Hi girls!
Would you all be so kind as to give me your addresses? I would love the opportunity for snail mail correspondence with you in the future!! :)
If you don't feel comfortable putting them on the blog, you can Facebook them to me or email me (p31caits_87@hotmail.com).
Thank you so much!
God's blessings on your day! Pete and I are going to a Seminary Christmas concert this afternoon and I'm so looking forward to the beautiful praises to God we'll be able to hear!
Love to you all,
Cait
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Saturday, December 10, 2011
1 John 5:20-21
It is bittersweet to come to the last bite of 1 John. Bitter because I want it to continue – this slow meditating and reading through your Spirit-filled reflections, this learning and growing together. Sweet because it is another book we now know a little more fully, and there are so many more to study!
The opening words of verse 20 called me back to the underlying theme of Advent – preparing our hearts for the coming of the Babe in Bethlehem (and also for his second coming, soon!). We know that the Son of God has come. He has come, he has saved us! And our hearts cry out with Paul – I want to know Christ (Philippians 3). And we only know Jesus better as we read and mull over His Word, as the Holy Spirit strengthens our faith and increases our understanding of Him who is true.
What is truth, Pilate scoffed. The world would tell us truth is different for each one of us. But there is only one Way, one Truth, one Life. And that’s Jesus. Why would we turn to anyone else? Why do we bow down to idols?
My prayer for all of you lovely girls is that you continue to grow in grace and know Christ better and better. He is eternal life! Thank you for being such a blessing to me.
Love, Kerry
The opening words of verse 20 called me back to the underlying theme of Advent – preparing our hearts for the coming of the Babe in Bethlehem (and also for his second coming, soon!). We know that the Son of God has come. He has come, he has saved us! And our hearts cry out with Paul – I want to know Christ (Philippians 3). And we only know Jesus better as we read and mull over His Word, as the Holy Spirit strengthens our faith and increases our understanding of Him who is true.
What is truth, Pilate scoffed. The world would tell us truth is different for each one of us. But there is only one Way, one Truth, one Life. And that’s Jesus. Why would we turn to anyone else? Why do we bow down to idols?
My prayer for all of you lovely girls is that you continue to grow in grace and know Christ better and better. He is eternal life! Thank you for being such a blessing to me.
Love, Kerry
Friday, December 9, 2011
1 John 5:13-21 & Conclusions
Good morning lovely ladies! For the last time until our next session, right? :) I've been reading these verses of wrap-up for 1 John this week and studying my commentary too and honestly, the closing remarks in my commentary were so stunning I thought I just must share the pages. 2 and a 1/2 pages of wonderful Christian application were 2 and a 1/2 pages too many to type out, so I scanned them and uploaded them below! If you have the time to read them and ponder, the simplest way is to right-click on each image and "Save Image As" to your computer, where you should be able to enlarge each image to a readable size. (Sorry I couldn't figure out how to do it here!) I highly recommend the extra moments spent doing this. God gives some Christians such a way with words like so many of you girls, to encourage and inspire other Christians to a closer walk with the Lord. (This commentary has been close to my heart for a few years now and I am always thankful for the extra wisdom found within!)
I thought the way John finished this first book by God's direction was so tough and tender at once, and definitely left a mark on the how I will see this book of the Bible in the future (much like how our previous James study did too!). I really enjoyed getting to know all of you better through this and although towards the end here it was difficult to complete my daily postings, I am thankful for the growth this study has provided us! Both relational and spiritual growth! God has been faithful to teach me where I especially need to learn more, and I feel that I have been pruned (sometimes too much it seemed!). But his grace is boundless for our insufficiency and he carries us always through both hills and valleys.
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| Pg 577 Kretzmann |
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| Pg 578 Kretzmann |
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| Pg 579 Kretzmann |
You all have been a blessing to me and I pray we all continue in our personal daily walks with God and be open to his lessons and his graces.
Keep in touch all (Facebook!) :)
Love in Him,
Cait
Thursday, December 8, 2011
1 John 5:18-19
We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him. We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.
It is so scary sometimes to think about the world being under Satan’s control. My mind goes to the obvious – unborn babies being massacred, wars tearing families apart, film and magazine industries idolizing money, sex and fame while ridiculing our humble Savior. But there is also the subtle – the relying on self to get things accomplished, the bowing before our idols of pride and appreciation, the slow numbing of our consciences as we are bombarded day in and day out.
But thank God – Satan is on a leash. The world may think it can mock the Lord and throw off his chains (Psalm 2) but God’s plan alone will prevail. Satan roars and tears at our souls but Jesus won’t let him snatch us. We’re safe in the hands of our Shepherd.
It is so scary sometimes to think about the world being under Satan’s control. My mind goes to the obvious – unborn babies being massacred, wars tearing families apart, film and magazine industries idolizing money, sex and fame while ridiculing our humble Savior. But there is also the subtle – the relying on self to get things accomplished, the bowing before our idols of pride and appreciation, the slow numbing of our consciences as we are bombarded day in and day out.
