Effie Darlene Barba

Proverbs 30: ⁵ Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

⁶ Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

⁷ Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die:

⁸ Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:

⁹ Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.

There are those in the modern church who try to teach a prosperity gospel of "name it and claim it"  Within this teaching, were I to want a Lamborghini I need only declare it to be mine and it would be given me. This is not only not found in the scripture, but is a very dangerous way of looking at the gospel.  God has never promised to give us great riches on this earth; but, he has promised to provide what we need. By that He promises to give us daily the needs for that day.  Psalm 37: 25  "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread."  Do you trust him to provide what you need today?  Do you praise Him for that provision or grumble because you want more?  Let us not be found like Israelite nation in the wilderness who grumbled because they did not like the manna they were given to eat.  Every morning God provided that days food in the middle of the desert; yet, they wanted and pridefully thought they should be given more.  Numbers 11: "⁴ And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?

⁵ We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick:

⁶ But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes."  So, let me ask you this question. Are you grumbling to God because His provision is not what you wanted or are you praising Him for providing what you needed? Are you seeking the Giver or the Gift?  He knows what is best for me today and I will trust and praise Him no matter what surrounds me.

 

John 10: ¹⁴ I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

¹⁵ As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

¹⁶ And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

Psalm 23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

² He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

³ He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

⁴ Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

We have a great shepherd and we are His.  He will protect us and guide us each step of this journey. He will guide us into His paths of righteousness and we should like sheep following without question because we know His voice and trust our Great Shepherd.   Listen to the words of this song with the first half written by Martin J. Nystrom  and combined with the song Jesus Like a Shepherd lead us believed to be written by Dorothy Ann Thrupp.  Let these thoughts comfort your soul.

Shepherd of my soul 
I give you full control
Wherever You may lead 
I will follow
I have made the choice 
To listen for Your voice
Wherever You may lead 
I will go
(Repeat)
Be it in a quiet pasture 
Or by a gentle stream
The Shepherd of my soul 
Is by my side
Should I face! 
A mighty mountain 
Or a valley dark and deep
The Shepherd of my soul 
Will be my guide
(Repeat all)
(Repeat verse)
Wherever you may lead 
I will go
Savior, like a shepherd lead us
Much we need 
Thy tender care
In Thy pleasant 
Pastures feed us
for our use 
They folds prepare
Blessed Jesus, Blessed Jesus
Thou hast brought us
Thine we are
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus
Thou has brought us
Thine we are
We are Thine 
Do Thou befriend us
Be the Guardian 
Of our way
Keep Thy flock 
From sin, defend us
Seek us when 
We go astray
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus
Hear Thy children 
When they pray
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus
Hear Thy children 
When they pray
(Repeat)
Hear Thy children 
When they pray
Hear Thy children 
When they pray

Savior, like a shepherd lead us
Blessed Jesus
Savior, like a shepherd lead us
Savior, like a shepherd lead us
Blessed Jesus…

^{Isaiah 51:3} For the Lord shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.

⁴ Hearken unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation: for a law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people.

⁵ My righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall judge the people; the isles shall wait upon me, and on mine arm shall they trust…

¹¹ Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.

¹² I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass;

¹³ And forgettest the Lord thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth;

Sometimes along this journey of life we seem to fall into a desert or dark valley.  I would like to tell you that as a Christian this can never happen; but, then I would be lying.  I have passed through some very dark valleys in my life that felt so barren at times that I cried out to God with such a longing.  I did not know how to put one foot in front of the other or how to survive.  I felt burdened even further by the guilt that perhaps all of the long desert time was punishment for sins and therefore I needed to continue marching forward like a dutiful little Christian carrying my cross.  Little did I realize then that the deserts and valleys of my life were gifts of love from God.  He needed me to see His hand guiding my every step.  His purpose was to bring me to a place of full Joy in Him.  That Joy could not be found until I let go of the guilt, the pride, and the counterfeit joys that I sought after with all my heart.   Do Valleys and Deserts still arise before me in this journey, certainly; but there is a difference now in how I view them.  If I see them as a stepping stone to bring me closer to God and I realize that He is there with me to show me the way and to help me to become more like Him; then joy remains (not a giddy fake laughter; but a true joy that cannot be destroyed by the tears)  This is a peace and hope in God’s grace, including His future Grace.  This is a joy built out of faith in the one who will sustain me and holds me in the palm of His hand.  This is in the understanding of His perfect, unconditional love for me that makes "all things work together for my good."  This was a poem I wrote for my book Mountaintop Experiences in the Valley and I hope it brings you hope if it is a desert or valley you are facing today.

