Tag: hope

The Keys to Miraculous Faith

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.

faith isoriginal 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?

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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.

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3 Reflections as We Remember The Fallen Officers

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.

fallen officer

So, what does the Bible say as to how we are to respond toward law enforcement? Look at the word of God written

in Titus 2 and 3 ,(TLB)

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In the Midst of the Storm

 

In this lifetime, we will face storms at times, whether they are storms within our own souls, storms within our emotions, relationship storms, or financial storms. When they come we tremble, we wonder where has God gone; doesn’t He know how desperately we are hurting? Doesn’t He care? Why would He allow such tragedies to occur? Some would even say, “I’ve been trying to follow His will? What now? How do I start again?” I am certain Job very much felt that way as He sat in the ashes scraping his wounds-everything gone. Was this God’s punishment? Was it judgment for Job’s sins? Yet, the scripture tells us that “Job was a righteous man.” Job’s faith had been counted for righteousness, much like ours. So, why the storms?

save meUsed by permission of Ronald Barba for information go to http://www.barba-art.com

In Job 37 we are reminded: “12 The lightning bolts are directed by his hand and do whatever he commands throughout the earth.13 He sends the storms[a](TLB) 13 He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy.14 Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.”(KJV)

We see here that though there may be times when God sends storms for correction; yet, other times it is “for the land” and other times it is “for mercy.” So, let us explore these three reasons for storms just a little deeper.

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