But thank God – Satan is on a leash. The world may think it can mock the Lord and throw off his chains (Psalm 2) but God’s plan alone will prevail. Satan roars and tears at our souls but Jesus won’t let him snatch us. We’re safe in the hands of our Shepherd.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
1 John 5:16-17
The wages of sin is death, and yet “there is sin that does not lead to death”. Thanks be to God, our sins are covered and paid for in Jesus! I need the reminder so often. Here are some passages I’ve found. I should probably write them on the walls of my house until they are engraved in my heart.
“As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:12)
“Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; thought they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” (Isaiah 1:18)
“I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and remembers you sins no more.” (Isaiah 43:25)
“Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.” (Micah 7:18-19)
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)
“The blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7)
Love you girls!
“As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:12)
“Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; thought they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” (Isaiah 1:18)
“I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and remembers you sins no more.” (Isaiah 43:25)
“Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.” (Micah 7:18-19)
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)
“The blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7)
Love you girls!
Sunday, December 4, 2011
1 John 5:6-12
Hi ladies!
Praise God that we have all the evidence we need to trust that Jesus is our Savior and was truly both God and Man at once while he was on earth. We have confidence in the Lord because of all the work the Holy Spirit does in our hearts. It's so amazing to me how our entire life of faith, living and dying, is all under the control of an incredibly merciful and gracious God. He chose us. If he did all that VERY IMPORTANT work, we can be assured that he cares more than enough to work our lives out according to an equally beautiful plan.
I hope you are all having a great weekend!
Love to you, and blessings to you in our Lord,
~Cait
Praise God that we have all the evidence we need to trust that Jesus is our Savior and was truly both God and Man at once while he was on earth. We have confidence in the Lord because of all the work the Holy Spirit does in our hearts. It's so amazing to me how our entire life of faith, living and dying, is all under the control of an incredibly merciful and gracious God. He chose us. If he did all that VERY IMPORTANT work, we can be assured that he cares more than enough to work our lives out according to an equally beautiful plan.
I hope you are all having a great weekend!
Love to you, and blessings to you in our Lord,
~Cait
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
1 John 5:3-5
Kerry really had some great words for these verses. I agree with her that it seems (to our sinful nature!) that God's laws are MORE than burdensome; but thankfully it is not the case. Truly, God enables us by faith to have the desire and strength to follow his commands and to find them somehow easy and light and we are joyful to follow them! It's not always this way, when we let the world or our sinful nature guide us, but when we come back in repentance to our Lord and ask for him to realign our heart and our purposes with him, we overflow with power from the Holy Spirit. It is really amazing. I so want to stay and live in the light so as to keep this power from Christ to follow him!! :)
We overcome through faith (vs. 4-5). Initially we did, when we were baptized and believed, and we do always daily overcome through the war we wage in Christian living, by the grace of God! My NIV footnotes did a great job of explaining these verses. What a great pick-me-up, encouraging, empowering section of Scripture in these few verses! John drills into us over and over what we ought to do as Christians, namely love God and others, and we can get to a point where we wonder if we can do it, WHY we should do it when it's rarely easy and there's so much sin in the world. Here he gives us the how and why. He reminds us we already have what we need to serve the Lord with our lives. Christ did not just save us and then leave us to our own efforts. How thankful I am for that!! God knew we would daily and always NEED him by our side to empower and encourage our walk, to give it purpose.
We're getting to the end of our study session, many of you are nearing the end of a semester (excited for you!!) and all of us have probably struggled with sickness of some sort, schedule overload at work or home, and worldly stress from the holidays. Today the Lord encourages us, and refreshes us with helping us to realign our priorities, and rest on him if we are weary or discouraged. "I can do ALL things through him who gives me strength!" (Phil. 4:13)
Love you girls,
~Cait
We overcome through faith (vs. 4-5). Initially we did, when we were baptized and believed, and we do always daily overcome through the war we wage in Christian living, by the grace of God! My NIV footnotes did a great job of explaining these verses. What a great pick-me-up, encouraging, empowering section of Scripture in these few verses! John drills into us over and over what we ought to do as Christians, namely love God and others, and we can get to a point where we wonder if we can do it, WHY we should do it when it's rarely easy and there's so much sin in the world. Here he gives us the how and why. He reminds us we already have what we need to serve the Lord with our lives. Christ did not just save us and then leave us to our own efforts. How thankful I am for that!! God knew we would daily and always NEED him by our side to empower and encourage our walk, to give it purpose.
We're getting to the end of our study session, many of you are nearing the end of a semester (excited for you!!) and all of us have probably struggled with sickness of some sort, schedule overload at work or home, and worldly stress from the holidays. Today the Lord encourages us, and refreshes us with helping us to realign our priorities, and rest on him if we are weary or discouraged. "I can do ALL things through him who gives me strength!" (Phil. 4:13)
Love you girls,
~Cait
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