From the midst of a dark, cold jail cell; Paul is writing to the early church. A church that he knew would be persecuted. Even more so, the church which Paul was preaching too were the Gentiles—those who were by the Jewish nation considered the lowest of the low—the heathens. So, imprisoned for his faith in Christ, beaten and flogged for having preached the gospel; Paul has eloquently been telling early believers to remember who they are in Christ. They are the redeemed, beloved, chosen children of the most high God. He has urged them to remember these truths as they were going to need to cling tight to those facts while they are being rejected and persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ. He reminded them that it was God’s plan from before the earth was formed that the body of believers would include them—called out from the gentiles as well as the Jews and these former enemies would be joined in the formation of the “church” of believers that would now spread the gospel of Christ.

Artwork is used with written permission of Ronald Barba who owns the copyright. His work can be found at: http://fineartamerica.com/art/all/ronald+barba/all

Then from the midst of that jail cell, Paul prayed for these believers a prayer that they be rooted and grounded in the love of Christ. He knew that they would be facing so much unrest, injustice, and ostracism that they would by nature grow bitter, angry and hostile in their response. Yet, Paul knowing the battle that might occur around them and within their own hearts; prays that they become so rooted and grounded in the love of Christ, that they are strengthened with hope. He prays to the only one who can perform this kind of miracle of love, which is God himself. Look at this prayer.

Continue reading A Prayer for Love in a Hostile World →

As we enter the Christmas season with all of the festivities, family, lights and cheer; all too often it is a time of great loneliness for some. The bombardment of magical love stories play across the airs with so many Hallmark movies and Hallmark cards are chosen and sent. Love being such an elusive emotion and so hard to understand at times. The very mention of the word brings floods of emotions from ecstatic joy to broken hearted despair. On this my birthday as well, I pause for a moment to look back over my life; though, I must not dwell there for too long. But when I do I see the blurring of love that is a part of my life—the moments of great sacrificial love that rose above and those moments when my own needs to feel loved or desired were the driving force which usually lead to disaster and heartbreak. I have read C. S. Lewis’s “The Four Loves” over and over again hoping to understand the mysteries of love so as to overcome its controlling force.

So, please do not think as I begin to unravel a small part of this mystery of love that I proclaim any expertise beyond that of being one who has had her heart broken on many levels and more often than I could dare to say; yet, choose love. Awaken your heart to the Glorious Love of God and allow His love to Shine Through You today. That may not sound like an easy task in a world that is so broken; yet, it is what we need more than anything else to even heal our own hearts.

Much like the heart felt poem that I wrote on Saturday, The Song of a Butterfly.

I have learned these major points when it comes to love which I hope you find helpful.

Continue reading I Choose Love →

Isaiah 60: Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.

Light shine? Glory of the Lord risen? In me? The dog decided to go out at 3 am. So I crawl back in bed and begin to pray and ponder on this scripture for the day. Then, I hear at 3:30 the microwave and the clinking of a spoon against a cup as Mom clink, clink, and clinks away making her coffee. Finally, silence again as I begin once more trying to focus on the Lord. If I won’t be allowed to sleep why not at least use my time to be alone with God. Finally, the alarm sounds at 4 (usually the time I spend the next hour alone with God); but, instead I get up. Coffee made and I sit down to meditate and write. Then, dog wants to go out, again. I study the scriptures in I Corinthians again and suddenly, Mom is in panic—she can’t find the Sweatshirt that she wore last week and I had washed yesterday for her. She doesn’t want to wear it today she just wants it in her hands to put away in the closet that has at least 40  other sweatshirts.Finally the sweatshirt is in her hands and I go back to try to write to you about God’s Glory shining forth in your life and mine. Got the picture? I wish I could say that I felt no frustration and God’s mercy and grace flowed forth as I went and grabbed the sweatshirt to place in her hands.  It didn’t really; yet, that is Grace—because then after repentant prayer and seeking Him—these words came.

Arise and shine with the light of the Glory of the Lord? How? Yet, that is precisely what we are asked to do. The beauty of the gospel was given us so that we might display God’s Glory and truth to the world. Yet, it was given to us who are such frail vessels—quickly frustrated, distracted, and self-absorbed at times. So again, how does a vessel such as I ever arise and shine forth any light of God’s grace and glory?

