Power-filled Positive Thinking-Chapter 18 A-Resting in Christ-Abiding in Him

It was mid-November, 2000 Melissa had returned to her home in California, Alberto was at the University of Missouri, Ronald was at the Kubert School of Art in New Jersey, and I was all alone, still recovering from the surgery in which my colon was removed. I had planned it that way. I felt my children had been through and seen enough of suffering, illness and even death. I had not expected the setback, the high fevers which had required my driving myself 4 hours back to the hospital and then home a week later with all the equipment in hand to administer the antibiotics myself. I couldn’t afford home health nurses, so I knew I could do this and I did. Besides, I was never good at asking for anyone to help me—somewhat of a “do it myself” kind of girl. It would be soon that I would go back for the final stage of surgery where they would “take down” the ileostomy; but, for the moment I had a very unruly ileostomy. Awakened each night in the middle of the night because the bag broke, I would be forced to get up, take a shower and surrounded by towels, attempt to replace it. That ordeal could take hours to accomplish. Shivering with cold, tears pouring down; I felt desperately lonely in those moments. Yet, I had made the choice to do all this alone.

Artwork used by permission of Ronald Barba

Very often, in this Christian journey; I have done that. I have looked into heaven and said, “I can do it.” So often, I have wanted to prove to God that I was worthy of His love. If I just tried a little harder I would make God proud of me. What has taken me a lifetime to learn is that the only way I can bring Him Glory is to learn how to rest in Him. Abiding in Christ is the only way I can live forth a life that honors Him. There is nothing that these hands of mine can do apart from Him that could bring Him Glory.

Continue reading Resting in Christ-Abiding in Him →

In Christ, Sweet Victory is Mine

By Effie Darlene Barba

In Christ, Sweet Victory is mine

Resting in Christ, Such Joy sublime!

In Christ my hope eternity

Redeemed, Beloved in Christ I be

Beauty and Grace in Christ I found

Glorious Hope in Christ abound

 

A heart so filled with pain and grief

How deep I plunged with no relief

From battles fought and battles lost

My search for joys whate’er the cost

I could not bear my weight of shame

My heart cried out “I am to blame”

 

Then in that deepest darkest hour

Rays of light did hope empower

It was the truth of God’s dear word

A whispering sound of grace I heard

Glorious hope did then abound

Love’s arms engulfed me all around

 

I gazed upon a cross of pain

While tears fell down like pouring rain

His hand reached out to set me free

As sorrow turned to joy filled glee

I realized in God’s dear Son

The greatest treasure I had won

 

And herein lies the mystery

The one the world doth shun to see

That in the midst of sorrows here

I’d learned to see His Glory clear

I lay all else as loss behind

The one true source of joy is mine

 

His Glory shining brighter still

As I conforming to His will

Rejoice amidst my darkness hour

Weakness turns to mighty power

While drenched beneath torrential rain

My spirit singing this refrain:

 

In Christ, Sweet Victory is mine

Resting in Christ-Such Joy sublime!

In Christ my hope eternity

Redeemed, Beloved in Christ I be

Beauty and Grace in Christ I found

Glorious Hope in Christ abound

©2015 Effie Darlene Barba

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.

Power filled Positive Thinking Chapter 17C- The Validity and Reliability Testing of Faith

When we evaluate anything in our life we search to know whether it is valid and whether it is reliable. This is true of relationships, thoughts, new ideas, inventions, items we purchase, new “breakthroughs” in science, the cars we drive, and even, the diets we choose to eat. We don’t wish to look gullible or foolish. We test things in order to find out if they really are valid and are really reliable. We want to know, “can we trust them.”

How then can I hold firm to peace when all around me there is chaos? When all my human desires lay broken and shattered at my feet, how can I move forward knowing that “all is well”? When my heart is crushed by the weight of this world’s sorrows, where do I find that fountain of joy that allows me to tenderly, genuinely smile?

