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. :)