The Kingdom of God transcends and invades every kingdom, continent, country, state, village and town of this planet yet is not held by boundaries or contained within buildings.
It is not advanced by man’s deeds or manipulations but by humility.
It is not held by the “wheelers and dealers” of any earthly kingdom but by those that are the lowest or least important in the eyes of earthly powers.
It cannot be overthrown in a coup or held hostage by any man.
Its power is beyond anything we have ever experienced in earthly kingdoms and yet its power is not motivated and fueled by greed or self preservation.
There are no political parties vying for power in this Kingdom- just One rule, One power, One authority.
Truth, not deception, is its foundation.
Entrance into this Kingdom is not by way of a broad boulevard; a valid passport purchased by the individual; or obtained by any governments nod of approval.
Entrance has been obtained by the Owners Sons life…it is by his life we have life...his life we have citizenship. It is this same Son who will be the light of this Kingdom.
The authority and power of the Owner is automatically transferred to all its citizens.
All are welcome but not everyone will choose to enter.
It is displayed through simplistic yet explosive power.
As citizens of this Kingdom, it is displayed through you and me…AMAZING!!
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Monday, October 18, 2010
Wonderings
Recently I heard a sermon where the preacher suggested a reason for the Israelites 40 year desert wonderings was in order to get the Egyptian culture out of them. The Israelites had been in Egypt for such a long time and had absorbed so much of its culture they could no longer be recognized as the chosen children of the Most High God. So much did the culture overtake what God had instilled in them that it took 40 years for the “culture cleansing” process to be accomplished. Influence, good or bad, has a way of lingering from one generation to another.
I sometime think God uses the wonderings of our lives, those situations we question that come into our life journey, to cleanse our pre-conceived ideas of how and when He SHOULD work in and through us. In doing this, God once again seems to remind us that He alone, not the “action”, is to be our heart's desire. He will lead us into the land of His promise that He prepared for us way before we were even born.
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will. Eph 1:11
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Eph 2:10
It is in this land of His promise we will reveal to those around us who God is and the blessed hope he has for them. But this can only happen as we take on His character---His culture.
And as with the Israelites we too may think the process, the journey is taking way too long. But God's timing is perfect in ALL things...even in our wonderings.
I sometime think God uses the wonderings of our lives, those situations we question that come into our life journey, to cleanse our pre-conceived ideas of how and when He SHOULD work in and through us. In doing this, God once again seems to remind us that He alone, not the “action”, is to be our heart's desire. He will lead us into the land of His promise that He prepared for us way before we were even born.
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will. Eph 1:11
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Eph 2:10
It is in this land of His promise we will reveal to those around us who God is and the blessed hope he has for them. But this can only happen as we take on His character---His culture.
And as with the Israelites we too may think the process, the journey is taking way too long. But God's timing is perfect in ALL things...even in our wonderings.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Lord, I want to see your face
My hearts cry has been, “Lord I want to see your face.” Not that I don’t want to see His hands working through signs and miracles, but there is something about looking into someone’s eyes when they speak and observing their facial expressions when they look to you.
But could it be that I am looking for the wrong “face”?
Could it be that all along I have been looking into the face of God when I see a child crying…the beggar on the street searching for food….the alcoholic lost and stumbling...the teenager pregnant scared and not sure what to do….the mother so overwhelmed by tragedy she is willing to sell her children to survive….
And could it be they are looking to me to see the hands, arms and compassion of God?
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all his angels are with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. The people of every nation will be gathered in front of him. He will separate them as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right but the goats on his left. “Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, my Father has blessed you! Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger, and you took me into your home. I needed clothes, and you gave me something to wear. I was sick, and you took care of me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ “Then the people who have God’s approval will reply to him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you or see you thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you as a stranger and take you into our homes or see you in need of clothes and give you something to wear? When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ “The king will answer them, ‘I can guarantee this truth: Whatever you did for one of my brothers or sisters, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you did for me.’
“Then the king will say to those on his left, ‘Get away from me! God has cursed you! Go into everlasting fire that was prepared for the devil and his angels! I was hungry, and you gave me nothing to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me nothing to drink. I was a stranger, and you didn’t take me into your homes. I needed clothes, and you didn’t give me anything to wear. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t take care of me.’ “They, too, will ask, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or as a stranger or in need of clothes or sick or in prison and didn’t help you?’ “He will answer them, ‘I can guarantee this truth: Whatever you failed to do for one of my brothers or sisters, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you failed to do for me.’
“These people will go away into eternal punishment, but those with God’s approval will go into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:31-46)
But could it be that I am looking for the wrong “face”?
Could it be that all along I have been looking into the face of God when I see a child crying…the beggar on the street searching for food….the alcoholic lost and stumbling...the teenager pregnant scared and not sure what to do….the mother so overwhelmed by tragedy she is willing to sell her children to survive….
And could it be they are looking to me to see the hands, arms and compassion of God?
