“The Lord said to Moses, “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft. And behold, I have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. And I have given to all able men ability, that they may make all that I have commanded you: the tent of meeting, and the ark of the testimony, and the mercy seat that is on it, and all the furnishings of the tent,”
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭31:1-7‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/exo.31.1-7.esv

All,

This stands out because the Lord says, “I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship”. God had a purpose for Bezalel and Oholiab and He gave them certain gifts and talents to accomplish His purpose. What gifts and talents has God given you?  For what purpose?  Please pray that we and our friends seek God’s answers for these questions. Please pray for the Walker family today. 

“Now they told David, “Behold, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and are robbing the threshing floors.” Therefore David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?” And the Lord said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines and save Keilah.” But David’s men said to him, “Behold, we are afraid here in Judah; how much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?” Then David inquired of the Lord again. And the Lord answered him, “Arise, go down to Keilah, for I will give the Philistines into your hand.” And David and his men went to Keilah and fought with the Philistines and brought away their livestock and struck them with a great blow. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.”
‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭23:1-5‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/1sa.23.1-5.esv

All,

This stands out because Samuel says, “Therefore David inquired of the Lord”.  Do you have a decision to make today?  Does it involve other people?  Are the other people fearful of the outcome?  What does God say to do?  Have you prayed about it?  Have your sought the answer in reading the Word?  Have your sought wise counsel?  Please pray that we and our friends seek God’s wisdom in all we do. Please pray to determine if God is calling you to co-facilitate a CLC group.

“All the congregation of the people of Israel moved on from the wilderness of Sin by stages, according to the commandment of the Lord, and camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. Therefore the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” And Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?” But the people thirsted there for water, and the people grumbled against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?” So Moses cried to the Lord, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.””
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭17:1-4‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/exo.17.1-4.esv

All,

This stands out because Moses says, “But the people thirsted there for water, and the people grumbled against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?”  Do you complain a good bit?  I know I do. So much so that my kids make fun of me. However, complaining could be one of the biggest sins. It means I have a sense of entitlement and not grateful for all God is. Do you fall into this temptation?  Please pray that we and our friends turn to God in gratefulness when tempted to complain. Please pray for David Aschenbach’s mom, Diane, who has just been diagnosed with late stage cancer. 

“When the words that David spoke were heard, they repeated them before Saul, and he sent for him. And David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth.” But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him. Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.” And David said, “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!”

Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.

and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord ‘s, and he will give you into our hand.””
‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭17:31-37, 45, 47‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/1sa.17.31-37,45,47.esv

All,

This stands out because David says, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, I went after him and struck him”.  Are you battling any lions or bears in your life right now?  Could the battle be preparing you to put more trust in God’s deliverance?  Could it be enabling you to develop the gifts and talents God gave you for His purpose?  David thought so. Please pray that we and our friends focus on God during our trials. Please pray for Andrew Walker’s mom, Sunny. 

“And Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected you from being king.” Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.”
‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭15:22-24‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/1sa.15.22-24.esv

All,

This stands out because Samuel says, “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of divination”. Why do we disobey at times?  Do we trust ourselves more than we trust God?  It’s seems ridiculous to trust ourselves over a all-knowing God, but we do it. Because of Jesus, God allows us to repent and stay in relationship with Him. Please pray that we and our friends repent today. Please pray for a friend that has limited time on earth with his family. 

“When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near. For God said, “Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt.” But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. And the people of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt equipped for battle.”
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭13:17-18‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/exo.13.17-18.esv

All,

This stands out because Moses says, “God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near.”  Does God’s direction seem to defy common sense sometimes?  He obviously knows far more than we and those are the moments that help build our faith. We can be assured that He knows what’s best and we need to continually remind ourselves of His promises. Please pray that we and our friends trust God even when it’s a difficult path. Please pray for Phil’s group. 

“But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth. You are still exalting yourself against my people and will not let them go. Behold, about this time tomorrow I will cause very heavy hail to fall, such as never has been in Egypt from the day it was founded until now. Now therefore send, get your livestock and all that you have in the field into safe shelter, for every man and beast that is in the field and is not brought home will die when the hail falls on them.”‘” Then whoever feared the word of the Lord among the servants of Pharaoh hurried his slaves and his livestock into the houses, but whoever did not pay attention to the word of the Lord left his slaves and his livestock in the field.”
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭9:16-21‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/exo.9.16-21.esv

All,

This stands out because Moses says, “Then whoever feared the word of the Lord among the servants of Pharaoh hurried his slaves and his livestock into the houses, but whoever did not pay attention to the word of the Lord left his slaves and his livestock in the field.”  God has many promises throughout the Bible and people either believe Him or not. Some try to say they can chose which ones to obey also. Please pray that we and our friends are in the first camp of obedience to all of God’s Word. Please pray for Chris’s group as it’s forming. 

“But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to the Lord. And the Lord said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them. According to all the deeds that they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also doing to you. Now then, obey their voice; only you shall solemnly warn them and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them.””
‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭8:6-9‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/1sa.8.6-9.esv

All,

This stands out because The Lord says, “for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.”  Some think government can solve their problems. It’s tempting because we can seemingly control governments, but we can’t look to government for the things that only God provides. Please pray that we and our friends trust in God alone. Please pray for a friend who received news of a terminal illness yesterday. 

“Moses spoke thus to the people of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses, because of their broken spirit and harsh slavery. So the Lord said to Moses, “Go in, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the people of Israel go out of his land.” But Moses said to the Lord, “Behold, the people of Israel have not listened to me. How then shall Pharaoh listen to me, for I am of uncircumcised lips?” But the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron and gave them a charge about the people of Israel and about Pharaoh king of Egypt: to bring the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt.”
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭6:9-13‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/exo.6.9-13.esv

All,

This stands out because Moses says, “But the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron and gave them a charge about the people of Israel”.  Has God put something on your heart from which you’ve received resistance?  Does He want you to rely on your power or His power?  He will do miraculous things through all of us if we obey and trust. Please pray that we and our friends commit to do the thing God has nudged us to do. Please pray for a friend of mine that is one of the most caring, compassionate and intelligent people that I know, but they don’t believe in God, to know Jesus. 

“Now the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her young women walked beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her servant woman, and she took it. When she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the baby was crying. She took pity on him and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.” Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and call you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?” And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Go.” So the girl went and called the child’s mother.”
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭2:5-8‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/exo.2.5-8.esv

All,

This stands out because Moses says, ”And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Go.” So the girl went and called the child’s mother.”  Can it get more bleak than putting your 3-month old son among the reeds in the river in hopes that someone will care for him?  We don’t know how God will work in these circumstances, but sometimes it’s miraculous and here Moses’ own mother gets to be his nurse. Please pray that we and our friends stay focused on God in all circumstances. Please pray for the family of Sheronda “Shy” Touchstone as she is in heaven now.