Favor

And the angel said to her, Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found grace ( free, spontaneous, absolute favor and loving-kindness) with God.

"Don't be naive. Some people will impugn your motives, others will smear your reputation—just because you believe in me. Don't be upset when they haul you before the civil authorities. Without knowing it, they've done you—and me—a favor, given you a platform for preaching the kingdom news! And don't worry about what you'll say or how you'll say it. The right words will be there; the Spirit of your Father will supply the words.

Then he turned to the host. "The next time you put on a dinner, don't just invite your friends and family and rich neighbors, the kind of people who will return the favor. Invite some people who never get invited out, the misfits from the wrong side of the tracks. You'll be—and experience—a blessing. They won't be able to return the favor, but the favor will be returned—oh, how it will be returned!—at the resurrection of God's people."

For out of His fullness (abundance) we have all received [all had a share and we were all supplied with] one grace after another and spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing and even favor upon favor and gift [heaped] upon gift.

For while the Law was given through Moses, grace ( unearned, undeserved favor and spiritual blessing) and truth came through Jesus Christ.

But God was with him and rescued him from all his troubles. And God gave him favor before Pharaoh, king of Egypt. God also gave Joseph unusual wisdom, so that Pharaoh appointed him governor over all of Egypt and put him in charge of the palace.

Luke 1:30 Matthew 10:17 Luke 14:12 John 1:16 John 1:17 Acts 7:10

When we know God stands with us, it doesn’t matter who stnds against us.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Relationship

You must worship no other gods, for the Lord, whose very name is Jealous, is a God who is jealous about his relationship with you.

They will receive the Lord’s blessing and have a right relationship with God their savior.

The way of the [consistently] righteous (those living in moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relationship of their lives) is level and straight; You, O [Lord], Who are upright, direct aright and make level the path of the [uncompromisingly] just and righteous.

Then shall your light break forth like the morning, and your healing (your restoration and the power of a new life) shall spring forth speedily; your righteousness (your rightness, your justice, and your right relationship with God) shall go before you [conducting you to peace and prosperity], and the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.

“Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”

Clearly, God’s promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was based not on his obedience to God’s law, but on a right relationship with God that comes by faith

Exodus 34:14 Psalm 24:5 Isaiah 26:7 Isaiah 58:8 Luke 12:21 Romans 4:13

Joy is the result of a right relationship with God.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Unseen

If we hope for what is still unseen by us, we wait for it with patience and composure.

…so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

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.

God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.

By an act of faith, Abraham said yes to God's call to travel to an unknown place that would become his home. When he left he had no idea where he was going. By an act of faith he lived in the country promised him, lived as a stranger camping in tents. Isaac and Jacob did the same, living under the same promise. Abraham did it by keeping his eye on an unseen city with real, eternal foundations—the City designed and built by God

Romans 8:25 Matthew 6:18 2 Corinthians 4:18 Ephesians 6:12 Ephesians 3:10 Hebrews 11:8

All we’ve seen of God’s provision teaches us to trust Him for what is unseen.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Careful

photo by Sarah Blake
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Be careful that no one entices you by riches; do not let a large bribe turn you aside.

I will be careful to live a blameless life—when will you come to help me? I will lead a life of integrity in my own home.

Because you have satisfied me, God, I promise to do everything you say. I beg you from the bottom of my heart: smile, be gracious to me just as you promised. When I took a long, careful look at your ways, I got my feet back on the trail you blazed. I was up at once, didn't drag my feet, was quick to follow your orders.

Dear friend, do what I tell you; treasure my careful instructions. Do what I say and you'll live well. My teaching is as precious as your eyesight—guard it! Write it out on the back of your hands; etch it on the chambers of your heart. Talk to Wisdom as to a sister. Treat Insight as your companion.

