3 Psalms Proclaiming Hope, Joy and Grace to the World

July 24, 2015 Effie Barba

3 Psalms Proclaiming Hope, Joy and Grace to the World

David’s life with all the ups and downs, the great victories and the moments of failure is a portrait of our Christians lives. Each step of the way, David was drawn toward an ever increasing passionate love for God. David had moments of great joy and seasons of deep sorrow. His Songs to God reflect these very emotions. Yet if we look a little closer we also see the gospel of grace being portrayed. How amazing it is that David’s moments of conflict were used to portray Christ’s crucifixion is Psalm 22. Then raised from the dead the shepherd cares for the sheep in Psalm 23. And finally the chief Shepherd appears as King of glory to own and reward the sheep in Psalm 24. A trilogy of Psalms portraying the Gospel. Look a little closer.

THE CRUCIFIXION PORTRAYED

Psalm 22:(NIV) “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me,
so far from my cries of anguish?” Are these not the same cries that we hear from the cross of Christ? Is this not the good shepherd who gave his life for the people? Then we see the foreshadowing of Christ again as they hurl insults, shaking their heads. ⁸“He trusts in the Lord,” they say,
“let the Lord rescue him.
Let him deliver him,
since he delights in him.” Are these not the same cries of the people against Christ in Matthew 27:43.
picture used with permission of Ronald Barba for information about his artwork go to http://barba-art.com

Then we see the picture of the cross itself. ” I am poured out like water, all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted within ¹⁵My mouth^[d]is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death.” This is a picture of crucifixion. The joints being pulled out of place, the blood and water poured forth, the intense perspiration, the parched lips, the intense strain upon the heart and the death. Then we even see the “¹⁸They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.” David with great detail gave us the picture of Christ to come. Was he aware of that? Or did God use David’s moments of conflict to form the words that would point to Christ? A question we must ponder as we look at our own moments of conflict. Are they a means to portray Christ to the world?

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Christian Blog

When Agonizing Prayers of the Heart Persist In Silence?

July 23, 2015 Effie Barba

When Agonizing Prayers of the Heart Persist In Silence?

We have all been there at some point in our prayer life. The most agonizing prayers of our heart seem to be screams into the darkness with only silence as our response. We take a deep breath and say, “Well, it must not have been God’s will. I will trust Him.” Sadly, we lay down the prayer; afraid to pick it up again. Sorrow fills our heart and instead of trust doubt fills our minds. So what do we do then?

© Phil McKay/Licensed from GoodSalt.com

[bctt tweet=”Are we to keep praying when our most agonizing prayers of the heart seem to persist in silence?”]

Let us look at some of the agonizing prayers of the Bible and see what God’s response has been.

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How to Overcome the Sabotages to Prayer and Praise

July 22, 2015 Effie Barba

How to Overcome the Sabotages to Prayer and Praise

Monday evening I went to visit Mom at the assisted living. I have been very regular to go two evenings a week and always leave with the laundry list of things she wants me to bring the next time. This time her list was even longer and she had wanted me to go back out to get it right away. Her lists consist of a stockpile of groceries to hide in her room and eat between meals. Her stockpile wasn’t empty; but, she still wanted now. I knew it would take at least an extra hour. I was very tired, so I told her next time. Thinking all is well; I headed home. At 11 pm I got a call from the facility. Your mother insisted that we call the ambulance and send her to the ER because she says she has been coughing and has chest pain. (Mom doesn’t have heart disease and since I had been down this road before when she lived with me—I rolled over and waited for the second call.) Besides as a Nurse Practitioner, I knew the EMTs, nurses and doctors would take care of her. They would call me if needed. The second call came at 2 am. “Your mother is ready to be taken back to the assisted living.” Frustrated, tired and angry with Mom for being so manipulating; off I went to get her and take her to back to the facility. I made it home at 4 and sat down to pray. As I tried to tell God of my frustration with Mom’s selfish behavior, the conviction of my own selfishness hit me. I protested. God sat quietly. I made excuses for myself. God waited and listened. “²⁵And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins” (Mark 11 NIV). So, finally prayer came. Then, I wrote yesterday’s post and all was well. So, I thought.

[bctt tweet=”The Greatest Sabotage to our prayer lurks deep within our own heart: Pride, self exaltation…”] We try to deny its presence. We pour over scripture. We pretend it is gone. We “pride ourselves for being merciful and kind.” Still, there it is- pride!

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Christian Blog

Can I Really Engage People In A Computerized World?

July 21, 2015 Effie Barba

Can I Really Engage People In A Computerized World?

It has been an amazing journey since 2010. I began when Dr. Bajaj asked if I could start sending a devotional email to the staff every day. From the devotional email, I got the idea of starting a blog post. If my emails could reach or encourage a few, perhaps on the web I could reach more. I had just published my first book of poetry and was working on another book that was dear to my heart. Perhaps I could reach a larger audience for Christ. At the same time I had begun speaking in a jail ministry. Not having much capital, I did obtain some help from a young man who understood computers and how to set up the website.

A FAILURE TO READ THE MANUAL

Pretty much later, I had to figure it out. Sadly to say, I have one of those brains who has trouble reading the instruction manual. You know the type, the one who tries to figure it out. Well, that was me. I did watch a few YouTube videos for how to. You can imagine how I have stumbled along this path. Hours and hours sometimes to accomplish the simplest of tasks. Still work was too commanding and chaotic to ever consider taking a class in all this technical stuff. (My difficulty with reading the manuals is why I so often have lead you through entire books of the Bible or series. The one manual I do want to learn, is God’s Word. When I am taking you through a series, I am committing myself to fully read, study, and understand before I teach you each section.)

[bctt tweet=”Lost in the mass of the technical jargon, the one thing that kept me going was love for each of you”] You see, every step of this journey called life has been a journey reaching for hope, joy, and peace in the midst of chaos. The thought of not sharing the wondrous mysteries of the gospel with you would be an unbearable thought.

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Christian Blog

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?