Enduring Gift of Christ and His Kingdom

Anne Bradshaw • December 21, 2023

Dear Reader,

Greetings! Grace and peace to you as you enjoy this season of blessing. We will enjoy the the celebration of Christ among us with the lights, the gifts, the music, the traditions, the nativity testifying to of celebration of love among us. Many are celebrating family. Many are celebrating the coming of God among us in Christ as part of that family celebration. We retell the the birth of Jesus and how God came to be with us! These are good and necessary things.

For some it may not be so joyous because of the emphasis of the world system on family, friends and gifts, for some it can be more depressing that life-giving. For whatever reason, for some cannot participate as they would like. However, circumstances do not need to dampen the season. After all, Jesus wasn’t just a “sweet baby” that was born in a manger. There is so much more to celebrate!

It was about the birth of The King and this King has a Kingdom.

What if, on the birthday of our grown children, we pulled out the photo album every year? We could sit beside them on the couch and review every year all the stories and how exciting it was for him/her to join the family. We’d smile and close the book, exchange gifts for the baby, walk to the kitchen and prepare a bottle of formula for our birthday lunch in remembrance of that lovely day when they became a part of our family. This would be silly, right? No one does this. We see our children grow up and we celebrate who they have become. The way we celebrate reflects who they have become.

It is also important that we don’t keep Jesus in his infant stage in our thinking. Our Christology is important. How understand who Christ Jesus is influences how much we allow Him to affect our daily lives. Do we need to defend our faith or does our faith defend and empower us? A baby doesn’t have much power, but Christ in His fullness, offers His Spirit for ever-lasting change. Christ, In His fullness can realign our thinking to become mature in Him; understanding all He has done as well as what we, the Church, are equipped to do (live the abundant life, destroy the works of the devil). Babies can't do that, but adults empowered by the Spirit can do that.

Although the pageantry of Christmas is wonderful and meaningful, it is important not to get stuck with a "baby Jesus on the inside" and embrace The Christ who completed His work. He does not need our protection. He rules and reigns through the Church (us), interceding for us in heavenly places. Our God is an awesome God. What the Law could not do, He did! The Gospel is powerful without our intervention to make it “palatable.”

The incarnation of God among us (Emmanuel) was something planned between God the Father and God the Son and the Holy Spirit long ago, before we came onto the scene. It would have happened even if we were the only ones to be saved. This isn’t a highlight of how wonderful we are in God’s sight, (though I used to see it that way), but rather to remind us that His plan is NOT about US and does not center around US, individually. Our choices do not determine the success or failure of this plan. Our choices only effect how we are involved.

God’s plan is for ALL of Humanity. It is about HIM and HIS Kingdom of which we get to take part. As citizens of this Kingdom we have all we need as TOGETHER we magnify the Lord of lords and King of kings.

What is that kingdom all about? What does it look like? Sound like? When is it?

Read the bible. Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you about the Kingdom of God which is “at hand,” meaning it is within our reach. Meaning that the Kingdom is not a distant reality, yet to come to be. It is not a "thing" or a "place." The Kingdom, according the Matthew, is made up of believers in Christ who participate in the manifestation of the Kingdom reality. Therefore the Kingdom is available NOW visible to those who participate and believe, living by the Law of Spirit Life within.

Jesus described the Kingdom in the Gospel accounts, He lived it and was an example for the Future Apostles of the Lamb. He taught them again after His resurrection and ascension (those 40 days Luke told us about in Acts 1). Then He filled the Apostles (and all who would receive Him) with His Spirit (Acts 2) so they could manifest that truth to the nations. And they did. They told us about it in Acts and Paul applied it more specifically, spelling out the “walking out of Faith” in his letters.

What a wonderful gift Jesus is to us! He revealed to all God's love, God's plan, and His Kingdom purpose for the nations!

Regardless of whether the holidays are happy or bittersweet, (this year my family is experiencing our first holidays without our son), Jesus is still worthy of Celebration. Colossians 3 says to focus on Him. David, in the Psalms says to lift our eyes to the Lord from whom our help comes.

We CAN step into the Spirit reality of the Joy of Christ this Christ-mas and enjoy His sweet fellowship and peace regardless of our current circumstances or what has happened this past year because of the Kingdom reality among us and in the spirit. The reality of the Church Triumphant and Heavenly places to where those whom we love have passed on, is not as far away as you may think. It isn’t on another planet or some distant star, but simply invisible to us. Although we cannot communicate from this place to that as we would like, one day we will also step through into that place and enjoy the fellowship as well. But for now, with Faith, know Christ is near and our Hope is always in Him for that day.

And guess what? I have discovered that although the tears may come once in awhile (most times unexpectedly) God’s love fills and heals those broken empty places with His grace and the healing reality of His Kingdom among us (believers). The tears and sadness that this season may bring for some, does not define or tell us about the Character of God in Christ. God is not responsible for the sad and bad moments. Our choices and the choices of a sinful humanity around us are responsible. But God CAN, and still does work it all together for our Good if we will trust in His Goodness.

This is sure and true: Love is the greatest gift and God IS LOVE. Dependable, always Faithful, NEVER CHANGING, does not “turn away,” All knowing, Ever present, And that LOVE is available to all who will receive it.

