Today’s reading is Matthew 25:31-46
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭25:34-36‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/mat.25.34-36.esv
All,
This stands out because Jesus says, “I was thirsty and you gave me drink”. God loves all of His children and wants them to know Him. How many people do we know that need actual water or the living water of a relationship with Christ. This reminds me again of our brother John Wernowsky. He kept folded up 20’s in his pockets at all times so he could help a person who was in need and he also said’ “God bless you”. He gave them actual water and the living water. We all have friends that need the living water more than actual water. Please pray that we and our friends help provide both kinds of water today as we come across people in need of either. Please pray for Debbie, Makenna and Kole. 

Today’s reading is Matthew 24:1-22
“As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭24:3-5‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/mat.24.3-5.esv
All,
This stands out because the disciples say, “what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” This makes me think of of our brother John Wernowsky. He lived everyday with two days in mind, “Today and that day”. We do not know our last day, but knowing there will be a last day should help us prioritize our day with the things that actually matter. John knew that relationships matter and he lived every day making sure everyone he came in contact with knew he loved them and God loved them. Please pray that we and our friends live today with the two days in mind, “today and that day”. Please pray for Debbie, Makenna and Kole. 

Today’s reading is Matthew 23:23-39
“”Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭23:23-24‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/mat.23.23-24.esv
All,
This stands out because Jesus says, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!” Jesus had His harshest words for the leaders of the Temple. He was extremely compassionate towards all God’s children no matter the situation. However, He knew the leaders had the ability to lead the people towards a relationship with God or a empty set of rules that they concocted to go along side the Bible. Jesus wants to transform us into His likeness. Please pray that we and our friends spend time alone with Jesus today. Please pray for Debbie, Makenna and Kole. 

“The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.”‭‭Matthew‬ ‭23:11-13‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/mat.23.11-13.esv
All,
This stands out because Jesus says, “The greatest among you shall be your servant.” The true leaders that I know seem to be compelled to truly help those around them. Their motivation stems from a love for God’s children and to serve them. They ask specific details about a situation where someone has a need so as they can help them the way God would want them to be helped. Leaders have a discernment that comes from God to enable them to see the true need and serve that need. Please pray that we and our friends know everyone is a child of God and help them to know Jesus. Please double up your prayers for Debbie, Makenna and Kole. Please pray that people do the right thing in their lives. 

“But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.””‭‭Matthew‬ ‭22:34-40‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/mat.22.34-40.esv
All,
This stands out because Jesus says, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” How do you love someone else as yourself? It seems to start with the first commandment of loving God with ALL your heart, soul and mind. It is very difficult for me to truly love another person or myself unless I have a love for God above ALL else. If we are not under God’s authority, it’s impossible to truly love someone else the way He wants us to love them. Please pray that we and our friends seek the relationship with God first and foremost so we can truly love our neighbor. Please pray for Debbie, Makenna and Kole. 

“”The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.”‘ But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them.”‭‭Matthew‬ ‭22:2-6‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/mat.22.2-6.esv
All,
This stands out because Jesus says, “But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business”. I would bet that most of us have a good work ethic and need to have a sense of accomplishment continually. How many of us try to earn salvation? God is here offering us a wedding feast to enjoy, but the invited guests chose to work. Obviously work can be good and needed, but not when God calls us to Him. God even put the Sabbath in the 10 commandments. Please pray that we and our friends seek God to enable us to balance our work and worship. Please pray for Debbie, Makenna and Kole. 

“And as they went out of Jericho, a great crowd followed him. And behold, there were two blind men sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” The crowd rebuked them, telling them to be silent, but they cried out all the more, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” And stopping, Jesus called them and said, “What do you want me to do for you?” They said to him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.” And Jesus in pity touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight and followed him.”‭‭Matthew‬ ‭20:29-34‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/mat.20.29-34.esv
All,
This stands out because Matthew says, “The crowd rebuked them, telling them to be silent, but they cried out all the more, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” Many times in my life I have let fear prevent me from following God’s will. How much courage did it take the blind men to cry out louder, but also to refer to Jesus as Lord and Son of David. You might think that anyone who is blind would take that chance, but then why don’t we when we are truly in need. Why don’t we step out in faith against fear relying on Jesus to heal us? Please pray that we and our friends step out in faith today to follow a nudge God has given you. Please pray for Debbie, Makenna and Kole. 

“But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’ So the last will be first, and the first last.””‭‭Matthew‬ ‭20:13-16‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/mat.20.13-16.esv
All,
This stands out because Jesus says, “So the last will be first, and the first last.” We do not know what God has in store for us. What seems like first in our priorities may be last and vice versa. We do know though that God has a purpose and He wants the best for us. Please pray that we and our friends follow the nudges He gives us today. Please pray for Debbie, Makenna and Kole. 

“And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.””‭‭Matthew‬ ‭19:23-26‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/mat.19.23-26.esv
All,
This stands out because Jesus says, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Is there anything that seems impossible in your life? Most of us desire the fruit of the Spirit(love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control), but it seems impossible because we think something besides God can enable us to have them. God is the source of the fruit of the Spirit and nothing else. Please pray that we continually seek God’s will first today in all our pursuits. Please pray for God’s peace to cover Debbie, Makenna and Kole up today. 

Today’s reading is Matthew 19:1-15
“Now when Jesus had finished these sayings, he went away from Galilee and entered the region of Judea beyond the Jordan. And large crowds followed him, and he healed them there.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭19:1-2‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/mat.19.1-2.esv
All,
This stands out because Matthew says, “and he healed them there.” Is there a part of you that needs healing? We all hurt in some way and there are some areas that can only be healed by Jesus. Do we trust Jesus? Do we trust He can heal us? Do we spend time with Jesus so He can heal us? Do we follow his nudges that may lead to healing? Jesus loves you and wants to heal you. Please pray that we and our friends spend time alone with Jesus today. Please pray for Debbie, Makenna and Kole. Pray specifically for Debbie to lose any memory of the accident and for Makenna to never have the memory.