VERSES FOR OFFERINGS

Think about giving – it's truly beautiful in God's eyes. When you're preparing your offering, remember it should be your best, given with a sincere heart. It should be a joyful act, knowing how much God has already blessed us with, even when we don't deserve it. He's been incredibly generous, hasn't He?

If you only give what's leftover, well, life might just mirror that back to you. Think about it – give as if you're giving to yourself. Don't do it out of obligation or because you expect something in return. True giving comes from the heart.

Don't make a big show of it either. It's not about getting praised or patted on the back. Let your giving be a quiet act between you and God. He sees what's in your heart, and He loves a cheerful giver. Remember what it says in 2 Corinthians 9:7: "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."

Giving is an act of worship, a way to give back a portion of what God has already given us. And when God gives, He gives abundantly. When you offer from the heart, you're opening the door for even more blessings. The more you give, the more you receive. It's a beautiful cycle.

Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world is constituted an enemy of God.

Blessed is the man who has not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, and has not stood in the way of sinners, and has not sat in the seat of evil men.

If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house, and do not greet him;

for he who greets him shares in his evil works.

All things are adverse to a foolish man, but wise lips are the weapons of discretion.

Be not companion to a furious man, neither lodge with a passionate man,

lest you learn of his ways, and ensnare your soul.

Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

If you walk with wise men you shall be wise, but he that walks with fools shall be known.

But now I write to you not to associate with anyone named a brother, who is a fornicator, or covetous person, or an idolater, or abusive person, or a drunkard, or a swindler--not even to eat with such a person.

(TEXT OMITTED)

Do not be deceived: "Evil associations corrupts good habits."

A perverse man spreads mischief, and will kindle a torch of deceit with mischief, and he separates friends.

( ב ) BETH. She weeps sore in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks; and there is none of all her lovers to comfort her: all that were her friends have dealt deceitfully with her, they have become her enemies.

He that conceals injuries seeks love, but he that hates to hide them separates friends and kindred.

But we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother living in idleness, and not according the tradition which they received from us.

The wounds of a friend are more to be trusted than the spontaneous kisses of an enemy.

Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition,

knowing that such a person has been perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned.

For every transgressor is unclean before the Lord, neither does he sit among the righteous.

A transgressor tries to ensnare friends, and leads them in ways that are not good.

Wealth acquires many friends, but the poor is deserted even of the friend he has.

He that tills his own land shall be satisfied with bread, but he that follows idleness shall have plenty of poverty.

And Jehu the prophet, the son of Hanani went out to meet him, and said to him, King Jehoshaphat, do you help a sinner, or act friendly towards one hated of the Lord? Therefore has wrath come upon you from the Lord.

Depart from me, You evildoers; for I will search out the commandments of my God.

I have not sat with the council of vanity, and shall by no means enter in with transgressors.

I have hated the assembly of evildoers; and will not sit with the ungodly.

Now if anyone does not obey our word in this letter, take note of him, and do not associate with him, that he may be ashamed.

Yet do not consider him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

My son, envy not bad men, nor desire to be with them.

Wisdom is better than weapons of war; and one sinner will destroy much good.

A just arbitrator shall be his own friend, but mischief shall pursue sinners, and the way of ungodly men shall lead them astray.

Blessed is the man who has not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, and has not stood in the way of sinners, and has not sat in the seat of evil men.

But his pleasure is in the law of the Lord; and in His law will he meditate day and night.

And he shall be as a tree planted by the brooks of waters, which shall yield its fruit in its season, and its leaf shall not fall off; and whatsoever he shall do shall prosper.

And have no partnership with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.

Do not become unequally yoked with unbelievers; for what participation is there for righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion is there for light with darkness?

Oh that You would slay the wicked, O God. Depart from me, you men of blood!

For you will say concerning their thoughts, that they shall take your cities in vain.

Have I not hated them, O Lord, that hate You? And have I not wasted away because of Your enemies?

I have hated them with perfect hatred; they were counted as my enemies.

A little leaven leavens the whole lump.

You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth?

This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you.

A little leaven leavens the whole lump.

Iron sharpens iron, and a man sharpens his friend's countenance.

Be sober, be watchful; your adversary the devil walks about as a roaring lion, seeking someone he may devour.

Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Because everything that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not from the Father but is from the world.

And the world is passing away, and its lust; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

Now I urge you, brothers, to look out for those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and turn away from them.

For such people do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and through smooth speech and flattering, they deceive the hearts of the innocent.

You however, O man of God, flee these things. But pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness.

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold of eternal life, to which you were called and have confessed the good confession before many witnesses.

My son, let not ungodly men lead you astray, neither shall you consent to them.

If they should exhort you, saying, Come with us, partake in blood, and let us unjustly hide the just man in the earth:

and let us swallow him alive, as Hades would, and remove the memorial of him from the earth:

let us seize on his valuable property, and let us fill our houses with spoils:

but cast in your lot with us, and let us all provide a common purse, and let us have one pouch:

go not in the way with them, let your foot turn aside from their paths:

He that walks simply, walks confidently, but he that perverts his ways shall be known.

Hear, son, the instruction of your father, that you may be wise in your latter days.

In regard to these, they are surprised that you do not run with them in the same flood of debauchery, reviling you.

"But beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

An uninstructed person will not love those that reprove him, neither will he associate with the wise.

The way of the wicked and the foot of the transgressor shall perish in an evil day.

A son who ceases to attend to the instruction of a father will cherish evil designs.

Brothers, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness, looking out for yourself lest you also be tempted.

Flee youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

A perverse heart has not cleaved to me; I have not known an evil man, forasmuch as he turns away from me.

Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

Two are better than one, seeing they have a good reward for their labor.

For if they fall, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to him that is alone when he falls, and there is not a second to lift him up.

having been filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, greed, malice; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness; they are whisperers,

slanderers, hateful to God, insolent men, proud, braggarts, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful;

who, having known the righteous judgment of God, that those practicing such things are worthy of death, not only do them, but also approve of those who practice them.

A friend loves at all times, and let brothers be useful in distress, for on this account are they born.

Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Because everything that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not from the Father but is from the world.

Prayer