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Life in the kingdom is made of God’s chosen people who will keep God’s covenant and who have His words or laws written on their hearts (Jeremiah 31:33) and whom He has forgiven of their sins (Jeremiah 31:34; Ezekiel 36:25), by the blood of Jesus (Matthew 26:28). Everyone who believes in Christ is His chosen people, regardless of their nationality at birth, but by their new birth, they form a nation that is new (Exodus 19:5-6; Mark 12:17; Isaiah 43:10, 20 -21). A royal priesthood, God’s special possession a holy nation set apart for service to Him called out of the Kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light (1 Peter 2:9).

Life in the Kingdom is one of covenant power and the fullness of the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:46). One of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). A people united in Christ and to each other from every nation in the Church as one body and one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all (Ephesians 4:4-6). Standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel (Philippians 1:27).

Life in the Kingdom is trusting and obeying God amid life’s chaos, and as the faithful ones, supporting and encouraging one another in a spirit of tenderness and humility (Romans 12:15).  1 Thessalonians 5: 14-22 teaches that as brothers and sisters, we are to admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, and be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.

Life in the Kingdom is rejoicing always, praying without ceasing, and giving thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit by causing Him to sorrow from one’s sin or doing something against God’s word. Do not despise prophecies but test everything, holding fast to what is good and abstaining from every form of evil. And walk in a worthy manner in humility, gentleness, and patience bearing with one another in love and maintaining the unity of the Spirit bond in the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:1-3).  Life in the Kingdom is being kind, forgiving, and tenderhearted (Ephesians 4:32), imitating God’s holiness and demonstrating self-sacrificial love (Ephesians 5:1-2). Love is the royal law in the kingdom of God (James 2:8).

Cleansed by the purifying fire of the Spirit

Overcoming obstacles by His power

Never to look back, and follow Jesus

Questions answered through prayer

Unable to be diverted from His truth

Evil and sin has no power over you

Raised and loved by the Heavenly Father

Obedient to His will and steadfast in His plans

Reigning as His sons and daughters

Spiritually endowed with faith, love, and grace

                    Conquerors

Reading: Revelation 3:5

The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before His angels.

Falling leaves floating in the wind capture my soul as my Spirit sings

Highlighting my multi-colored life of brown and gold

All brought to me through His everlasting love

Magnified by His string of instruments and their bellowing sounds

The spiritual richness and sweetness of His words cause my heart to pound

Falling leaves in the wind capture my soul as my Spirit sings

Highlighting my multi-colored life of brown and gold

All brought to me through His everlasting love

Lifting me higher and higher in eloquence like a dove  

His gentle fingers strumming the guitar strings, so appealing to my soul

Falling leaves continue to fall on me in the richness of brown and gold

Floating in the wind capturing my soul with His mellow touch of love

As we waltz through the leaves, our shared life is yet to be told

Falling leaves floating in the wind capture my soul as my Spirit sings

Photo by Douglas Sellers

Unity as one in the Father and Son

Never forget brothers and sisters

In Jesus’ prayer, His desire is we be one

The ones sent out in the world

Yet not of the world sharing His joy and love

Reading: John 17:21

“That they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.“

Emotional awareness demonstrating a deep concern for others

Making sense by listening attentively for understanding

Purposely seeking to relive what is happening inside of them

Actively responding with insight and encouraging words

Thoughtful reflection on “what if this was me?”

Heavenly prayer looking to the divine Father of all compassion and comfort

Yielding to Jesus and His Spirit for comfort, strength, and loving guidance

Reading: 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Praise be to God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

God declares, “ I the LORD speak the truth; I declare what is right (Isaiah 45:19). And there is no other God like me, a righteous God, a savior, there is none besides me (Isaiah 45:21). Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. By myself, I have sworn, from my mouth has gone out in righteousness a word that shall not return: To me, every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance (Isaiah 45:22-23).” As spoken in the scriptures “This is my beloved Son; listen to him (Mark 9:7).”

