Effie Darlene Barba

Mark 13:  ¹⁹ For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.

²⁰ And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect’s sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.

²¹ And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not:

²² For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.

²³ But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.

²⁴ But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,

²⁵ And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.

²⁶ And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.

²⁷ And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.

²⁸ Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near:

²⁹ So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.

³⁰ Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.

³¹ Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

³² But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.

³³ Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.

³⁴ For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.

³⁵ Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:

³⁶ Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.

³⁷ And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

When we look around us we are confronted by sorrows, tragedies, and moments in which pure evil surrounds us.  The tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary, the suffering left in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, the financial demise within our country, the greed that lead us there, the anxiety among those who don’t want to give up their current luxuries pressing down upon those who work under them, drug addiction, drug cartels, earthquakes, tsunamis, war breaking out, and closer to home the thieves that entered my house Monday and terrorized all  my neighbors as they brazenly entered 4 homes.   Yet, I am certain of this one fact–God is on His throne and Christ will return to take His Elect (All of those who have accepted Christ as their Savior).  There are moments in this life that I would wish to cry out, "Even now come Lord Jesus".   But, if God tarries, it is because His Grace is allowing you that don’t know Him one more day and one more chance to be saved.  God speaking in Deuteronomy 32 said: ³⁵ To me belongeth vengeance and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.

Do you know Him?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9ZtP6db8AI&list=PL2937182F502CC5CA

EVIL SURROUNDS

Evil surrounds

Evil abounds

Pressing my life throughout each day

Quickening Sounds

Blaring around

Bidding my heart within to sway

Lord, let your light shine in my heart

Command all darkness to depart

Let Your love shine forth through me

That all evil is forced to flee

Evil Surrounds

Evil Abounds

Firm in Your Grace I cannot sway

Quickening Sounds

Blaring Around

Your still voice drives them away

It is Your love that presses on

When my strength is fully gone

Remove from me each selfish thought

On that cross my life You bought

Faith now Surounds

Hope now abounds

Your Righteousness gives way

Glorious Sounds

Praise all Around

Sin’s chains are gone away

Let your love reach through these hands

Feet firm set on this grace in which I stand

Let your glory shine through me

A light a darkened world might see.

Hebrews 10: 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,

²⁰ By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

²¹ And having an high priest over the house of God;

²² Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience (our guilt removed), 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;)

Recently, I was reminded of sins of the past and sorrow began to fill my heart; guilt and the feelings of failure began to creep in.  Satan’s attempt again to steal my joy.  The truth is as written by God–He has made a covenant with me which includes all my sins and iniquities are forgotten never to be remembered  again  Past, present and future sins have been covered by the blood of Christ.  "No guilt in life, No fear in death–this is the power of Christ in me."   It is Grace born out of so much love that I am compelled to renounce sin and hate that sin which is in me; yet, I stand on the second part of that covenant in that He is transforming me, changing me each day and has promised that one day I will look like Christ.  I long for that day!!  As my love and faith continue to grow, I desire to serve Him in a manner that brings honor to His name.  I renounce my sins and lay them at the cross.  I pray that He forevermore continue to transform this wicked heart into a heart that is true and I stand firm upon this profession of faith without any fear or wavering; not because of who I am, but rather because of who He is and the truth that He who promised this covenant is always faithful and true.  He will accomplish in me that which He so desires and He will finish the work He began in me the day I accepted Christ as my Savior 53 years ago at the age of 5.  My faith, my hope, and my joy are anchored "in Christ Alone."  Listen closely to the words of this song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=fvwp&NR=1&v=INlghIQhsi4

John 16: ²⁰ Very truly, I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice; you will have pain, but your pain will turn into joy. ²¹ When a woman is in labor, she has pain, because her hour has come. But when her child is born, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy of having brought a human being into the world.²² So you have pain now; but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.

