The Kingdom breaking in

This summer has dealt a few blows and I am so ready to be done with it. Come quickly Fall!
The enemy attacked swift and hard and he used people I thought were friends to do it. But God is faithful. He has shown up in such a real and living way in our lives and turned a bad situation into something beautiful. Not completely yet, but moving swiftly toward that end. I've spent a lot of time lately just sitting before the Lord, listening, waiting on Him to move me. Where the heck are we going Lord? How long will You wait? I've been feeling the awkwardness of the "already and the not yet" of His Kingdom. The Kingdom by definition is the rule of God in our lives or the reign of God showing up in this evil age. While we believers wait for the return of Christ to bring the Kingdom in all its fullness and glory we are privileged to experience its presence among us if only in small measures and that presence brings healing, peace, joy, righteousness and love to bear in the muck and mire of our daily lives. We feel the pain of betrayal, the sting of loneliness, the ache of physical pain, yet we find, if not completely, at least some sense of His reign granting us victory over the enemy. Jesus proclaimed that the Kingdom of God was at hand and I, for one, want to really, really, really know what that looks like in my life. I see the Kingdom breaking in when a friend shows up just to encourage. I see it breaking in when a "short" breakfast time spent with a local pastor friend turns into 3 hours of lively, deep discussion of the things of God. I see it breaking in when just me and my guitar are accompanied by a very real sense of His presence in my backyard. And I see it breaking in when I look to see my perfect wife standing by my side.
Is the Kingdom of God breaking in on your everyday world? Are you seeking it first? Are you willing to put to the sword all the affections that stand in its way? Nothing in this life compares...