The Father’s Loving Plea on this Thanksgiving Day

November 24, 2022 Effie Barba Leave a comment

On this Thanksgiving Day, let us each and everyone stop to consider the Father’s loving plea to us. In a world so caught up in counterfeit joys, let us for a moment consider the truth of God. He who gives us life and being. Created in His image, yet, given the liberty to choose. As we look around us and inside our own hearts, let us examine for a moment all that we see.

Has humankind become more kind, loving, and united in joy, love and peace by seeking after humanism. Have we of our own efforts evolved this world into a Utopia? No, because only God can make that which is infinitely good, righteous, and just. Only He can shine forth truth and light into the deception and darkness, humans have chosen. Why would He allow all this? Could He not have caused everything to remain good? Yes, but then there would have been no choice for you and without choice you could have never understood all of His attributes, nor could you have known what love or mercy is. You would have been no more than a programmed robot. Would that have been loving or kind? I think not.

The FATHER’S Loving Plea: Free to choose

Instead, God chose to allow all of us to see the depth of depravity, that we might see the magnitude of Glory. Always providing a way for our salvation, if only we choose. He willingly came to earth and paid the price for our sin, that we might through faith know Him and know what is truly good, kind, and beautiful beyond our own imaginations. And why has He not yet returned to change all this? He is waiting with patience that you might choose Him. That one more might come to know Him. How long will he wait? We do not know but we do know, one day their foot shall slip. He will not tarry forever.

Deuteronomy 32

“Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak;
And hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.
²Let my ^[a]teaching drop as the rain,
My speech distill as the dew,
As raindrops on the tender herb,
And as showers on the grass.
³For I proclaim the name of the Lord:
Ascribe greatness to our God.
⁴He is the Rock, His work is perfect;
For all His ways are justice,
A God of truth and without injustice;
Righteous and upright is He.

⁵“They have corrupted themselves;
They are not His children,
Because of their blemish:
A perverse and crooked generation.
⁶Do you thus deal^[b] with the Lord,
O foolish and unwise people?
Is He not your Father, who bought you?
Has He not made you and established you?

“For they are a nation void of counsel,
Nor is there any understanding in them.
²⁹Oh, that they were wise, that they understood this,
That they would consider their latter end!

‘Is this not laid up in store with Me,
Sealed up among My treasures?
³⁵Vengeance is Mine, and recompense;
Their foot shall slip in due time;
For the day of their calamity is at hand,
And the things to come hasten upon them.’

³⁶“For the Lord will judge His people
And have compassion on His servants,

One day He will return, but until that day, the Father’s Loving Plea continues on.

The Father’s Loving Plea

What have I done to you my child
That you would scorn my love, defiled
The grace with which I reached for you
Cast aside for something new
Chasing after some new toy
When I alone could give you joy
What was the reason that you ran
Believing lies you chose your plan
So far away from me you trod
Forgetting I am your One true God

Before the earth was ever born
I loved you, named you, and did adorn
You with a life, a heart, a song
I wanted you to then belong
Forever safe within my arms
Protected, loved from all life’s harms
Yet, without choice you’d never know
The depth of love I could bestow
You’d never feel a love so true
If choice was never given you

And so, my child I bid you turn
From all the passions that you yearn
For they will only cause you grief
And rob your joy just as a thief
Does steal all that is truly good
Destruction left where once you stood
Despair and pain do rob your soul
The bitter lies do take their toll
Oh, hear me sounding forth alarms
Pursuing you with open arms

What does the Lord require of you?
To hold fast My truth, the truth you knew
Was written in your heart and more
It shineth forth from shore to shore
Humbly bow before My throne
Where there you name, your being known
Surrender all into My hands
So, I may heal your heart, your lands
One day, oh soon, I’ll say it’s done
Restoring Justice in My Son

And on that day, oh let it be
You stand with Him, in victory
Do not be left behind in scorn
Eternally to weep and mourn
When Christ has paid the price for you
By faith alone, I will renew
Your heart of stone, I’ll take away
That you might live with Me that day
I will not force you, you are free
That is the price of liberty