Jesus proclaimed “ The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel and build your house on the Rock. Everyone who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand ( ,26). If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him; Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me John 14:22-24).”

A self-reflection of 1 Kings 8:54-61

 And Solomon stood, after offering a prayer and plea to God, and blessed all the assembly of Israel with a loud voice, saying,  “Blessed be the Lord who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised. Reflecting on God’s word, He promised Jesus to this lost world, who said,” Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls (Matthew 11:29). Are you with me? Continuing with Solomon’s blessing, Solomon continued to say “Not one word has failed of all God’s good promise, which He spoke by Moses His servant,” (I am adding) and through Jesus, His Son our Lord and Savior. In Solomon’s blessing, he asked, “That God be with them, as He was with their fathers. May He not leave them or forsake them.”  Reflecting back in scripture, Moses gave Joshua encouraging words that God will be before him and He would never forsake him, and He would be with him everywhere he would go (Deuteronomy 31:8). Now looking to Jesus, Emmanuel (God with us) will be with us until the end of time (Matthew 28:20), keeping this reflective thought, Jesus, by having the Father give us His gift of the Holy Spirit, who now indwells in all believers, and is God’s presence within us will never leave or forsake us and be everywhere we go (Psalm 139:7-8).  Are you still with me? And now, the Holy Spirit helps believers do what Solomon asked, “That God may incline their hearts to Him, to walk in all His ways and to keep His commandments, statutes, and rules, which He commanded our fathers.”  This caused me to reflect on what God had spoken to Ezekiel, “I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God (Ezekiel 11:19-20).

I am almost finished, please bear with me, Solomon then said, ^“Let these words of mine, with which I have pleaded before the Lord, be near to the Lord our God day and night, and may He maintain the cause of His servant and the cause of His people Israel, as each day requires,that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God; there is no other.”  Reflecting on that statement, I will look to Jesus again, who said, “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” Are you getting this?  

Now let me get back to Solomon, who instructed the people to ^“Let your heart, therefore, be wholly true to the Lord our God, walking in His statutes and keeping His commandments, as at this day.” These words are for all believers today, tomorrow, and forever. And remember that the Holy Spirit, the helper, will help believers to fulfill what Solomon and God, Himself, instructed through His spoken word to live a purposeful blessed life that pleases God.

Blessings and love from the Father.

Extra reading: 1 Kings 8:54- 61 and reflect on God’s Word and read God’s response to Solomon’s plea and prayer in 1 Kings 9.

Destined to follow Jesus in His ways and teachings

Imitating and demonstrating Jesus’ likeness and glory

Sacrificing their lives for the sake of others

Crucifying the self-daily focusing on what ought to be

Identified as followers who continue His Kingdom mission

Professing what He reveals and speaks

Leading willing hearts and minds to follow the King

Equipped and motivated by His Spirit

Sharing God’s redeeming and reconciling grace

Reading: Matthew 10:7-8

And proclaim as you go, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.

 Go to sleep, my child of love

 Close your eyes and rest

 I am sure you have done your best

 Close your eyes sleep in peace

 When morning comes, we will take another walk

 Under the sun, even if the skies are gray

 We will walk together with the Son as we pray

 Go to sleep, and restful peace shall bring you closer to me

For the journey is long, I must keep you strong

Now go to sleep, my child of love, sleep in peace

• The secrets of our hearts (Psalm 44:21)
• Watches over our coming and going (Psalm 121:8)
• He is our defense (Psalm 48)
• He is judge “I am God, your God (Psalm 50:7)
• He is our Deliverer (Psalm 50:14-15; Proverbs 20:22)
• He sustains us (Psalm 55:22)
• He knows our sitting and rising (Psalm 139:2)
• The words that we will speak (139:4)
• Keeps us in His care (Psalm 139:5)
• He lays His gentle hand upon us (Genesis 48:14,17) and provides assurance.
• He will provide (Genesis 22:14)
• Gives us all things (1 Chronicle 29:14)
• Most of all, He loves us all (John 3:16)

God knows and does it all, He is mankind’s all in all.