Forgive Us Our Sins

Matthew 6:9-13-"Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need, and FORGIVE US OUR SINS, as we forgive those who sin against us. And don't let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one."

Psalm 103:11-12-"For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west."

Forgiveness is a powerful thing. Through the Holy blood of Jesus Christ, God made a way for us to be forgiven and made right with Him. Our old ways pass away and His new life becomes ours. Why does God forgive us? Because He is love. Love keeps no record of being wronged. :) This is the Good News of Jesus Christ! All who believe and are forgiven may enter into heaven to share in the glory of the Most High God!

1 John 1:9-"But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all wickedness."

Something that is helpful to me sometimes is when I fell like I've sinned a lot recently, I do something that I read at my cousin's church lock-in. If you are feeling guilty of many sins, put your hands on your eyes. Ask God to forgive you of all the wrong things you've seen. Put your hands on your mouth. Ask God to forgive you of all the wrong things that have come in our out of your mouth. Put your hands on your ears. Ask God to forgive you of all the wrong things you've allowed yourself to hear. Put your hands on your head. Ask God to forgive you of all the wrong things you've thought or planned. Put your hands together. Ask God to forgive you of all the times you've done things that weren't His will. Finally, put your hand on your heart. Ask God to forgive you of all the times you put other things before Him and dishonored Him with your heart. Ask all of this in the name of Jesus Christ, and you will be forgiven. :)

Luke 5:20-"Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, 'Young man, your sins are forgiven.'"

Go in peace! Your sins are forgiven by faith. If you want to read more about this, read Romans! :) Keep Measuring Up. You are loved.

-Jenna Hampton
May all glory be to God.

Give Us Today The Food We Need

Matthew 6:9-13-"Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. GIVE US TODAY THE FOOD WE NEED, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don't let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."

Matthew 6:25-27-"That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life-whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn't life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren't you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?"

Jehovah Jireh! God is our provider. Because of His great love for us, He provides everything we need to do His will. (which is the best thing you could ever do!) He provides food, water, clothes, air, homes, other people, courage, strength, His Word, love, and so many other things! God is awesome! Don't worry! God is here, and He will provide. Believe, and you will receive.

Philippians 4:6-7-"Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all He has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus."

1 Peter 2:2-3-"Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord's kindness."

Food such as cheeseburgers or fruit is not the only food we need. According to God, we also need spiritual food. Just as you thank and ask God for physical nourishment, cry out to Him for spiritual nourishment, too. He will provide!!! He is faithful! Here is a little song I like to sing when I'm thankful for food-both physical and spiritual.

'Thank you Lord, for giving us food to eat and a song to sing! Thank you, Lord, for everything!'

Keep Measuring UP! You are loved. Ask God for forgiveness today, and pray that He would lead you and nourish you in every way so you may give Him glory. All glory to God!

-Jenna Hampton
with prayer and God's powerful hand.

May Your Will Be Done On Earth

Matthew 6:9-13-"Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. MAY YOUR WILL BE DONE ON EARTH, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don't let us yeild to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. For yours in the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."

God ALWAYS has a perfect plan. Everything He does is perfect. Nothing is happening in your life that He doesn't already know about and isn't part of His perfect plan. Maybe you don't know what God's will for you is, and that's okay. Most of us don't know. As long as we seek to do God's will and follow His Word, though, we can have confidence that He will move through us, and show us His will. The best thing to do is to trust Him, read His Word to make sure what you're doing follows what He says, and then obey Him as His will is revealed to you. Obeying Him is one of the very best things you could ever do! Even though we suffer, through Christ, we can be confident that there will be joys to come in eternity that will far outweigh any trials we face.

Proverbs 3:5-6-"Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take."

God's perfect plan is displayed in all of humanity and everything that leads up to the birth of Jesus Christ. If He can work so many things out perfectly with humanity, don't you think He could work out everything perfectly with your life? An amazing story to illustrate God's plan in the Bible is Job. If you struggle with following and believing in God's plan for your life, read the book of Job and pray from understanding. God gives freely and abundantly of all things good! Also, the book of Jeremiah is very good for those struggling with God's will. The thing to do through all your struggles is pray, and to have faith that the God of the universe has heard your cry.

Philippians 4:6-7-"Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus."

Jeremiah 29:11-"For I know the plans I have for you,' says the Lord. 'They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."

Remember today to be humble, and to trust in all Jesus has done for you. Pray for understanding about what God wants you to do-and leave it at that. He is a faithful God. If you seek Him wholeheartedly, you will find your way. Come sincerely to Jesus, and your sins can be forgiven.

Keep Measuring Up! You are loved always. :) (Romans 8:38)
-Jenna Hampton
with much prayer and encouragement from the Holy Spirit to me and to you.

May Your Kingdom Come Soon

Matthew 6:9-13-"Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. MAY YOUR KINGDOM COME SOON. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don't let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."

2 Peter 3:8-10-"But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn't really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief."

You may have thought to yourself sometime: 'Why hasn't Jesus come back yet?' Every Christian out there at one point in their lives has hoped that Jesus would come back soon, and that the Kingdom of God would be here. Instead focusing on that so often, though, I believe we should be more focused on letting God help us help others to repent and turn to Him. Here's a story I heard one time that illustrates this point well:

The world is a big cliff. Every person born begins to walk closer and closer to the edge. On the way to the edge, though, there are several crosses where people repent of their sins and turn to Jesus's forgiveness. After awhile, there are many people gathered around the crosses, waiting for the day when Jesus will return. Yet, many who ignored the crosses or didn't encounter them still walk closer to the edge. Sadly, many people fall off the edge to their death. After seeing this happen, some of the people gathered around the crosses begin to shout at the people walking toward the edge, warning them of their coming demise. Some are saved, but not enough. After seeing this, a few courageous Christians walk close to the edge, stand with their arms wide open, and block people from falling off the cliff. More and more Christians follow, and they are able to block even more people from falling. Still, most of the Christians remain safely at the crosses, where they know they will not fail or be harmed. Because of this, most of the world's people continue falling off the edge.

Take a look at the world and people around you. How many of your friends are saved? How many of your family members are saved? How many of your co-workers or class mates are saved? Every time you see someone who isn't saved walking somewhere, imagine they are walking toward the edge of the cliff-because they are. Make the choice today. Will you be a cliff-blocker or will you remain in your comfort zone?

Matthew 6:33-"Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need."

Matthew 13:31-32-"Here is another illustration Jesus used: 'The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches.'"

Matthew 7:13-14-"You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it."

Even though you make think you are too small to make a difference, or you may not know how or feel comfortable sharing your faith with someone else, God believes you can. Isn't that enough? Think about it-if God helps you lead someone else to Christ, and that person leads someone to Christ, and that person leads someone to Christ, that's 3 new Christians right there-just because of you! Sure, you may not know how or what to say, but that's not a problem. Pray about it, have the courage to walk to the edge, and watch as God moves in and through you wonderfully. It's worth it to stand on the edge!

