Effie Darlene Barba

^{Romans 5 1} Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ² through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. ³ And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; ⁴ and perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵ Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Christ in Our Place

⁶ For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. ⁸ But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ⁹ Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. ¹⁰ For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. ¹¹ And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

Death in Adam, Life in Christ

¹² Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned— ¹³ (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. ¹⁴ Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. ¹⁵ But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. ¹⁶ And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. ¹⁷ For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)
¹⁸ Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. ¹⁹ For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.
²⁰ Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, ²¹ so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

I have had several friends facing extreme sorrow lately and in my work I see devastating diagnosis with pain and suffering. Other friends are in situations that make them feel so unworthy as humans that they don’t know how to face themselves each day. Financially, each month I stand and wonder how can I meet all the financial obligations before me.  My heart bleeds for those in desperate need and I wonder if there is any time or resources left to reach out and help?  So wherein lies this hope that awakens me each morning and calls me to arise?  Where can faith live in the midst of all of this devastation in this world? 

Perhaps this is the key to this truth  As we read Romans 5 there are many truths that ring forth.  Our hope is not in or of this world.  Christ died that we might have His righteousness—the great exchange He took my sins and gave me His righteousness.  When we grasp the magnitude of this truth, our life is changed.  Our love for Him can’t help but grow that He becomes all that we seek and hope for.  He takes our sorrow and gives us His joy to spread forth to the world around us.  He takes our fears and gives us His peace.  He takes our guilt and gives us His love even for ourselves.  I am worthy because my name is written on His heart, my name is graven in His hands of love.  When Satan would try to destroy me with my own guilt, I must only stand firm in this grace that holds me tightly.  I have a great High Priest that always pleads for me before God.  All the cares of this world fade into nothingness in the presence of Christ’s love.  I want to share with you one of my favorite hymns written by Fanny Jane Crosby.  

Fanny Cros­by was prob­ab­ly the most pro­lif­ic hymn­ist in his­to­ry. Though blind­ed by an in­com­pe­tent doc­tor at six weeks of age, she wrote over 8,000 hymns. About her blind­ness, she said:

“It seemed in­tend­ed by the bless­ed prov­i­dence of God that I should be blind all my life, and I thank him for the dis­pen­sa­tion. If per­fect earth­ly sight were of­fered me to­mor­row I would not ac­cept it. I might not have sung hymns to the praise of God if I had been dis­tract­ed by the beau­ti­ful and in­ter­est­ing things about me”

 

All the way my Savior leads me,
What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His tender mercy,
Who through life has been my Guide?
Heav’nly peace, divinest comfort,
Here by faith in Him to dwell!
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well;
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well.

All the way my Savior leads me,
Cheers each winding path I tread,
Gives me grace for every trial,
Feeds me with the living Bread.
Though my weary steps may falter
And my soul athirst may be,
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo! A spring of joy I see;
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo! A spring of joy I see.

All the way my Savior leads me,
Oh, the fullness of His love!
Perfect rest to me is promised
In my Father’s house above.
When my spirit, clothed immortal,
Wings its flight to realms of day
This my song through endless ages:
Jesus led me all the way;
This my song through endless ages:
Jesus led me all the way.

 

This is my prayer each morning  and I hope it brings you the peace that it brings me.  He is all I seek and savor His presence His hope, His joy, His peace.

                                                                         Love,   Effie Darlene Barba

2 Timothy 3: Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.⁴No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

When I first found out that I was pregnant with Ronald, my first question to God was “How can I keep this child safe?”  At the time Alberto was barely 6 months old and I struggled to keep one baby safe in a world of violence.  I questioned God each day.  Ronald came into this world a 4 lb 4 oz preemie that looked so fragile.  As he grew, he seemed to always separate into his own world of make believe with “action figures” in his hands.  So uniquely formed by God, little did I realize all of God’s plans.  That is the case so much of the time. Yet, God knew that He needed this soldier in the streets. 

