Real

Its walls are patrolled day and night against invaders, but the real danger is wickedness within the city.

Irresponsible talk makes a real mess of things, but a reliable reporter is a healing presence.

As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the real person.

Real help comes from God. Your blessing clothes your people!

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."

But God is the real thing— the living God, the eternal King.

Psalm 55:10 Proverbs 13:17 Proverbs 27:19 Psalm 3:8 Matthew 11:28 Jeremiah 10:10

You are never in the wrong place to serve God.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Little

(photographer unknown)

.

Little children, keep yourselves from idols (false gods)--[from anything and everything that would occupy the place in your heart due to God, from any sort of substitute for Him that would take first place in your life].

I know your [record of] works and what you are doing. See! I have set before you a door wide open which no one is able to shut; I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept My Word and guarded My message and have not renounced or denied My name.

You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.

Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.
And now, little children, abide (live, remain permanently) in Him, so that when He is made visible, we may have and enjoy perfect confidence (boldness, assurance) and not be ashamed and shrink from Him at His coming

For physical training is of some value (useful for a little), but godliness (spiritual training) is useful and of value in everything and in every way, for it holds promise for the present life and also for the life which is to come.

1 John 5:21 Revelation 3:8 1 John 4:4 1 John 3:18 1 John 2:28 1 Timothy 4:8

Little is much when placed in Jesus’ hands.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Capable

But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.

When Saul saw how capable and successful David was, he stood in awe of him.

"Here's what I want: Give me a God-listening heart so I can lead your people well, discerning the difference between good and evil. For who on their own is capable of leading your glorious people?"

A capable, intelligent, and virtuous woman--who is he who can find her? She is far more precious than jewels and her value is far above rubies or pearls.

These are all warning markers—danger!—in our history books, written down so that we don't repeat their mistakes. Our positions in the story are parallel—they at the beginning, we at the end—and we are just as capable of messing it up as they were. Don't be so naive and self-confident. You're not exempt. You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about self-confidence; it's useless. Cultivate God-confidence.

Exodus 18:21 1 Samuel 18:15 1 Kings 3:9 Proverbs 31:10 1 Corinthians 10:11

Courage is fear that has said its prayers.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Splendor

“Who is like you among the gods, O Lord—glorious in holiness, awesome in splendor, performing great wonders?

Sing to God, everyone and everything! Get out his salvation news every day! Publish his glory among the godless nations, his wonders to all races and religions. And why? Because God is great—well worth praising! No god or goddess comes close in honor. All the popular gods are stuff and nonsense, but God made the cosmos! Splendor and majesty flow out of him, strength and joy fill his place.

Yours, LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.

Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn and beat their breasts and lament in anguish, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory [in brilliancy and splendor].

[ Jesus' Prayer for His Followers ] Jesus said these things. Then, raising his eyes in prayer, he said: Father, it's time. Display the bright splendor of your Son So the Son in turn may show your bright splendor. You put him in charge of everything human So he might give real and eternal life to all in his charge. And this is the real and eternal life: That they know you, The one and only true God, And Jesus Christ, whom you sent. I glorified you on earth By completing down to the last detail What you assigned me to do. And now, Father, glorify me with your very own splendor, The very splendor I had in your presence Before there was a world.

Exodus 15:11 1 Chronicles 16:23 1 Chronicles 29:11 Matthew 24:30 John 17:1

All creation sings God’s praise.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Unseen

We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

"Am I not a God near at hand"…"and not a God far off? Can anyone hide out in a corner where I can't see him?" …"Am I not present everywhere, whether seen or unseen?"

You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places

Through him (Jesus the Christ) God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see—such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him.

All honor and glory to God forever and ever! He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; he alone is God. Amen.

Matthew 6:6 Jeremiah 23:23 Ephesians 2:2 Ephesians 6:12 Colossians 1:16 1 Timothy 1:17

God speaks to those who are willing to hear Him.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Cooperate

God's Decree! "Watch this potter. In the same way that this potter works his clay, I work on you, people of Israel. At any moment I may decide to pull up a people or a country by the roots and get rid of them. But if they repent of their wicked lives, I will think twice and start over with them. At another time I might decide to plant a people or country, but if they don't cooperate and won't listen to me, I will think again and give up on the plans I had for them.

“You must not pass along false rumors. You must not cooperate with evil people by lying on the witness stand.

While you also cooperate by your prayers for us [helping and laboring together with us]. Thus [the lips of] many persons [turned toward God will eventually] give thanks on our behalf for the grace (the blessing of deliverance) granted us at the request of the many who have prayed.

So we ourselves ought to support such people [to welcome and provide for them], in order that we may be fellow workers in the Truth (the whole Gospel) and cooperate with its teachers.

"You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family.

Jeremiah 18:5 Exodus 23:1 2 Corinthians 1:11 3 John 1:8 Matthew 5:9

We make a living by what we earn; we make a life by what we give.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Believing

O Lord of hosts, blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man who trusts in You [leaning and believing on You, committing all and confidently looking to You, and that without fear or misgiving]!

