Quick

Colorado Springs

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Take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.

Don't shoot off your mouth, or speak before you think. Don't be too quick to tell God what you think he wants to hear. God's in charge, not you—the less you speak, the better.

God is all mercy and grace— not quick to anger, is rich in love.

Gracious speech is like clover honey— good taste to the soul, quick energy for the body.

In light of all this, here's what I want you to do. While I'm locked up here, a prisoner for the Master, I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel. I don't want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don't want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. And mark that you do this with humility and discipline—not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences.

Everything in the world is about to be wrapped up, so take nothing for granted. Stay wide-awake in prayer. Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless.

James 1:19 Ecclesiastes 5:2 Psalm 145:8 Proverbs 16:24 Ephesians 4:1 1 Peter 4:7

Helping someone in Jesus’ name is you most important work for the day.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God.

Delight

Durango

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Oh, the joys of those who… delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night.

You are famous, God, for welcoming God-seekers, for decking us out in delight.

As for the saints who are in the earth, They are the majestic ones in whom is all my delight

May those who delight in my vindication shout for joy and gladness; may they always say, "The LORD be exalted, who delights in the well-being of his servant."

The LORD makes firm the steps of those who delight in him;

Take delight in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 1:2,1 Psalm 5:11 Psalm 16:3 Psalm 35:27 Psalm 37:23 Psalm 37:4

The Lord’s delight is in those who fear him, those who put their hope in his unfailing love. Psalm 147:11

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Important

Pagosa Springs,CO

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So, then, if with Christ you've put all that pretentious and infantile religion behind you, why do you let yourselves be bullied by it? "Don't touch this! Don't taste that! Don't go near this!" Do you think things that are here today and gone tomorrow are worth that kind of attention? Such things sound impressive if said in a deep enough voice. They even give the illusion of being pious and humble and ascetic. But they're just another way of showing off, making yourselves look important.

Don't love the world's ways. Don't love the world's goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out—but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity.

You do well when you complete the Royal Rule of the Scriptures: "Love others as you love yourself." But if you play up to these so-called important people, you go against the Rule and stand convicted by it. You can't pick and choose in these things, specializing in keeping one or two things in God's law and ignoring others.

Yes, all the things I once thought were so important are gone from my life. Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once thought I had going for me is insignificant—dog dung. I've dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ and be embraced by him. I didn't want some petty, inferior brand of righteousness that comes from keeping a list of rules when I could get the robust kind that comes from trusting Christ—God's righteousness.

Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.

Colossians 2:20 1 John 2:15 James 2:8 Philippians 3:7 1 Peter 4:8

First impressions often lead to wrong conclusions.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God.

Presence

Blanca Valley,CO

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Pursue a righteous life—a life of wonder, faith, love, steadiness, courtesy. Run hard and fast in the faith. Seize the eternal life, the life you were called to, the life you so fervently embraced in the presence of so many witnesses.

May you be infused with strength and purity, filled with confidence in the presence of God our Father when our Master Jesus arrives with all his followers.

Now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.

So, friends, we can now—without hesitation—walk right up to God, into "the Holy Place." Jesus has cleared the way by the blood of his sacrifice, acting as our priest before God. The "curtain" into God's presence is his body.

Humble yourselves [feeling very insignificant] in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you [He will lift you up and make your lives significant].

1 Timothy 6:11 1 Thessalonians 3:11 Colossians 1:22 Hebrews 10:19 James 4:10

The closer we walk with God, the clearer we see His guidance.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Keeps

Great Sand Dunes

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God keeps an eye on his friends, his ears pick up every moan and groan.

It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure.

Our lives are in his hands, and he keeps our feet from stumbling.

God loves all who hate evil, And those who love him he keeps safe

God makes everything come out right…. God is sheer mercy and grace... As high as heaven is over the earth, so strong is his love to those who fear him… God feels for those who fear him. He knows us inside and out, keeps in mind that we're made of mud

(M)y awe at your words keeps me stable. I'm ecstatic over what you say, like one who strikes it rich. …I love what you have revealed. Seven times each day I stop and shout praises for the way you keep everything running right. For those who love what you reveal, everything fits— God, I do what you tell me. My soul guards and keeps all your instructions— oh, how much I love them! I follow your directions, abide by your counsel; my life's an open book before you.