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all his angels are with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. The people of every nation will be gathered in front of him. He will separate them as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right but the goats on his left. “Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, my Father has blessed you! Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger, and you took me into your home. I needed clothes, and you gave me something to wear. I was sick, and you took care of me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ “Then the people who have God’s approval will reply to him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you or see you thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you as a stranger and take you into our homes or see you in need of clothes and give you something to wear? When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ “The king will answer them, ‘I can guarantee this truth: Whatever you did for one of my brothers or sisters, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you did for me.’
“Then the king will say to those on his left, ‘Get away from me! God has cursed you! Go into everlasting fire that was prepared for the devil and his angels! I was hungry, and you gave me nothing to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me nothing to drink. I was a stranger, and you didn’t take me into your homes. I needed clothes, and you didn’t give me anything to wear. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t take care of me.’ “They, too, will ask, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or as a stranger or in need of clothes or sick or in prison and didn’t help you?’ “He will answer them, ‘I can guarantee this truth: Whatever you failed to do for one of my brothers or sisters, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you failed to do for me.’
“These people will go away into eternal punishment, but those with God’s approval will go into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:31-46)
Monday, June 21, 2010
Gratitude
“When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me.” Hosea 13:5
Lord, keep me hungry enough to remember you are the source and supplier of everything I need… never too full or satisfied I forget it is from your gracious hands I have received.Teach me humility so I will not become too dependent on myself that I forget You. Surround me with opportunities to open my eyes, ears, heart and hands to those who are hungry and thirsty around me so they may see You.
Monday, June 14, 2010
BEWARE OF THE SLIPPERY SLOPE
This morning I was reading in 2 Kings 6 of when the enemy surrounded the city Elisha was in. Alarmed, Elisha’s servant, Gehazi, asked, “Oh, my lord, what shall we do?” I love Elisha’s response, “Don’t be afraid. Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
Elisha then prayed for the Lord to open Gehazi's eyes and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all surrounding the city.
I don’t know about you, but when the enemy appears to be unrestrained and bringing havoc in my life or those I love, it becomes a task to keep my eyes focused on the unseen army of God. The fear and frustration the physical brings can overwhelm the faith and contentment only the spiritual can give.
This can become a very slippy road if our eyes are only focused on the natural. Asaph said it best when he wrote in Psalm 73, “…my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.”
He continues to describe the carefree lifestyle the wicked live, the increase of their wealth, and jeering at God with no apparent consequences. He tried to understand how the wicked could prosper, but couldn’t. It is at this point many people would give up on God because they don’t see any retaliation from God to the wicked. “What’s the use” becomes the battle cry of the frustrated.
Not so with Asaph. He knew the key to this conflict: “When I tried to understand all this it was oppressive to me TILL I ENTERED THE SANCTUARY OF GOD; then I understood their final destiny.”
Asaph didn’t look to the natural but placed his trust in the One and True God and in His timing.
It was here, in the sanctuary of God, Asaph realized his heart was bitter that he was being foolish and ignorant to God. It was here, in the sanctuary of God, he realized God was holding and leading him; that no matter what happened to him God would forever be the strength of his heart.
As with Asaph, it is only when we enter the presence of the Living God and allow Him to invade our minds and hearts, to be the standard by which we measure all that is around us, we will ultimately see what evil has to offer—emptiness and destruction. In the presence of God we receive renewed hope and strength.
“But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.’” (vs 28)
Elisha then prayed for the Lord to open Gehazi's eyes and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all surrounding the city.
I don’t know about you, but when the enemy appears to be unrestrained and bringing havoc in my life or those I love, it becomes a task to keep my eyes focused on the unseen army of God. The fear and frustration the physical brings can overwhelm the faith and contentment only the spiritual can give.
This can become a very slippy road if our eyes are only focused on the natural. Asaph said it best when he wrote in Psalm 73, “…my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.”
He continues to describe the carefree lifestyle the wicked live, the increase of their wealth, and jeering at God with no apparent consequences. He tried to understand how the wicked could prosper, but couldn’t. It is at this point many people would give up on God because they don’t see any retaliation from God to the wicked. “What’s the use” becomes the battle cry of the frustrated.
Not so with Asaph. He knew the key to this conflict: “When I tried to understand all this it was oppressive to me TILL I ENTERED THE SANCTUARY OF GOD; then I understood their final destiny.”
Asaph didn’t look to the natural but placed his trust in the One and True God and in His timing.
It was here, in the sanctuary of God, Asaph realized his heart was bitter that he was being foolish and ignorant to God. It was here, in the sanctuary of God, he realized God was holding and leading him; that no matter what happened to him God would forever be the strength of his heart.
As with Asaph, it is only when we enter the presence of the Living God and allow Him to invade our minds and hearts, to be the standard by which we measure all that is around us, we will ultimately see what evil has to offer—emptiness and destruction. In the presence of God we receive renewed hope and strength.
“But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.’” (vs 28)
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