And yet, I bid you come to me
Where I will truly set you free
From earthly bonds and sin filled chains
That injure you and cause such pains
Jesus came and died for you
To pay the price that’s justly due
For every thought and deed you’ve done
I placed upon my dear, dear son
So willingly he bore the pain
To wash you clean, remove each stain
And cloak you in His righteousness
If only you  in faith confess

Mercy, love and grace my gift
To all who now are lost, adrift
Upon the tempest storms of life
So tortured by the sorrow, strife
Just come accept my gift of love
I bid you from my throne above
I will forever hold you tight
Will all my strength and all my might
That one day soon you too may see
The Glory of my Majesty

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

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The Sky Grew Dark That Fate-Filled Day

DISCLOSURES

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2021
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Credits

New King James Version (NKJV)

Photo licensed through Goodsalt.com

Christian Poetry

The Sky Grew Dark That Fate-Filled Day

November 17, 2022 Effie Barba Leave a comment

Certainly at times it seems that all around me is fading into darkness. So much anger, strife, and suffering in the world. However, whenever that happens, I reflect upon that fate filled day when the sky grew black as they lead Jesus away to die upon that cross. Then, I remember and have hope. This darkness is but the beginning of the dawn. In Genesis, God wrote each day concerning creation, “the evening and the morning were the day.” The darkness comes before the morning light. As I pondered upon these things, I wrote this poem

The Sky Grew Dark that Fate filled Day

The Sky grew dark that fate-filled day
As from the Cross my Lord did say
It is finished-it was His battle cry
As then He bowed His head to die
Oh, What is this? Is all now lost?
Was this the price of sin? The cost
To save my wretched selfish heart
Perfect Love was torn apart
Spirit, Father turned their back
The earth did quake. The sky turned black
Hope Appeared to die that day
But had we not heard Him say 
He would rise again to set us free
Over sin and death came victory
The story did not end that day
He rose again to lead the way
For all who humbly call His name
Acknowledge guilt of sin and shame
By faith accept His sacrifice
And there receive eternal life
To stand before His Glorious throne
As His Beloved You are there known

How dark the clouds, the earth today
Finished, some do shout and say
Evil circles us around this world
Where truth is crushed and lies hurled
Just as hope seems to fade away
I heard my Savior’s voice then say
My Love, the end has just begun
But as you know, the victory’s won
The end of sorrows, pain and fear
Is coming soon, it’s almost here
All of this a minor cost
To bring to Me the lame, the lost
So, look my dear into my eyes
I’ll take your sorrows, pains and sighs
Replace them with my heart of love
My peace, my joy to rise above
All the darkness of this land
You’re firmly held in my right hand
Eternity will soon begin
Just wait a while, you know we win
Just as I promised long ago
My word I left that you might know
I am the way, the truth, the life
The only one who conquered strife

And so my question is dear friends, do you know Him? The skies grew dark on that fate-filled day. Yet, He rose again to win the victory over pain, sin, death, and strife. He is returning again soon. Although it may appear dark, the night is its darkest just before the dawn. He is coming again soon.

2 Thessalonians 2

2 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

Do Not Forget even as the sky grew dark

5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. 7 For the [d]mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.

9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Stand Fast

13 But we are [f]bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, 14 to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.

16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, 17 comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work. 2 Thessalonians 2

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

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How do we Really Stand Faithful to God When Evil Surrounds Us?

DISCLOSURES

New King James Version (NKJV)

Photo licensed through Goodsalt.com

Blog

How do we Really Stand Faithful to God When Evil Surrounds Us?

November 13, 2022 Effie Barba Leave a comment

This week seems like nearly every week anymore, moments of great faith and delight intermingled with dashed hopes, anxious moments of wondering what is next. Yet, why? I know God is in Control. Because of that I know the final outcome. Victory is ours in Jesus. So, then why are there those moments of my wanting to know the play by play? How do we really stand faithful to God when evil surrounds us on every side? We know that we are assured His promises are all amen and yes in Jesus. There will be hard times, but He is our rock and our fortress. Yet, each day there are new trials to overcome. So, how can I really stand faithful to God in such trials?

