Tag: America

Where is Truth and Hope Found in this World?

Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down. Daniel 4:37 (NKJV)

Watching the news, flipping from channel to channel; I find myself wishing to know truth. The truth hidden behind all the rhetoric, the bias, and the bend for sensationalism. With a heavy heart, praying that God would guide my thoughts and that God would heal the divide within the nation. How can I help? What can I do to spread the gospel? How can I shine light into the darkness? Yet, it begins with holding fast to the truth that God IS. Faith begins there. God is truth! God is justice! God is in Control! God is the Great I AM!

When the nation of Judah was taken captive into Babylon, it was exactly what God had warned them would happen. They failed to listen or heed warning. They failed to seek God or honor Him. They had continued on in their rebellion against God and worshipping other gods of their own making. Yet, look what God did as a result of that captivity!! What an amazing God of Grace, Love, and Hope He is! Out of those captives, through the fervent prayer and faithfulness of 4 men; God lead King Nebuchadnezzar (King of the Babylonian Empire) to a saving knowledge of God. What an amazing and wondrous thing that was! Continue reading “Where is Truth and Hope Found in this World?”

Arise, My Heart to Sing—Poetry Sunday

Arise, my people! Let your light shine for all the nations to see! For the glory of the Lord is streaming from you.2 Darkness as black as night shall cover all the peoples of the earth, but the glory of the Lord will shine from you. 3 All nations will come to your light; mighty kings will come to see the glory of the Lord upon you. Isaiah 60:1-3 (TLB)

We, the people of God need to let our hearts be comforted in God’s promises and His Everlasting love for us.  It is so easy to feel our hearts break for all the sadness that surrounds us in this world.  Yet, God has called us to be the light of truth shining forth into a darkened world!!  The only truth that we can be assured of is found in God’s Words as He alone can fully reveal to our hearts during our time alone with Him.  Only there can we find solace, strength, and joy; so that we might arise with Hearts of Joy and Praise!!  It is there that we can find a Joy that sustains us even when we are surrounded by Hurricane Force Winds of despair trying to uproot our life.  Alone with God we are reminded that we are His Beloved, Blessed, Redeemed, Chosen, Sanctified Children.  So, let us each and everyone arise early to be alone with God; before, we too become swallowed up in this world’s grief, sorrow, and anger!  Let us arise and let our lights shine for all the nations to see God’s Glory streaming through us!!

Arise, My Heart to Sing

By Effie Darlene Barba

 

In the hustle and bustle of this life

The blasting sounds filled with such rage

Parched from a world of pain and endless strife

I cried to God,” Come now! My thirst assuage!”

 

Then with gentle voice, He called out my name

“My child, dear one. I’ve longed to hear your voice.

To talk awhile, my love for you proclaim

So that your heart could then with me rejoice!”

 

“Oh, Father forgive me,

Began my feeble plea

 

I’ve taken for granted

You are always there

I’ve taken for granted

Your love and your care

 

My Precious Dear Father, how could it be?

Busy with things, my heart had grown quite cold

While you waited ever so patiently

With arms open wide, my life to enfold”

 

Let me never forget

My life’s in Your hand

Let me never forget

In Your strength I stand

 

Let me rise up each morning before the dawn

To lift up my voice in prayer and in song

Let me sing Your praises so loud and clear

That the world might know; both those far and near

You are my God, My Lord, My Precious King

My greatest love, the hope to which I cling

Arise, my heart! Arise and sing!

A Joy filled song to God, My King

[bctt tweet=”Let me sing Your praises so loud and clear That the world might know; both those far and near” username=”effiedarlene”]

[bctt tweet=”You are my God, My Lord, My Precious King My greatest love, the hope to which I cling” username=”effiedarlene”]

[bctt tweet=”Arise, my heart! Arise and sing! A Joy filled song to God, My King” username=”effiedarlene”]

[tweetthis]Let us be diligent in prayer that we may become the light to this world[/tweetthis]

Living Bible (TLB) The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2016

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.  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.

A Prayer for Our Nation- Poetry Sunday

1For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:11-13

If we listen to the news today; we would believe that our nation is broken beyond repair-split between so many ideas that could never be united.  We watch violent protests, politicians with no respect for truth nor the laws of our land.  We see heated arguments played out on our news broadcasts.  We see anger, terror,  lies and the portrayal that our liberties are squelched by what might be called political correctness.  It seems all that the news medias want is to further divide and sensationalize our differences for their own financial gain.  Yet, if you walk outside for a moment; I think you would see the true greatness of this land.  You would see someone stopping to give a helping hand to a stranger.  You would see the hearts of the police who sacrificially serve their communities while facing evils that we dare not even think about.  Our greatness as a nation is our ability to unite and stand strong with one true battle cry, ““I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”    I am proud to be a Christian and I am also proud to be an American where I defend liberty and justice to all regardless of their faith, race or gender.  I do ask that I, as a Christian; be afforded those same liberties as well without fear.

flag-and-cross-compressor

To all my Christian brothers and sisters, let me remind you that we must unite in prayer for our nation.  We must then go forth and proclaim the name of Jesus unashamedly; while at  the same time displaying the truth of His gospel through love, grace, humility and kindness.  We must stand firm for what we believe; yet, we must do so with dignity, grace and love.

 

A Prayer for Our Nation

by Effie Darlene Barba

 

I listened to the news today

Their crafted words were meant to sway

My mind to turn and think their way

The truth I dare not really say

 

Their words portrayed a great divide

And bid me then to take a side

A battle built of human pride

While truth and justice set aside

 

Our Country torn and broke apart

No hope to find a brand new start

And then I looked within my heart

I must not delay to do my part

 

And so, I bowed my head today

While for my country I will pray

For truth, for love, for grace to sway

To shine a light by words I say

 

“Give me the strength, dear Lord to stand

With humble love to heal this land

Not water down the truth I know

Through kindness then your love to show

 

Give me words to speak, make me wise

Yet, never, never compromise

I cannot deny the Only One

Who loved us so You sent Your son

 

To bleed and die upon that cross

I’d rather die or suffer loss

Than e’er deny my God, my King

Let bells once more of freedom ring

 

And never deny my right to say

To God, I bow my head to pray

Teach me Oh Lord to stand for you

With gentle grace and honor true

 

As I look upon Christ’s gentle face

To understand your love and grace

I must not compromise my stance

Yet do so with a love filled glance

 

And so, dear Lord I bow my head

Teach me to walk where you have led

And fight this war down on my knees

Where I might there your will then seize

The original picture of the flag is from: http://www.123rf.com/profile_stillfx  I did use photoshop to add the cross with the praying woman.

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2016

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.  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.