Effie Darlene Barba

As we over the past few months have studied the nation of Israel in the wilderness on their way to the promised land, we have seen so much our our own lives as Christians.  Moments of great triumph followed by moments of failure in their faith.  They would choose other things thinking in them they would find joy and happiness instead of relying on the only true source of happiness.  By their chose into the wilderness they ran, where God would have to come stir up everything and through the great trial turn them back to Him where joy was there.  That is until they would allow discontentment to creep in again and once more they would turn from God.

But has that not also been the case in my own life.   Or perhaps yours.  Trials would come that caused me to turn back to Him.  Just as the mother eagle replaces the downy nest with rocks to force the baby eaglets to stretch forth and learn to fly.  So it is, God fills our self made comfortable beds with rocks and stone until we learn to soar with Him.  Trials come to awaken us, to draw us closer to Him, and to prove our love.  Sometimes it is because we ran headlong into the wilderness of our own making.  And sometimes they come in the moments of growth when we were reaching high.  Either way they come to help us learn more of Him.

This is a poem for any of you, who into the wilderness have run.  I have along this journey more than once.  But God’s grace always came to get me and bring back home where I realized my greatest treasure is knowing Him.

Into the Wilderness I ran

 

Into the wilderness I ran

Pursuing my desire

How was it that I did not see

The flames, the raging fire

 

The shining hope of love and joy

Had drawn me far away

From God’s dear truth, His Love and grace

I found that I did stray

 

It seemed so innocent at first

I thought a gift from God

But then that gift consumed my heart

And on God’s word I trod

 

So, marching forward I did go

Ignoring all I knew

Of God, His Righteous just demands

Were what would get me through

 

And so, hell bent I ran away

Into the dark abyss

Where there I found such sorrow

That led to bitterness

 

For God had been the only one

Whose joy could fill my heart

To lift me high above the clouds

Oh, why did I depart

 

If I had waited, maybe then

I would not know such pain

For all my wretchedness and sin

The crimson bloody stain

 

And yet, God came to rescue me

He spread His wings so wide

That I might rest a little while

And in His love abide

 

I could not ever comprehend

The Grace He’s given me

That from this wilderness I formed

He came to set me free

 

He cut away the hardened scar

So, wrapped around my heart

That I might feel His warmth and love

Just as I did to start

 

Oh, lord I only ask of you

To hold me in your arms

That I might never stray again

Lured by such earthly charms

He Leads Us Out of The Wilderness

Even if you ran into the Wilderness in pursuit of pleasures you thought would satisfy, denying that God IS Enough, He will not forsake you there.  He loves you and all you need do is turn your eyes to Him once more.  There He will fill you with His joy, love, hope and peace until you realize He is your greatest treasure.  I know because He did for me although I was so undeserving of His grace.

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.

PREVIOUSLY

How to be Carried Upon God’s Wings Once More

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

Books Available

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

Another option is going to Amazon.com. 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.

Credits

 

In the journey of life, it is so easy to get drawn astray by hearts so filled with desires.  We can be walking along as though on clouds with God at our side. The danger seems to be so far away during those moments.  Then something comes along, so innocent at first. A glimpse of loneliness, a feeling of discontent and then where do we turn?  At that moment, someone or something catches our eye and looks so wondrous. We think if only I can have that, my life would be complete. We forget that we were carried upon God’s wings to that height of Joy.  And that our feet slip so easily upon the slippery slopes of life.  

We begin to say or make excuses.  After all, God wants my heart to be happy, doesn’t He?  And yes, He does. But sometimes we run ahead of Him and then run in fear away into the wilderness where he must come after us. Ah, but in our foolishness, we even think we have found contentment; until, the wilderness overtakes us.  God then arrives, to stir up the nest, flutter His wings. Then, once He has our attention He will spread His wings wide and we find ourselves carried upon God’s Wings once more to His safe haven.

But you see, He does have to stir up the nest and flutter His wings to get our attention.  For we must first recognize that we were the ones who ran from Him. Repentance must flow for forgiveness to restore us.  And there is no forgiveness poured out upon excuses. So, just as Moses asked the Children of Israel to do. Let’s look back for a moment upon Jacob. 

 

Jacob in a Desert Land

Before Jacob was born, God proclaimed he would be the one to receive the birthright and carry on the covenant promise to Abraham.  Yet, despite God’s choosing him, Jacob along with his mother schemed to receive the inheritance God had promised. In other words, they ran ahead of God.  As a result of that, Jacob feared for his life and ran away to another country. There he lived a rather prosperous life. However, his father in law deceived and tricked him.  It became apparent he must return to the land God promised him so long ago.  

Deuteronomy 32: 10 He found him (Jacob) in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye. 11 As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings:12 So the Lord alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him.  13 He made him ride on the high places of the earth, that he might eat the increase of the fields; and he made him to suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock.

God did have to stir up the nest and flutter His wings, to get Jacobs attention.   Jacob continued to wrestle with God, until one night, God crippled him. Then with a limp and with a humbled heart, Jacob learned to follow God with all His heart, mind, and strength.  It was God who carried Him forth from the wilderness after all he had done. He was carried upon God’s wings once more.