GIVE ME THIS VALLEY

I cried, Lord, please help me climb

This mountain so sublime

Full of health and wealth and fame

Surely there I’d praise your name

But I heard a whispering voice

Said, “for you that’s not my choice”

I want you in this valley deep

Where your joy my heart will keep

Lord, you can take that mountain high

And let me stay here by your side

In this valley filled with pain

Where I know you know my name

Give me a life where I might live

Dependent on the Grace you give

I’d rather be here by your side

Than on that great mountainside

Give me the faith and hope that’s yours

As your spirit through me pours

To a world in need of you

Give me strength for them to view

Let me show the Glory of Your Hope

Far from that slippery slope

In the valley where you stand

Let me walk and hold your hand

Though the Valley may be dark

You’re the light, my precious spark

You are all I need to know

Let me walk now here below

Give me the love of your great smile

That casts aside my selfish guile

Remove my thoughts of selfish pity

Your heart I might see clearly

You are the only one I need

For my soul you have freed

By the valley that you walked

To the cross where you were mocked

So let me walk this valley too

Where there your heart I knew

Keep your mountains filled with pride

Let me stay here at your side.

I hope also this song is a comfort to you, so beautifully sung by Larnelle Harris

John 8:  ¹² Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life….⁵⁹ Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

After the lengthy discussion with the Pharisees that began with Jesus declaring that He was the light of the world.  He had explained salvation but in their darkened minds and heart they could not understand and they wanted to stone Him. 

John 9 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.

² And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?

³ Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

⁴ I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

⁵ As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

He has been telling His disciples that He was the light of the world.  He needed them to understand that He was the light that shined down into their own hearts that first of all made them aware of the darkness that was their.  The light of perfect righteousness that first of all made them aware of their covetous, degenerate dark hearts so that He who would die to pay the penalty of their sins could be their Savior.  He was the light that would guide them every step of their way through their Christian journey.  He was the light that would guide them, transform them, and fill them so they could be the light to the world (His own light shining through them.)

John 11 Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.

² (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)

³ Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.

⁴ When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.

⁵ Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.

⁶ When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.

⁷ Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again.

⁸ His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?

⁹ Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.

¹⁰ But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.

¹¹ These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.

¹² Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.

¹³ Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.

¹⁴ Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.

¹⁵ And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.

¹⁶ Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.

When Lazarus had died and Christ was getting ready to go to demonstrate the very purpose of His coming, the resurrection.  He needed His followers to understand what was His Ultimate Purpose and since they were a slow bunch to grasp this (so much like every one of us)  He was about to demonstrate it to them on this earth that they might begin to grasp the significance of His own death on the cross and the concept of resurrection.  They became frightened because they were traveling back to the very spot where He had first declared that He was the light of the world, the very place where the Pharisees had wanted to stone Him.  Look at His answer when they questioned Him about going there…."if any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world"  He was going with them, He was the light and He was about to demonstrate to them His power.  Their response is much like ours, "Ok, let’s go and die with him.  They will stone him and we will all die"  No enthusiasm, no faith that He was with them, and no evidence of hope or joy.  Are you walking with the light of the world?  Then what have you to fear.  Let us all like Paul, (Philippians 2: ^{15 ..} be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

¹⁶ Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

1 Thessalonians 4: ¹⁵ For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

¹⁶ For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

¹⁷ Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

As we begin this month in which we set aside a day to celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ; let us be reminded of the fact that He is coming again to call us home.   His desire is to share with us His love, His joy, and His Glory which is more than we could ever imagine.  Let us seek to see Him with the eyes of our heart.  When we see Him Glorious, upon His throne; then we must fall done and all the pride which so plaques our life is shattered by the magnificent light of His Righteousness.  Then, like Isaiah we too cry out "Woe is me! for I am undone because I am a man of unclean lips"  All those moments in which we complain that we have not received what we think we deserve, all those self-pity parties when we are angry because we did not receive the recognition we believed we should have, and all those moments in which we pridefully see ourselves as greater than we are become shattered into brokenness when we truly see Jesus seated upon His throne.  Yet, in that very moment when we realize the depth of our own unworthiness, He comes to hand us His robes of righteousness bought with His own blood.  Then He asks who can I send to tell the nations of my righteousness.  Can we do any other than to cry out like Isaiah, Here I am send me.

Isaiah 6:  In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.

² Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.

³ And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.

⁴ And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.

⁵ Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.

⁶ Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:

⁷ And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.

⁸ Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.

I, too, must remind myself everyday of who He is–the King of All the Earth so that I must crucify this selfish heart.  I must choose each day to lay aside this false pride which can so harm His testimony in me so that I might bring Him praise through word, song, and deed.  I urge you to take a moment, close your eyes and let this song sing forth in your hearts as a prayer of praise.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11v6qz_r8yg