Proverbs 3:5-6-"Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take."

Keep Measuring Up! You are loved. Look forward to the day when Jesus comes!
-Jenna Hampton
with the Holy Spirit and God's understanding, not mine.

May Your Name Be Kept Holy

Matthew 6:9-13-"Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, MAY YOUR NAME BE KEPT HOLY. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don't let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."

Exodus 20:7-"You must not misuse the name of the Lord your God. The Lord will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name."


There is POWER in the name of the Lord! You may be thinking-"What's so important about a name? What's the big deal?" When I went to California this summer, I went on a plane from Chicago that was going to the L.A.X. airport. Looking at the people around me, I wondered who they were, what they did, and why they were going to Los Angelos. Some of them were very important looking people. But because I didn't know their names, I didn't know why they were important. So, God brought something to my mind-It's ALL in the name. That means, when you know some one's name, you can know who they are, and believe that they have done all the things you've heard they did. Think about it! If you lived during Jesus's time, and you saw Him walking down the street, you might think, 'Oh, there's a guy. I wonder what he's up to...' If you knew His name, Jesus, though, you would probably think, 'Wow! That's Jesus! I want to go talk to Him! He is so great! I've heard amazing things about Him!' It's true. God's name holds so much. God's name is love, just like the Bible tells us. Here's a great story about what a person can do when they call on the name of the Lord:

1 Kings 18:22-28-"Then Elijah said to them, 'I am the only prophet of the Lord who is left, but Baal has 450 prophets. Now bring two bulls. The prophets of Baal may choose whichever one they wish and cut it into pieces and lay it on the wood of their alter, but without setting fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood on the alter, but not set fire to it. Then call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by setting fire to the wood is the true God!' And all the people agreed. Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, 'You go first, for there are many of you. Choose one of the bulls, and prepare it and call on the name of your god. But do not set fire to the wood. So they prepared one of the bulls and placed it on the alter. Then they called on the name of Baal from morning until noontime, shouting, 'O Baal, answer us!' But there was no reply of any kind. Then they danced, hobbling around the alter they had made. About noontime Elijah began mocking them, 'You'll have to shout louder,' he scoffed, 'for surely he is a god! Perhaps he is daydreaming, or is relieving himself. Or maybe he is away on a trip, or is asleep and needs to be wakened!' So they shouted louder, and following their normal custom, they cut themselves with knives and swords until the blood gushed out. They raved all afternoon until the time of the evening sacrifice, but still there was no sound, no reply, no response."

When we call on things of this world to save us, or false gods who don't have any power, there will never be a response. Where there is no love, there is no real power.

1 Kings 18:36-39-"At the usual time for offering the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet walked up to the altar and prayed, 'O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, prove today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant. Prove that I have done all this at your command. O Lord, answer me! Answer me so these people will know what you, O Lord, are God and that you have brought them back to yourself. Immediately the fire of the Lord flashed down from heaven and burned up the young bull, the wood, the stones, and the dust. It even licked up all the water in the trench! And when all the people saw it, they fell face down on the ground and cried out, 'The Lord-he is God! Yes, the Lord is God!'"

If you are struggling with anything today, cast all of it on God in His name. He CAN and WILL help you, and He will do it in His perfect time, and beautifully. God is good, no matter what. He is real, and He loves you, and He is only a prayer away. He is strong! Rely on Him, and you can be strong, too.

Isaiah 40:31-"But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint."

Keep Measuring Up! You are loved. Go in peace, timid one, for your sins are forgiven.
-Jenna Hampton
with many prayers, and help from God. :)

In Heaven

Matthew 6:9-13-"Pray like this:
Our Father IN HEAVEN, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don't let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen."

What do you know about heaven? Most of us don't know all that much, so we don't think about it that often. We know it will be great, and that we will be able to be with God all the time, (which is awesome!) but do we know what we will do there, what it will be like, and what we will look like? Since I don't know the answers, I'm going to turn to God's Word to shed light on the subject.

Revelation 4:3-4-"The one sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones-like jasper and carnelian. And the glow of an emerald circled his throne like a rainbow. Twenty-four thrones surrounded him, and twenty-four elders sat on them. They were all clothed in white and had gold crowns on their heads."

Revelation 21:1-5-"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, 'Look, God's home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever. And the one sitting on the throne said, 'Look, I am making everything new!' And then he said to me, 'Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.'"

Revelation 19:6-9-"Then I heard again what sounded like the shout of a vast crowd or the roar of mighty ocean waves or the crash of loud thunder: 'Praise the Lord! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns. Let us be glad and rejoice, and let us give honor to him. For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself. She has been given the finest of pure white linen to wear.' For the fine linen represents the good deeds of God's holy people."

Revelation 21:21-23-"The twelve gates were made of pearls--each gate from a single pearl! And the main street was pure gold, as clear as glass. I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light."

Matthew 22:29-30-"Jesus replied, 'Your mistake is that you don't know the Scriptures, and you don't know the power of God. For when the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage. In this respect they will be like the angels."

"Jesus wears all the glory which the pomp of heaven can bestow upon him, which ten thousand times ten angels can minister to him. You cannot with your utmost stretch of imagination conceive his exceeding greatness: yet there will be a further revelation of it when he shall descend from heaven in great power, with all the holy angels 'Then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory.' Oh, the splendor of that glory! Nor is this the close, for eternity shall sound of his praise. 'Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever!' Reader, if you would joy in Christ's glory hereafter, he must be glorious in your sight now. Is he so?"-Charles H. Spurgeon

Is Jesus glorious in your sight? Although some people think heaven is a place for us where we can have all the desires of our hearts, it is really a place for God, where He can be praised, and where He can love and take care of His dear children. (all those who have given themselves for His purpose and glory, and through faith have been forgiven) If you don't know Jesus, and if you haven't asked for His forgiveness, you arent' going to heaven! You wouldn't want to anyway, because in heaven, all praise goes to Jesus!

All you have to do, though, is confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and know in your heart that God raised Him from the dead--and you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)

Our glorious Father lives in heaven with His angels and with the Son and Holy Spirit. Whenever you feel overwhelmed with this life, or caught up in your troubles, say to yourself, "Jesus paid it ALL. He has paid the price, and I have accepted it. In a few more days, I'll be going home. I'll be with Jesus and walk along the streets of gold!" He is all that matters. :)

Keep Measuring up! You are loved. Keep your eyes on Jesus, and you won't sink. Even if you do sink, He will reach out and save you. God is love, and all things good! To God be the glory.

-Jenna Hampton

with prayer, thanksgiving, and God's Word.

P.S.--Read Revelation if you want to know more about what God has in store for the end of the world and His kingdom. If you consider it scary or hard to understand, pray that He will help you undertand its meaning better. He is faithful! He will help!

