Would You Feast Upon The Suffering That Was Christ’s?

October 2, 2015 Effie Barba

He had turned the water into wine, healed the lame, and given sight to the blind. For this Jesus had gained many disciples who followed Him. They followed Him into the mountains to see His miracles. With great compassion, He fed the 5000 men plus their families from 5 barley loaves and two small fishes. They desired the miracles. They wanted with great desire that Jesus become King on earth to remove all their oppressions and to supply all their needs. They did not really believe that He was the Son of God; but, a prophet like Moses to lead them. As the crowd pressed more, Jesus slipped away to be alone with the Father. He did that regularly. Did He in His humanity need that time alone sitting in His Father’s presence? Would the crowd pressing to make Him King now be a testing of Satan? Yet, Jesus did not waiver from the Father’s will. Instead, Jesus went on to teach in the Synagogue as the crowd found Him and continued to follow.

Jesus is the bread of life to fill your spirit and soul. Come and feast at His table.

picture used permission 123rf.com/profile_subbotina

A TRAGIC FAILURE TO UNDERSTAND

As Jesus spoke, He told them that it had not been Moses who gave them bread, it was His Father who had supplied the bread. The crowd began to murmur again. Jesus told them that He was sent down from heaven and was the bread of life. Yet, more murmuring among the crowds. They did not see and did not understand. Jesus knew their hearts of disbelief. He pressed on to explain that “Verily, verily I say unto you. He that believeth on me, hath everlasting life.⁴⁹Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.⁵⁰This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.⁵¹I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world” (John 6). Yet, they still did not understand that He was speaking of spiritual bread because they were so caught on their human desires here and now. They wanted bread to fill their bellies, not bread that fills their soul.

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Why Did The Crowd Leave Sad After Being Fed?

September 30, 2015 Effie Barba

Why Did The Crowd Leave Sad After Being Fed?

When I first met Dee at the jail, I was drawn to her. There was a brokenness and sadness mixed with a nervousness. She was one of a handful of women that seemed to over the next few years lay heavy on my heart and would be the ones I “took under my wings” to teach. When she got out of jail, I hired her to clean my house from time to time. I invested time and money into Dee’s recovery. She had said that she was saved and following Christ; but, there seemed no joy. She wanted God to pour “things” upon her. The church helped for a long time; but, her needs seemed insatiable and it was found that she intermittently would fail and return to her drugs or the prostitution for the drugs. As everyone in frustration, walked away—I couldn’t. She grumbled about God’s failure and how cruel the world was. One day, I asked, “Do you really know Jesus as your Savior?” Her reply, “I think so.” “If Jesus gave you nothing in return for your praise, would your praise Him anyway?” I asked. I pressed on; “If there were no heaven, would you love Him because He is worthy to be loved?” She said, “NO”. “Then I fear you may not know Him as your Savior” I replied. Over the next year, my finances changed and I could not help Dee; except, to be there to listen and advise when she called. She began to learn to love our friendship even if I had nothing I could give her. She kept reading her Bible as I suggested.

Then, one day it happened that she called. “I got it!!”She exclaimed. “What did you get, Dee?” With such enthusiasm, she then said; “Jesus is all I need. I understand that now.” That is when I finally saw her life take shape and for her to find happiness in whatever circumstance. Life didn’t suddenly become easy; but, she had found Christ as her Savior. No longer was she in search of a “miracle genie”; she now had the giver of life in her to guide her steps.

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Christian Blog

5 Reasons Why the Pharisees Should Have Recognized Jesus

September 28, 2015 Effie Barba

5 Reasons Why the Pharisees Should Have Recognized Jesus

The Pharisees were angry. How dare this man-Jesus heal people on the Sabbath!! Worse even, he tells the man to carry his bed. In their ritualistic carrying out of the law they had added many “traditions” of their own which included no medical practices on the Sabbath and no burden bearing. No one was to write anything on the Sabbath, carry a needle in their clothing, or put out a lamp. Then to add to this “breaking of their law”—He proclaimed to be the Son of God—equal in essence and nature to God. “How could that be?” they proclaimed. Calmly, confidently Jesus proceeds to tell them 5 reasons why they should have recognized Him as the long awaited Messiah. Why is that important for you and for me? As we look at these 5 reasons, let us remember that John very carefully chose what he was recording so as that we might see just enough of Jesus to desire Him, to know Him and to believe the truth unto life.

In this response of Jesus, we can see the 5 reasons why the Pharisees should have recognized Jesus and also the truths of why they did not. Is there any area of unbelief in your own heart as to who Jesus really is? Is there any area of unbelief in your own heart as to the majesty and power of Jesus? Do you doubt that “all things work together for good” in your life because Jesus, Your Savior came to purchase life eternal for you? Then my prayer is that you see His Glory and realize that in Him, you have all that you need.

