unyielding to thy will

Because we think to gain

There should be no pain

When the trials come

We become so glum

As we cry unfair

Screaming “Are you there?”

(Bridge)

Gently, so gently you reached out your hand

To cradle me there to help me to stand

It was love that allowed all this sorrow and pain

To awaken my heart to the darkest of stain

If never I walk through the darkest of night

I can never find joy in your glorious light

Until I was broken, my life was undone

I loved from afar your precious dear son

It was there in the darkness that you drew me in

Alone there and broken my heart you did win

It was there you unveiled this great mystery

That I couldn’t see you when I’m looking at me

Out of the ashes to my heart’s surprise

A joyous love song began now to rise

 

My Broken heart

Was a brand new start

Helped me understand

The nail scarred hand

Helped my eyes to see

That the victory

Was already won

By your precious son

So whatever pain

Torrential rain

In your love I hide

In your joy abide

 

My Broken heart

Was a brand new start

Helped me understand

The nail scarred hand

Helped my eyes to see

That the victory

Was already won

By your precious son

So whatever pain

Torrential rain

In your love I hide

In your joy abide

Much like Paul told Timothy, “Do not weep for my imprisonment, my pain, my beatings, the stoning,  or my suffering…” “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2Timothy 1:7). “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory (2 Corinthians 4:17)

I don’t know where you are along this journey; but, I do know this. [bctt tweet=”God’s love is bigger than your heartbreak.”] [bctt tweet=”God’s strength is big enough to carry your heaviest burden.”]In Christ you have everything that you need to find hope, joy, and love—in Him, you will rise above all life’s trials.  Even if you don’t realize it yet; He will show you the way to full happiness in Him no matter what circumstances surround you.

Photo by permission https://unsplash.com/b3njamin

©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.

Poetry Sunday—Grace So Grand

Do we really understand how great a grace we have been given?  That God, the creator of the Universe, would give His only son to die that we might be saved.  If I truly understand the magnitude of God’s Grace and Love toward me, would I ever be filled with sorrow or despair? Could I ever complain or worry about any of the trials I face here on earth?  It is a grace so grand that reached down to love me right where I was.  It is a grace so grand that continued to draw me closer to Him even when I turned my face to seek lesser things.  It is a grace so grand that draws me still, ever closer to His Side.   It has been God’s patience, love and grace that has gently taught me every step of the way drawing me ever closer to Him.

God's grace and love

Grace So Grand

By Effie Darlene Barba

 

My Lord, How can I understand?

The Grace on which my faith doth stand

A Grace so grand that sought me out

Pursued this heart so filled with doubt

My heart desired for lesser things

Like love of men or diamond rings

And though I did not seek your face

You reached to me to give me grace

How could it be you loved me so?

That on this heart of stone bestow

A love so great it drew me in

And pardoned me for all my sin

Forgiving all that I have done

Redeemed I stand by thy dear son

That died the death that should be mine

So in His Glory I might shine

As beacon of His love so pure

Tis Grace that holds my heart secure

Your grace that drew my heart aside

And bid me in your love abide

Is the same Grace on which I vow

To give you all, before you bow

My life is yours-do as you will

What e’er it takes to this heart fill

With your dear love, to overflow

Unto the world that they may know

It was your Grace that loved me so

Your joy has set my life a glow

Your Grace does call to them to come

Drawn by your love to then succumb

Unto your will, accept your son

And know the life that Calvary won

“Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ…of his fullness have all we received… grace upon grace”  (John 1:16 and 17).

©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.

POETRY SUNDAY- WHISPERS OF LOVE

So many years of my life, I searched for love as though it were some illusive dream.  Along that journey, my heart was shattered often.  Somehow I was searching for some fairy tale illusion of love without understanding the truth of love.  All through those years, always remained a whispering hope and dream of love.  There came a day that with greatest sadness, I let go of that dream.  It was as though a part of me was gone.  That was when the most miraculous thing happened.  I began to realize that God’s love had been there every step of the way.  He had whispered those moments of love to give me a glimpse of what true love would be.  He had whispered his love in those moments of kindness from a friend.  He had whispered His love more boldly in the love of my children and grandchildren.  He had shown me love through my little grandchildren who love with such purity of heart.

