“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
‭‭John‬ ‭15:1-5‬ ‭ESV‬‬

All,This stands out because Jesus says, “Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit”. I love this verse! We can all chose to abide. It goes against my fleshly nature, but I’m so thankful that I get to abide in Christ all day because He died for me. He says “apart from me you can do nothing”. Do we expect to have the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22) if we are apart from Him? Yet there are many idols that draw us away from abiding. Please pray that we and our friends abide in Him today. Please pray for unbelievers.

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5:16-18‬ ‭ESV‬‬

All,Happy Thanksgiving! I’m going out of the reading plan to send this verse because it’s perfect for today. At first glance, this verse seems inspirational, and it is, but it also transforms us. Try obeying all three of these commands all day today. If there is any day this would be possible, it should be today. However, If we try to do any of these commands in our own power, we will fail eventually. That’s when we realize we can only live out these commands in the power of the Holy Spirit. Please pray that we and our friends walk by the Holy Spirit all day today. Please pray for all those who aren’t spending today with family.

“Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’ A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.””
‭‭John‬ ‭13:33-35‬ ‭ESV‬‬

All,This stands out because Jesus says, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another”. How do we love one another? Will being nice do it? How about never getting angry? We can create a long list of religious things to do, but never tap into “love one another”. Does God care about the great commission? Yes. What’s your part in making disciples? Ask God. C.S. Lewis says we have never met a mere mortal and everyone we meet will spend eternity somewhere. Do you love someone enough to care where they spend eternity? Please pray that we and our friends love one another. Please pray for safe travels.

“When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.”
‭‭John‬ ‭13:12-17‬ ‭ESV‬‬

All,This stands out because Jesus says, “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.” Washing feet was a job for the lowest of the low. If Jesus wants us to follow His example, He may ask us to serve in ways that only the “lowest of the low” do. It’s tempting to serve in ways that get noticed or is something we like doing? However, what would we say if Jesus nudged us to serve in a undesirable way? Please pray that we and our friends always say yes to Jesus. Please pray for people seeking a relationship with Jesus.

“And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.””
‭‭John‬ ‭12:44-50‬ ‭ESV‬‬

All,This stands out because Jesus says, “I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.” Jesus has a way of guiding our paths that is unexplainable. There is a nudge here and a nudge there that isn’t easily seen until we looked back and see His guidance. It seems like less control at first, but then you realize you are being guided by the One who has seen our tomorrow as clearly as He sees today. Please pray that we and our friends choose to walk in the light today. Please pray for Brad and Jeff’s group.

“Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.””
‭‭John‬ ‭11:21-27‬ ‭ESV‬‬

All,This stands out because Jesus says, “everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” Do YOU believe this? What about our friends that don’t? Where will they be in 100 years? Will they be upset with you for not wanting to help them? If you had the cure for cancer, would you tell a friend w cancer? Could you have had a relationship with them that allowed you to discuss Jesus at a deeper level with them? They will have eternity to think about that. Please pray that we and our friends love our unbelieving friends. Please pray for our country.

“Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.”
‭‭John‬ ‭11:1-6‬ ‭ESV‬‬

All,This stands out because John says, “Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.” Why does John tell us that Jesus loved Martha and Mary, “So” or therefore he delayed? Jesus knew what He was going to do and He knew how great Mary and Martha’s faith would grow after this instance if they went through this. Are we willing to go through great adversity to grow in even greater fellowship with Jesus? Please pray that we and our friends will suffer anything to be closer to Jesus. Please pray for all our CLC co-facilitators.

“At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me, but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.”
‭‭John‬ ‭10:22-28‬ ‭ESV‬‬

All,This stands out because Jesus says, “I told you, and you do not believe.” Jesus has told them many times before this that He is the Christ and they are still asking Him. Why? Would they need to submit if so? Would they lose their own “power”? It seems that most people who don’t believe don’t want to believe because they cannot be their own god if they do. Please pray that we and our friends be salt and light to those who will eventually realize that it’s not eternally good to be your own god. Please pray for our country.

“So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” There was again a division among the Jews because of these words. Many of them said, “He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?” Others said, “These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?””
‭‭John‬ ‭10:7-21‬ ‭ESV‬‬

All,This stands out because John says, “There was again a division among the Jews because of these words.” I love this passage because of John 10:10, but today the division stood out to me. Jesus constantly brings them to a point of decision. In this case, He is either crazy or He is the Christ. He also reveals Himself to us in our daily circumstances. Do we trust Him and obey Him or not trust and not obey. There really isn’t a middle ground and does require a decision. Please pray that we and our friends decide to trust Jesus. Please pray for a friend named Scott making a career decision.

“So for the second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, “Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner.” He answered, “Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?” And they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses.”
‭‭John‬ ‭9:24-28‬ ‭ESV‬‬

All,This stands out because the Pharisees say, “Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner.” The Pharisees set the narrative that Jesus is a sinner because their power is threatened by Him. How often does worldly power deceive in order to keep or attain power? Please pray that we and our friends see through the world’s schemes and seek truth. Please pray for Blake and Ben as they are building their group.