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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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How to Find Joy In The Midst Of a Painful Journey

December 2, 2015 Effie Barba

How to Find Joy In The Midst Of a Painful Journey

All of the years had begun to wear upon me, I longed to go home to be with the Lord. The pancreatic mass seemed to be a blessing in disguise. Almost a wondrous gift for having marched through the years faithfully. I was tired, weary of the battles of life. Financial ruin despite my faithful tithing. Broken heart despite my having poured out love, hoping it would bring love in return. Battling cancer, illness, and the chronic effects of the medications to cure it all. Some like the friends of Job would say, “God must be angry—it must be because of sin that you have suffered.” Yet, they did not know my heart—only God did. This heart that longed for Him. This heart that thirsted for Him in a dry and barren land. That was 2002 and the mass was not cancer nor my way home to God. It was a turning moment for me to learn that in the midst of all the trials, sorrows, and sufferings of this earth—God is forever my Joy, my strength, my hope and my provider. Perhaps I was a lot like Peter when he said, ““Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you” (John 13:37 NIV). Have you ever in the recesses of your heart longed to be home with Jesus? To leave behind all the sorrows, struggles, and trials of this world and follow Him now? That is the cry of my bipolar mother’s heart every day!!

Jesus had been there with the apostles. He had walked with them, taught them, and even at times gently rebuked them. He had lovingly washed their feet. Now He was preparing them for His eminent death and resurrection. He would be leaving. He would send the Holy Spirit to guide them; yet, physically He was going away. They could not follow Him into His death. He would have to take on the sins of the world and take upon Himself all the wrath that evil deserved. He would have to face the darkest of nights so that light would finally have victory over the darkest evil. Only then would His ultimate Glory be displayed as He made the final blow against all of evil once and for all. He would rise victorious—Glorious.

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Christian Blog

Is Your Spirit Ever Troubled Because Of Love?

November 30, 2015 Effie Barba

Is Your Spirit Ever Troubled Because Of Love?

It was with great love and compassion for these His apostles that Jesus had washed their feet with tenderness. He knew and saw their hearts. Though they would scatter briefly at the time of His crucifixion; they would become His redeemed. He knew their fears, their coming failures; yet, they would become the ones who would spread the gospel news to the world. He longed to prepare them for the coming days. He wanted to wrap them with truth, love, and joy that would sustain them. Yet, there was one whose heart was dark. One whom Jesus saw the darkness lurking deep. There was one who would betray Him to the chief priests.

The plan had already been set by Judas with the priests. Jesus knew this and that Judas Iscariot would betray Him. Still, the truth of this caused Jesus to moan within His spirit. Note, “²⁰Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. ²¹When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me” (John 13). There was one who had walked with Jesus, who had eaten with Jesus, who had seen the miracles; yet, did not believe or receive Jesus as the Savior. In the darkness of his heart, Judas had only sought money and fame. When Jesus rebuked him back in John 12:8; he had become angered instead of yielding to the truth of Jesus’ words. Yet, Jesus moaned at the reality of this truth that Judas, one whom He had poured out His love upon—would betray Him. Has that ever happened to you? Have you loved someone dearly; only, to be betrayed by them? Your heart is shattered. Oh, how agonizing is that feeling!! Yet, Jesus knows exactly how you feel. He was betrayed by one He loved dearly. He longs to comfort your soul with His love.

Continue reading Is Your Spirit Ever Troubled Because Of Love? →

Christian Poetry

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).