Tag: love

What is the Heart and Truth of Amazing Love?

What is the Heart and Truth of Amazing Love?

Love—perhaps one of the greatest mysteries of human emotions. We seek love, desire love, and search for love. Yet, do we really even understand it? Is it some emotion that for a fleeting moment elates our being into a sense of ecstasy? We so long to love and to be loved; yet, so often we find that we are disappointed by love. We find that our hearts are broken by the very thing we so desperately long for. Or so it has been for much of my life. As though love is some illusion that cannot be fully obtained. Perhaps we hope that somehow love will validate us—make sense of our existence or provide a purpose for all the humdrum activities of our day. We are told then that what we really need is to learn to love ourselves. So we primp and we search deep within only to be disappointed all too quickly. Television, movies, books, and advertising all promote this idea that we desperately are in search of love. What if I told you that we were honestly created to be lavished with love?

[bctt tweet=”God created man so as to pour out His love, His joy, and His glory upon him. Some said, No thanks”]

Continue reading “What is the Heart and Truth of Amazing Love?”

What Does Saving Belief In Christ Really Look Like?

What Does Saving Belief In Christ Really Look Like?

Nicodemus had believed that Jesus was a teacher come from God; yet, did not understand when Jesus said, “You must be born again.” Nicodemus was a religious scholar; yet, his eyes were veiled to the truth that salvation was grace and act of faith. He believed in Jesus because of the miracles—a belief of the mind. Still, the eyes of his heart were veiled to the glorious truth that Jesus was God and the messiah had come. Nicodemus did not understand that the messiah would die to pay the penalty for man’s sin, even though Jesus had pointed out that Moses had lifted up the serpent in the wilderness. Nicodemus had studied the book of Isaiah. He should have known and seen the truth. Nicodemus and the Jewish nation were looking for the Messiah to come as a King and they would have possessions, power, and luxury in the Kingdom of God—here on earth.

Lost sheep

[bctt tweet=”Did Nicodemus recognize his own need for a shepherd?”] He saw Jesus as a teacher; but, did not see Him as the Messiah who came to be the Savior of all who would come unto Him.

Continue reading “What Does Saving Belief In Christ Really Look Like?”

Why was Christ’s Cleansing of the Temple really important?

Why was Christ’s Cleansing of the Temple really important?

The gospel account written by John detailed those events of Jesus’ life that would display His Glory, His deity, and His grace upon grace poured out for you and for me. John wanted to show you Christ in all His beauty that you might believe in Him and gain eternal life. He wanted to share with you what he had found in Christ. “Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe[b]that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:30-31 NIV)

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So why did John choose to tell us of this cleansing of the temple at the beginning of the earthly ministry of Christ? If we read the “cleansing of the temple” accounts in Matthew, Mark, and Luke we will read about Christ running out the money changers upon His final trip into Jerusalem just before His arrest and crucifixion. Yet, John is telling us about Jesus running out the money changers and those selling animals in the temple courts during Christ’s first trip to the Passover at the beginning of His earthly ministry. Why is that an important detail to our seeing Christ? How does that impact our lives? Those are the questions I want to look a little further into with you.

Continue reading “Why was Christ’s Cleansing of the Temple really important?”

Poetry Sunday-Come Quench This Thirst

 

In this journey of life, we search to quench our thirst by so many things that only leave us wanting more.  Christ is the fountains of living water that will fill your heart with genuine joy that cannot be taken away.  His blood was poured out to wash away your sins and to clothe you in His righteousness.  Such love is so much more than I could ever imagine and fills me to overflowing.  Wine, the blood of the grapes, is symbolic of Christ’s blood poured out for our sins.  Let us seek God as our only treasure.   Only God can quench our thirsty souls.

Come quench this thirst

1 “O God, you are my God;
I earnestly search for you.
My soul thirsts for you;
my whole body longs for you
in this parched and weary land
where there is no water”  Psalm 63 (NLT).

