Poetry Sunday: Natalie’s Song

August 9, 2015 Effie Barba

I have been so amazed by God’s wondrous grace in my life. He has blessed me with gifts overflowing, so much more than I ever deserved. He gave me children and now grandchildren that are so precious, loving, and kind. What is more amazing is how I have watched His Grace reach out to teach each and everyone of Himself. It has been His Grace that lead them to a knowledge of Him. “⁸The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.⁹He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.¹⁰He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.¹¹For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.¹²As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.¹³Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.¹⁴For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.¹⁵As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.¹⁶For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.¹⁷But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children” (Psalm 103)

What Amazing Grace toward me that He would bless me with the time I have spent with Natalie, my granddaughter. I hope you enjoy this song for her.

Natalie’s Song

By Effie Darlene Barba

The twinkle in her deep brown eyes

The smile that lights her face

Her words at times so deep and wise

With gentle touch of grace

She laughs and plays with awe struck joy

The wonder life does bring

With Emmy, Sophie or a toy

Her heart with joy does sing

You blessed her Lord with Mom and Dad

A special pair indeed

Safely in their love she’s clad

While gently they do lead

As I bow my head today

To seek your presence, Lord

I ask you guide her heart to say

“God is my true reward”

CHORUS:

That her light shine bright

In the dark of the night

Let her song sing forth to the world

With a joy filled glee

Your glory to see

In the heart of this little girl

Lord I ask you guide her steps

As only you can do

When journeys lead to valleys depth

Or mountains come in view

Hold her in your loving arms

To wipe away each tear

Protecting her from all life’s harms

And drive away each fear

Let your joy so fill her heart

With love for your dear son

Through faith and hope that you impart

Her victory has been won

CHORUS:

Lord, I ask for one more thing:

That her light shine bright

In the dark of the night

Let her song sing forth to the world

With a joy filled glee

Your glory to see

In the heart of this little girl

[bctt tweet=”The greatest gift that I can ever give my grandchildren is to point them to Christ.”] [bctt tweet=”Oh, Lord be gracious once more to me and let my life reflect you.”] [bctt tweet=”Without your guiding hand and your love, Dear Heavenly Father, I can do nothing of worth.”]Continue with your amazing grace as you touch each of my grandchildren and lead them to a saving knowledge of you as they each reach the age of understanding.

Do you have a poem to share? Or a story about your children or grandchildren? I would love to hear from you. Click here to leave your comments.

The artist that drew the picture “A Broken and Contrite Heart” featured on my header and who designed my logo is Ronald Barba. 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.

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

Amazing Grace as Seen by the Eyes of a Child

August 7, 2015 Effie Barba 2 Comments

Natalie is my beautiful granddaughter. While visiting with her this week, she told me that she loved to write. She is six years old and getting ready to go to first grade. So, when she told me how much she loves to write, I told her that if she would write a story about anything she wanted to I would use it on my website. I told her she could write about her most loved memory, her favorite pet, or anything she wanted to. She said ok, sat down and began to write. She kept turning pages and writing again. I thought she was having trouble deciding what to write. We left to go off on an adventure in the park before I could read what she had written When we returned my daughter handed me the pages that Natalie had written and as I read I was in Awe. Little had I realized that she was really writing her own 8 page book. A book that spoke volumes in only a few words. I typed the words at the side incase the pages are a little hard to read. I hope you enjoy this her first book.

evey body praise the Lord! Come and praise the Lord!

for he is our father

Praise the Lord

because he made us!

Praise the Lord! because he died on the cross for us

he Did it for us he did it for us

When he died on the cross

he let us free free!

he understands us from all the way up thare!

he loves it he loves you

The End

[bctt tweet=”There was nothing left to say, I sat in awe of God’s Grace as revealed through a child’s eyes. “]

[bctt tweet=”She wrote, evey body praise the Lord! Come and praise the Lord! for he is our father I say Amen”]

“And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein. (Luke 18:15-17)

Do you have a story about how God has amazed you through the words of a child? I would love to hear from you. Click here to comment.

I hope you enjoy the song I chose for you today. Jesus Loves Me

Christian Blog

What Is The Greatest Oath Ever Made?

August 5, 2015 Effie Barba

What Is The Greatest Oath Ever Made?