There are the ever-increasing aches and pains throughout my body. Nothing works as it did a year ago and time clicks by faster than ever. Worse than that is the steady constant noise of evil surrounding me blaring from devices of many kinds and the steady increase of Godliness in our government, our media and at every turn. Furthermore, there is the withdrawal of our churches from truth, seeking money, power, and numbers rather than truth or righteousness.

As we study the scripture we know, we are not the first generation in this situation. Many have come before us. That is particularly true as we open once more the scriptures of yet another prophet to the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah- Micah. Studying God’s word helps us to recognize what was written in Ecclesiastes 1:9.

⁹That which has been is what will be,
That which is done is what will be done,
And there is nothing new under the sun.

Micah was One who Had to Really Stand Faithful to God

Micah was a contemporary of Isaiah, Amos, Hosea, and Jonah. He prophesied to both the Northern Kingdom and to Judah. His writings divided into 3 major sections. Chapters 1-2 outlined the message that judgment would come rightfully because the people had broken the covenant laid out in Deuteronomy 28-29 There was clearly outlined the blessings if they obeyed God’s commands and the curses if they did not. As the younger generation prepared to enter the promised land, Moses was very specific in his instructions given from God. Remember they knew what had happened to their parents who failed to follow God’s commands. Furthermore, they had all the rich history of Genesis, being taught what it was to really stand faithful to God and the curses if not. Now it would be up to them.

Furthermore, in Deuteronomy God through Moses instructed them that ever Sabbath day was to be dedicated to studying God’s word, teaching it the children, and worshipping God. The priests were to study continuously. Then on each 7^th year, the people were to be gathered together and the entire scripture was to be read to all. It was the year they were to allow their land to rest while God provides.

God always places the greatest responsibility on those who are the leaders and those who are the priests (or preachers). The people also are to blame if they follow the directions of the bad leaders and preachers, for each of us are accountable to God for ourselves. But, as to the leaders, Micah spoke directly to them in Micah 3:1-3.

Micah 3 (NKJV) Evil Surrounds the Leadership

And I said:

“Hear now, O heads of Jacob,
And you rulers of the house of Israel:
Is it not for you to know justice?
²You who hate good and love evil;
Who strip the skin from My people,
And the flesh from their bones;
³Who also eat the flesh of My people,
Flay their skin from them,
Break their bones,
And chop them in pieces
Like meat for the pot,
Like flesh in the caldron.”

⁴Then they will cry to the Lord,
But He will not hear them;
He will even hide His face from them at that time,
Because they have been evil in their deeds.

Pretty harsh similes. But is it not what leadership does when it strips humans of their dignity. Stealing and robbing the morale of those who want to follow God—calling them names and pushing agendas into the media that surrounds our very being. You cannot go anywhere or turn on a show without hearing God’s name being used in vain. Splitting the family unit apart and saying parents have no rights to teach their children? So, what are we to do to remain faithful?

What about the Priests or our preachers?

Thus says the Lord concerning the prophets
Who make my people stray;
Who chant “Peace”
While they chew with their teeth,
But who prepare war against him
Who puts nothing into their mouths:
⁶“Therefore you shall have night without vision,
And you shall have darkness without divination;
The sun shall go down on the prophets,
And the day shall be dark for them.
⁷So the seers shall be ashamed,
And the diviners abashed;
Indeed they shall all cover their lips;
For there is no answer from God.”

Remember what were the priests commanded to do to Stand faithful?

They were to read the law daily and teach it. It was absolutely imperative that every 7 years the priests were to gather all the people together and to read the complete law. Essentially all would hear and beyond that they were to teach them regularly.

⁹So Moses wrote this law and delivered it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and to all the elders of Israel. ¹⁰And Moses commanded them, saying: “At the end of every seven years, at the appointed time in the year of release, at the Feast of Tabernacles, ¹¹when all Israel comes to appear before the Lord your God in the place which He chooses, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing. ¹²Gather the people together, men and women and little ones, and the stranger who is within your gates, that they may hear and that they may learn to fear the Lord your God and carefully observe all the words of this law, ¹³and that their children, who have not known it, may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God as long as you live in the land which you cross the Jordan to possess.” Deuteronomy 31:9-13 (NKJV

So, How Do We Stand Faithful?

