Who Alone can Restore America with Strength, Prosperity, and Glory?

Could it all begin with you? And if so, how.

        As we look around us, we see evil invading our world.  I daresay, it is less visible in my day-to-day life.  It would be easy to ignore the news that blares forth from throughout the nation and the world.  However, that does not deplete the reality of the suffering, pain, and devastation that envelops the world. And ravages in the streets of America. Suicide, drug addiction, violence, hate, and human trafficking are merely manifestations of the devastating illness that eats away at the core of our nation.    In this century, we have witnessed terror attacks, poverty, political unrest, racial divisions, natural disasters, a deadly plague, and now sky-rocketing inflation.  Yet, through it all, we keep looking for someone to restore America with strength, prosperity, and Glory.  But Who Alone can do that?

Our nation was founded to be a city on the hill. A beacon of light, hope and freedom shining forth into a broken world.  The founders were human and did make mistakes.  However, they recognized their own ineptness and foolish. Turning repentantly to God for wisdom, America grew.  Blessed by God, America grew in strength, power and prosperity.  Then the nation cast God aside for a humanistic view. People declaring themselves the victors of their own destiny, ignored God. That is where we are.

It is not the first time. But I fear this time may be the last.  Unless we turn in full repentance, as a nation and seek God, our destiny may be already determined. Like that of the divided nations of Israel and Judah when right before they were destroyed. They were overthrown by the Assyrians and then the Babylonians.  Why? Because They failed to heed the warning.

Why the Wrath must come

God knows that humans left to their own imaginations will ultimately destroy all that is righteous and good; therefore, He must intervene. Love demands it. What mother or father would allow their children to do whatever they desire? Standing by as they injure the most vulnerable. Holding fast to the idea of survival of the fittest and allowing the weak and innocent to be destroyed. Would we call that love? A world with no justice! Or would you prefer a world of robots incapable of truly feeling love, gratitude, joy or glory. Ah, but God did not see that as a loving action either. For to truly know and feel all that we are capable of, we must have been given choice. But with choice comes danger of choosing badly.

Yet in the midst of it all, God gave us so many gifts to draw us to see Him in His Glory. Surrounding us with nature and beauty and surprising us with joy. Perhaps a sunset. A gentle kiss of love. The arms of a mother cradling her baby. Or a Father lifting one high on his shoulders. All these to remind us we are more than a mere creature of chance. Yet, as a nation we sought after other gods of our own making. Pride, money, self-indulgence, and power. All promising happiness, but unable to deliver or fulfill that longing in our hearts. So now what? Who Alone can restore America?

2 Chronicles 7—Who Alone Can Restore America?

13 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; 14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

19 But if ye turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them; 20 Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations. 21 And this house, which is high, shall be an astonishment to every one that passeth by it; so that he shall say, Why hath the Lord done thus unto this land, and unto this house? 22 And it shall be answered, Because they forsook the Lord God of their fathers

So, which will it be?

God Sent a Humble Servant to Restore America

On November 2, 1980—one day before the election, Ronald Reagan spoke these words;

Do not mistake me, no reasonable man who sees the world as it is, who views the deterioration of our economy, the waning of our relationships with our allies, the growth of Soviet might and the sufferings of our recent past could underestimate the difficulties before us.

But I wonder if those who doubt America have forgotten that just as in the lives of individuals so too in the lives of nations: it is always when things seem most unbearable that we must have faith that Americas trials have meaning beyond our own understanding.

Since her beginning America has held fast to this hope of divine providence, this vision of man with God.

It is true that world peace is jeopardized by those who view man not as a noble being but as an accident of nature, without soul, and important only to the extent he can serve an all powerful state.

But it is our spiritual commitment more than all the military might in the world that will win our struggle for peace.

It is not bombs and rockets but belief and resolve it is humility before God that is ultimately the source of Americas strength as a nation

Our people always have held fast to this belief, this vision, since our first days as a nation.[1]

And A Warning came in his speech.

Then in that same speech, Reagan repeatedly the warning on which we were founded.

