Tag Archives: joy

Christian Blog

What Is The Abundant Life? Can I Have It, Please?

What Is The Abundant Life? Can I Have It, Please?

As I stared into the mirror, there was that rounded moon shaped face. The “buffalo hump” between my shoulders was beginning to go down; but, no away. Lingering effects from the long year of steroids to just barely stay alive; until, they finally had removed the colon. The surgical scars crisscrossed my body distorting whatever shape had previously been mine. Yet, those scars were few compared to the emotional scars that were within my heart. I had grown tired and weary of this journey. All alone, I stared into the darkness. I had been a dutiful little Christian and bore all the trials as they came with a stoicism and steady face. A stoicism I had learned during the years of abuse—a stoicism that you kept it all deep within. Don’t let anyone from out there see the real you; they will only hurt you. Oh, yes; God was my refuge. The only one I could turn to and I would continue to trust Him. Yet, abundant life? What was that?

abundant life

I was alive. I had won the horrific battle against breast cancer (at least the first rounds). I had survived the steroids and meds of ulcerative colitis and the surgery to remove my colon. Financially I was in a hole so deep, I might never come out of it. Did I mention, I was also recently divorced? Perhaps trying to avoid saying, “I failed again!!” Yes, fool that I was I had remarried after having been a widow for two years; but, that ended in only heartbreak. Still, I was alive. My daughter was happily married and living in California. My sons were both off to study, Alberto at the University of Missouri and Ron in New Jersey at Joe Kubert’s School of Art. Could I say my life was abundant? Abundant with what—pain, sorrow, suffering, failure, loneliness? So, when in 2002, they found the mass on the head of the pancreas; a part of me thought this was God finally taking me home. I was tired. The journey had seemed so long. I wanted to go home to God. Little did I know that God had a very different plan!! His plan was to show me how to live life abundantly full of joy in Him. So, what is the abundant Christian life?

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Christian Blog

HOW TO ACTUALLY LISTEN WITH YOUR HEART WIDE OPEN

HOW TO ACTUALLY LISTEN WITH YOUR HEART WIDE OPEN

In every relationship of our life, one of the key elements is learning to listen with a heart wide open. This is true whether it is a mother listening to her child, a spouse listening to their spouse, a child to their parent, friends, or even coworkers. We were created with a need for sharing, for love, and the need to belong. Yet, sometimes our own needs are the very block that stands in the way of our relationships. We come into every relationship with baggage, scars, fears, and pains which alter our perceptions. Unfortunately this effects even how we hear others. Sometimes we put up walls and barriers to hold everyone else at a safe distance because we just don’t want to feel pain anymore. “If I let you too close, then I will need to feel your heartaches along with mine. That may be more than I can handle. Or you may just break my heart as well.”

Listening with open hearts

 

At other times the barrier to listening comes from a need to feel important or an overwhelming sense of pride. Usually that is not a healthy self-confidence; but, rather a need to be proven. Both barriers stand in the way also in our relationship to God at times. There are times that we cannot hear His words of hope, joy and love; because, we are either focused on our pain or on proving ourselves to Him. We are afraid sometimes that if we listen with our hearts wide open He may ask us to let go of something or someone we love. Silly perhaps; but, we come to most relationships (even with our heavenly Father) with a lot to say and less desire to listen.

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Christian Poetry

Poetry Sunday-LOVE HAS WON THE VICTORY

I do not know what pain or sorrow may fill your heart today.  What I do know is that this earthly journey often leads us to believe that love never wins.  Broken hearts, rejection, guilt, shame all brought about by a society that presses us to strive harder, be better, and condemns us for not “hitting the mark.”  We are performance driven and even within the Christian community too often, we measure people or judge people as though we are better.  I remember years of great trials, pain, suffering and fear when many Christians told me that it was my lack of faith or my sin that brought my trials.  They did not see my heart; but, God did.  I was saved by Grace Alone and every step of my life has been shaped by His Grace and love for me.  He has drawn me closer to Him every step of the way..  There were many steps along this journey when I believed that love could never win and joy could never win; yet, now I know it already had won.  God’s love had won at the cross.  Joy in Him was gained there at that cross.  In my earthly journey, did it win as well?  Now I have learned that, “Yes, Love has won the victory song and Joy has won”.   So, do not lose heart, dear pilgrims.  Keep your eyes focused on God and you will see that Love Has Won and Joy has won as well in Christ.

mountaintop-experiences-in-the-valley-ronald-barba

“28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls”  (Matthew 11)

 

 

 

 

 

LOVE HAS WON THE VICTORY

By Effie Darlene Barba

 