Ronald is such a unique blend of justice and mercy wrapped into one.  By the time he was five, he began to draw action figures with such unique detail.  Later, after so many trials in life, he accepted Christ as His Savior and seemed to be gifted with both justice and mercy.  Truly a complex blend of gifts that at times makes life a struggle.  He was always quiet; but would suddenly speak forth with wisdom beyond his own self.  Despite the pain or sorrow this world would fling upon him, he would sit quietly and sometimes sadly with little to say.  He would arise each day and go about the tasks set before him in silent sorrow.  Then, suddenly, as out of no where, he would come and lie down across my bed and say  “Mom, God’s timing is always perfect and He always knows what is best.” 

Ronald is now an artist, a deputy sheriff and living in his own beautiful home so uniquely and beautifully designed.  Whenever he reaches out to put his arm around me to say “Mom, I love you” or he takes my hand and smiles to let me know “It’s all ok” ; I thank God for this my son. 

God gave him strength and gentleness, wisdom and honor, truth and grace and blended it all into this very disciplined soldier of Christ.  Happy birthday my son.

^{II Corinthians  5:21}For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him

Romans 5: ¹Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: ²By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Ephesians 2: ⁸For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: ⁹Not of works, lest any man should boast. ¹⁰For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

II Corinthians 3:  ¹⁷Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. ¹⁸But 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.

 

I begin this story with great trepidation; because the subject can so easily be  misunderstood.  I pray that God guide each word that you might understand.  It is very difficult to openly deal with my own failures.  If I reveal the truth of my past will others judge me and then “not like me” because of my imperfections.   If I speak earnestly about the differences between grace and legalism, will some misunderstand and thereby lose their way?  Yet, Paul the apostle, also dealt with the same fear as he carefully and cautiously wrote the book of Romans.  For this entire week, I have been burdened with the desire to write this for you; yet, my own inadequacy to explain it looms before me. 

I accepted Christ as my Savior when I was 5 years old.  Immediately, I began to search and learn scriptures, seeking Him before all else.  Despite my knowing that the truth is that salvation is by grace alone, I continually felt that I needed to work very hard to earn His favor.  This was a mirror of how I believed about the world as well.  I believed, deep within me, that I was not good enough to be loved.  What was the reason a small child believed this?  I cannot say.  I only knew I constantly worked hard to be accepted and loved by those whom I met and I constantly worked hard to hopefully be loved by God.  Although I knew the scripture which was that salvation was by grace, I still believed that favor was earned and that God stood with a lightening bolt to strike me with whenever I failed.  If I could only work a little harder, maybe He could bless me.  Well, God had a lot to work before Him to undo all of this fear and guilt; yet, His Love was so great that He patiently went about the transforming work in my life.

I would go through seasons of what seemed to be successful; yet, this always was followed by my tumbling forward and my failure would once more loom before me.  How could it be that I was seeking Him and wanting to please Him  and still failing to get it right?  The area in which this was most evident was in relationships.  My entire life I had been taught by my mother that the only thing honorable for a woman was to be wife and mother.  In other words, God would not bless me unless I could get this right; as though, this would be the symbol of God’s love for me.  Perhaps that is why this was where I was consumed with the pursuit of someone to love me as proof of God’s love for me.  I got married at age 16 more to try to please my mother than for any other thing.  That began a  spiraling road of great sorrow and failure.  By age 23, despite my desperately trying to get it right, wanting to honor God—I was twice divorced and believed that God could never forgive me this.  I never questioned my salvation, I merely questioned my ability to be used of God for anything meaningful.  Then I married Pete and I worked extremely hard to gain his love so that I might thereby gain favor with God.  I was with him until his death through some very tough trials that forced me to learn to lean on God for everything and amazingly I began to learn that God’s love for me was unconditional.  It did not depend on me, it depended on Him.   He had chosen me to be His child.  He had formed me uniquely His from my mother’s womb.  He knew that He would love me.  About two years after Pete’s death, I again married this time with great hope that God was finally going to reward me for my faithfulness.  How devastating it was to discover that this man only wanted my money and when it was gone and I was facing cancer, he continued to count how much money he would have when I died.  Beyond this, he despised my precious children for their Hispanic heritage; a thing he hid before the marriage.  I had told him before I married him that one thing he would not do is ever interfere with my children; so, once more divorced, recovering from cancer and post total colectomy for ulcerative colitis—once more I was divorced.  The only thing was what money I had was now gone; but God provided each step of the way what I needed for the moment.  Many well meaning Christians, including Mom, constantly reminded me that all my trials were a result of my sin.  I kept studying scripture and began to stand up and declare “No, that is not true”   Christ had died for my sin and the price was paid there on Calvary—once and for all—never to entrap me again in it’s condemnation.   Twice more, I with great hope dated again and twice more my heart was broken.  Then, with great sadness I laid down the dream.   For about six months, I was so broken hearted that I could not seem to overcome the sorrow.  Finally, one day I looked into heaven and cried, “My time is in Your hands”  My time for sorrow, my time for joy, my time for illness and my time for wellness—all is in Your hands Lord.  Amazing, what He has done since—my only hope and joy is in Him.   It is me and God—He is all I need. 

