Today’s reading is Luke 3
“Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” And the crowds asked him, “What then shall we do?” And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.””

‭‭Luke‬ ‭3:9-11‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/luk.3.9-11.esv
All,
This stands out because John says, “Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” What fruit are you bearing today? Is it the fruit of the Spirit? Is it treasure in Heaven? Or is it “wood, hay and straw”? God has a purpose for all of us and it’s about Him. Will your faith in God grow today? Will a friend of yours know Jesus today? We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Phil 4:13). Pray this morning for The Holy Spirit to empower you when those opportunities arise. Please pray that we and our friends are about our Fathers business today of bearing good fruit. Please pray for Mark Taylor’s CLC group as they are starting a CLC Next Steps this week. 

Today’s reading is Luke 2:25-52
“And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭2:49-52‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/luk.2.49-52.esv
All,
This stands out because Luke says, “And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.” I wish we knew more about Jesus as a boy. My son is 12 and I know things are about to change drastically. We have very little time left with this “boy” and we treasure the time. Jesus was not only human, but He was a little boy that was submissive to his parents. Jesus knows us completely and knows exactly what troubles we go through as humans. He wants us to go to Him with all our cares and abide in Him constantly. Please pray that we and our friends abide in Jesus all day today and treasure the time we have with Him. Please pray for Jonathan and Thomas as they are building their group. 

Today’s reading is Luke 1:24-56
“And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭1:35-38‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/luk.1.35-38.esv
All,
This stands out because Gabriel says, “For nothing will be impossible with God.” Mary is conceiving a baby as a virgin and Elizabeth is conceiving a baby after she is barren. Mary will lose her reputation among her village because she is pregnant before being officially married and Elizabeth has already lost her reputation because she is barren. I’m sure it was difficult for both of them during the moment, but now the whole world exalts both of them. What seems impossible to you today? Will God’s plan take being uncomfortable among your village for a little while? Please pray that we and our friends obey God today and be a part of His grand purpose. Please pray for Stephen and Hunter as they are building their group. 

Today’s reading is Luke 1:1-23
“And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.””

‭‭Luke‬ ‭1:18-20‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/luk.1.18-20.esv
All,
This stands out because Zechariah said, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” How many of us doubt God has a plan for today? How about for our lives? Do we feel the need to hedge God’s plan just in case we don’t hear Him or completely believe Him? Are we more concerned about what God thinks or our boss or clients? Does it cause anxiety? Do we “hitch our wagon” to certain things for our daily life and just trust God for our eternal life? God loves us and wants us to release all those anxieties, but it’s impossible if those things are more important than God. We feel more comfortable “controlling” those things than spending time with God for Him to prioritize our day. Please pray that we and our friends lift all these doubts to God and ask Him to give us the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23). Please pray for the men that are considering CLC. 

Today’s reading is Mark 16
“Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭16:14-16‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/mrk.16.14-16.esv
All,
This stands out because Mark says, “he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart”. Jesus rebukes the disciples just before giving them the Great Commission. Do we ever need to be convicted? I do. I find myself “asleep at the wheel” and I don’t realize it(or maybe I do). Thankfully Jesus will convict me over something and it’s pretty startling and disappointing at the time. It forces me to ask if I really love Jesus with all my heart or do I have other “idols” starting to compete for devotion to Jesus. Praise when this happens because He wants us to be a part of the Great commission always. Please pray that we and our friends spend solitary time alone with Jesus today and ask Him if there is anything competing for our devotion to Him. Please pray for Jeff and Brad as they are building their group. 

Today’s reading is Mark 15:27-47
“There were also women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. When he was in Galilee, they followed him and ministered to him, and there were also many other women who came up with him to Jerusalem.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭15:40-41‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/mrk.15.40-41.esv
All,
This stands out because Mark says, “there were also many other women who came up with him to Jerusalem.” Jesus loves all people. In a time when women were second class citizens, Jesus loved them as anyone else. When Jesus loved the poor and down trodden, he didn’t pander to them or make them a special class, but simply treated them as he did everyone else. It seems that pandering to a group of people so they feel accepted, just plays into the narrative of them being victims. Jesus doesn’t see anybody as victims, but as his child. Please pray that we and our friends see everyone as a unique wonderful child of God today. Please pray for Debbie, Makenna, and Kole. 

Today’s reading is Mark 15:1-26
“And Pilate again said to them, “Then what shall I do with the man you call the King of the Jews?” And they cried out again, “Crucify him.” And Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him.” So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭15:12-15‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/mrk.15.12-15.esv
All,
This stands out because Mark says, “So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas”. Do leaders follow orders from the crowd and just do what the crowd wants them to do? It’s definitely the easy thing to do at the time, but turns out to be more harmful in the long run. Do you have any decisions that need to be made today that require true leadership? God has a purpose for you today and the decisions you are to make. Please pray that we and our friends pray over our day today and ask God for His purpose in these activities. Please pray for Debbie, Makenna and Kole. 

Today’s reading is Mark 14:1-25
“And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head. There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they scolded her. But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me. She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.””

‭‭Mark‬ ‭14:3-9‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/mrk.14.3-9.esv
All,
This stands out because Jesus says, “Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me.” Pouring out very expensive perfume doesn’t seem like a good use of resources. We know the symbolism in this case, but are there instances in our everyday life where our devotion to Jesus would seem silly to most people? God knows our hearts and He knows our motives. If we are obedient to Jesus in our actions, there is a unexplainable joy that comes with it. Please pray that we and our friends obey God’s nudges today even if they seem against the grain. Please pray for Debbie, Makenna and Kole. 

Today’s reading is Mark 13:14-37
“”But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭13:32-33‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/mrk.13.32-33.esv
All,
This stands out because Jesus says, “Be on guard, keep awake.” How do we be on guard and keep awake? God wants us to continually talk with Him. Rise early in the day and go over your appointments with God and just be silent to listen if He puts anything on your heart for that day. Ken Boa has a Morning Affirmations http://www.kenboa.org/morning-affirmations/ that is a excellent guide during this time. Please pray that we and our friends pray continually (1Thes 5:16-18). Please pray for Stephen and Hunter as they are building their group. 

Today’s reading is Mark 13:1-13
“”But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them. And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death. And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭13:9-13‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/mrk.13.9-13.esv
All,
This stands out because Jesus says, “And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” This world is becoming more hostile to the name of Jesus. It is much safer to refer to “God” as opposed to saying “Jesus”. However, as hostile as it seems now, it’s not even close to what the original Christians lived through and Christianity flourished during that time. We need to remind ourselves that Jesus is our audience. Please pray that we and our friends care more about Jesus’s opinion of us than the world. Please pray for Debbie, Makenna and Kole.