What Is The Abundant Life? Can I Have It, Please?

October 28, 2015 Effie Barba

As I stared into the mirror, there was that rounded moon shaped face. The “buffalo hump” between my shoulders was beginning to go down; but, no away. Lingering effects from the long year of steroids to just barely stay alive; until, they finally had removed the colon. The surgical scars crisscrossed my body distorting whatever shape had previously been mine. Yet, those scars were few compared to the emotional scars that were within my heart. I had grown tired and weary of this journey. All alone, I stared into the darkness. I had been a dutiful little Christian and bore all the trials as they came with a stoicism and steady face. A stoicism I had learned during the years of abuse—a stoicism that you kept it all deep within. Don’t let anyone from out there see the real you; they will only hurt you. Oh, yes; God was my refuge. The only one I could turn to and I would continue to trust Him. Yet, abundant life? What was that?

I was alive. I had won the horrific battle against breast cancer (at least the first rounds). I had survived the steroids and meds of ulcerative colitis and the surgery to remove my colon. Financially I was in a hole so deep, I might never come out of it. Did I mention, I was also recently divorced? Perhaps trying to avoid saying, “I failed again!!” Yes, fool that I was I had remarried after having been a widow for two years; but, that ended in only heartbreak. Still, I was alive. My daughter was happily married and living in California. My sons were both off to study, Alberto at the University of Missouri and Ron in New Jersey at Joe Kubert’s School of Art. Could I say my life was abundant? Abundant with what—pain, sorrow, suffering, failure, loneliness? So, when in 2002, they found the mass on the head of the pancreas; a part of me thought this was God finally taking me home. I was tired. The journey had seemed so long. I wanted to go home to God. Little did I know that God had a very different plan!! His plan was to show me how to live life abundantly full of joy in Him. So, what is the abundant Christian life?

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Blog

4 Proclamations of Jesus that He is the Good Shepherd

October 26, 2015 Effie Barba

Guilty or not guilty? True or false? These questions demand an absolute answer. We may do our best to determine guilt or innocence; however, whatever our conclusion, it does not change the truth. Either the person is guilty or not guilty. The words are either true or false. We may try to justify someone’s guilt as lesser or greater a grievance; yet, the truth is either they are guilty or they are innocent. When the whirling lights of the police car stopped me that December the 4^th to tell me my tags had expired, I first protested that they were good through December. The officer quickly pointed out that the tags expired on my birthday which meant they had expired at midnight on December 3-a mere 8 hours prior to his stopping me. There was no argument I could make at that point—I was guilty as charged and received my ticket in silent acceptance. I was not partly guilty, I was guilty.

Many people try to declare that Jesus was a good man, a wise man, or even a prophet; but, not the son of God as he declared himself to be. The truth is there is no in between. There is no partial truth in what Jesus said. Either He spoke truth or He was a lier. Jesus, Himself made that very clear in His own declarations. Either He was the awaited Messiah, the Savior of Mankind, and the Good Shepherd or none of what He said was true. If He was not who He said He was; then He was a liar, thief, and lunatic. There is no in between of half truths. He left no room for there to be any in between. In all that He spoke and in each act that He performed; Jesus Christ left no room for there to be in between. He either is the Lord of Lords or He is not.

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Christian Poetry

Poetry Sunday—The Fullness of Your Grace

October 25, 2015 Effie Barba

Sometimes it is important that we stop and realize what wondrous Grace we have been given. I know that I have been given Grace upon Grace with so much love.

