Kingdom thoughts

I've been studying, thinking and praying lately about Kingdom living as opposed to living so into this earthly realm we currently find ourselves occupying. It's not always easy. After all, I will daily find myself hungry, dirty, tired, and on occasion short-tempered, cranky, sad or lonely - among many other things. Some of you are probably saying, "what is she talking about?" Others of you are saying, "oh yeah, here we go."

I have a whole lot to learn about Kingdom living and acting and seeing and hearing. For years I have prayed corporately "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." I've prayed it in many places with many different people. Sometimes I think I know what I'm saying. Other times I pray it by rote - because everyone else is, because it's tradition, or because I'm invited to "join me in the Lord's Prayer". Do we have any idea what we're saying? much less praying? I'm beginning to get some insight and I love it but it carries with it a huge responsibility.

I believe we carry the kingdom of heaven within us, after all, Jesus is the King of Kings and he lives in me, right? Doesn't kingdom mean king's domain? Aren't I, as a believer, with Jesus living in my heart, the King's domain? I heard a teacher say the other day that we as Christ-followers are each kingdom embassies. We are walking, talking embassies of the kingdom of heaven. When we are approached by anyone that person is approaching the King's territory, entering His boundaries and engaging the King's rules, commands, authority; not to mention His love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, longsuffering, mercy and grace. Does that put all this - everything - in a whole new light for you?? It has for me.

Imagine you're in a foreign country and things turn hostile. As a citizen of the United States, or England or Switzerland or anywhere other than that country you are most likely going to turn to your embassy for protection and security. I believe I would. When you arrive there it is as if you've stepped on your own country's soil. Their laws and rules apply. Their authority usurps the authority of the country you're visiting. You're still in the foreign land but you suddenly feel safe. You are welcomed with open arms. You are brought inside and served.

Isn't that what we should be about as Christ followers? Believe me we're in hostile territory. If we're loving as Jesus loves, people should be drawn to us. They should be coming to us searching for asylum in the One who resonates love and light and protection. When they come knocking we are to be about welcoming and lavishly loving and serving them. Personally I believe we have been given authority over this evil domain through Christ as His ambassadors. I'm finding that one way to do this is for my first reaction in any situation to be to pray. Stop everything and engage the Father. Insert story.

Last weekend Geof and I were in St. Louis. We were running late from the baseball game to the hotel to grab stuff and be on our way out to his sister's in the suburbs. Our room was on the 9th floor. As we approached our door Geof realized he had left the room key in the car. We've never had this happen before, it's always in his or my pocket. We look at each other in amazement and he very kindly tells me to wait right there as he runs back down to get it from the car. I was standing in the empty hallway when a door opened across the hall and an older man with a coffee cup hollered back in the room that he would be right back - he was just going for some coffee. The woman inside yelled something at him and he very crossly yelled back. He slammed the door and as he walked by me he looked me directly in the eye and said, "I could kill that b----" and he stomped on down the hall to the elevator. I immediately began to pray for them. I prayed that God's love would envelop them - that He would grip their hearts with a love that was beyond their understanding. I began to envision and ask for Him to allow them to ask forgiveness of each other upon his return and renew the love they had once felt for each other. I asked God to blow them away with His love. Geof returned in a few minutes and began wondering what that was all about, leaving the key downstairs. He thought it was very odd. I assured him I knew exactly what was going on. I told him about the couple and that I had been given the opportunity to pray for them. If we'd had the key I would have never been in the hallway when the incident took place. Geof was amazed. He agreed that was probably exactly what was going on here. (that's what I love most about this guy - his ability to see.)

I'd like to tell you that I saw them later and they looked very much in love, but I didn't. I never saw him again. And that's not important. What is important is that I had been given an assignment to touch the lives of these people through prayer. I completely believe that my obedience opened up the heavens and that God poured out His love on this couple. What they did with that outpouring is their choice. I pray they received the gift. And really I think that's the whole reason I was in St. Louis last weekend despite the fact that I had a really great time. I was on a kingdom assignment.