How to Respond When Your Heart Is Heavily Burdened

September 11, 2015 Effie Barba

As I lay there awake with the rustling of the wind outside and the rumbling sounds of thunder in the distance, I realized the true storm was the one inside my heart and mind. I cannot say why this restlessness of the soul; yet, there it was. So, finally I get up and head to my chair of prayer. I got out my Bible. Its pages are worn and have writings scribbled through the margins. Most of those scribbling written during moments just like this one. I reached out for my prayer journal to pray for family, friends, work, the nation and myself. Each page listed with scriptures to pray—a strategic battle plan against Satan’s attack. Yet, the only words that came from my lips were “Lord, I need you now.”

SEASONS OF JOY AND SEASONS OF SORROWS COME TO ALL

This journey of life leads us through many seasons. Sometimes those seasons are filled with great joy, moments of strength, and wondrous answers to prayer. It would seem that we are floating on mountaintops high above all the trials and tribulations. Then there are those moments when our hearts are heavily burdened with great care and pain; although, nothing in particular has changed. After all, God is still on His throne. The truth of His promises have not changed. Yet, a heavy heart of despair leaves us wondering what is wrong. Sometimes, there is nothing to pinpoint as the triggering factor. No major catastrophe that has occurred. We feel a sense of loneliness as though we have lost our best friend. [bctt tweet=”When discouragement, loneliness, and despair creep into our hearts, our only hope is to seek God.”]

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Christian Blog

Did God’s Love of the World Cause Him Agonizing Pain?

September 9, 2015 Effie Barba

Did God’s Love of the World Cause Him Agonizing Pain?

It was the summer of 1997 when the call came at work that my son had been in a bad wreck and the ambulance was in route to the hospital. The dispatcher couldn’t tell me anything except that the car had rolled over many times and was totaled. They couldn’t tell me if Ron was ok; but, they said the ETA of the ambulance was about 20 minutes. After all, it was a rural area. As I quickly said a prayer for Ron, I called my supervisor to find someone to take over my patients and I made my way to the ER to wait. When he arrived, he was ok; except for a compression fracture of the thoracic spine. He was in so much pain that his body trembled, he was very pale and covered in a cold sweat. I urged him to let them give him something for pain; but, he refused. He said, “I deserve the pain—my fault, I took the curve too fast.” He had only been driving for a few weeks and had misjudged the curve on a dirt road. My heart bled for him. If I could take the pain from him, I would have gladly. If I could just bear the burden of his guilt, I would have. That was only one example; yet, I could tell you many more. I would gladly carry every pain, every heart break, and every burden for any one of my children; if only I could.

So, imagine this. If I, with this human heart that fails sometimes can love my children with so much love; how much more does God love His only begotten, perfectly righteous son? [bctt tweet=”What agony must God have felt as He watched His son be rejected, beaten, and hung on the cross.”] What depth of sorrow must have been His to watch Him suffer!! He could say, “Enough” at any second and hurl all of mankind into eternal hell where these selfish hearts deserve to go. Yet, He held His hand and turned away in silence as His son took on the sins of the whole world along with all their guilt. He did it out of love for this His creation—a creation who turned their back on Him. A bunch who chose to worship self instead of Him who had made them.

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Christian Blog

What is the Heart and Truth of Amazing Love?

September 7, 2015 Effie Barba

What is the Heart and Truth of Amazing Love?

Love—perhaps one of the greatest mysteries of human emotions. We seek love, desire love, and search for love. Yet, do we really even understand it? Is it some emotion that for a fleeting moment elates our being into a sense of ecstasy? We so long to love and to be loved; yet, so often we find that we are disappointed by love. We find that our hearts are broken by the very thing we so desperately long for. Or so it has been for much of my life. As though love is some illusion that cannot be fully obtained. Perhaps we hope that somehow love will validate us—make sense of our existence or provide a purpose for all the humdrum activities of our day. We are told then that what we really need is to learn to love ourselves. So we primp and we search deep within only to be disappointed all too quickly. Television, movies, books, and advertising all promote this idea that we desperately are in search of love. What if I told you that we were honestly created to be lavished with love?

[bctt tweet=”God created man so as to pour out His love, His joy, and His glory upon him. Some said, No thanks”]

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Christian Poetry

Poetry Sunday: Joy, Eternally

September 6, 2015 Effie Barba

The aurora borealis is the result of a solar storm flinging particles into the atmosphere at either of the earths polar tips with the result being brilliant, beautiful lights appearing in the darkened night sky. When storms enter our lives, we shutter in despair and fear. Yet, God knows every storm and allows them in only to bring us closer to Him. He knows our heart and desires to give us His Joy. Too often the eyes of our heart are too fixated on counterfeit joys and our desires are for things that cannot satisfy.

Sometimes into our darkest night, God sends a storm so that our eyes may be opened to behold Glory, beauty and Joy.

Joy, Eternally

By Effie Darlene Barba

Without the sorrows would I see?

Your beauty rare—Your love for me

Or would this heart be satisfied

With lesser things that build my pride

Your love for me so great and grand

Allowed each tear as You had planned

That I might seek Your lovely face

Eager to feel your arms of grace

And now, this Joy that fills my chest

Is mine because in You I rest

Your Glory lights my every trail

My treasure precious without fail

I thought my heart would break in two

Until Your Love came into view

What mystery is Your Grace Divine

My Darkest hour Your light did shine

This Joy, this hope, this love that’s mine

I feel Your spirit intertwine

Within my heart to nourish me

With all of You eternally

[bctt tweet=”Without the sorrows would I see? Your beauty rare—Your love for me”]

Samuel 22 (NIV) “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
³ my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield^[a] and the horn^[b] of my salvation.
He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior—…You, Lord, are my lamp
the Lord turns my darkness into light…“As for God, his way is perfect:
The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.

Would you like to share a story of how God transformed a storm into Joy in your life? Or share a poem you have written? click here to open the comment box

The artist that drew the picture “A Broken and Contrite Heart” featured on my header 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 Ron@Barba-Art.com to discuss any art projects.

Photo used by permission unsplash.com

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

What Does Saving Belief In Christ Really Look Like?

September 4, 2015 Effie Barba

What Does Saving Belief In Christ Really Look Like?

Nicodemus had believed that Jesus was a teacher come from God; yet, did not understand when Jesus said, “You must be born again.” Nicodemus was a religious scholar; yet, his eyes were veiled to the truth that salvation was grace and act of faith. He believed in Jesus because of the miracles—a belief of the mind. Still, the eyes of his heart were veiled to the glorious truth that Jesus was God and the messiah had come. Nicodemus did not understand that the messiah would die to pay the penalty for man’s sin, even though Jesus had pointed out that Moses had lifted up the serpent in the wilderness. Nicodemus had studied the book of Isaiah. He should have known and seen the truth. Nicodemus and the Jewish nation were looking for the Messiah to come as a King and they would have possessions, power, and luxury in the Kingdom of God—here on earth.

[bctt tweet=”Did Nicodemus recognize his own need for a shepherd?”] He saw Jesus as a teacher; but, did not see Him as the Messiah who came to be the Savior of all who would come unto Him.

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