Effie Darlene Barba

Psalm 19: ¹⁴ Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.

This is the prayer of my heart.  As I expand my mission of writing through my books, emails and blogs; I feel even more the need for this prayer to become so written in my heart so that I may represent Christ in all that I do and never cause my redeemer a moment of sorrow.  The burdens of work cannot become the meditation of my heart.  The struggles with aging and health cannot deter me.  All of the things which are this life cannot be that which defines me; rather, my eyes must remain focused on my Lord, my strength and my redeemer.  I saw a dear Christian yesterday who reminded me that the closer we grow with Christ, the greater the trials that confront us; yet, we march on with Christ before us.  Our minds narrow their focus and all else becomes less important compared to seeking Him.  He becomes our Joy so that what would seem sorrow to the world becomes a blessing to those of us who follow Him.  He becomes our strength, so no task is too great as we go forth to spread His Gospel.  He becomes our passion.

Hebrews 12: 12 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

³ For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds."

Close your eyes and let this beautiful song by Stuart Townend be as a prayer from your heart today.  "Christ Be In My Waking"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4emGI1gHPA

^{Romans 11: 33} O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

³⁴ For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counselor?

³⁵ Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?

³⁶ For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

So often we search for answers looking to the explanations and words of scientists, teachers, and philosophers hoping to discover some rationale for the events of our lives.  We see disasters that befall the earth or even those that happen within our little world of self and cry out for explanations.  Yet, if we really looked around us or into the central core of our own hearts; shouldn’t the question be why does the world continue to even exist?.  Is there anything within me, apart from God’s Grace, that should allow me to be blessed with seeing a new sunrise?  He who is a just and righteous God, Creator of the Universe–why would He ever have considered giving the greatest sacrifice to establish a pathway for man to be justified and declared righteous?  This pride filled foolish bunch prefer to profane His very name.   Instead of asking why does God allow natural disasters, we should be asking why has He not flung this earth into the blazing sun and destroyed it?  The answer is Grace and Love.  He patiently awaits for each one that will accept His gift of salvation.  He wants to share His love, peace and joy with us; yet, we become so content with our little counterfeit joys that we cannot see Him.  We prefer our piece of broken Glass and never realize that His is the most exquisite diamond in comparison.  If you are reading this today, then you have been given this precious moment to have the opportunity to seek Him who has been calling your name to come. 

And for those who know Christ, we have a mission yet to carry out.  We are to continue to be a voice crying out through the wilderness of our lives, Prepare ye the way of the Lord–for He has come, died, was Resurrected and will return to take His children out of this world.   I do not know why God would have chosen me, wooed me, saved me and commanded me to write for Him; yet, He did.  Were I to look at all my failures, I would be paralyzed into inactivity; yet, He bids me to proclaim His Glory, His Grace, His kindness, His patience, and His love.  He took all my sins, my failures, and my guilt and nailed it to the cross with Christ bearing it.  Such love, such mercy, and such grace compels me to continue on. The trials that I have faced in this life have resulted in my seeking and knowing Him as my greatest treasure.  If it were not for the storms would I have ever come to know Him and trust Him as I do now. "Oh, Lord let me always proclaim thy truth and never allow me to misinterpret your precious love letters which were left to us in the Holy Bible.  I do not pretend to understand the depth of Your Wisdom in my life or in this world; but I praise You for every pain that led me ever closer to You.  Let your scripture penetrate the hearts of those who read this today, open the eyes of their heart so that they might see Your magnificent beauty and seek after You.  And Lord, let me be reminded that in your sovereignty, nothing will enter my life today that has not been sifted by Your mighty hand of love.  Give me Grace to always rejoice in Your perfect will, in Your perfect way. 

I Corinthians 1:

²⁰ Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

²¹ For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

²² For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

²³ But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

²⁴ But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

²⁵ Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

²⁶ For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

²⁷ But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

²⁸ And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:

²⁹ That no flesh should glory in his presence.

