Tag Archives: christian poetry

POETRY SUNDAY- WHISPERS OF LOVE

February 14, 2016 Effie Barba 4 Comments

So many years of my life, I searched for love as though it were some illusive dream. Along that journey, my heart was shattered often. Somehow I was searching for some fairy tale illusion of love without understanding the truth of love. All through those years, always remained a whispering hope and dream of love. There came a day that with greatest sadness, I let go of that dream. It was as though a part of me was gone. That was when the most miraculous thing happened. I began to realize that God’s love had been there every step of the way. He had whispered those moments of love to give me a glimpse of what true love would be. He had whispered his love in those moments of kindness from a friend. He had whispered His love more boldly in the love of my children and grandchildren. He had shown me love through my little grandchildren who love with such purity of heart.

One day, I awoke and began to realize that all my illusions of love had been a broken, self-centered heart searching to find someone who would love me. As though they could fix the broken parts of me. That someone could remove that flaw of doubt within me. I needed confirmation that I was ok. I wanted to believe that something in me was lovable. What I did not realize was that God’s love was that!! He had given me everything I needed to be His Beloved Child and the lovely betrothed of Christ. How gently and patiently He has led me along this path. He has given me wise friends and teachers along this journey. He has given me such wondrous children and grandchildren. He has guided my hand all along this path. Love abides in me. Now I have learned to love without expectation—just to love! So where ever you are on this journey of love, let this be your song of hope. If you have someone—don’t take today for granted. It may be your last moment with them. Treat each moment as though it is your last. If you don’t have a companion—I would like to introduce you to mine. I am willing to share. Let me introduce you to Jesus.

WHISPERS OF LOVE

Whispers of Love flowing all through my life

Even in moments of sorrow or moments of strife

Whispers that came in the dark of the night

Promising Joy with the new morning light

Whispers of hope for the bleakest of day

“Love will find strength and love will find its way”

Into your heart and grow from within

Until it flows forth rejoicing and then

Suddenly out of those long and sad years

Love does spring forth out of fountains of tears

Into rivers of joy bursting forth then to see

That love had been there abiding in me

Oh, thank you dear Lord for teaching me love

As Your spirit descends with the wings of a dove

And gathered the pieces of this shattered heart

To weave it with steel, Your glory impart

A Picture so rare, its beauty unmasked

A portrait of you made in brilliant stained glass

Your love had been there inside of me

Even when I had been too blind to see

Whispers of love, it was You all along

Telling me that in your love I belong

[bctt tweet=”Whispers of love, it was You all along Telling me that in your love I belong”]

©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.

Poetry Sunday—An Act of Grace

February 7, 2016 Effie Barba

Sometimes, God’s greatest Acts of Grace come to us wrapped in pain, sorrow, or trials. You might at first, say, “How? Why would that be an act of grace?” There would perhaps have been a time, I would have wanted to agree with you. But you see, as I look back over my life; I realize that it was through those darkest of nights that I sought God with all my heart and soul. It was the lonely broken heart fighting to make sense of abuse, cancer, illness, and loneliness which searched longingly in the scripture. There in the early hours before dawn as I searched for answers; I found God’s Grace sufficient. In those early morning hours, I found hope, joy, peace, and love enough to sustain me for another day. It is a ritual I long for each morning, just to sit in His presence. Oh, yes, life will bring its trials, its pains, its fears; but, they cannot destroy the hope and the joy that I have found. In Christ, I may weep for a moment over the sorrows of this world; but, I will awaken before the dawn to sit a little while with Him. There I am restored. There I have hope. There I know how much I am loved. In Him, is fullness of joy evermore.

An Act of Grace

By Effie Darlene Barba

As I look back over my life

Remembering the pain and strife

There were those nights of bitter tears

When I awoke heart full of fears

To stumble then to find my chair

Where I would sit alone in prayer

My Bible opened there I’d read

Of hope, of love, of all I need

Your songs of joy poured over me

Salvation’s song had set me free

And suddenly I saw a light

A thought that brought such pure delight

The pain had been Your act of Grace

To Cause this heart to seek Your face

And find in You, my love, my friend

This hope and joy will never end

And now, Dear Lord I know it’s true

All that I need I find in you

I leap to rise before daylight

To sit with You, my pure delight

And talk with You about each day

That I might find Your will, Your way

My Bible opened there I read

Of hope, of love, of all I need

Your songs of joy pour over me

Salvation’s song has set me free

And as each day with dawning light

New trials come as is life’s plight

Whatever comes it is Your Grace

Allowing me to seek Your face

I find in You, my love, my friend

This hope and joy will never end

The picture is used with permission of Ronald Barba, the artist. It is protected under copyright and can only be copied or reproduced with permission. To obtain copies you may go to http://fineartamerica.com/featured/broken-and-contrite-heart-ronald-barba.html

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2016

Christian Poetry

Poetry Sunday: I’d Traveled Far

December 13, 2015 Effie Barba

My life’s journey has lead me to so many places and so wondrously has allowed me to meet so many amazing people along the way. Today’s poem, I wrote in October 2013 as I was preparing to leave Orlando and move to Columbia, Missouri. In 2003, I had left Springfield, Missouri to go to Orlando. I was uncertain why God had sent me to Orlando; yet, I with some hesitation had gone. Some many dear friends I met every step of this journey—so many have been beacons of light sent by God to guide me.

