Just Obedience

So I have one quick thought from a really close friend this week. All through morning prayer God has really been challenging me to seek him with all that I am, I mean everything, in all areas of my life. This past Week Adam Braud and me were talking about God's will for our lives and Adam told me this so simple but powerful truth. " God is not looking for the next person that wants to witness to a million people at a crusade, nor the next person that wants to Pastor a big mega Church, or the next person that wants to have a huge crowd they can lead into worship, God is looking for ONE person that just wants to be OBEDIENT.Weather that means your riding on the back of a garbage truck, or the janitor at a school for the next 20 yrs of your life, he wants someone that will be faithful to wherever he has placed them so that others may come to Christ". That was a powerful word for me, just obedience so that others may come to Christ. All those things in the beginning are great but it's really all about whatever the need , the service, the sacrifice are we willing to be Obedient to Christ. Where does he have you placed that you know there are those around you that need Jesus, trust him and stay the coarse, when they finally come to you to know Christ it will be so worth it.

New Art, 21 days countdown, What God is Doing

So for this 21 days of Prayer my heart has been geared towards Africa and the Orphans that Children's Cup is reaching out to. It has been a big challenge for me because I usually find myself ok with my words being able to communicate pretty well whats on my heart, but this season is different, this Season I have struggled praying. But the funny thing in that is God has me writing prayers more and Expressing my heart towards him in Art. It has been really neat to see a new work and a new language being expressed towards God. I grew up not knowing much about prayer except that you just talk with God, share your heart,dreams,passions,fears, and desire to live for him and he will talk back. Well he definitely talks back and speaks to me in such awesome ways, mostly in that still small voice. But with this new direction he has nudged me into for the past few days it has been a totally eye opening experience. Talk to you through Art, or through writing, I don't really understand but I'm definitely willing. In this, God has shown me so many things that I have never seen. As I write it writing my prayer like Psalms, as I draw it's like putting myself in the shoes of those Children through each expression of the pencil and brush, reminding me and reawakening me to there need and there hearts. Prayer is so powerful and such a great tool that God has given us to stay on track with what he wants to do in our lives. Pray , Fast, and Seek it's his hearts desire to be close to us, these little things will help us get close to him, just make it a heart thing and not a ritual or religion. It's all about the heart.

The little boy we called RED BOOTS, he has had such an amazing influence in my life for Orphans and taking care of them. He is also the inspiration behind the book I'm writing. This art piece is only about a 1/4 of the way done.

21 Days of Prayer and Fasting

Jan 12, at 6:00 in the Morning starts a season that I Love at the Church. Prayer and Fasting, it brings a closeness and a fresh reminder to the Church body and to me that what it's all about is our personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I Love starting my day off in prayer, I have to admit I havent been the best at it sense I've been out of Healing Place School of Ministry. But this 21 days each year really allows me to just give God all of me with other believers. When I used to here that we were as a church going to do 21 days of prayer I used to think man I've got 21 days to pray about so much stuff, that will never be enough time to talk to God about all that is going on, where do I begin. God the world is really messed up, help me to fix it. That's where I started a time or to, thank goodness i've grown a little and God has helped me with this. My heart this year has really been pressed for the Orphans in Africa, Guidance for 2009, and a big Move on the Horizion for Heather and Me. But more than any of that I want God's will to be done, and for others to come to know and have a personal relationship with Christ. thats most important. I have also set out to write and finish a book that has been on my heart for awhile, it's only going to be 33 pages long but I believe that it will speak to the hearts of people about one of Gods greatest Loves. The book is going to be about the Orphans in Africa. 21 DAYS OF PRAYER AND FASTING, it's a great way to really plug into God's heart and know what he wants for you and what he wants you to do for him. Really it's all about centering him in your life and giving up some of those things that come and go like the wind, giving up the temporary to gain the eternal. And nothing better than putting Jesus first in every area of our life.

PRAYER POINTS
1. If you have a new years resolution to get in shape pray and walk at the same time, you would be amazed at how many laps in the church you will make. And it helps you stay awake for early mornings.( Although if your super spiritual you dont get tired your always Glowing in Glory, J/K ).

2. Morning prayer is not about catching up with your One year Bible reading, I know I was in Bible school and God really convicted me about this. But you can read your bible. God speaks to me alot through scriptures for my day.

3. Try prayer without music, music is completly ok. For me though I have found that I start singing and get distracted when I play music, but other times Music helps me get focused. But it's a really good way to hear God's voice uninterrupted when the rest of the day your employee's will be playing beasty boys or some really family friendly 4 letter lyrics that soothe your soul.

4. Just be transparent and real with God he already knows you, and what you need any way so just go to him like a child. He Loves you and wants the best for you.

5. Really believe that he wants to talk to you, if pinnocho a puppet, could believe a cricket, we God's children should trust our Creator.

6. What is always on your Heart, he wants to hear about it and give you direction.

7. Finally thank him for how Good he is, the Bible says when we thank him and praise him then he gives us peace. Peace that only comes for the father. Give him thanks, weather it is a good season or a bad season, he still is God and has great things planned for you.

