Power-filled Positive Thinking—Chapter 12A Servant-Called to Serve

Over the past week, I had determined it was time as I placed mom on the waiting list for nursing home placement. For me a decision that has come with a great mix of emotion; but, after recognizing the frailty of my own health, a decision that mom had agreed would be best. Her greatest anxiety in life would be that something happen to me and no one would know how to take care of her. Once the decision was made, mom in her own world of anxiety born out of her bipolar disorder wanted to go now. As I said, “Mom, there is a waiting list that could take 6 months or even a year, so now, we leave it all in God’s hands. He knows the timing.” Well, as the events turned, mom became sick with the flu and off to the ER we had to go Wednesday night about 11. Mom was very weak and the stress of it all, her already very fragile mental status had failed and despite my suggesting her unsafe the ER doctor sent us home. We arrived back home about 3:30 am. By 4 am she had fallen and this time couldn’t get up; so with EMTs, fireman and all, she was safely loaded into the ambulance and off to the second hospital in town. Immediately the doctors at this hospital determined there is no way she could be safely sent home. They took the time to exam her, something the first doctor failed to do.

IN Christ we are called to serve with kindness, humility, and love; as servants of the living God.

As I reflect back over the past 13 years, so often, I have had to be the advocate fighting for mom’s health when she couldn’t. For the past thirteen years, mom has been under my care. Oh, how I wish I could say I have always been the kind, gentle and loving care provider I should be during those 13 years. Sometimes, I have been irritable. Sometimes, I

Continue reading Called to Serve →

Power-filled Positive Thinking—Chapter 11c—7 Steps to Realizing God’s Clear Direction

God has promised His wisdom to all who seek Him with all their heart (Proverbs 2:5-7). He has promised His clear guidance along this pilgrimage journey to all who are in Christ (Proverbs 3:5-7; John 16:13). Yet, how do we know what direction to take when life brings us a fork in the road? How do I know for certain that it is God directing me to pursue a different career or to make an important decision? This is a question I am asked often by friends. In my own life, it has been a question that I have had to ask as well.

picture is used by permission of Ronald Barba who owns the copyright ©2010

So what are the steps to knowing God’s will for my life?

1. Seek God first. We see that David throughout the Psalms would long for and seek after God. Psalm 42:1 is a beautiful illustration “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God”.

2. Ask God to reveal His Plan. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him” (James 1:5).

3. Trust in God’s Plan for life. “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

4. Meditate on God’s Word. “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.² But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.³ And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper” (Psalm 1:1-3).

5. Wait for Him to reveal His Plan. “⁴ For from of old no one has heard nor perceived by the ear, nor has the eye seen a God besides You, Who works and shows Himself active on behalf of him who [earnestly] waits for Him” (Isaiah 64:4 AMP).

6. Step forward boldly, confidently. Once you have done the previous steps and you feel God drawing you, step forth. Trust that He has this even when it looks scary. “⁹ And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:¹⁰ To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,¹¹ According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:¹² In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him” (Ephesians 3).

7. Stand firm. “¹³ Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” (Ephesians 6)

Remember this, God is not going to let go of you—that is His Grace. He is the one who is holding you and has promised to complete his work in you. “²³ The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. ²⁴ Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand” (Psalm 37). “⁶ Being confident of this very thing that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” (Philippians 1).

Let me end with this song, God Will Make A Way

Amplified Bible (AMP)

Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation

©2015 Effie Darlene Barba

Original artwork is that of Ronald Barba.  For more information please go to http://fineartamerica.com/featured/broken-and-contrite-heart-ronald-barba.html

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 11b-God Shines His Light of Knowledge

In Christ—we are enlightened with God’s wisdom so that we might know joy in Him throughout this pilgrimage journey on this earth. Look at Proverbs 2: (TLB) “⁶ For the Lord grants wisdom! His every word is a treasure of knowledge and understanding. ^7-8 He grants good sense to the godly—his saints. He is their shield, protecting them and guarding their pathway. ⁹ He shows how to distinguish right from wrong, how to find the right decision every time. ¹⁰ For wisdom and truth will enter the very center of your being, filling your life with joy.”

original photo courtesy of Jim Peregoy

Indeed a large part of our journey here is designed by God to prepare us to see His wondrous Glory as even more glorious that we could otherwise see. He is teaching us how to revel and bathe in the overflowing fountain of God the Father’s love of His Son, Jesus Christ. Step by step He is guiding us to be able to experience the ecstatic Joy which is within the God-head.

