Good Morning!
Let’s focus our day by spending some time with Jesus before it begins.

WORSHIP | 5-15 Minutes
Worship can be as simple as thanking God for who He is & what He’s done.
Start by playing some worship music you love, or choose from one of our Spotify Playlists.
Journal or say out loud 3-5 things you’re thankful for in the last 24 hours.
Further Focus: Read Romans 8:28. Focus on one truth about who God is & thank Him for it.

PRAYER | 5-15 Minutes
Prayer is a conversation that involves both talking and listening to God.
If you’re just starting out, simply pray the prayer Jesus taught his followers: the Lord’s Prayer.
Further Focus: Pray through the Lord’s Prayer using this Lord’s Prayer guide.

SCRIPTURE | 5-25 Minutes
Our scripture focus for this study is Ezra 3:11. Try memorizing it!
Today’s reading is from Ezra 7
Ask the following SOS Questions & journal your thoughts…
S = Say. What is the main point? What does it teach about God (Jesus) & yourself?
O = Obey. What can you apply (practice) from this passage today?
S = Share. Who can you share what you’re learning with today?
Further Focus: One of the best ways to learn more about the Bible is by discussing it with others.
Work through this week’s Lifegroup Discussion Guide and meet up with a Paradox Lifegroup. *Coming Soon!

A THOUGHT FROM TODAY’S READING
Once God’s temple was complete, it was time to call in the big dog to run it. But who is the right person to manage all the activity around God’s house: the sacrifices, the judgements, the priests, etc. It was a lot of responsibility and probably required a massive skill set. Enter Ezra. Ezra came from Babylon at the appointment of King Artaxerxes along with reinforcements, funds, and a royal letter of authority. And why was Ezra the right man for this important job? Here is his comprehensive list of qualifications as written in Ezra 7: “he was a teacher, well versed in the Law of Moses.”. End list. “Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord.” So the right man for the job was the one who knew God’s word the best. From Noah to Abraham to Moses and on down through Israelite history, God choose leaders who know him best, regardless of their other “qualifications”. The same is true today. Know the Lord. Meet him in his word and open your heart to the leading of his Holy Spirit and he can use you for great things, even if you don’t feel qualified. - Mike Nank

SHARE | 1-5 Minutes
Text someone a prayer/encouragement, or share a thought/question with us in the Forum.
Going Deeper: Invite someone to read the Focus with you. Text “FOCUS” to (586) 200-6277.

That’s all for today.
Stay focused on Jesus, and make it a great one!