If you remember Christ as He approached Simon Peter before he denied Him and said as recorded in Luke 22:³¹And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: ³²But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

God does not ordain our sin; yet, sometimes He allows Satan to sift us that we might grow up to be more like Him.  All the chafe and false hood must be removed that we may become a true testimony of the truth.  The amazing thing, His grace and mercy is so great that He brought good even out of my failure.  How could I not savor and long for His presence above all else?  The more I savor Him, the more my life is transformed to display His glory to the rest of the world.  Not from the outside in am I transformed; it is from the inside out.  It is His work, not mine.  The more I recognize the very depth of His Love, the more I revel in His Joy; His peace, and find I want to shout forth to the rest of the world of His mercy.  If you don’t know Him, please come just as you are to seek this free gift of love.  The true gift is His presence in you and with you.  Nothing else matters so much.  Nothing else fulfills that void in your life. 

Now perhaps you understand this poem which I wrote, Lord, let me see me through Your eyes as is presented in this video. 

There are so many things that I want to share with you, the words keep pouring through my brain and yet alas at this moment my work schedule is keeping me running.  In the meantime, let me share with you this poem and hope it warms your heart. 

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

II Cor 4:16For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 17For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Sorry that it has been a while since I last posted.  There have been so many things happening.  My work has required many hours beyond the usual with less days off.  In addition, last Monday I received a call to tell me that a very dear friend was in hospice with only days to live.  I had tried many times to reach her; but her phone was turned off and I had no other way of reaching her.  Knowing that she had been battling cancer, I had come to believe she had already gone to be with the Lord with no chance for me to say goodbye.  With this opportunity, I rushed to her side to hold her hand and kiss her cheek one last time.   She was in such agony and on so many pain medications which barely relieved the pain for moments at a time; yet, she recognized me and whispered “I love you” one last time.  She left this world to be with the Lord Wednesday night.  She stood on faith throughout a life plagued with pain and suffering; yet, she was always the one to remind me that God was in Control and had the perfect plan for our lives—no matter what.  Her name is Machelle Luna.  I want to tell you a little about her life in hopes to help you understand this truth and  I dedicate this blog to her and to my belated husband as proof that God is truly the Master Weaver of our lives and for that reason we have no reason for fear or despair in any circumstance of this life because God who is omnipotent has a plan of love for each and every one of our lives that plan is to show forth His grace, mercy, and love to a world so in need of Him. 

Machelle’s gift was prophecy—therefore she strongly stood on truth and justice at whatever cost.  As I have previously told you, my primary gift is mercy.  What a fateful day, that I once more with broken heart stood before her desk at Florida Cardiology with tears streaking down my face.  I knew Machelle by sight only before that day; however, she looked up and saw me there that day and began to listen to my blubbering words.  She reminded me of God’s perfect love and plan.  We talked for quite some time and in that moment a true friendship began that superseded space and time.

