Effie Darlene Barba

Chronicles 6 is a fervent prayer offered by Solomon as he dedicated the temple.  Very passionately, the prayer recognized every pitfall human hearts seek after.  Then Solomon asks God to forgive and restore His people—as He had so many times.  So, wisely he spoke of times when other nations would overtake them because of their sin.  At times famine or drought might come to chasten the people.  Or rebellion from within would rise to destroy them because they forsook God.  Whatever plague or judgment came, Solomon trusted that God would be using it to restore His people to Himself and to teach them to follow God alone.  Because humanity can only find joy, hope, and peace in a relationship to God.  Everything else leads to bitterness, pain, and despair.  The prayer was a humble prayer, recognizing the majesty of God and the desperate wickedness of the human heart.

That is what a fervent prayer is!  It is one that comes from deep sorrow blended with reverence, recognizing God as Holy, Righteous, and Just. It does not seek self-gain nor is it fretfully impatient.  A fervent prayer recognizes that God is Sovereign, Abounding in love, and Gracious.  Afterall, look at how wondrous a redemption plan He devised despite our constant destruction of all He so graciously has given.  We want it our way, never recognizing that all we do is tainted with evil thoughts and desires were it not for His gracious hand of love intervening.

God’s Response to Solomon’s Fervent Prayer

Continue reading “Can the Fervent Prayer of the Righteous Be Powerful?”

The rod of God has come down upon this our nation!  Do you not feel it?  Why have we not fallen upon our knees in repentance? Are we to sit in silence as we watch all that is happening?  Should not we who proclaim the truth of the Gospel message not be the voice crying forth in the wilderness to make the way for Jesus?  Oh, I do hear a few voices; but will anyone heed their voices.   I watch as Franklin Graham proclaims truth on his twitter account, only to be attacked.  Michael Youssef unashamedly proclaims truth. While John McArthur reminds us of God’s holiness and our call to be Holy with Him as Lord over our life.  But how many are listening to their pleas?

Or are their words falling on death ears?  God is a merciful, gracious, and loving—yes; but that is why God must enact judgement as well.  The rod of God must destroy the harlot of idolatry and lascivious living, so that we might be brought into the light.  Only in His righteousness and truth can true joy be found.  All this other “stuff” which draws our hearts away from Him is wood, hay, and stubble that must be burned from our lives that we might find Him as the precious treasure He is.  So, who should truly fear the rod of God?

All who do not call upon Him as Lord, Master, and Savior.  All who have not humbly come before Him acknowledging their unworthiness, accepting the gift of salvation paid for with the blood of Jesus Christ. To then arise clothed in His righteousness.  Equipped with His Armor to proclaim the gospel message to all of whom we meet without fear or compromise.

The Rod of God-Who should fear?

Continue reading “And Who Should Fear the Rod of God?”

Look around and you might say, “What we least desire to know in this world is truth and integrity.” Oh, that wasn’t always the case, nor is it my desire. In fact, I have heard so much noise, differing ideologies lately that I only wish to cry. I desire to weep over our nation, our world, our cities, and our families. All to often, truth and integrity are cast aside for “how do you feel?” What is your reality? As if reality can change. Or truth be relative to one’s feelings and interpretation of it. It is no wonder we see such bitterness and strife in the world around us. Sorrow surrounds my heart from my mother’s lonely isolation into confusion to young children who do not know how to even explain what they feel.

Our nation may truly be on the verge of collapse, if we don’t awaken from our slumber. Even then, what can we do to avoid the devastation of all that we love? More importantly, I must ask, what can I do? Well in part, we must become like the prophetess in Proverbs calling into the streets, awaken and heed the call to wisdom. But to do so, we must also remember that the harvest is not ours; but Gods. Nations may come and go; but ultimately God’s plan for His redeemed is unwavering. That was true in Daniel’s day and it is true for us.

Daniel—a patriarch of truth and integrity

Continue reading “4 Benefits of Seeking Wisdom’s Truth and Integrity”

As we continue our study in the book of Proverbs, I wanted to pause a moment to address why wisdom is referred to as she throughout.  And then to ponder, which kind of woman are you Prophetess or Temptress?   For me, this question of why Wisdom is given a feminine gender lead me to wonder a lot.  So, prayer and research have driven me further into this.  Wisdom is referred to as she, like a prophetess calling through the streets, urging all to listen to her cries.

As I began to ponder the question, I also wondered whether it also gave meaning to how we women should respond?  So, busy is this world to eradicate the differences between men and women.  Yet, God’s word always embraced the differences.  Men were to love, cherish and protect his female counterpart.  That however, gave the woman some power over the man to be either the prophetess or the temptress who could lead him to God or to destruction.

5 Reasons Why Wisdom is Personified as Female

Continue reading “Which Kind of Woman are You Prophetess or Temptress?”