Merry Christmas,

Anne

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Get Ready

By Anne Bradshaw • May 29, 2025

Hear His voice, and Go

He Invites Our Participation

By Anne Bradshaw • May 8, 2025

Dear Reader, It has been on my mind this morning the incredible gift we have in Christ to be members of the Family of God, the Church Jesus is building, citizens of the Kingdom, joint heirs with Christ. We are in His Good Care, always. I’m sure you have also had moments when the appreciation for this gift seems to eclipse the momentary business of daily life. I’m sure you would have your insights as well to add. It is from this place that I am sharing today. My husband and I take time each morning to pray together for family, the Church and the nation. Today when we were praying for our nation and for the people of God, we prayed for those who hear His voice that they would choose obedience above the temptations and the insecurities that they may experience. We prayed for Congress, especially, to be focused on good stewardship of the office they are holding and accomplish the pressing needs of the nation rather than simply the “easy” stuff they can agree on. Our prayers were for those who are not being good stewards of the power and influence they have been given, would now make choices according to the Law of the Spirit of Life or be removed from their places of power and influence until they can fulfill their oath of office responsibly and faithfully. It occurred to me amidst the prayer time, that God really doesn’t need our approval to accomplish His plan. He doesn’t need anyone to be obedient. He invites it. He designed the covenantal relationship with us to not be dependent upon us because He is somehow lacking in something we have, rather He includes us because it is His good pleasure. When I say he doesn’t need us, I mean that He is God all by Himself. He doesn’t need anything from us in order to maintain His sovereignty and Grace and accomplish His plan for humanity that is already in the works. When I was young, I used to think that if I stopped believing in God He would simply vanish. It was quite a revelation to realize I was not that powerful and that whether I believed or not, approved or not, was happy, sad, faithful or disobedient, God was still God. He is faithful to His covenant regardless of my momentary lapses or victories. He loved me and wanted me to have the abundant life promised. Then I learned an even greater truth. It’s not about me. Never was. There is no personal plan of God for my life. It isn’t all planned out. He just knows what is in store and prepares me in advance with all the skills and ability I need to enjoy, endure or receive all that is ahead of me. He’s in my corner, but not for my sake… It’s for everyone. It’s for His kingdom, His righteousness working through me so ALL can have an abundant life promised. I just have a small corner in a much bigger purpose in which to work and follow His leading. It’s not about me... I find that incredibly freeing. I can’t make a mistake that messes up His plan. I’m not that powerful. I am free to choose. I am offered leadership and favor according to His good will for me, for all. If the consequences of sin are experienced, it is because sin carries its own punishment. And sometimes that punishment spills over to others. A drunk driver could have an accident and kill other people. The other people didn’t do anything wrong; the evil of alcohol abuse is at fault. But God still cares and is not defined by the accident. He takes care of His people, but that doesn’t mean we don’t experience the fall out of evil in our world. He promises to walk with us through it. He promises His justice. Evil wears out because it “eats its own” just as a wasting disease will “eat” the host until there is nothing left to survive, then the disease also dies with the host it destroyed. This is evil. God never designed our bodies to host wasting diseases. He didn’t design us to sin. We were meant for more. Evil things have been happening behind the scenes of our government for years. It is now being revealed. Pray with us that the evil will not only be brought to light, but that it will also receive the just judgment of God and His righteousness through His people who are even now, building impenetrable cases to process. We pray for them. We must keep the courts in our prayers that the just judgments of God would be able to work successfully. We must not be discouraged when judges make rulings that are prejudiced, excessive, biased and unfair. Why? Because our hope is in the Lord who is above all and sees all and is faithful to His Covenant with those who believe. God always wins. Those who confront the evil of death, doubt and despair, are not forgotten. The mothers and fathers who lost children to fentanyl, brought in and distributed illegally in our nation, are not forgotten. The people struggling to pay debts, to provide for family and be good stewards are not forgotten. What is needed is for the Church Jesus is building to realize the power of her voice among the nations to make a difference; speak forth the will of God, His one Will, His Just Judgments. What we have currently is a church that is praying in a dozen or more different directions. Because God has Chosen to work through us, is it not important that we steward that responsibility corporately with accuracy rather than personally? Is it a surprise that personal agendas are most likely not God’s agenda? If it is the Church’s mandate to push back darkness and administrate the principles of the Kingdom of God upon the earth, is it any wonder evil has gotten a foothold when we are so busy looking after “me, myself, and I” our own local church food banks and Sunday morning services rather than speaking as one with the whole church against the evil that is even making the food banks necessary? Here's a thought: Maybe those who run the food banks (for example) wonder what purpose they would have if the food banks were not necessary? (just a thought) Would they pray to end the need for something in which they are finding fulfillment? Could the concern for fulfillment, validation, and significance apply to any other Church-run organization made necessary because of the works of evil? I wonder, how many have read Matthew 23 lately? Maybe it isn't that. Maybe the sincere concern for others cannot see past the momentary need to the corporate power of the Faith of God and the one Church Jesus is building to confront the evil source and heal the root of the need. Something to think about, anyway... Grace and peace, my friends. Anne