Where is the power that allows me to live positively and to think positively in every situation of this life? That is what I have found in Christ. As my Savior and King, He has purchased and sealed for me a relationship with God—one that has been tested and tried throughout my lifetime and been proven both valid and reliable.

It has been through the trials that I have come to know how faithful God is. It has been through dark valleys that I have learned how to feel his presence ever with me. It has been in the silence of my loneliest and darkest nights that I have heard His gentle, soft voice whispering a word of comfort or singing a song of joy over me.

But you might ask, “Where is the proof that the gospel is true?”

Continue reading The Validity and Reliability Testing of Faith →

Power-filled positive living-Chapter 17B-Hope and Joy in the Midst of Tragedy

Hope that rises out of tears. Joy that sustains in the midst of tragedy. Strength that arises in the midst of pain. A spark of glory that shines through the darkness. All that sounds like fairy tales when you are in the midst of suffering. Ahh, my dear friends and readers; how, I wish I could take your heavy, wounded hearts and hold you close so I could tell you, “It really is going to be ok.” God has a plan for your good, for your joy and all of heaven is at work to bring that to pass. How can I be so certain and where is the proof to calm your weary soul? My certainty? It comes from having seen the mighty hand of God reach out to this frightened, weary soul in the midst of tragedy. I have seen His light of Glory shine through the veils of my own tears to lift my spirit to soar on heights beyond my greatest dreams through it all. I can tell you with assurance that God will calm the storm in your heart only because I have been in that storm many times. Isn’t that what Paul also said? Look again at 2 Corinthians 6 very closely. “in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, ⁵ In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; ⁶ By pureness, by knowledge, by long suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, ⁷ By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, ⁸ By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; ⁹ As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; ¹⁰ As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.” The proof of Paul’s ministry was the strength, hope, love and joy to keep proclaiming the name of Christ in the midst of persecution, afflictions, and sorrow.

Oh, I don’t want pain, trials and sufferings; but, I have come to recognize that my Sovereign and Gracious Heavenly Father only allows the trials on the pilgrimage journey so as to bring ultimate joy, hope, faith, and glory to my life. I have learned that He allows me to even fail at times so that I might see Him clearer and be filled with the awe and wonder of His magnificent beauty.

My own journey through many tragedies has lead me to understand that God allows these pains and trials in our lives for 5 reasons.

Continue reading Hope and Joy in the Midst of Tragedy →

Power filled Positive Thinking—Chapter 17a-If I am God’s Child, then why pain?

It was late October, 1998 in the midst of my Master’s Program. I was to start a new assignment that week, so I had delayed my 4 hour trip to Vanderbilt until Monday morning so I could stay home with my sons one more night. I made the trip every week to Vanderbilt where I stayed in the dorm and returned every Friday. It had been a family decision that I go; yet, there was still a part of me that wondered if I was doing the right thing. Well that particular morning, I could not find my car keys. I searched for hours—the boys were already off to school as I frantically searched to no avail. At 11 am I called a locksmith, who was able to create a key and I could start my journey toward Vanderbilt.

 

Along that drive, I wondered why the delay; but, something inside kept saying, “God is Sovereign and my delay must have had a purpose beyond proof of my own disorganization; but, I was uncertain as to what that purpose could be.”

There was a 30 minute stretch of road where I could hear a Christian station on the radio and as I neared that area, Alistair Begg’s voice came on. I had never heard of him before, but was quickly drawn in as he preached on, “When the wheels fall off.” I scratched down the phone number quickly at the end of the broadcast and later in the evening called to order the tapes. That evening when I called home, Alberto asked me why I left my keys in his bathroom—so they were found in plain sight. The next morning, full of hope, faith and vigor I went to see the Doctor for the results of a breast biopsy. My step was bouncing, I knew God had this controlled and my prayers had been heard. Suddenly, in an instant my world twirled around as I heard the surgeon say,

Continue reading If I am God’s Child, then why pain? →