Poetry Sunday—The Grace in Which I Stand

November 29, 2015 Effie Barba 2 Comments

The Grace in Which I Stand

Do you ever awaken some mornings and suddenly you feel the crushing weight of all your own unworthiness before God? You look at your own failures and they loom before you, overshadowing and clouding all of who you are. Those thoughts cause your hope to crash down around you, like thousands of pieces of fine crystal scattered at your feet. You fear that if you step forward the pieces of glass will cut your bare feet into shreds; yet, you know the truth is God sent His Son to bleed and die to cover all your sins. God did not leave Him there. Indeed, Christ rose up from the dead and broke the chains of hell, death, and damnation forever to all who believe in Him.

In 2010, I wrote a book entitled “A Broken and Contrite Heart” that pleads God’s response to His children when they are faced with their own failures and sins. There is nothing in my life that ever took God by surprise. When He chose me He knew every time I would fail Him. Neither does He wish I stay there grappling in the muddy mire. Instead, He reaches forth His mighty hand to pull me out and as I cry forth, “How can you still love me after all the times I have failed you and this heart which can never fully love you as it should?” His response, “Sin, child I do not see any sin—(as He looks through the blood of Christ which covers me). “Come, child there is work to be done” as He removes the last bit of mud off of my feet. That is Grace, my dear friends—the same grace that David and Peter so richly proclaimed. Each chapter of the book-“A Broken and Contrite Heart” ended with a poem-written by me and for me. Today I needed to return and read what I wrote then as the final poem of the book—a reminder of who I am in Christ.

The Grace in Which I Stand

Oh feeble heart, Oh fragile soul

Where is the hope on which you hold

With all the failures of your past

Where is the faith to make you bold

There was a King though blameless He

That came to pay my penalty

And in that act He set me free

To follow Him in liberty

It is His love that drew me out

And in His Grace I shall not doubt

That He who started this work in me

Will finish it with a Glorious Shout

One day the finished work be done

That I might look then like God’s son

Sifted, shined just like pure Gold

As Glory shines forth, Glorious One

And in this hope my faith conformed

I know my life will be transformed

I stand upon this future grace

So for His work my passion warmed

So in this faith I firmly stand

That formed in me as God had planned

No force on earth can shake me free

My future held by God’s great hand

My future held by God’s great hand.

[bctt tweet=”Oh feeble heart, Oh fragile soul Where is the hope on which you hold”]

It is in His power and might that I continue to battle against sin and though I may not win every battle, I know the victory is mine–Jesus won the victory. I may not yet, but one day I will one look like Jesus. It is that truth that gives me hope once more and causes me to rise up above the ashes of my life to stand boldly filled with hope and His Joy.

From my Book, A Broken and Contrite Heart published 2010.

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And if you still don’t understand, please watch this video of the incredible hymn “Upon the Throne of God” with excerpts from the movie about Martin Luther included.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to any brands, products or services that I have mentioned with the exception of my own book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides regarding the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Christian Blog

4 Important Powerful Life Lessons When Jesus Stooped Low

November 27, 2015 Effie Barba

4 Important Powerful Life Lessons When Jesus Stooped Low

“It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.²The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus.³Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; ⁴so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.⁵After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.⁶He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”⁷Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”⁸“No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet. ”Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”⁹“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”¹⁰Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” ¹¹For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not everyone was clean. ¹²When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. ¹³“You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. ¹⁴Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. ¹⁵I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. ¹⁶Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. ¹⁷Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them” (John 13 NIV).

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Christian Blog

Are You Searching For Passionate, Compelling Love To The End?

November 25, 2015 Effie Barba

Are You Searching For Passionate, Compelling Love To The End?

“when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end” (John 13:1).

