What Is The Greatest Miracle I Could Pray For?

December 11, 2015 Effie Barba

What Is The Greatest Miracle I Could Pray For?

^“10Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.¹¹Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.¹²Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.¹³And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.¹⁴If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it” (John 14).

We read these words with great longing and great hope. We are each coming to the table of Jesus with different desires or requests. We want so to believe that we could perform miracles. That we could pray for peace in our family, our community and our country and God would respond immediately. What could Jesus possibly mean when He said that he would give us whatever we ask in His name? Or what did he mean when he said that because He goes to the Father we will be able to perform greater works? Does He mean miracles such as feeding a crowd with 2 fish and 2 loaves of bread? Or perhaps, the miracle is much greater than any of the physical miracles we long for!!

The works of Jesus that matter most as we saw with the lame man that He healed was the salvation of His soul—not the healing of His body. A true work of Grace displayed by Jesus was His transforming the Samaritan woman into His missionary to the Samaritans. The greatest work of Jesus Christ was His bringing spiritual life to men and women who were dead spiritually. It is a much greater miracle to cause a self-exalting heart to humbly, lovingly, sacrificially serve God and others. The greater miracle is when God can cause our blind hearts to see, seek and savor Glory. In a world filled with darkness we are shown light. A broken heart that sings forth a song of real joy—that is a miracle.

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Christian Blog

How to Follow Jesus! Can You Show Me The Way?

December 9, 2015 Effie Barba

How to Follow Jesus! Can You Show Me The Way?

We had a very old farm house and an old storm cellar when I was a child. I can remember when suddenly in the middle of the night when a storm would sound as though it was going to take the house away, my father would whisk me out of bed. Wrapped in a blanket, he held me very close to his chest as we went down into the storm cellar where mom was already. He would run back and carry my brother down. Then he would close the rickety door. He would sit just above us on a stair step and with his powerful arms, he held the door shut. No matter how hard the wind. No matter how loud the thunder. With each lightening flash, I could see his silhouette and I knew that the storm could not touch me.

That is what Jesus wanted these apostles to understand. The storm was coming. He longed to draw them in close. He wanted so much that they could understand. Yet, Jesus also knew that over the next three days they would face confusion. There would be doubts as He was going to have to leave them to finish the work of salvation. Once His work was finished He would come again to be with them—then He could make the promise to them and to each of us who would follow; “lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world”. Only when the work was finished could He make that promise by sending the Holy Spirit to indwell them. The night spent in this upper room with these His dearly beloved apostles, He longed to fill their hearts and minds with so much truth. “Don’t let your hearts be troubled, trust me.” This journey you are about to face is filled with storms, trials, struggles and doubts; but, don’t let your heart be troubled—trust me. I will keep you safe and bring you safely home. Abide in my love, my joy, and my peace.

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Christian Blog

Is There Any Hope for Finding True Joy and Love?

December 7, 2015 Effie Barba

Love—that illusive emotion that every heart longs for. We devote our lifetime in search of it; albeit by many means. Some lock themselves into a world of self-love in hopes to avoid the heartbreak. Some devote themselves to giving themselves away in self-sacrificing love. Perhaps they do find a satisfaction in such; yet, sometimes they too are left with a hunger or hollowness within their hearts when their sacrifice goes unnoticed by anyone else. Hand in hand with our desire for love, we desire respect—validation that we have a purpose. That our life matters to someone, somewhere. When we cannot find that, we fall into desperate despair. We search for meaning perhaps in our jobs, our family, or in belonging. Too often, in our desperate desire to become greater we, in fact, move farther away from love and toward hate. Anger, violence, racism, all stem from hearts that desperately need love. These are the ultimate results of broken hearts in utter disarray with no hope within.

In these final chapters of the gospel of John, we are intimately brought into the presence of Jesus teaching His apostles and all of us who would one day come to know Him as Savior. With such love and compassion, Jesus wants to teach them the truth. He is fully aware of the agonizing road that lies before Him over the next three days; yet, He wants these to be ready. He knows that the only hope for mankind lies in their finding out the truth about love. “God is love” (I John 4:8). He is the perfection of love as demonstrated in His giving His most prized possession-His Son to die for rebellious, undeserving hearts. He did so because His love was so great and His Joy so overflowing that He longed to shower that love and joy upon us. It was the purpose for which He created us. Love is most perfected when showered upon another. God is that perfect love—first and foremost in His perfect love toward His son who is that perfect mirrored perfection of His own Glory. Jesus is that perfect reflection of God’s own love, joy and righteousness made flesh. God’s very words made flesh. That spirit of goodness, righteousness, joy, and love between Heavenly Father and His Son showering forth in the form of the Holy Spirit.

