How to Actually Overcome with Joy when Satan Roars

July 20, 2015 Effie Barba

I Peter 5: ⁸Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour

Roaring Lion? Do we know Satan as such? After all, were he to come at me roaring; I would see the danger, right? I am so aware of Satan’s hissing, whispering sounds of a lying snake. How often have I heard His hissing questions? “What makes you think God could love you, look at you?” or “Surely God could never use someone like you.” Or “Do you really believe that is what God has said?” Or “If God really loved you, He would never have allowed the suffering in your life?” And so the whisperings of Satan go, planting seeds of doubt and feelings of despair; promising that we might have greater joy if we would just………. But roaring?

How does Satan roar? He encircles us with pain. Pacing around us with evil, tragedies, destruction, illness, rejection, and despair. Roaring as he circles—pacing, roaring while inciting fear and doubt. As, he roars “Where is your God, now? God love you, really? Look what He did.” Satan knows that we are looking to Christ, the Lion of Judah, to protect and guide us. So he cloaks himself with the image of a lion; yet, instead of being the protector, he roars forth with anger and suffering until our hearts would faint and our faith would vanish. [bctt tweet=”Satan roars in our pain & suffering Where do I turn when Satan roars?The God of Grace is my Joy”]

How can I shut the mouth of this roaring Lion? I found there are 3 keys to shut Satan’s roars.

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Christian Poetry

Poetry Sunday: Sit Here at Your Feet

July 19, 2015 Effie Barba

Sit Here at Your Feet

By Effie Darlene Barba

Oh, Father Dear

I long to come

And sit here at your feet

As you draw near

Before the dawn

Your presence oh so sweet

What kind of fool

Have I been all these years?

That I would be

The source that caused your tears

With arms raised high

I asked for so much stuff

I did not see

That You, You are enough

My Precious, Lord

You are the one

The one my heart does need

My life restored

By your Dear Son

Who for my sin did bleed

And here I am

Unworthy of your love

Yet, still you called

To me from high above

To be your child

To sit here at your feet

To rest in you

And never see defeat

Oh, Father Dear

I long to come

And sit here at your feet

As you draw near

Before the dawn

Your presence oh so sweet

[bctt tweet=”Before the day begins, it is good to sit at the feet of He who loves us with everlasting love.”] He is our greatest treasure, our dearest counselor and best friend. Why would I ever want to start my day without talking to Him first?

Do you have a story or a poem you would like to share? You can by clicking here and leaving your comment.

The artist that drew the picture “A Broken and Contrite Heart” featured on my header 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.

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

5 Essentials to Prayer When Living in a Hostile World

July 18, 2015 Effie Barba

From the midst of a dark, cold jail cell; Paul wrote to the early church. A church that he knew would be persecuted. Even more so, the church which Paul was preaching too were the Gentiles—those who were by the Jewish nation considered the lowest of the low—the heathens. So, while imprisoned for his faith in Christ, beaten and flogged for having preached the gospel; Paul has eloquently been telling early believers to remember who they are in Christ. They are the redeemed, beloved, chosen children of the most high God. He has urged them to remember these truths as they were going to need to cling tight to those facts while they are being rejected and persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ. He reminded them that it was God’s plan from before the earth was formed that the body of believers would include them. The new church was to be formed from the gentiles, as well as the Jews. These former enemies would be joined in the formation of the “church” of believers that would now spread the gospel of Christ.

[bctt tweet=”From a jail cell, Paul prayed for all believers to be rooted & grounded in the Love of Christ”] He knew that they would be facing so much unrest, injustice, and ostracism that they would by nature grow bitter, angry and hostile in their response. Yet, Paul knowing the battle that might occur around them and within their own hearts; prays that they become so rooted and grounded in the love of Christ, that they are strengthened with hope. He prays to the only one who can perform this kind of miracle of love, which is God himself. Look at this prayer.

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Christian Blog

How to Actually Joyfully Finish the Race of Faith

July 17, 2015 Effie Barba

How to Actually Joyfully Finish the Race of Faith

As any athlete would tell you, it is important to set your pace. You must know your own levels of endurance. Endurance is built over time with precision. The years of illness, followed by years of working long hours had taken its toll on my body. Last year, I realized that I had laid aside any exercise—well, actually it had been hit and miss with occasional weeks of good followed by more weeks of none. I realized that if I am to live life with both joy and endurance; something had to change. I began easy at first-treadmill at noon every day at work. At first, I began at 3 miles per hour pace for twenty minutes at an incline of 10%. It was a struggle at first; but, every day I would determine to go. At first I would think, ok I can finish 5 minutes. Then at 5 minutes I would think, I can do 5 more. I would do that until I reached my 20 minutes. Now I look forward to my noon work out. I am up to 4 miles/hour, 13% incline and 30 minutes. Each day is the same thought process-5 minutes, then 5 more, then 5 more etc. until I have finished the 30 minutes. I remembered when I was young and would run 10K races—one block at a time.

[bctt tweet=”Our Christian Journey is much like a marathon requiring endurance looking toward the finish line- “] 10 m at a time.

THE RACE OF LIFE BY FAITH

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,²Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12).

Continue reading How to Actually Joyfully Finish the Race of Faith →

Christian Blog

How Can Prayer Really Assure A Life Full Of Joy?

July 16, 2015 Effie Barba

How Can Prayer Really Assure A Life Full Of Joy?

How are you doing with this prayer challenge? We have passed the midway point. I must say that scheduling a time to spend 30 minutes alone dedicated to prayer was challenging at first (because I didn’t want to get up earlier); but, it is becoming a time I really look forward to. It is said that it takes 21 days to really establish a new habit. If that is true we are well on our way. Don’t worry if you have slipped off or haven’t started yet. Today is a new day. Particularly, I want you to know that prayer is the assurance of full joy in the life of the Christian.

KEY TO GOD’S THRONE ROOM

Christ, as He tried to prepare His apostles for His crucifixion comforted them by telling them that even though they would for a moment feel great sorrow—He would rise again to go to the Father. Once He had gone to be with the Father, He would send the Holy Spirit to dwell in the hearts of each believer to be their comforter and their guide. His death as atonement for our sin and His resurrection as conqueror over death would be the key that opens the door to our father/child relationship with God. He wanted them to understand that they would be equipped with all they needed to perform the task of evangelization, even though He would not be physically present. They would have direct access through prayer to request all they needed from the Father themselves. We have (in the name of Christ) direct access to our Heavenly Father.