Effie Darlene Barba

All too often, we somehow believe that if God only made life easy; then, we would worship Him. Yet, our hearts so quickly content with counterfeit joys; we turn our back on Him with no excuses. During my studies for school this week, a thought came to mind which drives home this point.  Studying Ezekiel 40-48 brought this truth to mind.  Ezekiel prophecies about a new temple and a time in which God’s Glory will once more fill the temple as he foretells of a time when God will reign upon this earth a thousand years.  There will be peace, love, and righteousness on earth. Satan and all his demons will be chained during that time period (Revelation 20:2).  Surely, when Christ reigns in this manner, all would worship Him with praise! But, alas; people through the evil within their own hearts will sin.

Ezekiel describes a new sacrificial system that will be enacted during that time period.  Although, this sacrificial system will be one which looks back to the finished work of Christ; instead of as the old sacrificial system looked forward to His coming. Nevertheless, it does indicate that human hearts under no influence from Satan; will sin.  “Any temptation to sin during the Millennium must come from within those people who are born after the kingdom begins.”[1]  The sacrificial system, although mandatory; never was what saved the people. Rather, it was an act indicative of their faith.  During the millennium; it will serve as a reminder of the awful price our Savior paid for us on Calvary.  It also reminds each person of their own rebellious evil hearts; even when, God’s Glory shines bright and Christ reigns on earth.

NO EXCUSES

Continue reading “Why Do We Really Have No Excuses Before God?”

When facing tragedy, what do you do?  Sorrow, pain and tears overwhelm your heart until you cannot see how to take even one more step.  Darkness surrounds and questions fill your mind with no answers.  The best you can do is scream into the sky, “Why?”   Oh, yes; I have been there many times in my life; despairing of life itself. Those moments when the pain is so great that you cannot even find the strength to pray.  How can one hold on when all seems lost? When joy and hope are all gone, how do you hold fast to faith.  Over the course of a lifetime, I have discovered these 7 steps.  In the last post, I reminded you of three foundational truths to Abiding, Steadfast Joy.  Now, lets look at the steps when tragedy strikes. Continue reading “7 Steps to Anchor You When Tragedy Strikes”

I cannot tell you how many years sorrow filled my soul. Though I knew that Christ had saved me and because of His grace, one day I would be with Him.  Yet, sorrow followed.  So often that search for joy lead me down pathways searching for fleeting counterfeit joys.  If only I could get this Christian walk right; then, maybe God would be pleased and bring me joy.  But, alas, the harder I tried, the more often I failed.  Then, I began to accept the tragedies as punishment for my own frailties.  Little did I realize the truth; my sins past, present and future were already covered by the cross. So, like a dutiful little Christian; I carried my cross with great sorrow and darkness with only glimpses of light.

It was only a few short years after Pete’s death that I faced cancer.  Deep in the depth of that darkness, I began to ask, “God, are you taking me home.  I am tired, and the journey has been long.”  Despite my desire to go home, I looked at my teenage sons and wept for them.  When the chemotherapy was done, I then battled ulcerative colitis until the surgeons removed my colon.  Again, my prayer remained the same.  Once I recovered from the surgeries and began to recover from the havocs of high dose steroids, there was found a mass on my pancreas.  Perhaps this time, He would take me home.  Yet, all the biopsies showed no cancer.  The mass was scars from an autoimmune pancreatitis.  Somehow, I believed my only hope for joy would be to leave this world; but, God had other plans.

Over the course of the next few years laden with trials, God reached down to show me, He is my joy and my greatest treasure.

Light shone into darkness

Continue reading “One Journey from Darkness to Light, Sorrow to Joy”

There are sorrows in this world so great, that darkness surrounds us.  In those moments no ray of light shines in and all hope disappears.  There are no words that can comfort the soul.  I daresay there are no words and no theology that can bring peace.  That I have known all too well when my suffering was too great in my own life.  My only pleas to God was, “Why?” But none of the pain I suffered compared to the pain I felt when a child of mine faced despair.  Although, I had learned so much of God’s grace through my own suffering; I had no words to say to comfort my child in theirs; so, all I could do is pray.

I wrote this poem at such a moment when one of my children was hurting, despairing of life itself.  When all there is are questions, with no answers;  the only thing we can do is quietly walk beside and pray.  Today, I share this with everyone within its reach who is hurting today.  As I share it I lift up a prayer for each and everyone of you.

I Did But Pray

by Effie Darlene Barba

 

In your darkness filled with fear

I walked beside and drew you near

There were no words that I could say

So Quietly I did but pray

 

What more could I have said or done

Than point you to God’s own dear son

By showing you the grace of God

As on this road we both did trod

 

My words would mean so little now

Unless I were to live somehow

Displaying Grace by what I do

Forgetting self to think of you

 

No distance then would be too far

Willing to go where e’er you are

To walk beside to take your hand

To bring you hope, to firmly stand

 

That when the world a dark abyss

Upon your brow my gentle kiss

Awakening to see God’s light

A hope within could rise and fight

 

Against the tides that pull you down

The anguish that would bid you drown

Please take my hand and come with me

Oh how I wish your heart could see

 

The love of God, His Grace to you

That as His face comes into view

Amidst the sorrows in your heart

God’s comfort bidding them depart

 

His love can wrap you in His arms

Protecting you from evil’s harms

Oh, how I wish that you could see

My strength, my love is Christ in me

 

So,

 In your darkness filled with fear

I walked beside and drew you near

There were no words that I could say

So Quietly I did but pray

concluding thoughts

No matter how dark the night; this I have learned and know: God loves you, His plan is good, and you can trust Him–even if today you cannot see how.

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR?

If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. Because there is nothing more important than this, I urge you to seek Him today.

OR ARE YOU IN OF NEED PRAYER?

If you have a prayer request email me by clicking here or comment here

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2018
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 except for my own books. 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.

 

After all the vain talking about God; God spoke, and all the men were silent.  Job had commanded that God come down and make right his injustice toward him.  Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar spoke incessantly about God, as though they had all the answers.  These three spoke lofty words, declaring that God was judging Job for blatant sin; as though they knew the mind of God. Finally, God spoke.  He did not explain to Job the reasons He allowed Job to endure such trials. Instead, He presented to Job a series of questions that forced Job to see God as the Sovereign, Just, and Gracious King of the Universe.  At the final end of all the questioning, Job’s response was: “I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.  Wherefore I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:5-6).

In other words, “Everything I knew of God before today, were words within my mind; but, today I see God in all His Glory and Majesty with the eyes of my heart.  Therefore, I humbly bow; recognizing my own foolish pride.”  Until God spoke through the whirlwind and the suffering; Job believed in his own righteous acts and his own virtue.  When confronted by the truth; Job now could see the threads of pride and arrogance which lay deeply in his own heart.  Only when pressed by the pains of sorrow, did Job recognize fully God’s Sovereign Grace and Kingship over everything.  What suffering is too great to endure to be able to see God?

Eyes Opened Wide to See God

Continue reading “Can Man Really See God Through Suffering?”