“For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”‭‭James‬ ‭3:16-18‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/jas.3.16-18.esv
All,
This stands out because James says, “a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” The world will always have its issues that cause controversy and will never be solved by selfish ambition on either side. Selfish ambition and worldly wisdom wants to demean the opponent, where as wisdom from above is “pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” Please pray that we and our friends think of where we are getting our wisdom and seek a harvest of righteousness. Please pray for Bonni’s surgery today. Thanks. 

“If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it.”‭‭James‬ ‭2:8-10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/jas.2.8-10.esv
All,
Is it harder to love your neighbor as yourself or love God with ALL your heart? Both are IMPOSSIBLE in our own power. God obviously has greater wisdom than we can conceive of and yet He tries to transform us to live these laws. It also takes extreme faith to believe both these laws. They are both seemingly against our self interest which is precisely why they are the two greatest. Please pray that we and our friends dwell on loving God with all our hearts and our neighbor as ourselves today. Please pray for Bonni’s surgery tomorrow. Thank you. 

“Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”‭‭James‬ ‭1:13-17‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/jas.1.13-17.esv
All,
This stands out because James says, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above.” My mind gets confused in temptation. Temptation usually looks like a shortcut to get something I want, but if God is not in it, then it’s a trap. God loves us and provides for us with what we need with peace. Please pray that we and our friends trust God today in times of temptation. Please pray for the men considering CLC. 

“For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12:11‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/heb.12.11.esv
All,
This stands out because the writer of Hebrews says, “it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness”. Coach Bill Curry told us last year at our CLC Prayer breakfast that we can choose the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. He said the pain of discipline is tough but it’s short whereas the pain of regret lasts and lasts. God loves us and wants the best for us and knows we need discipline occasionally. Please pray that we and our friends accept God’s discipline and know that He loves us. Please pray for the men considering CLC. 

“By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.”‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11:24-26‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/heb.11.24-26.esv
All,
This stands out because the writer of Hebrews says, “He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt”. We have two things in life, 1) a relationship with Christ and 2) this moment. It would be foolish to trade a relationship with Christ for the treasures of this world. Please pray that we and our friends walk with Christ in every situation today. Please pray for men considering CLC. 

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.”‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11:1-3‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/heb.11.1-3.esv
All,
This stands out because the writer of Hebrews says, “By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.” There are many parts of the Bible that continue to be attacked so that man can be their own god. If the Word of God doesn’t line up with their worldview, then it is marginalized or reinterpreted by people who probably don’t realize they are doing it. Do you want to have Faith in the God who created the world or the god that is being created by man? Please pray that we and our friends seek God with all our hearts and seek to know Him. Please pray for the men considering CLC. 

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10:24-25‬ ‭NIV‬‬

http://bible.com/111/heb.10.24-25.niv
All,
This stands out because it’s one of our memory verses. I love how it has relationships at its core. I’m a introvert and I personally like times when I get to be by myself, but is very apparent to me how much we get to know Jesus through relationships. Our family has been extremely encouraged by the outpouring of love from our friends since Bonni was diagnosed with Breast cancer. It’s amazing to see the body of Christ at work through the individual members who just want to care for you. We are truly thankful!! Please pray that we and our friends encourage one another today. Please pray for Jonathan’s group as the are adding new guys. 

“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.”‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10:19-23‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/heb.10.19-23.esv
All,
This stands out because the writer of Hebrews says, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” Is our hope in our good deeds or in Jesus? I know it’s Jesus, but I struggle with the good deeds thought daily. It seems to come down to “doing” or “surrendering”. Doing is of my power and surrendering is of God’s power. If it’s our power, we may be tempted to not trust completely to obtain a certain outcome. If it’s Gods power, we want to trust all the more. Please pray that we and our friends surrender this day to God and trust Him. Please pray for Jonathan’s group as it is being built. 

“For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.”‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭9:24-26‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/heb.9.24-26.esv
All,
This stands out because the writer of Hebrews says, “he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages.” Christ has purified us. I often feel like I let Christ down daily. I know what I should do, but still don’t and there is shame in that feeling, but Christ died once for ALL my sins. So instead of a constant state of disappointment, I think Christ is in a constant state of Joy as He sees us surrender ourselves to Him daily so He can transform us. Please pray that we and our friends surrender and let Christ transform us today. Please pray for your friend that may want to know about CLC. 

“For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.”‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭7:26-27‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/heb.7.26-27.esv
All,
This stands out because the writer of Hebrews says, “since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.” We have eternal life. We have been forgiven. We get to abide in Christ. Please pray that we and our friends take time to really think about what Easter means to us today. Please pray for the friend who may want to know about CLC.