“So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.”‭‭John‬ ‭10:7-15‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/jhn.10.7-15.esv
All,
This stands out because Jesus says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” This verse helps me to get my head around Jesus’s love for me. Just like a parent wants the best for their child, Jesus wants the best for us. He knows we will be tempted to follow a thief who selfishly tells us what we want to hear, but only Jesus will lead us in truth to give us life to the full. This verse has personally helped me to see many issues in my life that were robbing me and helps me to daily trust and believe God. Please pray that we and our friends chose all day to trust and believe God. Please pray for the men considering CLC. 
We will start reading the year long New Testament plan on Thursday. Please consider joining us and see if other verses stand out to you on that particular day. I will give instructions on exactly what to do on Thursday so please look for the email then. Let me know if you have any questions. 

“He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.”‭‭Revelation‬ ‭22:20-21‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/rev.22.20-21.esv
All,
This stands out because John says, “The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.” These are the last words in the New Testament. It reminds me of Billy Graham’s quote, “I’ve read the last page of the Bible. It’s all going to turn out all right.” We know Jesus is in control and we can put our faith in Him. Please pray that we and our friends keep our hope in Christ. Please pray for the men considering CLC. 
If you would like to read along with me as we finish the New Testament, today’s reading is Revelation 22. Today is the last chapter in the NT. Please consider reading through the NT with me over the next year. We will officially start on THURSDAY and I will give you instructions on that day how to register. That way we will all be on the same day. Please let me know if you have any questions.

“And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army. And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.”‭‭Revelation‬ ‭19:19-20‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/rev.19.19-20.esv
All,
This stands out because John says, “These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.” There is much turmoil throughout Revelation and its harsh. God loves us so much that He wants to give us every chance to repent. However, Satan will continue to leverage our discouragement and fears to his advantage. Satan is more powerful than our human abilities, but he is no match for God. When we continue to rely on God’s power and purpose, discouragement and fear go away. Please pray that we and our friends put our hope in God and nothing else. Please pray for the men considering CLC. 
If you would like to read along with me as we finish the New Testament, today’s reading is Revelation 19. We will continue reading the rest of the NT and then start at the beginning of the NT after Revelation.

“After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was made bright with his glory. And he called out with a mighty voice, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place for demons, a haunt for every unclean spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable beast. For all nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living.””‭‭Revelation‬ ‭18:1-3‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/rev.18.1-3.esv
All,
This stands out because the angel says, “For all nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality”. The New Testament uses the word sexual immorality frequently. Our world today is more comfortable with sexual immorality because of sympathy for everyone’s right to behave as they are inclined. Sympathy is a powerful motivator and everyone likes to pull for the underdog. Thank goodness most people don’t use “sympathy” in order to let a alcoholic have the “right” to drink. God calls certain actions sin to give us more life, not to take life away. Please pray that we and our friends truly love our loved ones today. Please pray for the men considering CLC. 
If you would like to read along with me as we finish the New Testament, today’s reading is Revelation 18. We will continue reading the rest of the NT and then start at the beginning of the NT after Revelation.

“The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to scorch people with fire. They were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory.”‭‭Revelation‬ ‭16:8-9‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/rev.16.8-9.esv
All,
This stands out because John says, “they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory.” Throughout Revelation, God keeps giving the unbelievers a chance to repent, but they refuse to repent. The actions seem severe, but God doesn’t want to lose anyone. I can’t imagine why people would go through so much pain in order to continue worshipping themselves or something besides God. People of today seem to go through different kinds of pain like anxiety, depression, shame, etc. when they could just surrender these emotions to God and ask Him into their lives. Please pray that we and our friends help and care for our friends who are in pain now and help them see where we put our hope. Please pray for the men considering CLC. 
If you would like to read along with me as we finish the New Testament, today’s reading is Revelation 16. We will continue reading the rest of the NT and then start at the beginning of the NT after Revelation.

