But For God, The Sorrows that Abound

But For God, The Sorrows that Abound

I see the sorrows that abound

The depths of pain that do surround

Anger, hate the awful sound

Dear Lord, where are you now?

I need to feel you close somehow

To know this pain, you did allow

Help my eyes to just see You

I need someway to have your view

To see the victory that was won

Upon that cross by your dear Son

 

For there upon a hill so high

A cross that reached into the sky

Your Son did bleed, and He did die

To save a sinner such as I

Oh, Father dear did you cry?

Were there tears that filled your eye?

As you gazed from up above

Steadied your hand, because of love

You saw beyond the wretched pain

And focused then upon the gain

But for God

For human hearts so filled with pride

Desire to rule and cast aside

Their only hope, their one true guide

As evil grows within each heart

They grasp it tight, to ne’er depart

While shouting theirs a brand-new start

That only they can show the way

To bring mankind a better day

So blind they are to never see

Their nothingness can never be

 

More than the darkness deep within

So, torn and tossed by their own sin

What fools to think they’d ever win

More than the darkness of this life

So filled with pain and self-made strife

That stabs one’s soul with molten knife

Yet still they feel that they are right

That they are all by their own might

And filled with self, reject the thought

Their life is nothing, unless bought

Justice Does Demand

For justice does demand a price

And nothing else could e’er suffice

Except for Christ’s dear sacrifice

And yet they run their hell-bent way

Believing all their tongues do say

It is the truth, their words do slay

This world continues spiraling down

Within their words, they too shall drown

Amid the pain, the bitter strife

That without God makes up this life

 

Unless they humbly bow their head

Believing all that He has said

Allowing Him to reign instead

Unless by faith they do accept

Their feeble hearts are so inept

Until for sin they too have wept

They cannot ever win life’s race

Or gaze upon His Glorious face

Eternally, to know His Grace

Whose love by faith our sins erase

Yahweh, Lord the Great I AM

Yahweh, Lord the Great I AM

The One True God of Abraham

Jesus Christ, Your Righteous Lamb

How great the pain you must have known!

As Darkness fell—not one light shone

Your wrath for sin poured from your throne

On Your Beloved and sinless son

To Justify all that you’ve done

For never could you compromise

Your Righteousness or otherwise

 

If you forgave and no one paid

Your justice would have been enslaved

And righteousness would only fade

So, looking far beyond Your pain

You focused then upon the gain

Tomorrow’s harvest full of grain

Each one You knew would call Your name

You loved so much, you did proclaim

I’ll pay their price for all their sin

While justice, righteousness doth win

 

I see the sorrows that abound

The depths of pain that do surround

Anger, hate the awful sound

And yet, Dear Lord, I know your near

Safe in your arms, I have no fear

There may be pains sometimes down here

Life may have its ups and downs

The angry mobs with hate filled frowns

My love and joy look past the pain

Because You Are My All, My Gain

Concluding Thoughts

[bctt tweet=”The Anger, Sorrow, and Evil that surrounds us and abounds in this world is evidence of what man is capable of when God is not Lord of our lives.” username=”effiedarlene”]

[bctt tweet=”Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. hebrews 3:12″ username=”effiedarlene”]

[tweetthis] he did evil because he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord 2Chron12:14[/tweetthis]

[bctt tweet=”When men and women turn away from the truth of the gospel, all they have is their own wisdom leading to anger, frustration, and failure” username=”effiedarlene”]

[bctt tweet=”The Sorrows anger and evil that abounds and surrounds us reveals the true nature of human hearts separated from God. Without God as Lord of our hearts, our efforts are all in vain. No politician can fix what only faith in Christ can” username=”effiedarlene”]

[bctt tweet=”2 Tim 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their OWN lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall TURN AWAY their ears from the TRUTH and shall be turned unto FABLES.” username=”effiedarlene”]

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.

ARE YOU IN OF NEED PRAYER?

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

Disclosures

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2018
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:

Picture used by permission of RoninRon’s Pencil Art.

How Can Relentless Persecution Really Bring About Good?

Saul wholeheartedly approved of Stephen’s death. And on that day a great and relentless persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem; and the believers were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles. 2 Some devout men buried Stephen, and [a]mourned greatly over him [expressing a personal sense of loss]. 3 But Saul began ravaging the church [and assaulting believers]; entering house after house and dragging off men and women, putting them in prison (Acts 8:1-3 AMP).

Prior to this moment, the only ones persecuted by the Jewish leaders were the apostles.  Yet the priestly council within the Jerusalem temple had determined to not make them martyrs.  Instead, they would beat them, warn them, put them in prison, from which they would escape.    But, for fear of the people, they in some ways tolerated them.  Gamaliel, a well-respected Pharisee is recorded saying, “Give them some space.  If this is not of God, it will die. However, if God be in it, no one can stop it” (paraphrase of Acts 6:34,39).

Then, Stephen began to reach out to the temples of the Jewish people visiting Jerusalem from far and wide.  He was so well versed in Old Testament doctrine and an extraordinary speaker.  A truly gifted apologetic speaker, the greatest scholars including Saul could not “resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.” (Acts 6:10).  In other words, they could not win the debate.  Therefore, they killed him.  Satan launched a relentless persecution of the church using Saul.  He must have believed in doing so he would squelch the church.

Relentless Persecution

Continue reading “How Can Relentless Persecution Really Bring About Good?”

