PKRAUSE

about you 2nd post

yes we need to learn that to trust GOD will give
us courage to stand for the truth

dgrimm60

2 John (Good News Translation)
Embodying Hope and Sharing God's Love
Introduction

2 John: The Second Letter of John was written by "the Elder" to "the dear Lady and to her children," probably meaning a local church and its members. The brief message is an appeal to love one another and a warning against false teachers and their teachings.
Today’s Scripture: 2 John 8

Be on your guard, then, so that you will not lose what we have worked have worked for, but will receive your reward in full.
Today’s Reading

1From the Elder— To the dear Lady and to her children, whom I truly love. And I am not the only one, but all who know the truth love you, 2because the truth remains in us and will be with us forever. 3May God the Father and Jesus Christ, the Father's Son, give us grace, mercy, and peace; may they be ours in truth and love. 4How happy I was to find that some of your children live in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. 5And so I ask you, dear Lady: let us all love one another. This is no new command I am writing you; it is the command which we have had from the beginning. 6This love I speak of means that we must live in obedience to God's commands. The command, as you have all heard from the beginning, is that you must all live in love. 7Many deceivers have gone out over the world, people who do not acknowledge that Jesus Christ came as a human being. Such a person is a deceiver and the Enemy of Christ. 8Be on your guard, then, so that you will not lose what we have worked for, but will receive your reward in full. 9Anyone who does not stay with the teaching of Christ, but goes beyond it, does not have God. Whoever does stay with the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10So then, if some come to you who do not bring this teaching, do not welcome them in your homes; do not even say, “Peace be with you.” 11For anyone who wishes them peace becomes their partner in the evil things they do. 12I have so much to tell you, but I would rather not do it with paper and ink; instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you personally, so that we shall be completely happy. 13The children of your dear Sister send you their greetings.
Reflect

Besides encouraging the Lord's followers, this letter warns them about those who claim that Jesus Christ was not a human being. What does 2 John say about love? About truth? How can people know what is true? How do Christians today show love for God and for others?
Pray

Lord Jesus, thank you for placing your truth in my heart. Give me the mind to discern your truth and your way, that my beliefs and actions may reflect your will. In your name I pray, Amen.
Prayer Concern

All who seek God's will

pk

3 John (Good News Translation)
Embodying Hope and Sharing God's Love
Introduction

3 John: The Third Letter of John was written by "the Elder" to a church leader named Gaius. The writer praises Gaius because of his help to other Christians, and warns against a man named Diotrephes. He talks about the ways in which Christians are to support those who travel around sharing the good news.
Today’s Scripture: 3 John 11

My dear friend, do not imitate what is bad, but imitate what is good. Whoever does good belongs to God; whoever does what is bad has not seen God.
Today’s Reading

1From the Elder— To my dear Gaius, whom I truly love. 2My dear friend, I pray that everything may go well with you and that you may be in good health—as I know you are well in spirit. 3I was so happy when some Christians arrived and told me how faithful you are to the truth—just as you always live in the truth. 4Nothing makes me happier than to hear that my children live in the truth. 5My dear friend, you are so faithful in the work you do for other Christians, even when they are strangers. 6They have spoken to the church here about your love. Please help them to continue their trip in a way that will please God. 7For they set out on their trip in the service of Christ without accepting any help from unbelievers. 8We Christians, then, must help these people, so that we may share in their work for the truth. 9I wrote a short letter to the church; but Diotrephes, who likes to be their leader, will not pay any attention to what I say. 10When I come, then, I will bring up everything he has done: the terrible things he says about us and the lies he tells! But that is not enough for him; he will not receive the Christians when they come, and even stops those who want to receive them and tries to drive them out of the church! 11My dear friend, do not imitate what is bad, but imitate what is good. Whoever does good belongs to God; whoever does what is bad has not seen God. 12Everyone speaks well of Demetrius; truth itself speaks well of him. And we add our testimony, and you know that what we say is true. 13I have so much to tell you, but I do not want to do it with pen and ink. 14I hope to see you soon, and then we will talk personally. 15Peace be with you. All your friends send greetings. Greet all our friends personally.
Reflect