Israel’s Demise once more the same as ours

15 But Jeshurun (the nation of Israel) waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.  They provoked Him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations provoked they Him to anger. They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not.  Deuteronomy 32:15-17

Isn’t that what we do? Can’t it be said of us as well? 

[tweetthis]18 Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee.  Deuteronomy 32:18[/tweetthis]

19 And when the Lord saw it, he abhorred them, because of the provoking of his sons, and of his daughters. And he said, I will hide my face from them Deuteronomy 32:19-20

Is that not the place we find ourselves? A place where we deserve nothing more, we forsook the one true God for trinkets of earthly pleasure for a season. 

34 Is not this laid up in store with me, and sealed up among my treasures?

35 To me belongeth vengeance and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.

36 For the Lord shall judge his people, and repent himself for his servants, when he seeth that their power is gone, and there is none shut up, or left.

37 And he shall say, Where are their gods, their rock in whom they trusted,

38 Which did eat the fat of their sacrifices, and drank the wine of their drink offerings? let them rise up and help you, and be your protection.

39 See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.  Deuteronomy 32: 32-39

 

Carried Upon God’s Wings Once more

[tweetthis]Were it not for His mercy and grace my foot would slip.  The weight of my own sin would pull me ever downward.[/tweetthis]

But look up.  Because for me and for all who know Him as Lord and Savior, the desert wilderness will not last.  Just before it consumes us, He will arrive like the eagle. He will stir up the nest and flutter His wings. Oh, I may feel as though all is lost; but that is when He will spread forth His wings and lift me up once more.  When? The moment I turn and seek Him once more.

Although, He could justly say,

“5 They have corrupted themselves, their spot is not the spot of His children: they are a perverse and crooked generation.

Instead, my lips will sing:

 

 Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.

2 My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass:

3 Because I will publish the name of the Lord: ascribe ye greatness unto our God.

4 He is the Rock, His work is perfect: for all His ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He.

Deuteronomy 32:1-4 

 

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.

PREVIOUSLY

What happens when you allow Gall and Wormwood?

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

Books Available

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

Another option is going to Amazon.com. 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.

Credits

Photo by Godwin Angeline Benjo on Unsplash

As the children of Israel were finally preparing to enter the Promised land. Moses called together the assembly to enter into a “covenant (a binding contract) with the Lord thy God, and into his oath, which the Lord thy God maketh with thee this day. That he may establish thee today for a people unto Himself, and that He may be unto thee: GOD (ALMIGHTY LORD OF ALL” (Deuteronomy 29: 12).  But those among them, family, friends, and loved ones who would not enter this covenant were to be cut off from the close assembly lest there grow up among them a bitter root of gall and wormwood.  None were to love anything more than God and they were to be careful of their heart’s desire, not to turn to worship anything or anyone more than God, Himself.

        Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the Lord our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood.  And it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst. The Lord will not spare him, but then the anger of the Lord and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the Lord shall blot out his name from under heaven (Deuteronomy 29:18-20).

Avoiding Gall and Wormwood, What About Grace?

Continue reading “What happens when you allow Gall and Wormwood?”

Before creation, God determined that He would create man and woman in His image.  They were to be a people on whom He could shower His love, fill with His Joy and allow to marvelously experience His Glory.  Then why did He allow the fall?  Perhaps it is as C.S. Lewis declared—free will was necessary for one to fully experience this love-for to be incapable of choosing to love, is no real love.  Or perhaps it is as Jonathan Edwards has said, for us to fully savor and rejoice in God in all we Glory, we must first see Him in all His Glory.  How can I know of His Grace or of His Justice if I never saw anything else?  Can I know the beauty of light, if I had never experienced darkness? From before time began, God’s plan did include the True Prophet-His Word made flesh.

It is not necessary for me to fully grasp all there is to know of God’s plan in order to embrace the beauty of His Grace or His Love.  As He declared in Isaiah 55: 8-9 “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Still I can trust Him with every detail of my life, for His Word is true.  God told Adam of the redemptive plan very shortly after Adam chose to sin.  Then throughout the history of time, God revealed His plan of salvation to men who failed even to heed His Plea.  For he knows how weak we are;
  He remembers we are only dust. (Psalm 103:14 NLT)

The Prophet Foretold In Deuteronomy

Continue reading “God’s True Prophet Sent to the World”

It was freedom and joy that they desired when Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit.  Yet those were the very things they lost; because they did what they thought was right in their own eyes.  Oh, yes! The serpent enticed them; but they chose to believe the lies.  It was freedom that gave them that ability.  A freedom they had enjoyed, walking each day in the Garden with God.  Their life had been one of joy, peace, and harmony.  Love overflowed all around them.  Perfect harmony and joy in their relationship together, their relationship with the earth, and their relationship with God.  But the tragedy was, they chose to become dissatisfied when they looked upon the fruit, desired it, and questioned the goodness of God toward them.  He, who had created them and given them everything, was quickly cast aside for their own acceptance of a lie.

Freedom and Joy lost

Continue reading “What Truly Robs Your Joy and Your Freedom?”