Much like Micah, we must know the truth. For us to do that we must study the word. Micah had to know the law as we must also know. Our only weapon is the Word of God, wielded with the help of the Holy Spirit.

But truly I am full of power by the Spirit of the Lord,
And of justice and might,
To declare to Jacob his transgression
And to Israel his sin.
⁹Now hear this,
You heads of the house of Jacob
And rulers of the house of Israel,
Who abhor justice
And pervert all equity,
¹⁰Who build up Zion with bloodshed
And Jerusalem with iniquity:
¹¹Her heads judge for a bribe,
Her priests teach for pay,
And her prophets divine for money.
Yet they lean on the Lord, and say,
“Is not the Lord among us?
No harm can come upon us.”
¹²Therefore because of you
Zion shall be plowed like a field,
Jerusalem shall become heaps of ruins,
And the mountain of the temple
Like the bare hills of the forest.

Secondly, to stand faithful when evil surrounds

We must remember the truth. God is Sovereign. All of this is merely bumps in the road to Glory with Him. This life is brief compared to eternity. That is what Micah reminds us of next week in Chapters 4-5. That was the secret that kept Daniel faithful in a land where evil surrounds. Keep our eyes focused on Him.

So How Are We to Stand Faithful to God

Study the word every day. That is your blueprint and it is your sword against the world.
Always remember God’s Promises are true
Hold fast to Steadfast Joy—What do I mean? Momentary joy is not what you need for it is based on a lie. Steadfast joy is based on 3 major principals
God IS Sovereign, Omnipotent, Perfect Righteousness, Justice, and He rewards those who diligently seek Him. That is faith. When you know this: you do not run in fear or fall apart when things turn upside down. Hebrews 11:6
Know Your purpose as outlined in the prayer of Jesus recorded in John 17. The purpose for your existence is to be enveloped in God’s love (John 17:23), showered with His Joy (John 17:13), and that He might share His glory with you. He does not need your or me to save another’s soul. That He can do all by Himself and that is His greatest act of Glory. Therefore, when He allows you or me to be a part of that act, He has shared His Glory with us.
Know who you are. Ephesians 1-3 clearly outlines that we are His Beloved, Redeemed, Chosen Child, Heir of the Kingdom, endowed with power from on High, sealed by the Holy Spirit eternally, Servant to Him by choice, Mighty Warrior, endowed with special gifts for the Kingdom. With that resume, why do we ever feel down or depressed?

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here

Furthermore, if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here

What is Faith and Why Does Faith Matter So Much to God?

DISCLOSURES

New King James Version (NKJV)

Photo licensed from Goodsalt.com

Blog

What is Faith and Why Does Faith Matter So Much to God?

November 8, 2022 Effie Barba Leave a comment

We talk so much about faith. But do we even really understand what faith is. And more importantly, why does faith matter so much to God? ¹Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. .³By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. ⁶But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11 (NKJV). But why does faith matter so much to God?

Everything from creation through revelation depends on these two premises of faith. God IS. The Great I am, creator of heaven and earth, the very substance by which everything exists is Sovereign overall. The Beginning and the END, the author, and the finisher of all things reigns supreme in perfect righteousness, perfect love, and perfect glory. That is premise 1. But for faith to exist, one must also believe that He is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Everything concerning faith hinges on these two premises.

Even if I believe that God IS, and do not believe that He rewards those who diligently seek Him, then faith fails me. I must truly believe that He is doing all things for my good, or I will falter in my faith. That is when I try to do faith my way, not His. If I believe both premises, then I know whatever comes, He has a perfect plan that is Good, loving and that will bring me ever closer to Him. It is that lack of true faith that led the Israelites always farther away from God and into their own destruction.

A Failure of Faith

“When Israel was a child, I loved him,
And out of Egypt I called My son.
²As they called them,
So they went from them;
They sacrificed to the Baals,
And burned incense to carved images.