Our Father

Matthew 6:9-13-"Pray like this:

OUR FATHER in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today and the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don't let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.*" (NLT)

*Some manuscripts add For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Maybe you noticed--This is the Lord's Prayer! Yes, it is! It is beautiful, and so useful at times when we need a good, heart filled prayer, but can't find the words to say it. The Lord's Prayer is the way Jesus told us how to pray, and though your prayers may differ in content a little bit, they should all look like this prayer. Not--"Dear Heavenly Father, please give me a new bike and 1,000,000 dollars. Oh, and please give me a boyfriend too. I love you. Amen." Not this either--"Dear Lord, please help my mom to stop being so mean to be, and please help my friends to like me better, and please help me to be prettier. Please don't let anything bad happen to me. Amen." Do any of these prayers sound familiar? If so, than you're in the right place. God is speaking through me to teach you how to pray like Jesus asked us to pray.

So, who is this "Father" anyway? Let me tell you a story. :) A long time ago, the Israelites, God's chosen people, had a king named Jeroboam. He did a lot of things that were evil in God's sight, and hurt the Israelites badly. After he died, his son Nadab was king. He did just as Jeroboam did. Then King Baasha, King Zimri, King Omri, and King Ahab all followed the example of Jeroboam and his son, Nadab, doing what was evil in the sight of the Lord. Even though all that evil happened and brought Israel down, did God, our Heavenly Father just give up on them? No way! His love is greater than our failure. Eventually, King Ahab's family was wiped out by Jehu, a King that finally followed God's ways. God also used Jehu to get rid of Baal (Baal was a pagan god) worshipers in Israel.(2 Kings 18-31) He provided for Israel COUNTLESS times a way out of their sin and hurtful disobedience. Our Father is love, and He never gives up on His people.

Job 38:4-7-"Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much. Who determined its dimensions and stretched out the surveying line? What supports its foundations, and who laid its cornerstone as the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?"

Psalm 121:3-6-"He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps. The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade. The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night."

Romans 5:7-8-"Now, most people would not be willing to die for an up-right person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners."

It is shown over and over and over again how GREAT, HOLY, FAITHFUL, and GOOD our Lord is in the Bible as well as the lives He's given to us. Our Father loves us so dearly. He will protect you and hold you up always as you walk through this life. It will be hard at times, but our Father will never fail you. He spoke the world into motion, and He knows what He's doing. When you pray today, think of His awesome power, fear Him, and trust in his love for you. He gives freely of His strength and forgiveness through the blood of Christ!

Ephesians 5:1-2-"Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God."

Thank you, God! Our Father is great. He is love. You are loved! God loves you. Be filled with peace, and keep measuring up! :)

-Jenna Hampton

with prayer and encouragement from the Heavenly Father who speaks through me.

To Be Saved

Romans 10:9-10-"If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are SAVED."

What does it take to be saved?

What are you being saved from?

What will last forever?

For my fiftieth post, God has called me to do a short Q&A about these three things. So, without hesitation, I will start!!!

1. What does it take to be saved?

You have to believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that Jesus is LORD. Also, that God raised Him from the dead. (Romans 10:9-10) Lord means--A person who has authority, control, or power over others; a master, chief, or ruler. So, you have to give Jesus authority over you, letting Him lead you, instead of going your own way. We are all sinners, though, which is why Jesus had to die. If you confess your sins to God, and believe that He can forgive you through Jesus' blood, and confess with your mouth that He can, then God will forgive you and make you clean and pure through the blood of Jesus! (1 John 1:9) There's NOTHING bad enough that you can do to ever make God stop loving you (Romans 8:38), and there's no sin big enough that God can't forgive. Ask God for forgiveness! He will forgive, and that's all it takes TO BE SAVED. :) Don't ever doubt your salvation if you have done all that. Live it. Read it. Believe it!

2. What are you being saved from?

The Bible tells us that the punishment for sin (disobedience to God in any way) is spiritual death. (Romans 6:23) Of course, we will all physically die, because we are all human. Spiritually, though, we don't have to. Have you ever heard someone say they were 'Born Again Christians', or have you ever been asked if you were 'born again'? That's because if you have never asked Christ into your heart--you're dead. You are not truly living unless Christ's Spirit is in your heart. (The Holy Ghost) That's why if a sinful person who doesn't know God dies, they go to Hell to live in death and torture forever. That's what you DON'T want to happen. That's what you're being saved from. God's not calling me to look up in the Word the descriptions of Hell, but I'm pretty sure you've heard that it's not a fun place to go to. It's pretty much the worst place in existence. Since we are all dead spiritually in sin, God sent Christ to provide a way for life. That's why Jesus says He is the way, the truth, and the life. (John 14:6) When you are saved, (refer to Question One ^) you become 'born again' of the Spirit of God, for He is bringing you back to life with His Spirit and forgiveness. Don't EVER doubt that you are going to heaven if you are saved! Live it. Read it. Believe it!

3. What will last forever?

Three things--faith, hope, and love--and the greatest of these is love. (1Corinthians 13:13) Also, God will last forever, because He IS love. (1 John 4:8 and 4:16) Also, the spirits of those who are saved will last forever, living in eternal life. (John 3:16) So, 1 Corinthians 13:13 covers it all! We will last forever through our FAITH. God will last forever, for He is LOVE, and He is the greatest, and HOPE will last forever. Check this out: Revelation 21:5-7-"And the one sitting on the throne said, 'Look, I am making everything new!' And then he said to me, 'Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.' And he also said, 'It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega--the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children." This will happen! Have HOPE in the return of Jesus! You will last forever if you are saved, along with God, and with HOPE. Love never loses hope. (1 Corinthians 13:7) Live it. Read it. Believe it! Faith, hope, and love forever!!! :)

I pray that you would open your heart to these questions, answers, and Word from God, and let them sink into your heart. Don't be afraid to ask questions! God can help you find the answers. He will, you just need to ask. God is good!

Keep Measuring Up, and striving to be more like Christ. You are loved. Now go, have a great day, and let God lead the way! :)

-Jenna Hampton
with inspiration and thoughts from many people, a lot of time reading the Word, help from God, and so much more! Thank you, Lord, for providing everything I need to reach people through this blog. To You be the Glory!!! :)

Summary Of Measuring Up (49th Post)

1 Thessalonians 5:5-11-"For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don't belong to darkness and night. So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded. Night is the time when people sleep and drinkers get drunk. But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation. For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us. Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can living with him forever. So ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER and BUILD EACH OTHER UP, just as you are already doing."

God has called me to do a summary of all the verses He's had me go over and share about in this blog for the 49Th post. In case some of you were wondering, I got off Febook, because it was too distracting to me, taking up too much time, and I didn't need it. So, since I can't post a link to this on facebook anymore, if you really like my posts, please share them with people!!! I would really appreciate it. Also, e-mail me if you have any ideas for posts. My next posts are going to be over the Lord's Prayer.

PROVERBS 31:30-"Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised."

