Much more than diamonds

"Your Kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

The Lord's prayer keeps echoing in my ears and my soul, as it is a frequent sermon and devotional topic in my life right now.

During our staff devotional time last week, my Director, Ted, brought up this idea of our "kindgdom's". So much of us want God's kingdom, but are spending more time and effort on our own kingdom with our own hands. As a result, God's Kindgom isn't being established with our help.

Jesus came to set the stage for His Kingdom. I can just imagine Jesus - after the temptation show down in the desert, full of the power of the Spirit, walking in the synagogue, knowing he was going to read about Himself! As people saw Him, they praised Him, but I'm sure there were plenty of people not sure about this guy. Sure, there were rumors about Him and what he was doing, but is this really legit? Never the less, He stands and proclaims,

"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the POOR. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the PRISONERS and recovery of sight for the BLIND, to release the OPPRESSED, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." (Isa. 61:1,2)

How do you react after that? If I were sitting there, I think my mouth would be open. To see a man so humble, and so bold at the same time.

The Kingdom is about the POOR, the PRISONERS, the BLIND, the OPPRESSED. The Kingdom Proclaims freedom for people of these unfortunate and more often than not, uncontrollable circumstances! Through His blood and sacrifice Christ sets the captive free, gives hope to the hopeless.

God's Kingdom is the power of God coming over all who ask.

So why are we so focused on our own kingdoms? Our own kingdoms happen when our really good concerns go bad.

This year I have been so focused on Ish and I's future regarding money, debt, retirement, children, and real estate that I never realized that I was really building my own kingdom. I didn't put down my desires so that I could attain HIS.

We build our "work" kingdom of wanting a promotion after promotion after raise, and then maybe another raise, that we forget that we are here to proclaim freedom and instead we are slaves to excelling by worldly standards. Or maybe you have an "Intelligence/school" kingdom where knowledge is power. But remember that God uses the foolish things of the world to shame the wise and the weak to lead the strong (1Cor 1:27). Things that we build by our own hands and think with our own thought will not last.

Period.

Only the Kindgom of Heaven will last. Eternally.

I continually have to shut down construction on my kingdom so that I can put my best effort into building His.

So what would happen if the Kingdom was built in your family? In South Dallas? For you?

Last week I was getting in my car, about to meet a friend so we could drive to our senior ministers home, and the car door hit the back of my ear as I was opening it. I immediately heard a clank clank clank. The back of my diamond earring fell off, causing my diamond earring to go flying into the road. This was my mother's, given to me as an engagement present. I always had hopes to pass it down to my daughter. After searching for a good 30 minutes with the help of my friend and some neighbors, I kept thinking how silly I was. Yes, I was sad because of the history and the value (I dont have many diamonds, you know!) But diamonds aren't eternal. No matter WHAT the commercials say! I could have been there all night if I wanted to. The lack of being able to find it could have put me in a horrible mood. But thank God that I didn't allow earrings to get in the way of what was about to happen that evening.

Later that night I had such an amazing time of community worship, prayer and encouragement. That's the Kingdom.

Doing manual labor with people needing a second or third chance. Just letting them know we appreciate them and they are loved by God.

That's the Kingdom

Praying with broken hearts, not looking for diamonds.

Better.

I like to have things together.

I am organized, one-step-ahead, knowledgeable. I am able to plan, and I plan well.

But there are those days when I don't have it together. When I bite off more than I can chew. When I think to myself:

"What have I gotten myself into?"

I freak out. I call my husband, my best friends, my mom and I vent. "Vent" meaning complain, deflect and have a heart attack. I say, "whoa is me" and wonder how am I going to complete the task at hand. I literally have anxiety that makes my heart jump out of my chest. Immediately I fall on my face and pray against the anxiety, because it is not from the Lord.

In these moments I realize how small I am. I know it is only through Christ that anything I do is accomplished.

"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate." 1 Cor. 1:19

This verse makes the pressure fall off my back. I can finally breathe.

Who am I to think that my knowledge, my organization, my dreams are mine?

I chose to give these gifts to Him for His glory and therefore can sleep at night, knowing that if it is His will, it will be done. All I have to do is give Him my all. When I dream big, when I accidentally bite off more than I can chew, I grow. Through these events I am forced to give more and more of myself to Christ.

I think this is how God uses people shake the world.

Praise God that we have someone who knows better, does better and who IS better.

September Prayer Letter

Hello Friends and Family,

What an honor and privilege it is to be on staff with World Impact Dallas! I started my new job here in the summer, and I definitely dove in head first and loved it. In this short time, I have witness the Kingdom at work on a daily basis through our staff and ministry partners.

I could not have started this ministry if it were not for your prayers and financial support. The Lord has continually shown me His provision and wisdom throughout this beginning period, and I am forever grateful for Him and for your partnership.

The summer months have brought many youth and work groups through our offices and it is not slowing down. Recently, we had three different church groups use our facilities to create a Vacation Bible School for our inner-city children. Youth and adults of all ages taught, played with, and poured into many children--showing them the love of Christ.

We have also had many renovation projects come to life with the help of numerous groups eager to serve. Renovating, repairing and painting our building have all occurred throughout the summer months. This has repurposed many areas to better utilize our space for ministry. We are so thankful for these groups’ servant hearts and for the relationships that have been built. We look forward to continuing to work with them and other new groups as we seek to build the Kingdom of God.

As our fall kicks off with a bang, please join me in prayer regarding the following:

Pray for the Dallas staff as we gear up for the fall.

Pray for my financial support, that the Lord will place people in my life with the heart to give towards my salary.

Pray for Hope Fellowship, our English-speaking church plant, as the team builds relationships with the people of Fair Park. Pray that the Lord will open doors and be a light to this part of the city

Pray for our Urban Team through Dallas Christian College as they train and begin Bible Clubs for our inner-city children.

In Him,

Lacey Arteaga