There was a heaviness and almost gloom that had laid upon my heart that week. All of the years of loving Pete had been a lesson in love my heart needed. It was throughout those years I had begun to understand at least a glimpse of God’s love toward me. To love someone so much that you are so vulnerable, and willing to endure selfless agony at times if only they were to find happiness. To love so dearly that you are willing to give up all other dreams, hopes and desires; if that would bring them joy. Yet, Pete at times was swallowed up by the darkness of bipolar depression. Although, I had watched that world in my own mother; I could not fully comprehend it. The chemicals in my own brain could not truly understand that world of mental illness. At times I was frustrated by it; yet, at other times like a mother would cradle her sick child, I longed to discover the cure. Perhaps if I could love just a little purer, I could sweep away the pain and darkness. That week, as I prayed; my prayer went like this. “Father, I have pleaded for years that you cure Pete. If the only way for him to be well and to find joy is to go home to you and for certain, he is your child—then I let go. If by any slim chance, he doesn’t know You, Lord—then give me the words and the strength to show him Your Love. Give me one more chance.” Two days later, he was gone to be with the Lord. That was July 23, 1994 that he died and still, today; I love Pedro Barba and I guess I always will unto the end—no matter what else my life brings.

Mine was such an imperfect love; as always is the case with human love. Yet, I tell you all this to help you FEEL GOD’S LOVE. Paul prayed earnestly for the church of Ephesus that they might be grounded in and strengthened by the love of Christ and that they “May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;¹⁹And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:18-19). That is my prayer for you.

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Christian Blog

What Is The Power Of Words In Faith And Condemnation?

November 23, 2015 Effie Barba

What Is The Power Of Words In Faith And Condemnation?

As we come to the closing of John Chapter 12, Jesus cries out. Was it a shout for all to hear? Where did He cry out from? John has just written that Jesus had withdrawn from the crowd—then John eloquently proceeds with the discussion of Isaiah’s prophecies and how they are fulfilled. He showed us the barriers to faith amongst the crowds—even those who wanted to believe but feared the authorities. Then, John ends the chapter with these words of Jesus; yet, John does not set up the scene as he has before. He does not tell us where Jesus was when He cried out, nor does John reveal to whom Jesus cries out. Perhaps, that is the case because John wants us to see that this is a truth that is so relevant for you and I as well as those who heard it first. Truth is truth, whether I believe it or not. The earth was round, even when most men believed it to be flat. So what was this truth that Jesus cried out?

^“44Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.⁴⁵And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.⁴⁶I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.⁴⁷And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.⁴⁸He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12).

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Christian Poetry

Poetry Sunday—Grace for Grace

November 22, 2015 Effie Barba

As I wrote today’s poem, I myself wondered if the two rhythms would clash. There is that hurried, busy world that we live each day. In that world, I am pulled by all the demands of a very busy, chaotic job at times. Striving to give all that I can to complete the task, I worry that grace sometimes gets hidden there.

I am realizing as the autumn of my life is pressing in, that my greatest commission is to spread the love, grace and joy of my heavenly Father to all I meet. More and more I feel the urgency to spread His Wonderful Gospel. To do so I need His Grace to shower me each new day. I need the grace of yesterday which brought my salvation. I need fresh new springs of grace for today. Then, I need the flowing living waters of future grace for tomorrow. Just as a water spring brings forth new water, the living waters of the word brings forth new grace for each new day. Yesterday is but a memory. Today is a new day. I urge you to take time from your busy life, to spend time in quiet retreat with God. In Him you will find the peace, tranquility, hope, joy, and love that your heart needs to face each new day.

Grace for Grace

By Effie Darlene Barba

In the bustle of life

So filled with strife

I rush to and fro

With no time to show

Your love and your grace

With a tired weary face

It is harder to shine

The joy that is mine

I fall to my knees

To ask you Lord please

Let me show your love more

Let it flow, let it pour

This is my desire

Then to bed I retire

Feeling lost in defeat

In my silent retreat

In the dark of the night

Your arms hold me tight

Your voice I have heard

You whisper Your word

Or sing a love song

And I know I belong

Then at the dawn break

Refreshed I awake

To begin a new day

But first, I must pray

To say a Thank you

For Your Grace anew

Like a bubbling spring

My heart then must sing

“Grace for Grace, your love you show

As living waters fresh do flow

With mercies new for each new day

My sins and faults all washed away

That I may stand before your throne

And Call upon your name Alone

Your Glorious light so clearly shine

And show the path You chose as mine

The path that leads me to Your side

Where in your love I will abide

Oh, let Your Love within me Grow

Until it then does over flow

Unto a world who needs to see

Your love and grace—this is my plea”

Remember this. God’s mercy and grace is new each morning flowing forth toward all who come to His fountains of living water to drink. Do you know Jesus as Your Savior?

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of GodAnd this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil” (John 3:16-19)

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.