Effie Darlene Barba

Zechariah 8: ¹⁶ These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates:

¹⁷ And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the Lord….

²⁰ Thus saith the Lord of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities:

²¹ And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the Lord, and to seek the Lord of hosts: I will go also.

²² Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the Lord.

II Chronicles 7: ¹⁴ If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

We must all be in fervent prayer for this nation, even more as this election  draws near.  We need to pray for our sins and for the sins of our nation.  This is a call to all to pray for a revival in this nation which is our only hope.  We need His wisdom to guide our vote.  We need strength to not merely talk but walk the life that would represent Christ to our nation and the world.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXLQ2RPLO78

Esther 4: ¹¹ All the king’s servants, and the people of the king’s provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or women, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days.

¹² And they told to Mordecai Esther’s words.

¹³ Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews.

¹⁴ For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

Esther was an orphaned Jewish girl who was raised by her Uncle.  The King Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces became angry with the queen for disobeying him and sent her into exile.  He then chose a new queen from among many who were captured and brought to the palace.  He chose Esther.  There came a time when the king’s right hand man requested a decree to have all the Jews destroyed.  Esther, though queen, knew that if she went before the king while he was holding court; she could be killed.  She knew what had happened to the former queen.  She knew that as a woman she was not allowed to enter the gates of the court when the king was on His throne holding court; yet, she went.  As a result of this she saved her people.  If you read the entire book of Esther you will definitely see how God provided for His people and had placed everything in place to prepare a way to save His people.  The book points out also that all of God’s people were in prayer for their nation. 

We too should be in prayer for our nation; even, more so this election year.  We must exercise our right to vote.  We need never to be afraid to proclaim the name of Christ.  We need to be bold in declaring God’s word, even when it is "politically incorrect"  We need to fervently pray. We need to examine our own lives so we might portray Christ in our lives–His truth shining forth like a beacon of light to a world covered in darkness and despair.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=7neahQp66mQ&NR=1

Psalm 147: ³ He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.

⁴ He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.

Psalm 34: ¹⁸ The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

Psalm 51: ¹⁷ The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

2 Corinthians 3: ¹⁸ But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Romans 8: ²⁸ And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

²⁹ For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

³⁰ Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

Within this Christian Journey, there are moments of brokenness and sorrows; but be of good cheer–they too have a purpose in our transformation.  We are never forsaken by God once we have accepted Christ as our Savior.  He stands very near to comfort us in our brokenness and yes, He is Sovereign over all the earth and wrapped deep within what we momentarily perceive to be sorrow is a gift of love that will draw us ever closer to Him where true Joy is found.  We are being transformed into the image of Christ so that we may truly understand and share in the love, joy, peace, and glory that is in Him.  This is a treasure beyond any treasure so do not lose heart along this journey and know He is right there beside you, upholding you and comforting you.  He who calleth every star by name also knows your name and loves you.  For those of you who do not know Him, know that He provided for you a way of salvation in Christ’s death on the cross. He wants to hold you, guide you and give you the love your heart longs for.   I urge you to seek Him. 

I hope you enjoy this song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygx4Qe27lBw&feature=g-upl

The Master Weaver

Broken threads my life you found

And with your love each piece you bound

A song of love your lips resound

With gentle hands, each thread you place

Oh could it be, amazing grace

A picture clear, my Savior’s face

What joy divine, could it be true

Each broken thread, you only knew

When woven tight would look like you

The Scarlet threads my broken heart

The deepest sorrows blue impart

Each silver thread of tears that fell

You guide my life with such detail

A brilliant gold, your love divine

My sins were washed, a white sublime

You gently weave with skillful hand

The portrait mine that you have planned

Oh, let me Lord remember this

That I might know with joy and bliss

You did ordain my every tear

That I might learn to never fear

That I might trust the weaver’s hand

And on this hope and promise stand

Your love will always know what’s best

Your cradling arms are where I rest

Broken threads my life you found

And with your love each piece you bound

A song of love your lips resound

With gentle hands, each thread you place

Oh could it be, amazing grace

A picture clear, my Savior’s face

What joy divine, could it be true

Each broken thread, you only knew

When woven tight would look like you

Psalm 27: ¹³ I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

¹⁴ Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.

