Power-filled Positive Thinking-Chapter 2C-A Miraculous Life

We who were dead spiritually were made alive again—let that miraculous thought sink in. We who had no ability to see God, to taste of His goodness, to drink in His beauty or to stand in awe of His Glory; have, been made alive in Christ. Not only were we made alive to see Him, we were made spiritually alive to receive the fullness of His Joy and Love. He drew us to Himself through letting us see the glimpses of His Grace and Mercy by pouring forth bits of Grace upon this world as common grace to all.

Beyond that He has promised to all who believe that He will guide our lives to what is the very best for us, provide for us from His abundant riches, and freely lavish upon us His love, joy and grace. Romans 6: “like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.^”

Do you begin to grasp the magnitude of that? We need to train our minds to focus on just that. Do you want to live a joyous, miraculous life? Then practice doing this every day.

You might practice this list, day after day. In that you might make progress as to believing that everything is better and that you are truly happy inside with who you are. Then tragedy will strike and your miraculous life will fall apart UNLESS you know that it is all true because of Christ in You as evidenced by the Holy Spirit’s presence within you to tell you of God’s mighty and powerful work within you.

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Spirit Soars Above

by Effie Darlene Barba

 

When this world would try

Cause my heart to cry

With the hurts that come

future looks so glum

I look to the skies

See your loving eyes

Glory lifts my heart with highs

 

My heart fills with love

Spirit soars above

As I’m lifted high

As with hope I fly

To your loving arms

Free from all the harms

Peace replaces all alarms

 

You are all I need

As my heart is freed

And with joyful song

I sing ‘midst the throng

Of your love so true

Broken hearts renew

As your love comes into view

 

You’re the love in me

That fills my heart with glee

Down uncertain roads

Your joy, love unfolds

My life song so sweet

For you guide my feet

In You my life is complete

 

 

I fly high above

On your wings of love

The rest of my life

I will know no strife

As you fill my heart

And your joy impart

From your love and hope, ne’er depart

 

© 2014 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.”

As an apostle of Christ in the early church, Paul faced many trials and persecutions; yet, in the midst of all that, Paul knew joy, hope, faith and love. The one thing that Paul urged the early church to grasp hold upon was the Joy of knowing Christ as their Savior. The Hope that could be found in Him. He urged them to understand the truth of the riches which were theirs in Christ. He constantly reminded them to remember these truths. He knew that if we were to know the truths of our inheritance in Christ and all that it meant to be eternally alive in Him, we would live lives fully Alive with Joy.

That joy is to be ours today. When Christ arrived at the tomb of Lazarus and he asked Martha, Don’t you believe that I am the Resurrection? She had replied with tears, I know that one day you will return as the resurrection. We as Christians all too often walk around with moping faces, just as did Martha. Oh, woe is me; I know that one day Christ will return and I will be with Him; (long sigh)—but until then, I will carry my cross. (Long sigh). I know. I was one of those Christians. Having grown up with the idea that laughter and fun were not reverence toward God, I seemed to see a stern and harsh God. I was to dutifully bear my burdens here on this earth. Let me tell you that is not who God is.

God is a joyful God and He wants His children to be bathed in that same joy. Not frivolous counterfeit joys which lead to sorrow; but, rather deep ever flowing joy that bubbles up from the heart. Christ died and rose again that I might have new life in Him, here and now. So, rejoice. Joy has come into the world.

How do I experience that Joy?

Continue reading POWER FILLED POSITIVE THINKING CHAPTER 2B—Joyously Alive-Here and Now →

The skies broke forth with a light rain that July 25, 1994; nothing that came close to the torrential rain of tears in my own heart. As I stood there beside that open grave and they lowered the casket into the ground, I felt as though my own life was draining from my body—I could barely stand.  Yet, I saw the eyes of my sons filled with tears and I knew I must rise up to go forward with every ounce of strength and hope within me. I thought back to 16 years earlier when I had first met Pedro Barba (Arroyo), Jr. He had stolen my heart in an instant with his smile and held it captive with his brilliance; yet, there had always been such a sadness about his eyes and there were time when that sadness held his heart captive. Throughout the years there were many trials and many obstacles; yet, this was certain—he held my heart captive and my life circled around that love. Now, he was gone and all I could do was ask God for the strength and the might to go on. Yet, there was this—Pete had accepted Christ as his Savior on January 15, 1994—six months before he died. In the midst of that dark, dark hour; there shone into my heart the light of this truth. “Pete was no longer sad. For him, this earthly pilgrimage journey had led him home to life eternal.”  What I was still yet to learn was that life—now, here should no longer be sad because of the life we have in Christ.

In Christ, we have victory over death because He rose from the grave and conquered death once and forever for each believer. Yet, this truth is not just victory over death someday—it is the truth that we are now freed from the death that we were born with as a result of our spirits being separated from God because of sin’s curse. Christ died that we might have life and live life abundantly filled with all the spiritual blessings and endowed with the Holy Spirits power to live our lives filled with joy, hope, love and strength.

Let us look again at these verses in Ephesians 1:

Continue reading POWER-FILLED POSITIVE THINKING—CHAPTER 2 A-FULLY ALIVE →

 

Learning to live "In Christ”-“Abiding in Christ" is of the utmost importance to each and every one of us as we walk through this pilgrimage journey. Through an understanding of all that is ours as a result of God’s gift of salvation through faith because of Christ’s atonement for our sin, we become empowered to allow the Holy Spirit to utilize these gifts. Our position is held secure because of Christ and God’s covenant plan of redemption. Our position is not held by our own power; but, rather held firmly by His Faithfulness to complete all that He began in us. The more I am able to grasp the truth of “who I am in Christ” the more His beauty becomes magnified in my heart and the more I am able to see His Glory. The more I see His glory the more I become transformed into His image. The more I become transformed into His image, the more I am able to feel, understand and comprehend His love toward me. This is all a result of the Holy Spirit’s work in me and is because of God’s transforming work in me. There is nothing innately in me that performs this. Yet, as I begin to learn about who I am in Christ—I am able to rise far above what this human heart would be capable of and therein to serve humbly, joyfully, faithfully, boldly facing whatever trials confront me. Whatever formerly seemed impossible, becomes possible in Christ as I focus upon these truths. God did not leave me powerless; instead, he gave me all I could ever need  from His own overflowing power and might.

Original picture courtesy of Jamie Easley

All too often, we as Christians don’t comprehend the great and mighty treasure of what we have been given in Christ. Our ignorance of this leads to our living out lives of mediocrity. When we feast upon the truth of our positions in Christ, our sorrows are transformed into joy because we see them through the eyes of God; recognizing, His plan of love for each one of us. (Jeremiah 31: 13) When I know what Christ bought on the cross for me, despair is replaced with Hope, (Psalm 146:5-6) trials are changed into opportunities, (Romans 5:3-4) and desperate loneliness is overcome by perfect, unconditional love.

This is such a miraculous mystery that in Christ, the weak become strong, the ugly becomes beautiful, the unlovely transform to beloved, sinners become righteous, and broken hearted sorrow filled people become joyous.

Continue reading Power Filled Positive Thinking—Chapter 1C- Beyond Mediocrity →