Abundant Life Church - Springfield, MO

“The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”-‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭16‬:‭9‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. When they told David, “It was the men of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul,” David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead and said to them, “May you be blessed by the Lord, because you showed this loyalty to Saul your Lord and buried him. Now may the Lord show steadfast love and faithfulness to you. And I will do good to you because you have done this thing. Now therefore let your hands be strong, and be valiant, for Saul your Lord is dead, and the house of Judah has anointed me king over them.” But Abner the son of Ner, commander of Saul's army, took Ish-bosheth the son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim, and he made him king over Gilead and the Ashurites and Jezreel and Ephraim and Benjamin and all Israel.” - 2 Samuel‬ ‭2‬:‭4‬-‭9‬ ‭ESV‬

“So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” - ‭‭John‬ ‭12‬:‭13‬ ‭ESV‬‬ 

“So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” - ‭‭John‬ ‭12‬:‭13‬ ‭ESV‬‬ 

ALC Recommends: Song: “Oh Death” by MercyMe“So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” - ‭‭John‬ ‭12‬:‭13‬ ‭ESV‬‬ 

“To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good it is!” - Proverbs‬ ‭15‬:‭23‬ ‭ESV‬‬“Everyone enjoys giving great advice. But how delightful it is to say the right thing at the right time!” - ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭15‬:‭23‬ ‭TPT‬‬

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“Then Samuel asked, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse replied. “But he's out in the fields watching the sheep and goats.” “Send for him at once,” Samuel said. “We will not sit down to eat until he arrives.” So Jesse sent for him. He was dark and handsome, with beautiful eyes. And the Lord said, “This is the one; anoint him.” So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David from that day on. Then Samuel returned to Ramah.”- ‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭16‬:‭11‬-‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“So Samuel did as the Lord instructed. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town came trembling to meet him. “What's wrong?” they asked. “Do you come in peace?” “Yes,” Samuel replied. “I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Purify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” Then Samuel performed the purification rite for Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice, too. When they arrived, Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, “Surely this is the Lord's anointed!” But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don't judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn't see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” Then Jesse told his son Abinadab to step forward and walk in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “This is not the one the Lord has chosen.” Next Jesse summoned Shimea, but Samuel said, “Neither is this the one the Lord has chosen.” In the same way all seven of Jesse's sons were presented to Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen any of these.”‭‭- 1 Samuel‬ ‭16‬:‭4‬-‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

ALC Recommends: “Practicing the Way” - John Mark Comer

“The heart of the godly thinks carefully before speaking; the mouth of the wicked overflows with evil words.”- ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭15‬:‭28‬ ‭NLT‬‬

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"So Jesus said to him, “You never believe unless you see signs and wonders.” - John‬ ‭4‬:‭48‬ ‭TPT‬‬

"Jesus asked, “Will you never believe in me unless you see miraculous signs and wonders?” ‭‭- John‬ ‭4‬:‭48‬ ‭NLT‬‬

ALC Recommends: ALC Sunday Prayer Teams"So Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” - John‬ ‭4‬:‭48‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.”- Proverbs‬ ‭14‬:‭30‬ ‭ESV‬‬“A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body; jealousy is like cancer in the bones.” ‭‭- Proverbs‬ ‭14‬:‭30‬ ‭NLT‬‬“A tender, tranquil heart will make you healthy, but jealousy can make you sick.” ‭‭- Proverbs‬ ‭14‬:‭30‬ ‭TPT‬

“They were enjoying themselves when suddenly some perverted and depraved men of the town surrounded the house and pounded on the door. They called to the aged owner of the house, “Bring out the man you invited into your house so that we can have sex with him.”‭‭- Judges‬ ‭19‬:‭22‬ ‭TPT‬‬

“And the Lords of the Philistines came up to her and said to her, “Seduce him, and see where his great strength lies, and by what means we may overpower him, that we may bind him to humble him. And we will each give you 1,100 pieces of silver.” So Delilah said to Samson, “Please tell me where your great strength lies, and how you might be bound, that one could subdue you.”- ‭‭Judges‬ ‭16‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“After some days he returned to take her. And he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion, and behold, there was a swarm of bees in the body of the lion, and honey. He scraped it out into his hands and went on, eating as he went. And he came to his father and mother and gave some to them, and they ate. But he did not tell them that he had scraped the honey from the carcass of the lion.”- ‭‭Judges‬ ‭14‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭ESV‬‬

ALC Recommends: Mother's Day is this Sunday!“Again the Israelites did evil in the Lord's sight, so the Lord handed them over to the Philistines, who oppressed them for forty years. In those days a man named Manoah from the tribe of Dan lived in the town of Zorah. His wife was unable to become pregnant, and they had no children. The angel of the Lord appeared to Manoah's wife and said, “Even though you have been unable to have children, you will soon become pregnant and give birth to a son. So be careful; you must not drink wine or any other alcoholic drink nor eat any forbidden food. You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and his hair must never be cut. For he will be dedicated to God as a Nazirite from birth. He will begin to rescue Israel from the Philistines.”- Judges‬ ‭13‬:‭1‬-‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“If you ignore criticism, you will end in poverty and disgrace; if you accept correction, you will be honored. It is pleasant to see dreams come true, but fools refuse to turn from evil to attain them.”- ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭13‬:‭18‬-‭19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

