Literary Connection III |
Vision2Advance
The
Kingdom of God powerfully advancing through
transformed
lives and authentic relationships
Founders - Robert & Joyce Ricciardelli
Robert's Weekly Ponderings
A L M I G H T Y
God’s intended purpose for each of
His human creation was to birth an extension of Himself. A family, with a
family business in mind, called “Almighty and Kids”. Can you imagine? From
eternity past until now, God’s desire was to have a family called to Himself.
So let’s break it down a bit and look at some of Fathers design for all of us
who were created in His image.
• Father the
Creator - Look all around and you will see
a world full of creation by not only the Father, but by His children. A child
of the living God created this computer I am using right now. Regardless of
redeemed or not, we are not talking eternal family, that can only be accessed
by Christ, we are talking about the Lord creating a wonderful family of
creators in mankind, operating in the Fathers image to create…
• Father
the Lover – Agape love in perfection, no
agenda but love, and extending it to each of us. Look at creation, even in
animals, and the nurturing that takes place in the animal kingdom. I remember
when my sons were born, and how I would do anything for them. For my wife, my
partner, the love is birthed in God and we can see glimpses of this love nature
in most every nation and culture.
• Father
the Redeemer – Forgiveness is a quality that
comes from God. When we forgive, we operate in his nature, when we do not
forgive; we operate against Him, His Kingdom family, and His design for
humanity. This is an awesome quality and a necessity for those who want to be
Kingdom of God dwellers with full inheritance rights. Of course Jesus, Big
Brother to all creation, allowed us to have full rights and become full inheritance
citizens in Father’s eternal Kingdom.
• Father
the Giver – Father has given to His creation
from the very beginning and called it good. What a wonderful world filled with
amazing things the Lord has given us. It will be in His children’s nature to be
givers, and once again, when we operate in greed, or horde for self, we oppose
His nature.
These are but a few of Father’s qualities that he predestined us to live by. What religion does sometimes, is allow us to narrowly focus on segments of life rather than the whole of life. Father desires that we be wholly His, every day, every moment, and in every aspect of living. Religion often gets in the way of seeing His eternal truths for all of life.
In other words, how are we being like Father in our work? How are being like Father to our wives? Our children? Our neighbor?
Jesus said the world would recognize the Father’s family by our love for one another. Has our love waxed cold? Have we become so consumed with self that we have no tolerance, and even better than tolerance, real acceptance and love for one another?
We are all wired differently. Can we appreciate our differences, and see strength in our differences as part of the whole of “Almighty and Kids”? I have sought to do this, and failed many times, but continue to try and operate in Father’s love to all people. I ask the Father to continually change me on the inside to be more like Him. I am maturing, so they say? Who are they that say so? Those who knew me when………….
Those who knew you when, can be very objective in seeing who you are becoming.
We must focus on God’s eternal intentions for us in the NOW. Yes there was a fall, but before the fall there was a wonderful Creator creating a family to Himself. Part of the trap of self-centeredness is that we are blinded to God’s perfect plan before, and His perfect plan now and for all eternity: Almighty and Kids bringing heavenly qualities upon the earth, to please the Father. The goal is to be Father-pleasers through the transformational power of His Son to bring the lost of creation back to the loving arms of the Father.
Prayer:
Lord we want to become more like you;
your nature, your ways,
and we want to start today !
Robert Riccardielli's
"What Ifs" For 2009
[reformatted]
Every
Year I share my evolving "What If" list. There are many what ifs in many situations in life. What ifs can be good, especially
reflecting about the way things are and “what
if” we changed them, or aligned ourselves toward them to the glory of God.
We only know in part, so it is always good to check what we think we know,
often.
Please
remember that these are only what ifs,
purposed to shake up paradigms, while firming up Kingdom foundations. Many
"What Ifs” are happening all
around us, but what if they were not just the exception? What if they became realities? My prayers are to continually
stimulate “possibility thoughts” towards ways that bring forth His Kingdom
through our lives.
Here
are my What Ifs as we move into 2009:
What if we
prayed for our leaders rather than complain about who is or is not in office?
