Part 2: “RECOGNIZING & JOINING GOD’S KINGDOM AMONG US ”

There is no doubt that there are things & situations that we encounter from time to time in our earthly lives that tempt us to just walk on by when we encounter negative situations At those times it may seem easier to just walk by chaos & negative situations because we are so distracted by all the scattered pieces of our own lives. However, our Creator God calls us & empowers us to choose this day whom we will serve regardless of how distracted we may be. He calls us & invites us to step into His Kingdom, to spread His love & to expand His Kingdom on earth. We are called to listen to our Creator & recognize the varied ways He speaks to us, for God is ever present with us whether we actually see Him or not. It is in listening that we will find the ways to reflect His light & thus to contribute to building up His Kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven.

As we move through our days, we encounter broken & conflicting  experiences of suffering as well as days that open doors of opportunity for us to join with our Sovereign Lord’s Kingdom & spread His  light. Each one of us are given opportunities to reach out to others & live as instruments of peace & hope. As we help others grow in faith, healing occurs for them as well as for ourselves for God’s righteous kingdom resides with in & among us all.

Several weeks ago, I was given an opportunity to participate in the building up of God’s Kingdom. At that time, I encountered a couple standing on a bridge who were clearly suffering & openly discussing how much they were doubting their faith. I recognized them by the way they looked & the thing they said or did not say to one another, for I too have felt that way at times: full of doubt, empty, alone & hopeless. I would guess most of us have felt that way at times as well. As I listened to them, I recognized their pain & I heard God’s Holy voice calling me  to step forward & intercede by showing them God’s healing Grace so they too could hear God’s Holy voice. This experience on that day, observing that couple struggling & suffering in those moments, was nothing I had planned to engage with. It was just something that God led me to step into.

I don’t really remember exactly what I said standing there with those folks that day but I do know that as I spoke & as they shared & as I witnessed about the sovereignty of God & the whole healing of His Kingdom within us & around us, I felt the heaviness of my own months of sadness & feelings of hopelessness lifting, slipping away & being replaced by lightness & gratitude as Gods Holy Grace was poured out on them.

We gathered as strangers that day there on the bridge, seeking something, somewhat afraid & lacking hope. As we shared, Light filled our space as God’s voice filled our hearts. The Kingdom of God exists among us, a gift from the Holy spirit. Together the Kingdom of God grew that day as we together, gave thanks to God’s mercy, grace & healing.

We may never see one another again but we all will see God’s Kingdom grow as we chose to listen to God & go forward, continuing to spread His light along our way. As we each move through our days, may we each seek first, the Kingdom of God & His righteousness & all God’s gifts will be added unto you.  

AMEN

~Posted by Rev Kathryn Bindig, MDiv. MS; Pastoral Care Minister with assistance from Rich Muscatello; Chief Innovation & Strategy Officer