The Kingdom of the Son, and more peace.

A lot I've been thinking about lately but for some reason I feel like continuing more with the subject of PEACE.
I look forward to what you all have to say about it, too, so feel free to keep quoting what you like, stories, articles, bible verses and the like.

Phillipians 4:6,7
Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.


Jesus said, "Ask, that your joy may be full".
Don't strive/agonize over your requests, just LET them be known, your Father is always listening...enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise...love on Him...LET your troubles go, and be at peace.

Ephesians 1:2
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 2:14-17
But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of the Messiah.
For He is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In His flesh, He did away with the law of the commandments in regulations, so that He might create in Himself one new man from the two, resulting in peace.

He did this so that He might reconcile both to God in one body through the cross and put the hostility to death by it. When Christ came, He proclaimed the good news of peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.

Colossians 1:20...and through Him to reconcile everything to Himself by making peace through the blood of His cross-whether things on earth or things in heaven.

Colossians 1:13
He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Peace of Mind

Last time we discussed the JOY in the Spirit that we have in the kingdom of God. Now let's see a little how the kingdom of God is about PEACE...and as before, there will be other thoughts, verses and spiritual insights that will come to your mind so feel free to share those things with us.
We can all be blessed by something the Holy Spirit may reveal to you.

Romans 14:17
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, PEACE and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Isaiah 26:3,4
You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on (dependent on) You, because he trusts in You.
Trust in the Lord forever, because in Yah, the Lord, is an everlasting rock!

Here it says He will, not might, but will keep you...so lean on Him and hope confidently.

Remember Jesus' words to you..."MY PEACE I leave with you"
So let not your heart be troubled, and put his yoke of peace and serenity upon yourself.

Some of you may remember the part of an old song that goes..."I've got peace like a river , I've got peace like a river, I've got peace like a river in my soul"
...maybe some here might connect better with the part of the Talking Heads tune that sings, "take me to the river...dip me in the water" (raise your hand if you remember that).

What I'm saying is don't be afraid to be carried away in the current of this water...don't be afraid to let go of the worry and concern, and let God take you where He wants to take you in His river, for it is a river of peace, a river of love.

His peace, tranquility, and serenity are flowing through you, and regardless of the turmoil around you today, let the secret place of the Most High be the eye of the storm for you as you walk in the peace that passes understanding.*

Let the peace of God's word wash away your worries! Amen.
-------
Also...be a peacemaker yourself, in the heart of the body, in the heart of the earth.

What can you do today to bring peace and harmony to a personal relationship?
What about your living environment?... (that's definitely one I can raise my hand on)

Be sure to take some quiet time for yourself. Cast all your care upon the Lord and His Spirit, and labor to enter into His rest. Settle down and trust God with your life. Today you might need to just chill.*

*-(denotes where some was adapted from A Year In The Now by Bishop Jim Swilley)

I pray that some of these words connected with you and blessed you today.
I did write a comment about joy on yesterdays blog (probably the 8th comment) that I'd like you to read when you get the chance...something taken out of Isaiah.

Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Drinking Water With Joy

This morning I believe the Lord really wanted me to focus on JOY, and the main things that have leapt out to me are the following, including a paragraph from the last post;

Today I will draw water out of the wells of salvation with joy. A broken spirit dries the bones, so I will pursue every outlet of JOY that I can, giving no place to depression or sadness by my words, thoughts or actions. The joy of the Lord is my strength, and I make a decision to walk in Kingdom joy all day today, regardless of circumstances!

...He has become my salvation."...you will joyfully draw water from the springs of salvation...
Isaiah 12:2,3

I am reminded of the woman at the well, who left her water jar, and embraced the possibility of the Messiah, and living water. Her jar(bucket) was not the right jar for drawing up living water. It wouldn't satisfy.

We now have that jar(bucket) within us called JOY that the Holy Spirit gives to us to draw and drink the living water from Him, the springs of salvation.

