“We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints—”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭8:1-4‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/2co.8.1-4.esv

All,

This stands out because Paul says, “of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints—”. Do you ache to relieve people that are hurting at your doorstep?  I had lunch w a co-facilitator yesterday that told me how he has basically cared for a new employee of his non stop. He went WAY beyond the role of boss and probably saved his life. I’m amazed when I hear stories of people who drastically change their lives in order to help someone of who they can uniquely help. Please pray that we and our friends see people as Jesus sees them. Please pray for John Womack’s family as his grandmother is with the Lord. 

“For even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it—though I did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while. As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us. For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭7:8-10‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/2co.7.8-10.esv

All,

This stands out because Paul says, “I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting.”  Repentance can be very difficult. We want to justify ourselves and our actions, but, thankfully, Christ helps us to see our hurtful actions. Then repentance is very liberating. Are you holding onto anything that needs repentance?  Please pray that we and our friends “ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any areas of unconfessed sin”(Ken Boa) and then repent. Please pray for Jessica. 

“For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4:15-18‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/2co.4.15-18.esv

All,

This stands out because Paul says, “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison”. Are you experiencing a “light momentary” issue right now?  Could it be preparing an eternal weight beyond all comparison?  Please remember Jesus is walking through it with you. Please pray that we and our friends help those on the rough parts of their walk. Please pray for Phil’s group. 

“You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭3:2-6‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/2co.3.2-6.esv

All,

This stands out because Paul says, ”but our sufficiency is from God”.  From where is your sufficiency?  Is it from anything but God?  It’s tempting to see part of our sufficiency from other things, but that makes those other things idols and will hurt us. Do we need God and… or just God?  Please pray that we and our friends answer this question today. Please pray for Danelle. 

“Was I vacillating when I wanted to do this? Do I make my plans according to the flesh, ready to say “Yes, yes” and “No, no” at the same time? As surely as God is faithful, our word to you has not been Yes and No. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not Yes and No, but in him it is always Yes. For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭1:17-22‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/2co.1.17-22.esv

All,

This stands out because Paul says, “who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.”  Do you ever feel one with God in moments of pure peace?  I think that is what Paul is speaking about here. The most restful I ever feel is when I’m abiding in Christ. There are many idols and concerns that are real good at making abiding difficult, but His “seal” is always on us. Please pray that we and our friends abide in Christ today. Please pray for Phil’s group. 

“Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged, and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭14:29-33‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/1co.14.29-33.esv

All,

This stands out because Paul says, “For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.”  Is there confusion or peace in your church?  There will always be healthy conversations around scripture in any community, but confusion comes when man moves away from God’s word and depends on his own wisdom. Please pray that we and our friends study and live by the Word. Please pray for my friend’s child who is struggling. 

“Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭14:1-4‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/1co.14.1-4.esv

All,

This stands out because Paul says, “Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts”.  Do you remember your spiritual gifts from CLC?  Do you use them for God’s purpose now?  Do you get a nudge to do something that uses your gifts and pass on it because you are too busy?  Please pray that we and our friends use our spiritual gifts today for God’s purpose. Please pray for Randall to receive a miracle cure from ALS. 

“For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be?”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭12:14-19‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/1co.12.14-19.esv

All,

This stands out because Paul says, “God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.”  What is your part of the body of Christ?  Do you need the Holy Spirit to be your part?  We really can’t do anything of value outside of the power of the Holy Spirit. Please pray that we and our friends ask and depend on the Holy Spirit today. Please pray for Tucker’s group. 

“Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭10:11-13‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/59/1co.10.11-13.esv

All,

This stands out because Paul says, “God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”  Can temptation be a opportunity to trust God?  We think we are doomed, but if we ask God to protect us, something happens. Our mindset changes, the situation changes. There is a spiritual warfare and we are weaker than evil, but God is stronger. We will lose by ourselves, but we will always win with God. Please pray that we and our friends ask God to protect us in every temptation today. Please pray for Tucker’s group. 

“For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭9:19-23‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/59/1co.9.19-23.esv

All,

This stands out because Paul says, “I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.”  Paul wanted to find a commonality with all people so he could could give them the good news of the Gospel. Do we see everyone as a eternal soul that will live forever either in heaven or hell?  What about the person that seems to be the opposite of you politically?  What about the person that seems to embody every pet peeve you have?   Doesn’t God love him as much as he loves you?  Is there a commonality that can be established for God’s purpose?  Please pray that we and our friends see everyone we meet today as a child of God. Please pray for Blake’s group.