Power filled Positive Thinking-Chapter 5 B—Saying Yes to Love as God’s Beloved-What does that look like?

I began Monday by telling you that there was a moment in time when everything I thought about love changed. That was 9 years ago and has remained a transformation which now guides my life . Before I share with you the steps that can help you transform your heart from broken to loving; let me pause today and answer the three questions I promised you that I would, plus one.

1. IF IT IS TRUE THAT I AM GOD’S BELOVED, WHY DID IT TAKE SO LONG FOR ME TO REALIZE IT? Let me begin by pointing out that our finite human minds do not fully understand or grasp the truth.  God loves me is the truth I have come to understand and embrace. Unless we begin to own this truth as our own, we remain victims to our own fears. The real truth was that my transformation did not occur suddenly. I had been learning this truth my whole life. Every broken heart, every broken dream  I had experienced in my life’s journey led to my growing strong in God’s love.

ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF JIM PEREGOY

Ever so patiently, gently and steadily; God had taught this heart of the depths, the heights, and the mighty power of His love for me. I had been created to be filled with His love and His joy. So, all along this journey from that little girl of 5 to the woman I now am; He has shone His light into my heart to guide it and to allow it to grow in that knowledge of Him. That journey may have lead through many heartbreaks and sorrows; but, each one lead me deeper into His heart of love.

2. How does having your heart filled with God’s love change how you love others? When human Love overflows with God’s love, it takes on characteristics of God’s love. So what does God’s love look like? To better understand, let’s turn to

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Power-filled Positive Thinking—Chapter 5A—TO LOVE AND BE LOVED

It was sharper than any knife, cutting deep within my heart that day. “What makes you think any man could ever love you?” my mother said. She continued on, “Look in the mirror, look at your past, look at all the health problems that you have had, and face the reality that there is no way anyone could ever love you.” The part that was even worse, her words only echoed what my own heart had come to believe. I who had searched for love, believed in love, fought for love, sacrificed for love, and bled for love was about to finally lay down my sword.

original photograph used courtesy of  Jim Peregoy

Broken, wounded and tired, I laid down my dream of finding someone to love me. At first I mourned the loss of the dream. Then the most miraculous thing happened, I suddenly awoke one morning and realized love was in me. When I quit searching to find someone to love me, I found that perfect love had been there with me the whole time

. All the love I had ever needed was there residing in my own heart. It had been there ever since that little 5 year old had asked perfect love to come into her heart. Like the awakening of the dawn, bright and beautiful—light shone into the crevices of my heart and I knew that I was God’s Beloved. Greater love than I had ever longed for was there and had been there all along. That same love became an overflowing fountain of joy. That joy became a brilliant light of Grace which allowed me to see that not only did love fill me, it surrounded me. When I no longer needed love, love found me. It is there in the bewitching smile of a grandbaby, the hugs of my children and their families, the phone calls and text message. It is there in the kindness of a stranger passing by. Love is there in the heart of friend who is willing to trust me with their friendship and take my hand to show me clearly who I am. In fact, once I realized that love was in me and I need not search for it; I realized it had always been there. I could look back over all the memories and see its golden threads woven throughout the tapestry of my entire life.

Continue reading TO LOVE AND BE LOVED →

Power-filled Positive Thinking—Chapter 4C-  6 steps to Victorious Joy

Thus far in this chapter I have told you that one of the major, power-filled positions that is yours and mine “In Christ” is that in Christ we are already declared Saints. Yet, we both know that our lives often do not reflect that truth. Indeed, I am certain that the harder I try to fight to prove my “righteousness” the more defeated I will become. So, how do I change that God given position into a visible reality? What are the steps to living a joyous Victorious Christian life which will bring God the Glory?

Ralph Waldo Emerson is quoted as saying, “You become what you think about all day long.” Buddha is also quoted as saying “The mind is everything, you become what you think.” That is the major principle of all positive thinking philosophy. It is very powerful and very true as long as it is based in reality; example, I cannot become 7 foot tall by just thinking myself so. Still there is great power in what we focus our thoughts upon. The Bible taught that very truth long before Emerson, Buddha, or the modern positive thinking philosophers did. (Proverbs 4:23, Proverbs 23:7, Matthew 6:21, Philippians 4:8, Matthew 12:35).

Paul knew the importance of every believer being grounded in the truth of the gospel. He knew that Christ had won the victory for each believer and that without them knowing this in the central core of their being, no Christian’s testimony could survive or stand. No Christian can fully live grounded in their faith unless they understand the truth that in Christ they have been declared saints and are saints—fully clothed in righteousness before the throne of God the Father because of the atoning, finished work of Christ on the Cross.