Based on this brief letter, how would you describe Gaius' church? What kinds of problems was Diotrephes causing in his church? What problems have you observed when someone wants to be considered a leader but fails to exhibit strong leadership qualities? What qualities should a church leader possess?
Pray

Gracious God, bless all who lead your churches. Give them wisdom, confidence and humility, that they may lead your people according to your will. Amen.
Prayer Concern

Church leaders

pk

PKRAUSE

about you 1st post

showing love to people is doing things for them
with out wanting any thing back
once this is done then these people will learn
to trust you for telling them them the truth

dgrimm60

PKRAUSE

about your 2nd post

well GAIUS church seems to have mostly loving members

Diotrephes seems to be saying bad things about
different members

dgrimm60

Matthew 6:1-18 (Good News Translation)
Embodying Hope and Turning to God in Prayer
Introduction

Matthew 6:1-18: In this section of Matthew, Jesus teaches his followers about giving, prayer and fasting. With each teaching, Jesus warns against being "like the hypocrites" by doing things publicly so that others will be impressed by their piety. He also offers a model for prayer.
Today’s Scripture: Matthew 6:6

When you pray, go to your room, close the door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what you do in private, will reward you.
Today’s Reading

1Make certain you do not perform your religious duties in public so that people will see what you do. If you do these things publicly, you will not have any reward from your Father in heaven. 2So when you give something to a needy person, do not make a big show of it, as the hypocrites do in the houses of worship and on the streets. They do it so that people will praise them. I assure you, they have already been paid in full. 3But when you help a needy person, do it in such a way that even your closest friend will not know about it. 4Then it will be a private matter. And your Father, who sees what you do in private, will reward you. 5When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites! They love to stand up and pray in the houses of worship and on the street corners, so that everyone will see them. I assure you, they have already been paid in full. 6But when you pray, go to your room, close the door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what you do in private, will reward you. 7When you pray, do not use a lot of meaningless words, as the pagans do, who think that their gods will hear them because their prayers are long. 8Do not be like them. Your Father already knows what you need before you ask him. 9This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven: May your holy name be honored; 10may your Kingdom come; may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11Give us today the food we need. 12Forgive us the wrongs we have done, as we forgive the wrongs that others have done to us. 13Do not bring us to hard testing, but keep us safe from the Evil One.’ 14If you forgive others the wrongs they have done to you, your Father in heaven will also forgive you. 15But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive the wrongs you have done. 16And when you fast, do not put on a sad face as the hypocrites do. They neglect their appearance so that everyone will see that they are fasting. I assure you, they have already been paid in full. 17When you go without food, wash your face and comb your hair, 18so that others cannot know that you are fasting—only your Father, who is unseen, will know. And your Father, who sees what you do in private, will reward you.
Reflect

What is the purpose of prayer? What sorts of things does Jesus want his followers to pray for? What is the relationship between prayer and forgiveness? What do you pray about?
Pray

Our Father in heaven: may your holy named be honored; may your Kingdom come; may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need. Forgive us the wrongs we have done, as we forgive the wrongs that others have done to us. Do not bring us to hard testing, but keep us safe from the Evil One. Amen.
Prayer Concern

All who seek forgiveness

pk

PKRAUSE

prayer is 2 fold to help the person we are praying
for and also to help the person that is praying

prayer and forgiveness go hand in hand

dgrimm60

Luke 11:1-13 (Good News Translation)
Embodying Hope and Turning to God in Prayer
Introduction

Luke 11:1-13: In today's passage, Jesus teaches his disciples how to pray. He exhorts them to seek God's grace, inviting them to trust that God will give the Holy Spirit to anyone who asks.
Today’s Scripture: Luke 11:9

And so I say to you: Ask, and you will receive; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.
Today’s Reading