...they will not hunger or thirst...for their COMPASSIONATE ONE will guide them, and lead them to springs of water. Isaiah 49:10

...Anyone who hears should say, "Come!" And the one who is thirsty should come. Whoever desires should take the living water as a gift. Revelation 22:17

May righteousness, JOY, and peace in the Holy Ghost be your drink today! Amen!

LIVING WATER

I wanted to include on here today a devotional I read yesterday. I guess because the place I was at, or whatever I was going through, tears were welling up in my eyes at almost every paragraph. I pray that these words about the Holy Spirit and you will also touch and strengthen you...and that you will also see the kingdom within them.

-------
"Jesus answered, ‘If you knew the generosity of God and who I am, you would be asking me for a drink, and I would give you fresh, living water.'" (John 4:10 – The Message)

"Jesus said, ‘Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again and again. Anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst – not ever. The water I give will be an artesian spring within, gushing fountains of endless life." (John 4:14 – The Message)


Today I will live in the now! I will live in the now because I know that I have received living water – a river of life springing up from the root of Christ in me, and flowing out of my inner man, watering the desert of doubt, and causing it to bloom like a rose. Eternal life is my reality, and it causes me to be able to face all of the works of the spirit of death, and rebuke them with no fear or intimidation.

Today I will draw water out of the wells of salvation with joy. A broken spirit dries the bones, so I will pursue every outlet of joy that I can, giving no place to depression or sadness by my words, thoughts or actions. The joy of the Lord is my strength, and I make a decision to walk in Kingdom joy all day today, regardless of circumstances!

Today I will receive resuscitation, and be revived, refreshed and renewed by the rejuvenating properties and restorative realities of the rain and latter rain together! Every dry bone in the valley of my broken dreams will live again as the rain comes down from heaven and waters them, and does not return void or empty.

Today I will embrace the work of the Holy Spirit, so that out of my belly will flow living rivers of prayer and praise. I am in the river of God today – the supernatural place of life and healing provided by the Creator of every living thing – and miracles are flowing freely for me as the river runs rampant!


Today I will rejoice that God satisfies my mouth with good things, so that my youth is renewed like the eagle's. I am like a well-watered garden – a thriving, green olive tree in the house of God!

Today I will minister the good news – the washing of water by the word – to those who are discouraged and spiritually dried out from their bleak, arid and fruitless existence – those dwelling in a weary land where there is no water.

Today I will go with the flow! The Captain of my salvation is leading me today by signs and wonders – many infallible proofs – by confirmation to His word, and the reliability of His still, small voice. I will follow Him anywhere today, and today I will live in the now!

Father, let Your living water flow out of me today. In Jesus’ name, amen.
(from A Year In The Now by Bishop Jim Swilley)
-------
I hope you enjoyed that, feel free to comment on it, and let me know your thoughts.
I was also thinking the following this morning;

Let the river run...let Your Living Water fill us through and through!
Thoughts are; being baptized in fire (river of the Holy Spirit-dare I say "lake of fire?"), oh come on, just a thought-let's not get religious.
What about the Holy Spirit dove now in the FORM OF WATER. When Jesus was baptized it was a bodily form, lighting on his head...now the Spirit is in the FORM of Water...and as we are baptized He lights upon the head of our spirit as the dove of Living Water, in us...and people see the heavens opened!...and God declaring, "this is my beloved son/daughter in whom I am well pleased."

Your thoughts?

Another thought; fire and water, both the Holy Spirit. What an awesome place in us for that existence.
Thoughts of a blacksmith come to mind; the tool being worked is put in the fire, molded into the image the creator wants, then set (cooled off with water).
This is happening in all of us. How often do we feel "in the fire"...hammered, smacked and bent...but then the water comforts and cools us off. What a wonderful image we are being formed into!

I love you all, thanks for stopping by. God bless you with a great and productive day. You are forgiven, and you are loved! Don't forget to comment when you can., your words can bless others here, too.

