Today’s reading is James 5
“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.”

‭‭James‬ ‭5:16-18‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/jas.5.16-18.esv
All,
This stands out because James says, “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.” How much power is in confession? One of the most powerful parts of CLC is having a band of brothers in whom to confess. Holding issues inside gives the thief power over us and it’s released when we put it on the table. Please pray that we and our friends stay in relationships where we can confess because we all know that everyone is walking around with something. Please pray for Darren and Bruce’s group. 

Today’s reading is James 4
“Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.”

‭‭James‬ ‭4:13-17‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/jas.4.13-17.esv
All,
This stands out because James says, “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” What do you do with these nudges? A nudge to call a friend or help a person in need, etc. can be a gift from God. We don’t realize the meaning of them in the moment, but they do have a purpose. James goes so far as to say it’s a sin to not do it. Please pray that we and our friends spend time with God today and recognize His nudges. Please pray for Brad and Jeff’s group. 

Today’s reading is James 1
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.”

‭‭James‬ ‭1:22-25‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/jas.1.22-25.esv
All,
This stands out because James says, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves”. Why would we deceive ourselves? None of us would knowingly deceive ourselves, but we can all be tricked in some way. Satan tempted Jesus to deceive Himself, but Jesus answered with the Word each time. Do we know what the Bible has to say about a situation we find ourselves in? If we don’t, we may deceive ourselves by not following God’s purpose. Please pray that we and our friends walk with Christ today. Please pray for Jeremy and Gary’s group. 

Today’s reading is Hebrews 13
“Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭13:20-21‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/heb.13.20-21.esv
All,
This stands out because the writer of Hebrews says, “working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ”. Jesus is working in us to do what we are trying to do for Him. Are you tempted to please God in your own power today? The most powerful thing you can do is surrender whatever you are concerned about to Him. See how He then gives you thoughts and nudges to do His will in your circumstance. Please pray that we and our friends surrender our most “important thing” today to God and watch Him work in us. Please pray for Tyson’s group. 

Today’s reading is Hebrew 12
“Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12:14-17‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/heb.12.14-17.esv
All,
This stands out because the writer of Hebrews says, “and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.” Will we not see the Lord if we are not Holy?? Yes!! However, the “Good news” is that Christ died to make us Holy. It’s impossible to make ourselves Holy and it’s only possible to be Holy through accepting Christ as the ruler of our life. Can we still be in control and expect Christ to make us Holy? Is it possible to be Holy through any other route? Christ died to enable us a route through Him. He doesn’t force it though. Please pray that we and our friends realize the opportunity we have in Christ Jesus. Please pray for Archie and Hollis as their group is formed. 

Today’s reading is Hebrews 11:20-40
“Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11:35-40‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/heb.11.35-40.esv
All,
This stands out because the writer of Hebrews says, “And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.” We are made perfect in community. All these saints are on our team as we are all about God’s purpose. Do we see our part of this great team in the “little” things we do today? The decisions we make? They are all part of a team that is working together. Please pray that we and our friends see our part today and do our best. Please pray for Tyson’s group as they are formed. 

Today’s reading is Hebrews 11:1-19
“By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11:5-7‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/heb.11.5-7.esv
All,
This stands out because the writer of Hebrews says, “And without faith it is impossible to please him”. This whole chapter is incredible. Some of the saints saw their reward while here and others after they died. Either way, they grew closer to God through faith. We are all built to have faith in something and if we don’t put our faith in God, we will put it in ourselves or some thing. Please pray that we and our friends put ALL our faith in God and trust Him for outcomes. Please pray for Carla Miles as she needs reliable transportation. 

Today’s reading is Hebrews 9
“For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭9:13-15‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/heb.9.13-15.esv
All,
This stands out because the writer of Hebrews says, “the blood of Christ…..purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God”. I’m still surprised at how much I lean on my own power as opposed to relying on God’s power to serve His purpose. Through Christ our conscience is purified and we can truly serve the living God. The thief wants to entangle us in every pursuit and only Jesus knows the path and wants to show us the way. Please pray that we and our friends seek God’s discernment and wisdom in all our decisions today. Please pray for Carla Miles. She has found reliable transportation and needs a small loan. I will send more details later if you want to help. 

Today’s reading is Hebrews 8
“For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.” In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭8:10-13‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/heb.8.10-13.esv
All,
This stands out because the writer of Hebrews quotes Jeremiah when he says, “I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God”. Is His law in our minds and in our hearts? Do we seek that relationship? I often find my mind is so busy thinking about outcomes, that I can’t hear God who wants to guide me. Please pray that we and our friends spend time with God today asking for wisdom and then silently waiting to get a nudge. Please pray for Jeff and Greg as they bring CLC to their church.

Today’s reading is Hebrews 7
“This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant. The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭7:22-25‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/heb.7.22-25.esv
All,
This stands out because the writer of Hebrews says, “Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him”. Jesus loves everyone and wants to save us. He offers us intercession, but do we accept it? Do we look to Jesus for power or to ourselves? It’s the same as if assuming we could swim the Pacific Ocean. We can try hard, but it’s impossible to draw near to God without Jesus. Please pray that we and our friends spend time with Jesus today and obey what He says. Please pray for Tyson’s group as they have their commitment meeting tonight.