Our Marvel loving family is mourning the loss of one of our superheroes, at least the actor who played him, Chadwick Boseman. While rewatching this movie I was once again reminded of the prayer of The King of kings, where He prayed that we would be united as one, even as He and His Father were one. 
In the movie, the Wakandan nation had hoarded its valuable resources - vibranium and technology, for their own protection. They were turned inward. (Spoiler alert!) But by the end, they came to realize that sharing their resources with the world was even more valuable. They began turning outward. 
We may not be citizens of Wakanda, but we ARE citizens of Heaven, where the main resource is LOVE. We are called to be ambassadors of this love, not only here in our own little spot on this vast planet, but in ALL the world. 
When T’Challa puts on his suit, he transforms into the Black Panther.
When Tony Stark puts on his suit, he transforms into Iron Man.
When  Peter Parker puts on his suit, he transforms into Spiderman. 
Their identity hasn’t changed. Not really. They are still a king, a techie, and a high school student underneath the high tech suits. BUT the suits definitely make a big difference in what they are able to do, that they can’t do otherwise. 
So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, PUT ON a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things PUT ON LOVE, which is the perfect bond of UNITY. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in ONE body; and be thankful. Col. 3:12-15
The thing about these superhero suits you and I have been given is that we are expected to put them on and KEEP them on. We shouldn’t get to take off compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, bearing with one another, forgiveness, or LOVE just because someone’s opinion, skin color, political perspective, cultural experience, language, geographical location, religious upbringing, or socioeconomic status differs from ours.

Unfortunately many who claim to love Jesus are much too quick to take off that love and set it aside when discussing certain topics. Or even worse, saying mean-spirited things under the guise of "speaking the truth in love", but here's the thing...If it doesn't look, sound, or feel like love to the one to whom the statement is directed, we need to take pause to reevaluate if love truly is our motivation. We need to check to make sure we haven't taken off our love in an effort to prove a point or self-protect. 

LOVE is the perfect bond of UNITY. We are ONE. One single tribe. The human tribe. Created in the image of God, Who IS LOVE. We aren't called to prove a point. God already proved the only point that matters by sending His Son because of His LOVE for us. We aren't called to self-protect. God has promised to protect us with an army of angels. What we have been called to do is LOVE The ONE and LOVE the one. And love looks like something.
May we put on our superhero suits and turn outward to help a world in desperate need of pure Kingdom LOVE. 

​“All the nations will call you blessed, for you shall be a delightful land,” says the Lord of hosts. Malachi 3:12

This is one of the many Scriptures God led me to when we were seeking Him about the property He had for us. We have now been on the property for two years and have spent much of that time updating the interior to make it a restful retreat for our guests. Since we are surrounded by beautiful farmland in the lovely rolling hills of Tennessee, we've not put much effort into landscaping the exterior. However, the old retaining wall was deteriorating quickly, and finally succumbed to the heavy rains and rot, causing not only an eyesore, but a safety hazard as well. Thanks to some generous donations we were able to replace it with a stone wall. Next step is to add some plants and flowers to make it not only safe, but "delightful". 
My mind keeps wandering to THE Delightful Land Mimi is now enjoying to the fullest, which far surpasses what our earthly minds comprehend as "beauty". My goodness, she did LOVE flowers and butterflies. I can only imagine what those must look like in Heaven! And the beautiful music she must be playing on Heaven's piano for her Audience of One...I'm so thankful for the "foretaste of Glory Divine" she gave us while on this earth. 
Speaking of music, years ago she led a ladies' ensemble called Sweet Assurance. These precious ladies came to the house and played Mimi's beloved baby grand piano, while we gathered around her bed, and literally sang her into Heaven. I cannot hope to describe with mere words the holiness of her passing. God's timing has been evident in so many ways, even giving us reasons to be thankful in the midst of the covid crisis, because if it hadn't been for that, she might not have been allowed to be at home when she passed, and Pop definitely would not have been there to hold her hand, as he's done for the past 65 years. 
Her last earthly words to Eddy were "I love you the mostest", and now I imagine she is hearing her Beloved Savior say those same words to her in her own Delightful Land filled with butterflies, flowers, and music. 

