Tag: poetry

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.

What Is The Greatest Miracle I Could Pray For?

What Is The Greatest Miracle I Could Pray For?

“10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it” (John 14).

We read these words with great longing and great hope. We are each coming to the table of Jesus with different desires or requests. We want so to believe that we could perform miracles. That we could pray for peace in our family, our community and our country and God would respond immediately. What could Jesus possibly mean when He said  that he would give us whatever we ask in His name?  Or what did he mean when he said that because He goes to the Father we will be able to perform greater works? Does He mean miracles such as feeding a crowd with 2 fish and 2 loaves of bread? Or perhaps, the miracle is much greater than any of the physical miracles we long for!!

Lights shining forth

The works of Jesus that matter most as we saw with the lame man that He healed was the salvation of His soul—not the healing of His body. A true work of Grace displayed by Jesus was His transforming the Samaritan woman into His missionary to the Samaritans. The greatest work of Jesus Christ was His bringing spiritual life to men and women who were dead spiritually. It is a much greater miracle to cause a self-exalting heart to humbly, lovingly, sacrificially serve God and others. The greater miracle is when God can cause our blind hearts to see, seek and savor Glory. In a world filled with darkness we are shown light. A broken heart that sings forth a song of real joy—that is a miracle.

Continue reading “What Is The Greatest Miracle I Could Pray For?”

Poetry Sunday: Joy, Eternally

The aurora borealis is the result of a solar storm flinging particles into the atmosphere at either of the earths polar tips with the result being brilliant, beautiful lights appearing in the darkened night sky.  When storms enter our lives, we shutter in despair and fear. Yet, God knows every storm and allows them in only to bring us closer to Him.  He knows our heart and desires to give us His Joy.  Too often the eyes of our heart are too fixated on counterfeit joys and our desires are for things that cannot satisfy.

Aurora BorealisSometimes into our darkest night, God sends a storm so that our eyes may be opened to behold Glory, beauty and Joy.

 

Joy, Eternally

By Effie Darlene Barba

 

Without the sorrows would I see?

Your beauty rare—Your love for me

Or would this heart be satisfied

With lesser things that build my pride

 

Your love for me so great and grand

Allowed each tear as You had planned

That I might seek Your lovely face

Eager to feel your arms of grace

 

And now, this Joy that fills my chest

Is mine because in You I rest

Your Glory lights my every trail

My treasure precious without fail

 

I thought my heart would break in two

Until Your Love came into view

What mystery is Your Grace Divine

My Darkest hour Your light did shine

 

This Joy, this hope, this love that’s mine

I feel Your spirit intertwine

Within my heart to nourish me

With all of You eternally

[bctt tweet=”Without the sorrows would I see? Your beauty rare—Your love for me”]

Samuel 22 (NIV) “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
3 my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield[a] and the horn[b] of my salvation.
He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior—…You, Lord, are my lamp
the Lord turns my darkness into light…“As for God, his way is perfect:
The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.

Would you like to share a story of how God transformed a storm into Joy in your life? Or share a poem you have written?  click here to open the comment  box

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 International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Photo used by permission 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: Stand Here in this Place

As we walk in this pilgrimage journey of life, we must guard our hearts and minds.  Our joy, our hope, and our faith is embedded in Christ.  Within this world, so many things vie for our affections and fill our thoughts with desires. Yet, God is our greatest treasure.

5Z8QJ8SIHD_thumb.jpgHe is our true joy.  When I lay aside all else to seek Him, I find in Him all that I need.  If truly I trust Him, then I will see His loving, protecting hand in ever detail of my life.  When this journey is such that we walk through moments of sorrows, losses, and dark valleys that would seem to bring our hearts despair; we hear the echoing sweetness of God’s voice calling us to gaze upon Him. [bctt tweet=”Sometimes we must stand still like a baby before God with arms lifted up, our eyes fixed on Him.”]  He is our Joy.  He is the Love that can fill a broken heart to overflowing.

STAND HERE IN THIS PLACE

by Effie Darlene Barba

 

Through this journey of life

Midst it’s sorrows and strife

Came the Echoes of You

Hope arising anew

 

You’re my joy, my love song

In Your arms I am strong

When my life fell apart

You were there! My new start!

 

CHORUS

Let me stand here in this place

While I gaze upon Your face

Raising high my arms to You

While all else fades from my view

Within your arms wrapped tightly ‘round

Your whispering voice the only sound

Let this passion in me rise

‘Til it reaches to the skies

Light my heart a blazing fire

Loving You my sole desire

Help me cast all else aside

Content within your love abide

Dear God, Your child to be

For all eternity

 

My heart lay broken, crushed within

Burdened, chained distraught by sin

It was Your Grace that set me free

And filled my heart with joy and glee

 

CHORUS

Let me stand here in this place

While I gaze upon Your face

Raising high my arms to You

While all else fades from my view

Within your arms wrapped tightly ‘round

Your whispering voice the only sound

Let this passion in me rise

‘Til it reaches to the skies

Light my heart a blazing fire

Loving You my sole desire

Help me cast all else aside

Content within your love abide

Dear God, Your child to be

For all eternity

Do you have a poem you would like to share?  When life seems to bring moments of despair what do you do to restore joy?  click here to comment.

Also, yesterday I added the streaming music of songs I wrote; please let me know what you think–keep or turn off–those who let me know their honest opinion I will give away a copy of “A Broken and Contrite Heart.”

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.

©2015 Effie Darlene Barba

Photo is from stocksnap.io

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: Grace upon Grace Poured Out upon Me

Grace
Artwork used with permission of the artist Ronald Barba. For information or to commission art projects please email at Ron@barba-art.com

Grace upon Grace Poured Out upon Me

By Effie Darlene Barba

Jesus the word the truth and the light

Portrait of God’s perfect Glory-Delight

His Grace upon Grace poured out upon me

That I from sin’s chains forever am free

 

 

The King above Kings laid aside His throne

Because He loved me-my sin to atone

Leaving the splendor, the songs, and the mirth

To submit to pain and sorrows on earth

 

Imagine the perfect, righteous one

God’s precious delight-His Dear Beloved Son

Would willingly choose to suffer such loss

Beaten, rejected He died on a cross

 

What kind of love, oh how can it be?

He suffered all this for you and for me

Despite all my sin and my foolish pride

He bids me to come-in His love abide

 

Open my eyes, Lord, always to see

Your love and your Glory there before me

Laying aside all my foolish desires

Until you’re the treasure my soul aspires

 

Jesus the word the truth and the light

Portrait of God’s perfect Glory-Delight

His Grace upon Grace poured out upon me

That I from sins chains forever am free

[bctt tweet=”What kind of love, oh how can it be? He suffered all this for you and for me”]

[bctt tweet=”His Grace upon Grace poured out upon me That I from sins chains forever am free”]

Do you have a poem you would like to share?  a prayer request? or a story you would like to share?  Have you ever been overwhelmed by Grace?  Click here to comment.

The artist that drew the picture “A Broken and Contrite Heart” featured on my header, who designed my logo and who drew the portrait featured today is Ronald Barba.  The picture is being used with his permission and is protected under copyright laws.  For a copy click on the link associated with the picture.  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.

©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.