I have 3 priorities. Each priority is represented by a color that helps me remember God's declaration of an absolute truth about Jesus Christ, my Savior and Lord.
I found that truth in Romans 11:36.
"For from HIM and through HIM and to HIM are all things.
To HIM be glory forever. Amen."
Proving I believe God's purpose in Christ, I want to live that truth in all I do. This helps me daily know & evaluate my heart is not deceived by shallow living. My mentor taught me that sincerely living truthfully would be able to be seen fitting together through my choices. Living by colored priorities shows me the proof of intentional living truth.
Spain Interview (click on this to hear an interview: Journal in Color)
While visiting Spain this past fall, I was asked to be interviewed because a friend remembered how I shared my priorities in color. There was no preparation.
Suddenly, there were bright lights and cameras with one instruction: "Share."
I told of my love for Jesus and his Word. I shared how much I wanted others to know His love for them. Because I needed to learn to "Speak Jesus" to others, I created a colorful method to remember and learn.
In this interview, I simply talked as I flipped through examples on journal pages I held in my hand. These examples are divided by color, representing my relationships. I carry this journal easily wherever I go so I can quickly give visuals of my priorities. Most of the pages show simple charts of how I think in life, study, learn & remember passages in Scriptures. It also gives visuals for sharing Jesus both to believers for growth and unbelievers for more understanding. It opens understanding of how a believer can prove obedience to God's Word in every area of life. At a glance, the colors broadcast a priority backed by Scriptures pointing to Jesus. As I record, I hope to prove that my daily choices remain balanced even in the little things.
My journal is full of color because I organize my life by color. To know the meaning of colors, you must understand my relational priorities and understand the reasons I chose the particular color for that priority.
My relationships are all about HIM.
"For God, who said, "Let Light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the Glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. I have this wonderful treasure in me, although, I am only a fragile human. I have been given the glory of God (Jn 17:3) I want to carry it well and let it be seen in me! Yellow is bright, shiny and reminds me of glory. I highlight in yellow everything I learn about God - His character & attributes, His love, His thoughts for me, and His will for me and this world.
2. My relationship in the Body of Christ is my second priority because when this relationship is strong, I have a good spiritual support group for encouragement and a safe place to grow in the grace and the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. This body has many members who have been given spiritual life through the blood of Jesus Christ's offering of His own life. His sacrifice of blood made it possible for Him to bring me to God. This Body is royal. (2 Peter 2:9) so I use BLUE to remind me of my membership in his Body. To encourage growth, this safe place has instructions on how to treat "each other."
3. My relationship in the Work of Christ wraps up everything else that hasn't fit into the other two priorities.
As the years have passed, the colorful practice grew quite by accident to portray a complete rainbow of colors. I found the reality of keeping my 3 relational priorities needed further explanations because things are not always as they should be. As in art projects, I realized simply combining the primary colors (Yellow, Blue & Red) with each other creates secondary colors (Green, Purple & Orange). These combinations helped explain to me what I was actually dealing with when confronted by mixed behaviors within relationships.
Secondary colors can be for another post.
But for now, taking the time focused on Christ's Glory (yellow), Christ's Body (blue) & Christ's Work (red)is a simple step in deciphering the Truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for me. Here's how I start:
YELLOW - no matter what I hear or read, I ask, "What is this teaching me about God & His Son, Jesus Christ?" John 17:3 says eternal life is Knowing. I highlight or write on yellow the response I've learned.
Example: I read: "The Lord is my shepherd." Highlight: shepherd. Response: It is the Lord who shepherds me.
BLUE - I ask, "What does this teach me about the Body of Christ, or the assembled believers?"
RED - I ask, "What characterizes those Christ seeks to save? These may be precious opportunities where we can share God's message of reconciliation. (2 Co5:20-21)
The colors are found in so many fun office supplies & stickers! It's easy to carry 3 colored pencils to use as object lesson items as well as coloring. There are post-notes, labels, stickers, papers, as well as pens & markers. Any simple composition notebook or journal can be used to record what you learn along your path but make sure the weight of the paper is thick enough to hold ink or glue! Make it fun & simple.
I hope you grab yours and begin the adventure of visual colors brilliantly lighting up your ministry as an ambassador! 2 Co 5:20
I hope these colorful explanations encourage another to consider a more intentional way to move from abstract concepts to more visual proof (2 Co 6:6) of truly living a balanced life that pleases the Lord.
