“If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”‭‭John‬ ‭15:10-11‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/jhn.15.10-11.esv
All,
This stands out because Jesus says, “that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” Who doesn’t want to their “joy to be full”. We all want joy, but we are tempted to look to things we can control to give us joy. Jesus says to keep his commandments because He knows there are times when we would be tempted to break a commandment because we think it will lead to joy. Please pray that we and our friends trust Jesus in times of temptation and receive the joy He wants for us. Please pray for Jeremy and Gary’s group. 

“And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.”‭‭John‬ ‭16:8-11‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/jhn.16.8-11.esv
All,
This stands out because Jesus says, “concerning sin, because they do not believe in me”. Is it a sin to not believe in Jesus or does one sin if they don’t believe in Jesus? We all sin and were born in sin. However, Jesus redeems us which enables us to be sinless. While on earth, we will always have a sin nature, but Jesus enables us to walk away from temptation because our hope is in Him. Please pray that we and our friends obey the opportunities Jesus gives us today. Please pray for Robert and Jim’s group. 

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”‭‭John‬ ‭14:27‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/jhn.14.27.esv
All,
This stands out because Jesus says, “Not as the world gives do I give to you.” Let that sink in. How many things do we see that we think can give us peace from the world? We discussed Matt 6:24 on serving two masters this morning in CLC. As humans, we will constantly be tempted to trust something earthly to give us peace. Since Christ loves us and wants the best for us, He warns us from putting our hope in ANYTHING but Him. Jesus is the provider, not our job, etc.. He may choose to use your job to provide through, but only He is the provider. Please pray that we and our friends see Jesus as our only source of hope and all other things as ways He provides for us. Please pray for Cheever and Steven’s group. 

“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 ‭13:14-17‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/jhn.13.14-17.esv
All,
This stands out because Jesus says, “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” How can we wash people’s feet in today’s world? Does it count when a CEO serves food at a food kitchen? Is it helping the anonymous person to get clothing? Is it humbly seeing EVERYONE around you as a child of God? Is it following God’s nudge to bring God into a conversation when you know your friend is hurting and has placed his hope in something else? Please pray that we and our friends serve those who God puts on our path today in the way He wants us. Please pray for the friend in your circle who would benefit from CLC. 

“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.”‭‭John‬ ‭12:46-48‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/jhn.12.46-48.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 wants everyone to walk in the light. Jesus even wants the the most hated person on the planet to walk in the light. Are we praying for the people in our lives who are hurting other people? Do we see them as people who have fallen into a trap? Please pray that we and our friends follow the nudges that God gives us today. Please pray for the victims of human trafficking. 

“So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!” His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him.”‭‭John‬ ‭12:13-16‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/jhn.12.13-16.esv
All,
This stands out because John says, “His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him.” I often reflect back on certain events with remorse because I was selfish, etc. or just didn’t see the moment as God would have me see it. I used to be upset about it, until I realized God may have used that moment to help me finally see a point He wants me to know. Would the disciples had been transformed if they didn’t “miss” things when Jesus was walking with them? Please pray that we and our friends remember the promise in Romans 8:28 and keep seeking Jesus even when we fail to grasp it the “first time”. Please pray for the people caught up in Human trafficking in Atlanta. 

“So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.””‭‭John‬ ‭11:47-48‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/jhn.11.47-48.esv
All,
This stands out because human nature plays a part in leadership. As people gain power, they seem to go in two directions. They are continually humbled and pray to God for guidance or they become entitled and make decisions just to stay in power. The first is very rare and the latter is very dangerous. Please pray we and our friends serve those who we are leading and ask God continually for guidance. Please pray if you have a friend in leadership that would like to know about CLC. 

“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?”
Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?””

‭‭John‬ ‭11:25-26, 40‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/jhn.11.25-26,40.esv
All,
This stands out because Jesus says whoever “believes” in Him. What does “believes” mean? There are several demons in the gospels who believe Jesus, but they don’t worship Him. What’s the difference? Does “believes” assume to believe? If you believe something, do you obey it? If you believe the stock market will crash today at 1:00, do you sell all your stocks or do you just ponder it and do nothing? Please pray we and our friends live what we believe today in all our actions. Please pray for Brandon and Doug’s group. 

“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.””‭‭John‬ ‭11:1-4‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/jhn.11.1-4.esv
All,
This stands out because Jesus says, “It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” This is the death of a dear friend and brother and Jesus is talking about glorifying God? Can you imagine being Mary or Martha hearing this? If it was me, I would ask if God can get glory in some other way! We don’t get to chose how God gets glory, but we do get to be a part of it at times. Please pray that we and our friends see the occurrences of today in light of glorifying God. Please pray for T.C. and Bradley’s group. 

“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.”‭‭John‬ ‭10:7-11‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/jhn.10.7-11.esv
All,
This stands out because Jesus says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” Those who know me well, know this is my favorite verse in the Bible. In fact, I’m pretty amazed it came up in today’s reading because it was also a major verse in two city-wide functions yesterday that I attended. This verse helps me greatly because it not only helps me see temptations leading me down a path of destruction, but the fact we can choose abundant life instead. Everyday has many choices to choose God’s purpose or our own. If my choice isn’t Gods purpose, I always regret it, but it continues to tempt me either way. Please pray that we and our friends ask all day today if a certain desire is from Jesus or the thief. Please pray for Cheever and Steven’s group who had their overnight last night.