5 Reasons Why the Pharisees Should Have Recognized Jesus

September 28, 2015 Effie Barba

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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Blog

Do You Know God’s Sustaining Grace and Love Never Rests?

September 23, 2015 Effie Barba

Do You Know God’s Sustaining Grace and Love Never Rests?

Jesus spoke and the paralytic of 38 years, walked carrying the bed he had been lying on. He had not called to Jesus. It had been no act of faith on his part; because, he did not even know who had spoken to him. This was an act of grace and mercy that Jesus chose him. Jesus did seek him out again in the temple to heal his heart of sin as well; but, the first healing of the body had been just that to heal the body only. A random act of grace which displayed the healing power of Jesus as the Great Physician. All of this performed on the Sabbath day. Why? Jesus knew what the response of the religious leaders would be. What truth about God’s Glory was Jesus placing on display in performing healings on the Sabbath?

In the beginning, when Jesus beside His Father created the heavens and earth; they rested on the 7^th day. Not from fatigue. They paused and looked out at the beauty of the creation they had just completed. It was a magnificent, perfect sinless creation. They paused to rejoice in its beauty. A display of their own love, glory, and joy. Oh, yes; they knew that sin would enter the world and with sin they would not rest again until once more a new earth would be created with perfect beauty. Man’s selfish hearts would wreak havoc on their creation. Patiently, God would work. Preparing a way for man’s salvation. Providing enough sustaining grace so that the world would not be totally destroyed until that final day of judgement to come. (Deuteronomy 32). Every beautiful sunrise is a display of God’s sustaining Grace. God has not rested a single day from His Labor of Sustaining Grace so that we might have the chance to become His Adopted Children. [bctt tweet=”Every act of kindness, love, or mercy we have known is from God’s Hand of grace reaching out to us.”]

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Christian Blog

3 Truths of Hope to a Weary Heart

September 21, 2015 Effie Barba

What an incredible weekend!! Saturday, I was exhausted and all the good intentions to clean house, do the yard, and work on editing quickly turned into resting, listening to sermons, and pretty much doing none of the planned activities. At first, I was a bit frustrated with myself; then, I realized God did command us to rest and He had shut down my brain for a day for a reason. I too often do the same thing in my Christian life, I try to work to please God. He usually has to shut me down for a day so I can refocus and let Him work through me. Sunday, I posted a poem from the archives, went to 8 am service at The Crossing, sat with Lindsey a while, and then left to visit another church downtown. I had promised a friend I would visit; although, the friend wasn’t there when I arrived. At this second church, a lady made her way over and sat beside me. She had been widowed only a few months, the weight of which showed in her eyes. At moments, I could see the tears rise as she tried to hold them back. By the end of the service, I knew I had found a new friend and I would be returning to visit. I have learned that there are no accidents or coincidences in my life; God, uses it all to accomplish His purpose in His timing.

Then yesterday evening I met with a small group from my church. It was the initial meeting with this small group that I would be joining to study the bible with. When I had first received the invitation and noted that the group was couples, I had wondered why God chose a couples group since I have been alone for such a long time as a widow. I was a bit afraid that the awkward ache of “loneliness” would creep back in. It had been a long time since I had allowed myself to think that or to desire anything else beyond the quiet aloneness that I have with God. [bctt tweet=”Had my heart really been healed? Or would the scars of a broken heart rip open to bleed once more?”] I have yet to see for certain. Still, this I know.

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