As we look around us today, we see turmoil, conflict, hate, fear, and self centeredness greater than ever before.  There amid all this, where is the one ray of hope.  Proverbs 1 includes one sound Warning and a Ray of Hope.  God is our only hope and we can only reach Him through Jesus Christ.  Alarms are all around us with sound warning reflecting the foolishness of all that we have accomplished through removing God from our lives.

Yet, the foolish go on believing that humanity can rise above it all with their own strength if we could just keep trying harder.  How is that going?

There is only one answer that can bring racial harmony, love, peace and joy in this world.  That is Jesus!

A sound Warning

Funny how the warnings in Proverbs 10-19 sounds such alarms in my mind and heart today as we see the looting and riots.  What happened to George Floyd was wrong; but looting and riots are wrong as well.  Listen to Proverbs 1:

My son, if sinful men entice you,
do not give in to them.
¹¹ If they say, “Come along with us;
let’s lie in wait for innocent blood,
let’s ambush some harmless soul;
¹² let’s swallow them alive, like the grave,
and whole, like those who go down to the pit;(Setting fire to all they have)
¹³ we will get all sorts of valuable things
and fill our houses with plunder;
¹⁴ cast lots with us;
we will all share the loot”—

¹⁵ my son, do not go along with them,
do not set foot on their paths;
¹⁶ for their feet rush into evil,
they are swift to shed blood.
¹⁷ How useless to spread a net
where every bird can see it!
¹⁸ These men lie in wait for their own blood;
they ambush only themselves!
¹⁹ Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain;
it takes away the life of those who get it.

LISTEN

Killing and destroying the livelihood of the innocent will not bring justice to any or for any. It only increases the division and allow evil men and women to justify their motives.  Do not repay anyone evil for evil; consider what is good before all people (Romans 12:17).  We are to rely upon God to dispense justice and He will one day correct it all.  But if we repay evil with evil, we too shall perish in our own destructive evil.  The only hope for our nation and our people is to turn to God for the answers we seek.

Instead of joining in the evil, Proverbs admonishes us to

Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction
and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
⁹ They are a garland to grace your head
and a chain to adorn your neck.   Proverbs 1:8-9

Can you imagine a beautiful golden chain about your neck which could be used to pull you back and keep you from going too far down the wrong path?  A reminder of who we are and to whom we belong.

A RAy of Hope: Wisdom’s call

We then find in verses 20-31, the Wisdom (just as God) calls throughout the streets.  Sadly, few hear the cries.  As you read, imagine Christ calling your name to come.

Wisdom calls aloud ^[h]outside;
She raises her voice in the open squares.
²¹ She cries out in the ^[i]chief concourses,
At the openings of the gates in the city
She speaks her words:
²² “How long, you ^[j]simple ones, will you love ^[k]simplicity?
For scorners delight in their scorning,
And fools hate knowledge.
²³ Turn at my rebuke;
Surely I will pour out my spirit on you;
I will make my words known to you.

²⁴ Because I have called and you refused,
I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded,
²⁵ Because you disdained all my counsel,
And would have none of my rebuke,
²⁶ I also will laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when your terror comes,
²⁷ When your terror comes like a storm,
And your destruction comes like a whirlwind,
When distress and anguish come upon you.

²⁸ “Then they will call on me, but I will not answer;
They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me.
²⁹ Because they hated knowledge
And did not choose the fear of the Lord,

FINAL DECREE

³⁰ They would have none of my counsel
And despised my every rebuke.
³¹ Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way,
And be filled to the full with their own fancies.
³² For the ^[l]turning away of the simple will slay them,
And the complacency of fools will destroy them;
³³ But whoever listens to me will dwell safely,
And will be ^[m]secure, without fear of evil.”

There is coming a day when it will be too late.  God will not always contend with man.  But one day He will give all who wanted to be separated from Him exactly what they wanted.  However, they fail to see that once He removes Himself fully, all His grace goes as well.  That is hell—where none of the goodness of God is present.  Eternal torment is eternal separation from God.  For now, His Grace is holding evil at bay; but what terror and sorrow when He withdraws His hand of grace from all who rejected His gift of salvation.

 

And all of that plus the previous two posts  are only chapter one of proverbs.  A lot of message in one little chapter.  I hope that inspires your appetite to read a portion of proverbs every day.

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD?

If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link.  There is nothing more important than this; because   He is the way, the truth and the life.   Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here

Or  if you would like to share  your story or thoughts, you can  comment here

Previously

How to Really Know Wisdom for Life

Why is Reading the Book of Proverbs so Important?

Books Available

If you want to know more about books I have written,then, click on this link to my Book Resources.

Another option is going to Amazon.com. Because, there you can find my books by searching for Effie Darlene Barba.  Or click this link to be taken there

Furthermore,  for inspirational photos or home decor click here.

Disclosures

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2019
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Credit:  Art used by permission of Roninron.com