Today’s reading is Luke 11:1-28
“”When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order. Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that person is worse than the first.””

‭‭Luke‬ ‭11:24-26‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/luk.11.24-26.esv
All,
This stands out because Jesus says, “And the last state of that person is worse than the first.” There are many ways to help people that do not involve Christ, but is doesn’t truly get rid of the root problem. We can have the biggest heart and do everything for someone, but if we do not help them to know Christ in the process, they will still deal with a root problem. Only Christ can fill the God-shaped hole in us and our friends. Please pray that we and our friends truly love our friends by introducing them to Christ AS we help them. Please pray for Dusty and Forrest as they are starting their group. 

Today’s reading is Luke 10:25-42
“And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?””

‭‭Luke‬ ‭10:25-29‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/luk.10.25-29.esv
All,
This stands out because Luke says, “But he, desiring to justify himself”. I’m guilty of this a good bit. I know what God wants me to do in a situation, but I ask for conditions or “if, then” to God and all I get is silence. My kids do it to me also. This amounts to trying to be in God’s will while being in control. It doesn’t work like that. If we are to love God with ALL our heart, ALL our soul, ALL our strength, ALL our mind, and our neighbor as ourselves, there will not be conditions or justifications. Please pray that we and our friends notice today when we try to put conditions around our obedience to God. Please pray for Stephen and Hunter as they are building their group. 

Today’s reading is Luke 10:1-24
“After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭10:1-3‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/luk.10.1-3.esv
All,
This stands out because Jesus says, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.” If you had the cure for cancer, would you tell anyone? Of course. Do our friends think that following Christ basically means you don’t do as much stuff as you could before. Or a list of rules. Do we see it like that? Or do we understand it as a peace that is transforming. Do we enjoy the fruit of the Spirit? Please pray that we and our friends be courageous when we have opportunities to share the good news today. Please pray for Michelle, Nichole, Torrie and Annie. 

Today’s reading is 8:22-56
“for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. As Jesus went, the people pressed around him. And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone. She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!” But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.” And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.””

‭‭Luke‬ ‭8:42-48‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/luk.8.42-48.esv
All,
This stands out because Jesus says, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.” There is power in Jesus. Do we rely on His power? The woman exhausted all her ways of healing her own problem. She was willing just to touch Jesus. She didn’t have a conversation with Him saying she will sacrifice this or that in return for healing. She just went to Him period. Please pray that we and our friends just go to Jesus with our problems and trust Him to guide us. Please pray for Debbie, Makenna and Kole. 

Today’s reading is Luke 8:1-21. 
“And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭8:14-15‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/luk.8.14-15.esv
All,
This stands out because Jesus says, “As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.” I’m very fortunate that I get to see this seed from many friends. They know God in such a way that they are no longer concerned about the unique worldly things that choke the fruit, but they can’t wait to see what the Holy Spirit will do in their lives each day. You can see the zeal in their eyes when they see the abundant life God is offering them and they realize they have placed an huge importance in earthly things until that point that has held the abundant life back. Please pray that we and our friends put ALL our trust in God and truly ask God to take away the “thorns” in our lives that choke the fruit. Please pray for the men that are considering CLC. 

Today’s reading is Luke 7:31-50
“”To what then shall I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, “‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.’ For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by all her children.””

‭‭Luke‬ ‭7:31-35‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/luk.7.31-35.esv
All,
This stands out because Jesus says, “Yet wisdom is justified by all her children.” If I watch the news I’m constantly surprised that certain leaders will say that “up is down” or “black is white” and the followers will blindly follow against common sense to enrich themselves in this world. I’m encouraged that this is not new and occurred in Jesus’s day. Jesus knew that the world would find fault with the truth of John and Him, but would expect special treatment if they “played the flute for you”. We can be encourage that our audience is Jesus. We can spend time with Him and be empowered by the Holy Spirit to do His purpose as opposed to the world’s. Please pray that we and our friends seek truth today and be about God’s purpose. Please pray for Michelle, Nichole, Torrie and Annie. 

Today’s reading is Luke 6:27-49
“”Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.””

‭‭Luke‬ ‭6:46-49‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/luk.6.46-49.esv
All,
This stands out because Jesus says, “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” I ask myself that ALL the time. I will let doubts creep in or let things start competing with God. It wouldn’t make sense if I didn’t know I was human and life will always have temptations. The good news is that Christ has conquered this world and will always give a way out if we chose. The only way to chose at that moment is to know without question that Christ is Lord and He has a plan for us. Please pray that we and our friends focus on God during times of temptation today. Please pray for Michelle, Nichole, Torrie and Annie. 

Today’s reading is Luke 5:1-16. 
“While he was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy. And when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him. And he charged him to tell no one, but “go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as Moses commanded, for a proof to them.””

‭‭Luke‬ ‭5:12-14‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/luk.5.12-14.esv
All,
This stands out because the man with leprosy says, “Lord, if you will,”. He refers to Jesus as “Lord”. We hear that all the time now. So much so that it’s easy to read by it, but by referring to Jesus as “Lord”, the man is saying Jesus is the ultimate authority in his life. Is Jesus “Lord”? If He is, then what He thinks matters more than ANYTHING else. His purpose matters more than ANYTHING else. Please pray that we and our friends know who our “Lord” is today. Please pray for Michael Thrash’s wife Michelle and daughters Nichole, Torrie and Annie. 

Today’s reading is Luke 4:33-44
“Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to him, and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them. And demons also came out of many, crying, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭4:40-41‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/luk.4.40-41.esv
All,
This stands out because the demon says, “You are the Son of God!” Luke was a physician and he writes about demons a good bit. The demons know who Jesus is. Would today’s prescription drugs be able to rid these people of the demon? Only Jesus has power. The name of Jesus has power. People don’t use Buddha as a curse word. We can have the best intentions on trying to help someone or cure a societal problem, but if we do not involve Jesus, we have no real power. Please pray that we and our friends bring Jesus into every situation that we face today and be a part of His purpose. Please pray for Michael Thrash’s wife Michelle and his daughters. 

Today’s reading is Luke 4:1-32
“And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.””

‭‭Luke‬ ‭4:16-19‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/luk.4.16-19.esv
All,
This stands out because Isaiah says, “to set at liberty those who are oppressed.” Does Isaiah mean the oppressed people with be liberated from their oppressors in this world? Or is he speaking about either eternally liberated or the peace they may have in the oppressed situation? I think it’s the latter two. Right before this passage, Jesus was tempted in the desert by Satan who promised to give Him this world( and he quoted scripture to do it, but not the whole scripture). It seems that Satan still tempts people by getting them to focus on their circumstances within the world as opposed to the circumstances eternally or the internal fruit of the spirit while dwelling in this world. Please pray that we and our friends seek first the Kingdom of Heaven while we take the good and the bad that this world has to offer. Please pray for CLC Cobb county leadership team meeting this morning.