Tag: Nation

Arise, My Heart to Sing—Poetry Sunday

Arise, my people! Let your light shine for all the nations to see! For the glory of the Lord is streaming from you.2 Darkness as black as night shall cover all the peoples of the earth, but the glory of the Lord will shine from you. 3 All nations will come to your light; mighty kings will come to see the glory of the Lord upon you. Isaiah 60:1-3 (TLB)

We, the people of God need to let our hearts be comforted in God’s promises and His Everlasting love for us.  It is so easy to feel our hearts break for all the sadness that surrounds us in this world.  Yet, God has called us to be the light of truth shining forth into a darkened world!!  The only truth that we can be assured of is found in God’s Words as He alone can fully reveal to our hearts during our time alone with Him.  Only there can we find solace, strength, and joy; so that we might arise with Hearts of Joy and Praise!!  It is there that we can find a Joy that sustains us even when we are surrounded by Hurricane Force Winds of despair trying to uproot our life.  Alone with God we are reminded that we are His Beloved, Blessed, Redeemed, Chosen, Sanctified Children.  So, let us each and everyone arise early to be alone with God; before, we too become swallowed up in this world’s grief, sorrow, and anger!  Let us arise and let our lights shine for all the nations to see God’s Glory streaming through us!!

Arise, My Heart to Sing

By Effie Darlene Barba

 

In the hustle and bustle of this life

The blasting sounds filled with such rage

Parched from a world of pain and endless strife

I cried to God,” Come now! My thirst assuage!”

 

Then with gentle voice, He called out my name

“My child, dear one. I’ve longed to hear your voice.

To talk awhile, my love for you proclaim

So that your heart could then with me rejoice!”

 

“Oh, Father forgive me,

Began my feeble plea

 

I’ve taken for granted

You are always there

I’ve taken for granted

Your love and your care

 

My Precious Dear Father, how could it be?

Busy with things, my heart had grown quite cold

While you waited ever so patiently

With arms open wide, my life to enfold”

 

Let me never forget

My life’s in Your hand

Let me never forget

In Your strength I stand

 

Let me rise up each morning before the dawn

To lift up my voice in prayer and in song

Let me sing Your praises so loud and clear

That the world might know; both those far and near

You are my God, My Lord, My Precious King

My greatest love, the hope to which I cling

Arise, my heart! Arise and sing!

A Joy filled song to God, My King

[bctt tweet=”Let me sing Your praises so loud and clear That the world might know; both those far and near” username=”effiedarlene”]

[bctt tweet=”You are my God, My Lord, My Precious King My greatest love, the hope to which I cling” username=”effiedarlene”]

[bctt tweet=”Arise, my heart! Arise and sing! A Joy filled song to God, My King” username=”effiedarlene”]

[tweetthis]Let us be diligent in prayer that we may become the light to this world[/tweetthis]

Living Bible (TLB) The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

©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.

Can One Broken, Contrite, Praying Heart Make a Difference?

 

Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; Hebrews 12:12-15

This has been a tragic 4th of July week. Our country, my country and yours appears to be in broken turmoil. Split into divides and sanctions with bitterness and hate rising. The hatred, bitterness and divide have been rising over the last 8 to 10 years culminating in all the tragedies of this week. We saw a taste of our officers at their worst. A result of fear for their own life or rage? I haven’t seen all the pieces or facts, so I certainly do not know. Can we judge their heart, their motive from a video? Then we see the police at their finest as we watch them be slaughtered. I watched as the police were placing themselves in harm’s way to protect the protestors in Dallas. Those who were calling them names were ushered to safety by the very officers who walked into the line of the bullets. Other officers again placing themselves directly in the line of fire to rescue one of their own and then to apprehend the suspects.

Flag draped Casket

We watch snippets from videos and believe that we know the story when all too often we only know what the sensationalists want us to know. I cannot pretend to say I know for certain the right or the wrong of each incident; yet, I am certain I cannot judge the heart of someone else. I can start by examining my own heart. Last night, I could not sleep. I was watching the calm protests and saw the unfolding of the Dallas tragedies when they first occurred. Flipping between channels as I had been doing for the previous hour; trying to reconcile the differences in the “truth” presented, I could not help but notice that some lagged way behind in presenting the news about Dallas while continuing a rant against “all police.” Did their rhetoric escalade and open the door for such a planned attack? Probably not in one day; but, does our need for 24-hour a day sensationalism add to the divide already present within our hearts?

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