Category: Christian Poetry

POETRY SUNDAY: DON’T WEEP MY LOVE

11 But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13 Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking? She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.”  Jesus said to her, “Mary!”She turned and said to Him,[a] “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher).”   (John 20:11-15)

What tender compassion, Jesus had here in this scene for Mary.  He waited and delayed His ascension to the Father because of her agonizing grief.  He sees our tears and cries with us each one.  He is a great high priest who is touched by our weakness and understands our grief.  He longs to comfort us there.

13024841_m

photo courtesy of: http://www.123rf.com/profile_chepko

DON’T WEEP MY LOVE

By Effie Darlene Barba

She gazed into the empty tomb

His body wasn’t there

The pain so great it did consume

Her heart with full despair

 

Such agony to lose the one

She loved more than her life

How could it be that God’s own Son

Had met with so much strife

 

As she wept such bitter tears

Alone with such despair

A gentle voice removed her fears

As Christ was standing there

 

CHORUS

Don’t weep, my love I am here with you

In your darkest night, I will help you through

I will take all your pain and your sorrow too

So you might know my love for you

Your joy and your hope I will renew

 

When my heart breaks from sorrow and care

When life brings me such pain

I look up to see my Savior there

And I hear Him sing this refrain

 

CHORUS

Don’t weep, my love I am here with you

In your darkest night, I will help you through

I will take all your pain and your sorrow too

So you might know my love for you

Your joy and your hope I will renew

 

Repeat Chorus

Don’t weep, my love I am here with you

In your darkest night, I will help you through

I will take all your pain and your sorrow too

So you might know my love for you

Your joy and your hope I will renew

©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 Upon Grace Poured Out Upon Me

 

O Lord, our Lord,
How majestic and glorious and excellent is Your name in all the earth! You have displayed Your splendor above the heavens….When I see and consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,  The moon and the stars, which You have established, What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of [earthborn] man that You care for him?  Psalm 8 (AMP)

God loves me

 

Grace upon Grace Poured Out upon Me

By Effie Darlene Barba


Jesus the word the truth and the light

Portrait of God’s perfect Glory-Delight

His Grace upon Grace poured out upon me

That I from these chains- forever set free


The King above Kings lay aside His throne

Because He loved me-my sin to atone

From Glorious splendor to humblest birth

Submitting to pain and sorrows on earth


Imagine the perfectly righteous one

God’s precious delight-His Dear Beloved Son

Would willingly choose to suffer such loss

Beaten, rejected He died on a cross


What kind of love, oh how can it be?

He suffered all this for you and for me

Despite all my sin and my foolish pride

He bids me to come-in His love abide


Open my eyes, Lord, always to see

Your love and your Glory there before me

Laying aside all my foolish desires

Until you’re the treasure my soul aspires



Jesus the Word the Truth and the Light

Portrait of God’s perfect Glory-Delight

His Grace upon Grace poured out upon me

That I from these chains forever am free

God loves You.  He is standing with open arms, desiring to fill your heart with His peace and His Joy.  Won’t you say yes, today?

 

photo courtesy of unsplash.com/grakozy  The writing I added.

Amplified Bible (AMP)Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.

 

©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.

Awaken to Joy

Sometimes when we take a moment to remember the wonder of all the things we have because of God’s Amazing Grace toward us; we must be filled with joy.  The wonder, beauty, and Glory of knowing Jesus as our Savior, being adopted into the family of God, and being given the gift of His love should make our hearts sing with Joy.  We should become overflowing fountains of His love and Grace toward those whom we meet along this journey.  My prayer is that all the pieces of this puzzle of my life when fitted together are an echoing reflection of God’s Mercy, Grace, Love, Joy and Glory.  My prayer is that you find God to be your greatest treasure and all your desires are met in Him.  I wrote this poem this morning for you.

 

IMG_1052

Awaken to Joy

By Effie Darlene Barba


Awaken, Awaken Oh heart of mine

Today has arrived so rich and Divine

Such Joy overflows into a new song

“By Grace I am Saved and By Grace I belong”


Wherever I go—whatever I do

Let Your Glorious Hope be all that I view

Such awe and wonder you place in my path

While never your anger– never your wrath


Oh Marvelous Grace that fills me with glee

Before your dear throne I have just this one plea

That your love flow forth to all whom I meet

Seeing Your Glory they fall at Your feet


Lord let me be a reflection of You

In all that I say and all that I do

Let the Grace that You freely gave to me

Be the Grace that I give to those I see


Let Love guide my feet wherever I go

Your joy and Your hope be all that does show

And one day, Dear Lord, when this earth I leave

Don’t let those who knew me one moment grieve


Because they know that you are my treasure

And being with you my greatest pleasure

Let the life that I lived be an echo so true

Of the Grace and the love that I found in You


Awaken, Awaken Oh heart of mine

Today has arrived so rich and Divine

Such Joy overflows into a new song

“By Grace I am Saved and By Grace 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: The Master Weaver

 

