What Kingdom Am I Seeking?

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 gain, pride, prominence, security, independence... The list goes on all day but the truth of Jesus is that he liberated me from the power of sin and death to be a light to the nations.

I Paul Shackelford have been fashioned into a warrior and am equipped, called, and sent to expand the Kingdom of Heaven! I lose track of this truth when I get caught inside my own mind, my own thoughts, my own desires. My prayer for this morning is that the Lord would alter my thinking, renew my mind, and reawaken my heart to this truth of a Kingdom life fully dependent on him!

I'd you have any places in your life you want to see the Kingdom breakthrough and the Lord of heaven and earth show up, please tell me or someone so that you can start that journey of prayer until something absolutely crazy happens! When we seek we find, and as we obey all else if added...

Its all Great at the Feet of My King waiting for Battle Orders,
Paul Shackelford

Rise Again - Needtobreathe

I have been reading a book about the arts and Christians role in creating culture. Steve Turner, the author, asserts a major critique that modern Christian art does not speak about real life. The art created does not sound genuine or have any ties to real life that people outside the faith can connect with. While reading the book I listened through this album and I think that this song does a great job of breaking the mold. The members of Needtobreathe are all outspoken followers of Jesus but very little of the art that they produce mentions Jesus or Christianity at all. Instead they craft creative music, written from places of pain and joy. "Rise Again" steps through pain that occurs in life as we see relationships stretched and torn. The bitterness of broken hearts and friendships is then contrasted with the truth that we will get up from this pain and rise again. "I can see us moving on, I can feel that coming on strong", the joy that comes after the

Twenty-Four - Jess Ray

Lately I have been listening to lots of music and podcasts while working and biking to work. I was feeling a need for some new music so I turned to NoiseTrade to check out some new artists. My favorite thus far is Jess Ray because of the honest lyrics, tastefully simple musicality and overall enjoyable listening environment. While on my flight back to Atlanta I was struck by this song at first because of the drums that propel this song behind the walking guitar. If I were to add drums to a track like this it would have been done in a very similar manner. Once I got past the drums I was awe struck by the simple power of these lyrics, take a read below and follow the link to her blog to listen. To me it was not written for an outward expression of hope or encouragement but rather as a inward proclamation to the soul. As the psalmist often choose to sing, this song speaks inward in a call to stand up and be reminded of truth all to often forgotten. As I gear up for the star

You Will Be My Ain True Love - Alison Kraus

This song has so much power, even if you remove the lyrics. I just decided to take in the full potential of the song by turning the stereo all the way up and playing the song a few times. Before even looking for a video of this song I knew it was related to the Civil War and the separation that occurred between loved ones. This song starts out explaining the battle field and how the soldier has survived the terrors of war. As the song continues to build you can tell that the soldier wants to be with his love. They have been separated by this war and now he wants to be back with her. The last few lines portray his death and how he has been reunited with his "True Love". I believe that this song describes his "True Love" as God, our eternal True Love. He has returned to his maker after being killed in Battle and this song paints that picture so well. This song has tons of power in the music behind the lyrics, it adds so much to the meaning of this song!

Letters from Lilongwe

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