Bring Out the God-Colors

Matthew 5:14-16, MSG
“Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors
in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as
public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to
hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve
put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be
generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open
up with God, this generous Father in heaven.

I love the way the Message bible puts this scripture.  Keep open house - be generous with your lives.  As servants of Christ, we are most fruitful when we are light in every area.  All too often we are only light around other light.  Sundays is like a laser show with all the light pinging off of one another at churches all over the world.  Today is Monday, is there light where you are right now, or are you it?  Do we always see ourselves as this "bringing out the God-colors" where we go?  I must admit I don't.  Sometimes, I even shrink from "trying to shine" because I really don't want to bothered.  Shame on me...
When I read this scripture today, it brought up three different instances to mind.  One where I know that's why I was in a certain place to have a conversation with someone completely unsolicited and unplanned that lead to them coming back to Christ.  Another where I was the one in the dark place and needed a friend who encouraged me back into a lit room.  Finally, my mind went to a time, recently, where I was not willing to step out of my comfort zone and say something that I know might have made a difference with someone.  I know his grace is sufficient, but I don't always want to be pulling on that, especially in these areas where I know better.
This week let us be intentional about this SONshine on the inside of us.  Let us share his love in a tangible way.  Let us move from the thing that is comfortable into the thing that stretches us.  Let us KEEP OPEN HOUSE with our lives this week.  Love on someone for no reason.  Call someone just because.  Actively listen in the conversations you are having and listen for the broken pieces so you can help mend them.  By doing so we will as the word says "prompt people to open up with God", starting with us!  This is what I heard today...be blessed and be a blessing always....

Stay in Your Lane & Focus on the Road

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. 1 Corinthians 7:17, ESV

Recently I was driving out of town going to visit relatives.  During the drive I was reminded of the fact that I drive so much differently than I used to when I was taking road trips in college.  In my earlier years of driving I would get so nervous when passing an 18-wheeler because I thought it was going to come into my lane and run me off the road.  The main reason I believed that was whenever I was about to pass one, I would never have my eyes on the road in front of me, I would always have my eyes on the 18-wheeler.  Because of that perspective while driving, it always FELT LIKE the truck was IN MY LANE when that was never the case.  Now I drive with my eyes on the road in front of me, stay in my lane and pass with caution TRUSTING THE FACT THAT the other car will do the same, but not focus on that driver at all.

You see the problem with my driving skills in the example above is that I HAVE LEARNED that when I changed MY THINKING and what I was focused on when driving, I became much more relaxed and a better driver!  Likewise in life, when we keep our mind on what is TRUE (God's word concerning us); what is PURE (thoughts that build and don't tear down); what is HONORABLE (things minding our own business and not that of another); what is worthy of PRAISE (anything opposite of a complaint!) THEN we will change our thinking patterns.  It is then we will become better DRIVERS so that we can know that the other person is NOT COMING OVER TO RUN YOU OFF THE ROAD, because you are focused on the life the Lord has assigned to YOU.  He is the AUTHOR and FINISHER of THAT PLAN.  Focus on that excellence and we will be safer, better and more confident drivers.  I will remain CONFIDENT IN THIS I will see the goodness of the Lord!

That's what I heard!  Be blessed today!!!

Love. Love. Love.

God commands us to "love thy neighbor" in several different ways and occasions in the word.  That is the command.  The ASSUMPTION is you love yourself.  

I think that is the problem that keeps us from loving the neighbor, the family, the friends, is lack of love of self.  Love God...Love yourself...Love others!!

That. Is.  All

And now I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. (John 13:34)

Do not take revenge on others or continue to hate them, but love your neighbors as you love yourself. I am the Lord. (Leviticus 19:18)

Above everything, love one another earnestly, because love covers over many sins. (1 Peter 4:8)

Kingdom Labor Day

Happy Labor Day to the Kingdom Laborers

1 Timothy 4:10 For to this end we labor and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of them that believe. 

In this scripture Paul is encouraging Timothy and other ministers of the gospel. This whole section of scripture (vs 1-10) is telling them to stick with the basics of spiritual disciplines.  He lets them know from his own perspective this is not an easy life. But to continue to LABOR AND STRIVE in the hopes that all men be saved. In such an endeavor OUR HOPE is in the living God. He is the one who we r laboring for and that's who gets the glory. 

Likewise on this Labor Day I want to encourage all the kingdom laborers. Those in fullTime ministry at a church.  Those in full time ministry in their homes and community.  Those in full time ministry at their jobs in the marketplace. Those in full time ministry of reconciliation wherever they go. 

