Tag: joy

What More Could He Do to Prove His Love?

He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.          Isaiah 53: 3-6

Before I begin the new chapter of my life story; I really want to pause to consider once more what faith really is. That is what were going to be the major lessons that I would have to learn over the next 2 decades of my life? What does faith really look like? What is it? What better day to look at that than today, “Good Friday!” The most horrendous act of mob injustice ever and we call it “good.” The day when all  the sins of the world, the horrors of the concentration camps, the terrorist bombings, the death of innocent children, and every evil gossiping word that ever came from my own lips were bore by perfect righteousness. He was beaten for my sins. He was mocked, humiliated, and hung on a cross to pay the price of my sin. As He hung there with all the sins of mankind upon His shoulders, the most horrid of all things was when His Father’s joy, love and spirit turned away. The entire earth shook!! Darkness covered the world as the only true light of the world gave up His life to plunge into death alone, naked and covered with my shame, my guilt. We celebrate that as “Good” Friday.

jesus christ picture

artwork by permission of Ronald Barba

The Centurion Soldier which was in charge of Christ’s execution watched as all the events unfolded. He had heard Jesus say “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). This Soldier had witnessed the conversation among those upon the cross. He had watched Jesus tell John to care for Mary. Whatever agony was His own,

Continue reading “What More Could He Do to Prove His Love?”

Death Cannot Hold My Heart in Pain

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven….A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance Ecclesiastes 3:1,4

I cannot tell you how long my heart ached because of Pete’s death.  Perhaps there is  part that still does mourn him, as tears can still fill my eyes when I talk of him.   After all he did teach me everything good and bad about human love; but, mostly God had used Pete to teach me about how to love someone.  I will never try to tell you what day it was one early spring that I felt a breeze across my face and knew that I was going to be ok.  It was as though with that soft breeze I had felt Pete gently kiss me goodbye and I was released from the grip of pain.  Once more I could breathe again.  It was an act of God’s Grace to give me the hope and strength to live in the power of Jesus Christ as my hope, joy, love and treasure.  I had more to learn along this journey toward finding the truth of love; but, that chapter was closed.

 

kiss of spring

 

Death Cannot Hold My Heart in Pain

By Effie Darlene Barba

 

I felt the breeze across my face

Like gentle kiss of grace

I heard the warbling birds that sing

Now calling forth the spring

 

Winter cut deep into my bone

Screaming you are alone

You left me one mid summer’s day

To ne’er return my way

 

Oh death, how could you take my love?

To be with God above

While leaving me upon this earth

Amidst it’s wanton dearth

 

Ah, but now this gentle breeze of spring

A hope on which to cling

It’s was God’s Grace that loved me so

To now bid me to know

 

That I might laugh and dance once more

As I had done before

To know that love is mine within

Christ did the victory win

 

Death cannot hold my heart in pain

When God doth joy sustain

This ache, this sorrow will be gone

And bring a brand new dawn

 

My Love, I must bid thee adieu

Until we meet anew

For now I must live on my dear

A life not built on fear

 

To find the joy of Christ in me

Abundant life to see

That I am loved beyond measure

For God is my treasure

[bctt tweet=”No matter how cold the winter winds blow God will renew your heart to joy & love one spring day”]

Photo courtesy of: https://unsplash.com/biegunwschodni The inscription I added

©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.

What Is Your Strength, Hope And Love Anchored To?

 

I will love thee, O Lord, my strength.The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised (Psalm 18:1-3)

Once more we packed all that we had and left for Mexico. We could not sell the house nor the practice, though I had tried. We had to just walk away. Yet, Pete was filled with hope. He had trained in what at that time was very new—laparoscopic surgery. I made a huge effort to collect from the insurances the money owed us from the practice. From the accounts receivables we were able to secure enough to buy the equipment he would need to start a new practice in Pachuca, Hgo. Mexico. We would just start over, that was all. In Mexico, there were no opiates available and that would help Pete to stay free from the temptation to return to them.

anchored

But as is usually the case, life does not come with ease. Remember, Pete had gone through the treatment program for the addiction; but, the underlying mental illness had been left untreated. It was only a matter of time until once more, Pete was battling the thoughts within his own head. I do not pretend to understand fully what he or mom experience; but, both describe a “pain” inside their head. Not a headache—an emotional pain so great that is unbearable. And so the cycles continued of ecstatic highs followed by devastating depression. I was powerless to

Continue reading “What Is Your Strength, Hope And Love Anchored To?”