God knows that true beauty comes from the inside. Why focus on outer appearance that is here for a little while, and then fades away? Focus on God, and He will make you beautiful inside and out. Even today, strive to be a Proverbs 31 Woman: "She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future. When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness. She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness. Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her: 'There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!'"-Proverbs 31:25-29 written by Solomon, inspired by God. :)

1 CORINTHIANS 13:4-7-"Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance."

At K-West this summer when I was there, (that is a Christian Athletics summer camp) a kid got to go up in front of everyone and talk about the importance of the Bible in his life. One of his favorite scriptures was 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, and he said if everyone followed just these four verses of the Bible, just think about how much different our world would be...Strive to live these verses out today and always by loving everyone you know. Love is so important to God, he says it is the greatest!!! He is love! 1 Corinthians 13:13-"Three things will last forever--faith, hope, and love--and the greatest of these is love."

1 TIMOTHY 4:12-"Don't let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believer in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity."

This verse speaks loudly to those who have felt like they are too small to make a difference. Take heart!!! We can do whatever God calls us to do by obeying Him, knowing His Word, and trusting Him to strengthen and help us-no matter who we are or how old we are. "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish is work so that you many be mature and complete not lacking anything."-James 1:2-4 'Perseverance is KEY!!!'

BE ON GUARD-Proverbs 4:20-23-"My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don't lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body. GUARD your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life."

Guard what you see. (Psalm 101:3) Guard what you hear. (2 Timothy 1:13) Guard what you drink. (Proverbs 20:1) Guard what you speak. (Colossians 4:6) Guard your touch. (1 Corinthians 6:18-20) Guard your mind. (Philippians 4:8) Above all else, GUARD YOUR HEART. (Proverbs 4:23) As Christians, we are called to be on guard against the enemy in every way, and not to let him enter into our hearts and minds. God is the best bodyguard ever!!! :)

EPHESIANS 6:13-17-"Therefore, put on every piece of God's armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God's righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."

Shoes of peace? Check. Body armor of God's righteousness? Check. Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, which is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword?(Hebrews 4:12) Check! Sure, the devil is strong, but God is stronger!!! He loves us so much, that even though He allows us to be tempted, He also always provides a way for us to say, 'No thanks, Satan. I'll choose to obey God.' If you want to stay planted in a relationship with God, put on the armor that He gives you through faith and through the Holy Spirit, and you will be victorious! Matthew 12:28-29-"But if I am casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you. For who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man like Satan and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger--someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house." Christ has overcome Satan!!! Thanks to Him, we are free! :)

Have a great day!!! Thanks for reading. Keep Measuring up. You are loved!
-Jenna Hampton
with a lot of encouragement from others, and answered prayers from God, the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End.

Faith Without Works Is Dead

James 2:14-17-"What good is it, dear brothers and sister, if you say you have faith but don't show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no clothing, and you say, 'Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well'--but then you don't give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? So you see, faith by itself isn't enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is DEAD and useless."

This Scripture used to confuse me. 'Faith by itself isn't enough' it says. What??? Didn't the Bible just tell us that all we need is faith to be saved? Yes, it did. To understand this passage, you have to read it in context. It also says, 'What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don't show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone?' Here are three key things I think this verse is saying, and that God is leading me to share:

1. Ask yourself, 'Can the people around me see that I have faith in Jesus by the way I live my life?' Or similarly, 'Does my life look any different now than when I wasn't saved?' If the answer is yes, most definitely, you can move on to number 3. If the answer is no, read number 2. (There is only yes and no. There is no I don't know, maybe, or I guess so)

2. If the answer to those questions is no, than you need to have a serious heart check. When you sin, do you feel bad about it? Does something inside of you prompt you to change your behavior? If you do, change your behavior by reading and following God's Word, as well as following the prompts in your heart. Before long, I promise your life will look different! If not, you either need to ask God to help you out of that sin, or accept His forgiveness and ask the Holy Ghost into your heart. He can change you for the better!!! Want to be saved, but don't know how? Check out Romans 10:9-10.

3. When your life looks different than other people's lives, they notice. One great thing about being saved is that God can help you to show His love to others, and bring them to Christ. I challenge you today to LIVE OUT YOUR FAITH, even when it's hard, and even when you might get made fun of for it. People may ask you why you act differently, and God might use you as a tool to save someone else. Isn't that neat? 'What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don't show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone?'

"Believe like a Jesus Freak. Pray like a Jesus Freak. Worship Like a Jesus Freak. Study like a Jesus Freak. Love like a Jesus Freak. Stand like a Jesus Freak. Forgive like a Jesus Freak. Rejoice like a Jesus Freak. Serve like a Jesus Freak. Witness like a Jesus Freak."-Live Like a Jesus Freak by dc Talk.

John 8:31-32-"Jesus said to the people who believed in him, 'You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

Philippians 1:6-"And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns."

Romans 8:38-"And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries for tomorrow--not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love."

Keep Measuring Up! You know the TRUTH, so live it! Don't let your life look like an empty glass to others, but show them how full you are in Christ! :) You are loved.

-Jenna Hampton
with Live Like a Jesus Freak, a picture from Google, and a whole lot of prayer!!!

Summary Of Wearing The Armor Of God

Ephesians 6:13-17-"Therefore, put on every piece of God's armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God's righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."

THE BELT OF TRUTH:

John 14:6-"Jesus told him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me."

Jesus tells us that He is the truth. That should be easy to believe, but sometimes it isn't. Satan gives us all sorts of things like doubts, worldly things that look like the truth, and harp ships that make us turn away from the truth of a Christian way of life. We are called, though, to put on the belt of truth, and to tell Satan to take a hike! Just by reading God's Word and remembering all the things He has done for us, we can know that everything we believe in is true.

Put on the belt of truth today, and realize that God only speaks what is true! Keep Measuring Up. You are loved!

THE BODY ARMOR OF GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS:

Deuteronomy 31:6-"So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you."

Probably the biggest benefit of wearing the righteousness of God is that we KNOW that by our faith, He has forgiven us, and we have become righteous in His sight.

Satan may sometimes trick you into thinking that you have done things so bad, that you can't be forgiven by God, or that you will never become righteous. When he gives you those thoughts, pray for forgiveness, and put on the body armor of God's righteousness! He's with you always, and He will never fail you. Even when you die, you will be protected, for you will inherit the Kingdom of Heaven! God is good!

THE PEACE THAT COMES FROM THE GOOD NEWS SHOES:

Ephesians 4:14-"Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won't be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth."

Satan tries to trick your mind into believing all sorts of wrong things about God, life, and even yourself. Even though he can be very cunning, as Christians, we have a weapon that he can't get past-our shoes of peace! You have the Holy Spirit living in you if you have accepted Christ. His job is to guide you and show you what to believe and what to do with your life. Put on the shoes of peace today, and start walking through your day. If God fills you with peace about something, He is probably happy you are doing it. If you are filled with something other than peace, well, you might want to think twice about what you are up to! Stand firm, and you will become stronger.

