Fountains of Wisdom—A Study in Proverbs Part 49—If You Could Have Two Wishes

If you could narrow down all your requests to God to only two, what would they be?

photo courtesy of istockphoto.com 

As it were Agur was standing before God and did just that, let’s see what did he ask for.

Proverbs 30: (AMP) 7 Two things have I asked of You [O Lord]; deny them not to me before I die: (GNV) ⁸ Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me not poverty, nor riches: feed me with food convenient for me

In my search, I found that rather than the words “deny them not to me before I die” it should perhaps read: Septuagint, "Take not grace (χάριν) from me before I die." Yet, either way, it was a simple man’s plea for continued grace and favor before God. He has just humbly bowed before God in the previous verses acknowledging his utter unworthiness and lack of understanding before God. He has come in complete humility and with awe of God’s Wisdom, Beauty and Grace. Seeing God’s Glory, although in the finiteness of his own ability in this human form has brought Agur to this point. He then requests that God give him these two things that he might remain in this state of awareness of overflowing grace throughout his life. He never wants his heart to stray again. He knows the temptations of his own heart that could lead him away and his plea to God is just to “let me stay here—in love with you. Let me never lose the wonder and awe of You, Lord.” So, what were these two requests?

Continue reading If I Could Have Two Wishes →

FOUNTAINS OF WISDOM-A STUDY IN PROVERBS PART 48-Out of Brokenness to Glorious Joy

Where do we turn when we are wearied by this journey and how can we prevail when we recognize our own frailties as ministers for Christ. If indeed we take to heart the commission that we are to go into the entire world to preach the gospel; yet, we find it nearly impossible to even tell our co-worker because we recognize our own frailties in living forth the gospel—then how do we evangelize?

 

Artwork used by written permission of Ronald Barba and is protected under copyright

Too often, we hesitate to tell someone about Christ in us—fearful that they will then look too closely at our failures to hold our tongue, restrain our temper, or conquer sin in our own lives.  If they look too closely, they might think us a fraud and then harm the work of the gospel instead of spreading it.

Agur was such a man—a humble evangelist who questioned the fact that God would or could use him. As I studied these verses to prepare for you this word, I found that there are wide variances in the thought as to who is Agur and whether there were real people name Ithiel and Ucal. Some say these were not literal people and perhaps that does not matter. What does matter is that God has chosen to include this chapter in His word and hence has Himself validated the wisdom found within.

Proverbs 30 (YLT) “1.Words of a Gatherer, son of an obedient one, the declaration, an affirmation of the man: — I have wearied myself [for] God, I have wearied myself [for] God, and am consumed.”

Continue reading Out of Brokenness to Glorious Joy →

English translation follows.  Spanish is certainly not my first language; so, it is my prayer that the message is clear.  For all my Hispanic family and friends, I wanted to give you this poem I wrote several years ago and ultimately rewrote this morning due to errors I found.

Dios, Mi Padre

By Effie Darlene Barba

 

Tu Eres Mi Gozo

Tu Eres mi fe

Tu eres mi fuerza,

Mi Padre, mi Rey

 

Usted me hizo Hermosa

me dio valor

Todo lo tengo

Debo a tu amor

 

Usted llene mi alma,

a causa de tu voluntad

Usted está siempre presente

en mi soledad

 

Por favor, abra mis ojos

por lo que me podría ver

¡No hay amor más grande

que he podido saber

 

En noches obscuras,

Tormentos de infiernos

yo Siento tus brazos

y En paz, puedo duermo

 

¿Qué le puedo dar por todo

lo que me habéis dado?

Te doy mi cuerpo, mi corazón y mi alma,

no tengo nada más a mi lado

 

God, my Father (English Translation)

 

You are My Joy

You are my faith

You are my strength,

my father, my King

 

You made me beautiful

And gave me

everything I have

I owe it to your love

 

You fill my soul

because of your will

you are ever present

in my solitude

 

Please open my eyes,

so that I can see

there is no greater love

that I could ever find.

 

in dark nights,

torments of hell

I feel your arms and in peace,

I am able to sleep

 

What can I give

for everything that you have given me?

I give you my body, my heart and my soul,

I have nothing more on my side

© 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.”

Fountains of Wisdom—A Study in Proverbs Part 47—Choose now or forever hold your peace.

As we turn to Proverbs 29, we see it begin with an ominous warning.

Proverbs 29:1 He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

Stubbornness, pride and self reliance stand in the way of mankind seeking after God.

photo courtesy of istockphoto.com

Justice and judgment will come.  We are asked to choose today whom we will follow.  We do not know the hour of our death. We do not know the hour when God will call judgment upon a nation for their sin. We do not know the hour that God will call His church out of the world and the prophecies in revelation will be fulfilled.

Yet, we go about our lives as though the world revolves around us, our plans, our personal desires and wants for today. We moan and groan about taxes and government while for the most part we are unwilling to stand up for God’s truth; afraid to offend anyone. (Verses 2, 25) We seek our own pleasures more than we seek after God’s word (Verse 3). While seeking after man’s favor and man’s riches, we become easily swayed from the heart of our mission to speak the truth of the gospel to all who would hear (verses 4-8).

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FOUNTAINS OF WISDOM—A STUDY IN PROVERBS PART 46—What do I do with this Sin?

It is by grace that we are saved and by grace that our salvation is sustained in the mighty hand of God. At times we find ourselves resting on that fact to the point of becoming flippant about our grace, much like David when he was walking on his rooftop and saw Bathsheba. After all, it was the time when as the King he was suppose to be leading his army; but, instead he was leisurely enjoying his palace, sleeping late and enjoying the position God had given him.

photo courtesy of istockphoto.com

Much like David, sometimes we become complacent in the fact that we are saved by Grace, while sin lurks at our door. There are other times when we have battled sin within our own hearts daily until we tire of that fight and lay down our sword.

After all, our works can’t save us—so I will rest in the truth of that salvation by grace and just go about my life, awaiting my death one day-miserable and frustrated. What do we do? Do we work or do we just wait? If I work, then how do I avoid pride in my work? What did James mean when he said, “¹⁴ What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?…¹⁷ Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” (James 2)

Let us look at what Proverbs has to say.

Continue reading Suspended by Grace-What do I do with this Sin? →