Yesterday, Haley Elise Barba was born.  I truly wish to thank Sarah Barba for enduring the months of pregnancy and the delivery to bring us this beautiful bundle of joy.  I thank God for His blessings as they shine down upon us.  We rejoice at the wondrous works which God has performed.  No one can steal our joy from us; though, Satan may try.  Last night when I came home rejoicing over this marvelous miracle of a baby being born to find my house broken into and a TV stolen.  They did not get more because the dog awoke and frightened them off (he can be fierce if he is not too sound asleep to hear them).  The alarm was set; but they chose to enter through a bathroom window that had not been armed because it was too high and small for me to even dream of someone entering there.  Good try Satan; but God is my protector, provider and my avenger who will avenge the thief who entered my house.  I do pray that the thief is apprehended; but, I also pray that he find Christ—just as the thief that hung on the cross beside Christ.   The evil that is this world  reminds me ever more that as a grandmother and as a mother my greatest gift that I can give my grandchildren and children is Christ Himself.  It is important that I teach them of Christ’s love. 

Proverbs 22: ⁶ Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

I dedicate this song to Sarah, Ronald, Haley, Aiden, Melissa, Alex, Alberto, Lindsey and Pedro the third as this remains the prayer for my children, their loves, and my grandchildren.  I hope this becomes the prayer of every mother, father, grandmother and grandfather that hears this song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mtGp-hpJJs

I Chronicles 4: ⁹ And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow.

¹⁰ And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.

The name Jabez means born in pain and sorrow; yet, the man bearing this name loved God.  We know nothing more of Jabez than these two verses.  He was a virtual no body; much like many of us feel.  His mother named him "born in pain and sorrow"; wow not the most endearing name that one could be given.  Yet, his name became recorded in scripture and his legacy is one prayer that was answered.  Yesterday, I happened to go in search of another scripture in Chronicles and my memory lapse led me not to the verse I had heard on the broadcast yesterday morning; but rather to this verse.  As I read it I realized that this too was the desire of my heart.  I write the books I have written, write these emails, and post to my website with one purpose–that is to proclaim the name of Christ to the world.  My greatest desire is that His message continue to go out to the world and that "my coast is enlarged" by an ever increasing number of readers who are encouraged in their Christian walk or those who come to know God and the salvation He offers through Christ’s atonement for our sins.  All of the money spent and all of the effort worth it if one person’s eternity is changed.  I pray that His hand guide me; providing the wisdom I need to continue to write.  I pray that He keep me from evil because the most important thing is that I want to be always guided by Him so that I might be always doctrinally sound. My greatest trepidation would be to ever misinterpret or misrepresent God’s word.  I do not want to ever dishonor Him by my writing or by my life.  I pray that He would bind this covetous heart so that it cannot bring Him shame; though there are times that I still stand in wondrous awe that He could ever have chosen me.    How wondrous is our God and with a sense of humor as well.  I prayed this prayer yesterday morning for those ministries which He has placed in my keeping and that perhaps He will move me into opportunities to speak for Him as well.  So off to work I ran and suddenly became so overwhelmed with consults that for a weekend total Dr. N. Bajaj and I had 38 consults plus 20 to 30 follow ups, 16 Nuclear Stresses and too many echos to count.  Guess that was God’s way of saying, "Don’t worry I’ve got this.  I can multiply your numbers at work, provide you grace to get it done, and if I can do that, I can expand and protect the ministries I have entrusted to you"  I have before asked God to make me a Joseph at work so that everyone in my company would know that God is Able to provide blessing even through His most unlikely servant–as my doctor and I finally finished at 9:30 last night, I praised God for His Omnipotence and Grace while thanking Him for this incredible doctor that I work with. 

Added note, this morning bright and early I left to go to Ron’s house to watch my grandson, Aiden, while Sarah (my Daughter in law) goes to the hospital to give birth to Haley Elise Barba.  What an incredible God I serve.  I praise God for who He is as the words of this song say so well. Let us praise Him today and forever worship Him for who He is, the Giver of life, hope, joy, peace, and Glory by His presence and Grace. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0B3ta9FmSVQ

Revelation 5 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.

² And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?

³ And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.

⁴ And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.

⁵ And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

⁶ And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

⁷ And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.

⁸ And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.