What if we
realize that God is on the throne and will have His way regardless of who is in
office and that we are called to pray His will and purposes for the nation?
What if we
gave to Caesar (government) what is Caesar’s, and gave to God what is His,
which is our very lives?
Jesus was consumed with His
Father’s Kingdom being brought to the earth, what if we focused on that rather than our political processes and
gave that burden to Him?
- What if we were using what we
do have, and quit wasting time worrying about what we don’t have?
·
What if we did not fear any
longer: no fear of life or death, because we are in His hands?
·
What if we heard the words
“Stop it, just stop it” and began to truly stop the negative thought patterns?
Stop it, just Stop it, thinking that way, in Jesus name!
·
What if we could really
understand and activate true repentance in every area of our lives, instead of
just feeling sorry for our patterns of sin?
·
What if we could forgive every
wrong ever committed against us in the past and swiftly in the days ahead?
·
What if we allowed His presence
to eradicate bitterness from the depths of our souls?
·
What if we realized and applied
His freedom from every deliberate and unintentional wound of our childhood?
·
What if we were never a victim
again, because the revelation of Christ and His grace sufficed daily for us?
·
What if we could forgive
ourselves and move on past the shame simply because Jesus has forgiven us?
·
What if we accepted and
believed with all of our heart, soul, and mind that Jesus loves us, accepts us,
and is for us every moment of every
day? And just the way we are!
·
What if we accepted the fact
that HE ACCEPTS US AS WE ARE to the point that it overwhelms the fact that we
do not accept ourselves?
·
What if we would live the way
of the cross, persecution, and dying to self, because it is the narrow way He
asked us to follow?
·
What if we died to self more so
that Christ lived through us more, and every single need was met as our joy was
made complete in Him?
·
What if we could just rest in
who we are in Christ, rather than running around doing activities He never
called us to do? Being rather than doing!
What if we really believed
God loved us and it had nothing to do with our past, or our future
performances? Resting in Him!
What if
pastors and leadership teams around the world would train and release every
member of their church into the ministry that the Lord has called them to, and
especially beyond the four walls of organized church?
What if we
actually picked up our mats and walked in obedience when we were delivered,
rather than come back for prayer and healing for the same things week after
week?
What if
leaders would seek to always serve beyond ever having to be, being served?
What if
leaders would seek to train and lead others in the vision God has for them as
individual ministers and trust the Holy Spirit to move on them to support the
community or corporate vision.
What if
leaders did not respond to fear of rejection and failure but trust the Lord for
any perceived numbers they expect to see. Or, not look at numbers at all!
What if
city wide transformation begins to take place because each individual realized
their purpose and calling and was released to fulfil it beyond the four walls?
What if
every church pastor sought relationship with the other pastors of the community
to fulfill a city wide vision beyond their own ministries? That they realized
their vision for the city could not be realized without partnering with others.
- What if we realized the Lord
owned everything we have and asked us to steward everything, and that we would
ask Him how much to give and where, always willing to give 100% if He were to
ask that of us?
·
What if all the children of God
understood and operated in the full authority that Jesus Christ sacrificed for
us to have?
·
What if Kingdomized people
began to bring the Kingdom authority to all the gates of the city. That Kingdom
people would lead the way in government, business, healthcare, media, law, and
educational jurisdictions of our cities?
·
What if every believer never
settled for how they view themselves while seeking the Father to know the full
potential of what He sees in them?
·
What if we would accept others
and the blessing they are, rather than be offended by them in their
differences?
·
What if we chose to see the
good in people, pray for the rest, and love them regardless of whether they
changed as we think they should?
·
What if more souls for the
kingdom and the releasing of every saint into ministry far outweighed any focus
on mammon or control?
·
What if we all were willing to
serve in every phase of our lives rather than being served?
·
What would happen if every believer
realized the lifetime process we are in and could walk without judgment, alongside
those who are not as far along in the process?
·
What if what we thought was
reality was revealed as not reality,
so we would live a life filled with reality and purpose for the kingdom?
·
What if we chose not to be
offended when offenses came, or at least choose to let go of all offenses
immediately?
·
What if we chose to forgive in
every situation. Not only because the Father said He would not forgive us
unless we did, but because it was in our hearts to love in that way?