"​​Now the angel of the Lord went up from Gilgal to Bochim. And he said, “I brought you up from Egypt and brought you into the land that I swore to give to your fathers. I said, ‘I will never break my covenant with you, and you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall break down their altars.' But you have not obeyed my voice. What is this you have done? So now I say, I will not drive them out before you, but they shall become thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare to you.”‭‭- Judges‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“Lord Yah, there's such a blessing that comes when you teach us your Word and your ways. Even the sting of your correction can be sweet. It rescues us from our days of trouble until you are ready to punish the wicked.” ‭‭- Psalms‬ ‭94‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭TPT‬‬

“Joyful are those you discipline, Lord, those you teach with your instructions. You give them relief from troubled times until a pit is dug to capture the wicked.” - ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭94‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭NLT‬

ALC Recommends: Save the Date - July 27-30, ALC VBS 6-8pm“Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O Lord, and whom you teach out of your law, to give him rest from days of trouble, until a pit is dug for the wicked.” - ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭94‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.” - ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭14‬:‭4‬ ‭ESV‬‬“The only clean stable is an empty stable. So if you want the work of an ox and to enjoy an abundant harvest, you'll have a mess or two to clean up!”- ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭14‬:‭4‬ ‭TPT‬‬

“At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” And he said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course.” - ‭‭Luke‬ ‭13‬:‭31‬-‭32‬ ‭ESV‬‬‬‬

“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” ‭‭- Joshua‬ ‭1‬:‭8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go.”- ‭‭Joshua‬ ‭1‬:‭7‬ ‭ESV‬‬

ALC Recommends: “God Owns My Business” by Stanley Tam“Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them.” ‭‭- Joshua‬ ‭1‬:‭6‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.”- Proverbs‬ ‭12‬:‭26‬ ‭ESV‬‬“The godly give good advice to their friends; the wicked lead them astray.”- ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭12‬:‭26‬ ‭NLT‬‬“The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.” - Proverbs‬ ‭12‬:‭26‬ ‭NIV‬‬

"The Lord said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you."- Joshua 3:7

“And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise.”‭‭ - Luke‬ ‭18‬:‭33‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon.” - Luke‬ ‭18‬:‭32‬ ‭ESV‬‬

ALC Recommends: Join us for Easter Sunday!“And taking the twelve, he said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished.” - Luke‬ ‭18‬:‭31‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“The wicked are trapped by their own words, but the godly escape such trouble.” - Proverbs‬ ‭12‬:‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬‬‬

“So the next morning Balaam got up, saddled his donkey, and started off with the Moabite officials. But God was angry that Balaam was going, so he sent the angel of the Lord to stand in the road to block his way. As Balaam and two servants were riding along, Balaam's donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand. The donkey bolted off the road into a field, but Balaam beat it and turned it back onto the road. Then the angel of the Lord stood at a place where the road narrowed between two vineyard walls. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it tried to squeeze by and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall. So Balaam beat the donkey again. Then the angel of the Lord moved farther down the road and stood in a place too narrow for the donkey to get by at all. This time when the donkey saw the angel, it lay down under Balaam. In a fit of rage Balaam beat the animal again with his staff. Then the Lord gave the donkey the ability to speak. “What have I done to you that deserves your beating me three times?” it asked Balaam. “You have made me look like a fool!” Balaam shouted. “If I had a sword with me, I would kill you!” “But I am the same donkey you have ridden all your life,” the donkey answered. “Have I ever done anything like this before?” “No,” Balaam admitted. Then the Lord opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the roadway with a drawn sword in his hand. Balaam bowed his head and fell face down on the ground before him. “Why did you beat your donkey those three times?” the angel of the Lord demanded. “Look, I have come to block your way because you are stubbornly resisting me. Three times the donkey saw me and shied away; otherwise, I would certainly have killed you by now and spared the donkey.” Then Balaam confessed to the angel of the Lord, “I have sinned. I didn't realize you were standing in the road to block my way. I will return home if you are against my going.” But the angel of the Lord told Balaam, “Go with these men, but say only what I tell you to say.” So Balaam went on with Balak's officials.” - ‭‭Numbers‬ ‭22‬:‭21‬-‭35‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”  ‭‭- Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭61‬-‭62‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”- ‭‭Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭59‬-‭60‬ ‭ESV‬‬

ALC Recommends: Honduras Mission Trip - July 16-20“As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”‭‭- Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭57‬-‭58‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense.” - ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭12‬:‭11‬ ‭ESV‬‬“A hard worker has plenty of food, but a person who chases fantasies has no sense.” - Proverbs‬ ‭12‬:‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Then we turned and went up the way to Bashan. And Og the king of Bashan came out against us, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei.”‭‭- Deuteronomy‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“You ascended on high, leading a host of captives in your train and receiving gifts among men, even among the rebellious, that the Lord God may dwell there. Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. Selah” ‭‭- Psalm‬ ‭68‬:‭18‬-‭19‬ ‭ESV‬‬