What Characteristics Really Make a Great Leader?

July 20, 2016 Effie Barba

And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the Lord with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him. 2 Kings 23:25

Often, we learn from history those characteristics which are essential in the making of Great Leaders; those who stand in the gap. They inspire and transform our hearts from the inside out by setting the stage and by exemplifying that which we need to model. Josiah was such a leader. Monday, I laid the foundation by telling you of his history as King of Judah. Now from the scriptures in 2 Kings 22-23 as well as 2 Chronicles 34 to 35. I will reference for you the scriptures that most represent each characteristic; although, I will not be able to quote each one simply due to the magnitude. So please go and read them yourself in your preferred translation.

Why is this so important? This year we have the privilege of voting for a President to lead our nation. As I am writing this, I am heartbroken to learn that another police officer was shot and killed in Kansas City. As you see, I am in the airport awaiting a flight that will take me to a conference for Christian writers and speakers. Unavoidably the news is playing in the background. Our country is a great nation with lots of really good people; yet, we are facing a crisis as well. Financial distress, social unrest with anger driving it, attacks from terrorists, an infrastructure that is beginning to fail, and fear. So it is crucial that we study those characteristics of this young King to learn what made a real leader.

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Can One Man’s Life Make a Difference in the World?

July 18, 2016 Effie Barba

And like unto him (Josiah) was there no king before him, that turned to the Lord with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him. 2 Kings 23:25 And Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries that pertained to the children of Israel, and made all that were present in Israel to serve, even to serve the Lord their God. And all his days they departed not from following the Lord, the God of their fathers. 2 Chronicles 34:33

Josiah was only 8 years old when he became King over Judah. It was a sad time for the nation. His father had been assassinated. It had been his father and his grandfather who had set up idol worship throughout the land. They had all but forgot God and sought after idol worship and lead the people into a life of seeking after only worldly pleasures. Long since the temple had been left to waste with no repairs. The gold used for worldly pleasures. Had Josiah heard of his great grandfather Hezekiah? After all, Hezekiah may have stumbled along the path; but, in his last days he had turned once more to worship God.

And then we find that at the age of 16, this young King turned to serve God once more and lead His people back into a worshipping nation.

For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father: and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images. And they brake down the altars of Baalim in his presence; and the images, that were on high above them, he cut down; and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images, he brake in pieces, and made dust of them, and strowed it upon the graves of them that had sacrificed unto them. 2 Chronicles 34:3-4

He proceeded on to restore the temple to its former glory. Remarkably, the workers and craftsmen followed his example for we are told that there was never any worry or concern as he gave them supplies they were honest and trustworthy.

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A Moment of Grave Sorrow and A Silence Broken

July 17, 2016 Effie Barba

There are those moments I find it very difficult to write. The events and the turmoil that is in this world and in our nation at present. Perhaps there are those moments when one must speak’’; without fear of being misquoted and misinterpreted. For me, I was in a sense born and raised color blind. Indeed as a 4 year old child I carried around a black baby doll (which was unheard of in that day), at 6 I wept because a Mexican migrant worker couldn’t cash the check a farmer had given him. His family stood around him and looked so hungry. I lived in Mexico with my husband who was of Mexican descent; and after having been widowed I later remarried. That marriage fractured when one day, my son’s black college roommate came to my home for the weekend. When, I arrived home that day; my husband ushered me to the back room and told me to get that “N” out of my house. I, who rarely raised my voice; ordered my husband to leave and never return. “This is my house and my name is the only one on the deed; so, you will take your things and get out. I will not tolerate a racist in my home—that child out there is my guest. So you GET OUT”. And He did. I never remarried after that.

My best friend in the world whom I love dearly is also black. A wise, honorable, and caring friend who has taught me so much over the past few years. With all that being said and with a heart of love; I must not sit silently by as I watch people destroy themselves from the inside out.

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Can The Prayer of One Make a Difference in The World?

July 15, 2016 Effie Barba

And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father. At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God… These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:22-27, 33

On the previous post we came to the close of the book of Hebrews and my plan was to next turn to the book of Daniel. I still believe that it is an urgent time in our nation to be called out to stand for faith and prayer. For that reason, I do believe that Daniel will be just such a call. Yet, as I study this great book of the old testament; I recognize my own limitations and my need for God to reveal His wisdom and His truth. I need to be enlightened and guided that I might be a light as well. It is there that I turn back to these words of Jesus in John 16 before I begin this great task.

Many people try to use these words in John 16 to be proof that we may ask for wealth, prosperity and freedom from all trials in the name of Jesus with certainty to gain all those things. Yet, you see God is Sovereign and realizes that if those are my desires; perhaps, I fail to recognize that my greatest joy is in Him. If I am too focused on counterfeit joys; I might never know true joy as can only be discovered in Him. It is a matter of the heart.

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When Words Fail, Where Is Hope Found in The World?

July 13, 2016 Effie Barba

Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13: 20-21 (NKJV)

As we come to the end of our study in the book of Hebrews, I urge each and every one of us to pray this prayer. It is every bit as relevant today as it was in the early days of the church. We live in a broken world and a broken society—broken by all of the evil that selfish, self-centered, self-exalting hearts filled with rebellion can bring. Is this not the prayer that we each need today? Indeed, the writer of Hebrews after pleading with his readers to “beware lest they drift”; had in Hebrews 13:18 also asked that they keep him in their prayers.

Let us look at that request as well.

Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly. Hebrews 13:8

That is my prayer as well. Understanding how important words can be; I pray that my words only seek out truth from the scripture. Never do I want “me” to get in the way by action or word in displaying the fullness of God’s Grace, Love and Glory. Each morning before I write, I pray for guidance. Truth, honesty, integrity is too often lost in our “need to exonerate our own person”. So often our own agenda stands in the way of truth. We are so quick to make excuses for our own behavior or words; while, never hearing or seeing another’s reality. So yes, please pray for me as I pray for you and our nation this prayer.

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