8 POINT DOWN

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So this is definitely the biggest Buck I've killed to this date,8point, 15in spread, 215Pd's, and a really cool story to go with it. Sense the beginning of this hunting season I have been really excited about this year's opportunity to get a big one. It's funny you always hear guys talking about this year is gonna be the big one I can just feel it, well I did not have a clue what this year had in store but I could feel that it was gonna be a good season. This past weekend Major and Me went up to Mississippi to do a little hunting,and for the past month and a half I've been going up to the camp to hunt every weekend and have not pulled the trigger once. Well after I got off work Friday I came home and decided I was going to stay home but Heather made sure that left that weekend to for all the times I've come home frustrated not seeing a big one. So Major and me set out, this time we were going to the camp on the river, it was raining, completely calm, and a cold front coming in. I brought my Journal, My Bible, some snacks, my portable DVD player and my Dog, it was definitely a mans weekend. But at the same time it was such a relaxing weekend, Major and me sat out by the fire late at night and the turned the ac real low and crawled up in the sleeping bag to do some reading and journal. 5:00 came real early the next morning, I got up, got dressed, and let Major sleep in. After a morning of now bucks just one doe I got back to the camp just before the rain came in heavy. 3:30, time to head out again, I had a grunt call in my pocket and my rifle in my hands, I was feeling pretty good because usually after a big rain deer come out to reclaim the places that were washed away by the water. After I got to my spot I started to make some calls while the fog started settling in, after about 10 min a doe came out and started trotting my way, then immediately a buck came out chasing her, well those two were sprinting all the way across the field then another buck came chasing them. They came in and out of the woods so fast I did not have time to get a shot. 5:10 I make a couple of grunts and then I herd him, errr, errr. He called back I could feel my heart start to race, ok Barton stay calm, breathe, and get ready, a few more calls, the he called back again, errr, errr. I could hear him running through the water behind me. Finally he started calling me, 5:20 I hear him grunt in the woods directly to my right I give one final call the there he was, running out into the field about sixty yrds in front of me. I saw him then made a grunt to get him to stop, he looked over at me then paused, I got my scope on him then he began to trot across the field. It's now or never, line the cross hairs up, squeeze, boom, I waited the smoke cleared, I looked back through my scope and there he was 135 yrds down right were he stood, 5:25 on the dot. I was so excited, this hunt is definitely all because of how good God is. He blessed me with more than I deserved. I felt so wild after that hunt, like a man that was surviving off of the wild, it was a really great awesome hunt. That night ended finally at 12:15pm with
dirty hands, tired eyes, a sleepy dog, but a clean deer. Jesus you are so awesome all glory to you. Hopefully there will be more this year, but hopefully next time it will be Heather and not me.

A Bowl of Noodles

Have you ever been in a position where you were forced to confront yourself in the condition you wish you were not acting like. Or realized that you have had some blind spots that have been creeping up. Bingo that's me, put the target on my face and smack it dead on, I'm the bonehead. Yes I have been in that season for the last couple of weeks. I've been reading alot of James 4 and Haggai let's just say I'm glad God disciplines those he loves.

Lessons learned in the Cave.
1. Simple frustrations often arise when you put yourself before Christ.
2. Why have I spent so much time on the temporary, I'm chasing wind that is blowing all around me, I cant catch it.
3. Speak less, a whole lot less!!!!!
4. The quit place sounds so much better than the daily replaced chaos.
5. Stop bypassing all the signs, they are for your direction.
6. Does anyone have a chisel because I would love to take chunks of myself off.
7. Remembering once again that his Love is everlasting and his grace is sufficient,
WOW, WHAT ELSE COULD I HAVE POSSIBLY WANTED.

Seasons weather long or really short usually provide some much in growth as long as you still let the sun shine on you but as long as you turn the lite off it's a whole lot harder to see. Stop, listen, and remember his goodness. Paul said that only when you thank him and bless him will you receive his peace, I should thank alot lot more and think a whole lot less. I'm thankful for the Cave because I have to take my sandals off, then I can experience Christ. Whats your cave experience, better yet what are the Sandals that need to come off?

It's Finally Over

Well she made it, haha my beautiful wife Heather Graduated from LSU this past Friday. 17 and 1/2 yrs of school is a huge accomplishment And I am extremly proud of her. Check her blog out for and insiders view her thoughts from all the hard work finally paying off. heatherepickens.blogspot.com

What an Amazing Week!!!!!!

For the first time in about 16yrs it snowed in Louisiana, I have to say it really was a magical experience snowball fights, snowmen, and plenty of Hot chocolate it was a blast here are some of the pics from what all went on. Heather had to work unfortunately and Ray is stationed in Missouri for Marine Corp Training so that's why they are not in the pics.

Danny, Lance, Mom, Me



Lance and Me

Major

Koah Loving it!

Lance, Me, Mom, and Heather at the play Christmas Carol in Baton Rouge it was awesome.



A Pic from me hunting in Mississippi it was awesome.