Tag: joy

How can it be that God so Loved Me?

It is God’s Amazing Love and Grace that saved me.  I so want to learn to love Him with all my heart, to seek Him with all my being and to follow Him.

broken-and-contrite-heart-ronald-barba

Lord, let me lay aside all else that I might follow you.  Let me sit at your feet until I want nothing more than I desire you.  You, who so willingly love me, who has taken all my brokenness that I might be made whole.  Fill me with your joy, your love until there is none other than your Glory left to reflect back to you.  And  when my faith doth fail me, Lord be my faith that I may not stray from your dear presence.

artwork by Ronald Barba and used by permission for information go to http://www.barba-art.com

Today I wanted to share with you this amazing hymn written by Charles Wesley.

AND CAN IT BE THAT I SHOULD GAIN

by Charles Wesley (1738)

And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain—
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

’Tis mystery all: th’Immortal dies:
Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine.
’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.
’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore;
Let angel minds inquire no more.

He left His Father’s throne above
So free, so infinite His grace—
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam’s helpless race:
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!

Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray—
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

Still the small inward voice I hear,
That whispers all my sins forgiven;
Still the atoning blood is near,
That quenched the wrath of hostile Heaven.
I feel the life His wounds impart;
I feel the Savior in my heart.
I feel the life His wounds impart;
I feel the Savior in my heart.

No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine;
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.

It has been God’s Grace that endured such evil with great longsuffering so that I might see His Glory, be embraced by His Love, and be overwhelmed by His joy. Lord, take all of me, all my desires and mold them to thy will. [bctt tweet=”Let my heart become a polished mirror to reflect God’s Glory.Whatever the cost, let me follow Him”]

And Can it Be – Dan Bos – Lyrics

The artist that drew the picture “A Broken and Contrite Heart” featured on my header and who designed my logo 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 any 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 regarding the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Can I Absolutely Seek God With All My Heart?

Can I Absolutely Seek God With All My Heart?

So many cares of this world that draw us aside and pull at our hearts. So many distractions that cause us to seek after comforts and desires. We rush about our lives with so much on our minds; yet, the one true source of love, hope and joy is pushed aside into a small moment or time. We chase after careers, success, money, love, and things as though they will fulfill the desires of our hearts. Oh, certainly we must go about our days making a living, caring for our family, and our health. Yet, the question that we must consider is “what holds center stage in our hearts?” Have all these things become our first loves and thereby our idols? Or do we seek God first and let Him add that which we need? “33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6).

seek the Lord

[bctt tweet=”What would one life fully devoted to seek God above all else look like? “]I truly want to know that in my life. I want to know how to love Him more, desire Him more, and fully abide in Him. Perhaps if I were to forsake everything and live in a tent in the woods away from the world, I could be alone with Him. Yet, then I would be unable to present Him to a world in need of God’s love. To love God fully with all my heart means I must love the world that He was willing to allow His son to die for. So, how do I live surrounded by the world and still seek God with all my heart?

Continue reading “Can I Absolutely Seek God With All My Heart?”

30 Days That Really Promises Victory, Joy, and Hope

30 Days That Really Promises Victory, Joy, and Hope

There have been so many challenges over the last 30 days. Challenges that pushed and pulled at my heart. There came a moment when all of life seemed to crash in around me. Suddenly overwhelmed with tears, I cried. I cried for struggles my daughter was facing, I cried for the suffering and death of a woman I knew by name only, I cried for the struggles a son was facing, I cried for a husband’s loss of his life partner, I cried for mom, and I cried for all the suffering of the world. So, did all of this matter? Do all of these prayers make a difference? Yes, a resounding yes!! We live in a broken world.  We will face sorrows and trials; but, that is even more why Prayer Matters and must be an important part of our daily lives as sojourners here.  I could never face the chaos of this world were it not for a heavenly Father’s loving arms to run to!!

kacas0457

© Kevin Carden/Licensed from GoodSalt.com

[bctt tweet=”It is those early mornings alone with God that transforms me to know His Love, Joy&His Glory.”]  It is there where He restores me, cleanses me, and renews my hope.  He provides me with His guidance for today and the future before me.