Machelle’s life was a shining example of faith in the center of constant trials and tribulations.  She grew up very poor.  Her husband left her with two children to support with no formal education or work skills; yet, she proceeded to face life with one thought in mind which was to provide for her children against all odds.  It was during that time period that she came to find Christ as her Savior and  to rely on Him for everything.  She was one of the few women that I knew who worked as much or more than I did.  Our destinies were intertwined from that day forward with each helping the other through life’s sorrows.  Machelle later lost her job due to manipulating lies of another who had been placed in a position of manager.  This we talked about a lot after that and as the remainder played out.  This manager also professed to be a Christian and had been a very dear friend as well; yet, a Christian who is out of fellowship can prove to be more evil than anyone else.  All of this played out without the true boss knowing and his hands were tied.  The thing that I and Machelle knew was that God’s Master plan was still at work.  For that reason we knew that even this God ordained.  Machelle  always reminded me that this manager who had lost her way before God  needed our continued prayers for her to find her way back to fellowship.  Indeed, we pitied her rather than become angry; because we knew she was living in a world filled with fear and could not feel the peace of God without returning to Him.     Machelle lost her house and came to live with me for three months; but left to go back to Deland where she was from so that her daughter could be near her family and friends.   Shortly thereafter she began to have problems with excessive bleeding and multiple trips to the ER, where she was essentially ignored and despite their noting a large fibroid tumor—this too was ignored.  Of course, she had no insurance.  Despite this Machelle went back to school to become a medical assistant.   Ultimately, I demanded she return to a hospital where I worked and there met an incredible gynecologist who offered to help her, even if he never got a penny for the work.  It was then found that she had stage IV Ovarian and Uterine Cancer.  She completed all but one part of her chemo and none of her radiation therapy because she was placed in a situation of a very tough decision.  The training she had taken would all be worth nothing if she could not return to complete her internship before a certain date.  She chose to return to school that she might complete her training so she could support her family.  She stood on faith that God’s plan would still be best—no matter what His decision.  She did finish and go to work caring for an elderly couple which she loved.  Yet, the cancer returned with a vengeance about a year later with massive tumors of the peritoneum.  Some wanted her to sue the original doctors; but she refused and said that to do that would not be an example of Christ’s forgiveness.  It would also taint the truth that God is in Control.  She always said, “I do not want to look down from heaven and see the bunch of you crying at my funeral; because I will be standing before my Lord and Savior” 

Why does God allow His children to face such sorrow and tribulation in this world? Perhaps that is the question many of you have at this point in this story.  Yet, Machelle and I had both learned in life that our entire lifetime is but a moment compared to eternity and that in the center of  it all our purpose is to glorify Him.  There are many people out there who want to teach a prosperity gospel which brings glory to themselves and not to God.  There are many others who want to teach the false gospel that pain in the life of a believer is a result of sin.  This is also so very far from the truth.  Both of these gospels do not understand that Christ left His throne in heaven to suffer and die to pay the penalty for our sin once and for all that we might be brought into fellowship with Him. Romans 8: 1 “ There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”   Those who have truly seen and savor the truth and magnitude of Christ’s love, we fall before Him in praise even if He offered nothing in return.  We come to understand that many times, it is through those sorrows and pains we come to know Him so intimately that He becomes all that matters.  Have you ever felt joy and peace in the middle of great tribulation?  That is what Machelle had and I have because of Jesus Christ.  It is His peace and joy in the central core of our being that caused and continues to cause  us to triumph with grace—standing firm in faith.  II Timothy 2:  1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.  3Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.  7 Consider what I say; and the Lord give you understanding in all things. 8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel.  9 Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evildoer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound. 10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sake, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.  11 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:  12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him”  