THE SHIELD OF FAITH:

Matthew 16:7-10-"At this they began to argue with each other because they hadn't brought any bread. Jesus knew what they were saying, so he said, 'You have so little faith! Why are you arguing with each other about having no bread? Don't you understand even yet? Don't you remember the 5,000 I fed with five loaves, and the baskets of leftovers you picked up? Or the 4,000 I fed with seven loaves, and the large baskets of leftovers you picked up?"

If you ever have trouble putting your faith in God-REMEMBER everything He has done for you in the past. Satan will try and make your view of God's power smaller, but don't let him! Take up your shield of faith everyday, and believe that whatever God calls you to do can be done by you, just as the people in the Bible and in history have done what God called them to do. The One True God can move mountains! He is good! Never forget it!

SALVATION AS YOUR HELMET:

1 Corinthians 15:54-57-"Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: 'Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?' For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Have you ever thought about the power of sin on your life, or the sting of death? Have you ever been afraid of dying, or been uncertain about what will happen when you die? Well, you don't have to be! Take heart! Christ Jesus lives, and He has payed the price for your sins. Trust in Him, give your life to Him, and death will lose its grip on your heart. Put on the helmet of salvation today when the devil tries to scare you, and remember that God is good! We have victory forever in Jesus. :)

Keep Measuring Up and working hard for the Lord! You are forever loved.

THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT; THE WORD OF GOD:

Hebrews 4:12-"For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is SHARPER than the SHARPEST two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our INNERMOST THOUGHTS and DESIRES."

How did Jesus overcome His temptation? He knew the Word of God!!! Sometimes it is hard to make time to read the Word everyday, and even when we do read it, sometimes it's hard to actually apply it to our lives and understand it. Think of the Bible as a love letter! If someone you had a crush on wrote you a 66 Book love letter over the course of 4000 years telling about how he saved all of humanity from sure destruction by His loving and just and perfect plan, wouldn't you be eager to read it? Well, that's the Bible! If you can't find time to read it, try to find something you could give up to have more time. In 8Th grade, God led me to read a chapter in the New Testament everyday before I left for school instead of spending extra time on my hair or clothes. This summer, God helped me finish the New Testament! If you don't understand what the Bible says, or know how to apply it, pray before every time you read the Bible that God would bless the reading of His Word, and open your heart up to it so that you can understand it, apply it, and use it to defeat Satan!

Keep Measuring Up! Make sure to carry your Sword of the Spirit so that when the devil tempts you, you can tell him to read it and weep! You are loved dearly by the Creator of the Universe. Get it? Got it? Good. :)

John 16:33-"I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world."

-Jenna Hampton
with many great verses from God's Word, and much thought, prayer, and elbow grease.

The Sword Of The Spirit; The Word Of God

Ephesians 6:13-17-"Therefore, put on every piece of God's armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God's righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT; which is THE WORD OF GOD."

Oh, the devil comes on strong in this world and we have to use everything we have to fight him off!!! God has given us the belt of truth and the body armor of God's righteousness to help us stand our ground, the shoes of peace that comes from the Good News so that we will be fully prepared, the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil, and salvation as our helmet. All of these are to guard our hearts from the devil's tricky schemes. What about offense? How do we win the battle against the devil instead of only protecting ourselves? We need the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.

Matthew 4:1-11-"Then Jesus was lead by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry. During that time the devil came and said to him, 'If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.' But Jesus told him, 'No! THE SCRIPTURES SAY, 'People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.' Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, 'If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, 'He will order his angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won't even hurt your foot on a stone.' Jesus responded, 'THE SCRIPTURES ALSO SAY, 'You must not test the Lord Your God.' Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him the kingdoms of the world and all their glory. 'I will give it all to you,' he said, 'if you will kneel down and worship me.' 'Get out of here, Satan,' Jesus told him. 'For THE SCRIPTURES SAY, 'You must worship the Lord your God and serve only Him.' Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.'

How did Jesus overcome his temptation? He knew the Word of God!!! Sometimes it is hard to make time to read the Word everyday, and even when we do read it, sometimes it's hard to actually apply it to our lives or understand it. Think of the Bible as a love letter! If someone you had a crush on wrote you a 66 Book love letter over the course of about 4000 years telling about how he saved all of humanity from sure destruction by His loving and just and perfect plan, wouldn't you be eager to read it? Well, that's the Bible! If you can't find time to read it, try to find something you could give up to have more time. In 8Th grade, God lead me to read a chapter in the New Testament everyday before I left for school instead of spending extra time on my hair or clothes. This summer, God helped me to finish the New Testament! If you don't understand what the Bible says, or don't know how to apply it, pray before every time you read the Bible that God would bless the reading of His Word, and open your heart up to it so that you can understand it, apply it, and use it to defeat Satan!

2 Timothy 3:16-"All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness."

Psalm 119:105-"Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path."

Psalm 119:9,11-"How can a young person stay pure? By obeying Your Word... I have hidden Your Word in my heart, that I might not sin against You."

1 Peter 23-25-"For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living Word of God. As the Scriptures say, 'People are like grass; their beauty is like a flower in the field. The grass withers and the flower fades. But the Word of the Lord remains forever.' And that Word is the Good News that was preached to you."

Hebrews 4:12-"For the Word of God is ALIVE and POWERFUL. It is SHARPER than the SHARPEST TWO-EDGED SWORD, cutting between SOUL and SPIRIT, between JOINT and MARROW. It exposes our INNERMOST THOUGHTS and DESIRES."

Keep Measuring UP! Make sure to carry your Sword of the Spirit so that when the devil tries to temp you, you can tell him to read it and weep! You are loved.

-Jenna Hampton

with ideas inspired by Kanakuk Kamp staff, and much help from God!!! :)

Salvation As Your Helmet

Ephesians 6:13-17-"Therefore, put on every piece of God's armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God's righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on SALVATION AS YOUR HELMET, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."

Salvation. How is putting salvation on as your helmet different from putting of the body armor of God's righteousness? Probably the best way to see the difference is to look at the definition of salvation:

1. The act of saving or protecting from harm, risk, loss, destruction, etc.

2. The state of being saved or protected from harm, risk, etc.

3. A source, cause, or means of being saved or protected from harm, risk, etc.

Romans 6:23-"For the WAGES of SIN is DEATH, but the FREE gift of GOD is ETERNAL LIFE through Christ Jesus our LORD."

If we are going to put on the helmet of salvation (the state of being saved from harm or destruction), don't we need to first know what we are being saved from? Let's break down Romans 6:23. First, it says "For the wages of sin is death." That means that if we sin, which we all do, we deserve to die not only physically, but also spiritually by being thrown into hell. Thankfully, though, that's not the end of the story. Paul goes on to say, "...but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord." God has given us the best gift ever! Instead of letting us die and pay the price for all the wrong we have done, He sent His Son to pay the price for us so that we can have salvation, eternal life, and hope, if we have faith in Jesus, and give Him our lives.