³⁰ But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

³¹ That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

Below is a beautiful song that I do believe that if you close your eyes and listen will help you for today. 

Keith & Kristyn Getty – The Perfect Wisdom Of Our God

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mL3MabWr5cM

I recommend that you go to http://www.gettymusic.com/hymns.aspx and order their newest album which includes this song.  The song was written by Stuart Townend and Keith Getty; sung by Kristyn Getty.  Their music is so incredible and truth in worship.

Philippians 2: 1If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,

² Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

³ Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

⁴ Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

⁵ Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

⁶ Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

⁷ But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

⁸ And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

⁹ Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

¹⁰ That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

¹¹ And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Perhaps one of the most difficult things is to lay aside self to become a servant and to put others in the forefront while putting our own selfish desires and  agendas aside.  This is a task that often we find most difficult at work.  It is also a problem within many churches.  We must always be reminded that Christ did just that for each of us.  I pray that today, I stop to think before I speak.  That my focus remains on my Savior so that I might lay aside all envy, pride, guilt, feelings of inadequacy or self pity so that today I may work with my team to the fullest potential and most importantly represent Christ.  Give me the Grace that I need to show today–let it be your love, mercy, joy, and grace that fill me today so that none of self remains.

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

Reflect upon the magnitude of what Christ did for us.

John 1: 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

² The same was in the beginning with God.

³ All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

⁴ In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

⁵ And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

⁶ There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

⁷ The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.

⁸ He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

⁹ That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

¹⁰ He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

¹¹ He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

¹² But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

¹³ Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

¹⁴ And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth…..

¹⁶ And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.

¹⁷ For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 53:1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?

² For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

³ He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

⁴ Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

⁵ But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

⁶ All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

⁷ He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

⁸ He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

⁹ And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

¹⁰ Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.

¹¹ He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

¹² Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors

Listen to the words of this beautiful song by Stuart Townend, Keith and Krysten Getty

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9u-IcFcWVM&feature=related

FULLNESS OF GRACE

Fullness of Grace in man’s human frailty

This is the wonder of Jesus

Laying aside His power and glory

Humbly He entered our world

Chose the path of meanest worth

Scandal of a virgin birth

Born in a stable cold and rejected

Here lies the hope of the world

Fullness of Grace the love of the Father

Shown in the face of Jesus

Stooping to bear the weight of humanity

Walking the Calvary road

Christ the holy Innocent

Took our sin and punishment

Fullness of God despised and rejected

Crushed for the sins of the world

Fullness of hope in Christ we had longed for

Promise of God in Jesus

Through His obedience we are forgiven

Opening the floodgates of heaven

All our hopes and dreams we bring

Gladly as an offering

Fullness of life and joy unspeakable

God’s gift in love to the world

Keith & Kristyn Getty & Stuart Townend

Copyright © Thankyou Music 2004

Ephesians 6: ¹⁰Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

¹¹Put on the whole armour of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

¹²For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

¹³Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

¹⁴Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

¹⁵And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

¹⁶Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

¹⁷And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

¹⁸Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Little Soldier

by Effie Darlene Barba

Little Soldier are you ready?

The battle cry is here

Little Soldier are you wearing

All your God given gear

Did you put on your helmet?

Remembering what He’s done

He provided your salvation

When He gave His only Son

Did you strap on your breastplate?

Is your passion now on Him?

To follow in His footsteps

And shun all willful sin

Did you strap on the waist band?

Holding tight to all God said

And never compromising

So by His truth you’re led

Did you cover yourself completely

By the shield of faith in God

This Sovereign, Omniscient, Shepherd

We are protected by His rod.

So where are we going

To spread the gospel song?

Feet now shod with love and peace

We walk as we belong

So say a prayer, and off we go

To far and distant lands

To spread His gospel to a world

Is all that He demands

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRNFf3ykQvM