When I gaze back over my life, I am reminded of my own stumbling steps.  Scattered bits of broken threads strewn along the way.  Yet, every step of the way; God has picked up the pieces of thread and continues to weave His portrait from my life.  You see, that was the promise—“all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called for His purpose.  For whom He did foreknow, He did predestinate to be  conformed into the image of His Son” (Romans 8:28-29).  His plan is to transform me into the likeness of Christ.  He picks up all the broken threads and tightly weaves them together as He has planned.  It has been God’s Grace, Mercy and Love which has lead me ever closer to His side.  It has been God’s Grace, Mercy and Love that patiently has been working to transform me.  Every sorrow, every trial, every broken heart, and every detail has been to lead me to this moment so that I might say to you like Francis Crosby, “All the Way my Savior leads me, what have I to ask beside? Can I doubt His tender Mercy; who through life has been my guide?” 

the journey

Below is a poem that I wrote several years ago.  My prayer is that it serve as a reminder to you, dear pilgrim, that whatever it is you may be facing today; God has a perfect plan to lead your heart ever closer to Him.  Then you will realize that in Him is found all you need to fill your heart.  He is the love to your lonely heart,  the joy that sustains you through life’s sorrows, and the grace that covers all your sins, and frailties.  One day, I will look like Christ—this I know.  Maybe not today; but, one day I will. 

The Master Weaver

by Effie Darlene Barba


Broken threads my life you found

And with your love each piece you bound

A song of love your lips resound

With gentle hands, each thread you place

Oh could it be, amazing grace

A picture clear, my Savior’s face

What joy divine, could it be true

Each broken thread, you only knew

When woven tight would look like you


The Scarlet threads my broken heart

The deepest sorrows blue impart

Each silver thread of tears that fell

You guide my life with such detail

A brilliant gold, your love divine

My sins were washed, a white sublime

You gently weave with skillful hand

The portrait mine that you have planned


Oh, let me Lord remember this

That I might know with joy and bliss

You did ordain my every tear

That I might learn to never fear

That I might trust the weaver’s hand

And on this hope and promise stand

Your love will always know what’s best

Your cradling arms are where I rest


Broken threads my life you found

And with your love each piece you bound

A song of love your lips resound

With gentle hands, each thread you place

Oh could it be, amazing grace

A picture clear, my Savior’s face

What joy divine, could it be true

Each broken thread, you only knew

When woven tight would look like you

 

The song made from this poem is The Master Weaver  which I hope inspires you today to find in Him your hope, peace and joy today—no matter what trials you must face today.

Photograph courtesy of unsplash.com/jonathanpendleton –The inscription I added.

©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 Darkness, I hear Your Love Song

This Christian Pilgrimage will always be laden with mountains and valleys deep.  We can rest assured that God has a perfect plan that will guide us along the way.  Sometimes in the evening hours, I may feel defeated by the day or discouraged by my own heart’s foolish desires.  Yet, this I know.  God is everyday and every night about the task of perfecting my heart so that one day, I will be His Radiant, Unblemished Child.  Then, I will fully understand the depth of His love and be filled with the fullness of His Joy.  For now, I stand firm; clothed in the Righteousness of Christ.  Last night as I went to bed, I had no song to write.  As I whispered a prayer before I went to sleep, I asked God to send me a new song by morning break.  I awoke with these words playing in my head.  He is an Amazing Father.  He is my fountain of Joy in the deserts of my heart.  He is my Greatest Treasure and the Love of my Life.

In the darkness of night

Out of the Darkness, I hear Your Love Song

By Effie Darlene Barba

I gazed at the world, such sorrows abound

The tragedies, trials which seem to surround

I looked deep in my heart where sadness I found

From foolish desires and dreams so profound

Like smoldering flames upon desert ground

That burned into ashes and scattered around

I whispered then softly a cry with a prayer

A plea sent resounding throughout the night air

“Forgive me, I know this foolish heart of mine

Sometimes does tend to moan and to whine

I truly do wish my heart could be free

To Love you, My Lord as You have loved me.”

I did not then wait to hear your reply

As off to my bed I did go with a sigh

 

Then Out of the darkness I hear your love song

Erasing my sorrows from all I’ve done wrong

Enwrapped by your presence I know I belong

My frail, broken heart began beating so strong

For You are the Joy for which I so long

“Oh love of my life, stay here by my side

My Savior, My Lord in your grace I abide

Lying here in my bed, tightly tucked in your arms

I drift back to sleep safe from all of life’s harms”

 

And then I awake, to face a brand new day

Restored by your love, I bow down to pray

“Oh let my life song be a tribute to you

A light in the darkness the world now to view

How your Mercy and Grace did my heart now renew

From the ashes of sorrow, a garden you grew

Like Rivers and fountains of Joy in my heart

Bringing life to this desert-a fresh brand new start

Oh, Thank You dear Lord for all that you’ve done

But mostly I thank you for Your Precious Son.

The perfect reflection of all that you are

My Savior, My King, My Bright Morning Star”

[bctt tweet=”Never be afraid to lay your burdens, fears, & frailties at the foot of the cross every evening “] [bctt tweet=”You will be awakened by God’s Gracious Love and Joy will be yours in the morning light.”]

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2015

Photo used courtesy of Unsplash.com.  I added the inscription.

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.