Psalm 37: ⁴ Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

⁵ Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

⁶ And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.

⁷ Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him:

Psalm 40: 1 I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

² He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.

David had been chosen to by God to be the next King of Israel.  King Saul became exceedingly jealous as David’s popularity grew among the people of the nation and even within his own family.  David was forced to run for his life into exile and lived hidden in caves.  How many years was he forced to wait, hidden and at moments afraid for his life?  Some say 15 years.  All the while in those dark caves, alone with God–David was being prepared to become King.  There are times in which you note that David’s songs began with deep desperation wanting to know how God was going to perform His will; yet, David ended always with "wait upon the Lord." When we reach those moments of deep dark pits that we believe will overcome us, we need to be reminded within our soul to trust and wait.  God is still on His throne.  He is omnipotent, omniscient, and has already proven the depths of His love for you.  He has the perfect plan for your life and He continues to unfold it in His perfect timing.  So with patience, wait-trusting His heart.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLn0cRl-0GE

While waiting there are some steps you can take as follows:

1.  Pray.  There is power found in prayer.  Even if you do not know what to say, just sit quietly before God.  The Holy Spirit will make intercession for you.  Pray even if you are feeling frustrated or angry with God; because He knows already how you are feeling.  This prayer is not because God doesn’t know; but it gives Him the quiet time to soothe and comfort you.

2. If there is ever a time that you need to be studying your Bible morning and evening or sometimes all day long, it is when facing a valley.  It is better to have studied always, but especially during valleys.  How can you claim His promises, if you don’t know what they are?

3. Remember every trial (big or small) you have ever been through in the past and remember how God had carried you through.

4. Make a list of God’s promises concerning finances, illness, loss or whatever your valley is.  Keep those scriptures with you and reread them frequently

5. Find Christian Songs that declare His Might and Power and Love—hum them to your own self throughout the day.

6. Each morning make a list of those things for which you are thankful to God and read them to God.

7. Do not skip meals or do without sleep.  Even if you don’t want to eat, do it anyway.  If you awaken in the night, pray quietly while taking deep slow breathes—you can hear God’s response clearer when you quiet your own mind.  This is not your moment to diet or deprive yourself of sleep.

8. Neither should you spend all day in bed. Get up and put one foot in front of the other, one step at a time until you do finish that day something you can call an accomplishment—then say “Thank you, Lord for today.

^{Romans 3:}

¹⁹ Now we know that what things so ever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

²⁰ Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

²¹ But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

²² Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

²³ For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

²⁴ Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

²⁵ Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

²⁶ To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

²⁷ Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

This is the good news proclaimed to the world.  The righteousness of God comes only by faith.  Why that is such good news is that without Grace, without someone else paying the penalties for my sins–I could never stand before an omniscient, righteous judge and be declared anything except guilty as charged and condemned to an eternity separated God.  God must remain the righteous Judge; therefore Christ paid the penalty for my sin so that I might be justified (declared not guilty)  by faith.  Beyond that, I am then proclaimed righteous by faith in Christ.  Not that I am in this earthly form found to be righteous as my conscience would proclaim every day loudly within me; yet, I am declared righteous by and before God Almighty.  That is true of every believer.  Oh, the depth of His great love.  How could I ever comprehend the mystery of God’s great compassion, love and sacrifice for us.- that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  He died for us though we were hostile toward Him.  Because of Christ, when Satan stands there to accuse me, telling me of my great unworthiness.  Or when the Devil throws your sins in your face and tells you that you do not deserve God’s love–that you only deserve condemnation and hell.  We must proclaim, "I know I deserve condemnation and hell, so what of it. There is one who bore all my shame and paid my penalty on the cross and His name is Jesus Christ.  Because of that, you with all your accusations can go away, I am with Him."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2X2Kh4Sn0Y&feature=related