Psalm 34:15 Psalm 18:32 Psalm 66:9 Psalm 97:10 Psalm 103:6 Psalm 119:161

When we trust the power of God, His peace keeps us from panic.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God.

Splendor

Colorado Sky

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God made the heavens— Royal splendor radiates from him, A powerful beauty sets him apart.

O LORD, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth, Who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens.

Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.

My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long.

For the Lord God is a Sun and Shield; the Lord bestows [present] grace and favor and [future] glory (honor, splendor, and heavenly bliss)! No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.

Worship the Lord in all his holy splendor .Let all the earth tremble before him.

Psalm 96:5 Psalm 8:1 Psalm 29:2 Psalm 71:8 Psalm 84:11 Psalm 96:9

In a changing world, you can trust God’s unchanging Word.

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View

Pagosa Springs

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Dear friend, listen well to my words; tune your ears to my voice. Keep my message in plain view at all times. Concentrate! Learn it by heart! Those who discover these words live, really live; body and soul, they're bursting with health.

Jesus turned to Peter and said, “…you are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.”

So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now!

"When he comes, he'll expose the error of the godless world's view of sin, righteousness, and judgment: He'll show them that their refusal to believe in me is their basic sin;

Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized—whoever. I didn't take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ—but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I've become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all this because of the Message. I didn't just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is true worship.

Proverbs 4:20 Matthew 16:23 2 Corinthians 5:16 John 16:8 1 Corinthians 9:19 Romans 12:1

We see in part; God sees the whole.

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Insight

Good friend, take to heart what I'm telling you; collect my counsels and guard them with your life. Tune your ears to the world of Wisdom; set your heart on a life of Understanding. That's right—if you make Insight your priority, and won't take no for an answer, Searching for it like a prospector panning for gold, like an adventurer on a treasure hunt, Believe me, before you know it Fear-of-God will be yours; you'll have come upon the Knowledge of God.

Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding.

The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living.

God, teach me lessons for living so I can stay the course. Give me insight so I can do what you tell me— my whole life one long, obedient response.

I have better understanding and deeper insight than all my teachers, because Your testimonies are my meditation

The purposes of the human heart are deep waters, but those who have insight draw them out.

Proverbs 2:1 Proverbs 3:5 Psalm 19:8 Psalm 119:33 Psalm 119:99 Proverbs 20:5

People will listen to your carefully if they see you living faithfully.

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Increase

Fruitful

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For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.

And though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would greatly increase

The blessing of the Lord--it makes [truly] rich, and He adds no sorrow with it [neither does toiling increase it].

Our barns will be filled with every kind of provision. Our sheep will increase by thousands, by tens of thousands in our fields;

Though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them.

There are those who [generously] scatter abroad, and yet increase more;

May the LORD cause you to increase, both you and your children.

Deuteronomy 30:16 Job 8:7 Proverbs 10:22 Psalm 144:13 Psalm 62:10 Proverbs 11:24 Psalm 115:14

The true measure of a person is what’s in the heart.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Compare(d)

Sunset- Maui

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Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else.

Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives. That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original.

For instance, we know that when these bodies of ours are taken down like tents and folded away, they will be replaced by resurrection bodies in heaven—God-made, not handmade—and we'll never have to relocate our "tents" again. Sometimes we can hardly wait to move—and so we cry out in frustration. Compared to what's coming, living conditions around here seem like a stopover in an unfurnished shack.

These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time (this present life) are not worth being compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to us and in us and for us and conferred on us!

Galatians 6:4 Galatians 5:25 2 Corinthians 5:1 2 Corinthians 4:16 Romans 8:18

The Spirit of God uses the Word of God to change the people of God.

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Stand

Sedona '05

The earth takes shape like clay under a seal; its features stand out like those of a garment.

