Dear KKIM/KARS/SHINE Family,
May God be with you and yours this day and all days…….may you seek a HIGHER relationship today, yes today, with Jesus!
I so love to be with you in the morning.The Lord has been stirring my heart as early as 3am these days as to what he wants me to share with you.
Kyle Martin 5:30am and 4pm weekdays with his 26 min program and 7:35am weekdays with his devotional on KKIM, put me onto a book by Richard Foster, “Celebration of Discipline” Kyle quotes from it from time to time. It has helped me grow in my relationship with Jesus Christ.
I remember months ago sharing a bit from the book and the huge response we got from that posting. I recommend the book to you!
This morning let me share a bit more from Foster…….This could change your life……..
Take this and pray over it…..Seek His Kingdom first!
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness of his kingdom, and all these things shall be yours as well” Matt 6:25-33
The central point for the Discipline of simplicity is to seek the kingdom of God and the righteousness of his kingdom first and then everything necessary will come in its proper order. AMEN! PTL
It is impossible to overestimate the importance of Jesus insight at this point. Everything hinges upon maintaining the “first” thing first. Nothing must come before the kingdom of God, including desire for a simple life-style.
Simplicity itself becomes idolatry when it takes precedence over seeking the kingdom. In a particularly penetrating comment on this passage of Scripture, Soren Kiekegaard considers what a sort of effort could be made to pursue the kingdom of God.
Should a person get a suitable job in order to exert a virtuous influence? His answer: NO, we must seek God’s kingdom.
Then should we give away all our money to feed the poor?
Again the answer: NO, we must first seek God’s kingdom.
Well, then perhaps we are to go out and preach this truth to the world that people are to seek first God’s kingdom?
Once again the answer is a resounding: NO
We are first to seek the kingdom of God.
Kieregaard concludes, “Then in a certain sense it is nothing I shall do. Yes, certainly, in a certain sense it is nothing, become nothing before God, learn to keep silent; in this silence is the beginning, which is, first to seek God’s Kingdom.
Focus upon the kingdom produces the inward reality, and without the inward reality we will degenerate into legalistic trivia.
Nothing else can be central.
The desire to get out of the rat race cannot be central, the concern for ecology cannot be central, the redistribution of the world’s wealth cannot be central.
Seeking FIRST God’s kingdom is the only thing that can be central in the Spiritual Discipline of simplicity.
The person who does not seek the kingdom first does not seek at all. (PROFOUND! AMEN!)
Worthy as all concerns may be, the moment they become the focus of our efforts they become idolatry.
To center on them will inevitably draw us into declaring that our particular activity is Christian simplicity. And, in fact, when the kingdom of God is genuinely placed first all things will be given their proper attention.
As Jesus made clear freedom from anxiety is one of the inward evidences of seeking first the kingdom of God.
The inward reality of simplicity involves a life of joyful unconcern for possessions.
Neither the greedy or the miserly know this liberty.
It has nothing to do with abundance of possessions or their lack.
It is an inward spirit of trust.
Great words this morning from Foster……..Are we all putting the Kingdom of God first? That may seem like a silly question to some, but really are we?
We may think we are, but are we?
Ya Know, how did Jesus live while he was here on earth?
How did Paul live? The Disciples? I don’t think they had many possessions at all!
I don’t think Jesus brought a u-haul to the Cross.
When I think of the life of Jesus, He sought the Kingdom of God first………
Paul also……..
What do we seek first of all in the morning?
When we are in the Will of God we will be protected and guided..when we are out of the Will of God we will wither…….That is a promise of our Lord.
Are you in the Will of God? Do you seek the Kingdom of God first and foremost?
Great questions to ask ourselves, this day and everyday.
You can trace most if not all of our problems in life on how we are aligning ourselves with God.
Another check for ourselves each day is, are we producing fruit in our life?
Or are you producing bruised apples?
Seeking the Kingdom of God first each day is the way………
And I don’t know if we always do that.
Let us keep praying for containment of the wildfires in New Mexico, Arizona and Colorado and for the safety of the firefighters.
Let us be in constant prayer.
Governor Martinez said she flew over the area and was struck by how far the fire had expanded. “It’s devastating to see that much land burned but you can see where it has turned away from the community of Raton. You see where they may be some structures at risk but you also know that there are men and women firefighters on the ground,” Martinez explained. Fire officials have ordered more evacuations as a wildfire continues to rage along the New Mexico-Colorado border.
For more go to www.newmexiconewsandviews.com
Knythia from the Radio Ranch just returned from vacation and camped by Lake Powell, a huge beautiful lake, she said the lake is gaining 2 feet of water each day because of the huge snow melt in Utah and some of the ski resorts are still open!!!
We need to truck some of that snow into New Mexico!
PRAISE NOTE: Chip Lusko is doing well after heart surgery and will be resting in Florida for a bit before returning to New Mexico.
I hope to see many of you this Sunday, Lord Willing, at the Valley View Christian Church’s Car show! It all starts at 9am. Look for the KKIM Van and Shine Truck!
valley View Christian Church is in Edgewood…..so come on out for Father’s Day and have Free a hotdog and drink as you enjoy one of the best car/truck show’s in New Mexico. FREE! FREE! No charge for anything!!!
In the Love of Christ, Dewey Sharon and Family
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