Month: August 2014

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Top Ten Bible Passages on Satan

1) Job chapters 1-2 – Interaction & reality
Satan’s awful work, but still under the authority of God.

2) John 8:44 – Devious Description by Jesus
Jesus describes him as: devil, murderer & father of lies.

3) Revelation 12:9-10 – More Descriptions
Also named: satan, devil, serpent, dragon, deceiver.

4) 2 Corinthians 4:4 – “God of this age.”
Called the god of this age who blinds people from Jesus.

5) Mark 4:15 – Steals good seed
He snatches away the Gospel from “hard soil.”

6) John 12:31; 16:11 – “Prince of this world”
Called by Jesus the prince of this world.

7) 1 Peter 5:8 – Intimidator
He prowls around like a roaring lion.

8) 2 Corinthians 11:14 – Masquerade
He masquerades as an angel of light.

9) Revelation 20:1-10 – Final Deception & Destruction
He deceives nations and his final destiny of destruction.

10) James 4:7 – Victory is ours -Resist!
Resist the devil and he will flee!

*11) Possible descriptions of satan’s fall: Isaiah 14, Ezek 28:11-19

*somehow every top ten list has one I just can’t leave off.

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Sacrifice, Joy and Glory from David Livingstone

On December 4, 1857, David Livingstone, the great pioneer missionary to Africa, made a stirring appeal to the students of
Cambridge University, showing that he had learned through the years of experience what Jesus was trying to teach Peter:

“For my own part, I have never ceased to rejoice that God has appointed me to such an office. People talk of the sacrifice
I have made in spending so much of my life in Africa. Can that be called a sacrifice, which is simply paid back as a small
part of a great debt owing to our God, which we can never repay? Is that a sacrifice which brings its own blest reward in
healthful activity, the consciousness of doing good, peace of mind, and a bright hope of a glorious destiny hereafter?

Away with the word in such a view, and with such a thought! It is emphatically no sacrifice. Say, rather, it is a privilege.
Anxiety, sickness, suffering, or danger, now and then, with a foregoing of the common conveniences and charities of this
life, may make us pause, and cause the spirit to waver, and the soul to sink; but let this only be for a moment. All these
are nothing when compared with the glory which shall be revealed in and for us. I never made a sacrifice.”

“The chief end of man is to glorify God by enjoying Him forever.”
May this be your joy in all of life, in whatever you do – that where God has placed you is a privilege and a pleasure, because “the chief end of man is to glorify God by ENJOYING Him forever!”

–From Desiring God by John Piper

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Adoption Conversation Continues

Yesterday we had a conversation via SKYPE about ways people who are passionate about orphans, adoption & foster care can network together for greater encouragement, resourcing, and effectiveness.

It was our first OPEN meeting…where anyone can jump into the conversation. It was good to have a new voice join the conversation.

Here were a couple of helpful quotes/ideas:

OrphanologyThe book Orphanology by Tony Merida & Rick Morton
Could be helpful for churches, individuals starting local ministries & support groups.

Below are my notes from today just to share all the resources and ideas which were bounced around. OrphanAdoptFosterConvo2014_08-21

You can see a little Facebook page we started at http://www.facebook.com/groups/557467357708956 It’s got some cool conversations and stories already rolling on it! This page is being used quite a bit and we will probably promote other events, etc. via that group.

It was suggested for a regular monthly call, using Skype. So let’s plan on the 3rd THURSDAY of the Month at 4pm Eastern, 3pm Central, 1pm Pacific. We will schedule this out for 3 months:

I’ll be facilitating the conversation by Skype. My Skype name is “mikejentes” send me a friend request so I can add you to the call!

If I don’t know you, please feel free to  email me your name (and Skype name) and introduce yourself  so I can get in touch with you! Make the time  for one of these calls  and invite your friends wo are passionate about caring for orphans!

 

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Strength from The Lord

This passage was part of our call to worship today @LosAltosGrace.

Isaiah 40
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He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (‭Isaiah‬ ‭40‬:‭29-31‬ NIV)

Thanks Pete Anderson for sharing!

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LOVE: My Top Ten Bible Passages on Love

1) 1 John 4:7-8 – God is Love
Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is born of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God–for God is love.

2) Matthew 22:37-40 – Jesus says Love God & Love Others
Jesus replies to a question about “What is the greatest commandment?” with this profound statement.

3) 1 Corinthians 13 – Love:What it does and what it doesn’t do
The “wedding” passage is beautiful because it is applied to all of life…not just matrimony.

4) Romans 8:35-39 – Nothing Can Separate Us From Jesus’ Love
The bottom line of Jesus’ love for us…nothing can get between us!

5) Psalm 136 – God’s Love Endures Forever
This Psalm repeats how “His love endures forever” after every phrase of the history it records. A powerful and repetitive lyric of how God’s love connects with our history.

6) Exodus 20:6 – God’s Love Lavished on a Thousand Generations
Packaged in the Ten Commandments (sometimes thought to be not very loving) this verse shows how much God blesses those who love and obey Him.

7) Psalm 23:6 – God’s Chasing Love
At the end of one of the most famous passages in the Bible, David finishes his poem with God’s “unfailing love pursuing him all the days of his life.”

8) John 15:12-13 – Jesus’ Love Leads to Laying Down Life
Jesus in this passage defines the greatest love as laying down your life for a friend. Then a couple of hours later, He dies on the cross.

9) John 13:34-35 – Love Proves Following Jesus
After the footwashing at the last Supper (where Jesus “shows the full extent of his love—see 13:1), Jesus says show the world you are my disciples through love.

10) Matthew 5:44-46 – Love Your Enemies
Jesus urges His followers to go beyond natural love to “supernatural” love…to choose to love our enemies.

*11) Luke 7:41-47 – Forgiven Much, Love Much
The immoral woman was forgiven much and she loved Jesus much. Jesus tells a story which links “much forgiveness” to “much love.”

*So many good LOVE passages in the Bible I had to add this one! 😉