Let the mountains give exuberant witness; shape the hills with the contours of right living. Please stand up for the poor, help the children of the needy, come down hard on the cruel tyrants. Outlast the sun, outlive the moon— age after age after age. Be rainfall on cut grass, earth-refreshing rain showers. Let righteousness burst into blossom and peace abound until the moon fades to nothing. Rule from sea to sea, from the River to the Rim.

God takes the wind out of Babel pretense, he shoots down the world's power-schemes. God's plan for the world stands up, all his designs are made to last. Blessed is the country with God for God; blessed are the people he's put in his will.

By entering through faith into what God has always wanted to do for us—set us right with him, make us fit for him—we have it all together with God because of our Master Jesus. And that's not all: We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand—out in the wide open spaces of God's grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise.

"Do you want to stand out? Then step down. Be a servant. If you puff yourself up, you'll get the wind knocked out of you. But if you're content to simply be yourself, your life will count for plenty.

Job 38:14 Psalm 72:1 Psalm 33:10 Romans 5:1 Matthew 23:11

He is no genius who ignores his Creator.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God.

Will not

Great Sand Dunes

I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.

The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can human beings do to me?

The Lord will not reject his people; he will not abandon his special possession

Then people who are not Christians will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others.

Our people must learn to do good by meeting the urgent needs of others; then they will not be unproductive

God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.

Those who trust in the Lord are as secure as Mount Zion; they will not be defeated but will endure forever.

Psalm 119:16 Psalm 118:6 Psalm 94:14 1 Thessalonians 4:12 Titus 3:14 Hebrews 6:10 Psalm 125:1

A life lived for Christ is the best inheritance we can leave our children.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Favor

Apple Blossom

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To the saints (the consecrated people of God) and believing and faithful brethren in Christ who are at (put in your town) Colossae: Grace (spiritual favor and blessing) to you and [heart] peace from God our Father.

Surely, LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.

He gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble and oppressed."

[ A Warning against Prejudice ] My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others?

Exercise foresight and be on the watch to look [after one another], to see that no one falls back from and fails to secure God's grace (His unmerited favor and spiritual blessing),

Let no foul or polluting language, nor evil word nor unwholesome or worthless talk [ever] come out of your mouth, but only such [speech] as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be a blessing and give grace (God's favor) to those who hear it.

It is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart. You share with me the special favor of God,

Colossians 1:2 Psalm 5:12 James 4:6 James 2:1 Hebrews 12:15 Ephesians 4:29 Philippians 1:7

The closer we walk with God, the clearer we experience His favor.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Vision

Spain - White towns

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So let's keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you'll see it yet! Now that we're on the right track, let's stay on it.

Beloved, do not imitate evil, but imitate good. He who does good is of God; he who does evil has not seen (discerned or experienced) God [has enjoyed no vision of Him and does not know Him at all].

Live in such a way that you are a credit to the Message of Christ…. Stand united, singular in vision, contending for people's trust in the Message, the good news, not flinching or dodging in the slightest before the opposition.

During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us."

One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, "Cornelius!"

As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, " Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man has risen from the dead."

Where there is no vision [no redemptive revelation of God], the people perish;

Philippians 3:15 3 John 1:11 Philippians 1:27 Acts 16:9 Acts 10:3 Proverbs 29:18

Aim at nothing (no vision) and you will be sure to hit it!

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Triumph

Denver

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We will [shout in] triumph at your salvation and victory, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners. May the Lord fulfill all your petitions.

The strong right arm of the Lord is raised in triumph. The strong right arm of the Lord has done glorious things!

No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment you shall show to be in the wrong. This [peace, righteousness, security, triumph over opposition] is the heritage of the servants of the Lord [those in whom the ideal Servant of the Lord is reproduced]; this is the righteousness or the vindication which they obtain from Me [this is that which I impart to them as their justification], says the Lord.

But Jesus was matter-of-fact: "Yes—and if you embrace this kingdom life and don't doubt God, you'll not only do minor feats like I did to the fig tree, but also triumph over huge obstacles. This mountain, for instance, you'll tell, 'Go jump in the lake,' and it will jump. Absolutely everything, ranging from small to large, as you make it a part of your believing prayer, gets included as you lay hold of God."

