Tag: Christian

How to Really Know Joy in Love of the Forsaken

Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort provided by love, any fellowship in the Spirit, any affection or mercy, 2 complete my joy and be of the same mind, by having the same love, being united in spirit, and having one purpose. Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself. 4 Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, but about the interests of others as well.5 You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had, Philippians 2:1-5 (NET)

 

We live in a world, a society that would tell us that “happiness is found in rising to the top, fulfilling our desires for pleasure, and in gaining the applause of others. To do so, we must avoid the friendships that are hard, shun the downtrodden for fear they might pull us down, and fight against anyone who gets in the way of our success. We cannot be distracted from our own happiness by someone else’s pain. We must shun those who do not fit our image for fear of what others might think.” Yet that is NOT what the Bible teaches nor is it the example of what Jesus Christ lived before us. Jesus showed us that true joy is found in humility, kindness, and in reaching out to the downtrodden, the broken hearted, and those whom society have cast aside as deplorable or unredeemable. Continue reading “How to Really Know Joy in Love of the Forsaken”

Sunday Poetry: A Talk with God

A TALK WITH GOD

by Effie Darlene Barba

 

Oh, let me Lord delight in You

And lay all else I hold aside

For no desire could mean as much

As hear Your voice, to feel your touch

And in Your arms abide

 

I feel the safety of your arms

Surrounding me throughout each storm

And when the bitter winter wind

Would bid my very spirit bend

Your breath will keep me warm

 

Forgive me Lord, this fragile heart

Sometimes desires too much

Forgetting You are all I need

Then comes my tears, my plead

To stop and feel Your touch

 

I then can hear your gentle laugh

The love within Your voice

“My child I love you evermore

My gifts on you I freely pour

The best for you my choice”

 

Oh, Lord I want to stay right here

And sit here at Your feet

To never step away from You

And then I cannot lose my view

No chance for fear, defeat

 

“But child I ask then who would go

To tell the wounded broken heart

That I their lonely heart would mend

If not but you, who can I send?

If you refuse to start”

 

Then Father, Dear, I must say yes

To go and run Your bidding do

And You will cast aside my fears

Your hand will wipe away my tears

And keep my eyes on You

 

I know that You go with me now

You’re ever present in my heart

I feel Your joy arise within

I feel Your wondrous strength again

Your love will ne’er depart

[bctt tweet=”A privilege of grace is the opportunity to talk with God; just to sit in His presence.”]

The artist that drew the picture “A Broken and Contrite Heart” featured on my header  and the picture of the bodybuilder is Ronald Barba.  Please go to his website ( http://www.barba-art.com) for information regarding obtaining copies or to commission him to create a masterpiece for you.  Feel free to email him at Ron@Barba-Art.com to discuss any art projects.

©2015 Effie Darlene Barba

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.

Display Thy Glory, Love and Joy

Thy Glory Drawing Nigh

By Effie Darlene Barba

 

The clouds that dance across the sky

The shades of green beneath that lie

Sunlight’s rays stretch from on high

Display Thy Glory drawing nigh

 

The strength and hope as friends draw near

To speak a word of kindness, cheer

To give a smile or dry a tear

Display Thy love—that Thou art here

 

A toddling baby’s laughter, squeal

The wonder, awe of all that’s real

A child like glee we’re bid to feel

Displays Thy joy-so great, surreal

 

Oh, Lord; Thy Grace, Thy Love Divine

Thou art a treasure-precious fine

To think you chose to make me thine

How could a man thy gift decline!

 

Dear Lord, I ask, “Help me Display

Thy love, Thy Grace, Thy joy today.

For someone lost or gone astray

A guiding light that shines the way.”

 

“Disavowing pride, my heart of stone

To humbly bow before Thy Throne

And let your light through me be shone

That Thy Dear Son might then be known”

 

Unto a world so filled with pain

Where sin has left such crimson stain

And Lies of man, a joy doth feign

Where evil hearts thy love constrain

 

If they could see thy true delight

Thy mercies new each dawning light

Thy Glorious beauty shining bright

Thy strength, thy sovereignty, thy might

 

The clouds that dance across the sky

The shades of green beneath that lie

Sunlight’s rays stretch from on high

Display Thy Glory drawing nigh

 

The artist that drew the picture “A Broken and Contrite Heart” featured on my header  is Ronald Barba.  Please go to his website ( http://www.barba-art.com) for information regarding obtaining copies or to commission him to create a masterpiece for you.  Feel free to email him at Ron@Barba-Art.com to discuss any art projects.

©2015 Effie Darlene Barba

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.

Grace So Wondrous and Free

Fearless Faith and Awestruck Joy -Grace so Wondrous and Free

“Hardship often prepares an ordinary person for an extraordinary destiny.” C.S.Lewis

God had chosen Abraham to be the Father of Faith, to be the lineage through whom Christ would be born, to establish a nation, and to be the one through whom God would bless the world. “6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. 7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. 8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. 9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham” (Galatians 3).

ultimate-inspiration-gods-plan-of-love-ronald-barbaartwork used by permission of the artist Ronald Barba and is protected by copyright—for further information, please go to http://www. barba-art.com

To prepare Abraham for the greatest act of faith that he would ultimately perform in his willingness to take Isaac to place on the altar (as recorded in Genesis 22); God allowed many trials in Abraham’s life. God step by step took Abraham’s hand to lead him forward. Abraham stumbled a lot along that path and even fell down many times; but, each time God intervened.

Continue reading “Grace So Wondrous and Free”