Tag Archives: faith

Christian Poetry: A Voice for You

June 13, 2015 Effie Barba

I wrote poetry from time to time when I was younger; but, that was rare and far between. Then in 2004, I began to write Christian poetry with more frequency. It would be hard to tell you what happened; but, it seemed as though the words would flow from my heart. Today, I have been working on upgrading my website so that it is more visible. My desire is to spread the Joy of Christ through the media available. At times that has been quite a learning experience, as I did not grow up in the computer age and have had to learn by trial and error at time. I changed the format, so all my “shares” reset themselves to zero; but, this is for the better—at least it is suppose to be. This weeks poem was inspired by those experiences today.

A Voice For You

By Effie Darlene Barba

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

I would love to hear from you or if you want to share your poems. You can COMMENT HERE.

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.

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.

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CAN A SHATTERED HEART BE THE CATAPULT TO JOY?

June 10, 2015 Effie Barba 1 Comment

Faith that makes you fearless and Joy Unimaginable–Can a shattered heart be the catapult to joy?

Let me begin with a huge apology. For the first time in the 5 years that I have been posting I had to do a complete rewrite. For those of you who have read the first posting and it really meant something for you; I will gladly send you an email copy for you. Let me try to explain why I felt I had to rewrite the entire blog. This morning’s writing was an attempt to “improve” my writing. I realized after I got to work that I had drowned you in my history I was hoping to help you see the awesome love of God who remained so faithful to me. I wanted you to know how He patiently took my hand to teach me of how much He loved me; even when I got it all wrong? He loved me when my theology was all wrong; and, He loved me when I turned my whole world upside down.

WHERE CAN I BEGIN:

Let me begin by saying my whole purpose for writing. The very reason I began this blog or wrote any of my books has been to reach out a hand of love to any of the readers that came by. This week I began taking classes in how to reach a larger audience and so instead of just listening to my heart; I tried to construct a blog the way “it should be.” But I got it wrong. What I meant to say this morning is: are you hurting? Have you or are you in the midst of an abusive relationship? Have you known aching, desperate loneliness? Have you ever believed you weren’t pretty enough or good enough to be loved? If so, please understand; I have been there. I do not say that with any pride or badge of honor. I just want you to be aware that I know how that feels. I know the fear and despair of facing cancer all alone; too afraid to tell your children that the doctors don’t think your chances are very good. I know what it is to go paycheck to paycheck while at the same time trying to hide the truth of your financial devastation from your children. You don’t want them to suffer from your mistakes. I know what it is to have good meaning christians question your faith or say “that it must be your sin that prevents God from blessing you?” And I know what it is to desperately cry out to God in the middle of the night, “Oh, God; why can’t I get it right? How can you love me when I keep failing you?”

GOD’S GRACE:

The truth is–God’s grace has been there every step of this journey. He has been Sovereignly present. He has been step by step transforming me. He loved me way too much to leave me the way He found me. Instead, inch by inch and glory by glory; He is changing me into the image of Christ. (2Corinthians 3:17-18) I want you to know that He loves you. You are never too deep, too far, or too lost for Him to find you. I know; because I have been there.

Continue reading CAN A SHATTERED HEART BE THE CATAPULT TO JOY? →

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The Keys to Miraculous Faith

June 8, 2015 Effie Barba

Fearless Faith and Awestruck Joy-The Keys to Miraculous Faith

She was a beautiful bride, the fairytale story as she married the prince. What anticipation and joy she had as she watched the nieces and nephews be born. She waited and prepared the nursery, longing to be blessed with a child. Year after year passed and she remained barren. She tried to keep up a smiling face before her husband whom she loved so much. She so wanted to be the perfect wife; but, no child came.

original photography used by permission of Jim Peregoy

Her tears had long since stopped when her husband told her the news that God had called him into a new land and that through his seed would come the promised blessing of all the nations. The Messiah would come to abolish sin and establish his kingdom. Once more she began to hope—could it be that God would now bless her with a child?

Continue reading The Keys to Miraculous Faith →

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Grace So Wondrous and Free

June 5, 2015 Effie Barba

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. “⁶Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. ⁷Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. ⁸And 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. ⁹So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham” (Galatians 3).

artwork 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 →

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3 Reflections as We Remember The Fallen Officers

May 15, 2015 Effie Barba

President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation to designate May 15 to “To pay tribute to the law enforcement officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country and to voice our appreciation for all those who currently serve on the front lines of the battle against crime”. So, I wish to take a moment and to honor those men and women who have taken an oath to protect and to serve. They are forced to make a split second judgement which may cost them their life, destroy their own life, or be called a hero for the lives they have saved. They are seriously underpaid, underappreciated, and overly criticized. They are laughed at, spit upon, and too often treated with disdain. They are human and they do make mistakes. Still within their own ranks, they are held to higher standards than you or I and justice does get carried out. Yet, sensationalism drives the popularity rankings of the news media and stirs hearts toward believing lies as truth.