The great triumph is not in your authority over evil, but in God's authority over you and presence with you. Not what you do for God but what God does for you—that's the agenda for rejoicing."

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.

Psalm 20:5 Psalm 118:16 Isaiah 54:17 Matthew 21:21 Luke 10:18 2 Corinthians 2:14

Boast not in what you do for Christ, but in what Christ does for you.

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Wait

Maui

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In the morning You hear my voice, O Lord; in the morning I prepare [a prayer,] for You and watch and wait [for You to speak to my heart].

And now, Lord, what do I wait for and expect? My hope and expectation are in You.

Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him

My soul, wait only upon God and silently submit to Him; for my hope and expectation are from Him.

Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry

Wait for the LORD and keep His way, And He will exalt you to inherit the land

God, the one and only— I'll wait as long as he says. Everything I hope for comes from him, so why not? He's solid rock under my feet, breathing room for my soul, An impregnable castle: I'm set for life.

Psalm 5:3 Psalm 39:7 Psalm 43:5 Psalm 62:5 Psalm 37:7 Psalm 37:34 Psalm 62:5

Be anxious about nothing, pray about everything.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Smile

Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul? Why are you crying the blues? Fix my eyes on God— soon I'll be praising again. He puts a smile on my face. He's my God.

Many people say, “Who will show us better times?” Let your face smile on us, Lord.

Warm me, your servant, with a smile; save me because you love me.

May God be merciful and bless us. May his face smile with favor on us.

Work with a smile on your face, always keeping in mind that no matter who happens to be giving the orders, you're really serving God. Good work will get you good pay from the Master, regardless of whether you are slave or free.

God, mark us with grace and blessing! Smile! The whole country will see how you work, all the godless nations see how you save. God! Let people thank and enjoy you. Let all people thank and enjoy you.

Psalm 42:5 Psalm 4:6 Psalm 31:14 Psalm 67:1 Ephesians 6:5 Psalm 67:1

Nothing is more awesome than to know God.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Stream

Blanca Valley

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The stream of God is full of water. You prepare their grain, for thus You prepare the earth.

"It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God's mouth."

Let justice run down like waters and righteousness as a mighty and ever-flowing stream.

Then he said to me, “This river flows east through the desert into the valley of the Dead Sea. The waters of this stream will make the salty waters of the Dead Sea fresh and pure.

They relish and feast on the abundance of Your house; and You cause them to drink of the stream of Your pleasures.

Tears of joy will stream down their faces, and I will lead them home with great care. They will walk beside quiet streams and on smooth paths where they will not stumble.

Psalm 65:9 Matthew 4:4 Amos 5:24 Ezekiel 47:8 Psalm 36:8 Jeremiah 31:9

We serve God by sharing His Word with others.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Many one

In Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.

Many seek an audience with a ruler, but it is from the LORD that one gets justice.

As each of you has received a gift (a particular spiritual talent, a gracious divine endowment), employ it for one another as [befits] good trustees of God's many-sided grace [faithful stewards of the extremely diverse powers and gifts granted to Christians by unmerited favor].

At the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were taking place among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon's portico.

Many, O Lord my God, are the wonderful works which You have done, and Your thoughts toward us; no one can compare with You! If I should declare and speak of them, they are too many to be numbered.

Romans 12:5 1 Corinthians 12:12 Proverbs 29:26 1 Peter 4:10 Acts 5:12 Psalm 40:5

Children of the king find their significance in Christ.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Strength

Silverton,CO

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Grow in grace (undeserved favor, spiritual strength) and recognition and knowledge and understanding of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn how to do your work. We pray that you'll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul—not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us.

Do not be attracted by strange, new ideas. Your strength comes from God’s grace

Never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord…With the strength God gives you

If you speak, you should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If you serve, you should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.

I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency].

2 Peter 3:18 Colossians 1:9 Hebrews 13:9 2 Timothy 1:8 1 Peter 4:11 Philippians 4:13

God’s call to a task includes His strength to complete it.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God