“Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.”‭‭Matthew‬ ‭18:21-22‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/mat.18.21-22.esv
All,
This stands out because Jesus says, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.” How many times has Jesus forgiven us? How bad are those sins? The more we know we have been forgiven, the more we want to forgive others. I was personally mired down for a long time in unforgiveness towards another person. Whether or not he asked to be forgiven or if I was at fault didn’t matter. However, the peace that I realized after forgiving that person in my heart was immeasurable. That doesn’t mean I trust the person now, but forgiving him allowed me to dwell on what God would have me to dwell on. Please pray that we and our friends forgive our brothers today. Please pray for Debbie, Makenna and Kole today. 

Today’s reading is Matthew 16
“Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.””

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭16:24-28‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/mat.16.24-28.esv
All,
This stands out because Jesus says, “but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” How do you lose your life and then find it. Life in Christ is the abundant life. We live in a fallen world and things are going to happen here, but only Christ can give us the fruit of the Spirit here and give us life everlasting in Heaven after our time passes here. I can only imagine how short the journey here will seem when seen from the prospective of eternity while in Heaven. All the trials here will seem “light and momentary” then. Please pray that we and our friends live today squarely focused on the life Christ offers us. Please pray for Debbie, Makenna and Kole. Specifically pray for Debbie to not recall the images from the accident in her mind and for Makenna to never recall them. 

“Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion on the crowd because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.” And the disciples said to him, “Where are we to get enough bread in such a desolate place to feed so great a crowd?” And Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven, and a few small fish.” And directing the crowd to sit down on the ground, he took the seven loaves and the fish, and having given thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up seven baskets full of the broken pieces left over.”‭‭Matthew‬ ‭15:32-37‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/mat.15.32-37.esv
All,
This stands out because Matthew says, “and having given thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.” What was Jesus giving “thanks” for? Jesus did all to the glory of the Father. He knew that there would be enough bread just like the 5 thousand earlier. I love how God can take anything along with faith and turn it into a miracle. It doesn’t seem that God ever creates miracles from nothing. In this instance, someone sacrificed 7 loaves in order for the 4 thousand to eat. Please pray that we and our friends do all for the glory of God today. Please pray for God’s peace to cover Debbie Wernowsky and for God to specifically remove the images of the accident from her mind.

Today’s reading is Matthew 15:1-20
“But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.””

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭15:18-20‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/mat.15.18-20.esv
All,
This stands out because Jesus says, “For out of the heart come…” How important is our heart? We must guard our heart most of all and we must rely on God to guard it for us. It has been said that we are wired to worship and if we don’t worship God we will worship something else. If God owns our heart than we are in good hands, but if anything else owns our heart more than God, we can be twisted all sorts of ways. Please pray that we and our friends ask ourselves if God owns our heart. Please pray for God’s peace to be in Debbie, Makenna and Kole. 

Today’s reading is Matthew 14:22-36
“Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭14:22-23‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/mat.14.22-23.esv
All,
This stands out because Matthew says, “he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,”. Jesus spent a lot of time with the Father praying. If Jesus needed to spend so much time, how much time do we need? Jesus had this perfect balance in all situations. He was compassionate, yet stern at times. He was fun, but also serious. He knew exactly who He was because of the time He spent with the Father. Jesus had the fruit of the Spirit and He wants us to have it at all times too. Please pray that we and our friends spend as much time as needed today with Jesus until He gives us the peace that only He can give. Please pray for Jesus to wrap His arms around Debbie, Makenna and Kole and give them a peace that only He can give. 

Today’s reading is Matthew 14:1-21
“But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company and pleased Herod, so that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.” And the king was sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he commanded it to be given. He sent and had John beheaded in the prison, and his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. And his disciples came and took the body and buried it, and they went and told Jesus.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭14:6-12‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/mat.14.6-12.esv
All,
This stands out because Matthew says, “And the king was sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he commanded it to be given.” How many times have we done what we knew was wrong because of someone else’s expectations. How many decisions get made because we care more about what someone else thinks that what God thinks? I know I never regret doing what I think God wants me to do and I often regret some thing I’ve done that God didn’t want me to do. Please pray that we and our friends seek God’s approval for all our actions as opposed to only man’s approval. Please continue praying for Debbie, Makenna, and Kole. The funeral was a beautiful celebration of John and Jake’s life. John was a true disciple and warrior for God. 

“do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:6-7‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/php.4.6-7.esv
All,
Today’s verse is a special verse because many people have asked what they can do for the Wernowsky family. Debbie Wernowsky specifically asked that people pray for her to not be able to recall the images of John and Jake’s accident. I can’t imagine having the memory in my head all the time. This verse has been so powerful to me when I’m in torment because it tells us to “let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Only God can do this. 

“But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.””‭‭Matthew‬ ‭12:48-50‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/mat.12.48-50.esv
All,
This stands out because Jesus says, “For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” I am grateful for my parents and the relationship they have with Jesus for they are my parents, but we are also related in Christ. The relationships I have with brothers in Christ are incredible. There is a immense joy that comes when we are seeking God’s will and purpose. Please pray that we and our friends appreciate our brothers and sisters in Christ. Please pray for the meeting this morning of John Wernowsky’s CLC brothers to discuss how we can help Debbie and the kids going forward. 

“He went on from there and entered their synagogue. And a man was there with a withered hand. And they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—so that they might accuse him. He said to them, “Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out? Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, healthy like the other. But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.”‭‭Matthew‬ ‭12:9-14‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/mat.12.9-14.esv
All,
This stands out because Jesus says, “So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” The Pharisees created their own set of laws to go along with the Old Testament and they used them to govern in the day. Jesus was not under their authority, but under His. Many Christians are using books outside the Bible to create their own laws and doctrines today. The authors use mental gymnastics to say certain parts of the Bible can be thrown out or reinterpreted in order to fit their own social agenda. This was done earlier in our country with racism. Many Christian leaders used mental gymnastics to say that racism was ok and see the damage that has done. There will be similar damage in the future with the current “reinterpreting” of the Bible. Please pray that we and our friends read and know the Bible. Please pray for the Wernowsky family and I’m sure they want you to love on your family today. 

Today’s reading is Matthew 11
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.””

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11:28-30‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/mat.11.28-30.esv
All,
This stands out because Jesus says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Only Christ can give us true rest. If we put anything higher than Christ, then that will keep us in unrest. If we only worship Christ and care most about what He thinks, true rest is possible. Please pray that we and our friends seek Christ only. Please pray for the Wernowsky family.