Christian Blog

How to Really Overcome the Jaws of Pride and Jealousy

Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast forever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end. He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth Daniel 6:25-27

Jealousy, Pride and Self-Exaltation are at the center of the human heart. It is that which separates us from the sweet communion with God. It is what cuts wounds so deep that we cannot know the truest of joy in our relationship with God or others. It not only is the poison within our own heart. It is at the center of the turmoil placed upon us by the world that surrounds us.

So, it was for Daniel as well who would find himself thrown deep into the pit of lions because of the jealousy, pride and the self-exalting hearts of those who surrounded him. Despite his being placed into captivity at a young age with his manhood stripped from him, Daniel had risen to a position of respect both within the courts of King Nebuchadnezzar and later under King Darius of the Medes after they had invaded and overtook Babylon. That in itself is remarkable! When another country takes seize of a former government, one would suspect that they would not wish to keep in high regard officials from the original government. Yet, Daniel was highly respected even by this new Monarch. Perhaps it was Daniels humility, grace, and wisdom that they noted, all learned by his constant devotion to studying Gods word and through his dedication to prayer. Daniel never ceased to pray three times every day.

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Christian Poetry

WHEN TERROR STRIKES

I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Psalm 3:4

WHEN TERROR STRIKES

by Effie Darlene Barba

 

When terror strikes from every side

Inciting fear in every heart

When all I see is torn apart

How can I Lord in You abide?

And rest in peace upon they word

With all the hate and sorrow heard

From wretched men, so filled with pride

I need a place in which to hide

 

I turn and lift my eyes toward You

To search the dark, to understand

How can this be as You have planned?

When all the world seems so askew

By evil hearts so filled with sin

It’s hard to see Your love will win

When selfish hearts themselves pursue

Destruction, death and pain ensue

 

As I gazed there shone forth a light

And reaching forth a steady hand

That held at bay hell’s death command

With sovereign power and such might

It is Grace alone that bids you wait

While justice bids man’s final fate

That one more broken heart contrite

With blinded eyes to then find sight

 

Oh, Lord, please help me understand

That the same love that bore the cross

Is Your love for us when we face loss

That Grace holds firm Your Mighty hand

That every kindness we have known

Is proof Your grace for us is shown

For Justice would itself demand

That darkness, death consume our land

 

So, help me Lord to be a light

To spread your word where e’er I go

Your love, your hope, your joy to show

Your gospel truth to then take flight

Transforming hearts that one by one

They seek and find your precious son

That then your Glory shine so bright

Beams of Grace in the dark of night

[bctt tweet=”As long as there are men who pray, God’s Hand of Grace has steady stayed.” username=”effiedarlene”]

[tweetthis]We do not know when God will return, so let us labor as if it were today![/tweetthis]

[bctt tweet=”Do not give up hope! Christ’s Final Victory Cry is drawing near!” username=”effiedarlene”]

Picture courtesy of http://www.lifeofpix.com/photographer/stefan-stefancik

©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.

Christian Blog

What is the Only True Hope for Our Nation?

But you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, although you knew all this. And you have lifted yourself up against the Lord of heaven. They have brought the vessels of His house before you, and you and your lords, your wives and your concubines, have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which do not see or hear or know; and the God who holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways, you have not glorified. Then the fingers of the hand were sent from Him, and this writing was written. Daniel 5:22-24 (NKJV)

 

The Mede army was encamped just outside the walls of Babylon; yet, Belshazzar cloaked in his arrogance and false sense of security proclaimed loudly to all the people that there was nothing to fear. “No one could take down their mighty empire,” he declared with confidence. He knew the stories of his grandfather, Nebuchadnezzar. He was well aware that Nebuchadnezzar had surrendered his heart to worship God. Yet, he did not take heed. While the Mede army was pressing in, Belshazzar called the people to a lush and extravagant party. This was a party filled with drunkenness, sexual immorality, and blasphemy against God. Indeed, they had all of the sacred golden goblets that had once been in the Temple of Jerusalem brought to the feast that they might drink their wine from them. While they were partying, declaring that all was good; the hand appeared and wrote these words upon the wall. “MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN”— “Account, Account, Weighing, and Bisecting”. Belshazzar was suddenly filled with fear. He could not even read the words, nor did they make sense. But how did a large hand with no body appear and write this? What could it mean?

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Christian Blog

Where is Truth and Hope Found in this World?

Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down. Daniel 4:37 (NKJV)

Watching the news, flipping from channel to channel; I find myself wishing to know truth. The truth hidden behind all the rhetoric, the bias, and the bend for sensationalism. With a heavy heart, praying that God would guide my thoughts and that God would heal the divide within the nation. How can I help? What can I do to spread the gospel? How can I shine light into the darkness? Yet, it begins with holding fast to the truth that God IS. Faith begins there. God is truth! God is justice! God is in Control! God is the Great I AM!

When the nation of Judah was taken captive into Babylon, it was exactly what God had warned them would happen. They failed to listen or heed warning. They failed to seek God or honor Him. They had continued on in their rebellion against God and worshipping other gods of their own making. Yet, look what God did as a result of that captivity!! What an amazing God of Grace, Love, and Hope He is! Out of those captives, through the fervent prayer and faithfulness of 4 men; God lead King Nebuchadnezzar (King of the Babylonian Empire) to a saving knowledge of God. What an amazing and wondrous thing that was! Continue reading Where is Truth and Hope Found in this World? →

Christian Blog

How to Really Know Faith when Facing Fiery Trials

If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. Daniel 3;17-18

When fiery trials of life come into our lives, all too often we despair or become angry. We may cry out to God with that piercing question, “Why?” We pray for a miracle when a loved one is ill and then wonder what happened when our loved one dies anyway. Couldn’t God have saved them? Couldn’t God have prevented the storm from ripping away all that I clung to on this earth? Couldn’t God have prevented the Cancer or the years of illness that followed? Of course, He could have!! But He didn’t in my case and often He doesn’t; yet, what He does is more miraculous than the miracle we are asking for.

Nebuchadnezzar had quickly forgotten his own words concerning God spoken to Daniel: “Of a truth it is that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings” (Daniel 2:47). Most certainly, he had either forgotten or misunderstood Daniels proclamation, “Thou, O King, art a king of kings, for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory” (Daniel 2:37). Much like a lot of people we meet. Perhaps they have come to the awareness of God; but, quickly become more occupied in their own self exaltation. Never falling to the ground in praise or awe of God’s Grace and Glory toward them. So it was,

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Inspiring Joy in Lifes Toughest Moments