Tag: grace

Poetry Sunday: Grace upon Grace Poured Out upon Me

Grace
Artwork used with permission of the artist Ronald Barba. For information or to commission art projects please email at Ron@barba-art.com

Grace upon Grace Poured Out upon Me

By Effie Darlene Barba

Jesus the word the truth and the light

Portrait of God’s perfect Glory-Delight

His Grace upon Grace poured out upon me

That I from sin’s chains forever am free

 

 

The King above Kings laid aside His throne

Because He loved me-my sin to atone

Leaving the splendor, the songs, and the mirth

To submit to pain and sorrows on earth

 

Imagine the perfect, righteous one

God’s precious delight-His Dear Beloved Son

Would willingly choose to suffer such loss

Beaten, rejected He died on a cross

 

What kind of love, oh how can it be?

He suffered all this for you and for me

Despite all my sin and my foolish pride

He bids me to come-in His love abide

 

Open my eyes, Lord, always to see

Your love and your Glory there before me

Laying aside all my foolish desires

Until you’re the treasure my soul aspires

 

Jesus the word the truth and the light

Portrait of God’s perfect Glory-Delight

His Grace upon Grace poured out upon me

That I from sins chains forever am free

[bctt tweet=”What kind of love, oh how can it be? He suffered all this for you and for me”]

[bctt tweet=”His Grace upon Grace poured out upon me That I from sins chains forever am free”]

Do you have a poem you would like to share?  a prayer request? or a story you would like to share?  Have you ever been overwhelmed by Grace?  Click here to comment.

The artist that drew the picture “A Broken and Contrite Heart” featured on my header, who designed my logo and who drew the portrait featured today is Ronald Barba.  The picture is being used with his permission and is protected under copyright laws.  For a copy click on the link associated with the picture.  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 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.

What Happens When Grace Meets The Truth Of Sin?

What Happens When Grace Meets The Truth Of Sin?

I just returned from a trip to visit my daughter and her family. It had been a season of great difficulty for her. She had recently lost her step mother to cancer and then she had gotten sick with chicken pox. With all that, I went to see if there was anything I could do to comfort her. I was met with such grace. It had been almost two years that I had not seen my daughter and granddaughter. We never failed to talk on the phone a lot; but, I had not wanted to be “in the way” as she cared for her step mother during the prolonged illness. The trip was filled with so much of God’s grace. My daughter got well quickly. My granddaughter was an utter delight as we did so many things together. God’s grace shown through as my granddaughter displayed her own knowledge of God through her writing and talk. What wondrous grace toward me has God displayed over the years!! Not because of anything I have ever done to deserve it. I who stumbled and fell so often along this journey. Me, the one who searched for love without realizing that God was all the love this heart needed. Had it been pride so long ago that led to my divorce from Miguel (Melissa’s father)? Yet, even after that, God’s grace had blessed me with my sons through my marriage to Pete. God’s grace had led Pete to Christ before Pete’s death. God’s grace had carried me through the cancer and all the other illnesses that followed. It has been grace that carried me every step of the way. Pure, undeserved Grace has been given me from a mighty and wondrous God.

What wondrous grace

[bctt tweet=”When Grace upon Grace meets with the truth of my sinful Heart-Grace Wins!!”]

We have been looking at the gospel account as written by the Apostle John. So far, we have seen that he presents Christ as The Word—the only Word that matters. The word of God which is also God Himself. John then presented Christ as the light of the world. The only true light that can penetrate the darkness of man’s heart. Thirdly he presented Christ as God’s Glory Displayed. All the fullness of God’s Glory could be seen in Christ. Next John writes, “16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for (upon) grace.17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ” (John 1).

Continue reading “What Happens When Grace Meets The Truth Of Sin?”

Poetry Sunday-I Was There By God’s Grace

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I Was There by God’s Grace

By Effie Darlene Barba

 

Across the room I saw her there

Seated in that chemo chair

I knew too well that empty stare

For I was there, yes, I was there

 

 

portrait used with permission 123rf.com

I crossed the room with gentle smile

To hold her hand, a little while

God’s love was all I had to share

For I was there, yes, I was there

 

She found Christ that day through me

While angels sung in Jubilee

And then I sat my chemo chair

As I was there, yes, I was there

 

Chorus

Would I lift up this cross?

And face all this loss

Would I willingly face all this pain?

Would I love you the same?

Though I don’t know your name

If I knew that my loss was your gain

 

Let God’s joy fill my heart

While His love I impart

Til I see your salvation is won

Let me show you His face

His love and His Grace

Let me point you to Christ, God’s dear son

The last two days we have been looking at grief, pain, and sorrow through a bigger lens.  My question has been, “is there any sorrow to great to bear for the salvation of one soul?”  If my trials, tribulations and sorrows are used by God to bring even one person to Christ; wouldn’t it be worth every tear I have shed?  If my entire lifetime is but a split second in time compared to eternity; why wouldn’t I be willing to suffer a lifetime, if need be, so that one person might spend an eternity in the presence of God being showered with love, joy and glory?   If I see my trials as God’s means to spread Grace to a world in need; wouldn’t I face trials differently?  Are my trials an act of God’s Grace and Love to me and to the world?  If I know that; then, why a gloomy face?  Shouldn’t that knowledge fill my heart with joy, hope, compassion, and love? Yes, indeed; and that I learned through many tears and sorrows.  God is my greatest treasure and my joy!!  We are at day 28 of this 30 day prayer challenge.  How have you been doing?  I will return to my 3 day a week posting this week; but, I do encourage you to spend time alone with God every day.

The artist that drew the picture “A Broken and Contrite Heart” featured on my header    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”