I’d Traveled Far

By Effie Darlene Barba

I’d traveled far across this land

Unto the eastern shore

Uncertain of what God had planned

Alone, I stood once more

I’d heard Him bid for me to go

Twas all I needed know

And then I saw, as time did pass

His plan begin unfold

I had been placed within His class

To learn His love untold

And as I saw His Glory Shine

His joy, His love now mine

I met dear friends along this way

That helped me as I grew

And others stumbling blocks did lay

God used to guide me too

That I might see His Grace His might

With Christ my guiding light

And Now I know that I must go

To leave these all behind

I wonder if my life did show

A Glimpse of God’s dear mind

And did my life His Glory shine

Within this mirror of mine

Oh, Lord I have this one request

When memories of me rise

That they might see how I was blessed

Your Grace my greatest prize

You took this broken, selfish heart

To fill Your Love Impart

So, can you Lord, use all I’ve done

Though blend of good and bad

To point them Lord to your dear son

His Grace, His Love did clad

A simple person such as I

With righteousness on High

I don’t usually include a song on Poetry Sunday; but, today I shall. The song I think so clearly speaks of my life’s journey is Call it Grace.

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2015

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.

Christian Poetry

Poetry Sunday—My Betrothed

September 20, 2015 Effie Barba

Jesus is not just a king; he is a betrothed King—an engaged King. And soon he will be a married King. His betrothed bride is the people of God—the people who trust him, elect from every race and nation, the church. He came the first time 2,000 years ago to die for his bride—to pay a dowry, as it were, with his own blood. And he will come a second time to marry her and take us—his church—into the gardens and the chambers of his love and joy forever.—John Piper (Sermon: Jesus Christ, the Bridegroom, Past and Future)

What Wondrous Joy that my Beloved will return for me one day!! That day I will understand the depth of His love, will realize He is my greatest treasure, will see His Glory clearly, and will understand that HE IS everything my heart seeks!!

My Betrothed

By Effie Darlene Barba

My betrothed hath gone to distant land

Preparing all that He has planned

Majestic Castle I am told

With streets and walls of purest Gold

And one day soon He comes for me

So I His Glorious Bride might be

What Gracious, wondrous love He’s shown

He paid the price, made me His own

How was it that He saw beneath

My filthy rags and did bequeath

His Crown to place upon my head

While taking all my shame instead

There’s nothing in this heart of mine

Could e’er deserve such love divine

I’ll never know what He did see

And yet, He did, He’s chosen me

He sent His counselor to prepare

My every flaw to then make fair

A righteous robe to then adorn

One day soon, One precious morn

My Lord, sometimes, I feel so frail

And fear my love for you will fail

Oh Love, my Love, I need you near

Your face to see, your voice to hear

Your letters pressed against my breast

A whispered prayer at each night’s rest

Awakened at some midnight’s hour

I feel your strength in me empower

Each day I live, I love you more

That on that Joy my heart doth soar

The trials, pains all fade away

While I await my wedding day

My betrothed hath gone to distant land

Preparing all that He has planned

Majestic Castle I am told

With streets and walls of purest Gold

And one day soon He comes for me

So I His Glorious Bride might be

What Gracious, wondrous love He’s shown

He paid the price, made me His own

Are you joyfully awaiting His return, busily preparing for your wedding day with great anticipation? I would love to hear all about your wedding plans—Click here to comment.

[bctt tweet=”My betrothed hath gone to distant land Preparing all that He has planned Majestic Castle I am told With streets & walls of purest Gold”]

[bctt tweet=”one day soon He comes for me So I His Glorious Bride might be What Gracious wondrous love He’s shown He paid the price, made me His own”]

The artist that drew the picture “A Broken and Contrite Heart” featured on my header and who designed my logo is Ronald Barba. To obtain your own portrait, logo, or art design please contact Ronald Barba at the email below. If you can dream it, he can draw or design it for you. Do you want to surprise someone with an extraordinary special gift of a personal portrait? An idea for a book cover? Or a new logo? Feel free to email him at ArteDaBarba@gmail.com to discuss any art projects.

Picture used with permission of goodsalt.com/Kim Yongsung

Christian Poetry

Poetry Sunday: Joy, Eternally

September 6, 2015 Effie Barba

The aurora borealis is the result of a solar storm flinging particles into the atmosphere at either of the earths polar tips with the result being brilliant, beautiful lights appearing in the darkened night sky. When storms enter our lives, we shutter in despair and fear. Yet, God knows every storm and allows them in only to bring us closer to Him. He knows our heart and desires to give us His Joy. Too often the eyes of our heart are too fixated on counterfeit joys and our desires are for things that cannot satisfy.

Sometimes into our darkest night, God sends a storm so that our eyes may be opened to behold Glory, beauty and Joy.

Joy, Eternally

By Effie Darlene Barba

Without the sorrows would I see?

Your beauty rare—Your love for me

Or would this heart be satisfied

With lesser things that build my pride

Your love for me so great and grand

Allowed each tear as You had planned

That I might seek Your lovely face

Eager to feel your arms of grace

And now, this Joy that fills my chest

Is mine because in You I rest

Your Glory lights my every trail

My treasure precious without fail

I thought my heart would break in two

Until Your Love came into view

What mystery is Your Grace Divine

My Darkest hour Your light did shine

This Joy, this hope, this love that’s mine

I feel Your spirit intertwine

Within my heart to nourish me

With all of You eternally

[bctt tweet=”Without the sorrows would I see? Your beauty rare—Your love for me”]

Samuel 22 (NIV) “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
³ my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield^[a] and the horn^[b] of my salvation.
He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior—…You, Lord, are my lamp
the Lord turns my darkness into light…“As for God, his way is perfect:
The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.

Would you like to share a story of how God transformed a storm into Joy in your life? Or share a poem you have written? click here to open the comment box

Photo used by permission unsplash.com