love of God Archives ⋆ Effie Darlene Barba

What Does Obedience Out Of Love Really Look Like?

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. I John 4:18

By third grade, I had taken enough speech classes to have overcome the speech impediment. There was a new “integration” policy in Dexter. There were two grade schools. One primarily had “city” kids and the other had primarily “country”. I was one of the country kids chosen to travel a little further to the other grade school, while the town wanted to integrate country children with city children. (Remember it is a small town so “city” is a relative term). Yet, for me it was a new beginning. I did have to ride the school bus an hour each way; but, I used that time to do my homework and to study. Finally, I was accepted. It was a happy time. I began to win awards in math, spelling, and even singing. There were sleep overs with my new found friends who accepted me for me. My hard work and “performance” were paying off.

obedience will

Then in fifth grade, I was moved back to the first school. Determined to be acceptable, I worked very hard to become slender. My success went un-noticed by my classmates; but, I was suddenly noticed by older boys and even the new male teacher noticed me. So, I came to believe that “to be accepted” it was important to perform well and to be attractive. I began to believe the same of God’s love. God could love me only if I could perform well and could work hard for Him. By age 12, I was the substitute Sunday school teacher at church.

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POETRY SUNDAY- WHISPERS OF LOVE

So many years of my life, I searched for love as though it were some illusive dream. Along that journey, my heart was shattered often. Somehow I was searching for some fairy tale illusion of love without understanding the truth of love. All through those years, always remained a whispering hope and dream of love. There came a day that with greatest sadness, I let go of that dream. It was as though a part of me was gone. That was when the most miraculous thing happened. I began to realize that God’s love had been there every step of the way. He had whispered those moments of love to give me a glimpse of what true love would be. He had whispered his love in those moments of kindness from a friend. He had whispered His love more boldly in the love of my children and grandchildren. He had shown me love through my little grandchildren who love with such purity of heart.

One day, I awoke and began to realize that all my illusions of love had been a broken, self-centered heart searching to find someone who would love me. As though they could fix the broken parts of me. That someone could remove that flaw of doubt within me. I needed confirmation that I was ok. I wanted to believe that something in me was lovable. What I did not realize was that God’s love was that!! He had given me everything I needed to be His Beloved Child and the lovely betrothed of Christ. How gently and patiently He has led me along this path. He has given me wise friends and teachers along this journey. He has given me such wondrous children and grandchildren. He has guided my hand all along this path. Love abides in me. Now I have learned to love without expectation—just to love! So where ever you are on this journey of love, let this be your song of hope. If you have someone—don’t take today for granted. It may be your last moment with them. Treat each moment as though it is your last. If you don’t have a companion—I would like to introduce you to mine. I am willing to share. Let me introduce you to Jesus.

WHISPERS OF LOVE

Whispers of Love flowing all through my life

Even in moments of sorrow or moments of strife

Whispers that came in the dark of the night

Promising Joy with the new morning light

Whispers of hope for the bleakest of day

“Love will find strength and love will find its way”

Into your heart and grow from within

Until it flows forth rejoicing and then

Suddenly out of those long and sad years

Love does spring forth out of fountains of tears

Into rivers of joy bursting forth then to see

That love had been there abiding in me

Oh, thank you dear Lord for teaching me love

As Your spirit descends with the wings of a dove

And gathered the pieces of this shattered heart

To weave it with steel, Your glory impart

A Picture so rare, its beauty unmasked

A portrait of you made in brilliant stained glass

Your love had been there inside of me

Even when I had been too blind to see

Whispers of love, it was You all along

Telling me that in your love I belong

[bctt tweet=”Whispers of love, it was You all along Telling me that in your love I belong”]

©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.

3 Purposes of God That Will EMPOWER Your Life

I have so wanted to just sit down and talk with each of you. If I could take your hand and tell you that in the midst of whatever circumstance you are in, God has a perfect plan of love. So, I have decided to do the closest thing I can to that for now. I created this video—this will be my first video podcast just for you. I have spoken on a subject that I find very dear to my heart and believe that watching it will transform your Christian Journey. Learning of these truths certainly transformed mine. My desire is to begin this new year with at least monthly podcasts for you. I will be open to questions or suggestions as to what subjects we may discuss or explore together.

My book, ULTIMATE INSPIRATION, GOD’S PLAN OF LOVE is a more in-depth exploration of this very subject. I will be giving away one signed copy to someone chosen at random from those who leave comments below. Feel free to contact me via the contact page above, leave your comments or place comments on my Facebook Author/Speaker Page. For those who wish to purchase a copy of the book, you may go to http://bookstore.authorhouse.com/Products/SKU-000465113/Ultimate-InspirationGods-Plan-of-Love.aspx or at Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Inspiration–Gods-Plan-Love/dp/1477205918/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1451747889&sr=8-4&keywords=effie+darlene+barba

If indeed, you wish a copy and cannot afford it; please email me. Depending upon the response, I will try to honor you with a copy. Understanding that in the modern book market; I, the author, must purchase my own books from the publisher. So, as I am able and God permits, I will try to fulfill those requests.

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 with of course the exception of my own book for which I receive a small commission from Authorhouse, the publisher. 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.

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,

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.²Every 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. ³You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.⁴Abide 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. ⁶If 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. ⁷If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will^[b] ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. ⁸By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

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Why Are We So Quick To Stone Someone’s Life?

I was 25 when my husband first moved us to Mexico. For me it was a new language and a new culture to learn. I did not realize that because of many of our movies and TV shows, the upper class had some preconceived ideas of we from North of the border. Over the years, I learned to dearly love the Mexican people as I saw their persevering hearts, courage, and their grateful attitudes. But, let’s go back to the beginning. As a young, blonde American girl with a limited Spanish vocabulary; I found I was accepted well among those in the market, the corner store and the taco stand. However, the socially elite women shunned me. They would grab their husband’s arms if anyone tried to introduce me to them. Which leads me to our story.

One night, my husband wanted me to join him with his friends. We left his mother to watch the baby and with some hesitance of heart I went. As the evening went on, my husband had consumed a little too much alcohol. I understood very little of the conversations surrounding me as we had ended up on the balcony of a small restaurant. The balcony was narrow with only one set of stairs to leave by and we were near the back, farthest from the exit. Two tables from us were a group of men who were smoking. Since there was no ashtray on their table they were flicking their cigarettes onto the carpet. I watched as the embers would fall and even slightly flame before dying out. Disgusted and a little concerned we might be trapped behind a wall of blaze; I picked up an ashtray and sat it on their table. Then I turned around to return to my seat when suddenly my husband seemed enraged. He ordered me angrily to leave immediately. Confused, in high heels I found myself walking all alone down the dark streets of Pachuca at midnight.

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