·
What if, as the family of God, we
really were blinded to culture, creed and credentials?
And what if we were excited about the uniqueness of each difference,
and the value of each expression of God's people?
What if
spiritual Fathers would be motivated with a heart of giving to their spiritual
sons that far outweighed any thoughts of what they would receive in return?
What if we
had abundantly more Shepherds, (pastors), willing to run after the few of the
flock that have been hurt, isolated and in need of life-giving expressions of
our Savior’s love?
What would happen if God's people really prayed and communicated
intimately with the Father on a daily basis?
What if we
had every Christian home open and available for the faith community every week?
And how about daily?
·
What if every believer was more
concerned about being Father's change agents for people, families and
communities, rather than holding on, and waiting for Jesus to mystically remove
them from the very earth He desires them to change.
·
What if the perceived rapture
were a long ways off, or not to come at all, would we still be about our
Father's business in establishing His kingdom upon the earth?
·
What if we really did not fear
dying for Him, and in fact chose to die to self daily in order to truly live in
and through Him?
·
What if we lived and moved and
had our being in the Holy Spirit 24 hours a day and 7 days a week?
·
What if every word or deed was
received with the Father's heart and mind and every response that came forth
from us in word and deed was likewise from the heart of the Father?
What if we
would rather have a towel (servant), than a title in leadership?
What if we
realized that we must seek to trash every idol in our life to really be free to
serve in the army of our Lord?
What if we
realized that the greatest idol that you and I have is "self", then
began to become selfless in our pursuit of Christ and His Kingdom?
What if
every believer realized that their obedience to all that they do each day was
ministry unto Him and His kingdom?
What if
every housewife and mother understood that she was in full-time ministry in her
role?
What if
the people of God saw the ministry the Lord is doing through His daughters,
while becoming free from limited mindsets regarding the Father’s potential for
the ministry of women.
What if we
saw that the Kingdom of God as beyond race, gender, or age, but exists in diversity
of expression in His glorious Kingdom.
·
What if every businessman or
blue collar worker realized that in Christ, they were full- time ministers in
their calling?
·
What if every business owner
understood that people are their greatest resource and began to pastor their
businesses?
·
What if every business owner
looked at their employees, vendors, and customers, as part of their household
or sphere of godly influence?
·
What if every Christian
business owner looked at their lives and businesses as an impact thrust for the
community?
·
What if there was no difference
in the perceived spirituality of an organized church pastor and one who pastors
their home, business, and community.
What if we
actually believe God speaks in relevance for today beyond the written word in
alignment with the written word?
What if we
could actually hear a relevant word for today that was in line with the heart
and the written word of God?
What if
there was greater prophetic accountability?
What if
there were more prophetic people apologizing when they spoke amiss, as often as
they publicly acknowledged when they got one right?
What if we
worshipped the foundation of all order, (Christ), beyond the order, or
perceived order of things?
What if
the living Word, (Christ Himself) replaced any dead theoretical, theological,
Christological religion?
·
What if we had fellowship or
connections with others during the week instead of relying on one Sunday
Service, which was never designed to meet our ”one anothering” needs.
·
What if the earth really was
filled with the glory of the Lord and He is just waiting for us to get
involved?
·
What if true wealth is measured
in what you give away?
·
What if the family became the
primary context of the Church?
·
What if we loved as He loved?
·
What if we spoke as He spoke?
·
What if we did what He did?
·
What if we really believed we
could lay hands on the sick and watch them recover?
What if my
opinions were okay, because they were my opinions, and people would love me
even if my opinions were different from theirs?
What if we
all could appreciate the different cultures and expressions in God’s Kingdom,
regardless of whether or not we understood them, or fancied them.
What if
people understood the command to love, and would love by choice rather than out
of having to "feel the love? "
What if
even a few of these "what ifs" became realities in our lives,
enabling us to go out and make a bigger kingdom difference?
What
if ………………………………You fill in the blank, because
with God,
All things are
possible.
The What
if’s stated can be realities because of the power of the Holy Spirit, who
lives in us.…
May the "now" questions
become future solutions to the glory of our God!!!