Effie Darlene Barba

Philippians 3: ¹³Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

¹⁴I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

            Throughout this life we develop goals for which we strive to complete.  Many times our goals are life stages—finish high school, go to college, find a career, get married, or start a family.  For some, it may be to excel in some sport. Some want an Olympic Gold Medal.  Whatever goal we seek, our success depends on how passionate are we to complete that goal in life.  What are we willing to sacrifice in order to complete that goal? Passion is an intense emotion compelling feeling, enthusiasm, or desire for something. The term is also often applied to a lively or eager interest in or admiration for a proposal, cause, or activity or love.  Passion can be expressed as a feeling of unusual excitement, enthusiasm or compelling emotion towards a subject, idea, person, or object.  Great athletes generally must rise above the crowd in a passionate pursuit that drives them far beyond the average man.  Often they are immune to realizing pain, as they drive themselves past injury, past fatigue in order to finish the race first.  They stay focused on the final goal and will sacrifice anything to accomplish that goal.  They spend hours and hours in constant hard sacrificial training with the final goal always pressed before them.  It is no wonder that Paul used such an analogy to the Christian walk.  I am not there yet; but this one most important thing is the only worthy goal for which I place all my passion toward completing.  I must forget all the former failures, sorrows, and pains so as to constantly stretch forward to reach that most important of all goals.  I press ever forward with training, self denial for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.  Keeping Christ Jesus as my goal ever before my eyes, I lay aside everything else as unimportant in comparison to knowing Him in all His Glory.

            Take a look at the passages just before 13 in Philippians 3: ⁷But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

⁸Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

⁹And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

¹⁰That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

¹¹If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

¹²Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

Throughout the journeys of my life (all the leaps of faith, the moments in which faith eluded me, the sorrows, the losses, the joys) it has been the glimpses of God’s Glory ever so dim at moments and shining brightly at others that has drawn me out.  Each tear along that path has lead me to this moment of great and wondrous Joy in which I now reside.  My greatest treasure is Christ Jesus my Lord.  Nothing matters so much as my growing in my knowledge of Him.  To see the glimpses of His magnificent Glory.  To have the privilege to be His servant.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ty1WwPT0RqU

2 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.

I have been at the most amazing conference this past weekend at the Church of the Apostles with Dr. Michael Youssef.  I met missionaries from Indonesia, Australia (who are working in the refugee camps) and those who are stationed in the middle east.  True Christianity is alive and growing in the middle east, even in those areas where it is underground.  There was this incredible humble servant of God whom I met that is doing amazing things for God in Indonesia.  43 of his family members were murdered by the Muslim leader; yet, God empowered him with the grace to forgive.  He met with the very leader who had murdered his family and told him that he forgave him;  amazingly, this humble servant of God is now being asked to speak as a guest in some of the muslim events.  He is invited to the president of Indonesia’s home to pray for the president.  Amazing things are happening because of this ministry.  They are able to broadcast into the remote areas of the middle east and are broadcasting in dual language.  One of their major satellites broadcasts in French, Arabic, and English.  It is called the Kingdom Sat   http://thekingdomsat.org/

Additionally, we as Christian need to pray for this our nation.  We need a true Revival of the Truths of God.  We need ourselves, our churches and all Christians to examine themselves.  We cannot be content with counterfeit christian lives, clinging to counterfeit joys; but, we should be the body of Christ representing Him in love, service and humility.  We must show forth Christ, our Risen Savior, in all that we do and all that we say.  We must pray to represent Him and we must pray for our nation before it spirals so far away from God that it falls in total destruction. 

I am attaching a song written and sung by an amazing artist from Lebanon who left all the stardom of being a pop artist to follow Christ.  The English subtitles are present so you can understand the words (unless you understand Arabic)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5H2P8019gA

I Corinthians 2: (AMP)⁴ And my language and my message were not set forth in persuasive (enticing and plausible) words of wisdom, but they were in demonstration of the [Holy] Spirit and power [^[d]a proof by the Spirit and power of God, operating on me and stirring in the minds of my hearers the most holy emotions and thus persuading them],

⁵ So that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men (human philosophy), but in the power of God.

⁶ Yet when we are among the full-grown (spiritually mature Christians who are ripe in understanding), we do impart a [higher] wisdom (the knowledge of the divine plan previously hidden); but it is indeed not a wisdom of this present age or of this world nor of the leaders and rulers of this age, who are being brought to nothingand are doomed to pass away.

⁷ But rather what we are setting forth is a wisdom of God once hidden [from the human understanding] and now revealed to us by God—[that wisdom] which God devised and decreed before the ages for our glorification [to lift us into the glory of His presence].

⁸ None of the rulers of this age or world perceived and recognized and understood this, for if they had, they would never have crucified the Lord of glory.

⁹ But, on the contrary, as the Scripture says, What eye has not seen and ear has not heard and has not entered into the heart of man, [all that] God has prepared (made and keeps ready) for those who love Him [^[e]who hold Him in affectionate reverence, promptly obeying Him and gratefully recognizing the benefits He has bestowed].

¹⁰ Yet to us God has unveiled and revealed them by and through His Spirit, for the [Holy] Spirit searches diligently, exploring and examining everything, even sounding the profound and bottomless things of God [the^[f]divine counsels and things hidden and beyond man’s scrutiny].

¹¹ For what person perceives (knows and understands) what passes through a man’s thoughts except the man’s own spirit within him? Just so no one discerns (comes to know and comprehend) the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.

