#seek first the kingdom

[theinwardlight]

Seek first the Kingdom of God. Everything else must stand aside—personal, family or national interest—yea, life itself. No half-measures will ever succeed in efforts for that Kingdom which aims at turning the world upside down.

Max Reich, "The Abolition of War" in The Friend, 1915

[dwuerch-blog]

The Devil's Workshop

I don’t like giving the enemy any headlines. But I sensed I needed to blatantly warn my readers to “KEEP OUT” of the devil’s workshop! Proverbs 16:27 says: “Idle hands are the devil’s workshop; idle lips are his mouthpiece.” I read those words and had to perform open heart surgery on myself; rather, look in and outside to see if I am being idle. I think I passed the test since I write these…

[spiritofpassionfruit]

A–Aventio TGCF idea?? Wherein Civil God Veritas Ratio meets the infamous Ghost King Aventurine during his first mission cuz cuz like— The "live for me" paralels?!? The one who has all the luck partner as well?!? The villain who was actually not the Villain this whole time!?!? The loving humanity a little too much it causes their downfall !?!?!?

Rant AU in the tags proceed with caution

[wiirocku]

Matthew 6:33 (KJV) - But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

[rawliverandgoronspice]

I've been thinking about the way we tend to attribute qualities to how Hyrule should "feel like" to feel authentically like itself (I often hear child-like, full of wonder, mysterious, playful but also mystical in that vague "we sort of know when we see it" sort of vibes), especially backed against common interpretations of the setting commonly heralded as "wrong" (mostly thinking about the "edgy" thing, but also when it's too childish, or when it's too dense with lore, etc), and that led me to think that Hyrule (and consorts, Lorule/Labrynna/Termina/etc), in all its known shiftiness, kind of feels like the materialization of a pathetic fallacy to me (without the negative connotation that comes with fallacy).

As in: Hyrule feels that way because Link feels that way about Hyrule. But when Link needs to feel something else, Hyrule becomes Termina. Or a Link that doesn't care about Hyrule, and that's a plot point, demands a setting like The Great Sea instead. A more mature Link that already has a community built around him will fare better in the Twilight Princess' Hyrule than he would in ALTTP's.

I feel like Hyrule, in narrative faming (and honestly there's a point to be made that it reflects the current values of the setting itself and it could be fun to consider this literally even), will always be the Hyrule of the eyes of its beholder. I'm not sure every character would even experience the very same Hyrule in the same way; but because Hyrule is built for Link, in many ways, we will very often (though not always!) see that evergreen kingdom that's always vague enough to be enticing, but precise enough to be worth the adventures.

[lettersfromgod]

📖 Source: https://www.thevolumesoftruth.com/Words_To_Live_By:_Part_Two#Acquiesce

▶️ Video/Playlist: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QRb5-2uh9MA&list=PLE8FlkxQPQkPHgZ2CISXAJx3vpxyJ9MCr&index=40

[fluffypotatey]

Since I very sincerely doubt Uther managed to kill ALL the Dragonlords (they're knights, not the KGB, and it was a lot easier to disappear back then) imagine them returning to Albion from Rome or whatever to find Cousin Balinor's only son is ruling Camelot and the Druids, is best friends with an immortal knight and one dude that's been raised from the fucking dead, is bonded to THEE oldest dragon they've ever heard of (and who is also nuttier than squirrel stew) and a semi-feral hatchling that barely listens to four (4) people max and hisses/bites/claws at the rest, and oh yeah, is married to a fucking Pendragon.

Family dinners must be a hoot and a half.

oh to be a fly on the wall when they finally make an audience in Camelot. oh to see Merlin's face morph from apprehension to wonder to exhaustion to horror because they're telling Arthur everything they know.

[acourtofquestions]

Golden flame danced between her fingers.

Elide recoiled, and the fire vanished as quickly as it had appeared.

"My name is Essar," the female said softly. "I am a friend--of your friends, I believe."

Elide said nothing.

"Cairn is a monster," Essar said, taking a step closer. "Stay far from him."

"I need to find him."

"You played the part of his mistreated lover well enough. You have to know something about him. What he does."

"If you know where he is, please tell me." She wasn't above begging.

Essar ran an eye over Elide. Then she said, "He was in this city until yesterday. Then he went out to the eastern camp." She pointed with a thumb over a shoulder. "He's there now."

"How do you know?"

"Because he's not terrorizing the patrons of every fine establishment in this town, glutting himself on the coin Maeve gave him when he took the blood oath."

Elide blinked. She had hoped some of the Fae might be opposed to Maeve, especially after the battle in Eyllwe, but to find such outright distaste...

Essar then added, "And because my sister--the soldier you spoke with--told me. She saw him in the camp this morning, smirking like a cat."

"Why should I believe you?"

"Because you are wearing Lorcan's shirt, and Rowan Whitethorn's cloak. If you do not believe me, inform them who told you and they will." Elide cocked her head to the side.

Essar said softly, "Lorcan and I were involved for a time."

