Daily CLC Prayer verse

~ Neal Creech ~ Leave a comment

““You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5:43-45‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/mat.5.43-45.esv
All,
This sticks out because it forces you to see others as your teammates. When the U.S. beat Russia in hockey in the ’80 Olympics, I’m pretty sure that political enemies here in the U.S. felt like they were “teammates”. When you were a kid, you didn’t throw the worst guy off the team for being bad, you helped him get better. Please pray that we and our friends see everyone as a child of God and help them “get better” by praying for them. Please pray for Jeremy and Gary’s group. 
Challenge group:

Read Matthew 6 for tomorrow 

Daily CLC Prayer verse

~ Neal Creech ~ Leave a comment

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5:16‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/mat.5.16.esv
All,
This sticks out because Jesus says that people give glory to God when they see our good works as opposed to glorifying us. Please pray that we and our friends are motivated to do good works for God to be glorified and not ourselves. Please pray for the CLC Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives today at Matthews Cafeteria in Tucker. 
Challenge group:

Read rest of Matthew 5 for tomorrow 

Daily CLC Prayer verse

~ Neal Creech ~ Leave a comment

“From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.””‭‭Matthew‬ ‭4:17‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/mat.4.17.esv

All,
This sticks out because Jesus immediately asks the hearers to make a decision. He doesn’t say to take hold of the kingdom of Heaven and then repent. He says to first repent. Repent of what? Do we have something that we think is more important than God? If we disobey God, then we do. God doesn’t want us to worship anything but Him because he knows what’s best for us. Please pray that we and our friends repent of anything we have placed higher than God. Please pray for Newt Collinson’s group. 
Challenge group:

Read Matthew 5:1-26 tomorrow 

Daily CLC Prayer verse

~ Neal Creech ~ Leave a comment
““I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭3:11‬ ‭ESV‬‬
http://bible.com/59/mat.3.11.esv

All,

This sticks out because of the difference between baptism by water and the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit has the power to transform us when we yield to His power. He lets us try in our power, but after we figure out we can’t do it ourselves and finally yield, He transforms us in unique ways. Please pray that we and our friends yield to the Holy Spirit today and honestly give him your anxiety. Please pray for Jonnell, Cedric and Devon’s group. 

Challenge group:
Read Matthew 4 tomorrow. 

Daily CLC Prayer verse

~ Neal Creech ~ Leave a comment
“Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭2:13-14‬ ‭ESV‬‬
http://bible.com/59/mat.2.13-14.esv

All,

This sticks out because God tells Joseph to flee to Egypt. It sticks out because it shows the need of constant communication with God.  Even if Joseph knew of Herod’s intentions, he could have thought that God will protect him no matter what. It seems there is always multiple “rational” paths we can take, but God has a path for His purpose and that’s the one He wants us to take. Please pray that we and our friends to have a deep relationship with God to respond to His nudges. Please pray for Jeremy and Gary’s group. 

Challenge group:
Ok, we started the New Testament yesterday. We will read through the whole New Testament over the next year. It’s basically a chapter a day, 7 days a week for the next year. Read in your Bible or follow the plan I follow in the Bible app. The app is helpful because it reminds you if you have missed certain days and you can go back and read those. Hit the link above for the app.  Look under reading plans and this is under partial Bible and the name is “Read through the New Testament”.  You can also join as “friends” on the app to encourage one another.  Let me know if you have any thoughts as your are reading with everyone. 

Daily CLC Prayer verse

~ Neal Creech ~ Leave a comment
“And he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.” “And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.””
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭22:6-7‬ ‭ESV‬‬
http://bible.com/59/rev.22.6-7.esv

All,

This sticks out because Jesus is telling John that these words are true. Jesus knows the Truth and the future and He loves us. He can’t have evil in heaven and wants to help transform us to him. Please pray that we and our friends seek a relationship with Jesus that is “trustworthy and true”. Please pray for T.C. and Bradley’s group. 

Challenge group:
We are starting the New Testament again tomorrow. Please read Matthew 1. 

Daily CLC Prayer verse

~ Neal Creech ~ Leave a comment
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.””
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭21:1-4‬ ‭ESV‬‬
http://bible.com/59/rev.21.1-4.esv

All,

This sticks out because the last sentence says no more mourning, crying or pain. Can we imagine living such that there is no reason to cry and to be there for ETERNITY?  I have no idea what Heaven will be like, but no mourning, crying or pain is a pretty good start. Please pray we and our friends live today in light of eternity. Please pray for Steven and Cheever’s group. 

Daily CLC Prayer verse

~ Neal Creech ~ Leave a comment
“Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭20:4-6‬ ‭ESV‬‬
http://bible.com/59/rev.20.4-6.esv

All,

This sticks out John writes, “Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection!”  These are the people who put their trust in God and not the world. Like all things with God, He blesses you immeasurably at the moment and after, where as sin seems fun at the moment, but the payment lasts a long time. Please pray that we and our friends trust God in the tough decisions today. Please pray for Robert and Jim’s group. 

Challenge group:
Read Revelation 21 for tomorrow. We will start the New Testament over this Sunday. 

Daily CLC Prayer verse

~ Neal Creech ~ Leave a comment
“And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭19:20‬ ‭ESV‬‬
http://bible.com/59/rev.19.20.esv

All,

This sticks out because John says the false prophet deceived “those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image”. Again, I don’t know what the mark is or will be, but I would think there is a mindset to either believe Christ and worship self. If people worship themselves, they will be deceived by someone who tells them what they want to hear. Please pray that we and our friends trust in Christ and hear what He wants us to hear. Please pray for Doug and Brandon’s group and they started today. 

Challenge team:
Read Revelation 20 for tomorrow. We will start reading from the beginning of the New Testament on Saturday.  Obviously you can read through your Bible or if you download the Bible app from the App Store and then go to “plans”. There is a plan to “Read the NT in a year”. It will prompt you and also remind you of what you missed if you do miss a day. 

Daily CLC Prayer verse

~ Neal Creech ~ Leave a comment
“And the kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her, will weep and wail over her when they see the smoke of her burning. They will stand far off, in fear of her torment, and say, “Alas! Alas! You great city, you mighty city, Babylon! For in a single hour your judgment has come.””
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭18:9-10‬ ‭ESV‬‬
http://bible.com/59/rev.18.9-10.esv

All,

This sticks out because it seems like you could find “Babylon” in any town around America now and the world.  I’m sure Revelation is speaking about a certain place here, but the point that sticks out is that we all know when something is not right. We wonder why God lets things like “Babylon” continue and we see here how He destroys it in a single hour.  Please pray that we and our friends focus on what God calls good and not what the world calls good. Please pray for Jonnell, Cedric and Devon’s group.