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Christian Poetry

Poetry Sunday—A Mother’s Prayer

December 6, 2015 Effie Barba

I searched through my archives of poems written and felt drawn to post this one. I wrote this several years ago when one of my children had come to me with their heart broken by love. My heart crushed with their sorrow; yet, I knew that God’s plan was never wrong. His plan was to bring them good—even through the sorrow. All I could do was listen and gently say, “You may not understand now; but, you will. God’s love for you only allows what is good. Wait, you will see—out of the ashes of this horrible pain will come His Joy into your life.” As a mother, my heart wishes that I could bear the pains of this journey for them. I would rather be ill than to watch them suffer. A thousand times, I would prefer my heart crush in place of theirs. I know the same is true of you Fathers out there. Truly, this prayer could be that of a Father as well. I do not know why God drew me to this poem today. Perhaps it is for you—to comfort your heart.

My Children and I-1982

1982 Me with my 3 greatest Joys of this life

A Mother’s Prayer

by Effie Darlene Barba

There is no pain so great, so deep

As when I see my dear child weep

When sorrows come or dreams are dashed

Their broken heart; their hopes are crashed

The wrenching pain cuts deep my heart

I fear that it shall rip apart

My tears pour down like searing rain

I cannot bear to see their pain

Oh Lord, dear Lord for this I plead

Please let me take their bitter reed

This is my prayer both day and night

Give me their pain and they delight

And then I felt your arm’s embrace

And saw the tears upon your face

The tenderness within your eyes

Had made me pause and realize

That you had felt my pain before

As your dear son my cross had bore

How great the pain you felt that day

My sin upon your son did lay

Your love for me, the guilty one

Endured the pain and watched your son

Bearing the wrath that sin demands

Rejected, beaten, nail pierced hands

And so, dear Lord, help me to see

Your plan for them as was for me

To drive them deep within your arms

Away from all these worldly harms

That they may hear Your Joy-filled song

Sung over them amidst the throng

In You their life remains secure

Your love for them is ever pure

And gentle eyes become their gain

The wisdom, hope that’s born from pain

And points their eyes to always see

Glorious Grace- Eternally

This I know. God loves my children even more than this human heart is capable of and I can trust His plan for their lives. His Grace and Love surrounds them—He will be their Joy. He will be the strength that carries them through the storms of life. He will be their light through their darkest valley. On this I am sure.

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.

Blog

5 Reasons Not to Let Your Heart Be Troubled

December 4, 2015 Effie Barba

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me” (John 14:1).

Jesus has just told the apostles that He is leaving them. He has told them that one of them will betray Him. Judas has left—but the apostles still don’t know that it is Judas who will be the betrayer. Look at John 13: no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him. For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor. He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night”. Jesus has just told them they cannot follow Him where He is going next. He had told Peter, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren” (Luke 22:31-32). Peter had whispered to John to find out “who” was the betrayer. Could he be afraid that it could be himself? Behind all the outward strength, behind that face of stoicism was Peter afraid he might be the one who would betray His Beloved Jesus?

PETER’S AGONY AND JESUS’ LOVE

Then as Peter in great devotional love has declared his loyalty; Jesus tells Peter that “the truth is that you, Peter will not even make it through the night before you deny me three times.” What agony must Peter have felt!! How troubled would his heart be!! His mind must at that moment have been filled with so much pain, so much turmoil that he could barely hear the rest of the words that would come. Have you ever been there? I have. I have fallen before God with such agony of heart—fearing my own failure. I have spent days and nights in agonizing prayer because of my own sin. I wanted to follow Him. Like Peter I have wanted with all my heart to be a shining light to a world in need of a Savior. Yet, I have failed at times. My words were not as kind as they should have been. My feet have stumbled along the path and I have fallen head on into the mud and the mire of sin. At those moments when my heart is crushed by the weight of my own failure.

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