This photo was snapped just a few hours after overnight storms with very loud thunder and strobe-like lightning moved through our area. Just an hour north and northeast of here, tornadoes ripped through, leaving devastation in their wake. Yet, to look at this photo, you'd never know anything so awful had happened...homes, businesses, schools destroyed...families reeling from the loss of loved ones...messes to clean up, structures to rebuild, lives to somehow pick up the pieces and move on...
Yet this view serves as a God-hug, gently reminding me that He is the Redeemer and Restorer. He painted the skies brilliant blue to remind me to have hope. He sprouted the new green grass to remind me that He is the God of ALL things new. 
Before snapping this photo, I paused a moment to soak up the welcome warmth of the sun and breathe a prayer of thanks for His protection, provision, & peace here at Bursting Barns, then He reminded me that this same blue sky is also covering the areas hit hardest overnight, so I asked Him to lift the heads and renew the hope of all those affected. I asked Him to send them a tangible reminder that He is the God of new beginnings, the Redeemer, Restorer, and Master Rebuilder. 
What storms are you dealing with in your life? 
Lift your eyes and see the hope He offers. ​

by Jill Perry

And now out of his FULLNESS we are fulfilled! And from him we receive grace heaped upon more grace! Moses gave us the Law, but Jesus, the Anointed One, unveils truth wrapped in tender mercy. No one has ever gazed upon the FULLNESS of God’s splendor except the uniquely beloved Son, who is cherished by the Father and held close to his heart. Now he has unfolded to us the FULL explanation of who God truly is! John 1:16-18 TPT

I am a visual learner who served as a children's ministry leader and writer of children's Bible lessons for many years, so perhaps that's why this Scripture brings so many visual aids to my imagination. I picture a big bag being filled with beautifully wrapped gifts, so many, that they won't all fit inside and have no choice but to overflow out of the bag.

• What's inside those gifts? Truth.
• What truth? The truth of Who God is.
• How do we know Who God is? By gazing upon Jesus, Who gazes upon the FULLNESS of God's splendor, reaches into His heart, and demonstrates it for us.
• How does Jesus demonstrate the truth of Who God is? By wrapping that truth in the wrapping paper of tender mercy. Jesus only did as He saw the Father doing, and we are to do as Jesus did. So, it's not enough to just declare truth to people. We must wrap that truth in tender mercy. 

I have come to give you everything in abundance, more than you expect—life in its FULLNESS until you overflow! John 10:10
How deeply intimate and far-reaching is his love! How enduring and inclusive it is! Endless love beyond measurement that transcends our understanding—this extravagant love pours into you until you are filled to overflowing with the FULLNESS of God! Eph 3:19​

• What is the purpose of this overflow?

I haven’t yet acquired the absolute FULLNESS that I’m pursuing, but I run with passion into his abundance so that I may reach the purpose that Jesus has called me to fulfill and wants me to discover (Phil 3:12). Show mercy and compassion for others, just as your heavenly Father overflows with mercy and compassion for ALL. Luke 3:36

• How is this overflow poured out on others? 

The overflow of what has been stored in your heart will be seen by your fruit and will be heard in your words. Luke 6:45

May the Lord increase your love until it overflows toward one another and for ALL people. 1 Thess 3:12

• What/Who are you FULL of today?
• What/Who is overflowing from your words and actions?
• What's in the gifts you are called to give away?
• How are they wrapped?
• To whom will you give them? 

I encourage you to gaze upon the FULLNESS of His splendor, allow Him to unfold to you the FULL explanation of Who He truly is - LOVE - then let what He gives you overflow to ALL around you. Remember it's not just about truth. It's about tender mercy. It's about love. 

By Jill Perry

"I'm really struggling. Please pray for me..."
"I could really use prayer today..."
"Something you could pray for..."

