Letters from Lilongwe

Daniel Bashta is one of those artists I love listening to his lyrics and having the Lord speak through so strongly.  Tonight at Grace Midtown we worship through these lyrics while we celebrated some of Miracles, Signs, and Displays of Power from the last few months.  It was an amazing time just praising God for being God.  He is the creator, the caregiver, the giver of life, and protector, restorer, and redeemer.  Throughout the night I knew the Lord was moving and it was so great simply to rest in the powerful presence of my God. My prayer is that I would release my ever present risk averse mindset and just head first with faith that the Lord has a cool pool of water for me to swim and enjoy the Power of the Kingdom at hand.  Also I pray that this song would ravage more than just my heart with the Truths of the reason Jesus is our only everlasting Hope! I speak to barrenness I command life within Come live you desolate Spring up you living well I speak to

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. My week has been a direct representation of seeking first the Kingdom of Paul Shackelford.  Seeking first my summer/fall job opportunities, seeking first my relationships, seeking first my course load, seeking first my time with God, seeking first everything that revolves in this Kingdom of Paul Shackelford!  Most all of the things I have been seeking are good christian things to do.  The issue is that I am seeking myself before I seek my father, my kingdom before his! This is the reason that I am feeling dry, hungry, frustrated, distant from God, and lacking in Faith.  I am and have been living to glorify, advance, promote, and extend this kingdom I am creating on earth.  Why am I doing this, well its very natural, we are called to rule and subdue the earth, therefore I am attempting to carry this original command into my situations and settings.  What drives my actions, my own