The Fullness of Your Grace

by Effie Darlene Barba

I thank you Lord for each new day

With all the Grace You bring my way

Through valleys deep and mountains high

You lift my heart that I might fly

What wondrous Grace I know is mine

Your glory O’er my life doth shine

And each new dawn awake to see

Your Gracious Love displayed to me

Sometimes it is through rivers deep

Or Rocky Mountains, ooh so steep

Your strength and might still guide me on

That I might sing this joyous song

And recognize as night draws near

That you have filled my life with cheer

The greatest gift you’ve given me

Was found within my children, three

And then you went beyond, above

And gave each one their perfect love

Chosen special by your hand

And then their babies oh so grand

That joy was more than I deserve

And yet, for me you did reserve

Such precious friends you’ve given me

That filled my heart with hope and glee

As wondrous as these joys are now

They’ll pale compared to You, somehow

When one day soon I see Your face

And feel the fullness of Your Grace

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. Psalm 100:4

[bctt tweet=”I thank you Lord for each new day With all the Grace You bring my way”]

Is there a story about God’s Grace you would like to share? Do you have a poem you would like to share? Click here to comment.

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

Do you know the voice of the Good Shepherd?

October 23, 2015 Effie Barba

Do you know the voice of the Good Shepherd?

With all that had happened over the months that had proceeded, I knew it had been the whispering voice of the good shepherd who had lead me to Missouri and to the job at the VA. Yet, in those early months in 2014, the job had remained only part time. Before arriving, I had believed with confidence I would find a second job. After all, God knew my finances and would provide. Month after month passed and no job presented. Indeed I felt the sting of rejection a few times along that road. Could I have heard Him wrong? Was I a fool to believe that I heard His voice prompting me to come to Missouri? Finally, a job offer came; but, I would have to leave the VA to take it. It did offer a lot more money. So I prayed a lot. Then, I knew in the very depth of my heart that I must decline the new offer and stay where I had been sent. No matter what the struggles, this was where God had lead me and this is where I was to stay. Then, a few months later, my job became a full time job. Over the last year and a half, I have seen the unfolding of God’s Grace in every aspect of my job and my life. I have been abundantly blessed in the physicians and supervisors that I now work under.

Every detail of my life has been orchestrated by a Sovereign God who is my Good shepherd. There are the mysteries of life that God has yet to reveal—the aching heart when I realized that God’s Sovereign Hand halted the moving of my youngest son and family. Perhaps, God knew that if I had known that in the beginning I would have hesitated. He knew I would have questioned the plan. I may not fully understand the plan; but, this I know. I “know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

In John 10, Jesus presents himself as the good shepherd who will lay down His life for the sheep. His sheep will know His voice and will follow where ever the good shepherd leads them. Whenever I stumble along this path or whenever my heart aches because I don’t understand, the good shepherd is there to gather me in His arms and to hold me.

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Christian Blog

What Is The Commission Of The Teachers Of Truth?

October 21, 2015 Effie Barba

What Is The Commission Of The Teachers Of Truth?

There he had sat all of his life just outside the temple courts. Perhaps he had heard the scripture being read. Whenever they would read from Isaiah 35 “God …will come and save you.⁵Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened.” His heart would ache with longing that one day God would come. Perhaps he did not understand at first; but, he longed to understand and to see God’s glory. A heart that during his years of blindness had grown tender. Then Jesus came to him, he placed clay over his eyes and sent him to wash his eyes. He did not see the man who had brought him sight; but, he believed in the truth that this was from God and that the man who had performed this miracle was from God. His parents were afraid of the Jewish leaders and would not answer them concerning the miracle. Yet, this man who had been given sight was willing to risk being an outcast of the synagogue to speak the truth. He had been touched by Grace and he had seen a glimpse of God’s Glory in the gracious act of Jesus giving him sight. That was enough to draw him to boldly stand before the Pharisees and speak the truth from Isaiah 35.

Of course the Religious leaders cast the man out of the synagogue. Once more Jesus had come to seek and find him. Outcast by the local religious community; yet, precious in the eyes of God. This time, Jesus came to offer him salvation for his soul and to give him spiritual sight. First he had heard the truth of scripture with a contrite heart, then he had seen a glimpse of God’s glory which caused him to long for more, and finally, he came to worship Christ as his Savior and King. This is a beautiful illustration of salvation.

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