How did Christ’s First Miracle Portray Grace to the World?

August 26, 2015 Effie Barba

Christ had gathered his apostles and a group of disciples were beginning to follow as well by the time that He performed His first miracle at the wedding feast. This was the beginning of many miracles to come. He had already shown with his conversation with Nathanael His omniscience to know a man’s heart and to be acutely aware of every circumstance in the life of each person. I see that as pretty miraculous in itself; yet, John reports that as part of the glorious nature of who Jesus is in all His Glory. Then John goes on to report the first miracle of Jesus. Here Jesus is about to perform His first miracle by changing water into wine. How does that display His Glory? John’s epistle is the only gospel that even records it. Yet, John says, “This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him” (John 2: 11).

How did changing water into wine, display Christ’s glory and caused the disciples to believe in Him? John’s gospel as I pointed out in the previous blogs, presents Christ as God in all His Glory. Christ, though the only begotten son of God, came to earth to pour out grace upon grace to mankind. Grace that rebellious, self-exalting hearts such as ours could never deserve. Caught within our web of self-deceit, we could never even desire God if He did not reveal Himself to us. Christ would gather the crowds, display His Glory through miracles, speak the truth and still would be rejected by the masses.

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Christian Blog

What Is The Significance Of Christ’s First Miracle?

August 24, 2015 Effie Barba

What Is The Significance Of Christ’s First Miracle? (Part 1 of 3)

John has with great detail and great care presented Christ’s deity and Christ’s Glory as he opened his gospel epistle. He has proclaimed the gospel of salvation as grace upon grace in the life of each believer. We must not forget this focus as we now turn to look at Christ’s first miracle. This first miracle is only recorded by John; however, once more he presents it with such detail that we must not rush in our reading of it. Once more we are presented with these three major points within this story.

Christ’s first miracle is when He turned water into wine at a wedding feast. We could easily miss the truths found in these passages were it not for the details presented by John. [bctt tweet=”Christ’s first miracle presents for us Christ’s Deity, Christ’s Glory & His Grace upon Grace “]to all who believe. In order to explain each of these portraits clearly, I believe that it will be necessary to divide this discussion into the three parts.

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Christian Poetry

Poetry Sunday: Stand Here in this Place

August 23, 2015 Effie Barba

As we walk in this pilgrimage journey of life, we must guard our hearts and minds. Our joy, our hope, and our faith is embedded in Christ. Within this world, so many things vie for our affections and fill our thoughts with desires. Yet, God is our greatest treasure.

He is our true joy. When I lay aside all else to seek Him, I find in Him all that I need. If truly I trust Him, then I will see His loving, protecting hand in ever detail of my life. When this journey is such that we walk through moments of sorrows, losses, and dark valleys that would seem to bring our hearts despair; we hear the echoing sweetness of God’s voice calling us to gaze upon Him. [bctt tweet=”Sometimes we must stand still like a baby before God with arms lifted up, our eyes fixed on Him.”] He is our Joy. He is the Love that can fill a broken heart to overflowing.

STAND HERE IN THIS PLACE

by Effie Darlene Barba

Through this journey of life

Midst it’s sorrows and strife

Came the Echoes of You

Hope arising anew

You’re my joy, my love song

In Your arms I am strong

When my life fell apart

You were there! My new start!

CHORUS

Let me stand here in this place

While I gaze upon Your face

Raising high my arms to You

While all else fades from my view

Within your arms wrapped tightly ‘round

Your whispering voice the only sound

Let this passion in me rise

‘Til it reaches to the skies

Light my heart a blazing fire

Loving You my sole desire

Help me cast all else aside

Content within your love abide

Dear God, Your child to be

For all eternity

My heart lay broken, crushed within

Burdened, chained distraught by sin

It was Your Grace that set me free

And filled my heart with joy and glee

CHORUS

Let me stand here in this place

While I gaze upon Your face

Raising high my arms to You

While all else fades from my view

Within your arms wrapped tightly ‘round

Your whispering voice the only sound

Let this passion in me rise

‘Til it reaches to the skies

Light my heart a blazing fire

Loving You my sole desire

Help me cast all else aside

Content within your love abide

Dear God, Your child to be

For all eternity

Do you have a poem you would like to share? When life seems to bring moments of despair what do you do to restore joy? click here to comment.

Also, yesterday I added the streaming music of songs I wrote; please let me know what you think–keep or turn off–those who let me know their honest opinion I will give away a copy of “A Broken and Contrite Heart.”

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 is from stocksnap.io

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 Is The Heart Of John’s Wonderful Message To The World?

August 21, 2015 Effie Barba

What Is The Heart Of John’s Wonderful Message To The World?

Were we to try to see the magnificent characteristics of Jesus Christ or to view all of the wondrous works that He performed on earth there would be no book large enough to include them all. John’s final statement in his gospel account is just that statement. “And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen” (John 21: 25). The complexity of any human being with their life, their emotions, and their desires is nearly impossible to fully know or understand. That is even more true were one to try to know or comprehend all of Christ’s life or characteristics. In Christ is the perfect only begotten son of God, God Himself in Human Flesh with all the Glory that is God; yet, who willing adorned a body like ours. He is the lion of Judah with all the power, majesty and might of a lion. He is also the humble, obedient, gentle lamb of God who laid down His life as a sacrifice for mankind.

[bctt tweet=”We will never fully know all of who Christ is nor comprehend His magnificent Glory and beauty.”] Perhaps it will take eternity in His presence to begin to comprehend “How Majestic He Truly Is”. His beauty, Glory and Grace become more precious to me each and every day that I live. It is no wonder that we are given at minimum 4 gospel accounts and each are presented from a different focus so that we might see Christ.

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Christian Blog

How Amazing To Be Known Inside/Out And Still Chosen!!

August 19, 2015 Effie Barba

How Amazing To Be Known Inside/Out And Still Chosen!!

When I entered first grade I was the tallest and heaviest child in my class with one little boy taking a close second. To make matters worse, I had a speech impediment that was quite obvious. Academically I excelled which did not add to my popularity in any way. By second grade, I felt the sting even greater regarding my weight; although, my speech had been improving from regular trips to speech therapy. There was one incident that will forever stand out in my mind. As we went out to the playground with a jump rope, one pretty little girl named Kay shouted, “Pretty first, fat last”. I had become accustomed to being the one never chosen. Then amazingly, a little girl named Toni said, “Pretty is as pretty does, Darlene goes first.” What? Someone had seen me inside/out and had chosen me? That was a day I would never forget.

“GOD KNEW EVERYTHING ABOUT ME, EVERY THOUGHT AND EVERYTHING I WOULD EVER DO; YET HE LOVED ME WITH HIS UNCONDITIONAL PERFECT LOVE. WHAT WONDROUS AND AMAZING GRACE!! HOW COULD I EVER GIVE HIM LESS THAN ALL MY LOVE AND ALL OF ME?

[bctt tweet=”What is SO amazing!! God knew me inside and out; yet, He still chose me to be His child.”]We know very little about Nathanael as he is mentioned only twice in the Bible. He is mentioned in the first and the last chapter of the book of John. Yet, if we look at the story of Nathanael, we see that his story is very important to each and every believer. Christ saw Nathanael inside and out; chose Nathanael and that forever changed Nathanael. Let’s look at the story.

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