They were in the midst of war, and had traveled for thousands of miles to find their queen, and yet the tightness that coiled in Elide's gut at those words somehow found space. Lorcan's lover. This delicate beauty with a bedroom voice had been Lorcan's lover.

"I'll be missed if I'm gone for too long, but tell them who I am. Tell them that I told you. If it's Cairn they seek, that is where he shall be. His precise location, I don't know." Essar backed away a step. "Don't go asking after Cairn at other taverns. He isn't well regarded, even amongst the soldiers. And those who do follow him... You do not wish to attract their interest."

Essar made to turn away, but Elide blurted,

"Where did Maeve go?"

Essar looked over her shoulder. Studied her.

The female's eyes widened. "She has Aelin of the Wildfire," Essar breathed.

Elide said nothing, but Essar murmured, "That was... that was the power we felt the other night." Essar swept back toward Elide. Gripped her hands. "Where Maeve went a few days ago, I don't know. She did not announce it, did not take anyone with her. I often serve her, am asked to... It doesn't matter. What matters is Maeve is not here. But I do not know when she will return."

Relief again threatened to send Elide crumpling to the ground. The gods, it seemed, had not abandoned them just yet.

But if Maeve had taken Aelin to the outpost where they'd lied that the Valg prince had been contained...

Elide gripped Essar's hands, finding them warm and dry. "Does your sister know where Cairn resides in the camp?"

For long minutes, then an hour, they had talked.

Essar left and returned with Dresenda, her sister. And in that alley, they had plotted.

Elide finished telling Rowan, Lorcan, and Gavriel what she'd learned. They sat in stunned silence for a long minute.

"Just before dawn," Elide repeated. "Dresenda said the watch on the eastern camp is weakest at dawn. That she'd find a way for the guards to be occupied. It's our only window."

Rowan was staring into the trees, as if he could see the layout of the camp, as if he were plotting his way in, way out.

"She didn't confirm if Aelin was in Cairn's tent, though," Gavriel cautioned. "Maeve is gone--Aelin might be with her, too."

"It's a risk we take," Rowan said. A risk, perhaps, they should have considered.

Elide glanced to Lorcan, who had been silent throughout. Even though it had been his lover who had helped them, perhaps guided by Anneith herself. Or at least had been tipped off by the scent on Elide's clothes.

"You think we can trust her?" Elide asked Lorcan, though she knew the answer.

Lorcan's dark eyes shifted to her. "Yes, though I don't see why she'd bother."

"She's a good female, that's why," Rowan said.

At Elide's lifted brow, he explained, "Essar visited Mistward this spring. She met Aelin." He cut a glare toward Lorcan. "And asked me to tell you that she sends her best."

Elide hadn't seen anything that came close to pining in Essar's face, but gods, she was beautiful. And smart. And kind. And Lorcan had let her go, somehow.

[lightfromthelighthouse]

Good Morning!☀

Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:31-33

We tend to spend a lot of time on food, drink and clothes; getting them, preparing them, worrying about them. Well, you say, we have to eat to stay alive, we have to have clothes to wear! Yes, you do.

The problem is that we put obtaining these before God in our lives. We often eat far more than we need to sustain us. Our closets are full, but we say we do not have anything to wear! We go to the refrigerator, look in, and say there is nothing to eat when, in fact, the refrigerator is full! So we go out and get more!

Having created us, God knows what we need and when we need it. He is more than willing to provide for us. If we put him and his will first in our lives, he will see to it that our needs are met and abundantly so. Not only will he meet our needs, but he will even throw in things we do not really need but just desire!

Stop trying to be your own God. Dare to let God be God in your life and see how much more joyful and peaceful your life becomes!

[writethestory365]

Your personality is necessary for your purpose. Don’t change it.

[zincbot]

man i think the amon plotline is just kind of weak in terms of world building

[in-fearandtrembling]

God of the impossible

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”

I prayed a bit of crazy prayer today.

I feel as though lately that is all i have been doing...praying to God and asking Him about things which in the natural seem impossible.

Really impossible.

And yet, i have this faith and this hope that God is working it out. i have this faith and trust in Him that He is doing something in the background that i cannot see nor fathom. 

Today at church we had a special guest preacher and at the very end of the message he brings up these two bible verses - the only two he read today. 

______________

1 John 5:14-15

Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

and also 

Matthew 6:33

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

_______________

He said something awesome - that seeking God and searching for His will for our lives can only be found through reading the word of God. 

Because the reality is that when you seek God and when you search for Him with your whole heart through His word which He has made available to us, God will begin to reveal to you things that you cannot even begin to imagine. 

God will show you what His will is for your life and then when you begin to pray to Him, you will be praying according to His will. 

It is a mystery and a secret that He has revealed to me lately. 

That seeking Him and praying to Him and immersing myself in His word is the key to unlocking His plans for our lives. and then once you have done that and He has revealed what He wants for your life, you get to partner with God in praying for it and seeing it come to pass.