None of us are part time. This is a full time waking hours position. As we LABOR AND STRIVE each day to make the true and living God shine in and through our lives his rest is our labor unions. As full time kingdom laborers our bonus and raise comes in the form of rest with him being a burden bearer for the heavy laden of kingdom work. This job is better than "your good government job" because it has benefits of FAVOR. As a kingdom laborer when I need to call in sick the true and living God is there to heal me from all my diseases. At the "company picnic" when we hear the annual report no matter what kind of year we had the Lord is working things together for our good. When we have our board meetings with a kingdom agenda he is there in the midst of us. 

So to all of u who r taking the day off remember that WE HAVE A HOPE in God and HE is giving us rest. 

That's what I heard today!  Be blessed. Be a blessing. Happy Labor Day!  

Just Play Ur Hand

U have heard that favor ain't fair. Well I say it's fair for those who Love the Lord our God. This scripture reminds me of that in Psalms 90:17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!

So picture this game with me. It's Spades night and U have ur snacks and the card table and the other team already talking smack. U see it?  This scripture is like playing spades with Jesus as ur partner!  Lets picture this hand. U have no spades!  U have a couple of possibles at best. U know u cant do anything but go board and u still may get set with this hand. But then Jesus speaks up (interceding on ur behalf) and says we r going 10for2!  U r like what???? Jesus what u mean??? Do u know what I have in my hand!?!?  Jesus is like "just play ur hand. We got this." 

So u r making moves. U r trusting him and when the opponents start to play that Ace of heart that just beat out that queen u had, ur one possible dream in ur hand BAM Jesus is cutting that mess up with a spade. Now that's ur book. Ur dream again!  Finally here is the good news. U r down to ur last cards and u don't know how u r going to make it. U trust Jesus and he shows u he also has BOTH JOKERS in his hand. They can't do anything to u without him being the one who is playing it!  Whew!  I could shout right here!  U thought u were set...u thought u would renig but u just played ur hand and THE MASTER OF THE SEAS heard ur despairing cry!  The Lord established the work of ur hands by playing his in concert with urs. (Just like his word says according to the power at work in us...according to the cards in ur hand all along) With Jesus as your partner u r beating the odds all the while. 

That's what I heard!  Hope u r encouraged by it!  I'm back. Be blessed today. Smooches!! Mrs Barton.  

WayMaker Miracle Worker...That's Who U R

Scripture A psalm of praise. Of David. I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever. Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. (Psa 145:1-3 NIV)

Praise:  In every situation I am facing U R still God. U can make a way out of no way. U can turn the situation around to actually find something for my good. All things are working together. The fruit of my womb is blessed. My seed is blessed. Ur word will come to pass concerning them. I will move out of ur way God and let you be God. I will praise u in it and through it and on the other side of it!!

Prayer: LORD, help me lift my voice to You today--and every day--to acknowledge You and thank You for all You have done for me. You are good and Your mercy is forever! As I meditate on who You are, what You have done, what You have made, and the awesome, unfathomable power You possess, I realize I can not even comprehend all that You are. You are truly wonderful and I thank You for loving us and caring for us. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Put a Praise on It First...Whatever IT Is!

Mark 6:38. “How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.” When they found out, they said, “Five—and two fish.

Matthew 14:1919 And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.

Two things powerful happened here. First Jesus had them acknowledge what they had in their hand. Sometimes you just need to be grateful for the things that you actually do have. We also sometimes need to be realistic about what you have. It is when you can fully embrace where you are that  you can begin to trust God to work the situation to where you need to be. But what's in order today? What's in order right now? Today we need to just put a praise on whatever you have in your hand.   

Additionally, and this is the great part Jesus gave thanks for the insufficiency of the 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread and that's when it was multiplied to feed them all!!!!  What?? Wow!

Whatever you are dealing with today - THANK GOD FOR WHAT YOU HAVE; THANK HIM FOR WHERE YOU ARE COMPARED TO WHERE U USED TO BE!  It is then that he can multiply it to FEED A MULTITUDE!   Thank you God for what it looks like RIGHT NOW!   Right now with my finances! Right now with my child! Right now with my relationships! Right now with my job! Right now with my health! Right now with my emotions! Right now with every situation that is causing me Grief!  I know u r well able to do exceeding and abundantly MORE than we can ask or think!   You will multiply it and allow it to feed a multitude. You will get the glory out of my life and I will be available  and able to give your name all the glory honor and praise!!! 

That's what I heard today, be blessed and be a blessing ..