Tag: Truth

The Greatest Love, I Give to You

 God wanted to make known to them the glorious riches of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.  We proclaim him by instructing and teaching all people with all wisdom so that we may present every person mature in Christ. Toward this goal I also labor, struggling according to his power that powerfully works in me. Colossians 1:27-29 (NET)

The greatest gift that we can give to another is Jesus Christ; yet, so often we struggle within our world, never really knowing how to present Him.  Society would call us to be “politically correct” so as not to offend another.  Yet, does not love demand that I speak truth.  Sometimes, my own frailties bid me to silence.  After all, when they see all my faltering steps; won’t they think me only a hypocrite.  It is God’s Grace that called me to Himself and not my eloquence nor my own strength.  Having received such a precious gift from God, how can I let fear of failure cause me to be silent?  I must not.  Love demands I speak.  For I cannot truly love you and not share with you my greatest treasure which is Jesus Christ.  So, if today is the last day I ever hear your voice or even if you walk away; I must say I love you too much to not present to you, Jesus Christ.

The Greatest Love, I Give to You

By Effie Darlene Barba

 

Throughout the story of my life

My days of joy, or days of strife

God has been there upon His throne

Into my darkness, light has shone

To guide me toward His perfect Will

Though I at times a rebel still

It was His pleasure to love me true

Transforming Grace each day renew

One day I’ll see Him face to face

With tears of joy, Amazing Grace

To think that He would love me so

His precious righteousness bestow

So undeserving that I be

He took the time to call to me

And so, my friend, this truth I know

This love I have it bids me show

To You His truth, His life, His way

And so dear friend, I must now say

The Greatest Love I give to you

Is to stand firm on what is true

That Only Jesus, Lord and King

Can cover sin, Salvation Bring

And though at times my faltering lips

Or stumbling feet, too often slips

I pray that God, in spite of me

Does open up your eyes to see

The magnitude of His love and Grace

That you will seek His lovely Face

[tweetthis]If I truly love someone I must boldly speak the truth of the gospel 2 them[/tweetthis]

[bctt tweet=”Even if my lips falter and my feet stumble, I must proclaim the truth of God’s love.” username=”effiedarlene”]

Photo used by permission https://unsplash.com/@kevar

New English Translation  (NET)NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.

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.

Where is Truth and Hope Found in this World?

Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down. Daniel 4:37 (NKJV)

Watching the news, flipping from channel to channel; I find myself wishing to know truth. The truth hidden behind all the rhetoric, the bias, and the bend for sensationalism. With a heavy heart, praying that God would guide my thoughts and that God would heal the divide within the nation. How can I help? What can I do to spread the gospel? How can I shine light into the darkness? Yet, it begins with holding fast to the truth that God IS. Faith begins there. God is truth! God is justice! God is in Control! God is the Great I AM!

When the nation of Judah was taken captive into Babylon, it was exactly what God had warned them would happen. They failed to listen or heed warning. They failed to seek God or honor Him. They had continued on in their rebellion against God and worshipping other gods of their own making. Yet, look what God did as a result of that captivity!! What an amazing God of Grace, Love, and Hope He is! Out of those captives, through the fervent prayer and faithfulness of 4 men; God lead King Nebuchadnezzar (King of the Babylonian Empire) to a saving knowledge of God. What an amazing and wondrous thing that was! Continue reading “Where is Truth and Hope Found in this World?”

A Moment of Grave Sorrow and A Silence Broken

With a heart of love; I must not sit silently by as I watch the black people destroy themselves from the inside out. Like sheep we humans are so easily lead astray by whatever voice we hear. If one sheep jumps off to his death, another follows shortly behind him. Look closely at the truth and for whom you have taken this plunge.

There are those moments I find it very difficult to write.  The events and the turmoil that is in this world and in our nation at present.  Perhaps there are those moments when one must speak’’; without fear of being misquoted and misinterpreted.  For me, I was in a sense born and raised color blind.  Indeed as a 4 year old child I carried around a black baby doll (which was unheard of in that day), at 6 I wept because a Mexican migrant worker couldn’t cash the check a farmer had given him.  His family stood around him and looked so hungry.  I lived in Mexico with my husband who was of Mexican descent; and after having been widowed I later remarried.  That marriage fractured when one day, my son’s black college roommate came to my home for the weekend.  When, I arrived home that day; my husband ushered me to the back room and told me to get that “N” out of my house.  I, who rarely raised my voice; ordered my husband to leave and never return.  “This is my house and my name is the only one on the deed; so, you will take your things and get out.  I will not tolerate a racist in my home—that child out there is my guest.  So  you GET OUT”.  And He did.  I never remarried after that.

walking-compressor

My best friend in the world whom I love dearly is also black.  A wise, honorable, and caring friend who has taught me so much over the past few years.  With all that being said and with a heart of love; I must not sit silently by as I watch people destroy themselves from the inside out.

Continue reading “A Moment of Grave Sorrow and A Silence Broken”

What Is the One Truth That Cannot Be Compromised?

Jesus Christ, “who being the brightness of God’s glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they” Hebrews 1:3-4(NKJV)

Some of the false doctrines that tried to invade the early church continues to invade some of the religions today.  Many tried to proclaim that Jesus was either a prophet or perhaps even an angel sent from God. There had been mention in old testament scripture that angels were sent at times to guide the people or to speak God’s words to His people. It would be much easier to believe that Jesus was “an angel or prophet of God” than to accept that He was God Incarnate as God’s only son.  Some said then and some still say that it doesn’t really matter which we believe, as long as we believe in God.  Yet, that is a lie!

ultimate-inspiration-gods-plan-of-love-ronald-barba

 

That is why the book of Hebrews is so important to grasp both for those who know Christ as their Savior and those who are yet in search of God’s Grace.  For the sinner, knowing who Christ really is becomes the pivotal point of accepting Him as your Savior.  For the Christian to truly comprehend the truth of this great salvation we have been given; we must first place Jesus in His rightful place without compromising to sound politically correct.

Continue reading “What Is the One Truth That Cannot Be Compromised?”

3 Truths That Will Catapult Your Life into Joyous Victory

Jesus Christ “his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high: Hebrews 1:2-3

As I go about my days along this life journey, why is it so important that I recognize the magnificence and glory of Jesus as King, seated upon His throne? How would that change my view of life’s struggles? How can that affect my relationships with friends, co-workers, and family? My life is filled with dreams, desires, decisions, work, and activities. We must constantly think about our health, our car, our house, our finances, our relationships, and our jobs. Even when it comes to our faith, we fill our lives with the “activities”; yet, in all that do we truly stop to realize the importance of seeing Jesus upon His throne.

Christ Holds together

The writer of Hebrews wants us to realize that Jesus is already the King. He is the obedient son who died upon a cross at His Father’s bidding; yet, He is also the express image of the Father and the bright radiance of His Glory. Not only was Jesus the humble sacrificial lamb who died to save the world; but, Jesus is also the one through whom the Father spoke the world into being and the one who holds everything in place by the word of His power. This is the same truth that John expressed when he wrote,

Continue reading “3 Truths That Will Catapult Your Life into Joyous Victory”