³“I taught Ephraim to walk,
Taking them by their arms;
But they did not know that I healed them.
⁴I drew them with ^[^e^]gentle cords,
With bands of love,
And I was to them as those who take the yoke from their ^[^f^]neck.
I stooped and fed them. Hosea 11

The story repeats itself from the beginning of time throughout the ages. God urges the people to remember Him and all of His goodness toward them. He not only points back in time to His rescuing the people from Egypt. ,But He also points forward in time to when the Messiah would come. So, often this is the case with scripture. He foretells the future both near and far while recalling the past. God does this so that we might know He IS Omnipotent (all knowing) and Sovereign. Just as He fulfills every promise He has spoken in the past, He will faithfully fulfill every promise in the future. Every promise is yes and amen in Him.

⁹Remember the former things of old,
For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like Me,
¹⁰Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things that are not yet done,
Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand,
And I will do all My pleasure,’ Isaiah 46:

A Slipping from Faith

The Nation of Israel, despite all God’s blessing failed in their faith. They failed to believe that His Prohibitions were for their good. Some remembered all He did, but felt that He would do it regardless of their own disobedience. Just like Cain, they wanted to practice religion their own way–not as Thus Saith The Lord.

⁵“He shall not return to the land of Egypt;
But the Assyrian shall be his king,
Because they refused to repent.
⁶And the sword shall slash in his cities,
Devour his districts,
And consume them,
Because of their own counsels.
⁷My people are bent on backsliding from Me.
Though they call to the Most High,
None at all exalt Him. Hosea 11

God has always been very clear in His message. Trust me and know that I am Good, if not you will destroy your own happiness. God speaks with commands and sometimes prohibitions, not to “destroy our joy”; but to give us true joy. From the days of Adam and Eve, God gave them the choice to trust Him by faith when He said you do not want to eat from that tree—it will bring death and destruction. He had said the same to the children of Israel, do not chase after idols—they will be your death and destruction. But all too often, even we are guilty of wanting to worship God our way. We do not demonstrate the faith of believing He really does know best and wants our best.

They Failed to Believe

When Ephraim spoke, trembling,
He exalted himself in Israel;
But when he offended through Baal worship, he died.
²Now they sin more and more,
And have made for themselves molded images,
Idols of their silver, according to their skill;
All of it is the work of craftsmen.
They say of them,
“Let ^[^a^]the men who sacrifice ^[^b^]kiss the calves!”
³Therefore they shall be like the morning cloud
And like the early dew that passes away,
Like chaff blown off from a threshing floor
And like smoke from a chimney.

⁴“Yet I am the Lord your God
Ever since the land of Egypt,
And you shall know no God but Me;
For there is no savior besides Me. Hosea 13

God reminds them that He did not forsake them, they forsook Him. Yet, His promises will not fail. Perhaps for that generation it was too late, but He IS the Lord and one day He would bring His son to die on the cross for them. Though only a remnant would survive, He would be faithful. That has been true throughout all of history. After all His story is that. He IS and He rewards those who diligently seek Him. Not that always gets it right, but that diligently seek Him, trusting Him regardless of what their sight might say. This is a matter of the heart.

Yet, one day by faith.

O Israel, return to the Lord your God,
For you have stumbled because of your iniquity;
²Take words with you,
And return to the Lord.
Say to Him,
“Take away all iniquity;
Receive us graciously,
For we will offer the sacrifices^[^a^] of our lips.
³Assyria shall not save us,
We will not ride on horses,
Nor will we say anymore to the work of our hands, ‘You are our gods.’
For in You the fatherless finds mercy.” Hosea 14

There is nothing that my hands can do to save me. The works of my hands are not my god and cannot save me. Only He can as He promised through humbly, repentent faith in His Son for my salvation and to be my Lord of all.

⁴“I will heal their backsliding,
I will love them freely,
For My anger has turned away from him.
⁵I will be like the dew to Israel;
He shall ^[^b^]grow like the lily,
And ^[^c^]lengthen his roots like Lebanon.
⁶His branches shall ^[^d^]spread;
His beauty shall be like an olive tree,
And his fragrance like Lebanon.
⁷Those who dwell under his shadow shall return;
They shall be revived like grain,
And ^[^e^]grow like a vine.
Their ^[^f^]scent shall be like the wine of Lebanon. Hosea 14

Then by faith they will trust Him and cast aside all idols One day

⁸“Ephraim shall say, ‘What have I to do anymore with idols?’
I have heard and observed him.
I am like a green cypress tree;
Your fruit is found in Me.”

