"Heaven Taking Charge on Earth" : Day #2 Lent

Today's reading was from Matthew 3, describing the ever so eccentric life of the man known as "John the Baptist". This prophet was calling people to repentance towards a wholehearted devotion to God. His message was simple: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." I heard the call to my own heart this morning as I read those words.

N.T. Wright's devotional this morning helped me define "kingdom of heaven":

"So when John the Baptist suddenly appeared, down near the river Jordan, telling people that 'heaven' was going to take charge on earth (that's what 'the kingdom of heaven' means), it's not surprising that everyone set off to find out what was going on."

I just got back from seeing the band Rend Collective play at The House of Blues, and they are absolutely wild. The energy they put into a live performance is, well, just awesome. They sang a song tonight called "Build Your Kingdom Here". As they sang, and as almost the whole audience danced along, I could hear John the Baptist's words in my mind.

This is my prayer on this second day of Lent:

"Build Your Kingdom Here"

Rend Collective Experiment

Come set Your rule and reign

in our hearts again.

Increase in us we pray.

Unveil why we're made.

Come set our hearts ablaze with hope

like wildfire in our very souls.

Holy Spirit, come invade us now.

We are Your church.

We need Your power in us.

We seek Your kingdom first.

We hunger and we thirst.

Refuse to waste our lives

for You're our joy and prize.

To see the captive hearts released.

The hurt, the sick, the poor at peace.

We lay down our lives for Heaven's cause.

We are Your church.

We pray revive this earth.

Build Your kingdom here.

Let the darkness fear.

Show Your mighty hand.

Heal our streets and land.

Set Your church on fire.

Win this nation back.

Change the atmosphere.

Build Your kingdom here.

We pray.

Unleash Your kingdom's power

reaching the near and far.

No force of Hell can stop

Your beauty changing hearts.

You made us for much more than this!

Awake the kingdom seed in us!

Fill us with the strength and love of Christ.

We are Your church.

We are the hope on earth.

Build Your kingdom here.

Let the darkness fear.

Show Your mighty hand.

Heal our streets and land.

Set Your church on fire.

Win this nation back.

Change the atmosphere.

Build Your kingdom here!

We pray!

Build Your kingdom here.

Let the darkness fear.

Show Your mighty hand.

Heal our streets and land!

Set Your church on fire!

Win this nation back.

Change the atmosphere!

Build Your kingdom here!

We pray!