I know I have told before of the moment in 1630 when the tiny ship Arabella bearing settlers to the New World lay off the Massachusetts coast. To the little bank of settlers gathered on the deck John Winthrop said: we shall be a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us, so that if we shall deal falsely with our God in this work we have undertaken and so cause him to withdraw his present help from us, we shall be made a story and a byword through the world.

So, which will it be?  Will we become merely a byword?  The one whom other nations will ask what happened, with the reply being, “Because they forsook the Lord God of their fathers”

Therefore, who alone can restore America with Strength, Prosperity, and Glory?  It is God Alone who can.  He is waiting, patiently to do just that if only we would as a nation repent and turn to Him.  But that begins with you and me.  Are we willing to pray as did Daniel for his nation?

Daniel 4:4-18

"O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments, we have sinned and committed iniquity, we have done wickedly and rebelled, even by departing from Your precepts and Your judgments. Neither have we heeded Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings and our princes, to our fathers and all the people of the land. O Lord, righteousness belongs to You, but to us shame of face, as it is this day…"O Lord, to us belongs shame of face, to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, because we have sinned against You. To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against Him. We have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in His laws, which He set before us …. ",all this disaster has come upon us; yet we have not made our prayer before the LORD our God, that we might turn from our iniquities and understand Your truth. Therefore the LORD has kept the disaster in mind, and brought it upon us; for the LORD our God is righteous in all the works which He does, though we have not obeyed His voice. And now, O Lord our God, …we have sinned, we have done wickedly! "O Lord, according to all Your righteousness, I pray, let Your anger and Your fury be turned ….. Your people are a reproach to all those around us. Now therefore, our God, hear the prayer of Your servant, and his supplications, and for the Lord’s sake cause Your face to shine on Your sanctuary, which is desolate. O my God, incline Your ear and hear; open Your eyes and see our desolations, and the city which is called by Your name; for we do not present our supplications before You because of our righteous deeds, but because of Your great mercies.

And So

19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

20 That thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers

Deuteronomy 30; 10-20

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here

Furthermore, if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here

PREVIOUS

The Great Day of The Lord is Near! A Day of Wrath. Did You know?

DISCLOSURES

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2021
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. 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.

Credits

Photo licensed through Goodsalt.com

[1] https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/archives/speech/election-eve-address-vision-america

The Great Day of The Lord is Near! A Day of Wrath. Did You know?

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,…But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 1:18,5:8

The great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the Lord: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly.That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,  A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers.

 And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the Lord: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung.Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord‘s wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.  Zephaniah 1:14-18

There are many nights I awaken and pray, “Lord, hold me tight.  Fill my heart and mind with You.  For You Lord are the truth I seek in a world whirling headlong into darkness.  Evil surrounds us and envelops us with sorrow, questions, pains, and battles we cannot fight alone.  We seek for truth. 

The Great Day of the Lord is Near! And yet

We must remember and hold tight to the only real hope and truth.

 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. The earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. The creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. Romans 8:18-23

That is what Paul wanted to remind the church in Thessalonica as he wrote:

I Thessalonians 5:1-11 (ESV).

Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers,[a] you have no need to have anything written to you. 2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all children[b] of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 

6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.  I Thessalonians 5:1-11 (ESV).

He had just previously spoken of the rapture.  Now he addresses the Day of the Lord, a day of judgment and wrath. 

The Day of the Lord, a Day of Wrath

Throughout scripture the day of the Lord was used to refer to the wrath of God that must come against sin.  Heaven cannot be heaven if God allowed all evil in.  He must cleanse the nations and the people of their sin.  Yet, He has stretched forth His hand with Mercy and Grace.  Patiently awaiting all who will come to know Him as Lord, because of His amazing love for each one.  He cannot imagine heaven without each one of us; therefore, He waits.

9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you,[a] not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies[b] will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.[c]  2 Peter 3 (ESV)

So, What about The Day of The Lord?

There are many times in scripture in which the use of The Day of the Lord referred to an event that was coming.  Much as a warning calling the people to turn around and repent.  Such was the case in Isaiah 13.

9 Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. …11 And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible…17 Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, which shall not regard silver; and as for gold, they shall not delight in it.18 Their bows also shall dash the young men to pieces; and they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb; their eyes shall not spare children.19 And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees’ excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.

