“The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy, and say to them, even to the shepherds, Thus says the Lord God: Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep? You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep. The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the injured you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them.”

Ezekiel 34:1-4 ESV

http://bible.com/59/ezk.34.1-4.esv

All,

This stands out because the Lord says, “Should not shepherds feed the sheep? You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep.” Are you a sheep or a shepherd? Are there people in your life that God wants you to help? Are there people helping you know Christ? In 300 years, what will matter that you do today? Please pray that we and our friends see what God wants us to see today. Please pray for John and Anthony’s group as it’s forming at Dunwoody UMC.

“”So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. If I say to the wicked, O wicked one, you shall surely die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked person shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, that person shall die in his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul.”

Ezekiel 33:7-9 ESV

http://bible.com/59/ezk.33.7-9.esv

All,

This stands out because the Lord says, “and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked person shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand.” Where is the fine line of love and truth? We are all tempted to swing to far to either side. Is it possible to lovingly warn people? God certainly assumes we will follow His nudges with our friends and our friends will follow His nudges with us. Please pray that we and our friends listen to God’s nudges today. Please pray for Darren and Bruce’s group.

“O Lord, by these things men live, and in all these is the life of my spirit. Oh restore me to health and make me live! Behold, it was for my welfare that I had great bitterness; but in love you have delivered my life from the pit of destruction, for you have cast all my sins behind your back. For Sheol does not thank you; death does not praise you; those who go down to the pit do not hope for your faithfulness. The living, the living, he thanks you, as I do this day; the father makes known to the children your faithfulness.”

Isaiah 38:16-19 ESV

http://bible.com/59/isa.38.16-19.esv

All,

This stands out because Hezekiah says, “the father makes known to the children your faithfulness.” We know the stats of how important it is for us to teach our children about the Good news of Jesus Christ, but somehow it doesn’t happen. Do you have friends that feel comfortable taking their kids to church, but not that comfortable teaching them about the Bible? Please pray that we and our friends reach out to our friends about the importance of their leadership in the family growing their faith in Jesus. Please pray for John Roney as he starts a spiritual journey.

“The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a snare of death.

Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor.”

Proverbs 21:6, 21 ESV

http://bible.com/59/pro.21.6,21.esv

All,

This stands out because Solomon says, “The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a snare of death.” It seems to be acceptable in society to tell a “small” lie in order to get what you want. Even when the lie is discovered, the defense is “everyone does it”. How can God be in something if it takes a “small” lie to move it forward? Please pray that we and our friends trust in God’s plan today. Please pray for Joe’s group as it forms.

“A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”

Proverbs 18:24 ESV

http://bible.com/59/pro.18.24.esv

All,

This stands out because Solomon says, “but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” I love being the City Director for CLC. I get to hear stories of friendships formed through CLC that men didn’t know were possible. I was at lunch yesterday with two CLC men explaining to another friend the importance of their friends through CLC and how they affect their lives daily. Please pray that we and our friends treasure these relationships and help other men build them. Please pray for Robert Yarbrough as he battles cancer.

“He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly, who despises the gain of oppressions, who shakes his hands, lest they hold a bribe, who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed and shuts his eyes from looking on evil, he will dwell on the heights; his place of defense will be the fortresses of rocks; his bread will be given him; his water will be sure.”

Isaiah 33:15-16 ESV

http://bible.com/59/isa.33.15-16.esv

All,

This stands out because Isaiah says, “who despises the gain of oppressions”. Is it possible to “gain” outside of God’s will? If we gain by oppression, does it honor God? At the same time, if a victim cries foul, is it really a foul or a sense of entitlement? Please pray that we and our friends ask Christ to show us His plan? Please pray for Doug’s group as it is forming.

“until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, and the fruitful field is deemed a forest. Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness abide in the fruitful field. And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever. My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places. And it will hail when the forest falls down, and the city will be utterly laid low. Happy are you who sow beside all waters, who let the feet of the ox and the donkey range free.”

Isaiah 32:15-20 ESV

http://bible.com/59/isa.32.15-20.esv

All,

This stands out because Isaiah says, “until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high”. What is the source of all good? Can we produce good without the Holy Spirit? If we pursue things against the Spirit, will it succeed in the long run? Do branches have life apart from the vine? Please pray that we and our friends abide in the Vine every moment today. Please pray for Joe’s group as it’s forming.

“Fools mock at the guilt offering, but the upright enjoy acceptance.”

Proverbs 14:9 ESV

http://bible.com/59/pro.14.9.esv

All,

This stands out because Solomon says, “but the upright enjoy acceptance.” I meet a lot of well meaning people who are earning their way into Heaven by going through certain steps someone told them to do. When you make a guilt offering or repent, do you feel accepted by God or feel as if you checked off the next item? Please pray that we and our friends have a desire to abide in Christ continually. Please pray for Jack Sullivan.

“Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.”

Proverbs 11:14 ESV

http://bible.com/59/pro.11.14.esv

All,

This stands out because Solomon says, “in an abundance of counselors there is safety.” I love being a City Director for CLC. I get to hear men tell me how important their CLC group is to them and their relationship with Jesus. Most everyone tells me they didn’t know this type of friendship existed and would never want to live without it. An abundance of Godly counsel is INCREDIBLE. Please pray that we and our friends lead other men to Jesus. Please pray for Steve Godwin’s good friend’s son, Steven Lilly, who is undergoing brain surgery and Steve’s Uncle Ken who is in Hospice.

“So I led them out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness. I gave them my statutes and made known to them my rules, by which, if a person does them, he shall live. Moreover, I gave them my Sabbaths, as a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them. But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They did not walk in my statutes but rejected my rules, by which, if a person does them, he shall live; and my Sabbaths they greatly profaned.”

Ezekiel 20:10-13a ESV

http://bible.com/59/ezk.20.10-13.esv

All,

This stands out because God says, “I gave them my Sabbaths, as a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them.” Do we see Sabbaths as a time of trust? When do we truly rest? Is it in anything but the Lord Himself? I’m surprised at myself with how often I look to other things(idols) for rest. Please pray that we and our friends seek rest in God today. Please pray for Brad and Jeff’s group.