Why Are We So Quick To Stone Someone’s Life?

October 16, 2015 Effie Barba

I was 25 when my husband first moved us to Mexico. For me it was a new language and a new culture to learn. I did not realize that because of many of our movies and TV shows, the upper class had some preconceived ideas of we from North of the border. Over the years, I learned to dearly love the Mexican people as I saw their persevering hearts, courage, and their grateful attitudes. But, let’s go back to the beginning. As a young, blonde American girl with a limited Spanish vocabulary; I found I was accepted well among those in the market, the corner store and the taco stand. However, the socially elite women shunned me. They would grab their husband’s arms if anyone tried to introduce me to them. Which leads me to our story.

One night, my husband wanted me to join him with his friends. We left his mother to watch the baby and with some hesitance of heart I went. As the evening went on, my husband had consumed a little too much alcohol. I understood very little of the conversations surrounding me as we had ended up on the balcony of a small restaurant. The balcony was narrow with only one set of stairs to leave by and we were near the back, farthest from the exit. Two tables from us were a group of men who were smoking. Since there was no ashtray on their table they were flicking their cigarettes onto the carpet. I watched as the embers would fall and even slightly flame before dying out. Disgusted and a little concerned we might be trapped behind a wall of blaze; I picked up an ashtray and sat it on their table. Then I turned around to return to my seat when suddenly my husband seemed enraged. He ordered me angrily to leave immediately. Confused, in high heels I found myself walking all alone down the dark streets of Pachuca at midnight.

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Christian Blog

HOW TO ACTUALLY LISTEN WITH YOUR HEART WIDE OPEN

October 14, 2015 Effie Barba

HOW TO ACTUALLY LISTEN WITH YOUR HEART WIDE OPEN

In every relationship of our life, one of the key elements is learning to listen with a heart wide open. This is true whether it is a mother listening to her child, a spouse listening to their spouse, a child to their parent, friends, or even coworkers. We were created with a need for sharing, for love, and the need to belong. Yet, sometimes our own needs are the very block that stands in the way of our relationships. We come into every relationship with baggage, scars, fears, and pains which alter our perceptions. Unfortunately this effects even how we hear others. Sometimes we put up walls and barriers to hold everyone else at a safe distance because we just don’t want to feel pain anymore. “If I let you too close, then I will need to feel your heartaches along with mine. That may be more than I can handle. Or you may just break my heart as well.”

At other times the barrier to listening comes from a need to feel important or an overwhelming sense of pride. Usually that is not a healthy self-confidence; but, rather a need to be proven. Both barriers stand in the way also in our relationship to God at times. There are times that we cannot hear His words of hope, joy and love; because, we are either focused on our pain or on proving ourselves to Him. We are afraid sometimes that if we listen with our hearts wide open He may ask us to let go of something or someone we love. Silly perhaps; but, we come to most relationships (even with our heavenly Father) with a lot to say and less desire to listen.

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Christian Blog

What Happens When The Light Of The World Shows Mercy?

October 12, 2015 Effie Barba

What Happens When The Light Of The World Shows Mercy?

The feast of the tabernacles had ended and the Pharisees were frustrated that they had not found a way to “condemn” Jesus. Nicodemus had even suggested they had no cause; but, they found the words of Jesus offensive. How dare He suggest they did not understand the scripture! His words cut deep into their pride. They had spent a lifetime studying the scripture and working very hard to live an exemplary life. Surely, God would recognize all their goodness and their reward would be great. Still, this man from “Galilee” cut at their pride with His words. How dare He do that! They had gone away to their own homes while Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. We know that was where He often retreated at night to pray. As Jesus returned to teach, the scribes and Pharisees came with a plan to entrap Him by presenting Him a case of “law.”

GUILTY, CAUGHT IN THE ACT

“³Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, ⁴they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught^[b] in adultery, in the very act. ⁵Now Moses, in the law, commanded^[c] us that such should be stoned.^[d] But what do You say?”^[e](John 8 NKJV). Christ bent down and started to write on the ground. What was He writing? We are not told. Perhaps, He was writing the actual law. ““If a man commits adultery with another man’s wife, both the man and woman shall be put to death” (Leviticus 20:10 TLB). In this case, where is the man? They had brought the woman; but clearly, something was wrong with this picture. Being “caught in the act” meant they knew the man as well; yet, only brought the woman. Why? We are not told. Had one of these men entrapped her himself? Was she guilty? Most likely, as we see from the conversation Jesus has with her later; but, for this moment she was about to meet light, truth and be given grace. Jesus knew their hearts and also knew the heart of this woman.