And so, it happened.  It was not the first time, nor will it be the last.  It was hundreds of years that God waited.  Judgements would come as warnings.  Brief revivals would even occur; however, the people in their own arrogance pushed forward to rebuild themselves.  Their pride and arrogance pushed God out of the picture repeatedly.  And so, God allowed them to be destroyed.  That is all but the remnant who were faithful. 

The Day of the Lord—yet to come

In Revelations and in Zechariah 14 we read of the Day of the Lord still future.   This will be in two phases at the end of the Tribulation and at the end of the Millenial Reign of Jesus. 

Zechariah 14 Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. 2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city 3 Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.

Why Must there Be a Day of Wrath?

He tells us in Isaiah 13:

6 Howl ye; for the day of the Lord is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.7 Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man’s heart shall melt:8 And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames.

9 Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.10 For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.11 And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.

Daniel 9:  24 “Seventy weeks[c] are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place.

To end evil. To finish the transgression.  Oh, how I long for this!  To end all evil even in my own heart. And the world around me.  How I long for that day!  Yet, until then we must cling to the truth. 

But what about now? In America.

Some would say that we are much like ancient Israel and some see the parallels of warning that came to them and now to us.  America began as a country founded upon God.  From our constitution to the little church where Washington and the congress met to pray after his inauguration.  We are a nation that has been overwhelmingly blessed by God, but too as a nation have turned away.  Are we in the pangs of judgement now.  Has the near Day of the Lord arrived, building up to the final day of the Lord?  So, too let us be reminded as Paul reminded the church of Thessalonica,

since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.  I Thessalonians 5:1-11 (ESV).

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here

Furthermore, if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here

PREVIOUS

Are You Joyfully Awaiting the Great Reunion Called the Rapture?

DISCLOSURES

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2021
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. 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.

Credits

Photo licensed through Goodsalt.com

New English Translation (NET)

NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.

Are You Joyfully Awaiting the Great Reunion Called the Rapture?

Who would you tell about Jesus if you really believed He might come today?

Certainly, we look around us at the brokenness that fills the world with so much sorrow, pain, and turmoil from every side.  Yet, what we may not realize it has been that truth since the days of Christ.  Paul often reminded the early Christians, that this is not our final destiny.  Furthermore, there will be a day when Christ returns to take us home.  This was part of the gospel message of hope he proclaimed to the world. So, all the early Christians with great anticipation were joyfully awaiting the Great Reunion called the rapture?  The were always thinking today might be the day. 

        Indeed the Thessalonian church wanted to know whether those who died would miss out on the miraculous reunion as they were so galvanized to work each day spreading the gospel while awaiting his return.  Look at what was reported of them to Paul and he wrote this.

1 Thessalonians 1(AMP) The Great Reunion

8 For the word of the Lord has resounded from you and has echoed [like thunder], not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place [the news of] your [great] faith in God has spread, so that we never need to say anything about it. 9 For they themselves report about us, telling what kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to [look forward and confidently] wait for [the coming of] His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead—Jesus, who [personally] rescues us from the coming wrath [and draws us to Himself, granting us all the privileges and rewards of a new life with Him].

So, they expectantly, joyfully awaited the great reunion.  Yet, they wondered about their family, friends and others who had already died.  Would they be a part of the great reunion when Christ returns?  After all, the strength to continue working for Him, spreading the gospel, standing firm for Jesus Christ, in a hostile word that wants Him gone comes from the strength of knowing Him.  And from knowing He will return.  We know that He has won the victory.  Whatever we face in this world, we know it is a blink of the eye compared to eternity.  That fortifies us.  If only we can keep focus on this truth, we would be joyfully awaiting the great reunion, the rapture.

But until that day we are to keep working for Jesus.   Imagine the reunion party?  For me, seeing Jesus is my greatest desire of all.  Just to rest in His arms, His presence.  I can imagine He can give us each a hug individually all at the same time. 