This is not a “hallelujah” then I shall live like the devil until I get to heaven; quite the opposite, this is (if you really know Christ as your Savior) God is going to complete the work of sanctification in you whatever it takes. Although if your heart does not desire with all its being to be righteous, then I might wonder whether you ever came to a saving knowledge of Christ. Note the key word there as desire, not fulfillment. Which is what brings us back to as a Christian what do I do to transform my state in Christ to a reality. Once more before I begin to tell you the steps that you can take let me remind you of these 4 truths.

Continue reading 6 Steps to Victorious Joy →

As the New Year began and I reflect back over my life, let me always be filled with awe and wonder at all the marvelous blessings I have been given.  In the midst of sorrow—I found joy.  In the darkest moments of illness—I found life.  In the deepest moments of loneliness—I found God’s love within me. Never take for granted a single moment of blessing or an opportunity to show kindness or mercy from a heart that has been awakened to life.  Don’t expect too much or your expectations will steal from the blessing. Never take for granted tomorrow—it may not be there.  Live your life with an outpouring of the joy, love, and peace.  Remember God gave you this moment—so make it special.

 

Awaken, Awaken O heart of mine

Today has arrived—so rare and so fine

Joyously rise—Your Spirit to shine

The love, hope and peace-God’s gift so Divine

Rise from the ashes that once was your bed

Now filled with such blessings to sprinkle and shed

Upon those so wearied by sorrow and dread

To meadows of hope where they need to be lead

Yesterday’s sorrow has proven your friend

Now you have love overflowing to lend

To each who would need a hand to ascend

Or grasp while awaiting their heart to mend

Life you were given to strive for much more

Than selfish attainment-silver galore

It’s giving of kindness you were made for

And helping another to find the right door

When memories allure your life now to trace

The good and the bad in the midst of that place

You’ll then see a glimpse of glory and grace

From God’s precious hand and his loving face

So,

Awaken, Awaken O heart of mine

Today has arrived—so rare and so fine

Joyously rise—Your Spirit to shine

The love, hope and peace-God’s gift so Divine

 

© 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.”

My frankness and honesty to tell you of my own failures as a Christian are not to try to say in any way that I regard sin in my life lightly. Quite the opposite is true.  I hate sin in my life.  In fact there have been times, that the thought of possibly dishonoring God  plagued me with such remorse and despair that I became paralyzed in my attempts to be a witness for Christ. After all, how could I ever point anyone toward Christ with my stumbling walk, my stuttering speech and the broken wings that would never allow this “saint” to fly? Indeed over the years, I often had to stop and wonder why God could have ever chosen a fragile heart such as mine.  It took me years of trials, bible study, listening to great theologians, and constant prayer to finally learn the secrets of how to stand firm, joyous, and victorious along this journey.  It is for that reason, I urge you to try to grasp the truths of the gospel and the scripture.  Understanding correct theology will unlock the door and will  transform your life forever from despair to joy, failure to victory, loneliness to love, fear to fearlessness, and self-loathing to a healthy self-esteem. By healthy self-esteem, I am not referring to misplaced pride either.  A careful study in the lives of David, Peter, Solomon, Eve and the majority of the Bible’s Patriarchs would reveal that right before they succumbed to their most memorable sin they had developed a misplaced pride which made them believe their plan was better than God’s plan. Neither is a healthy Christian self-esteem  laden with a self-loathing, regret and the woe is me, I am just a sinner saved by grace mindset. It is recognizing that in  Christ I am a Saint—because of His atoning work on the cross. It is knowing that Christ won the victory, declared me to be a saint and endowed me with the power of the Holy Spirit to live the life I was destined to live.  Step by step I am being transformed into the image of Christ.  It is His work in me.  Understanding this truth is paramount in you or I living this Christian life victoriously, joyously and in a manner that Glorifies God.

Original photograph courtesy of Alexander Smith–

As long as I am focused on my failures, my sins, and my weaknesses; I will not be able to focus on the only power that resides within me which can live this life victoriously—the Holy Spirit. In other words, as long as I am focused on me and my guilt; I will keep falling into the same pitfalls. It is only by recognizing who I am in Christ that I am able to live in a manner that honors God. The power to live victoriously comes from understanding that in Christ, I am a saint—ordained as such by God before the foundations of this world. It is not my power, but His.

Let us dive into some scriptures that I hope helps you to understand.

Continue reading Power of Positive Thinking—Chapter 4B—Declared Sainthood in Christ Held Firm by God’s Love →