He had spoken the world into being. He said let there be light. Instantaneously billions of light sources poured forth from His mouth. What we know as the sun, the moon and all the stars were formed with one word of God. Then, God formed man from the dust of the earth. Gently molding and shaping someone to lavish His love, joy, and glory upon. He knew that man would choose to worship himself (the creation) more than the creator; yet, He proceeded. He knew that the road to redeem man from that fallen state would mean Christ would have to bear the penalty for that sin. Still, His love was too great to not share it. He would bear the cost of love.

[bctt tweet=”After Adam sinned, God swore an oath to send a Savior He gave His word that light would come”].

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ²He was with God in the beginning. ³Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. ⁴In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. ⁵The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome^[a] it.” (John 1 NIV)

Continue reading What Is The Greatest Oath Ever Made? →

Christian Blog

Can My Heart Ever Really See God’s Wondrous Glory?

August 3, 2015 Effie Barba

Can My Heart Ever Really See God’s Wondrous Glory?

This journey of life has taken me through dark and treacherous valleys at times. So, often I have searched to find the heart of God; desiring to know and understand His will. Sorrows, pains, trials come and toss me about on this sea of life. Each time I am tossed by the storms, I find myself trusting more firmly in the only anchor that can hold me fast in the midst of the storms. I find myself searching and seeking to know God more. I search to see His Glory, His Love, and His Joy. I find that out of the darkness: I become filled with Joy in the midst of sorrow, love in the midst of broken heartedness, and that hope arises out of despair. It is in those dark valleys that God’s Glory shines brightest. Quite the opposite of what my heart would have thought it desired. I really would prefer that His Glory present itself toward me in prosperity. Yet, in my own humanity; my thoughts turn away from God and toward me when all is going well. As though an all righteous, just God would be so pleased with my own accomplishments of righteousness. Yet, God’s Glorious attributes include His perfect Love as well as His perfect Justice. Both are blended into His Splendor. He knows what is best for me. He knows all that is needed in my heart to prepare me for the greatest pleasure in Him and in His Glory.

[bctt tweet=”God knows the only hope for my heart to see glimpses His Glory in a broken world is to allow storms”] Could I understand His power and might were it not for the storms in my life? Would I even search for God, were there no storms? God’s heart breaks with mine every time mine is broken. Yet, He knows that unless mine is broken; I can never feel the depth of His love. I would never be able to truly love anything or anyone; had my heart never been broken. In that broken state, I found God’s love which filled me to overflowing. Only then could I learn the truth of love. If I had never known sorrow; could I really know the depth of Joy I have found in God?

Continue reading Can My Heart Ever Really See God’s Wondrous Glory? →

Christian Poetry

Poetry Sunday—Because I See Thy Gift of Grace

August 2, 2015 Effie Barba

Because I See thy Gift of Grace

By Effie Darlene Barba

A pilgrim’s journey through this land

Through meadow’s soft and desert sand

Beside the gentle bubbling streams

With flowers kissed by sunlit beams

Or rushing, roaring water falls

Whose beauty gasps and danger calls

Twinkling stars in the dark of night

That guide my way and shed their light

The gentle breeze across my face

Whispering words of God’s sweet Grace

Creator Lord with all You do

Whom else on earth could I pursue

For all I have and all I am

Is due to You—My precious lamb

Who chose to die and pay my price

In You I find my paradise

And now I see through different eyes

This course on earth no more disguise

Its beauties shine, your glory clear

I feel your breath, your warmth so near

To warm the chill within my soul

Like fireplace lit in winter’s snow

You blessed my life with love’s sweet kiss

That hope and joy arise amidst

The darkest trials I may face

Because I see thy Gift of Grace

[bctt tweet=”Surrounded by God’s Grace Love, & Glory. Let my eyes seek His beauty & my ears His Voice.”] Let me each and every day grow to love Him more, seek Him as my greatest treasure, never lose the awe of His creation, and run to fall before His throne of Grace to be near Him. Dear Father, transform this heart to desire only you.

Do you have a poem that you would like to share? Click here to leave your comment or to share your poems.

The artist that drew the picture “A Broken and Contrite Heart” featured on my header and who designed my logo is Ronald Barba. Please go to his website ( http://www.barba-art.com) for information regarding obtaining copies or to commission him to create a masterpiece for you. Feel free to email him at Ron@Barba-Art.com to discuss any art projects.