Careful words make for a careful life; careless talk may ruin everything,

Careful planning puts you ahead in the long run;

Job 36:18 Psalm 101:2 Psalm 119:57 Proverbs 7:1 Proverbs 13:3 Proverbs 21:5

The idol of self is a sorry substitute for God.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Obey

“O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of unfailing love with those who love him and obey his commands…”

"It's true that God is all-powerful, but he doesn't bully innocent people. For the wicked, though, it's a different story—If they obey and serve him, they'll have a good, long life on easy street. But if they disobey, they'll be cut down in their prime and never know the first thing about life. Angry people without God pile grievance upon grievance, always blaming others for their troubles. Living it up in sexual excesses, virility wasted, they die young. But those who learn from their suffering, God delivers from their suffering.

Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts.
I reflect at night on who you are, O Lord; therefore, I obey your instructions.

“If they listen and obey God, they will be blessed with prosperity throughout their lives. All their years will be pleasant.

So rejoice in the Lord and be glad, all you who obey him! Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure.

Nehemiah 1:5 Job 36:5 Psalm 119:2 Psalm 119:55 Job 36:11 Psalm 32:11

The Spirit of God enables us to obey the Word of God.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God.

Focus

photo by: Sarah Blake

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Jesus said, "What a generation! No sense of God! No focus to your lives! How many times do I have to go over these things? How much longer do I have to put up with this?

"Here's what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won't be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.

“… a light-radiant cloud enveloped them, and sounding from deep in the cloud a voice: "This is my Son, marked by my love, focus of my delight. Listen to him."

Be good to your servant, God; be as good as your Word. Train me in good common sense; I'm thoroughly committed to living your way… I'm in step with your Word. … I focus my attention on what you are saying; …while I dance to the tune of your revelation.

How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He's the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.

I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.

Luke 9:41 Matthew 6:6 Matthew 17:5 Psalm 119:65 Ephesians 1:3 Philippians 3:13

To the wise, God’s Word is sufficient.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Wait

In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.

You say you can’t see him, but he will bring justice if you will only wait.

Yes, let none who trust and wait hopefully and look for You be put to shame or be disappointed;

Guide me in Your truth and faithfulness and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You [You only and altogether] do I wait [expectantly] all the day long.

Use all your skill to put me together; I wait to see your finished product.

Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord.

Psalm 5:3 Job 35:14 Psalm 25:3 Psalm 25:5 Psalm 25:21 Psalm 27:14

God uses ordinary people to carry out His extraordinary plan.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Continue

Paul and Barnabas … talked to them and urged them to continue [to trust themselves to and to stand fast] in the grace (the unmerited favor and blessing) of God.

…strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, " Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God."

There's more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit.

Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition ( definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God

And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion.

Acts 13:43 Acts 14:22 Romans 5:3 Philippians 4:6 Philippians 1:6

Be faithful…and leave the results to God.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Ponder

Get going.. In the same way I was with Moses, I'll be with you. I won't give up on you; I won't leave you. Strength! Courage! ... Give it everything you have, heart and soul. Make sure you carry out The Revelation…… every bit of it. Don't get off track, either left or right, so as to make sure you get to where you're going. And don't for a minute let this Book of The Revelation be out of mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you'll get where you're going; then you'll succeed. Haven't I commanded you? Strength! Courage! Don't be timid; don't get discouraged. God, your God, is with you every step you take."

All mankind will fear; they will proclaim the works of God and ponder what he has done.

By carefully reading the map of your Word. I'm single-minded in pursuit of you; don't let me miss the road signs you've posted. I've banked your promises in the vault of my heart so I won't sin myself bankrupt. Be blessed, God; train me in your ways of wise living. I'll transfer to my lips all the counsel that comes from your mouth; I delight far more in what you tell me about living than in gathering a pile of riches. I ponder every morsel of wisdom from you, I attentively watch how you've done it. I relish everything you've told me of life, I won't forget a word of it.

Oh, how I love all you've revealed; I reverently ponder it all the day long… I can spend all my time keeping your Word. I never make detours from the route you laid out; you gave me such good directions. Your words are so choice, so tasty; I prefer them to the best home cooking. With your instruction, I understand life.