The person in right standing before God through loyal and steady believing is fully alive, really alive.

“There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.

Then Jesus became explicit: "Lazarus died. And I am glad for your sakes that I wasn't there. You're about to be given new grounds for believing. Now let's go to him."

"You don't have to wait for the End. I am, right now, Resurrection and Life. The one who believes in me, even though he or she dies, will live. And everyone who lives believing in me does not ultimately die at all. Do you believe this?"

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."

Psalm 84:12 Habakkuk 2:4 John 3:18 John 11:14 John 11:25 Matthew 21:21

Believing is seeing what our eyes cannot see.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Imagine

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.“And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.

God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!

God doesn't come and go. God lasts. He's Creator of all you can see or imagine. He doesn't get tired out, doesn't pause to catch his breath. And he knows everything, inside and out. He energizes those who get tired, gives fresh strength to dropouts… those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, They run and don't get tired, they walk and don't lag behind.

“Imagine a woman who has ten coins and loses one. Won't she light a lamp and scour the house, looking in every nook and cranny until she finds it? And when she finds it you can be sure she'll call her friends and neighbors: 'Celebrate with me! I found my lost coin!' Count on it—that's the kind of party God's angels throw every time one lost soul turns to God."

There are so many other things Jesus did. If they were all written down, each of them, one by one, I can't imagine a world big enough to hold such a library of books.

If death got the upper hand through one man's wrongdoing, can you imagine the breathtaking recovery life makes, sovereign life, in those who grasp with both hands this wildly extravagant life-gift, this grand setting-everything-right, that the one man Jesus Christ provides?

Isaiah 55:8 Ephesians 3:20 Isaiah 40:27 Luke 15:8 John 21:25 Romans 5:15

Trust God to move your mountain, but keep on climbing.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Green

He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters

I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in and confidently rely on the loving-kindness and the mercy of God forever and ever.

I will say to the prisoners, ‘Come out in freedom,’ and to those in darkness, ‘Come into the light. ’They will be my sheep, grazing in green pastures and on hills that were previously bare.

Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.

Love and Truth meet in the street, Right Living and Whole Living embrace and kiss! Truth sprouts green from the ground, Right Living pours down from the skies! Oh yes! God gives Goodness and Beauty; our land responds with Bounty and Blessing. Right Living strides out before him, and clears a path for his passage.

Sing to God a thanksgiving hymn, play music on your instruments to God, Who fills the sky with clouds, preparing rain for the earth, Then turning the mountains green with grass, feeding both cattle and crows. He's not impressed with horsepower; the size of our muscles means little to him. Those who fear God get God's attention; they can depend on his strength.

Psalm 23:2 Psalm 52:8 Isaiah 49:9 Proverbs 11:28 Psalm 85:10 Psalm 147:7

God’s Spirit lives in us in order to work through us.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Grateful

I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. I will say, 'Salvation comes from the LORD.' "

"Don't talk about this all over town. …Your cleansed and grateful life, not your words, will bear witness to what I have done."

Simon answered, "I suppose the one who was forgiven the most." "That's right," said Jesus. … You provided nothing for freshening up, but she has soothed my feet with perfume. Impressive, isn't it? She was forgiven many, many sins, and so she is very, very grateful. If the forgiveness is minimal, the gratitude is minimal."

But if one loves God truly [ with affectionate reverence, prompt obedience, and grateful recognition of His blessing], he is known by God [ recognized as worthy of His intimacy and love, and he is owned by Him].

Bless our God, O peoples, give Him grateful thanks and make the voice of His praise be heard

Jonah 2:9 Matthew 8:3 Luke 7:43 1 Corinthians 8:3 Psalm 66:8

God’s great power deserves out grateful praise.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Determine

Work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare.”

For we know Him Who said, Vengeance is Mine, I will repay says the Lord. And again, The Lord will judge and determine and solve and settle the cause and the cases of His people

Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this-- not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother's way.

Carefully determine what pleases the Lord.

Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back. ”

Jeremiah 29:7 Hebrews 10:30 Romans 14:13 Ephesians 5:10 Luke 6:38

Only God has the right to define what’s wrong.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Open

The basic reality of God is plain enough. Open your eyes and there it is! …So nobody has a good excuse. What happened was this: People knew God perfectly well, but when they didn't treat him like God, refusing to worship him, they trivialized themselves into silliness and confusion so that there was neither sense nor direction left in their lives. They pretended to know it all, but were illiterate regarding life. They traded the glory of God who holds the whole world in his hands for cheap figurines you can buy at any roadside stand.

I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.

The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help.

Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see— how good God is. Blessed are you who run to him.

Open up before God, keep nothing back; he'll do whatever needs to be done: He'll validate your life in the clear light of day and stamp you with approval at high noon.

You'll welcome us with open arms when we run for cover to you. Let the party last all night! Stand guard over our celebration. You are famous, God, for welcoming God-seekers, for decking us out in delight.