1 Corinthians 15:54-57-"Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: 'Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?' For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Have you ever thought about the power of sin on your life, or the sting of death? Have you ever been afraid of dying, or been uncertain about what will happen when you die? Well, you don't have to be! Take heart! Christ Jesus lives, and He has payed the price for your sins. Trust in Him, give your life to Him, and death will lose it's grip on your heart. Put on the helmet of salvation today when the devil tries to scare you, and remember that God is good! We have victory forever in Jesus. :)

1 Corinthians 15:58-"So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless."

Keep Measuring Up, and working hard for the Lord! You are forever loved.

-Jenna Hampton

with dictionary.com and guidance from the Holy Ghost!

The Shield Of Faith

Ephesians 6:13-17-"Therefore, put on every piece of God's armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God's righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the SHIELD OF FAITH to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God."

Do you have your armor on yet today? 1. Belt of truth 2. Body armor of God's righteousness 3. Shoes of peace 4. Shield of faith? Paul tells us in Ephesians 6 that we need the shield of faith to protect us from the fiery arrows of the devil. Oh yeah, you have probably felt the heat of those fiery arrows a time or two. He shoots us with all sorts of things like doubt, self-pity, worries, weakness, and temptation. By shielding our heart with the faith we have in OUR BIG, LOVING GOD, we can block his arrows and do more than we had ever thought possible or imagined.

1 Samuel 17:32-37-
"'Don't worry about this Philistine,' David told Saul. 'I'll go fight him!'
'Don't be ridiculous!' Saul replied. 'There's no way you can fight this Philistine and possibly win! You're only a boy, and he's been a man of war since his youth.'
But David resisted. 'I have been taking care of my father's sheep and goats,' he said. 'When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death. I have done this to both lions and bears, and I'll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God! The LORD who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!'
Saul finally consented. 'All right, go ahead,' he said. 'And may the Lord be with you!'"

David had remarkable courage-why? It was because he took up his shield of faith everyday and trusted the Lord to rescue him from the mouths of lions and bears, and from the hands of Goliath. Because he trusted and obeyed God instead of giving into the devil's fiery arrows, he saved the Israelites from Goliath, and eventually became Israel's greatest king.

Matthew 16:7-10-"At this they began to argue with each other because they hadn't brought any bread. Jesus knew what they were saying, so he said, 'You have so little faith! Why are you arguing with each other about having no bread? Don't you understand even yet? Don't you remember the 5,000 I fed with five loaves, and the baskets of leftovers you picked up? Or the 4,000 I fed with seven loaves, and the large baskets of leftovers you picked up?"

If you ever have trouble putting your faith in God-REMEMBER everything He has done for you in the past. Satan will try and try to make your view of God's power smaller, but don't let him! Take up your shield of faith everyday, and believe that whatever God calls you to do can be done by you, just as the people in the Bible and in history have done what God called them to do. The One True God can move mountains! He is good! Never forget it!

2 Samuel 5 1-3-"Then all the tribes of Israel went to David at Hebron and told him, 'We are your own flesh and blood. In the past, when Saul was our king, you were the one who really led the forces of Israel. And the LORD told you, 'You will be the shepherd of my people Israel. You will be Israel's leader.''
So there at Hebron, King David made a covenant before the LORD with all the elders of Israel. And they anointed him king of Israel."

Keep Measuring up! You are loved :)

-Jenna Hampton
with encouraging words from God's Holy Bible.

The Shoes Of Peace From The Good News

Ephesians 6:13-17-"Therefore, put on every piece of God's armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God's righteousness. For SHOES, PUT ON THE PEACE THAT COMES FROM THE GOOD NEWS so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."

So, now we have got on the belt of truth and the body armor of God's righteousness. We know that He is the truth, and we know that by His power and grace, we have been declared righteous. What do we wear for shoes? Ephesians 6 says "For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News." What does that mean exactly? Here is something Charles Spurgeon wrote that I relate to this phrase.

"My own sight of the precious blood is for my comfort; but it is the Lord's sight of it which secures my safety. Even when I am unable to behold it, the Lord looks at it, and passes over me because of it. None can tell His delight in Jesus. Now rest we in calm security. We have God's sacrifice and God's word to create in us a sense of perfect security. He will, He must, pass over us, because He spared not our glorious substitute. Justice joins hands with love to provide everlasting salvation for all the blood-besprinkled ones."-Charles H. Spurgeon

In a way, the peace that comes from the Good News can be related to passover thousands of years ago in Egypt. Their homes are like our hearts, and the blood they sprinkled above their doors is like the sacrificed blood we have accepted from Christ. I don't know about you, but I am filled with peace when I think about how much Jesus loves me, and that I won't be destroyed by the wrath of God when He judges the world!

Exodus 12:13-"But the blood on your doorposts will serve as a sign, marking the houses where you are staying. When I see that blood, I will pass over you. this plague of death will not touch you when I strike the land of Egypt."

Satan tries to trick your mind into believing all sorts of wrong things about God, life, and even yourself. Even though he can be very cunning, as Christians, we have a weapon that he can't get past-our shoes of peace! You have the Holy Spirit living in you if you have accepted Christ. His job is to guide you and show you what to believe and what to do with your life. Put on the shoes of peace today, and start walking through your day. If God fills you with peace about something, He probably is happy you are doing it. If you are filled with something other than peace, well, you might want to think twice about whatever you are up to! Stand firm, and you will become stronger.

Ephesians 4:14-"Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won't be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth."

Isaiah 41:13-"I will hold you always in the palm of my hand."

Keep Measuring UP! You are and always will be loved.

-Jenna Hampton
with Charles H. Spurgeon and some pretty awesome shoes, given to me by the Good News :)

A Lily Among Thorns

Song of Solomon 2:2-"Like a lily among thistles is my darling among young women."

A couple of years ago at camp, we had a purity night. After Joe White gave a great speech, the girls went to the cafeteria and, among other things, we received a piece of paper with thoughts from all of the guy counselors (college age guys) about what they look for in a girl. These guys are all Christ followers, and it is very interesting to see what they look for in a girl. Honestly, it is probably much different than you would think. God has been leading me to put this on Measuring Up, so I am going to share it!

"Three things I look for in a girl (that are observed)

1. Serving- how and whom does she serve?

2. Prayer- does she seek God so much that I have to get close to God to get close to her?

3. Modesty- does she dress and act tastefully or classy in order to not cause her brothers in Christ to stumble?"

"The things that are most attractive about girls are usually contrary to what they hear guys find attractive. When a girl is modest (and by that I mean when she dresses in a way that's not revealing-including shorts that are long and shirts that cover well) that is so attractive because I know she is content in who she is and is not trying to find the approval through guys. Also, when she is humble and simply loves others in all she does shows that she has a true relationship with the Lord and has her priorities straight. Yeah, you might get some guys' attention by dressing less modestly, but that is not a healthy attention. Find who you are in Christ, not the acceptance of others. Every girl is beautiful, even if you don't feel that way. It's time. And it's likely that you'll meet someone who feels that way about your character and your appearance... and they'll be worth waiting for. I promise. That's how God designed it. P.S. Loving all people is a great thing to see in a girl too!"