Ponder the rock from which you were cut, the quarry from which you were dug. Yes, ponder Abraham, your father, and Sarah, who bore you. Think of it! One solitary man when I called him, but once I blessed him, he multiplied.

Joshua 1:1 Psalm 64:9 Psalm 119:9 Psalm 119:97 Isaiah 51:1

You can be confident about tomorrow if you walk with God today.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God.

Measure

May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.

Grace (God's unmerited favor) was given to each of us individually [not indiscriminately, but in different ways] in proportion to the measure of Christ's [rich and bounteous] gift.

11And He gave some as apostles… as prophets… evangelists… pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ

Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

[ The Day the Sky Will Collapse ] God isn't late with his promise as some measure lateness. He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the End because he doesn't want anyone lost. He's giving everyone space and time to change.

1 Peter 1:2 Ephesians 4:7 Ephesians 4:13 2 Peter 1:8 2 Peter 3:8

The infinite God cannot be measured by finite man.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Greed

The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, but the treacherous will be caught by their own greed.

"Such God-denying people are never content with what they have or who they are; their greed drives them relentlessly. They plunder everything but they can't hold on to any of it. Just when they think they have it all, disaster strikes.

Greed causes fighting; trusting the Lord leads to prosperity.

"Your eyes are windows into your body. If you open your eyes wide in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light. If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a dank cellar. If you pull the blinds on your windows, what a dark life you will have!”

Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”

Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.

Proverbs 11:6 Job 20:20 Proverbs 28:25 Matthew 6:22 Luke 12:15 Colossians 3:5

The remedy for greed is generosity.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Words

The ear tests the words it hears just as the mouth distinguishes between foods.

Accept instruction from his mouth and lay up his words in your heart.

I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.

At least I can take comfort in this: Despite the pain, I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

"Give in to God, come to terms with him and everything will turn out just fine. Let him tell you what to do; take his words to heart. Come back to God Almighty and he'll rebuild your life. Clean house of everything evil. Relax your grip on your money and abandon your gold-plated luxury. God Almighty will be your treasure, more wealth than you can imagine.

So the people went away to eat and drink at a festive meal, to share gifts of food, and to celebrate with great joy because they had heard God’s words and understood them.

Job 12:11 Job 22:22 Job 23:12 Job 6:10 Job 22:21 Nehemiah 8:12

Don’t put off until tomorrow the loving words you can say today.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Provide

"Behold, He struck the rock so that waters gushed out, and streams were overflowing; can He give bread also? Will He provide meat for His people?"

You care for the land and water it; you enrich it abundantly. The streams of God are filled with water to provide the people with grain, for so you have ordained it.

God will provide rain for the seeds you sow. The grain that grows will be abundant. Your cattle will range far and wide.

"'Obey what I tell you. Do exactly what I command you. Your obedience will close the deal. You'll be mine and I'll be yours. This will provide the conditions in which I will be able to do what I promised your ancestors: to give them a fertile and lush land. And, as you know, that's what I did.'" "Yes, God," I replied. "That's true."

Riches provide no security in any day of wrath and judgment, but righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God) delivers from death.

The people of the world will see all the good I do for my people, and they will tremble with awe at the peace and prosperity I provide for them.

Psalm 78:20 Psalm 65:9 Isaiah 30:23 Jeremiah 11:4 Proverbs 11:4 Jeremiah 33:9

Your problems can never exhaust God’s provisions.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Lifted

El Salvador

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Powerful is your arm! Strong is your hand! Your right hand is lifted high in glorious strength.

He lifted me out of the pit of despair …He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along

I will extol You, O LORD, for You have lifted me up

He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood and has not sworn deceitfully. He shall receive a blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

He has lifted up a horn for His people [giving them power, prosperity, dignity, and preeminence], a song of praise for all His godly ones, for the people of Israel, who are near to Him. Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!)

I will extol You, O LORD, for You have lifted me up.

