3 Steps Transforming Doubt into Amazing Faith and Joy

February 3, 2016 Effie Barba

Doubt, fear, worry all seem to be a part of our human nature at times. Interwoven within our humanity there is that part of our brains and emotions that so quickly responds to situations with fear and doubt. Perhaps that is why in the scripture over and over is written, “Do not fear.” God’s way of saying, “I know you don’t understand fully; but, don’t be afraid and don’t worry.” He so gently, so patiently reminds us over and over again. Just like a loving Father who comforts a child; He is constantly reminding us of His presence and His love. He reminds us of His presence. He reminds us of His love. Ever so patiently He teaches us, guides us and comforts us along this journey. How quickly we react to situations at first with fear or doubt!! I know I do and I suspect if you look deep within so do you. Perhaps that is why we so quickly want to condemn Thomas’s doubting; yet, can we? If we focus so much on Thomas’s doubt or “why he failed”; perhaps, we fail to understand the true wonder and grace that faith itself is. Even my faith is a gift of God which He ever so gently prunes and grows within me along the way.

We know very little about Thomas from the scripture; but, I think we need to look just a little deeper at what we are told about him. Instead of immediately using Thomas as an example of what we “shouldn’t be”; I believe that as we need to look a little deeper at Thomas’ walk to discover what we should be. Thomas is mentioned only as being one of the apostles in Matthew, Mark, Luke and Acts. Only in John do we get some insight into who Thomas was. We are told that was called “Didymus” which means twin. Four times in the book of John, Thomas’s conversation is recorded. What is amazing is that Thomas is the only one who is recorded as proclaiming Jesus is God. Jesus had been called “Messiah”, “Teacher”, “Master”, and “Son of God”. Yet, we read in John 20:28 that when Jesus stood before him, Thomas said “My Lord and my God.” What were the steps in Thomas’s walk that perhaps we need to look at with fresh eyes, seeking to know the truth. Then, perhaps when we quit criticizing him so much we can actually see the steps we also need to finding a deeper faith when we face life’s trials.

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Christian Blog

How does the Holy Spirit Empower the Christian’s Life?

February 1, 2016 Effie Barba

As we continue in our study through the Gospel of John, Jesus appears to the apostles in the evening after having gone to Father. The apostles were afraid and hiding in a room together wondering what to do next. They felt lost and alone without their master. Then suddenly, Jesus stood in the midst of them and said “Peace be unto you” (John 20:19). They were filled with excitement and gladness. They had hoped that He had returned to stay with them and to lead them. Then once more He said, “Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you” (John 20:21).

Then He breathed on them and endowed them with the Holy Spirit. Then comes the words, “Whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whosesoever sins ye retain, they are retained” (John 20:23). At first, I found this verse very difficult to explain; so perhaps I could just skip it. Yet, that is not my style to skip what is hard. I do believe that within this verse also lies truths that will strengthen and empower our own Christian walk. We do know that the apostles were endowed with “special powers” from the Holy Spirit in that they could heal the sick, raise the dead (Acts 10:39-41), and so, perhaps this too was a power given them to forgive or condemn the sins of those whom they met. But I don’t think that fits with scripture elsewhere in that only God has that power. God the Father is the only one who forgives sin through the redemptive work of His Son and the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit. So, I do believe that these words of Jesus were to allow the apostles to understand that the Holy Spirit was in them to give them life and to be the power within them for everything they need. Only God can forgive sins. They needed to know and we need to know that the Holy Spirit indwelling us is God in us. He was God’s presence to give them the strength to teach the gospel and

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Christian Poetry

POETRY SUNDAY: DON’T WEEP MY LOVE

January 31, 2016 Effie Barba

¹¹But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. ¹²And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. ¹³Then 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. ¹⁵Jesus 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.

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

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

Arise From Your Tears To Know This Wondrous Truth!

January 29, 2016 Effie Barba 1 Comment

Arise From Your Tears To Know This Wondrous Truth!

In the last post we looked at Jesus appearing to Mary Magdalene outside the tomb before ascending to the Father. Instead of running home to be with the Father (which is what His heart longed for); he tarried for a moment to comfort Mary in her agony. Just think of the grand celebration as the greatest victory ever to be won was finished. Jesus had risen from the grave after an agonizing death on the cross. The victory celebration was awaiting Him. How He loved the Father and longed to see His face. Yet, with all that He tarried for a moment to give hope to Mary. Her agony touched Him with so much compassion. He would then go to the Father before He appeared again to the apostles. But I also, like Jesus, want to tarry here for a moment and look at the rest of the words He spoke to Mary Magdalene. “Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God” (John 20:17)

God's beloved Child

Mary Magdalene had just called Jesus, Master. He is our master; yet, Jesus wanted her to realize that because of His death and resurrection—He is so much more!! Now, “Mary go tell my brothers and sisters, I go to my Father and because I go victorious to my Father—He is your Father as well. God the creator of the Universe, the GREAT I AM is Your God and Your Father.” Mary, get up from your weeping and go tell them the good news. He would return in the evening after seeing the Father to anoint the apostles with a special anointing of the Holy Spirit by breathing into them life—eternal life. He would endow them with special powers even before the day of Pentecost. But here we are given a gift that is so much more than our hearts can fully understand!!

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Christian Blog

Can Your Greatest Agony Actually Turn To Joy? How?

January 27, 2016 Effie Barba

Can Your Greatest Agony Actually Turn To Joy? How?

The blast of the gun!! The horror in the middle of the night!! Trembling as I emerged from the bedroom to see my husband gasping for air. Blood poured from his mouth. The gun still in his now limp hand. I gently tipped back the recliner to open his airway; but the bullet had gone through his head. I called the ambulance. A cousin who had been visiting and witness, stood paralyzed. My oldest son screaming from the back bedroom—he couldn’t breathe. I opened the windows then went back to making phone calls for help. It was in Mexico, so there was no 911, the ambulance was very slow. Agony, rage filled my heart. I had watched my husband battle inside the monster of mental illness. Too proud as a physician to get real help, he had tried to go it alone. Mental illness had won. Or had it? All the struggles we had faced as a family; always hoping, always dreaming that he would be well one day. How I had believed that with enough love, he could be made well?

The agony and despair was more than I could bare; yet, as the day moved on there came a whispering sound—deep beneath, barely audible nearly drowned out by agony’s roar. A whisper of God—assuring me that my husband was now at peace—that he had found Christ a few months before. He was with God. He was healed. In the depth of agony, deeply hidden in the recesses was this promise. Oh, don’t get me wrong–suicide is NOT the answer for anyone–God’s desire is that we find hope here in Him; but neither is it the unpardonable sin. The scars of all those years, the years in the midst of the illness—the scars of that pain filled night remain with me and my children. They blare like sirens reminding us that this world is broken. The scars remind us of the darkness. Only when you know the darkness, can you see the true light shining into that darkness with hope, joy, and love.

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