Rejoice for the Kingdom of God is thriving.  Do not be fooled by the frail and fickle affairs of the eyes, heart and mind.  Remember the last time your wandering eyes led you astray, leading you eagerly away from God’s blessing and into temptation.  Remember your heart that swore you could not live without this thing or that love or caused you regret through loss of a good friend.  Remember the thought that preceded the incident, for you did not end up in the sticky wicket without first following the bread crumbs of selfish contemplation.  Rejoice in your greatest gift, that you have eternity now and that God Almighty knows you by name.

Our days are often course and abrupt, especially in those moments when we wish they were smooth.  Our plans often dashed upon the rocks, leaving our supplies, memories and cares scattered about the shallows of life.  Sometimes I cannot bear to swim one moment longer as my lungs cry release and my legs refuse to paddle.  But his island, upn which I have become marooned is exactly where God has led me to do the work for which I have been commissioned and designed.  Face it, all have found this world offers limited fulfillment, our families perish, jobs, houses and riches operate in flux and life is just plain short.  The joy of my heart is that Jesus is calling, waiting, praying for me as I am offered the blessing of opportunity.  The opportunity to tell others how to prevail, overcome and become free, in this world and the next.  These days may be rough but my conscience is smooth and my hiding place, safe.  The Kingdom is my secret place where the lengthy desires of an eternal man may find fodder for kindling and fire.

So what if things aren’t going my way.  I doubt I would be more alive having less challenge.  My legs become stronger under the burden of my cross.  Having a road, a splendid, narrow, righteous road, is the reward of my belief.  I have somewhere to go and that attaches me where many are left untethered, wandering about hoping to happen upon a glimmer of personal purpose, lacking hope in ignorance of Jesus.  Wisdom began for me when I shuddered at the marrow of my soul at my imminent judgment at the hand of God.  Fear, brought reverence, leading to humility, providing the fertile ground of my circumcized heart preparing it for wisdom’s growth and spiritual harvest.  Can you dance inside your mind, even if your hands and feet are tied?  Can your heart taste joy even when the lashes of life continue to rain down upon your trunk?  What makes you hallelujah?  If you are saved then dance, sing and be at peace for the Kingdom of God is come.  Christ is risen and alive, seated at the right hand of God, waiting for that precise moment to take back the Earth.  Rejoice in the Lord our God.