One of the Greatest Sermons Ever

Stephen had been going about the synagogues teaching the truth of the gospel. His message so powerfully presented that the greatest Old Testament Scholars of his time were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake (Acts 6:10).  So, when they could not win the debate, they hired people to slander him (much like what continues in our day).  Therefore, they brought Stephen before the council.  They accused him of blaspheming against God, Moses, the law and the temple.  Stephen, like a skillful lawyer might, then spoke in his own defense.  As he did, he spoke one of the greatest apologetic sermons ever.  His task was to answer the four charges, to keep their attention, to indict them on their sin, and to present Christ as the Messiah.  Standing before a hostile crowd, not an easy task.

Yet, as they accused him, all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel (Acts 6:15).  The Holy Spirit filled Stephen’s heart and mind as he began to speak, guiding his words.  Certainly, Stephen could not be the amazing defender of the gospel if he had never studied the scripture.  He did rely on the Spirit to “bring to remembrance” (John 14:26); however, this did not negate the truth of his diligence in studying the scripture.  We must be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear (I Peter 3:15).

One of the Greatest Sermons

Continue reading “One of the Greatest Sermons Ever”

7 Characteristics of Stephen One Should Know

Enter the stage Stephen.  His ministry as a Christian was very short indeed.  However, God so used Stephen as to rocket launch the gospel message into the whole world.  There within Stephen were 7 Characteristics which God used in a mighty way.  Although, there is no record that anyone came forward or accepted Christ during the sermons of Stephen.  However, his impact on the church is undoubtedly one of the most profound.  What were these characteristics? 1) He was filled with the Holy Spirit. 2) He was filled with wisdom. 3) Full of Faith.  4) He was full of Grace. 5) Power-filled 6) Courageous 7) Glory-filled.  What was it that Stephen did and how did he change the world in such a short time? Even though he never had the number of converts attributed directly to him, his was a story of triumph that each of us should learn from.

Stephen most likely was one of the early converts.  We are not told exactly when he came to accept Jesus Christ as Lord; but it is assumed it was around the time of Pentecost. Filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, Stephen then boldly went to the Sanctuaries of the Jews who came to Jerusalem from gentile nations.  He took the message of the gospel directly to them, in their houses of worship.  Stephen was a Greek name, indicating that he was himself such a Jew.  Many of the Jews of that day lived in various gentile nations.  Yet, they came to Jerusalem for special “feast days” to worship God.  Hence, when the crowds were so large at the temple, they had their own sanctuaries where their language was spoken.  They would gather there to learn of God and to debate the scriptures.

 

Stephen’s Ministry

Continue reading “7 Characteristics of Stephen One Should Know”

A Child’s Woeful Cry and God’s Reply-Poetry Sunday

OH FATHER-A Child’s Woeful Cry and God’s Reply

by Effie Darlene Barba

A Child’s Woeful Cry

Oh, Father I came to you first in my youth

Ready to run and tell of Your truth

I studied and worked to make you so proud

You’d see all I’d done- I’m not like the crowd

 

Polished and shined Your Glory I’d show

From mountaintops shout to the valleys below

I knew I could do it-then you would see

All of my beauty-then you’d love me

 

Then came the years when all seemed so wrong

I fell to the ground-crushed by the throng

Though I struggled so hard with all of my might

Nothing seemed good, nothing seemed right

 

Oh Father, my Father; I don’t understand

Weary and worn by the years in this land

I’ve failed you so often, I’ve made You so sad

When all that I wanted was to make your heart glad

 

All of the struggles, the trials of life

The sickness, the pain, the sorrow and strife

I’m covered with scars, the battles I’ve lost

While chasing vain dreams at such a high cost

God’s Reply

“Dear Child, don’t you see it is all as I planned

So, please, my dear child, come take my hand

Your beauty doth shine as bright as the stars

Aglow with a radiance shone forth from the scars

 

Your eyes are so tender, washed by a tear

My Grace to reflect to all who draw near

Your heart that was broken-stripped of your will

A vessel now emptied- my spirit could fill

 

Oh, how I love you, my child don’t you see

I’ve heard every whisper, I’ve heard every plea

It was I who held you in the dark of the night

I sang a love song til the dawning of light

 

I’ve watched how you’ve grown, the love in your heart

That sparkle of joy you to strangers impart

You could not become the person you are

Were it not for the tears or occasional scar

 

I’m so proud of you child, all you’ve become

I’ll shout from the heavens, my child “Well Done”

I’ve been faithful and true through all of your life

Through the trials, the heart breaks, and even the strife

 

Covered with righteousness bought by my son

Redeemed you have been, your victory won

You never were meant to win by your might

The battle was mine, mine only to fight”

The End of Things

Oh, Father, I love you with all of my heart

My greatest treasure you’ve been from the start

The Joy I know now, came from all those years

A precious, rare gift you gave me through tears

[bctt tweet=”The Joy I know now, came from all those years A precious, rare gift you gave me through tears” username=”effiedarlene”]

Wherever the roads of life led me, God has been there every step of the way.  So often, I had strayed or ran down paths of my own making.  Yet, He knew before I was ever born, every mistake I would make and He loved me just the same.  He chose me to be His precious, beloved, blessed, redeemed Child.  There was not a moment of my life He did not redeem and use to bring me ever closer to Him.  That is His Grace to all who accept Him as Lord and Savior of their life.

Disclosures

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2018
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:

Picture used by permission of RoninRon’s Pencil Art.