Tag: joy

How Can Suffering Be The Path To Exuberant Joy?

How Can Suffering Be The Path To Exuberant Joy?

The Bible speaks a lot about Joy—true joy that is found in Christ (Romans 5:11), a joy that will never leave us (Isaiah 35:10) and joy overflowing (John 16: 22, 24). We want that!! Yet, what we sometimes don’t realize is that often it is found through suffering, sorrow and many trials. Our human hearts are born filled with sin. We want to seek happiness and to do it “our way”. Even for those of us who truly seek after Christ as our joy, we fight against the truth that many times our journey to understanding and experiencing real Joy in Christ leads us through great trials, pain and suffering.

FIERY PATH

As a young Christian, I searched to follow Jesus. Little did I know that my journey would lead me through failure, divorce, abuse, cancer, illness, widowhood, single motherhood, financial disaster, pains, sorrows, loneliness, and so many surgeries! Every step of the journey, God was using to transform my heart. He had to deal with my pride, my selfish desires, my self-exaltation, and my desire to prove to Him that I was worthy of the salvation He had so freely died to give me. I could not truly understand that my Joy was in Him alone; until He swept away all the cobwebs hidden in the deep recesses of my heart. He continues to do that every single day of my life. He continues to reveal those dark areas so that they might be cleansed. As He does that, my view of everything changes. He is able to then fill those corners with a vision of His Glory. As I am able to see His Glory clearer, my heart enlarges to be filled with His Love and His Joy. It is an ever upward and transforming change.

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Poetry Sunday-God’s Song of Love

 

Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. The Lord hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, even the Lord, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more. In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack. The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing   Zephaniah 3:14-17

God sings over us    Zephaniah was written to the nation of Israel during a time in which they had forsaken God.  It was a call to repentance as King Josiah reigned.  King Josiah had found the books of the law which had been ignored by the people and upon reading them wept bitterly—humbly He worshipped God and lead the people into a revival.  Zephaniah also preached a revival song in which he declared that God would in mercy call forth a people of His own.  His Love would provide the way of salvation.  The Mighty Warrior who was foretold of is Jesus Christ.  He would come with such Glory and Grace that all who believed would humbly bow before His throne of Grace—their sins forgiven.  The power and the might of my salvation is firmly held in God’s Mighty Powerful Love—He will sing a song of joy over me.  He it is that cradles me in His arms of love.  I can rest assured in His Arms of love through any circumstance.  He will finish all that He has started in my life.  Cradled safe in His Arms of Love, I am filled with Joy, Hope, and Peace.  I hear His voice singing over me His precious lullabye—victory’s song. 

God’s Song of Love

by Effie Darlene Barba


I fell before your precious throne

With broken heart so all alone

My tears were falling like the rain

And then I heard this sweet refrain


CHORUS

I have loved you before the dawn of time

Desired to give my joy sublime

My love held tight

By my own might

Come, dear child, I’ll hold you near

Wrapped in my love there is no fear

Cradled tight within my arms

Safely kept from this world’s harms

I’ll sing my song of love for you

Your hope and joy I will renew


Amazed by grace, my hope did grow

Enlightened heart his love doth know

All fear now gone, I rise to run

For I am God’s dear precious one

As He sang


CHORUS

I have loved you before the dawn of time

Desired to give my joy sublime

My love held tight

By my own might

Come, dear child, I’ll hold you near

Wrapped in my love there is no fear

Cradled tight within my arms

Safely kept from this world’s harms

I’ll sing my song of love for you

Your hope and joy I will renew


So, as I walk this journey here

I’ll love and live without the fear

For I will stand with faith so strong

Because for me He sings this song

CHORUS

I have loved you before the dawn of time

Desired to give my joy sublime

My love held tight

By my own might

Come, dear child, I’ll hold you near

Wrapped in my love there is no fear

Cradled tight within my arms

Safely kept from this world’s harms

I’ll sing my song of love for you

Your hope and joy I will renew

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2015

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.

Does God Really Answer The Prayers Of The Broken And Lost?

Does God Really Answer The Prayers Of The Broken And Lost?

What a wondrous and beautiful morning it is—a moment in which we can reflect on the magnificent truth that is ours because Jesus Christ chose to be born in a lowly manger. He came to bring life abundantly full of joy, hope, peace and love. He promised, “Ask whatever you will in my name and it will be accomplished.”

God answers prayerChristmas 2015 with one of my Granddaughters, Annabella Grace

Yet, as we approach this season; I know of many who only long for peace. For some, there are conflicts within their family or their community. There are those who are afraid to name the name of Jesus because it will cost them their lives. There are those whose minds are filled with anxiety over their finances. Others are facing trials or burdens brought on by their own failures and they wonder if there could ever be forgiveness and love. While others face financial ruin and poverty despite giving their all to a job that was unappreciated. For some, they feel the ache of loneliness; having lost a loved one or having had their heart broken-with the pieces like shattered glass crushed upon the floor. Those may ask, “where is the hope, the joy, the love and the peace of this season or my life?” In the midst of all the broken dreams, how can I pray or believe that God hears my prayer and much less answers them? You see, my dear readers and friends; I too have been there all too often in my life.  For that reason, please read on–let me tell you a bit of my journey so that you might realize the wondrous joy that can be yours.

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How Should I Pray To Be Heard By God?

How Should I Pray To Be Heard By God?

Over the course of the evening, Jesus had said  three times, “Ask what you will in my name and it will be done” (John 14:13, John 15:7, and John 15:16). We long with all our hearts to know that truth in our own lives.  We pray for peace on earth; yet, we turn on the news and hear of hatred, violence, and terror. We pray for healing of a loved one while we watch them slipping away with some agonizing death—we feel helpless and lost. We pray for prosperity and instead we face sudden financial ruin or the loss of our ability to earn an income instead. Is it some lack of faith on our part that hinders our prayer? Did Jesus mean this to be true only for some and not for me? How can I pray so that God will answer my prayers that way?  Perhaps if  we look closer to each of these scriptures we can gain a little insight into the “how to have that kind of response to our prayers.”

Yes in prayer

John 14(NIV): “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” Immediately following, He says keep my commandments and I will send the Comforter to guide you, instruct you and remind you of all that I have said—He will abide in you.

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7 Amazing Truths Found In the Vineyard of God

7 Amazing Truths Found In the Vineyard of God

As chapter 14 of John closes, Jesus had declared it was time to leave the upper room. There was so much He needed the apostles to understand. As they walked along the road, He continued to talk and to teach. Along the road, undoubtedly were grape vines or perhaps it was a vineyard that they passed along the way. Jesus gently, passionately began to speak again,

fruits of love

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away;[a] and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will[b] ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

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