On a recent morning I received at least 6 texts and calls that began this way. It is
such an honor to intercede for the people I love. But sometimes it's a challenge to
do so without taking on their emotions as my own. On this particular day the bad
news seemed to far outweigh the good, and I found myself agreeing with Anne
Murray who sang a song when I was a kid that said, "We sure could use a little
good news today."
GOOD NEWS of GREAT JOY! Isn't that what the angel
heralded on that holy night? The long-awaited Messiah was born in a time &
place with a paranoid king on the throne and a power-hungry government in the
land. Political, cultural, and personal tension was high. Sound familiar? Our
world is frought with political polarization, cultural confusion, and personal pain.
Some GOOD NEWS is definitely needed!
As I prayed for each situation, I began to cry out to God for some GOOD NEWS, and one by one, over the next few days, I began to receive praise reports. Some were BIG and some were so small, they might have been overlooked if one hadn't been expecting God to move.
The GOOD is ALWAYS there. We just have to look for it, and thank God for it,
regardless of how big or how small it may seem. I asked God to keep the GOOD
NEWS coming and that the GOOD NEWS would FAR OUTWEIGH the bad
news! I told Him that I wanted my praises for answered prayers to FAR
OUTWEIGH my prayers for answers!
The shepherds’ response to the GOOD NEWS was to hurry to see for themselves and to praise God. In other words, they went LOOKING FOR the GOOD NEWS! And when they found it (Him), they responded in praise. Even the wise men, who likely did not worship the One True God, followed the star to find this GOOD NEWS.
Their response? They were so ecstatic that they shouted & celebrated with unrestrained joy, fell to the ground, and worshiped Him!
They didn't just happen upon this newborn King. They went looking for Him.
Are you weary from the bad news as you scroll social media, listen to the news, or experience it in your own life? Me too!
Won't you join me in asking God to make the GOOD NEWS far outweigh the bad news
as we close out 2019 and move into 2020?
Let's make a point to intentionally LOOK FOR the GOOD NEWS, and better yet, let's be the ones who herald the GOOD NEWS to others!
How can you share GOOD NEWS of GREAT JOY with someone else in the midst of their own bad news?

Since we are receiving our rights to an unshakeable kingdom 
we should be EXTREMELY thankful and offer God the PUREST worship 
that delights his heart as we lay down our lives in ABSOLUTE surrender, FILLED with awe. Hebrews 12:28 TPT

EVERY dimension of your life will overflow with blessings
from an UNCONTAINABLE source of inner joy! Proverbs 3:10 TPT
Your barns will BURST! Proverbs 3:10 MSG
​
This time of year it’s easy to think of what we are thankful for, but when was the last time you felt like your heart might BURST because of the uncontainable inner joy you had as you counted your blessings? What does EXTREME thank-FULL-ness look like? How can we give God the purest worship He’s so worthy of? When was the last time you felt so filled with awe of Him that your only response was absolute surrender? I want to be more than thankful. I want to be thank-FULL! 
Look at what Harvard Medical School has to say on the subject: In positive psychology research, gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.
In Ephesians 5:20, we are instructed to ALWAYS give thanks for ALL things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. In other words, more often than the month of November! 
Are you feeling empty? Perhaps it’s time to fill up again on more than just turkey and dressing. Perhaps it’s time to get thank-FULL, and see what happens…

Sunsets at the Jumblaru farm are glorious, especially this time of year when the sunflowers are in bloom. Our 3 year old granddaughter, Charlotte, loves to run to the west side of the property to “chase the pink sky”! I love that her name means “freedom” and she has such an adventurous spirit! Her parents met on the mission field in Africa, so I suppose it’s in her DNA. Perhaps you’ve never thought of yourself as the adventurous or creative type. But guess what…that’s exactly how God sees you! It was HIS idea for US to GO into ALL the world with the Gospel! We can trust Him to equip us with everything we need in order to do so.
Today I attended the funeral of a friend’s grandmother. As I drove to the funeral home, Bethel’s song “Goodness of God” came on my playlist, finishing just as I entered the parking lot. The part that gets me every single time says, “All my life You have been faithful, all my life You have been so so good, with every breath that I am able, I will sing of the goodness of God.” The sun had set on her earthly life in her 90’s, but she chased her pink sky right into the very presence of Jesus, and is now fully experiencing His goodness in all His glory! I can’t help but wonder how my life would be different if I lived each day with the same sense of freedom and adventure as Charlotte and a keen awareness of His faithfulness and goodness. How about you? Will you chase the pink sky with us? ​