Joy of God's LoveOne day, I awoke and began to realize that all my illusions of love had been a broken, self-centered heart searching to find someone who would love me.  As though they could fix the broken parts of me. That someone could remove that flaw of doubt within me. I needed confirmation that I was ok.  I wanted to believe that something in me was lovable.  What I did not realize was that God’s love was that!!  He had given me everything I needed to be His Beloved Child and the lovely betrothed of Christ.  How gently and patiently He has led me along this path.  He has given me wise friends and teachers along this journey.  He has given me such wondrous children and grandchildren.  He has guided my hand all along this path.  Love abides in me.  Now I have learned to love without expectation—just to love!  So where ever you are on this journey of love, let this be your song of hope.  If you have someone—don’t take today for granted.  It may be your last moment with them.  Treat each moment as though it is your last.  If you don’t have a companion—I would like to introduce you to mine.  I am willing to share. Let me introduce you to Jesus.

WHISPERS OF LOVE

Whispers of Love flowing all through my life

Even in moments of sorrow or moments of strife

Whispers that came in the dark of the night

Promising Joy with the new morning light

Whispers of hope for the bleakest of day

“Love will find strength and love will find its way”

Into your heart and grow from within

Until it flows forth rejoicing and then

Suddenly out of those long and sad years

Love does spring forth out of fountains of tears

Into rivers of joy bursting forth then to see

That love had been there abiding in me

Oh, thank you dear Lord for teaching me love

As Your spirit descends with the wings of a dove

And gathered the pieces of this shattered heart

To weave it with steel, Your glory impart

A Picture so rare, its beauty unmasked

A portrait of you made in brilliant stained glass

Your love had been there inside of me

Even when I had been too blind to see

Whispers of love, it was You all along

Telling me that in your love I belong

[bctt tweet=”Whispers of love, it was You all along Telling me that in your love I belong”]

©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.

Poetry Sunday—An Act of Grace

Sometimes, God’s greatest Acts of Grace come to us wrapped in pain, sorrow, or trials.  You might at first, say, “How? Why would that be an act of grace?”  There would perhaps have been a time, I would have wanted to agree with you.  But you see, as I look back over my life; I realize that it was through those darkest of nights that I sought God with all my heart and soul.  It was the lonely broken heart fighting to make sense of abuse, cancer, illness, and loneliness which searched longingly in the scripture.  There in the early hours before dawn as I searched for answers; I found God’s Grace sufficient.  In those early morning hours, I found hope, joy, peace, and love enough to sustain me for another day.  It is a ritual I long for each morning, just to sit in His presence.  Oh, yes, life will bring its trials, its pains, its fears; but, they cannot destroy the hope and the joy that I have found.  In Christ, I may weep for a moment over the sorrows of this world; but, I will awaken before the dawn to sit a little while with Him.  There I am restored.  There I have hope.  There I know how much I am loved.  In Him, is fullness of joy evermore.  broken

An Act of Grace

By Effie Darlene Barba

 

As I look back over my life

Remembering the pain and strife

There were those nights of bitter tears

When I awoke heart full of fears

To stumble then to find my chair

Where I would sit alone in prayer

 

My Bible opened there I’d read

Of hope, of love, of all I need

Your songs of joy poured over me

Salvation’s song had set me free

And suddenly I saw a light

A thought that brought such pure delight

The pain had been Your act of Grace

To Cause this heart to seek Your face

And find in You, my love, my friend

This hope and joy will never end

 

And now, Dear Lord I know it’s true

All that I need I find in you

I leap to rise before daylight

To sit with You, my pure delight

And talk with You about each day

That I might find Your will, Your way

 

My Bible opened there I read

Of hope, of love, of all I need

Your songs of joy pour over me

Salvation’s song has set me free

And as each day with dawning light

New trials come as is life’s plight

Whatever comes it is Your Grace

Allowing me to seek Your face

I find in You, my love, my friend

This hope and joy will never end

The picture is used with permission of Ronald Barba, the artist.  It is protected under copyright and can only be copied or reproduced with permission.  To obtain copies you may go to http://fineartamerica.com/featured/broken-and-contrite-heart-ronald-barba.html

©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.