1One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” 2Jesus said to them, “When you pray, say this: ‘Father: May your holy name be honored; may your Kingdom come. 3Give us day by day the food we need. 4Forgive us our sins, for we forgive everyone who does us wrong. And do not bring us to hard testing.’” 5And Jesus said to his disciples, “Suppose one of you should go to a friend's house at midnight and say, ‘Friend, let me borrow three loaves of bread. 6A friend of mine who is on a trip has just come to my house, and I don't have any food for him! ’ 7And suppose your friend should answer from inside, “Don't bother me! The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.” 8Well, what then? I tell you that even if he will not get up and give you the bread because you are his friend, yet he will get up and give you everything you need because you are not ashamed to keep on asking. 9And so I say to you: Ask, and you will receive; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. 10For those who ask will receive, and those who seek will find, and the door will be opened to anyone who knocks. 11Would any of you who are fathers give your son a snake when he asks for fish? 12Or would you give him a scorpion when he asks for an egg? 13As bad as you are, you know how to give good things to your children. How much more, then, will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! ”
Reflect

Compare and contrast the Lord's Prayer in today's reading from Luke with yesterday's reading from Matthew. How are they the same? How are they different? In today's passage, Jesus teaches his disciples to be persistent in prayer. What would being persistent in prayer look like for you?
Pray

Father: May your holy name be honored; may your Kingdom come. Give us day by day the food we need. Forgive us our sins, for we forgive everyone who does us wrong. And do not bring us to hard testing. Amen.
Prayer Concern

Those seeking God's grace

pk

PKRAUSE

being persistant in pray means to me that we keep
pray for the person and not just praying 1 or 2 or 3
times and that is all

dgrimm60

Luke 18:1-14 (Good News Translation)
Embodying Hope and Turning to God in Prayer
Introduction

Luke 18:1-14: Jesus tells a parable about being persistent in prayer and a story about humility in prayer. In the first, a widow goes before a judge demanding to receive fair treatment in court. In the second, a tax collector and a Pharisee each pray, but it is the tax collector who is ultimately pleasing to God.
Today’s Scripture: Luke 18:13

But the tax collector stood at a distance and would not even raise his face to heaven, but beat on his breast and said, "God, have pity on me, a sinner!"
Today’s Reading

1Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to teach them that they should always pray and never become discouraged. 2“In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected people. 3And there was a widow in that same town who kept coming to him and pleading for her rights, saying, “Help me against my opponent!” 4For a long time the judge refused to act, but at last he said to himself, ‘Even though I don't fear God or respect people, 5yet because of all the trouble this widow is giving me, I will see to it that she gets her rights. If I don't, she will keep on coming and finally wear me out! ’ ” 6And the Lord continued, “Listen to what that corrupt judge said. 7Now, will God not judge in favor of his own people who cry to him day and night for help? Will he be slow to help them? 8I tell you, he will judge in their favor and do it quickly. But will the Son of Man find faith on earth when he comes? ” 9Jesus also told this parable to people who were sure of their own goodness and despised everybody else. 10“Once there were two men who went up to the Temple to pray: one was a Pharisee, the other a tax collector. 11The Pharisee stood apart by himself and prayed, ‘I thank you, God, that I am not greedy, dishonest, or an adulterer, like everybody else. I thank you that I am not like that tax collector over there. 12I fast two days a week, and I give you one tenth of all my income. ’ 13But the tax collector stood at a distance and would not even raise his face to heaven, but beat on his breast and said, “God, have pity on me, a sinner!” 14I tell you, ” said Jesus, “the tax collector, and not the Pharisee, was in the right with God when he went home. For those who make themselves great will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be made great.”
Reflect

In Jewish culture, a woman who had lost her husband sometimes had no one else to stand up for her or to take care of her. The widow in Jesus' story stood up for herself. Why do you think Jesus told this story? What does it mean to you?
Pray

Gracious God, I come before you with persistence and humility, seeking your presence and grace in my life and in our world. May your justice reign for all people. In your name I pray, Amen.
Prayer Concern

All who experience oppression

pk