Pocket Share Jesus

I'm co-leading a class for parents this fall at our church using Michelle's book, "Spiritual Parenting: An Awakening for Today's Families," along with the DVD curriculum which accompanies it.

Whenever we hear someone use the word “hate” we should pay attention. We are called to hate sin but NOT hate other human beings. We operationalize our faith in and devotion to God through our love for Him and others.

1 John 4:20-21 NLT

“If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their Christian brothers and sisters.”

See it at YouVersion.com:

http://bible.us/1John4.20.NLT

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“It’s all about faith,” says the apostle Paul.

Philippians 3:7, 8 NLT

“I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ”

See it at YouVersion.com:

http://bible.us/Phil3.7.NLT

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There is a guy in our Friday morning men’s group who needs to read and heed these verses. 🙁

Ephesians 5:4, 5 NLT

“Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.”

See it at YouVersion.com:

http://bible.us/Eph5.4.NLT

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God has created and fashioned each of us for specific purposes. We are called not to argue with God, but seek to understand and fulfill our purposes.

Isaiah 45:9, 10 NLT

“What sorrow awaits those who argue with their Creator. Does a clay pot argue with its maker? Does the clay dispute with the one who shapes it, saying, ‘Stop, you’re doing it wrong!’ Does the pot exclaim, ‘How clumsy can you be?’ How terrible it would be if a newborn baby said to its father, ‘Why was I born?’ or if it said to its mother, ‘Why did you make me this way?’

See it at YouVersion.com:

http://bible.us/Isa45.9.NLT

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Since I am reading about The Mongols in “The Fourth Part of the World,” this verse of prophesy from Isaiah makes me think of Kahn and his swift horsemen in the 1200s who pillaged to the doorstep of Europe. This is likely one of the verses cited by medieval Europeans who believed in Prester John. Read more about this fascinating history on:

Isaiah 41:2 NLT

““Who has stirred up this king from the east, rightly calling him to God’s service? Who gives this man victory over many nations and permits him to trample their kings underfoot? With his sword, he reduces armies to dust. With his bow, he scatters them like chaff before the wind.”

See it at YouVersion.com:

http://bible.us/Isa41.2.NLT

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I love Paul’s use of language in his letter to the Ephesians. I pray all our hearts will be “flooded with the light of God” and know both his truth and love.

Ephesians 1:18 NLT

“I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.”

See it at YouVersion.com:

http://bible.us/Eph1.18.NLT

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There is a big difference between a “hate group” and a Christian organization whose member beliefs include “homosexuality is a sin.” Yet in the situation detailed in this NY Times article, that is the label assigned. The culture wars rage on.

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