⁹ And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

¹⁰ And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

¹¹ And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;

¹² Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

¹³ And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

The lion of the tribe of Judah became the lamb that was slain for the salvation of the world.  Could there be any greater dichotomous personality than Christ.  He was humbled and born in a manger that He might be highly exalted above all.  We often say that the greatest heroes are those with very complex diverse personalities.  Yet, all human heroes pale in comparison to Jesus Christ. He embodied the perfection of all the best qualities despite their extreme diversity. Jonathan Edwards named these “diverse excellencies” and so perfectly described these characteristics of Christ in his sermon “The Admirable Conjunction of Diverse Excellencies in Christ Jesus” which I would highly recommend that you read it. The lion of the tribe of Judah who became the sacrificial lamb as depicted in Revelations 5. He, Christ, is the only one of the triune God-head filled with all majesty, power, dominion, and righteousness equal with God the Father who at the same time became flesh as a man to die and pay the price that Justice demanded. (Philippians 2: “Christ Jesus: ⁶Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: ⁷But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: ⁸And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. ⁹Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: ¹⁰That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; ¹¹And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. ”) For that reason Christ is the only one who can open the scrolls of judgment. So in His diverse excellences, He is perfect judge—respecting every law and carrying out the just penalty of the law with all its wrath and fury; while at the same time being perfect mercy and grace by accepting the full power of God’s wrath toward sin on Himself so that those who would accept His gift would be made righteous through faith. He is God in all his Holiness, Power, and Might. Yet, He chose to leave heaven with all its beauty to obediently come to earth in poverty, knowing that he would be rejected and ridiculed. The sea and the wind obeyed His voice. He raised Lazarus from the dead, healed the lepers, drove out demons; yet, He chose to die a cruel, humiliating death without opening His mouth except to ask the Father to forgive those who nailed Him to the cross. He was a man of great sorrow; yet, filled with Joy. He who “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him and without him was not anything made that was made.” John 1: 1-3. This same Christ bowed down in reverence and obedience to the Father. He was royalty who chose to live in poverty among the “untouchables” and outcasts. He was perfect wisdom, who taught and still teaches with great patience a bunch of slow learners such as ourselves. He hated sin and all its effects on man; yet, He loved the sinner enough to offer to take His place. On this subject, I could go on writing for a lifetime and never complete the list of diverse Excellencies which are found in Christ Jesus. There was never one so worthy to receive only good; yet, so willing to patiently endure suffering and pain for our sake.

Many people who have not even come to accept Him as their Savior; still, see Christ and His life as inspirational.  But the greatest, ultimate inspiration can only occur when one begins to see “though a glass dimly” the magnitude of His Glory.  When we catch a glimpse of that beauty, the complete holiness of His character, and thus see a spark of that Glory which is only His; we must shudder at our own inadequacies.  Our petty desires that the creature be more important than the creator glares back at us in the mirror.  Our foolish, vain attempts to be or do anything of worth (in our own effort) lay before us like bags of rubbish with such foul stench that we are unable to bear the odor.  As we begin to see our utter worthlessness before this Majestic God; we fall before Him, in worship.  We must cry forth; “Holy, Holy, Holy…Lord God Almighty; Creator of Heaven and Earth.”  It is in that moment that we understand He is worthy of our Praise; even if He gave us nothing in return but the eternal damnation that we so rightly deserve.  There at that place do we cry out for the Mercy our pride-filled, arrogant, selfish hearts finally broken in despair to realize how foolish we are to desire anything more than we desire His presence or to look upon His face for an eternity.  It is there that, Christ reaches down to say; “Come my child; I have paid the price for you.  I desire that you come with me to share in my love, the love my Father has for me shall be yours.  The Glory that is mine shall be yours.  The Joy that is mine shall be yours.  I took all your sin and all your guilt.  I will clothe you with my righteousness forevermore.  Yet, a little while and you shall be with me.”  Such amazing love, undeserved then becomes the ultimate inspiration to drive the rest of your life.  Such foolish creatures that we are, even then, we forget at times and we go about seeking our own desires and ever so gently He watches as we fall down.  There He is to remind us that from that first moment that we chose Him; He never lets us go.  He teaches us, loves us, and transforms us into someone who can one day see His Glory fully and share in that Glory.

If you wish to hear more about the paradoxes that make up Christmas, Christ, and the Christian life; I would recommend this sermon by Michael Youssef at  http://www.leadingtheway.org/web/guest/home;jsessionid=A4568C70E870AC57A26A615BB7A0EC96

A copy of the sermon by Jonathan Edwards entitled, "The Admiral Conjunction of Diverse Excellencies in Christ Jesus" can be located at

http://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/articles/onsite/admirable.html

The following video worth watching…