Another scripture which confirms these truths is found in the writings of Paul the Apostle who suffered beatings and imprisonment for the gospel of Christ.  Romans 5 ¹Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: ²By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and REJOICE in hope of the glory of God. ³And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; ⁴And patience, experience; and experience, hope: ⁵And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. ⁶For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. ⁸But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. ⁹Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. ¹⁰For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. ¹¹And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. ¹²Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: ¹³(For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. ¹⁴Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. ¹⁵But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. ¹⁶And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. ¹⁷For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) ¹⁸Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. ¹⁹For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. ²⁰Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: ²¹That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

Paul, pretty well summed it up.  Our purpose as children are to glory God in such a way that we draw others to Him.  If for example my life was filled with no suffering and no sorrow, always blessed with riches would I be able to point you to Christ for your peace and joy?  Indeed, you might believe you want what I have, but you would never see the true source of my joy and peace which is Christ Jesus.  On the other hand, if I find hope in a hopeless situation, peace when trials abound, am able to forgive and love those who harm me, and demonstrate an underlying strength and joy in a sea of broken heartedness—then you might begin to wonder or seek He who is my strength through all of life rather than the riches of this world.  My belated husband was the proof of just that.

Pete grew up in a world of pain and sorrow.  His father was very abusive, because he grew up abused and really did not even know how to be different.  At one point he was placed in an orphanage after his father abandoned his mother.  She went to work and to be able to do so placed Pete and his sister in an orphanage which was run by a group of abusive nuns.  He nearly died of scarlet fever, so his father removed him from the orphanage but continued to raise him with an abusive hand.  His father would place him in the best school, but send him to school dressed in rags with shoes that had holes so that he suffered constant ridicule.  Despite all of his childhood he became a brilliant doctor; yet, plagued by bipolar disease-most likely inherited from his mother who was loving one minute and abusive the next during the times she was with him.  (He never remembered this and dearly loved his mother; but his sister relayed these truths later so that I would further understand.  )   The results of all this also left him as an atheist because he saw nothing that would bring him to seek God. 

When I met Pedro Barba, I fell madly in love with this man who had a heart of gold which seemed to be tainted by a life of sorrow.  It was not until so many years later that I came to realize the magnificance of God’s plan.   Somehow, despite my failing to get it always right and many times not understanding what God was doing, God taught Pete of his unconditional love by continually placing forgiveness and unconditional love in my heart for Pete.  Despite many difficulties, pains and suffering, God revealed to me constantly the Pete He saw.   At one point, we lost everything and things looked very bleak.  That was when Pete first saw a glimpse of the strength and peace that God provided in a believer.  I remember distinctly him saying,  “You have something deep inside that causes you to always forgive and a strength that carries you through everything, I  want what you have”  I told him the truth was I, myself, was very fragile; yet, God provided me with His strength, His hope and His unconditional love.  That was Pete’s first step toward seeking God.  Six months later, he accepted Christ as his Savior merely six months before he died.  I began to understand that God’s plan was perfectly orchestrated.  I learned so much throughout this; most importantly 1.  If God could give this human heart the ability to love unconditionally then how much greater was His unconditional love for me.  2.  There is no suffering too great for the salvation of one soul.  3.  Our entire lifetime is but a blink in time compared to eternity.  

Machelle’s life has always been a testimony of faith and she now stands before Christ sharing in His Glory.  How many people will find Christ because of her life? Only God knows.  Perhaps, you who have stumbled on this website , with a heart filled with pain, need to know this Savior who is so worthy of our Praise, who can fill your heart with strength and joy and peace.  I pray that is the case.  It is for that reason, I write.  I hope that in doing so I point one person toward Christ or cause one faltering Christian to turn there eyes back on to that which is the only hope we have—Jesus Christ.

Let me share with you this poem I wrote which has been true in my life, Machelle’s life, Pete’s life and is true for everyone who knows Christ as their savior.

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

 

By the way, stay tuned, soon to be posted will be a video to the song version of this poem 

May God bless you with His joy, His peace and His love. 

                                                                          Love,  Effie Darlene Barba