Psalm 89:13 Psalm 40:2 Psalm 30:1 Psalm 24:4 Psalm 148:14 Psalm 30:1

God does not ask us to go where he does not lead.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

March

God, when you took the lead with your people, when you marched out into the wild, Earth shook, sky broke out in a sweat; God was on the march. Even Sinai trembled at the sight of God on the move, at the sight of Israel's God. You pour out rain in buckets, O God; thorn and cactus become an oasis For your people to camp in and enjoy. You set them up in business; they went from rags to riches.

"That's when you'll find yourselves out in the cold, strangers to grace. You'll watch Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets march into God's kingdom. You'll watch outsiders stream in from east, west, north, and south and sit down at the table of God's kingdom. And all the time you'll be outside looking in—and wondering what happened. This is the Great Reversal: the last in line put at the head of the line, and the so-called first ending up last."

The sins of some people are blatant and march them right into court. The sins of others don't show up until much later. The same with good deeds. Some you see right off, but none are hidden forever.

"Conquerors will march in the victory parade, their names indelible in the Book of Life. I'll lead them up and present them by name to my Father and his Angels.

Come, let's shout praises to God, raise the roof for the Rock who saved us! Let's march into his presence singing praises, lifting the rafters with our hymns.

Psalm 68:7 Luke 13:28 1 Timothy 5:24 Revelation 3:5 Psalm 95:1

In the dictionary of discipleship, you won’t find the word “retreat.”

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Find

How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings.

God-affirmers find themselves loved every time they turn around.

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.

So if you find life difficult because you're doing what God said, take it in stride. Trust him. He knows what he's doing, and he'll keep on doing it.

This is God, your God, speaking to you. I don't find fault with your acts of worship… Spread for me a banquet of praise, serve High God a feast of kept promises, And call for help when you're in trouble— I'll help you, and you'll honor me."

…embrace God's training so we can truly live … God is doing what is best for us, training us to live God's holy best. At the time, discipline isn't much fun. It always feels like it's going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it's the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God.

But whoever catches a glimpse of the revealed counsel of God—the free life!—even out of the corner of his eye, and sticks with it, is no distracted scatterbrain but a man or woman of action. That person will find delight and affirmation in the action.

Psalm 36:7 Psalm 32:10 Psalm 62:5 1 Peter 4:17 Psalm 50:7 Hebrews 12:4 James 1:25

To the wise, God’s Word is sufficient.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Power

When evening came, they brought to Him many who were under the power of demons, and He drove out the spirits with a word and restored to health all who were sick.

Then He touched their eyes, saying, According to your faith and trust and reliance [on the power invested in Me] be it done to you.

AND JESUS summoned to Him His twelve disciples and gave them power and authority over unclean spirits, to drive them out, and to cure all kinds of disease and all kinds of weakness and infirmity.

When the crowds saw it, they were struck with fear and awe; and they recognized God and praised and thanked Him, Who had given such power and authority to men.

But you shall receive power (ability, efficiency, and might) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the ends (the very bounds) of the earth.

"Then, the Arrival of the Son of Man! It will fill the skies—no one will miss it. Unready people all over the world, outsiders to the splendor and power, will raise a huge lament as they watch the Son of Man blazing out of heaven. At that same moment, he'll dispatch his angels with a trumpet-blast summons, pulling in God's chosen from the four winds, from pole to pole.

Matthew 8:16 Matthew 9:29 Matthew 10:1 Matthew 9:8 Acts 1:8 Matthew 24:30

The Holy Spirit in you is the power source waiting to be released in powerful proclamation.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Compassion

Do not hold us guilty for the sins of our ancestors! Let your compassion quickly meet our needs, for we are on the brink of despair.

But you, O Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.

As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him

The Lord replied, “I will make all my goodness pass before you, and I will call out my name, Yahweh, before you. For I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose.

And the people believed; and when they heard that the Lord had visited the Israelites, and that He had looked [in compassion] upon their affliction, they bowed their heads and worshiped.

Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

Psalm 79:8 Psalm 86:15 Psalm 103:13 Exodus 33:19 Exodus 4:31 Mark 6:34

Compassion never goes out of fashion.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Wonder

I look up at your macro-skies, dark and enormous, your handmade sky-jewelry, Moon and stars mounted in their settings. Then I look at my micro-self and wonder, Why do you bother with us? Why take a second look our way?

Therefore once more I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish."

"I'll make up for the years of the locust, the great locust devastation— Locusts savage, locusts deadly, fierce locusts, locusts of doom, That great locust invasion I sent your way. You'll eat your fill of good food. You'll be full of praises to your God, The God who has set you back on your heels in wonder. Never again will my people be despised. You'll know without question that I'm in the thick of life with Israel, That I'm your God, yes, your God, the one and only real God.

What a stack of blessing you have piled up for those who worship you, Ready and waiting for all who run to you to escape an unkind world. You hide them safely away from the opposition. As you slam the door on those oily, mocking faces, you silence the poisonous gossip. Blessed God! His love is the wonder of the world.

My heart is confident in you, O God; my heart is confident. No wonder I can sing your praises.

Blessed God, Israel's God, the one and only wonder-working God! Blessed always his blazing glory! All earth brims with his glory. Yes and Yes and Yes.

Psalm 8:3 Isaiah 29:14 Joel 2:25 Psalm 31:19 Psalm 57:7 Psalm 72:18

Observe! Be astonished! Wonder! Because I am doing something in your days--You would not believe if you were told. Habakkuk 1:5

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Little

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].

Little children, you are of God [you belong to Him] and have [already] defeated and overcome them [the agents of the antichrist], because He Who lives in you is greater (mightier) than he who is in the world.

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.

Jesus told them, "You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going.

One of the disciples—it was Andrew, brother to Simon Peter—said, "There's a little boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But that's a drop in the bucket for a crowd like this."

1 John 5:21 1 John 4:4 1 Timothy 4:8 John 12:35 John 6:8

Little is much when placed in the Master’s hands.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God.

Assignment

On ASSIGNMENT…

In fewer than 60 minutes Jeanette and I will be our team of 14 on nine day mission to El Salvador. We will be working with the Shalom orphanage and out reach Oasis ministry. As we follow the footsteps of Christ we anticipate the manifestation of His grace.

Keep us in your prayers. You may follow our journey on our blog site:

www.nlcelsalvadormission09.blogspot.com

In His love,

Glenn and Jeanette

Join

The creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay.

Calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat; I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to saving yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you? What could you ever trade your soul for

I'm saying these things in the world's hearing So my people can experience My joy completed in them. I gave them your word; The godless world hated them because of it, Because they didn't join the world's ways, Just as I didn't join the world's ways. I'm not asking that you take them out of the world But that you guard them from the Evil One. They are no more defined by the world Than I am defined by the world. Make them holy—consecrated—with the truth; Your word is consecrating truth. In the same way that you gave me a mission in the world, I give them a mission in the world. I'm consecrating myself for their sakes So they'll be truth-consecrated in their mission

Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go up and join this chariot."

So reach out and welcome one another to God's glory. Jesus did it; now you do it… Then I'll join outsiders in a hymn-sing … People of all nations, celebrate God! All colors and races, give hearty praise! And Isaiah's word: There's the root of our ancestor Jesse, breaking through the earth and growing tree tall, Tall enough for everyone everywhere to see and take hope! Oh! May the God of green hope fill you up with joy, fill you up with peace, so that your believing lives, filled with the life-giving energy of the Holy Spirit, will brim over with hope!

Romans 8:21 Mark 8:34 John 17:13 Acts 8:29 Romans 15:7

There is no insignificant task in the church.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Better

“But I warn you—unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven!

It would be better if they had never known the way to righteousness than to know it and then reject the command they were given to live a holy life.

You're cheating on God. If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and his way. And do you suppose God doesn't care? The proverb has it that "he's a fiercely jealous lover." And what he gives in love is far better than anything else you'll find. It's common knowledge that "God goes against the willful proud; God gives grace to the willing humble."