¹² Now we have not received the spirit [that belongs to] the world, but the [Holy] Spirit Who is from God, [given to us] that we might realize and comprehend and appreciate the gifts [of divine favor and blessing so freely and lavishly] bestowed on us by God.

Even our faith and understanding of God’s words are given to us as a gift.  Without the help of the Holy Spirit we would never understand the magnitude of His Gifts toward us.  He has sent the comforter to protect, to teach and to ever pray for us.  Without the working of the Holy Spirit we could never understand the depths of His love, His perfect plan for our life.  The spirit assures us of our salvation.  Enlightens our eyes that we might see His truth.  He is ever present with those who have accepted Christ as their Savior to guide us.  What a marvelous gift; yet so often we choose to rush along and ignore the promptings of the Spirit.  Take a moment today, sit still and listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit within you. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqU_32v0R_I&feature=related

Romans 8: 28 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.

³¹ What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

³² He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

TO GOD-MY LOVE, MY HOPE, MY JOY

by Effie Darlene Barba

My life-so filled with hopes and dreams

Lay shattered at Your feet

So many tears, so many pains

I laid before Thy seat

Can I look upon Your face of love

And question what You’ve done?

For You have been my only hope

My only morning sun

You’ve seen my heart when crushed with pain

Your hands have held it tight

When I have been so weak, so frail

You’ve shown Your strength, Your might

You’ve held me close within Your arms

When darkness filled my night

And when I could not see my way

Your eyes, they gave me sight

I lay my life within Your hands

That You may heal my soul

And keep my eyes upon You Lord

That I may reach Your goal

Shine forth Thy grace, Thy mercy Lord

And let me be Thy light

That all may see Your eyes of love

The blind, they might have sight

Let not the sorrows, nor the pains

Bring bitterness within

And give me strength to walk this path

Protect my heart from sin

I lay my heart, my soul, my dreams

Before Thy throne of love

I lift my eyes to You, My God

And seek Your will above

Thou art the only one I need

To fill my heart with glee

It is Your face, my one true love

Tis all I need to see

So lift me up and hold me close

Reveal Thy love divine

That through the holes within my heart

A world might see You shine

And if the sorrows of my past

Can touch a wayward one

I thank you Lord for each dark path

That lead them to Your son

I praise You now from mountains high

For each dark path I’ve trod

Twas there I found Your heart, Your love

Twas there I found You God

What great and wondrous joy I know

Because You are my king

And though the path I cannot see

My heart will trust and sing

A song of praise unto You Lord

Who knows what’s best for me

You’ll hold my hand and lead me on

In darkness, I can see

Your love, Your help, Your guiding hand

Is all I’ll ever need

So hold me close unto Your path

For this is all I plead

I’ll skip with joy along this path

Though darkness may surround

Because I know You hold my hand

My feet will e’er touch ground

I cannot fall outside Your love

I cannot lose my way

I’ll hold my broken dreams once more

And see them real, one day

A song of praise unto You Lord

Who knows what’s best for me

You’ll hold my hand and lead me on

In darkness, I can see

Your love, Your help, Your guiding hand

Is all I’ll ever need

So hold me close unto Your path

For this is all I plead

  I highly recommend that you listen closely to the following song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcEvUjkskoI&feature=g-vrec

I John 1: 1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;

² (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)

³ That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

⁴ And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

⁵ This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

⁶ If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

⁷ But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

⁸ If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

¹⁰ If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

John writes with a plea to all who would listen.  He begins with the acknowledgement that He has seen, looked upon and touched the very Word of God as he walked with Christ.  He reminds us that Christ was there during creation and continues there through eternity to come. He had seen Him, touched Him, and had the urgency to share it so that your joy may be full.  He pleads with mankind regarding their relationship to the family of God.  He does not refer to a joy founded on earthly possessions for he had none.  He had been tortured and exiled.  By the time he wrote this letter, he was an old man living in Ephesus.  The other apostles had already been killed for their faith; still, he writes "and these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full".  This is a joy that triumphs over our worldly trials and tribulations.  It is a joy that would give strength to stand even if it cost us everything.  God is light and by thus reaches into the darkness which fills our heart so that we might see our sin nature and to see our own individual sins.  When that light shines into our hearts we realize our utter unworthiness and cling to the only hope of salvation, the only means by which we can become the children of God and share in His great treasures of Joy, Hope, Peace, and His Love.  How can we ever choose to remain in darkness, having seen His light?  Why would we desire to hold onto our own dark sins and grieve the Holy Spirit once the light has shown them so clearly to us?  Wouldn’t we (having tasted His Joy) fight against our very sin nature so as to hold tight to that relationship with our Father and not feel the sorrow of dishonoring His name by our actions and deeds? Yet, even then, when the light shows us of our sin, we have only to confess with repentant heart and "he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness"

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

Here I am to Worship

by Tim Hughes

Light of the world, You stepped down into darkness

Opened my eyes, let me see

Beauty that made this heart adore You

Hope of a life spent with You

Here I am to worship

Here I am to bow down

Here I am to say that You’re my God

You’re altogether lovely

Altogether worthy

Altogether wonderful to me

King of all days, oh so highly exalted

Glorious in heaven above

Humbly You came to the earth You created

All for love’s sake became poor

And I’ll never know how much it cost

To see my sin upon that cross