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

August 21, 2015 Effie Barba

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.

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

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.

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

Christian Blog

How to Be a Witness of Light to the World

August 17, 2015 Effie Barba

How to Be a Witness of Light to the World

How can we be a witness to the true light, when we ourselves are not the light? John Chapter 1 uniquely presents Christ by declaring the truth of Christ’s beauty, power, and Glory. John wrote that Christ is the true light of the world. The light that brings eternal life. The word of God—every truth and every promise fulfilled. God’s oath to provide a Savior for fallen man was fulfilled in Christ. The only light that could penetrate the darkened hearts of man is God’s light. The only light that can reach into self-exalting, pride filled hearts to cause them to turn and see the glorious beauty of Christ in all of God’s Glory is Jesus Christ. The only light that can shine so brightly that man can see the darkness of his own sin filled heart and fall before His creator in awe-inspired worship is the light of Christ to the World.

[bctt tweet=”When God becomes our greatest desire, His Glory will shine through us to light a darkened world. “]

Continue reading How to Be a Witness of Light to the World →

Christian Poetry

Poetry Sunday: Grace upon Grace Poured Out upon Me

August 16, 2015 Effie Barba

Grace upon Grace Poured Out upon Me

By Effie Darlene Barba

Jesus the word the truth and the light

Portrait of God’s perfect Glory-Delight

His Grace upon Grace poured out upon me

That I from sin’s chains forever am free

The King above Kings laid aside His throne

Because He loved me-my sin to atone

Leaving the splendor, the songs, and the mirth

To submit to pain and sorrows on earth

Imagine the perfect, righteous one

God’s precious delight-His Dear Beloved Son

Would willingly choose to suffer such loss

Beaten, rejected He died on a cross

What kind of love, oh how can it be?

He suffered all this for you and for me

Despite all my sin and my foolish pride

He bids me to come-in His love abide

Open my eyes, Lord, always to see

Your love and your Glory there before me

Laying aside all my foolish desires

Until you’re the treasure my soul aspires

Jesus the word the truth and the light

Portrait of God’s perfect Glory-Delight

His Grace upon Grace poured out upon me

That I from sins chains forever am free

[bctt tweet=”What kind of love, oh how can it be? He suffered all this for you and for me”]

[bctt tweet=”His Grace upon Grace poured out upon me That I from sins chains forever am free”]

Do you have a poem you would like to share? a prayer request? or a story you would like to share? Have you ever been overwhelmed by Grace? Click here to comment.

The artist that drew the picture “A Broken and Contrite Heart” featured on my header, who designed my logo and who drew the portrait featured today is Ronald Barba. The picture is being used with his permission and is protected under copyright laws. For a copy click on the link associated with the picture. 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.

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 Happens When Grace Meets The Truth Of Sin?

August 14, 2015 Effie Barba

What Happens When Grace Meets The Truth Of Sin?

I just returned from a trip to visit my daughter and her family. It had been a season of great difficulty for her. She had recently lost her step mother to cancer and then she had gotten sick with chicken pox. With all that, I went to see if there was anything I could do to comfort her. I was met with such grace. It had been almost two years that I had not seen my daughter and granddaughter. We never failed to talk on the phone a lot; but, I had not wanted to be “in the way” as she cared for her step mother during the prolonged illness. The trip was filled with so much of God’s grace. My daughter got well quickly. My granddaughter was an utter delight as we did so many things together. God’s grace shown through as my granddaughter displayed her own knowledge of God through her writing and talk. What wondrous grace toward me has God displayed over the years!! Not because of anything I have ever done to deserve it. I who stumbled and fell so often along this journey. Me, the one who searched for love without realizing that God was all the love this heart needed. Had it been pride so long ago that led to my divorce from Miguel (Melissa’s father)? Yet, even after that, God’s grace had blessed me with my sons through my marriage to Pete. God’s grace had led Pete to Christ before Pete’s death. God’s grace had carried me through the cancer and all the other illnesses that followed. It has been grace that carried me every step of the way. Pure, undeserved Grace has been given me from a mighty and wondrous God.

[bctt tweet=”When Grace upon Grace meets with the truth of my sinful Heart-Grace Wins!!”]

We have been looking at the gospel account as written by the Apostle John. So far, we have seen that he presents Christ as The Word—the only Word that matters. The word of God which is also God Himself. John then presented Christ as the light of the world. The only true light that can penetrate the darkness of man’s heart. Thirdly he presented Christ as God’s Glory Displayed. All the fullness of God’s Glory could be seen in Christ. Next John writes, “¹⁶And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for (upon) grace.¹⁷For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ” (John 1).

Continue reading What Happens When Grace Meets The Truth Of Sin? →