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

November 25, 2015 Effie Barba

“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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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.

Christian Blog

3 Barriers in the Heart of Man Preventing Genuine Faith

November 20, 2015 Effie Barba 2 Comments

3 Barriers in the Heart of Man Preventing Genuine Faith

As we see the public ministry of Jesus coming to its end in the book of John, Jesus withdraws to be alone. John through the inspiration of the spirit takes us back to Isaiah’s scriptures to help to guide us to what is both tragically heartbreaking and yet should point us toward our greatest source of joy. Jesus came that He might save the world; yet, to do so He had to suffer utter rejection and humiliation at the hands of those He came to save. His ultimate joy in those who would follow Him, His unwavering love, and His Glorious Grace would be realized only through the greatest travesty of disbelief by mankind’s pride filled hearts. The very people for whom He came would reject Him as their messiah. Why? What were the barriers in the Heart of Man that prevented their seeing Him, desiring Him and believing in Him as their Savior? As we look at the barriers of the crowds that had seen Jesus, perhaps we can see the barriers within our own hearts which thwart our faith.

To help us realize these truths let us first go back to the temple when Mary and Joseph first brought Jesus as a baby.

“²⁵And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.²⁶And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.²⁷And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,²⁸Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,²⁹Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:³⁰For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,³¹Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;³²A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.³³And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.³⁴And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;³⁵(Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed” (Luke 2).

Why did I take us back here? Look closely, Simeon so accurately declared—“this child is set for the fall and the rising of many in Israel”. While the hearts of some would rise in faith

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How to Destroy the Cancer of Sin in Your Life

November 18, 2015 Effie Barba

How to Destroy the Cancer of Sin in Your Life

When they said that dreaded word, “Cancer”, my head began to twirl. It was hard to hear the rest of the words. The plans for surgery and chemotherapy were like a distant whisper. I was in the middle of my Master’s Program in Nursing. It was late October. The semester would end in early December. The plan was to have surgery in December. That month throughout November, I could envision this evil force eating away at the good cells. The thought of these destructive cells multiplying, growing and taking over filled my mind with disgust. These cells had been there growing for many years in silence without my being aware of their presence while all along they had been consuming all that was good within their reach.

Sin is like that. It is a poison, a sickness deep within our hearts that grows steadily throughout our lives until our heart, spirit and soul is consumed; unless, we come to recognize it and seek the cure. We can try to ignore it, hide it, and place bandages on it; but, it continues to grow unless we come to the place where we “cut it out at its core.” For that we need the surgeon. Jesus is that surgeon to cut out the source; destroying its power. He did that at the cross when He took our punishment upon Him. He willingly obeyed the Father’s command. Righteousness and Justice demanded that sin’s penalty be paid. If God could just ignore man’s rebellious heart, Satan would have won. Evil would have won and righteousness would be consumed by the cancerous cells of evil. Righteousness could only win if evil were destroyed.

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