 

 

Come Quench This Thirst

By Effie Darlene Barba

I’ve been searching for love all of my life

Someone to hold when life brings me strife

A Friend, A Companion, someone who cares

About all my dreams, my life song he shares

With Broken Heart—I cried out to You

You Came and You Loved –my heart was made new

CHORUS

You are the rivers, You are the wine

Come quench this thirst with Your love divine

Hold me so tight that I can’t let go

Filled with Your Spirit-my heart aglow

Give me Your Joy far beyond measure

Until I know the truth You are my treasure

 

I’ve been searching for dreams, success – a name

A message, a truth, something to proclaim

Surely the world should know I’ve been here

Hold my head high—the crowd would then cheer

Broken by failures, I cried out your name

You came and You loved – I’ve not been the same

CHORUS

You are the rivers, You are the wine

Come quench this thirst with Your love divine

Hold me so tight that I can’t let go

Filled with Your Spirit-my heart aglow

Give me Your Joy far beyond measure

Until I know the truth You are my treasure

 

I’ve been searching for joy in so many things

Houses and cars or big fancy rings

Chasing a dream where ever it leads

Thinking these things will fulfill my needs

Drowning in debt, I turned then to You

You came and You loved—Your Glory in view

CHORUS

You are the rivers, You are the wine

Come quench this thirst with Your love divine

Hold me so tight that I can’t let go

Filled with Your Spirit-my heart aglow

Give me Your Joy far beyond measure

Until I know the truth You are my treasure

 

I’ve been searching for You by labor of mine

If I try hard enough, surely I’ll shine

I would work so hard and make You so proud

I would stand high above the rest of the crowd

Chained in my sin, I turned then to You

You came and You loved-humbled by Grace I’m new

CHORUS

You are the rivers, You are the wine

Come quench this thirst with Your love divine

Hold me so tight that I can’t let go

Filled with Your Spirit-my heart aglow

Give me Your Joy far beyond measure

Until I know the truth You are my treasure

 

[bctt tweet=”Drink from the fountain of living water given by Christ and never thirst again!!”]

Do you have a poem or a thought you would like to share?  Click here to comment.

The artist that drew the picture “A Broken and Contrite Heart” featured on my header and  who designed my logo is Ronald Barba.   To obtain your own portrait, logo, or art design please contact Ronald Barba at the email below.    If you can dream it, he can draw or design it for you.  Do you want to surprise someone with an extraordinary special gift of a personal portrait?  An idea for a book cover?  Or a new logo?  Feel free to email him at Ron@Barba-Art.com to discuss any art projects.

New Living Translation(NLT)

Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

©2015 Effie Darlene Barba

Photo from unsplash.com

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.

Poetry Sunday—Because I See Thy Gift of Grace

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Because I See thy Gift of Grace

By Effie Darlene Barba

A pilgrim’s journey through this land

Through meadow’s soft and desert sand

Beside the gentle bubbling streams

With flowers kissed by sunlit beams

Or rushing, roaring water falls

Whose beauty gasps and danger calls

Twinkling stars in the dark of night

That guide my way and shed their light

The gentle breeze across my face

Whispering words of God’s sweet Grace

Creator Lord with all You do

Whom else on earth could I pursue

For all I have and all I am

Is due to You—My precious lamb

Who chose to die and pay my price

In You I find my paradise

And now I see through different eyes

This course on earth no more disguise

Its beauties shine, your glory clear

I feel your breath, your warmth so near

To warm the chill within my soul

Like fireplace lit in winter’s snow

You blessed my life with love’s sweet kiss

That hope and joy arise amidst

The darkest trials I may face

Because I see thy Gift of Grace

[bctt tweet=”Surrounded by God’s Grace Love, & Glory. Let my eyes seek His beauty & my ears His Voice.”] Let me each and every day grow to love Him more, seek Him as my greatest treasure, never lose the awe of His creation, and run to fall before His throne of Grace to be near Him.  Dear Father, transform this heart to desire only you. 

Do you have a poem that you would like to share?  Click here to leave your comment or to share your poems. 

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.

Photograph used by permission ©123ref/ Chee-Onn Leong

©2015 Effie Darlene Barba

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.