“And the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not fear and do not be dismayed. Take all the fighting men with you, and arise, go up to Ai. See, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, and his people, his city, and his land. And you shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king. Only its spoil and its livestock you shall take as plunder for yourselves. Lay an ambush against the city, behind it.”

But Joshua did not draw back his hand with which he stretched out the javelin until he had devoted all the inhabitants of Ai to destruction. Only the livestock and the spoil of that city Israel took as their plunder, according to the word of the Lord that he commanded Joshua.”
‭‭Joshua‬ ‭8:1-2, 26-27‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/jos.8.1-2,26-27.esv

All,

This stands out because Joshua says, “Only the livestock and the spoil of that city Israel took as their plunder”.  Has God put something specific on your heart?  Did you do it?  Sometimes I do and sometimes I don’t. I’m always joyful when I do and always regret when I don’t. He wants the best for us even if we don’t see it at the time. Please pray that we and trust God today. Please pray for Phil’s group as it’s forming. 

“The Lord said to Joshua, “Get up! Why have you fallen on your face? Israel has sinned; they have transgressed my covenant that I commanded them; they have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen and lied and put them among their own belongings. Therefore the people of Israel cannot stand before their enemies. They turn their backs before their enemies, because they have become devoted for destruction. I will be with you no more, unless you destroy the devoted things from among you.”
‭‭Joshua‬ ‭7:10-12‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/jos.7.10-12.esv

All,

This stands out because the Lord says, ”they have transgressed my covenant that I commanded them; they have taken some of the devoted things”.  Do you have any possessions in your life that God doesn’t want you to have?  Are they more important than God?  Why keep them?  God wants to be first in our lives for our own good. Please pray that we and our friends get rid of any idols in our lives. Please pray for George Mori and he is recovering. 

“Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the Lord. There are many who say, “Who will show us some good? Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Lord!” You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound. In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭4:5-8‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/psa.4.5-8.esv

All,

This stands out because David says, “You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.”  Do you forget that joy comes from God?  I do. I think certain things or events will give me joy whether God is there or not, but not so. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit and that makes abiding so consistently joyful. Please pray that we and our friends seek God alone today if we want joy. Please pray for Frank’s group as it forms. 

“Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is passing over before you into the Jordan. Now therefore take twelve men from the tribes of Israel, from each tribe a man. And when the soles of the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off from flowing, and the waters coming down from above shall stand in one heap.” So when the people set out from their tents to pass over the Jordan with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people, and as soon as those bearing the ark had come as far as the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest), the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, and those flowing down toward the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. And the people passed over opposite Jericho.”
‭‭Joshua‬ ‭3:11-16‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/jos.3.11-16.esv

All,

This stands out because the writer of Joshua says, “as soon as those bearing the ark had come as far as the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water”.  His provision comes at the time of obedience.  Has God ever asked you to do something so big that it seemed impossible at the time?  Did you obey?  How many miracles are out there if we will only obey Him when nudged?  Please pray that we and our friends trust God in obedience. Please pray for men that may be interested in CLC. Please let me know who they are. 

“When no bush of the field was yet in the land and no small plant of the field had yet sprung up—for the Lord God had not caused it to rain on the land, and there was no man to work the ground, and a mist was going up from the land and was watering the whole face of the ground— then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭2:5-7‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/gen.2.5-7.esv

All,

This stands out because Moses says, “then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life”.  We have life because God created us. However, the world teaches that we evolved from a single cell over millions of years. Do you believe the Bible or the world when they contradict each other?  It seems to take a lot more faith(in something) to believe macro evolution. Please pray that we and our friends put our faith in God and His Word. Please pray for Phil’s group as it’s forming. 

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭1:1-3‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/psa.1.1-3.esv

All,

This stands out because the Psalmist says, “his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.”  Do you delight in the law of the Lord?  Do you see God as a loving parent who knows much more then us and has laws to help us?  The Westminster Catechism says the chief and of man is to “Glorify God and enjoy Him forever”. Please pray that we and our friends delight in the laws of God and enjoy Him today. Please pray for any friend that needs to hear about CLC and let me know. Also, let me know if you want to read the through Old Testament with me this year through the You Version app. 

“I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭22:18-21‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/rev.22.18-21.esv

All,

This stands out because John says, “if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city”.  It seems to be a problem throughout the ages of people adding or taking away from God’s Word. Here in the last sentences of the Bible, John uses this part to accentuate how important it is not to add or take away. Please pray for the we and our friends to read and study the Bible and apply it to our lives. Please pray for George Mori. 

“And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭21:22-27‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/rev.21.22-27.esv

All,

This stands out because John says, “And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.”  Can you imagine no sun or moon, but God as the light?  Where do you get your sustenance from?  Is it from work, accomplishments, pleasing people?  God wants us to look to Him first and He will give us those things that are of Him. Please pray that we and our friends keep our focus on God. Please pray for George Mori. 

“Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭20:11-15‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/rev.20.11-15.esv

All,

This stands out because John says, “And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”  Do you have any loved ones whose name might not be written in the book of life?  Would you rather reach out to them now or have them spend eternity in the lake of fire?  Please pray that we and our friends follow God’s nudges when speaking to our friends about Him. Please pray for a friend with legal issues. 

“And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.” Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus. And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!””
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭14:9-13‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/rev.14.9-13.esv

All,

This stands out because John says, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”  Rest seems kind of benign with all the other wonderful things of life, but when we don’t have it, it’s all we want at that moment. The Bible says many times that only God can give true rest. Have you experienced that? Augustine said, “Thou hast formed us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in Thee.”  This passage shows a contrast with those who don’t worship God, “they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.”  Please pray that we and our friends find our rest in “Thee”.  Please pray for the 6 CLC groups that are being formed.