God really will give us what we want - so long as what we want is according to His will and i am seeing that now. I am seeing that it is possible to align your mind and your heart with what God wants for you. 

There is something i have been praying for and for the past couple of years i wondered and wondered if it was God’s will for my life. 

Upon seeking Him in my quiet place (my car ha) He began to show me that it is His will for my life but notice this - He waited for an appointed time to show me what His will is. 

I kind of felt this impression that what my promise is coming in this season and i began to feel led to pray about it - and by pray about it i mean i felt led to pray and call it into being according to the will of God and in the name of Jesus Christ. 

So...

That impossible thing? 

Well it’s not very impossible then is it?

I am trusting that as i am seeking God and His kingdom and His righteousness, He is showing me some really cool things and one of those things is that i serve the one and only living God who just happens to be a God who loves working with impossible. 

Abraham and Sarah, Moses and the Red Sea, Joseph and prison, David and Goliath and then David and Saul, Esther and the genocide, Gideon and his small army, the wall of Jericho, Noah and the Ark, Jesus and the water into wine, Jesus and conquering death. Jesus and the resurrection. 

These are all impossible things. Things that in the physical and natural realm should not have happened at all. 

And yet, 

The God i serve is a God who just loves the impossible because it reflects the glory back on to Him. 

He loves to show us who He is and He loves to reveal His character to us and i think one way He does it is through all of the impossible things we give up on or give up hoping for. 

I suppose in my seeking God, i have realised that there is no such thing as impossible with Him. I cannot limit Him nor can i place Him in box. 

And so right now - i place this (the thing on my heart) in His hands. 

and I say - God. Take that which is seemingly impossible and mould it into a tangible reality which no eye has seen, nor ear heard nor human mind ever conceived (1 Cor 2:9). I trust that you are good! i trust that you hear my prayers (Jeremiah 29:12). I trust that when i ask for something according to your will and in the name of Jesus Christ, it is already done (John 14:14). And so in this moment Father, i hand over my hopes and dreams and wishes. I pray that in this moment where that thing - that desire, that hope, that promise - seems so distant and impossible, that you be with me. guiding me and showing me your goodness so i may have faith in who YOU are

Dear God. thank you for it is done!

[justajsworkshop]

it reaches a point when you know about the law, and you can’t really go anywhere else to get what you want because you can’t escape yourself. sure, you can try playing the game of the ways of the world, but you’re just going to run into your same assumptions repackaged. at the end of the day, there’s only self. so, you might as well—at the very least—start getting to know them, so you’re empowered to change them, too, yeah?

[wiirocku]

Matthew 6:33 (NIV) - But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

[tomthomasblog]

Seeking God's Kingdom: A Blueprint for Purposeful Living

Finding true purpose can seem impossible in a world filled with distractions and competing priorities. However, the Bible offers a clear and powerful directive in Matthew 6:33 (NKJV): "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." This verse provides a blueprint for living a life of purpose and fulfillment.

But what does it mean to seek God's kingdom first? Simply put, it means making God's will and purposes the top priority in your life. This involves aligning your goals, decisions, and actions with God's plan. It's about living out His values in your daily life, whether at home, work, or community.

When prioritizing God's kingdom, we shift our focus from temporary, worldly concerns to eternal, spiritual matters. This doesn't mean we ignore our earthly responsibilities but approach them with a kingdom perspective. We begin to see our jobs, relationships, and even our challenges through the lens of God's greater purpose.

One of the beautiful promises in this verse is that when we seek God's kingdom first, "all these things shall be added to you." This speaks to God's provision. It doesn't mean we'll get everything we want, but rather that God will provide what we truly need. This promise allows us to let go of worry and anxiety about our daily needs and instead trust in God's care.

Seeking God's kingdom also involves pursuing righteousness. This means striving to live a life that pleases God and making choices that align with His Word and character. It's important to note that this pursuit isn't about achieving perfection but progress and growth in our faith and obedience.

Maintaining this kingdom's focus requires an eternal perspective. We must remember that this life is temporary, but God's kingdom is forever. This perspective helps us make wiser decisions, invest in what truly matters, and find comfort during difficult times.

In conclusion, seeking God's kingdom first is a transformative approach to life. It provides purpose, reduces anxiety, ensures God's provision, and keeps us focused on what truly matters. The challenge is to consistently apply this principle in our daily lives. So, let's commit today to seeking God's kingdom first in all we do. How might your life change if you genuinely put God's kingdom and righteousness first?

The Scripture Collection A compilation of 20 uplifting music videos inspired by a different Bible scripture. First Edition: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rv1XEZzrCvE Second Edition: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucV8yJIEsvc

=======================

Website: https://bwpub.net/

I've created the song "Seek First" in three different genres from Matthew 6:33.

bengali surf rock https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-ZiW8cu9fI city pop symphonic metal https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yX4FaTVKXA8 dark alternative rock https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtNZnlx0bG8

[tom4jc]

August 21, 2024 Verse Of The Day