How Can Love Endure with Peace, Hope, and Joy?

 

4 Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant. 5 It is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; it does not take into account a wrong endured. 6 It does not rejoice at injustice, but rejoices with the truth [when right and truth prevail] I Corinthians 13 (AMP).

We often feel that once God has spoken within our hearts and we answer that call; that all the pains and sorrows will fade immediately away. We want the miracle to be instantaneous. In this I was no different. I wanted Pete to find Christ, be healed and live happily ever after. Soon I was about to learn that “loves endures with patience and serenity.” Endure!! The very definition is to suffer pain with patience. To add to it!! This verse is saying to endure with patience and serenity. It is like saying, “Love will patiently suffer with patience and peace”  Patience was not the lesson I wanted to learn.

The blessings that surround us

There would be those sweet and wondrous moments. Happy and joy filled moments. Pete could be the kindest person in the world. He did love the children very much. After all they had not come with instructions on “how to love.” The only instructions on being a father that Pete really had were those handed down from his parents. Though, he tried very hard to balance the strictness with hugs and days spent watching movies with the boys curled up in his bed.

Continue reading “How Can Love Endure with Peace, Hope, and Joy?”

POETRY SUNDAY Out of the Ashes-A Joyous Love Song

All too often as we face the trials, pains, and sorrows of this life; we  don’t understand why or how God would allow this.  It is those moments when we become so undone by all that surrounds us and the desperate despair within.  Yet, it is an all wise Sovereign God who because of His tremendous love for us allows the sorrows, the pains, and the evil of this broken world to touch us. He steadies His Hand of Justice so that He can reach out His hand of Grace and draw us in closer to His Bosom.  He knows that this heart of mine would be so content with counterfeit joys that I could never find the fullness of Joy He holds for me in Christ.  He knows that I would cling to lesser loves and lesser treasures  if He did not tear them from my hands so I could see Him.  Ever tear I shed, every pain I have born, and every dark night had great purpose in God’s Hand of love to turn my face toward Him.  What I might have once thought of as my undone, I have learned was God’s doing miraculous and wondrous things for me. What amazing grace, mercy, patience and love He has shown to this undeserving heart.  What joy, peace, hope and strength I have found in Him.

photo-1438979315413-de5df30042a1

Out of the Ashes-A Joyous Love Song

By Effie Darlene Barba

 

I don’t understand

Why the nail scarred hand

Why you had to bleed

To fulfill my need

Oh can you help me see

This great mystery

Why the joy we sought

With your blood you bought

Yet, we’re blinded still

Unyielding to thy will

Because we think to gain

There should be no pain

When the trials come

We become so glum

As we cry unfair

Screaming “Are you there?”

(Bridge)

Gently, so gently you reached out your hand

To cradle me there to help me to stand

It was love that allowed all this sorrow and pain

To awaken my heart to the darkest of stain

If never I walk through the darkest of night

I can never find joy in your glorious light

Until I was broken, my life was undone

I loved from afar your precious dear son

It was there in the darkness that you drew me in

Alone there and broken my heart you did win

It was there you unveiled this great mystery

That I couldn’t see you when I’m looking at me

Out of the ashes to my heart’s surprise

A joyous love song began now to rise

 

My Broken heart

Was a brand new start

Helped me understand

The nail scarred hand

Helped my eyes to see

That the victory

Was already won

By your precious son

So whatever pain

Torrential rain

In your love I hide

In your joy abide

 

My Broken heart

Was a brand new start

Helped me understand

The nail scarred hand

Helped my eyes to see

That the victory

Was already won

By your precious son

So whatever pain

Torrential rain

In your love I hide

In your joy abide

Much like Paul told Timothy, “Do not weep for my imprisonment, my pain, my beatings, the stoning,  or my suffering…” “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2Timothy 1:7). “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory (2 Corinthians 4:17)

I don’t know where you are along this journey; but, I do know this. [bctt tweet=”God’s love is bigger than your heartbreak.”] [bctt tweet=”God’s strength is big enough to carry your heaviest burden.”]In Christ you have everything that you need to find hope, joy, and love—in Him, you will rise above all life’s trials.  Even if you don’t realize it yet; He will show you the way to full happiness in Him no matter what circumstances surround you.

Photo by permission https://unsplash.com/b3njamin

©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.