If you think back over your lifetime; how often have you hoped for something?  I hope I get that toy for Christmas, I hope I pass that test, I hope I make the team, I hope he/she likes me, I hope I find someone to love me, I hope I get the job, I hope I can buy that house, and the list goes on endlessly.  We yearn and search always for something more, something bigger than what we are today.  Hope is a good thing.  Hope lifts our spirits and allows us to keep pressing forward in the midst of pain and suffering.  The Cancer patient could never survive the grueling tortures of chemotherapy were it not for hope.  The tortured prisoner of war would despair of life were it not for hope.  Still, the question comes:  in what and for what have you placed your hope?  Perhaps the key to our search for joy and for filling our hearts with an unshakable peace lies in those two questions—In whom and for what have I placed my hope? Knowing what I am truly hoping for and in whom I place that hope can even change my perspective on current trials, tribulations,  pain, and what I am willing to endure while pressing toward that hope.  Example:  If I hope to get into that size 6 dress, then I will diet and exercise unless my desire to eat chocolate and sit on the couch every day is greater than my hope to fit the dress.  Depending on my degree of hope, I choose whether the “suffering” is truly suffering or the exercising and diet become a source of joy as I press toward that goal before me.

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The greatest treasure for which we can hope and rejoice in is found in a relationship with God.  Romans 15: ¹³ Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Let’s look first at “In what do I hope?”  Over the years of my life, the central core of what it is I hope for has changed.  Perhaps, as in Lamentations over the years that which I formerly hoped for now seems only “vanity and vexation” of spirit—leading toward despair.  So, is there any hope which can lift the human spirit to allow it to soar above the cares of this world?

Continue reading Hope Has A Name →

To Gaze Upon Thy Face of Love

by Effie Darlene Barba

In the midst of the darkest, lonely night

When all my world came tumbling down

Your ray of hope a glimmering light

Reached deep within my soul

 

To Draw me nearer to thy cross

To gaze upon thy face of love

All else, this world I count as loss

Besides thee Lord, my one desire

 

Body worn from all the years

Of battles fought and battles lost

Despite the life so filled with tears

I find in you my peace, my joy

 

In Moments filled with guilt and shame

Your Love has held me tight

Never once to point in blame

You gave for me Your life

 

This world so filled with pain and fear

You are my only hope

I feel your heartbeat drawing near

Held tight within your arms

 

Your arms provide me strength and might

To face a brand new day

And cradle me through each dark night

With hymns of wondrous praise

 

As I gaze back o’er the years

With all their ups and downs

I see the laughter and the tears

That pointed me to You

 

I thank you Lord, Your guiding hand

Has lead me all the way

This life of mine as you had planned

On mountaintops and valleys deep

 

To Draw me nearer to thy cross

To gaze upon thy face of love

All else, this world I count as loss

Besides thee Lord, my one desire

© 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.”

If we say that, “faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1); then why would I say that Great Faith begins with sight?  Is there a different kind of sight that I am referring to?  Why did the Canaanite woman and the Centurion have great faith while the crowd that had followed Jesus seeking after miracles have faith to be healed; but were not noted as having great faith?   Christ in reference to those around Him said, “Seeing, they do not see.”   This referred back even to the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah when God referred to the  people of Israel not seeing and even urged them to turn and to see His Glory.   “Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not: ²² Fear ye not me? saith the Lord: will ye not tremble at my presence” (Jeremiah 5).  So is sight necessary for faith?  If so, what kind of sight are we talking about?  Is this a sight with our eyes or rather a sight of the heart?  The heart is defined by the Merriam Webster Dictionary not only as the organ that pumps blood; but, as “one’s innermost character, feelings, or inclinations–the essential or most vital part of something.” 

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My focus must be changed and this can only be done by the Grace of God shining forth His Glory and opening the eyes of my heart—I was a blinded wretch who needed to see. Even, then how often have I allowed circumstances, selfish desires, undeserving pride, arrogance, and utter blindness to His Glory, rip from me the peace and joy that is mine in Christ.

Much of the crowd following Jesus could see the physical sights before them.  They could see the outward personage of Christ, the miracles, and the gifts of compassion that He gave; but, could they see the Glory of Christ?  The same is too often true of us.  Our faith then is limited.  Do I need to see merely the miracles to have hope in the physical realm and journey that lay before me or do I need to see “with my heart” something completely different? Paul wrote,

Continue reading Beginning of Great Faith is Sight →

Luke 7: “² And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die. ³ And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant.⁴ And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this:⁵ For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.⁶ Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof:⁷ Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.⁸ For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.⁹ When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.¹⁰ And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.”

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A Mighty Warrior humbled before Christ, bowing to His Authority demonstrates a legacy of Faith.

A Centurion was a professional officer of the Roman Army. Most centurions commanded 80 to 100 men although senior centurions commanded larger groups. To become a centurion, one had to be very skilled, literate, have already served in the military, and have good letters of recommendations. The Jewish people generally felt oppressed by the Roman occupation of their land with taxes and demands. So, how odd was it that this soldier representing the oppressing national authority be acknowledged by Jesus and even more to be said to have Great Faith. Why would Jesus have acknowledged this faith?

Continue reading Great Faith-A Centurion’s legacy →

Where do we find the faith to stand in the midst of all the trials of this world?  We want so much at times.  We beg God to answer our prayers as we stand in the midst of financial disaster, illness, grief, emotional pain, and feelings of worthlessness.  We wonder if He is too busy to be bothered, too tired of our continued requests, or too disappointed in our utter unworthiness.  We hear the burning words of Jesus to His disciples and His apostles, “Where is your faith?”

Only twice during His Earthly Ministry do we find scriptures in which Christ refers to someone’s “great faith”.  Often, He had referred to faith as the key to one’s healing, redemption, and salvation; yet, it was only twice that referred to “great faith.”  One was a Canaanite woman and one was a Centurion Soldier.  So let us look at both of these over the next few days and see why He had referred to their faith as great and let us re-examine our own faith and our requests.

Her response was that “the dogs eat of the crumbs that fall from their master’s table”. She did not protest or wail, she humbly worshipped and was willing to take the scraps that fell. “Then, Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman great is thy faith”

Jesus had drawn aside with His apostles so as to get some very needed rest.  The work had been hard and the crowds did not allow any rest for them, there were so many needy, sick, injured, and maimed.  To add to the fatigue there were the scribes and Pharisees following them and criticizing everything that they or Jesus had done.  They needed a moment to be alone so they went to this house to rest.  While trying to rest suddenly outside they heard this woman

Continue reading Great Faith-A crumb is enough →