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Christian Poetry

Poetry Sunday-LOVE HAS WON THE VICTORY

October 11, 2015 Effie Barba

I do not know what pain or sorrow may fill your heart today. What I do know is that this earthly journey often leads us to believe that love never wins. Broken hearts, rejection, guilt, shame all brought about by a society that presses us to strive harder, be better, and condemns us for not “hitting the mark.” We are performance driven and even within the Christian community too often, we measure people or judge people as though we are better. I remember years of great trials, pain, suffering and fear when many Christians told me that it was my lack of faith or my sin that brought my trials. They did not see my heart; but, God did. I was saved by Grace Alone and every step of my life has been shaped by His Grace and love for me. He has drawn me closer to Him every step of the way.. There were many steps along this journey when I believed that love could never win and joy could never win; yet, now I know it already had won. God’s love had won at the cross. Joy in Him was gained there at that cross. In my earthly journey, did it win as well? Now I have learned that, “Yes, Love has won the victory song and Joy has won”. So, do not lose heart, dear pilgrims. Keep your eyes focused on God and you will see that Love Has Won and Joy has won as well in Christ.

^“28Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

²⁹Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Matthew 11)

LOVE HAS WON THE VICTORY

By Effie Darlene Barba

As darkness filled the noon day sky

The earth shuddered and did quake

A trembling as God’s heart did break

As wrath and hate screamed crucify

Christ had come with heart full of love

Forgiveness for mankind to buy

Through all the tears He did must cry

Humbly He left His throne above

It would seem that all was then loss

Their pardon was His final plea

His Gift of Grace for all to see

He bowed and died upon that cross

The Father’s love, it was so great

Awake, my son, arise awake

He called Him forth a new dawn break

Pure Love had conquered death and hate

Chorus:

Love had won the victory

Joy rang forth a wondrous sound

Hope and life that did surround

Giving faith to all with eyes to see

So Open wide your eyes to see

That Love Has won the victory

My heart so filled with darkest fear

Shattered by evil, hate and pain

Falling torrential like the rain

Anguish filling my every tear

Through broken cracks God’s love shone in

He wrapped me tightly in His arms

And there so free from all life’s harms

Forgiveness, joy, and love did win

Chorus

Love had won the victory

Joy rang forth a wondrous sound

Hope and life that did surround

Giving faith to all with eyes to see

So Open wide your eyes to see

That Love Has won the victory

Don’t fall into some dark abyss

With pain and guilt that pull you down

Until you feel that you may drown

Look up to God, In Him is bliss

Chorus

Love has won the victory

Joy rings forth a wondrous sound

Hope and life they do surround

Giving faith to all with eyes to see

So Open wide your eyes to see

That Love Has won the victory

[bctt tweet=”So all you who are broken hearted, don’t lose hope. LOVE WINS”]

The artist that drew the picture “A Broken and Contrite Heart” featured on my header, “mountaintop experiences in the valley” and who designed my logo is Ronald Barba. Feel free to email me at Artedabarba@gmail.com or purchase his art at http://fineartamerica.com/art/all/ronald+barba/all

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

Really, What Was So Amazing About How Jesus Spoke?

October 10, 2015 Effie Barba

Really, What Was So Amazing About How Jesus Spoke?

Words are very powerful things. They can quicken a heart with joy or strike like a dagger leaving one to bleed. With our words we can give hope or plunge others deep into an abyss of despair. Sometimes, even when we are wanting to help; our words close the door on conversation by the manner in which we speak. On occasion, someone enters our life that knows just the right words to guide us. They have the unique ability to cause us to look deep within our own hearts and by doing so, they teach us how to find our way out of darkness and back into the light. These are the friends and teachers we hold dear to our hearts and remember always. We never forget those friends or sometimes strangers that God causes to cross our pathway with just the right word at the right time to guide our hearts to hope.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ²The same was in the beginning with God.³All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. ⁴In him was life; and the life was the light of men…¹⁴And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth… ¹⁶And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace” (John 1). Jesus came to earth to provide the only means to restore our fellowship with God. He was going to give His life that we might have life. Self-centered stony hearts would be transformed into overflowing rivers of life to reach others in need. Throughout His journey here on earth, He taught us how to live in this broken world. He showed us by example the need to constantly be in prayer and to study God’s words. He taught us by example how to accept rejection by others, how to forgive, and how to love those whom the world had cast aside as unlovely. During His ministry on earth, He taught us how to be beacons of light shining into the darkness. He showed us how to speak to those in need.

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