As we move into chapter 7, which concludes the first section in the book of Proverbs which has been the letter of Solomon addressed to his sons; we see Solomon now try to illustrate the importance of wisdom by telling a story.  He uses this story to conclude his letter; and, much like a parable bring the truth of what he had been writing into a format to “drive home the point.”  Throughout the first 7 chapters he had referred to wisdom as “she” as though wisdom was like a pure, righteous woman like as ones mother or older sister who guide the hands, train the hearts, and leads one closer to God. 

Drawing used with written permission of Ronald Barba. © 2012 Ronald Barba and is protected under copyright laws.

That wisdom is a gift from God which must be sought after, clung to, written on ones heart, and wrapped tightly about ones neck like a collar to lead you in the right direction.  Without wisdom and understanding, the heart is easily swayed to follow after folly. 

How easy for lusts and desires to draw one away and toward a path of destruction? To ascertain that his sons understand this, he tells them the story of a foolish young man wandering the streets at night and is

Continue reading TIDBITS OF WISDOM: A STUDY IN PROVERBS PART 12 —God or Folly, which do you choose? →

Thus far as we are looking at the books of the Proverbs, the first 7 chapters are written and directed by Solomon to his sons. He has pleaded that they desire and seek the Wisdom of God with all their hearts. He knew that the only truth and wisdom was that which comes from God.

Drawing used with written permission of Ronald Barba. © 2012 Ronald Barba and is protected under copyright laws

Joy in this life can only be found in a close, trusting relationship with God. The creator of the Universe is omnipotent and omniscient. Why would we ever trust anyone else?

Some of the first chapters include exhortations with their promises. Now as we begin chapter 6 we begin a group of warnings followed by their consequences. They are as follows:

Continue reading TIDBITS OF WISDOM-A STUDY IN PROVERBS PART 11-Broken, Dark Hearts In Need of Grace →

I know that this is Poem Sunday.  I have written, but still editing a poem for Easter Sunday; but, I wanted to share today one I wrote before.  Yet, on this palm Sunday I also wanted to tell all of you to go to hear Keith Simon’s Sermon which is probably one of the best sermons I have heard.  So please go and watch

Jesus Is The King No One Recognized  the sermon by Keith Simon at the The Crossing Church.  I hope you are inspired, uplifted, and desire Jesus the King as Lord of Your Life.

The Grace in Which I Stand

 

Oh feeble heart, Oh fragile soul

Where is the hope on which you hold

With all the failures of your past

Where is the faith to make you bold

Where is the faith to make you bold

 

There was a King though blameless He

That came to pay my penalty

And in that act He set me free

To follow Him in liberty

To follow Him in liberty

 

It is His love that drew me out

And in His Grace I shall not doubt

That He who started this work in me

Will finish it with a Glorious Shout

Will finish it with a Glorious Shout

 

One day the finished work be done

That I might look then like God’s son

Sifted, shined just like pure Gold

As Glory shines forth, Glorious One

As Glory shines forth, Glorious One

 

And in this hope my faith conformed

I know my life will be transformed

I stand upon this future grace

So for His work my passion warmed

So for His work my passion warmed

 

So in this faith I firmly stand

That formed in me as God had planned

No force on earth can shake me free

My future held by God’s great hand

My future held by God’s great hand.

From my  Book, A Broken and Contrite Heart published 2010.

Copies of A Broken and Contrite Heart are available at http://www.amazon.com/Broken-Contrite-Heart-Effie-Darlene/dp/1456755900/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1397413456&sr=8-1&keywords=effie+darlene+barba   or at: http://bookstore.authorhouse.com/Products/SKU-000465107/A-Broken-and-Contrite-Heart.aspx

© 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 with the exception of my own book. 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.”

Though I dearly love the King James Version with all its poetic beauty I know that some of my readers find it more difficult to understand.  As I move forward I will try to keep a balance that I hope to be helpful for all my readers by incorporating other versions at times, by separating the scriptures so that you may jump past to the narrative, and by providing at times only references to the scripture verse that I am referring to without including the actual verse.  At one point, I included every verse just in case someone did not have a Bible.  Silly me, if you are reading my blog; you have internet; therefore, you do have access to Internet Bible Sources such as  http://www.biblegateway.com  Please feel free to give me feedback so that we may grow together; as certainly, this pilgrimage life journey is one where we all need each other.  There is so much to learn and so much joy to experience as we walk this wonderful journey with God. 

The book of Proverbs is one which will take us some time to complete; but, I sincerely believe will be worth our while.  The first 7 chapters are Solomon’s instructions to his children, a wise Father urging and pleading that his children to seek after, cling tight to, and forever be lead by God’s wisdom.  He has provided instructions, provided exhortations that include promises and described the magnificent benefits of life that come from clear discernment based on wisdom.  In chapter 5, he had pleaded that they not allow their eyes to wander losing sight of their first love; because they could lose everything with the resultant emptiness, depression, and disillusionment that certainly would follow.  In this, he had referred to more than just the marital state. 

Drawing used with written permission of Ronald Barba. © 2011 Ronald Barba and is protected under copyright laws.

The greatest loss that we can face is the loss of our passion, love and desire for God as our greatest treasure.  When we as Christians lose that because we have run after other loves; the resultant heartbreak can be nearly unbearable as life starts sifting through our hands with no purpose, joy, or hope.

 

Without that passion and love for God to awaken us fresh each morning, we begin to just go through the motions of each and every day—life becomes drudgery or a constant chasing after anything to bring back that sparkle.  Are you there?  Perhaps you could understand it or at least explain it when you know you strayed and you were the one who blatantly chased after something else.  But what about those moments when you think you have been following God, He has been first in your devotion, you have done all that He has asked, and life becomes that same “going through the motions” with no passion?  You want to cry, you long to trust, and you need something to

Continue reading Tidbits of Wisdom-A Study in Proverbs, part 10: I’m Broken, -What now? →

As we come to Chapter 5, Solomon warning against sexual folly and all the pitfalls of seeking after “strange woman”.  Did Solomon write this chapter in his youth before he fell to his own failure to heed these words?  Or did Solomon write this chapter nearer the end of his life?  Most commentaries say that Proverbs was written in his youth or during the middle years of his life; but, as a gathering of much of his wisdom the descriptions found in chapter 5 seem to come from a man who learned from bitter failure.  It seems as a Father who is pleading, “Don’t fall into the same failure I did”. 

photo courtesy of @istockphoto.com

Beware when you have reached your greatest mountaintop with God, lest you fall.  On that mountain top do not forget it was God’s Grace that got you there.  Sometimes our most difficult test is when we have all we desired.

This became true of Solomon. Let’s begin with the warnings in Proverbs 5.

Continue reading Tidbits of Wisdom- A Study in Proverbs- Part 9-Have you left your first Love? →