Continue reading Display God’s Glory, Me? How? →

My dear friends—there are times that in my writing I must give you a piece of my heart; perhaps, an explanation as to who I am and where I have come from along this pilgrimage journey.  Today’s poem is just that.  When God called me to be His child so long ago all I knew was that I wanted and needed Him in my life.  Every year of this journey, He has so patiently and gently taught me more of His love and Grace.  So many years, I searched for love with a desperate need to find someone to love me on earth as though it was what I needed to be validated as worthy of God’s love or as proof that God loved me.  Still in the midst of it all God continued to perform His transforming work within me and gradually, steadily He showed me of His great and mighty everlasting love for me who had shunned it as though it were not enough to satisfy.  The truth was that it was the only love that could satisfy this heart so that from its abundance I can now love those around me freely without need or fear.  I do not know where you are along that journey; but, let me encourage you that God is about the work of filling your heart with joy, love and hope.  Seek and savor every moment you can with Him.  God has so magnificently displayed for us who He is within His creation.  Look at the beauty of metamorphosis there is in the life of a butterfly-from a grubby, greedy, pleasure seeking worm that then encased in darkness dies to that creature it was and becomes a beautiful creature that flies about freely and bestows pleasure upon all who see its beauty and gracefulness.   That is the promise God has given to all who are His followers—He will complete the transformation so that one day I will look like Him.  I hope you enjoy this poem.

The Song of a Butterfly

By Effie Darlene Barba

 

A little girl had called Your name

Began to feast upon Your word

And like a caterpillar came

To cherish comfort: truth was blurred

I thought that if I did what’s right

You’d give me all my heart’s delight

 

Had I forgotten  it was Grace

That had saved a worm such as I

Pride had in my heart took its place

Then I believed as truth the lie

That if You loved me as Your dear

You’d only fill my life with cheer

 

Above all else my one desire

To find the one who’d love me true

Enduring all I flamed that fire

And there he was, a gift from You

Human hearts come with broken soul

The pain of this did take its toll

 

Yet, willing heart my love stood firm

I bade You, Lord to give me strength

Your love for me You did affirm

Unveiling all its depth and length

And then You took my earthly love

To be with You- Your home above

 

My sorrow came like bitter rain

I searched for love again to find

Attempts to love I did but feign

Until to loneliness resigned

I cannot tell You now the why

Despite Your love I still did cry

 

With Broken Heart-I drew within

And built a hard cocoon like shell

How was it that I thought therein?

I’d safe from pain and sorrow dwell

There within the dark cold wall

I heard God’s voice, I heard You call

 

In darkness there I felt Your Grace

I struggled, Lord Your will to see

And there I saw Your love filled face

This gave me strength to then break free

So where I’d sealed myself to die

And now emerged a butterfly

 

Oh wondrous Joy I know is mine

And Love abounding in this heart

Your Mercy, Grace and Glory Shine

Upon my life You did impart

The broken moments You did will

That I might fly above the hill

 

And now, Dear God; Your love in me

No longer wrought with fear or need

This heart of mine has been set free

To pour forth love in word and deed

To those I meet along this way

And fly with joy in You today.

© 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.”

The greatest gift that I can give to my family and friends is the gift of the gospel. This is always on my mind; even more as I recognize that I approach my birthday—one less year left to proclaim the name of Christ. Yet, how do I tell the world about my best friend, my Savior without sounding too “preachy”?  Do I tell them about my own failures and a Savior who loved me so much that He came down to save me in spite of all that? Do I tell them that even in the darkest hours of illness or abuse; God’s plan of love lead me to an ever-growing, abounding faith—a faith I could have never imagined I would have? Or do I tell them of all the blessings He has bestowed on me with my children, friends and life? Do I tell them how in the darkest, loneliest hours of my life I could feel the warmth of His presence as He sang a gentle love song over me in the middle of the night? Would they think me crude or a bit crazy were I to tell them? Yet, there is no greater gift that I could give them. How could I fail to give them the only gift that really matters?

Yet, if I see Christ as my greatest treasure; wouldn’t my life’s song echo Him to the world?

Isn’t that what Paul wrote to the Galatians? Perhaps there we might see examples of how a life devoted to Christ might look like.

Continue reading My Greatest Gift to You →