“And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations! Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.””‭‭Revelation‬ ‭15:2-4‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/rev.15.2-4.esv
All,
This stands out because John says, “And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire”. John doesn’t know what he is seeing and can only describe it in this way. I can only imagine many prophets felt the same way as they were writing the books of the Bible. For the Bible to be so cohesive throughout, the writers had to just write down what they were inspired to write by the Holy Spirit. The Bible comes more and more alive every time I read it because of all the things the Holy Spirit points out each time. Please pray that we and our friends read the whole Bible as the inspired Word of God. Please pray for the men considering CLC. 
If you would like to read along with me as we finish the New Testament, today’s reading is Revelation 15. We will continue reading the rest of the NT and then start at the beginning of the NT after Revelation.

“And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!””‭‭Revelation‬ ‭12:9-12‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/rev.12.9-12.esv
All,
This stands out because the loud voice in Heaven says, “for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.” Spiritual warfare is alive and well. Satan is called the accuser and he continually tries to discourage Christians. When we have had a tough day, you will hear his words of discouragement at the perfect time to try to make you lose your hope. However, while Satan is more powerful than us as humans, Christ is more powerful then him. If we rely on our own power, we feel defeated, but as we rely on Christ, Satan is defeated. Please pray that we and our friends practice the exchanged life today and rely on the power of God and not ourselves. Please pray for the men considering CLC. 
If you would like to read along with me as we finish the New Testament, today’s reading is Revelation 12. We will continue reading the rest of the NT and then start at the beginning of the NT after Revelation.

“and those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry and exchange presents, because these two prophets had been a torment to those who dwell on the earth. But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood up on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here!” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies watched them.”‭‭Revelation‬ ‭11:10-12‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/rev.11.10-12.esv
All,
This stands out because John says, “and those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry and exchange presents, because these two prophets had been a torment to those who dwell on the earth.” People who do not trust in Jesus do not want to hear about Him or be convicted by what the Bible says. The Bible is restricting to the flesh side of us, but life-giving to our spiritual self. As the world moves closer and closer to worshipping self, words from the Bible will be tormenting. Do your loved ones trust in Jesus? Please pray that we and our friends help our loved ones to have a relationship with Jesus today. Please pray for the men considering CLC. 
If you would like to read along with me as we finish the New Testament, today’s reading is Revelation 11. We will continue reading the rest of the NT and then start at the beginning of the NT after Revelation.

“And I took the little scroll from the hand of the angel and ate it. It was sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it my stomach was made bitter. And I was told, “You must again prophesy about many peoples and nations and languages and kings.””‭‭Revelation‬ ‭10:10-11‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/rev.10.10-11.esv
All,
This stands out because John says, “And I was told, “You must again prophesy about many peoples and nations and languages and kings.”” I’m sure John felt strange writing these prophesies down. It gave hope to many persecuted Christians, but it also convicted many churches that God was not pleased with. It would be easy for a scoffer to disregard what he is being compelled to write, but he obeyed and wrote. Please pray that we and our friends obey God on the big nudges and the small ones and lean on His understanding. Please pray for the men considering CLC. 

“By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed, by the fire and smoke and sulfur coming out of their mouths. For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails, for their tails are like serpents with heads, and by means of them they wound. The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk, nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.”‭‭Revelation‬ ‭9:18-21‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/rev.9.18-21.esv
All,
This stands out because John says, “The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood”. There seems to be a lot of people who want to worship God and….. as opposed to just God. I don’t know anyone who would claim to worship idols, but I know we are all tempted to put many things above God like money, stature, reputation, etc. I know many well intentioned people who want to spend time with God daily, but say they don’t have time when what they should say is that something is a higher priority. Please pray that we and our friends prioritize God above all else. Please pray for the men considering CLC. 
If you would like to read along with me as we finish the New Testament, today’s reading is Revelation 9. We will continue reading the rest of the NT and then start at the beginning of the NT after Revelation.