Joyfully Awaiting the Great Reunion Called the Rapture

 When they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 

10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.  Acts 1:6-11 ESV

We are not to just stand still staring into heaven; but we are to remember He is returning.  It is that which Paul wishes to address as he writes to the church in Thessalonica.  Remember they most likely had never seen Jesus, even when He walked the earth—he was in Nazareth, Samaria, and Judea.  For us, it is similar only even farther away from the time He walked on the earth.   We too need to be reminded so as not to be dismayed.

1 Thessalonians 4:

13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 

We are not hopeless as others in the world.

14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 

At the time of the rapture, Jesus will bring all our loved ones with Him.  They are with Him, although their bodies are still here.  So that the reunion is complete, they will come with Him.

15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord,[d] that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 

16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.  

They will then be joined with their bodies, though their soul/spirit have been in heaven with Jesus.

Therefore, we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:(For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5: 6-8

How exciting is that! The Great Reunion

17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

How would your life today be if you are joyfully awaiting the reunion called the rapture? Would you be running from place to place to tell the truth and to lead others to Christ? Let us be the light reaching into the darkness. We must be the truth dispelling all the lies. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. Who will you tell today the Good news of the Gospel.

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here

Furthermore, if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here

Previous

How do I Learn to Do More Because of Love for Jesus Christ?
Establish Your Heart Blameless at the Coming of Our Lord Jesus!  How?

DISCLOSURES

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2021
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. 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.

Credits

Photo licensed through Goodsalt.com

New English Translation (NET)

NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.

 You are Truth, Lord and You Alone

You are truth and You alone
So, take this heart that once was stone
Reveal Your will and make it known
That through my life Your light is shown
Into the darkest, dreary night
That all might see Your strength and might
And let me die to selfish pride
That in Your Will I do abide
A beacon of Your love Divine
I am the Branch, You are the Vine

With all that is going on in this world today, let us pause and look to Jesus. Truth perhaps being the thing we seek more than anything else lately. After all as we awaken bewildered in the woke cancel culture with our heads reeling from all the news media proclaiming themselves to proclaim truth. Yet, every one with a different “truth”, meaning none can be. We find ourself, like Pontius Pilate saying, “ What is truth?” (John 18:38).

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6) And “To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. ” (John 18:37) 31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (John 8: 31-32 )

John wrote, “

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. John 1:14,16, 17

Truth Proclaimed In Jesus, Alone.

Therefore, let me share with you this poem I wrote; because in this world we will have moments of deep sorrow, pain and suffering. If we keep our eyes focused on Him, we can find hope. We can stand on the truth of His Word to guide us. Therein, we have hope abounding. Even more so as the day of His return approaches and we know that we shall see Him in all of His Glory. 

You are Truth, Lord and You Alone

When I feel so lost alone
I turn and look upon Your throne
You, who for my sins did die
To rise again and justify
A wretched heart whose selfish pride
Could never set my Self aside
Until I saw a glimpse of you, Your gaze
That set my soul ablaze
A love burst forth, one greater still 
Compels me bow beneath Your will

And when I feel so sad, so down
I then must look upon Your crown
A crown of thorns once pierced Your brow
Exchanged for Glory that somehow
Did then bestow on me Your Grace
So as I gaze upon Your face
Transformed this wretched heart of mine
Reflects Your righteous Heart Divine
As step by step I bow before
The one who doth my life restore

Yet, when I stop to see this world
The sorrow, pain; it’s evil hurled
Upon the foolish, blind, and lost
I then can see the depth, the cost
The weight of sin You chose to bare
For selfish ones who do not care
With hate-filled looks, their brazen stare
Whose hardened hearts do then declare
Themselves as kings yet all the while
Destroying all with Hate and guile

They think themselves so righteous wise
While cloaked with lies their one disguise
Oh, how I hate to see them Lord
Despising You in one accord
Yet, there I see your arms stretched wide
To bid them come to You, abide
To come repentant, sinner come
And bow before Your throne succumb
Unto Your Grace, Your love profound
While singing praise, Salvation’s Sound

So broken, sad my desperate heart
Desires to leave this world, depart
To sit before Your precious throne
And bask within Your love alone
Broken, scarred, no strength, no might
To face the battles, I MUST fight
Yet then I hear Your gentle voice
Bid me to stay and make the choice
To stand once more, Your truth my shield
As to they will I fully yield