Trust Your Father

Yesterday I was reading Matthew 6 and the main things that spoke to me were "don't worry", and "don't be afraid." Jesus mentioned the word worry or not to do it at least 6 times within just 10 verses!..must be pretty important then to focus on what the opposite of that is.
I believe that our Kingdom living will rest in the assurance that "...your Father knows the things you need before you ask Him."-Matt:6:8

Right after this Jesus tells us how to pray (Lord's prayer) and after establishing the fact that he is our Father who is holy, the first thing he says is "Your Kingdom come", and interesting enough the final thing he says is also about The Kingdom, -..."Yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory..."

I want Christ's words to speak for themselves now so here's Matthew 6:25-34(NIV);
Do Not Worry

25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?
26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.
29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'
32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
___
So let us stop imposing on ourselves unnecessary hardship, stress, and frustration, if everything we need is first of all found in cultivating and maintaining a healthy relationship with His Kingdom and with Himself.

For a little chuckle and insight, I copied here some definitions of "worry" from a thesaurus;
Noun
1.
worry - something or someone that causes anxiety; a source of unhappiness; "New York traffic is a constant concern"; "it's a major worry"
headache, vexation, concern
negative stimulus - a stimulus with undesirable consequences
bugaboo - a source of concern; "the old bugaboo of inflation still bothers them"
burden, encumbrance, onus, incumbrance, load - an onerous or difficult concern; "the burden of responsibility"; "that's a load off my mind"
business - a rightful concern or responsibility; "it's none of your business"; "mind your own business"
2.
worry - a strong feeling of anxiety; "his worry over the prospect of being fired"; "it is not work but worry that kills"; "he wanted to die and end his troubles"
trouble
anxiety - a vague unpleasant emotion that is experienced in anticipation of some (usually ill-defined) misfortune
Verb
1.
worry - be worried, concerned, anxious, troubled, or uneasy; "I worry about my job"
vex, worry - disturb the peace of mind of; afflict with mental agitation or distress; "I cannot sleep--my daughter's health is worrying me"
fret - be agitated or irritated; "don't fret over these small details"
fear - be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event; "I fear she might get aggressive"
fret, fuss, niggle - worry unnecessarily or excessively; "don't fuss too much over the grandchildren--they are quite big now"
obsess - be preoccupied with something; "She is obsessing over her weight"
2.
worry - be concerned with; "I worry about my grades"
care
brood, dwell - think moodily or anxiously about something
mind - be concerned with or about something or somebody
3.
worry - disturb the peace of mind of; afflict with mental agitation or distress; "I cannot sleep--my daughter's health is worrying me"
vex
misgive - suggest fear or doubt; "Her heart misgave her that she had acted inexcusably"
cark, disorder, disquiet, perturb, unhinge, distract, trouble - disturb in mind or make uneasy or cause to be worried or alarmed; "She was rather perturbed by the news that her father was seriously ill"
eat on, eat - worry or cause anxiety in a persistent way; "What's eating you?"
nag - worry persistently; "nagging concerns and doubts"
worry - be worried, concerned, anxious, troubled, or uneasy; "I worry about my job"
reassure, assure - cause to feel sure; give reassurance to; "The airline tried to reassure the customers that the planes were safe"
4.
worry - be on the mind of; "I worry about the second Germanic consonant shift"
concern, interest, occupy
5.
worry - lacerate by biting; "the dog worried his bone"
incise - make an incision into by carving or cutting
6.
worry - touch or rub constantly; "The old man worried his beads"
rub - move over something with pressure; "rub my hands"; "rub oil into her skin"

-------
God bless you all and let's focus on and have confidence in Him as our Father who dearly loves us His children, and who WILL provide all we need.
Don't worry on "not worrying", just seek His Kingdom and His righteousness,...resting and trusting in Him.

Priority #1 - Seek First The Kingdom

Let's compare Maslow's "heirarchy of needs" with God's priority.

