Prayer is our intercession, it is our hope.  So often, we try to go to battle against the flesh and we fail to recognize our need for intercessory prayer.  We forget to pray and we forget the importance of others praying on our behalf.  God did not leave us here on earth to fight this battle alone.  As Christians, we need communion with other Christians.  That perhaps is something that I forget at times.  We need each other.  I must say that it is the intercessory prayer of many dear friends which have carried me through.  Just as Moses stood in prayer while Joshua fought the Amalekites,

we need dear Christians who pray for us.

And as Moses prayed for during this great symbolic battle of flesh against the spirit, his arms were held up by Aaron and Hur. (Exodus 17:8-16) Prayer teams are needed to help us in our battles.  This past year I faced a huge battle for God, fought within my very heart and soul- battle to hold onto God’s truth in the midst of conflict.  I could not have done so without the prayer team from Leading the Way and the prayers of a dear Christian lady, Iris Rice. My other prayer teams included Mom, Millie, John Michael, Delores, Rochelle, and Anne. A special thanks to Millie and John Michael is due as they have been dear accountability partners to whom I could confess all my failures in those times when the battle seemed too hard or I became filled with fear and doubt—without judging they reminded me always of who I am in Christ. God did not leave us here to fight alone.  He is there; He is the victory.  Yet, He has so chosen that we

Continue reading We All Need Intercessory Prayer Partners →

Would I Love You Even More

I felt the searing, pelting rain

Deep within my soul

I was uncertain where to turn

Or what should be my goal

 

I gazed upon a cross so far

That stood upon a hill

A Lion strong had died a Lamb

He gave His life at will

 

That I so undeserving be

Might see His face of love

A Glimpse of His true Glory

To fill me with His Love

CHORUS:

Would I love You just the same

When my life is filled with shame

When pain is all I know

Would my love for You still show

Can I show Your Glory still

Accept this as Your will

When my heart is broke in two

Cradled in Your hands, renew

As on Your hope I soar

Would I love You even more?

© 2010 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.”

What are we to do when everything seems uncertain? What happens when we look deep into the future and we don’t know how God is going to provide? We look at our own choices over time and worry that perhaps God cannot bless because of our own foolishness—what then are we to do? Throughout my lifetime I have been at that point more often than not. I stare into a darkness not knowing where God is leading; but I know He must be leading somewhere. Some would say, “Why pray if God is omnipotent and your future determined anyway?” If God has the plan worked out, what purpose is there to prayer? After all, God already knows what I need. Yet, He has said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.²⁴ Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” (John 16) Because of this verse, others play out the “Name it, claim it game” and become angry or disillusioned when God doesn’t give them that Porsche they asked for.

Artwork used by written permission of Ronald Barba.  It is copyright protected ©2010 Ronald Barba.

So what are the keys to pray and hope when all looks bleak?

Let us turn to Psalm 37 for some clues.

Continue reading Trust and Delight in the Lord-How when your future is unknown? →

“Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;

² In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

³ But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour” Titus 1

Chosen, redeemed before the dawn of time.  I cannot tell you the exact answer to the questions that may raise; although, as I have tried to display the fact that God does not work within the same time/space continuum that our minds do.  I do know that it is pure grace by which I was chosen and not because of anything special.  Indeed, I remember a young Christian girl who wanted to prove herself worthy of His love.  At 15, I was teaching Sunday school, witnessing for Christ, and trying to “be all that I should be”.  I remember, in hopes that God would be pleased praying, “Lord, are you proud that I am not like the others who have followed after sin?”  That came right before I fell down head long into failure after failure.  Struggling and trying to pull myself back out, trying to be worthy of His love; wanting so desperately to feel deserving of Him.  My failures had not come from defiance but came while struggling to follow Him.

It was a journey which would step by step, through many trials and struggles lead me to an understanding of the depth of unconditional love with which God loved me.

  His presence in the middle of the night when I awakened frightened or troubled, His ever present whispering voice when loneliness tried to grip my heart, the steady peace which carried me through when trials tore my heart wide open, and His ever present joy that over rode the pain which came as I walked through years of illness ultimately allowed me to see Him as my only treasure.  No longer did it matter why He chose me, I only stand in awe and wonder that

Continue reading The Good Pleasure of God’s Will (Part 7) →

Before we move on into a discussion regarding evangelism as a part of the good pleasure of God’s Will, let us try to summarize this series thus far. The major points, if they can be summarized I see as:

1.  God is a very Happy, Joyous God innately as the central core of His Being.

2.  God exists as soul, body and spirit (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) distinctly separate and yet one.

3. God’s greatest delight (pleasure) is His love for the Son—which engulfs the Trinity with such love as to be like an overflowing fountain of love and joy.

4. God created the heavens and earth which displayed His Glory; then He created man so that He could lavish mankind with His love, His joy, and His glory.

5. For mankind to fully feel or experience that love and joy, it would require man to have free will within a time/space continuum.

artwork used by written permission of Ronald Barba  ©2012 Ronald Barba

6. God existing outside of that time/space continuum knew that mankind as a whole would choose to worship the creation more than the creator; thus, God would have to be willing to suffer sorrow, pain, rejection and the agony of pouring out all His wrath against sin upon His beloved son in order to save a remnant of His creation.  He would offer this salvation to all; but He knew only some would accept.  Yet, His love was so great that He was willing to endure it all.  He would have to become “sorrowful; yet, always rejoicing.”   Those who would follow by necessity would experience the same.  2 Corinthians 6: “We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.² (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)³ Giving no offence in anything, that the ministry be not blamed:⁴ But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,⁵ In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;⁶ By pureness, by knowledge, by long suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,⁷ By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,⁸ By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;⁹ As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;¹⁰ As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.”

Continue reading The Good Pleasure of God’s Will (Part 6) →