In You I have the strength, the might
In darkness, shine Your brilliant light
So, hold me tight within Your hand
That I might do Your will as planned
Your love, your joy will fill each day
You’ll give my lips the words to say
So that the broken, lost alone
May then repent, make You their own
Finding You to be their greatest treasure
A Perfect love beyond all measure


I bid the broken, lost, and sad
Come look upon Your Cross.  Be glad!
For You did die to pay their way
And rose again on the third day
If only they would now believe
The gospel truth and there receive
You as their Lord and let You in
You’ll break the binding chains of sin
Wrapped in Your Righteousness alone
They’ll stand before God’s mighty throne

Beloved, Redeemed, a child of God
With Victory now my feet are shod
Spreading the truth so far and wide
Knowing You’re always by my side
So, boldly now, no more to fear
Knowing Your love is oh so near
Empowered with Your Joy and Peace
I march on Lord and must not cease
Until that day You call me home
Upon this broken world I’ll roam

You are truth and You alone
So, take this heart that once was stone
Reveal Your will and make it known
That through my life Your light is shown
Into the darkest, dreary night
That all might see Your strength and might
And let me die to selfish pride
That in Your Will I do abide
A beacon of Your love Divine
I am the Branch, You are the Vine

Concluding Thoughts

So, let us lift our hearts in joy and rejoice as we realize whose we are. He is Truth, Light, Joy, Peace, Victory and Hope. Of that we can be assured. How do I know? He has filled my heart with His presence in a dark, foreboding world. Furthermore, He has loved me when I was most unloveable. Every Prophecy foretold in the scripture came true exactly as foretold, apart from those yet to come. Some are duel fulfillment, once in the past and again in the future. No other book can proclaim that truth written over thousands of years through many languages and human hands. It is amazing, the truth revealed even about today if one takes the time to study His word.

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here

Furthermore, if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here

Previous poems

Skipping Stones to Glory

DISCLOSURES

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2021
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. 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.

Credits

Photo licensed through Goodsalt.com

They Command us Now to Silence our Voice

They Command us now to silence our voice
Proclaiming we really don’t have a choice
To think or search for what really is true
You are fools they say, For all is new!
Only speak what’s allowed no more they say
We must agree this is the way
Like blinded sheep we march along
A uniformly thoughtless, lifeless throng

Although the world command us now to Silence our Voice, we must cry out from the mountaintops that Jesus Christ is the Way, The Truth and the Life. There is no other means of salvation, but in Him. If we do not, the rocks will cry out His praise. 

They Command us Now to Silence our Voice

They Command us now to silence our voice
Proclaiming we really don’t have a choice
To think or search for what really is true
You are fools they say, For all is new!
Only speak what’s allowed no more they say
We must agree this is the way
Like blinded sheep we march along
A uniformly thoughtless, lifeless throng

Weren’t they the ones who just had said?
How dare we limit what is spread
Of words or thoughts. Such hostility!
If we didn’t embrace relativity
Embracing freedom as their right
We stepped aside and out of sight
Believing in life and liberty
We let them take it all you see

For freedom was never really their goal
Instead, they wanted full control
They think themselves as really God
And never bow beneath His rod
What fools embrace humanity
As always good, why can’t they see
The failures throughout history
Have led to this “woke” society

So, filled with hate and such disdain
Where only violence and fear can reign
If only all would seek God’s face
And therein find the truth of Grace.
Our only hope in Him is found
Eagerly I wait His trumpet’s sound

Until that day I will sing His praise
Bowed on my knees, my arms I raise
To God, my rock my fortress who will stand
Accomplishing all that He has planned
The earth His footstool we will see
The splendor of His majesty

His glory will cover all the earth
His justice, righteousness our mirth
No longer will I silent be
For He has won the Victory!
So let me sing His praise on High
Until my song fills all the skies

WE Must not Silence Our Voice

We were born for such a time as this.

 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. Colossians 2:8

2 Peter 3:

9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here

Furthermore, if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here

Previous poems

Skipping Stones to Glory

DISCLOSURES

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2021
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. 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.

Credits

Photo licensed through Goodsalt.com