"One of the most important qualities a Christian guy looks for in Christian girls are girls who are genuine. By that I mean if they are a Christian, they should live like one and encourage others in their faith. For me one of the most frustrating things is finding a girl who says they are one thing when they are actually someone completely different. Simply put, to be a Proverbs 31 woman, girls must put God before all things loving and glorifying Him in everything they do."

"A passion to disciple/love people"

"Reverence for the Word of God"

"A quiet reverent spirit"

"Verbally affirming and encouraging"

"Cares for others"

"Encourages and challenges"

"Doesn't gossip. Isn't cocky"

"Servant heart"

"Sees the best in every situation. Positive"

"Content, but not satisfied"

"Seek after the Lord more than boys"

"Confident in herself (doesn't allow the world to dictate who she is)"

"Honest with self"

"Smiles a lot"

"Gentleness in her words. Respectful"

"Listens to all advice (respects others)"

"Quick to forgive others when wronged"

"Christian actively seeking God"

"Family oriented"

"Honest in all situations, distinguishes friendship from flirting"

"Joyful. Finds her identity in Christ, not guys"

"Selfless"

"Gets along with other girls (not drama queen)"

"Pleasant to be around, smiling, positive (Negative Nancy's aren't fun)"

"Elegant and ladylike"

"Goofy and not afraid to be stupid"

"Consistency"

"No drama"

"Genuinely cares for those around her"

"Don't be forward (in relation to flirting)"

"Assertive (not aggressive)-this is easily mistaken- it means she is not passive but speaks about what she believes. (bold)"

"A teachable heart"

"Willingness to listen and know when to speak"

"Modesty"

"Gentle, persevering, self-motivated"

"Christ-centered"

"Genuine, integrity, mystery"

"Serving"

"Dress modestly (direct your beauty to your face)"

"Doesn't seek attention with clothes"

"Modest"

"Good moral values"

"Loyal/Modesty/Humility/Loving others"

God has a perfect plan for your life-including marriage. He probably has a guy out there right now who will want to marry you someday, and you may know him right now, or you may not. Throughout your life, keep this in mind: A true Christian guy looks for a modest, encouraging, serving, loving, respectful, and God-centered girl to be friends with and date. If you start to like a guy who is interested in you for other reasons than these- kick him to the curb! He is not the guy that God has planned for you, and he will never be nearly as good.

Song of Solomon 8:4-"Promise me, O women of Jerusalem, not to awaken love until the time is right."

Proverbs 31:30-"Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised."

Keep Measuring up! You are loved.

-Jenna Hampton

with quotes from Christian guys and lots of thought and guidance from God :)

The Body Armor of God's Righteousness

Ephesians 6:13-17-"Therefore, put on every piece of God's armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the BODY ARMOR OF GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."

Here are two questions I am aiming to answer in this post:

1. What is the benefit of wearing God's armor of righteousness, as opposed to not wearing it?

2. How can we obtain righteousness before God?

Probably the biggest benefit of wearing the righteousness of God is that we KNOW that by our faith, He has forgiven us, and we have become righteous in his sight. Therefore, we will inherit the Kingdom of Heaven, and share in His eternal glory! No one can touch you when you are wearing the righteousness of God. You know where you are going, and you know who is always with you!

Romans 8:31-"What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?"

"Advantages of the Kingdom of God:

1. God has done everything necessary to make our pardon possible.

2. We will not be required to observe the entire Mosaic Law.

3. We are declared legally righteous, justified and acquitted by God.

4. We will not experience God's wrath.

5. We are part of God's kingdom and family.

6. We will not spiral downward into depravity.

7. We experience peace with God.

8. We experience the glory of God.

9. It is a free gift.

10. Inner transformation; we gradually become truly good.

Disadvantages of choosing something but God:

1. No one succeeds.

2. Experience God's just wrath.

3. Miss out on experiencing God and his kingdom.

4. Miss out on the purposeful, abundant life God offers.

5. Miss out on becoming truly good and truly fulfilled."-A church bulletin from a Carmel Church

Please realize that the righteousness that God can give you is so wonderful! And it's free! It comes by faith. John 3:16-"For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." Jesus is our advocate before God. If you have faith in him, confess your sins, and promise to live your life for Him, your sins will be forgiven and you will be declared righteous before God! Jesus payed the price of YOUR sins on the cross, so that you can stand righteous before God. :)

Satan may sometimes trick you into thinking that you have done things so bad, that you can't be forgiven by God, or that you will never be righteous. When he gives you those thoughts, pray for forgiveness, and put on the body armor of God's righteousness! He's with you always, and He will never fail you. Even when you die, you will be protected, for you will inherit the Kingdom of Heaven! God is good!

Deuteronomy 31:6-"So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you."

-Jenna Hampton

with notes from a Church in Carmel, and so many good verses from God's Word!

The Belt of Truth

Ephesians 6:13-17-"Therefore, put on every piece of God's armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on THE BELT OF TRUTH and the body armor of God's righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."

As I started thinking about what to say in this post, I was wondering: "What is 'truth' exactly. How can I define it?" So, I looked it up in the dictionary-

TRUTH

1. The true or actual state of a matter

2. Conformity with fact or reality

3. A verified or indisputable fact, proposition, principle, or the like

Okay, so we can see that the truth is anything that is a fact, reality, or actually true. In a world where so many people are trying to convince us that what they believe is true, it's difficult to find something that we can KNOW is true. "You can loose weight in just three days with no effort, if you buy this pill!" Is that the truth? "I will be the best boyfriend ever, and I will always 'love' you." Is that the truth? "God doesn't really care about us. We've done too many bad things to get his love." Is THAT the truth?

John 14:6-"Jesus told him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me."

Jesus tells us that He is the truth. That should be easy to believe, but sometimes it isn't. Satan gives us all sorts of things like doubts, worldly things that look like the truth, and hardships that make us turn away from the truth of a Christian way of life. We are called, though, to put on the belt of truth, and to tell Satan to take a hike! Just by reading God's Word and remembering all the things God has done for us, we can know that everything we believe in is true.

"The Bible is like no other book in the world. It is filled with internal evidence that it is the Word of God. No other religion has a book filled with prophecies fulfilled one right after the other. The few books that have even attempted this have been proven to be written by false prophets who cannot foretell the future. But you can trust in the Bible, which is the true Word of God, who proves that He is the Author of it by fulfilled prophecies."-Matthew McGee

Ephesians 1:13-"And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago."

Put on the belt of truth today, and realize that God only speaks what is true! Keep measuring up. You are loved. :)

-Jenna Hampton

with Matthew McGee, Dictionary.com, and many prayers

Summary Of Being On Guard

GUARD WHAT YOU SEE-

Psalm 101:3-"I will set no worthless thing before my eyes; I hate the work of all those who fall away; it shall not fasten its grip on me."

