Effie Darlene Barba

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…

^{Psalm 34: 17} The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

¹⁸ The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

¹⁹ Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.

Psalm 51: ¹⁶ For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.

¹⁷ The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

¹⁸ Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

Once upon a time there was a girl who somehow grew up believing that her worth depended in part upon finding someone who would love her.  She prayed that God would send her that perfect husband who would forever stand beside her.  In her mixed up and confused theology she believed that if she worked hard enough and tried harder to please God, the proof of her having won God’s favor was that he would grant her this one wish.  Her path led her down many roads that led to her only having a broken heart.  She found the one she loved so dearly and withstood whatever hardships the marriage brought to win her husband’s love and when that had finally happened, he died and she was left broken.  At times she compromised God’s laws and so easily excused it in the name of love and believing perhaps that was the best that God had for her and that she would never be good enough for more.   One day she cried out to God. "Why Lord if I love you, do you keep breaking my heart?  Then there in that moment she realized, that it was not God breaking her heart; rather, she was breaking God’s heart.  Christ wept every time she believed He was not enough.  He had been there to shower His love upon her every step of the way.  Much like Christ when he went to raise Lazarus from the dead.  He had come with the greatest gift, He was overwhelmed with excitement at the miracle that He was about to perform.  Yet, when He arrived, all were mourning and none believed He was enough. When He asked, "Do you believe, I am the resurrection of life?"; they mumbled theology with a sad countenance, Oh, yes we know that one day you will resurrect; but where were you when my brother died.  Then Christ wept.  That girl was me. The miraculous thing was that the moment I realized the fact that it had been I breaking God’s heart and not He breaking mine; my life changed.  For the first time, I really began to understand just how tremendously God does love me and that He is more than enough. That was what led me to write the book "A Broken and Contrite Heart".  When I laid all my sins, my failures, my guilt, and my moments of faithlessness at His feet; His answer was "I love you."  When I had come to the end of my trying to work so hard to please Him and to earn His love, I began to learn how to let Him live in and through me.  He never needed me to earn His love, He loved me just as I was.  Through His love He was transforming me into the Princess He knew I could be if I only learned how to Abide in Him.

So, why do I tell you this story?  Because everyday I meet people who are hurting?  I see people struggling to find their way.  I see people with broken hearts searching for love in all the wrong places.  I see Christians who are carrying huge burdens of guilt that weigh them down.  Christ is standing there with open arms of love to heal them and to deliver them. 

 

A TALK WITH GOD

Oh, let me Lord delight in You

And lay all else I hold aside

For no desire could mean as much

As hear Your voice, to feel your touch

And in Your arms abide

 

I feel the safety of your arms

Surrounding me throughout each storm

And when the bitter winter wind

Would bid my very spirit bend

Your breath will keep me warm

 

Forgive me Lord, this fragile heart

Sometimes desires too much

Forgetting You are all I need

Then comes my tears, my plead

To stop and feel Your touch

 

I then can hear your gentle laugh

The love within Your voice

“My child I love you evermore

My gifts on you I freely pour

The best for you my choice”

 

Oh, Lord I want to stay right here

And sit here at Your feet

To never step away from You

And then I cannot lose my view

No chance for fear, defeat

 

“But child I ask then who would go

To tell the wounded broken heart

That I their lonely heart would mend

If not but you, who can I send

If you refuse to start”

 

Then Father, Dear, I must say yes

To go and run Your bidding do

And You will cast aside my fears

Your hand will wipe away my tears

And keep my eyes on You

 

I know that You go with me now

You’re ever present in my heart

I feel Your joy arise within

I feel Your wondrous strength again

Your love will ne’er depart

 

Psalm 32: ¹⁰ Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about.

¹¹ Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.

Are you joyful today?  Do you Joy in the Lord regardless of circumstances?  Do you fight to hold onto that joy by denouncing evil thoughts in your heart, by reminding yourself daily of what He has done for you, and by recognizing with determination to lay down your desires for counterfeit joys?   Do you see Him as your ultimate joy and seek Him with all your heart? 

Let me give you this thought from Jonathan Edwards as he said it so well.  “The enjoyment of [God] is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied. To go to heaven, fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the most pleasant accommodations here. Fathers and mothers, husbands, wives, or children, or the company of earthly friends, are but shadows; but God is the substance. These are but scattered beams, but God is the sun. These are but streams. But God is the ocean” wrote Jonathan Edwards. Paul the Apostle knew this and knew that he was to spread that same joy (even when he was a prisoner for the sake of spreading the gospel)  as he wrote; Philippians 1: “²¹For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. ²²But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. ²³For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: ²⁴Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. ²⁵And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith; ²⁶That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.”

Let me end with this quote from Jonathan Edwards so that you might ponder on it and take it up as your moto.

“God’s purpose for my life was that I have a passion for God’s glory and that I have a passion for my joy in that glory, and that these two are one passion.”
― Jonathan Edwards

What is your passion today?