I began this 30 day prayer challenge with you. This was an additional challenge to myself. Before this I believed I prayed a lot; but, I had not set aside a time specific to pray with no interruptions 30 minutes each day. At the same time, I promised you that I would post every day for all thirty days. God is so good and so gracious. Many mornings I awoke with no idea of what to write. By the time the 30 minutes of prayer ended; I had clarity to write for the day.

What are the benefits of such a prayer life?

Continue reading “30 Days That Really Promises Victory, Joy, and Hope”

3 Psalms Proclaiming Hope, Joy and Grace to the World

3 Psalms Proclaiming Hope, Joy and Grace to the World

David’s life with all the ups and downs, the great victories and the moments of failure is a portrait of our Christians lives. Each step of the way, David was drawn toward an ever increasing passionate love for God. David had moments of great joy and seasons of deep sorrow. His Songs to God reflect these very emotions. Yet if we look a little closer we also see the gospel of grace being portrayed. How amazing it is that David’s moments of conflict were used to portray Christ’s crucifixion is Psalm 22. Then raised from the dead the shepherd cares for the sheep in Psalm 23. And finally the chief Shepherd appears as King of glory to own and reward the sheep in Psalm 24. A trilogy of Psalms portraying the Gospel. Look a little closer.

THE CRUCIFIXION PORTRAYED

jesus christ picturePsalm 22:(NIV) “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me,
so far from my cries of anguish?” Are these not the same cries that we hear from the cross of Christ? Is this not the good shepherd who gave his life for the people?   Then we see the foreshadowing of Christ again  as  they hurl insults, shaking their heads. 8 “He trusts in the Lord,” they say,
“let the Lord rescue him.
Let him deliver him,
since he delights in him.” Are these not the same cries of the people against Christ in Matthew 27:43.
picture used with permission of Ronald Barba  for information about his artwork go to  http://barba-art.com         

   Then we see the picture of the cross itself. ” I am poured out like water, all my bones are out of joint.  My  heart has turned to wax; it has melted within   15 My mouth[d]is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death.” This  is a picture of crucifixion. The joints being pulled out of place, the blood and water poured forth, the intense perspiration, the parched lips, the intense strain upon the heart and the death. Then we even see the “18 They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.” David with great detail gave us the picture of Christ to come. Was he aware of that? Or did God use David’s moments of conflict to form the words that would point to Christ? A question we must ponder as we look at our own moments of conflict. Are they a means to portray Christ to the world?

Continue reading “3 Psalms Proclaiming Hope, Joy and Grace to the World”

How to Actually Joyfully Finish the Race of Faith

How to Actually Joyfully Finish the Race of Faith

As any athlete would tell you, it is important to set your pace. You must know your own levels of endurance. Endurance is built over time with precision. The years of illness, followed by years of working long hours had taken its toll on my body. Last year, I realized that I had laid aside any exercise—well, actually it had been hit and miss with occasional weeks of good followed by more weeks of none. I realized that if I am to live life with both joy and endurance; something had to change. I began easy at first-treadmill at noon every day at work. At first, I began at 3 miles per hour pace for twenty minutes at an incline of 10%. It was a struggle at first; but, every day I would determine to go. At first I would think, ok I can finish 5 minutes. Then at 5 minutes I would think, I can do 5 more. I would do that until I reached my 20 minutes. Now I look forward to my noon work out. I am up to 4 miles/hour, 13% incline and 30 minutes. Each day is the same thought process-5 minutes, then 5 more, then 5 more etc. until I have finished the 30 minutes. I remembered when I was young and would run 10K races—one block at a time.

stretching for the race

[bctt tweet=”Our Christian Journey is much like a marathon requiring endurance looking toward the finish line- “] 10 m at a time.

THE RACE OF LIFE BY FAITH

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12).

Continue reading “How to Actually Joyfully Finish the Race of Faith”