Fighting For & Seeking The Kingdom

"For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of talk, but of power." 1 Corinthians 4:20


A shared experience....

-One person had to 'bless a jerk' and realized that perhaps he was the 'jerk' himself with the way he became frustrated and angry during his commute to work.  He stopped for coffee and noticed a woman arrive at the same time -- his first thought was "I need to get in front of her.....she is probably going to order some complicated drink that will cause me to wait!"  Instead of acting on this thought, he chose to hold the door open for the woman.  She told him to step in front of her in line, but he declined.  When his turn came, he was told that she paid for his coffee!  Lesson learned.

Repent by turning away from the Kingdom of the world and TURN TOWARD the Kingdom of God.

                  REPENT --> TURN --> BELIEVE
  
How do we seek the Kingdom of God?

- look for opportunities to help
- be affirming to someone
- look for the good in every situation
- share our love of Christ with others
- wear the 'Kingdom Goggles'

Kingdom Come ~ Week 4

~Fight~

We got to spend some time in Ephesians this week to really explore who it is we fight against.  Were you surprised to find that it is not each other?  That it is not those who don't have the same beliefs as you?  That it is not those who do awful, mean things to you or to those you love?  Were you surprised to find that we fight against the prince of this world, Satan?   When we buy into the lies of Satan, and the lies of this world we become confused.  It's that confusion that frustrates us and keeps us right where Satan wants us.  

What confuses you? What frustrates you?  What makes you angry? Were you able to connect the answer to any of those questions to where you needed to repent?  Remember, to repent means to turn away from something.  Repentance becomes a self awareness of something that is not true. (Remember Satan wants us to believe his lies and make them our truth) So, repentance is just the first step.  After this first step, we need to behave or act in a different way.  It's in that action of doing something a different way that your "belief" in who you follow is seen and felt by others.  This all happens regardless of your circumstances or how others respond.  This happens because you believe in the truth and consistency of the one you follow...Jesus!  

Repent AND Believe!  Live in the truth of the one who has died for you and already deemed you (and everyone else) worthy of His love.  It will be hard, but He has given you everything you need for the FIGHT!

Kingdom Come Weeks 1, 2 & 3 Rock!

What wonderful ways God is working in our group!

Our love experiments were so amazing!
- A love letter written to a daughter who longed for a child and was finally blessed
- $10 used to pay for coffee for two girls at Starbucks
- Prayer with a friend who has struggled with opening himself to God
- Anonymously placed gas card into the mailbox of a neighbor who is going through a hard time

Amazing ways God "recharges" us!
- Working in Precious Pebbles ~ listening to the prayers of 3 year-old children
- Listening to Christian music while clearing snow
- Sitting outside, being present with God in nature
- Spending time with animals on the family farm
- Church at The River every Sunday
- Our small group!

How did listening to the CD make us feel?
- We need to see God as "Daddy"
- Understanding that He has all of our days planned for us
- Anger for a realization of living in the past and missing out on the present
- A "no excuses" attitude ~ moving toward obeying God
- Knowing that He accepts us as we are
- God will work in our lives in His time, not our time
- If God took the time to make us all perfectly, how dare we not love ourselves!

We are blessed that this group of people that God has put together has quickly bonded, and that we are able to be honest and transparent with each other.  We are thankful for each person in the group. It is wonderful how God is using each of us to help others and be beacons of His light to the world around us.

Kingdom Come ~ Week 3

~ Obey ~

Isn't that a loaded word?  It seems to have such a negative association with it.  But here is what is great about the word when we use it in reference to being a follower of Christ...it gives us freedom!  Hard to believe, isn't it?  People will fail us.  Disappointment will come from others and their decisions.  Wrong will happen, either intentional or unintentional.  These are the characteristics of a sinful people living in a sinful world.  So where is the freedom?  The freedom comes from the one we follow.  He who is perfect and only wants the absolute best for us.  When we make a choice to follow him, trusting his character and goodness, we are free from failure, disappointment and wrong.  Our circumstances will not hold us back because we will not be defined by them. We will choose to live in the freedom of obedience to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  Are you expecting freedom from your obedience challenge this week?  How did it go?

When we move, He moves!

We had great love experiment reports this week. We saw God move through writing love letters, secretive snow blowing of a neighbor's driveway.....(and heaven knows that this winter that is an act of love!) There was praying out loud with an injured coworker, cleaning underneath a sink for the good of the office! A letter of apology is being written to a family member who has been out of touch.  An encouragement email was sent and a compliment was made. Money was secretly given to a person in need via the store clerk...and more. We heard how God moved, especially when our group members moved beyond what was comfortable for them. We know through our weakness He gives us the strength to act. When the group concluded, we learned that one of our group members had just received a national servant leader award at her company's convention. She sets a tone, with her family and team of employees, that exudes humility and compassion. Her franchise over the years, has raised and given away tens of thousands of dollars to local causes. It is amazing to think how God will use that love. We were all blown away.  The lesson learned is simple. It's through us, that God's kingdom comes to earth, whether we do something big or small to serve others. When we do that, Gods love is experienced. We can receive His love, but if we hold onto it and don't give it away, it gets stuck with us. We must act and maybe step out of our comfort zone. For when we do God shows up, His love is shared, and He gets the glory!

Kingdom Come Week 2

~ Receive ~

Do you believe that your Father in heaven would do anything for you just because he is your Dad?  It seems hard to believe, doesn't it?  When we think about the fact that he loved us even before we were created, knew we would sin and also knew that he would send his only Son to die on our behalf, I believe his actions emanate the word "anything for you, just because he is your Dad." The question then becomes, are you willing to receive this?  What is holding you back?  

Kingdom Come Week 1

~Love ~ 

What does heaven on earth look like?  Are you seeing things in your mind that represent how we would be living?  If you were to make a list of the things that would be in place if we lived in "heaven" on earth, how many of them would you be in control of?  Are you in control of the weather? crime? economy? other people's poor behavior?  No, you are not, but now think about the things you are in control of.  Are you in charge of doing something good for someone else?  Can you have impact in the lives of the people around you that have been affected by weather? crime? economy? other people's poor behavior? Of course you can!  Bringing heaven on earth to the world we live in starts within, which means each one of us is empowered to bring heaven here to a lost and hurting world.  Are you ready?