As darkness filled the noon day sky

The earth shuddered and did quake

A trembling as God’s heart did break

As wrath and hate screamed crucify

Christ had come with heart full of love

Forgiveness for mankind to buy

Through all the tears He did must cry

Humbly He left His throne above

It would seem that all was then loss

Their pardon was His final plea

His Gift of Grace for all to see

He bowed and died upon that cross

The Father’s love, it was so great

Awake, my son, arise awake

He called Him forth a new dawn break

Pure Love had conquered death and hate


Chorus:

Love had won the victory

Joy rang forth a wondrous sound

Hope and life that did surround

Giving faith to all with eyes to see

So Open wide your eyes to see

That Love Has won the victory

 

My heart so filled with darkest fear

Shattered by evil, hate and pain

Falling torrential like the rain

Anguish filling my every tear

Through broken cracks God’s love shone in

He wrapped me tightly in His arms

And there so free from all life’s harms

Forgiveness, joy, and love did win


Chorus

Love had won the victory

Joy rang forth a wondrous sound

Hope and life that did surround

Giving faith to all with eyes to see

So Open wide your eyes to see

That Love Has won the victory

 

Don’t fall into some dark abyss

With pain and guilt that pull you down

Until you feel that you may drown

Look up to God, In Him is bliss


Chorus

Love has won the victory

Joy rings forth a wondrous sound

Hope and life they do surround

Giving faith to all with eyes to see

So Open wide your eyes to see

That Love Has won the victory

[bctt tweet=”So all you who are broken hearted, don’t lose hope. LOVE WINS”]

The artist that drew the picture “A Broken and Contrite Heart” featured on my header, “mountaintop experiences in the valley” and  who designed my logo is Ronald Barba.   Feel free to email me at Artedabarba@gmail.com or purchase his art at http://fineartamerica.com/art/all/ronald+barba/all

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.

Christian Blog

Can My Life Really Be A Witness For God?

Can My Life Really Be A Witness For God?

So often, when I look back over my life; I see all the times that I have failed to love God as I should. I see my failures looming like giants and God’s grace as greater still. The other day I heard from someone out of my distant past, who said; “Because of you, I found Christ. You had such a tremendous impact on my life.” Now, what is more amazing, when I remember that time in my life; I realized that it was God’s Grace that allowed them to see Christ through whatever blurred picture I was displaying. Truly, I remember a bumbling, faltering testimony. A candle that barely flickered and a stream that had so little water trickling through it. Through the scars, cracks and crevices of my life the Holy Spirit shone forth and had touched another’s soul. That for me is such a humbling thought; that God would be so gracious as to use someone like me to do His work. So, if you ever thought that you are a poor witness for Christ or ever worried that your testimony would be more of a disgrace than benefit to God? God has promised to be the rivers of life flowing through your heart and mine for others to see His Glory and come to Christ. Why do I say that? rivers of life

 

JESUS PROMISE TO OVERFLOW OUR HEARTS WITH LIVING WATER

Remember that where we left off on Monday, Jesus had quietly gone up to the feast of the tabernacles and had been teaching in the synagogue every day. “37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit” (John 7 NKJV). Up until now in the book of John we have heard that Jesus has said that He is the living water, He is the bread of life and that He brings spiritual birth. He has presented this through His words and through the example of His miracles from changing the purifying water into wine to feeding the crowd. Now He takes this one step further by saying, “Not only will I be life to all who believe in me; but, I will fill them to the overflowing so they can spill over rivers of life to others.”

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Christian Blog

Why Is Embracing Change An Opportunity For Wondrous Growth?

Why Is Embracing Change An Opportunity For Wondrous Growth?

The past few months at work have been a struggle. Change is coming. We will be expanding and moving forward with more and even better care of our veterans in Cardiology. A new doctor has joined staff and we will be able to expand our services to include care that previously had to be sent out. I am excited. Although it has meant a lot of overtime in preparing the way, I embrace the challenge with faith, hope and excitement. Not the case with everyone. In fact, change is hard for some people. There are a few who meet my enthusiasm with fear, anger, and frustration. Those few place barriers and emotional obstacles along each step of the pathway. Change will come. We can choose to embrace it as an opportunity to grow or we can become miserable, angry people resisting it.

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The same is true in our Christian journey. [bctt tweet=”God is not willing to leave us where He found us lying in our own beds of self-righteousness.”] Change must come in our own hearts. We can either embrace the trials that are before us with joy as God’s gift of opportunities that are transforming us or we can become angry, frustrated and fearful. Either way, if we are God’s child and know Christ as our Savior; change will come. Change is a necessary part of our Christian growth. My heart can either rebel against becoming more Christ-like or embrace the trials as an opportunity to become like Christ in His suffering.

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