⁹Who is wise?
Let him understand these things.
Who is prudent?
Let him know them.
For the ways of the Lord are right;
The righteous walk in them,
But transgressors stumble in them. Hosea 14

Therefore, What is Faith and Why Does Faith Matter to God?

When ever we do not believe that God IS and that He Is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him, then we wander so far from Him. He knows that it is not a world view that can satisfy the desires of our heart. Only an intimate close relationship with our creator can satisfy the thirst within us. Only He can give us joy, hope and future overflowing. All else brings us depression, sorrow, anxiety, and fear. Humanity constantly searches for ways to reach eutopia without God. But unfortunately, without God our hearts become egocentric—leading to isolation, pain, selfishness, depression and evil invades. The most altruistic humanist at best finds themself lost in a sea of nothingness as noted in “Being and Nothingness” by Jean Paul-Sartre. So, why does faith matter to God? Because He loves us too much to not try to save us from our own destruction. Still, He allows you and I the freedom to choose—an eternity with out Him or an eternity in Glory with Him.

Without the freedom to choose, there is no love, faith, or committment. God in His Sovereignty and Wisdom knows this. Yet, I could not have come to Him without His callings. His Sovereignty reigns supreme, even if I do not fully comprehend how both are true. They are. So, what am I to do? Love Him with every ounce of my being, seeing Him as my greatest treasure. And to then knowing this tell everyone I know of His Magnificent Glorious Grace.

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here

Furthermore, if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here

When the World Falls Apart Remember Jeremiah’s Song of Hope in God

DISCLOSURES

New King James Version (NKJV)

Photo licensed from Goodsalt.com

Christian Poetry

When the World Falls Apart Remember Jeremiah’s Song of Hope in God

November 4, 2022 Effie Barba Leave a comment

When one considers all the sorrows, stresses, and fears that seem to surround us. So many masses distraught by their circumstances. Famines, wars, rumors of war, pestilence, violence, and the constant noise of evil pressing in from every side. What is one to do? I become sometimes overwhelmed by the masses living their lives in quiet desperation. If only I could tell them the truth. The good news of the gospel. Jesus is everything their heart desires. If only they could hear me. But alas, who am I to speak out and who will listen. As this world plunges forward into darkness, who will listen to this my cry of hope? As I pondered these thoughts, I remembered Jeremiah. His words inspired this poem which I have titled the Jeremiah’s song.

God called Jeremiah to leave his beloved fiancé and his family to go out and proclaim the truth of God’s word to a nation who did not want to hear truth. They preferred the lies of their own making. Much like our world today. God told Jeremiah, no one will listen; but keep on preaching anyway. His family turned against him. He was beaten, jailed, spit on and mocked; yet, Jeremiah remained faithful. Then on that day when Jerusalem was burned to the ground around him (for he sat in a jail), he was spared that day. Escaping to Egypt where he was then stoned to death by his fellow Israelites who had escaped with him. But he wrote these words in Lamentations before his death. Let them ring deep into your heart today as they did mine.

Jeremiah’s Song: Lamentations 3:1-18—the sorrows surrounding

I am the man who has seen affliction by the rod of His wrath.
²He has led me and made me walk
In darkness and not in light.
³Surely He has turned His hand against me
Time and time again throughout the day.

⁴He has aged my flesh and my skin,
And broken my bones.
⁵He has besieged me
And surrounded me with bitterness and ^[^a^]woe.
⁶He has set me in dark places
Like the dead of long ago.

⁷He has hedged me in so that I cannot get out;
He has made my chain heavy.
⁸Even when I cry and shout,
He shuts out my prayer.
⁹He has blocked my ways with hewn stone;
He has made my paths crooked.

¹⁰He has been to me a bear lying in wait,
Like a lion in ^[^b^]ambush.
¹¹He has turned aside my ways and torn me in pieces;
He has made me desolate.
¹²He has bent His bow
And set me up as a target for the arrow.

¹³He has caused the ^[^c^]arrows of His quiver
To pierce my ^[^d^]loins.
¹⁴I have become the ridicule of all my people—
Their taunting song all the day.
¹⁵He has filled me with bitterness,
He has made me drink wormwood.

