Have You Ever Considered When Loss is Gain?

When Loss is Gain

As I look back upon my life

The times of joy and times of strife

How could I cry for any loss?

Once I have gazed upon Thy Cross

How could I ever dare complain?

About life’s sorrows, tears and pains

When You so freely took my shame

Upon Yourself removed my blame

Because from sin You set me free

I now thy willing servant be

So, pierce my heart-declare me thine

And purge all selfish thought of mine

If all I have, You choose to take

That Glory bring for your namesake

Allow me gaze upon Thy Face

Thy eyes of love, thy smile of Grace

I do not know what life may bring

Prepare my heart to always sing

A Song of joy, abounding praise

Amidst the billows storms may raise

For you my precious, Lord and King

Will lift me high on eagle’s wing

To soar above this world below

And cast aside the grief and woe

Philippians 3: 7-10

7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

8 Yea 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,

9 And 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:

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

Just to know you Lord is to gain the greatest treasure.  All else, is loss.

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR?

If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. Because there is nothing more important than this, I urge you to seek Him today.

ARE YOU IN OF NEED PRAYER?

If you have a prayer request email me by clicking here

Or if you would like to tell me your story or thoughts  comment here

Books Available

If you want to know more about books I have written: please click on this link  Book Resources.

You can find all my books on Amazon.com, search Effie Darlene Barba or click this link to be taken there

Or for inspirational photos or home decor click here.

Previous Posts

How to Really Honor God: Hallowed Be Thy Name

POEMS

How to Live a Life of Grace as God’s Beloved

 

My One Desire: All Else I Count But Loss

©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.

Footnotes and Credits

Photo by Vladimir Chuchadeev on Unsplash

How to Really Honor God; Hallowed be Thy Name

Hallowed:  Honored as holy,  revered and respected.  As Jesus provided us with a blueprint on how to pray, He prayed: “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name” (Matthew 6:9).  Our intimate heavenly Father, all powerful creator of heaven and earth who reigns upon His throne in heaven over all the affairs of men, honor and glory be unto your name.  We need to pause and consider the very depth of those words.  The word hallowed appears in the New Testament only in the Lord’s Pray (Matthew 6 and Luke 11).  Can we really honor God and Hallow His name?  We must look to Old Testament to fully grasp the depth of what Jesus spoke of in this verse.

Hallowed be thy name, Lord, in my heart, my spirit, and my life.  Lift up within me your name  high above all other names in honor, glory and praise. But how do I do that?

Honor God within your Heart

Continue reading “How to Really Honor God; Hallowed be Thy Name”

What is the Significance of Having a Heavenly Father?

As Jesus began teaching His disciples how to pray, He instructed them to pray in this manner: Our Father, which art in heaven (Matthew 6:11).  For all those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, God is our Father.  But as many as received Him (Jesus Christ), to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name (John 1:12).  As Heavenly Father, He showers us with His love, His protection, and His provision.  His guiding hand is there to lead us ever closer to Him.  Therefore, as His Children, we have an intimate relationship with God.  Yet, as we recognize His closeness, we also need to consider His power and His might as our heavenly Father.

Our earthly Fathers, even the best, are limited at times.  They may not always understand the secrets of our heart.  Sometimes, they may get it wrong when they strive to guide us; because, they may misjudge the motives of our heart.  Although, they might wish to give us the world; they are limited in their power to do so.

But that is not the case with our heavenly Father.  When we pray, we need to remember this.  Although God is so very near, He is also the Sovereign Creator and King of all. Thou, even thou, art Lord alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshipeth thee (Nehemiah 9:6). Know therefore this day, and consider it in thing heart, that the Lord He is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else (Deuteronomy 4:39). Our Father is all powerful; yet, loves us perfectly.

A Heavenly Father

Continue reading “What is the Significance of Having a Heavenly Father?”

Do You Really Know God as Father?

Jesus began the Lord’s prayer with “Our Father” (Matthew 6:9).  Certainly, He had the right to begin with “My Father”.  Afterall, He is God’s only begotten Son. (John 3:16, John 1:18, I John 4:9).  He has every right to call Him Father.  But, Jesus began the prayer with “Our Father”.  Do you really know God as Father?  Some would try to say that we are all God’s Children.  Certainly, we were all created in God’s image; however, sin entered the world and separated us from an intimate relationship with our creator.  So, how can we come to really know God as our Father?  Jesus tells us, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me (John 14:6).  Only through accepting Jesus Christ through faith, can we know God as Father.

Yet, what a wondrous, miraculous privilege it is to really know God as Father!  Through the redemptive work of Christ, we are adopted into His family as “heirs, joint-heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17).  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God (Romans 8:14-16). But as many as received Him (Jesus Christ), to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name (John 1:12).

Knowing God as Father

Continue reading “Do You Really Know God as Father?”

Let Me Be A Voice for You, O God!

In all I do, I pray that I might be a voice for You, O God-my Father, Lord, and King.

A Voice For You

 

I Google this and Facebook that

Dear Lord, how can it be

That life has now become complex

The forest midst the trees

 

My Father, dear I wish to write

And tell them of your word

Or even speak-to be your voice

Is that a dream absurd?

 

I know, dear Lord I have no skill

No great or brilliant mind

The only thing I have to give

My heart to thine affined

 

I give to you my voice, my hands

To do with as You please

And when I wander off somewhere

Please Lord, my will do seize

 

Help me Lord, to not get lost

Amidst this techy world

So that your Glory might shine forth

On peaceful wings unfurled

 

And teach me all I need to know

To spread your word abroad

That when they see your beauty fair

Their soul enwrapped and awed

 

 Dear Father, now on bended knee

I bow before your throne

Please take from me each selfish thought

Replace them with Your own.

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR?

If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. Because there is nothing more important than this, I urge you to seek Him today.

ARE YOU IN OF NEED PRAYER?

If you have a prayer request email me by clicking here

Or if you would like to tell me your story or thoughts  comment here

Books Available

If you want to know more about books I have written: please click on this link  Book Resources.

You can find all my books on Amazon.com, search Effie Darlene Barba or click this link to be taken there

Or for inspirational photos or home decor click here.

Previous Posts

Can My Life Really Be A Witness For God?

POEMS

How to Live a Life of Grace as God’s Beloved

 

©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.

Footnotes and Credits

Photo by Nick Morrison on Unsplash