Transforming Grace

by Effie Darlene Barba

 

Transforming Grace, how could it be

That you should choose a wretch like me

And with one touch these blind eyes free

A glimpse of Glory’s love to see

 

A mind so filled with doubt and fear

Transformed to peace as you draw near

The darkened winding path now clear

As whisper of your voice I hear

 

I cannot fathom why you sought

Someone like me, Salvation bought

That from this rubbish thou hast wrought

A life now filled with Your dear thought

 

So take this selfish heart you found

And with your gentle love surround

That kindness might pour forth abound

And songs of praise the only sound

 

So mold me by your righteous hand

That firm within Your truth I stand

And trusting all that you have planned

Your joy I sing throughout this land

© 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.”

What are we to do whenever we need direction in life?  Do we toss a coin and hope for the best?  Do we talk to all our friends and get their opinion as what would be best for our life?  Hopefully, they do want the best for us.  Do we sit down and write all the pros and cons to each action?  Or do we just follow our current whims?  Depending on the significance of the decision, I am certain we have all made decisions by all of the above means. Yet, what if God truly has a plan that would guide us, protect us, and show us all that we need to know to make every decision?  Let’s look at the promises God gives to all who seek His wisdom?

Proverbs 2: 3 (AMP) “if you cry out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, ⁴ If you seek [Wisdom] as for silver and search for skillful and godly Wisdom as for hidden treasures, ⁵ Then you will understand the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of [our omniscient] God. ⁶ For the Lord gives skillful and godly Wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.⁷ He hides away sound and godly Wisdom and stores it for the righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with Him); He is a shield to those who walk uprightly and in integrity, ⁸ That He may guard the paths of justice; yes, He preserves the way of His saints. ⁹ Then you will understand righteousness, justice, and fair dealing [in every area and relation]; yes, you will understand every good path. ¹⁰ For skillful and godly Wisdom shall enter into your heart, and knowledge shall be pleasant to you. ¹¹ Discretion shall watch over you, understanding shall keep you,”

Photo courtesy of  @istockphoto

If we seek wisdom from God by studying His Word and by asking Him to guide us, recognizing that His Wisdom is like precious silver; He gives to us the following promises

Continue reading Seeking After Wisdom →

For the past two weeks we have looked at God’s Covenant Plan of Redemption through faith and to His Faithfulness to complete all that He has determined.  He has drawn out men from the very midst of their “stiff heartedness” to accomplish His Will and His Pleasure of having a people to whom He might lavish His love, joy, and glory.  He displayed His Glory through miracles, prophets, and His presence.  He gave the law that man would recognize their guilt and utter unworthiness before their creator.  Within the law, He provided a sacrificial system which pointed toward Christ’s ultimate sacrifice that would once and for all pay the penalty for our sin. 

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

God remained faithful to His Covenant Plan of redemption.  He has demonstrated this throughout all the corridors of time.  As we pause to look at all the years of history proving His faithfulness—that same faithfulness stands firm to you and to me.  We are able to hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering, not because of anything special within us.  We are able to hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering because He is faithful.

Hebrews 10: “ 1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect…¹⁰ By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all…¹⁴ For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified¹⁵ Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, ¹⁶ This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;¹⁷ And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.¹⁸ Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.¹⁹ Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,²² Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.²³ Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)”

Continue reading God’s Covenant of Grace, Love and Mercy (Part 8)-You and me →

Happy Birthday, Alberto

A bundle of cheer was born that day

A precious little lad

His tiny perfect body still

Had made my heart so glad

 

And as he grew, a sparkling smile

Would lite the darkest night

For all the world seemed perfect joy

When e’er he was in sight

 

A diplomat he grew to be

By age of six or seven

A wisdom learned or had it been

A gift to him from heaven

 

I cannot tell you how or when

It seemed just yesterday

A baby then a man became

A moment’s time I’d say

 

I see him now this man he is

And marvel at God’s Grace

The strength and honor now I see

Is written on his face

 

A wondrous gift my son has been

To warm this mother’s heart

His faith, his hope, his joy I’ve seen

Unto this world impart

 

I know twas God who took His hand

And lead him to this place

And God it is who’ll lead him on

Each step along this race

© 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 covenant of God is built upon His plan of redemption to save His creation from their own darkened selfish, self exalting hearts so that they might see, feel, experience and enjoy the pleasure of abiding in and with their creator.  He pleads with man and patiently tarries the final judgment so that the remnant who would choose Him, might do so.  He has endured the evil, the rejection, the foolishness of many that He might save the remnant that would believe.  He could have (knowing the choice that Adam would make) have decided to never create man or to have destroyed it all at the instant that Adam sinned; yet, He did not because of the love, joy, and hope He desired to share with all who would believe.  It would appear obvious that Adam did not even recognize the magnificent beauty of what was his with the relationship with God until it was gone or he could never have chosen the creation over the creator.  Thus, step by step and over all the corridors of history; God has reached out and saved a remnant who would believe so that they might through faith enjoy His fellowship. 

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

He was willing to send Christ and to pour out the full wrath that justice demanded upon His very flesh so that His Grace, Mercy and Love could save this wayward bunch. Can I experience the magnitude of Grace if I did not see the depravity and darkness of my own heart? 

Yet, in the beauty and grace; I can come boldly before God having been washed by the very blood of Jesus that I might draw near—knowing that I am covered by His Righteousness.  The chosen people of the covenant through Abraham as a nation became once more “self righteous” in their thoughts and desired to “work their way toward God”.  He allowed this dispensation that He might reach out to all of mankind who would believe in Him through faith.  Paul wrote a very detailed discussion of just that fact from Romans 9-11.  We have been given the

Continue reading God’s Covenant of Love, Grace, and Mercy (Part 7a) Mankind →