¹⁶He has also broken my teeth with gravel,
And ^[^e^]covered me with ashes.
¹⁷You have moved my soul far from peace;
I have forgotten ^[^f^]prosperity.
¹⁸And I said, “My strength and my hope
Have perished from the Lord.”

Jeremiah’s Song- Lamentations 3: 19-26 God is Faithful

¹⁹Remember my affliction and roaming,
The wormwood and the ^[^g^]gall.
²⁰My soul still remembers
And ^[^h^]sinks within me.
²¹This I recall to my mind,
Therefore I have hope.

²²Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
²³They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
²⁴“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“Therefore I hope in Him!”

²⁵The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,
To the soul who seeks Him.
²⁶It is good that one should hope and wait quietly
For the salvation of the Lord.

When Jeremiah remembers all his sorrows, he also remembers the mercies of God that carried him through each day. It was God’s love and grace that carried him through the toughest of times. The love of God was more important than any other pleasures this world could offer him.

Jeremiah’s Song: Lamentations 3: 27:41 The Magnitude of God’s Grace

²⁷It is good for a man to bear
The yoke in his youth.

²⁸Let him sit alone and keep silent,
Because God has laid it on him;
²⁹Let him put his mouth in the dust—
There may yet be hope.
³⁰Let him give his cheek to the one who strikes him,
And be full of reproach.

³¹For the Lord will not cast off forever.
³²Though He causes grief,
Yet He will show compassion
According to the multitude of His mercies.
³³For He does not afflict ^[i]willingly,
Nor grieve the children of men.

³⁴To crush under one’s feet
All the prisoners of the earth,
³⁵To turn aside the justice due a man
Before the face of the Most High,
³⁶Or subvert a man in his cause—
The Lord does not approve.

³⁷Who is he who speaks and it comes to pass,
When the Lord has not commanded it?
³⁸Is it not from the mouth of the Most High
That woe and well-being proceed?
³⁹Why should a living man ^[^j^]complain,
A man for the punishment of his sins?

⁴⁰Let us search out and examine our ways,
And turn back to the Lord;
⁴¹Let us lift our hearts and hands
To God in heaven.

When one considers the truth of their own heart they will know the magnitude of grace God has shown. I do not DESERVE His grace; yet, He gave it to me anyway. What I deserved was the cross. My heart does not love with a purity of love, nor does my life shine forth perfect righteousness as is His. Yet, He loved me, died for me and paid the price of my sin. How could I ever moan or cry unfair? Instead, as I watch this world plunging itself into Hell’s Eternal fire, how can I not cry forth Jeremiah’s Song to all around me?

Jeremiah’s Song

Hope Eternal in Darkest of Night

Screeching sounds of war all around
Obscuring truth letting evil abound
Desperation, sorrow, and tears
Darkest of night, panic, and fears
How do I hold on? How do I stand?
While people are hurting all over the land
Famine and illness, violence, and crime
Worries of money, pressures of time.

Yet this I remember and recall to mind
He is my hope, His mercy so kind
To even have looked on me with such grace
The gentleness, kindness of His smiling face
Redeemed me despite of my wretched heart
That I might be saved, His heart to impart
Oh, how can I have moaned or have shamefully cried
Against God’s Only Son who was crucified
He never said no, He bore all my shame
With dignity, honor He then did proclaim
Forgive them, Dear Father, I’ll take their place
That is His beauty, His Mercy His Grace

When screeching sounds of war surround
Truth is obscured letting evil abound
When desperation, sorrow, and tears
Fill the darkest night with panic and fears
I will not run and I will not fall
Jesus my Savior my all in all
He is my portion, He is my strength
To finish this race, whatever length
He is the hope to rise high above
Soaring with joy because of His love
Thank you, dear Jesus, You are the one
That lifts up my heart and gives me a song. 

So, everyone, everywhere this is my plea
Come to Jesus today, then you will see
He is the hope that your heart desires
The water of life that quenches all fires
He’s waiting, dear friends, with arms open wide
That you humbly bow to sit by His side.
Repentant of sin, give Him your life
He will be your strength overcoming life’s strife.