It begins when our hearts are first illuminated to see, to desire, and to savor above all other treasure the Glory of God as portrayed in the face of Jesus Christ. For someone born blind from birth who suddenly is given sight by a skillful surgeons hands—that first ray of light awakens their desire to view and see more—a whole new world of possibilities opens. In that same manner God reaches down to shine that first ray of light into the dark, deadness of our blind hearts. There is where we first desire Him and recognize the magnificent beauty and treasure of Jesus Christ. With that first ray of light for each of us who accept Christ, a whole new world of possibilities opens. Look at 2 Corinthians 4: ^“6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

Continue reading God Shines His Light of Knowledge →

Well finally after a trip to the ER for IV fluids due to my severe dehydration, I am finally recovering.  But let me tell you of how wondrous my Heavenly Father has been.  As I began to recover from the severe pain and weakness, it dawned on me how wonderfully blessed I have been.  Those who have been following know that I was diagnosed with a very aggressive breast cancer in 1998.  I should have never survived more than 5 years by all statistics.  That was followed by the ulcerative colitis which again miraculously I did not succumb to it either despite it’s fury.  Then in late 2002 the doctors found a mass on the head of my pancreas which was ultimately diagnosed as autoimmune chronic pancreatitis.  For those who do not know much about the disease; most people are totally debilitated by the severe pain, diarrhea, insulin dependent diabetes and malnutrition.  I have been for the most part spared from this despite the fact that mine is rather advanced indicated by my chronically low lipase/amylase levels.  The truth is were it not for Grace, what I experienced these past three days would be every day of my life.  Amazing?  Yes.  It has been God’s magnificent plan to provide.  The fact that my pancreatitis is auto-immune does mean that I have greater than 40% chance of pancreatic cancer in my lifetime.  Pretty high odds for which I must schedule my follow up and get it checked out.  If I had not gotten sick, I had tended to forget the truths of my disease.  I am blessed beyond measure because I have already been given 17 miraculous years of life to watch my children marry, see my grandchildren and to meet some of the most incredible friends I had yet to know in this life.  Wow.  Just had to let you know and by tomorrow we will continue the next part of Chapter 11 to the book I want to give you all. 

© 2015 Effie Darlene Barba

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to any 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 regarding the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

I must apologize that I have not been able to continue the next step of the series yesterday or today; but, I hope I will be able to continue by Monday. After all the years of illness in the past, I had been given a long reprieve of remarkable health. Perhaps, I had grown a little proud by my having always faced pain and continuing on. Then this year, one day I had to go to bed due to a sudden abdominal pain; but it eased with massaging and manipulating the bowels, then came shingles which wasn’t so bad. Suddenly then Thursday afternoon I developed severe abdominal pain, nausea and profuse diarrhea. Suddenly, I realized how fragile even my faith really is at times. This pain doesn’t seem to want to leave, along with the weakness and I have been brought to my knees. More than the pain and weakness I recognize that when we are in the midst of suffering it is so hard to be grateful as I should be. I tend to become so self-absorbed and want to pout. Why Lord? Why now? Yet, even this is part of His Sovereign plan for today. So let me share with you this word from

Joni Eareackson Tada

I have so much left to learn of God’s Grace, Love and Sovereignty.  I need to remember that even though when I am sick I feel so all alone—I am not alone.  He is right there beside me.

©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.