[ A Future in God ] So roll up your sleeves, put your mind in gear, be totally ready to receive the gift that's coming when Jesus arrives. Don't lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn't know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God's life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, "I am holy; you be holy."

Not one of these people, even though their lives of faith were exemplary, got their hands on what was promised. God had a better plan for us: that their faith and our faith would come together to make one completed whole, their lives of faith not complete apart from ours.

Matthew 5:20 2 Peter 2:21 James 4:4 1 Peter 1:13 Hebrews 11:39

The holiness of God convicts the sinner and comforts the believer.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Pure

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it's important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him.

God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin.

Fierce troubles came down on the people of those churches, pushing them to the very limit. The trial exposed their true colors: They were incredibly happy, though desperately poor. The pressure triggered something totally unexpected: an outpouring of pure and generous gifts. I was there and saw it for myself. They gave offerings of whatever they could—far more than they could afford!—pleading for the privilege of helping out in the relief of poor Christians.

Love mixed with faith be yours from God the Father and from the Master, Jesus Christ. Pure grace and nothing but grace be with all who love our Master, Jesus Christ.

Matthew 5:8 2 Corinthians 11:3 Romans 12:3 1 Corinthians 1:30 2 Corinthians 8:1 Ephesians 6:23

Be a grace-giver, not a foult-finder.

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Supply

"Don't be naive. Some people will impugn your motives, others will smear your reputation—just because you believe in me. Don't be upset when they haul you before the civil authorities. Without knowing it, they've done you—and me—a favor, given you a platform for preaching the kingdom news! And don't worry about what you'll say or how you'll say it. The right words will be there; the Spirit of your Father will supply the words.

Now the day began to decline, and the Twelve came and said to Him, Dismiss the crowds and send them away, so that they may go to the neighboring hamlets and villages and the surrounding country and find lodging and get a supply of provisions, for we are here in an uninhabited (barren, solitary) place

I tell you, although he will not get up and supply him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his shameless persistence and insistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs

But to have equality, your surplus over necessity at the present time going to meet their want and to equalize the difference created by it, so that [at some other time] their surplus in turn may be given to supply your want(lack). Thus there may be equality.

Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.

And my God will liberally supply ( fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Matthew 10:17 Luke 9:12 Luke 11:8 2 Corinthians 8:14 2 Corinthians 9:10 Philippians 4:19

The richest people on earth are those who invest their lives in heaven.

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Try

Then Jesus called to the crowd to come and hear. “All of you listen,” he said, “and try to understand.

“Work hard to enter the narrow door to God’s Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail.

For the law always brings punishment on those who try to obey it. (The only way to avoid breaking the law is to have no law to break!)

Were you Jewish at the time God called you? Don't try to remove the evidence. Were you non-Jewish at the time of your call? Don't become a Jew. Being Jewish isn't the point. The really important thing is obeying God's call, following his commands.

So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.

So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church.

Mark 7:14 Luke 13:24 Romans 4:15 1 Corinthians 7:18 Romans 14:19 1 Corinthians 14:12

Christians worth their salt make others thirsty for the water of life.

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Riches

For all the riches which God has taken from our father are ours and our children's. Now then, whatever God has said to you, do it.

If riches increase, do not set your heart upon them.

A man who has riches without understanding is like the beasts that perish.

Jesus said to them again, Children, how hard it is for those who trust (place their confidence, their sense of safety) in riches to enter the kingdom of God.

I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity.

To you, O God, belong the greatness and the might, the glory, the victory, the majesty, the splendor; Yes! Everything in heaven, everything on earth; the kingdom all yours! You've raised yourself high over all. Riches and glory come from you, you're ruler over all; You hold strength and power in the palm of your hand to build up and strengthen all. And here we are, O God, our God, giving thanks to you, praising your splendid Name.

Genesis 31:16 Psalm 62:10 Psalm 49:20 Mark 10:24 Proverbs 8:18 1 Chronicles 29:10

To be spiritually fruitful, plant God’s word in your heart.

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