What will you do to literally guard your eyes? I decided not to look at "those magazines", I only watch G and PG movies, and I watch Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network on T.V. Yeah, it's hard to stand up for what I believe in, and yeah I get made fun of sometimes, but it's worth it! I'm so glad that when I close my eyes, there are no bad images stuck in my head. Plus, I know it's exactly what God wants me to do!

GUARD WHAT YOU HEAR-

2 Timothy 1:13-"Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus."

Things you hear turn into thoughts, and thoughts turn into actions. So be careful! Examine the

things you listen to today, and think about whether you should be more careful about what you hear. If God wouldn't approve, just click it off! A good radio station in OKC and Edmond is Air One on 90.9 FM. You can also listen to it online in other states at Air1.com.

GUARD WHAT YOU DRINK-

Proverbs 20:1-"Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise."

Please think about your life, and if there is anything you need to change in your relationship with alcohol. Maybe, you are not even thirsty for the "pleasure" it gives. Maybe you are just thirsty for life! There is only One who gives free, satisfying water to anyone who believes! You can do all things through Christ who can satisfy your thirst.

GUARD WHAT YOU SPEAK-

Colossians 4:6-"Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned, as it were, with salt, so that you may know how you should respond to each person."

Guarding your speech is very wise! Think about this: do the things you say to and about others reflect what you believe? Kind words are like honey, sweet and good for the soul! Give some to people who need it today. Don't gossip, don't curse, and don't lie or use bad sarcasm! Well, that's the goal anyway. Aim for that, and remember how much speech can say about you as a person. Let your speech reflect your belief in God! You are loved.

GUARD YOUR TOUCH-

1 Corinthians 6:18-20-"Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does! For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body. Don't you realize that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body."

Your purity is so important! It's not something to be messed around with. If you date someone and let them break down your walls (let them kiss you, let them become more important than God, let them cause you to lie to your parents about things) then sooner or later you will end up doing something you didn't plan on. One piece of dirt can ruin a glass of pure water. One dirty memory can ruin your pureness. Know your boundaries, and stick to them!

GUARD YOUR MIND-

Philippians 4:8-"And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise."

God really wants to teach you wisdom and show you the right way to live your life! He can only do that, though, if you choose to think about Him. Think about what you have been thinking about today, and remember to be careful about the things you let into your mind. It's truly a battlefield, and it may take some time for you to really give your thoughts over to God, but it will be worth it when you do! You are loved.

GUARD YOUR HEART-

Psalm 119:11-"I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you."

Proverbs 4:20-23-"My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don't loose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body. GUARD YOUR HEART ABOVE ALL ELSE, FOR IT DETERMINES THE COURSE OF YOUR LIFE."

You've got a great bodyguard- CHRIST. Ask him to help you guard your eyes, ears, lips, thirst, touch, mind, and heart. God loves you, and He shows it with His actions. Ask Him to help you, and He will show you the way. Follow it. It's worth it. You are loved!

Keep measuring up!

-Jenna Hampton

with some awesome quotes from God's Word.

Guard Your Heart

Psalm 119:11-"I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you."

"We are never out of reach of temptation. Both at home and abroad, we are liable to meet with allurements of evil; the morning opens with peril, and the shades of evening find us still in jeopardy. They are well kept whom God keeps; but woe unto those who go forth into the world, or even dare to walk their own house unarmed. Those who think themselves secure, are more exposed to danger than any others. The armor-bearer of Sin is Self-confidence. Be not secure. We need, a watchman for the night, as well as a guardian for the day. Oh, for the constraining love of Jesus to keep us active and useful!"-Charles H. Spurgeon

"Worldly things are armed and ready to break into your heart. Don't let them come in. It's hard to say no- not because it's 'uncool' or will make you stand out, but because it takes courage."-Chloe Webber

Proverbs 4:20-23-"My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don't lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body. GUARD YOUR HEART ABOVE ALL ELSE, FOR IT DETERMINES THE COURSE OF YOUR LIFE."

One of the best things that the Holy Spirit can teach you is to guard your heart. Think of someone you know who you consider to have a good heart. Why do you think that about them? Probably because of the way they live. Think even further about that person. Do they guard their heart, letting only good and godly things in, or do they let their guard down when faced with temptation? Remember today to guard your heart and really think about your life. Maybe your heart needs some repairing. You've come to the right place! Jesus took the fall so that you could have it all. :)

"Can God restore spiritual virginity to someone who has had premarital sex? Yes. Absolutely yes. He does it every day. Can God remove guilt and help you forgive yourself? Yes. He can and does every day. With God, forgiveness is instantaneous as we confess our sin and turn from it. Our own forgiveness of ourselves sometimes takes longer, but it grows as we make the right choices and live in purity."-Joe White in Pure Excitement

1 Corinthians 10:13-"The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. when you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure."

You are loved! Keep measuring up.

-Jenna Hampton

with Chloe Webber, Joe White, and Charles H. Spurgeon, and endurance

Guard Your Mind

Philippians 4:8-"And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise."

"A sincere boy came to me for counsel one summer day at our sports camp. Masturbation had become a problem. But the thing that bothered him the most was that every time he looked at a girl, his mind took her clothes off. It was killing him inside! 'What do I do?' he pleaded. Coincidentally, my straightforward 12-year-old daughter came walking by. I asked her to sit down and, leaving out the details, asked her to advise him. She simply looked him in the eyes and said, 'Mike, tell me, what kind of movies do you watch?' He knew what his problem was immediately. Satan had won his mind, and the only thing the boy knew to do was to masturbate and mentally rape girls. With prayer and some serious changes in his Friday- and Saturday-night entertainment, Mike won his mind back and now enjoys freedom from lust most of the time." -Joe White in Pure Excitement

There is a constant battle going on between good and evil in your mind. It is your choice to allow positive or negative thoughts to become a habit. It is also your choice to decide what you will allow to be forever engraved in your head. Giving your mind over to Satan is one of the worst choices you can make. Guard your mind, and it will be really hard for him to shake you.

"Although I was a Christian, I was having trouble because I had not learned to control my thoughts. I thought about things that kept my mind busy but were not productive in a positive way. I needed to change my thinking! One thing the Lord told me when He began to teach me about the battlefield of the mind became a major turning point for me. He said, 'Think about what you're thinking about.' As I began to do so, it was not long before I began to see why I was having so much trouble in my life. My mind was a mess! I was thinking all the wrong things." -Joyce Meyer in Battlefield of the Mind

God really wants to teach you wisdom, and show you the right way to live your life! He can only do that, though, if you choose to think about Him. Think about what you've been thinking about today, and remember to be careful about the things you let into your mind. It's truly a battlefield, and it may take some time for you to really give your thoughts over to God, but it will be worth it when you do! Keep measuring up! You are loved :)

Mark 4:24-25-"Then he added, 'Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given-and you will receive even more. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them."

-Jenna Hampton
with Joe White, Joyce Meyer, and God's loving thoughts