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Christian Poetry

Poetry Sunday-In Christ, I am God’s own Beloved

September 27, 2015 Effie Barba

David had sinned. He was the King chosen by God—a man after the heart of God; yet, he had been tempted and failed. Trying to cover up that sin, he called Uriah home in hopes that Uriah would sleep with his wife and be fooled into believing that the baby she carried was his. But Uriah was a noble man and would not sleep in comfort or with his wife while his comrades were still in battle. So, as King; David sent Uriah into the front lines where he would certainly be killed. David would then take Bathsheba to be his wife and all would think him a gracious King. Grave sins, yes. David fell before God with a broken, contrite heart as we read Psalm 51 which is David’s prayer of repentance. Yet, the world continued to whisper about him and push him to moments of despair as we read in Psalm 69 where he says, “Reproach hath broken my heart: and I am full of heaviness: I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.” Still, God heard his cry. Look at verses 29-32: “But I am poor and sorrowful: let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving. …The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek God”. What? The humble will see God’s mercy and grace toward his repentant child and will be glad. The humble will rejoice that God’s grace has restored someone.

We shutter and think that “I WOULD NEVER” fail God so badly as David did. We quantify sin, as though one is greater than another and we measure ourselves as better than others. A human state of pride; as though lifting ourselves up or condemning others lessons the darkness there within our own self-exalting, pride-filled hearts. I learned a lot when I worked in the jail ministry. A lot about my own heart as well. How many times should I forgive and continue to reach out to help? Did Christ ever give up on me? Christ was criticized because He reached out for the sick, the sinners, the demon possessed, and the lowest among the people. We must humbly seek to help a brother that has fallen—to reach out a hand of kindness and forgiveness. Perhaps it is our hand that God will use to guide them. We must not set ourselves up as judge; rather, try to see their heart and display the same grace and mercy we have been given. This poem I write for anyone that has stumbled and fallen. I write this poem also as a reminder that our duty as Christians is not to be judge; rather to be the hand of Christ to help a fallen brother or sister in Christ.

In Christ, I am God’s own Beloved

By Effie Darlene Barba

Accused, Condemned in eyes of men

Rejected, hated for my sin

No one stopped to see my heart

Cast aside some broken part

That no one cared to see inside

The scars and sorrows that abide

A heart so filled with hopes and dreams

Of meadows green and crystal streams

Lay shattered, broken cast away

With nothing good or kind to say

Chorus

Then God’s Dear Grace that loved me so

Looked deep within and bid to know

Each crevice of my heart and soul

Each broken piece to then make whole

In Christ I am set free from sin

My guilt and shame all taken in

And bore upon that rugged cross

My strength to stand though all else loss

My sins all covered by His blood

In Christ, I am God’s own Beloved

How quickly men’s own selfish pride

Does cast away and cast aside

A fallen one—a broken heart

Who needs your hand to help them start!

Christ had come to heal the lame

To lift their guilt and take their shame

He called the sinners to His side

To know His love-in Him abide

So why do we not give our hand

To help a fallen one to stand

So, prideful man with heart so small

Be careful lest you too shall fall

Chorus

For it was God’s dear Grace that loved me so

Looked deep within and bid to know

Each crevice of my heart and soul

Each broken piece to then make whole

In Christ I am set free from sin

My guilt and shame all taken in

And bore upon that rugged cross

My strength to stand though all else loss

My sins all covered by His blood

In Christ, I am God’s own Beloved

The artist that drew the picture “A Broken and Contrite Heart” featured on my header, the portrait used today, and who designed my logo is Ronald Barba. To obtain your own portrait, logo, or art design please contact Ronald Barba at the email below. If you can dream it, he can draw or design it for you. Do you want to surprise someone with an extraordinary special gift of a personal portrait? An idea for a book cover? Or a new logo? Feel free to email him at Artedabarba@gmail.com to discuss any art projects.

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

Why Is Embracing Change An Opportunity For Wondrous Growth?

September 25, 2015 Effie Barba

Why Is Embracing Change An Opportunity For Wondrous Growth?

The past few months at work have been a struggle. Change is coming. We will be expanding and moving forward with more and even better care of our veterans in Cardiology. A new doctor has joined staff and we will be able to expand our services to include care that previously had to be sent out. I am excited. Although it has meant a lot of overtime in preparing the way, I embrace the challenge with faith, hope and excitement. Not the case with everyone. In fact, change is hard for some people. There are a few who meet my enthusiasm with fear, anger, and frustration. Those few place barriers and emotional obstacles along each step of the pathway. Change will come. We can choose to embrace it as an opportunity to grow or we can become miserable, angry people resisting it.

The same is true in our Christian journey. [bctt tweet=”God is not willing to leave us where He found us lying in our own beds of self-righteousness.”] Change must come in our own hearts. We can either embrace the trials that are before us with joy as God’s gift of opportunities that are transforming us or we can become angry, frustrated and fearful. Either way, if we are God’s child and know Christ as our Savior; change will come. Change is a necessary part of our Christian growth. My heart can either rebel against becoming more Christ-like or embrace the trials as an opportunity to become like Christ in His suffering.

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