Blog

How to Pray When Prayer Seems a Soliloquy of Desperation

July 7, 2015 Effie Barba

How to pray when prayer seems a soliloquy of desperation

Prayer at times can be great and mighty praise with songs of joy!! There are seasons in everyone’s life where prayer seems a soliloquy of desperation. During this Christian journey, I have known both. I do not know which season of life you may be in. For any of you who are at this moment in a season of life that feels more than you can bear. Are you living in a moment in which your prayers seem to be cries of desperation into the darkness? Perhaps a diagnosis of cancer, a broken heart, or you have lost your job? A moment in which you don’t know what to do and it feels as though God is silent.

© Lars Justinen/Licensed from GoodSalt.com

[bctt tweet=”How do you pray when prayer seems merely a soliloquy of desperation?”] I have been there at times in this pilgrimage journey and though I cannot pretend to know the burden of your heart today; I can pray for you and with you. In the book of Psalms are many such prayers to guide us; although, sometimes silence is all we can bring into God’s presence. He hears that as well.

Continue reading How to Pray When Prayer Seems a Soliloquy of Desperation →

Christian Blog

How can I know God’s Ways and see His Glory?

July 6, 2015 Effie Barba

How can I know God’s Ways and see His Glory?

The greatest desire that I have is to show you a glimpse of God’s glory; yet, I know that my words will always fall so far short of the reality of who God is in all His splendor. Any attempt to simplify the magnificent truths of who God is will always leave something lacking. Yet, my heart will not allow me to be silent; if perhaps, by some chance God might use my faltering words to open the eyes of your heart to see a glimpse of His Glory. It is a grave responsibility which I do not take lightly and pray that my words will always guide you to see a glimpse of His Glory. I cannot pretend to understand all of who God is and some mysteries I will not know until I stand before His Throne of Grace one day; clothed in a righteousness not my own. I do believe I will fall to my knees in awe and wonder that He in all His grandeur would choose me to be His child.

The Glory of the trinity, I cannot fully comprehend. Why would perfect righteousness ever come to walk on earth and die a horrendous death on a cross as atonement for my sin? How could He have ever loved me that much? It is all too great for me to understand. Yet, He did. “For God SO LOVED the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16)

[bctt tweet=”A Glimpse of His Glory, A moment in His presence-my heart would soar with His Joy.”]

Yet, how can I come before His throne? With all my dirty rags, my foolish desires for things, and my selfish requests. Oh, that I might lay aside all other desire to follow after Him.

Continue reading How can I know God’s Ways and see His Glory? →

Christian Poetry

Sunday Poetry: A Talk with God

July 5, 2015 Effie Barba

A TALK WITH GOD

by Effie Darlene Barba

Oh, let me Lord delight in You

And lay all else I hold aside

For no desire could mean as much

As hear Your voice, to feel your touch

And in Your arms abide

I feel the safety of your arms

Surrounding me throughout each storm

And when the bitter winter wind

Would bid my very spirit bend

Your breath will keep me warm

Forgive me Lord, this fragile heart

Sometimes desires too much

Forgetting You are all I need

Then comes my tears, my plead

To stop and feel Your touch

I then can hear your gentle laugh

The love within Your voice

“My child I love you evermore

My gifts on you I freely pour

The best for you my choice”

Oh, Lord I want to stay right here

And sit here at Your feet

To never step away from You

And then I cannot lose my view

No chance for fear, defeat

“But child I ask then who would go

To tell the wounded broken heart

That I their lonely heart would mend

If not but you, who can I send?

If you refuse to start”

Then Father, Dear, I must say yes

To go and run Your bidding do

And You will cast aside my fears

Your hand will wipe away my tears

And keep my eyes on You

I know that You go with me now

You’re ever present in my heart

I feel Your joy arise within

I feel Your wondrous strength again

Your love will ne’er depart

[bctt tweet=”A privilege of grace is the opportunity to talk with God; just to sit in His presence.”]

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

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.

Poetry

A Poetic Tribute to Our Military Heroes

July 4, 2015 Effie Barba

Happy 4th of July!! As we celebrate our countries independence; let us pause to say thank you to all the men and women in uniform or who have ever worn a uniform that we might enjoy our freedom. We need to take a moment and pray for our country and it’s leaders.

A Tribute to Our Military Heroes

(To All Who Have Served and are Serving)

By Effie Darlene Barba

A Hero sat beside the grave

His friend was buried there

He wondered if he’d be as brave

When bullets filled the air

A Hero stood beside the bed

A Comrade lying there

“She’ll never walk”, that’s what they said

It all seemed so unfair

A Hero walked-some foreign street

The people turned and stared

Some would run to hide-retreat

While others simply glared

Did others know the choice they’d made?

Protect, to serve, to save

Whate’er the cost, their post they stayed

For love, their all they gave

A Hero walked into the room

The doctor standing there

The saddened face, the sense of gloom

An illness, very rare

A Hero stood with stoic grace

Though sadness filled his eyes

The gentle smile upon his face

His broken heart’s disguise

These veteran Heroes stood the test

With all that they did do

We must now give to them our best

Our service, Our “Thank you”

Is there anyone you like to specially honor? Click here and share their story.

Christian Blog

How to have an Awesome Iron Pumped Prayer Life

July 3, 2015 Effie Barba

How to have an Awesome Iron Pumped Prayer Life

This Christian pilgrimage is laden with many dangers. It is filled with adversities whose battle cry is for the vanquishment of true joy from our hearts. So often we live on an emotional rollercoaster of highs and lows. Too often, our prayer lives follow that same rollercoaster of disparate cries for help to fleeting waves of “hello” as we skip along the path. We remember to pray most when we have our bucket list of wants to present or when tragedy strikes. Yet, prayer is meant for so much more than that. Look at Ephesians 6, where Paul warns us that we are in the midst of war and must be prepared at all times. Our only weapon is the “sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit” (Ephesians 6: 17-18). The strength and muscle which wields the sword in battle is prayer. We need our prayer muscles built so that we can wield the Spirit’s sword of the Word with powerful might. A body builder spends hours in the gym to develop strength.

Picture used by permission of the artist Ronald Barba who owns the copyright. For information on go to http://www.barba-art.com

[bctt tweet=”To have strength to wield our spiritual sword in battle, we need an awesome iron pumped prayer life”] How do we do that? We begin by daily setting aside time to be with our heavenly Father. We need to realize that prayer is much more than our “to do list for God.” Prayer is the power source for our sustained joy in this Christian life. Prayer is the power source for our victory in the battles of this life. And prayer is the power source for our hope. Prayer is the power lifting exercise that gives us the strength to wield the Spirits Sword of the Word. At the same time, the weights needed to spiritually pump iron are the words of God!

IRON PUMPING WEIGHT OF THE SCRIPTURE

There are 5 ways that the scripture serves to strengthen our prayers.

Continue reading How to have an Awesome Iron Pumped Prayer Life →