Diary Entry 26: The kingdom is here where you are at home

As a homeschool family we have had a time of separation. So from our experience, I  want to encourage you as a family to take that time to really own your spiritual and homeschool journey.

I remember the overwhelming expectations invading my thoughts to get my kids into sports and social clubs. However, I knew that it was not time for those things just yet.

I am thankful for this time, for it has been a time to bond with my kids, and to unchain ourselves from the norms of what to do with our kids. It has drawn me closer to the Lord, and my confidence in my role as a parent and as a child of God.

As a biblical example, looking at Paul’s life, after the Lord met him on the road to Damascus. He went away for 3 years not consulting with anybody. It was him and the Lord. Being with Jesus enabled him to know an authority greater than any  of the apostles had.

Galations 1: 16-17

…I did not immediately consult with anyone [for guidance regarding God’s call and His revelation to me]. Nor did I [even] go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia and stayed awhile, and afterward returned once more to Damascus.

Then three years later I did go up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Cephas (Peter), and I stayed with him fifteen days.

Maybe you are going through a lonely season where you long for fellowship and community.  Only know that he consecrated this season you are in; it is not only going to grow your love for the church, but also your authority in  all you will do.

Your children are also growing roots in an unshakeable security in Christ, not wavered by the  culture of “it’s never enough”; it’s a culture where we are never satisfied through the constant marketing of how we need to keep up with all sorts of activities and  events.  The culture only demands more and more, always trying to better our business; only that our kids and families are collateral damage.

Social and sporting activities are short lived and usually self promoting.  Although we can enjoy these, kids are not to be brought up in the spirit of culture, competition, and self promotion; but in the Spirit of the Word. Only look at the fruit over time with a lot of our athletes. They rise to fall.

Our kids are rushed into all sorts without the firm foundation of God’s character. Rather let the early years instill an authority, where they do not want to fit in, but they rather make hard decisions that do not go with the main stream.

We cannot establish His Kingdom if we are going with the flow. It requires us to not sit at every table. Yes it may be lonely, but we live by faith– not by feelings.

We are strong in the Lord, and we trust God. His Word says that His Kingdom is at hand, right here and now, within us; that means within our home. We do not need to be finding affirmation and belonging there and everywhere.

If we do find ourselves in a more social environment, may it always be for His glory and never to fit in by some sort of social status. Our schools, churches, and social media is already full of it.  We are constantly at someone else’s table, or going from house to house (aka social media page to social media page) looking for the latest gossip or news.

The bible has some awesome wisdom that godly wives should manage their own houses, and stop going from house to house to gossip. The bible says that these people that are meddling in everyone’s business are lost to satan.

We may not be using our legs to go to another house down the street, but we are doing it all at the tips of our fingers  over social media. We are keeping ourselves busy, going there and everywhere, not only to know all the latest gossip, but finding other kingdoms to belong to.

Instead we need to repent, and ask God for mercy and grace to help us to understand that His kingdom is at our own hands. We are not led by fame and fortune of another, but the blessings are right here; we only have to lay our hands on the things we can do right here and now.

For He fills EVERYTHING with His fullness, and this means we have everything; the unlimited power and authority we need to walk in His kingdom each day.

Ephesians 1: 18-23

And [I pray] that the eyes of your heart [the very center and core of your being] may be enlightened [flooded with light by the Holy Spirit], so that you will know and cherish the hope [the divine guarantee, the confident expectation] to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints (God’s people), and [so that you will begin to know] what the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His [active, spiritual] power is in us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of His mighty strength which He produced in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion [whether angelic or human], and [far above] every name that is named [above every title that can be conferred], not only in this age and world but also in the one to come. And He put all things [in every realm] in subjection under Christ’s feet, and appointed Him as [supreme and authoritative] head over all things in the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills and completes all things in all [believers].

Capitalise  on this quiet life to instil godly values and simple satisfaction in Christ. If bored get your hands busy other than hopping from one Facebook page or post to another.  If you need to rest, then be intentional about it and rest completely. If you are feeling anxious about something, pray about ,then leave it keep busy. The dishes need washing, the leaves can be raked, you can use that laptop and  craft cutter you invested in.  Then whatever social impact you may have, may it flow from being His hands at home, rooted in your identity in Christ.