who or what is the Kingdom?

When Jesus was asked to come to his mother and brothers, Jesus asked a question back: “ who are my mother and brothers? These —-around me—- are my mother, sisters and brothers.” 

Jesus was showing us something—-the Kingdom. 

Years ago my family and I were praying for solid Christian friends for me to have—-a very simple prayer but dangerous.

Senior year I was blessed to meet my chicka who bluntly always pointed me to “ask Jesus”. I started going to her non dom church. Walking in I could feel Jesus; the Holy Spirit was living and active. I had a deeper hunger and thirst to know more. I started listening to podcasts from Kris Vallotton who is from Bethel church in Redding, Ca. Through Him I started having a deeper passionate drive to keep learning, living what God had started teaching me, and sharing it with others.

“Freshman” year of college—traveling around the US with my family—this girl stuck to social media, being very new to it after becoming a Beachbody coach. The goal was to be the joy, the light, that one person that brought hope and vulnerability and Jesus all on the same plate. Social media is where the people are, if Jesus wants me to reach the people, social media is an incredible tool if you truly have a mindset of using it as a ministry and not a coping method. Spring 2017 brought my fam to Kingdom Air Corps in Alaska. Surrounded by men, women and families of all ages that were pursuing missions, gave me a glimpse of what it was like to run after Jesus and not the American dream. They were so at peace and full of joy. Life was simple. God easily gave me about a hundred brothers and sisters through this ministry. 

Then, after a spontaneous God moment, I went to Victory Bible camp fall of 2018 to do their outpost program. It was here that God showed me more of what kind of tool I was in His hands, describing to me how He created me in unique ways so that He can use me to further His Kingdom—no accidents, He wants to use us, and He doesn’t want to waste time. Every gift, strength, and weakness was His idea. Here I gained more brothers and sisters, these though were in the same boat with me of “what does God want me to do next?”. 

Victory offers a second year internship free in a specific branch of camp you want to learn more in. As a horse girl, that was my first option, but since Victory didn’t use their horses much at all in the winter, it was never really an option, but Victory had a sister camp in Fairbanks, Li-Wa, and they had an amazing horse program in the winter. After several months of ups and downs, a month before camp was going to start, the internship was finalized. I’m not sure what I expected except a lot of horse time which is what I wanted. It was there that God taught me how important community was, how humility and strength look, and what discipleship is. He also refocused me, it wasn’t about the horses. I knew that, but sometimes-a lot of times-you can know something and not believe it. It hasn’t transferred from your head to your heart. So many things went from my head to my heart in that year because God brought some of His sons and daughters into my life to challenge me on every level and choose to do life with me as so many others have because that is the Kingdom. We are all here for one goal, one drive, one why: Jesus and telling others about Him. 

At Li-Wa, God brought the World Race into the mix. From not having a “job” that paid paper money, just heavenly treasures, the last three years of serving with ministries, to having an uncanny peace of raising more money than I have ever seen in my life, let’s just say God has a sense of humor when He wants to strengthen our faith and humble us. When you are full force running after God, the enemy attacks the most. AIM (Adventures in Missions) never left me alone though. They always had someone that checked in on me monthly or I could talk to about anything. Sure, sometimes in the pit, I would feel like no one had asked me how things were going——when I really was struggling at times to stay positive…but in reality, I always had people that would lift me higher, to Christ and the truth and promises He gives. Oh, what a joy it is to see God use His Kingdom to spread His Kingdom. So many stories I have gotten to see Him work through this season. 

Then training camp this last June. Being surrounded by about 150 people that all had the same mindset, the same why, the same goal—-love Jesus and spread His Kingdom—was a bit overwhelming but exciting. Worshipping with these people, getting to know my 30 squadmates who became family and the excitement that comes with knowing we will be God’s hands and feet together for 11 months and maybe longer was all from Him.

This is the Kingdom. People doing life together all for Him and His glory to spread His radical truth to the ends of the earth. Sure, sometimes our paths lead us separate ways, but the great news is that someday we will all be together in His glory. That gives us peace. 

Who are my mother, my sisters, my brothers? Those that are pursuing Christ and seeking first the Kingdom of God are. Those prayers years ago for godly friends was a snowball effect of placing me in a crazy position of seeking Christ for the rest of my life. Life is ministry and ministry is life, and I want to be full throttle in it forever for that is who God created and called each of us to be. 

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be open to you: for every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds and he that knocks it will be open.” Matthew 7:7-8 

“For by the grace given to me (Paul) I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgement, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.”

Romans 12: 3-8 

LIFE UPDATE:

 There are 25 days left until launch! I am serving part time with camp Li-Wa for the next three weeks as I continue to prepare for the Race and fundraise the last $5000. God has been so so faithful and patient with me. The last two months have been crazy traveling weeks and back and forth plans and emotions, but He is near. I am so excited for what lies ahead and for every new day He gives me to be His hands and feet. Your prayers have been a huge blessing!

Please subscribe to my blog to get updates as launch approaches and then on the Race! If God leads you to give, hit the donate button!  You are His hands and feet for His Kingdom, thank you for being so willing to serve Him with His finances. 

With His love, 

Shannon