Romans 1:18 Acts 26:18 Psalm 34:15 Psalm 34:8 Psalm 37:5 Psalm 5:11

God opens the door of His wisdom to those who open their Bibles.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Worry

Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up.

So refuse to worry, and keep your body healthy.

[ Teaching about Money and Possessions ] Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear.

God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we're free of worry …There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear

Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

Proverbs 12:25 Ecclesiastes 11:10 Luke 12:22 1 John 4:17 Philippians 4:6

Worry doesn’t improve the future, it only ruins the present.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Power

Show me your unfailing love in wonderful ways. By your mighty power you rescue those who seek refuge from their enemies.

That’s why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ’s mighty power that works within me.

Watch out for people who try to dazzle you with big words and intellectual double-talk…They spread their ideas through the empty traditions of human beings and the empty superstitions of spirit beings. But that's not the way of Christ. Everything of God gets expressed in him, so you can see and hear him clearly. You don't need a telescope, a microscope, or a horoscope to realize the fullness of Christ, and the emptiness of the universe without him. When you come to him, that fullness comes together for you, too. His power extends over everything.

(I)n Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.

So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do.

Psalm 17:7 Colossians 1:29 Colossians 2:8 Colossians 2:10 2 Thessalonians 1:11

Think less of the power of things over you and more of the power of Christ in you.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Calm

God-of-the-Angel-Armies, who is like you, powerful and faithful from every angle? You put the arrogant ocean in its place and calm its waves when they turn unruly.

When besieged, I'm calm as a baby. When all hell breaks loose, I'm collected and cool.

That You may give him power to keep himself calm in the days of adversity, until the [inevitable] pit of corruption is dug for the wicked.

A calm and undisturbed mind and heart are the life and health of the body

They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven.

For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”

Psalm 89:5 Psalm 27:3 Psalm 94:13 Proverbs 14:30 Psalm 107:30 Psalm 107:30 Zephaniah 3:17

It’s always darkest before the dawn.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Mighty warrior

When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, "The LORD is with you, mighty warrior."

Cush was the father of Nimrod, who became a mighty warrior on earth.

Then even the bravest soldiers, though they have the heart of a lion, will be paralyzed with fear. For all Israel knows what a mighty warrior your father is and how courageous his men are.

Put on your sword, O mighty warrior! You are so glorious, so majestic!

But the LORD is with me like a mighty warrior; so my persecutors will stumble and not prevail. They will fail and be thoroughly disgraced; their dishonor will never be forgotten.

The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing."

Judges 6:12 1 Chronicles 1:10 2 Samuel 17:10 Psalm 45:3 Jeremiah 20:11 Zephaniah 3:17

God is looking for ordinary people to do His extraordinary work.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Wise

The Lord looks down from heaven on the entire human race; he looks to see if anyone is truly wise, if anyone seeks God.

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As the Scriptures say, “He traps the wise in the snare of their own cleverness.”

The wise counsel God gives when I'm awake is confirmed by my sleeping heart. Day and night I'll stick with God; I've got a good thing going and I'm not letting go.

The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the [whole] person; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom

Psalm 14:2 1 Corinthians 3:19 Psalm 16:7 Psalm 19:7 Colossians 4:5 James 3:13

Wise is the person who knows what to say and when to say it.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Enough

Love God…God takes care of all who stay close to him, But he pays back in full those arrogant enough to go it alone.

Day by day the Lord takes care of the innocent …They will not be disgraced in hard times; even in famine they will have more than enough.

My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness.

And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation].

God—you're my God! I can't get enough of you! I've worked up such hunger and thirst for God

Who can list the glorious miracles of the Lord? Who can ever praise him enough?

Psalm 31:23 Psalm 37:19 2 Corinthians 12:9 2 Corinthians 9:8 Psalm 63:1 Psalm 106:2

God always gives enough strength for the next step.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God.

Encourage

My purpose in writing is to encourage you and assure you that what you are experiencing is truly part of God’s grace for you. Stand firm in this grace.

But encourage one another daily … so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.

He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.

Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.

Comfort and encourage your hearts and strengthen them [make them steadfast and keep them unswerving] in every good work and word.

And we urge you, brothers and sisters … encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

1 Peter 5:12 Hebrews 3:13 Titus 1:9 2 Timothy 4:2 2 Thessalonians 2:17 1 Thessalonians 5:14

The human spirit soars with hope when lifted by an encouraging word.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Witness

Your cleansed and obedient life, not your words, will bear witness to what I have done." But the man couldn't keep it to himself, and the word got out…

John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe.

"Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins."

The apostles gave powerful witness to the resurrection of the Master Jesus, and grace was on all of them

Worship only God. For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus. ”

You will be his witness to all people of what you have seen and heard.

Luke 5:14 John 1:7 John 1:7 Acts 10:43 Acts 4:32 Revelation 19:10 Acts 22:15

Jesus leaves us in the world to be a witness to the world.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God