1. Water
2. Food
3. Clothes
4. Housing
5. Protection
6. Security
7. Preservation
8. Self-actualization
9. Significance

Most of us would probably agree that we do strive for all of these things. People work every day, many times more than one job just to secure them. Has our basic priority become that of mere survival?

Okay, now the PRIORITY OF GOD;
God's priority seems to be completely opposite to that of man's.
Jesus identifies the Kingdom as being more important than food, water, clothing, shelter, and every other basic human need when he said;

"seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and everything you need for life will be added to you."-Matthew 6:33

Living Bread!

The kingdom of heaven is like...a little yeast that works through the dough until the whole thing is leavened!





Jesus warned the disciples to beware of the yeast of the Pharisees.
Their yeast was old and would only make "dead bread!"
The teaching (yeast) of Jesus is living. His words are living words that grow and rise in you until your whole being is permeated.
Just like bread dough has rising times, so the seeds of Jesus' words have to grow within.
His yeast in us spreads to the other grain through the influence of our words and actions, and so the Kingdom of God expands.






He is our Living Bread!

Kingdom Come

What seems to be constantly coming into my thoughts are the words KINDOM COME.
Father, let your Kingdom come, and your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

*Come and go with me to my Father's house...there are plenty enough robes, rings, shoes and fatted calves to go around-one for every returning prodigal son or daughter. If you have not come, come, and the Father will see you coming from a long distance and will run to meet you, greeting you with a paternal kiss. There is room for everyone in the house.

May the fullness of the godhead enjoy residence in you and I today as we house the very presence of God.

Let your spiritual house maintain an open door policy that allows the King of Glory to come in to the world around you and accept those who come to you for help-just as they are.

As "living stones" building the true church of the living God let us all be creative architects for the Kingdom of God today!

*some of the above paragraphs adapted from "A Year In the Now", bishop Jim Swilley.
------------------------------

And the only time, the only time I ever saw Him run
Was when He ran to me,
Took me in His arms, held my head to His chest
And said "My son's come home again".
Looked in my face, wiped the tears from my eyes
With forgiveness in His voice He said "Son, do you know I still love you?"
It caught me by surprise
when God ran

The day I left Home, I knew I'd broken His heart
I wondered if Things could ever be the same,
Then one night, I remembered His love for me
And down that dusty road, ahead I could see
It's the only time, the only time I ever saw Him run

Was when He ran to me,
Took me in His arms, held my head to His chest
And said "My son's come home again".
Looked in my face, wiped the tears from my eyes
With forgiveness in His voice He said "Son, do you know I still love you?"
It caught me by surprise, He brought me to my knees
When God ran

I saw Him run to me
And then I ran to Him

*lyrics taken from the song "When God Ran" by Benny Hester

Kingdom Priority

A quick post here today, however, I pray that it will bless.

Some of Jesus' first public statements reveal the kingdom priority;

From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near" (Matthew 4:17)

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:3)

If you are spiritually poor, only the Kingdom will satisfy and fulfill your hunger. The kingdom is God's priority and must become ours, too.

The Kingdom is the only source of true joy for the heart of man.

Religion is what man does until he finds the Kingdom.
---------------------------------------------------------------

I don't want to forget to tell many of you "thanks" for all your cheering and encouragements this past weekend when I got baptized...it was awesome...and an awesome day.
Zachary my son(7) was there and we took communion together. Later he said, "when I grow up I want you to baptize me!" I said, "let me talk to Jesus about it, I'm not sure if I need to be a pastor or not", and he said, "you are a pastor...you pray all the time."

Set Sail

Welcome to the launch of Kingdom Quest!...an exciting place to embark on the journey of seeking, finding and living in the Kingdom of God.

Hoist the sails...let the wind blow!

May God give us eyes to see.. ears to hear...and a heart that beats in rhythm with His desire for His kingdom to come and His will to be done ON EARTH, as it is in heaven.

The Kingdom of God should unite humanity. It is a place that goes beyond religion. A place where we are all one royal family under God and His flag. Let His banner yet wave over His land, His dominion of the free.