Addresses?

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

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

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!)

Pg 577  Kretzmann

Pg 578 Kretzmann

Pg 579 Kretzmann

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.

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

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.

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!

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

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

1 John 5:1-15

I got a little behind again, but I would still like to highlight a few portions from chapter 5 that have captured my attention.

“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God” (1) Everyone who believes this has his or her faith placed correctly. I found it especially comforting to remember that people from every nation, tribe and language will enjoy life everlasting in heaven, regardless of the denomination to which they belong. Of course, God commands us to watch our life and doctrine closely, and we want to understand and teach his Word clearly and correctly. We want to run far away from any distortion of God’s truth. Not all denominations profess the truth as God reveals it in his Word. But despite our human flaws and errors, the Spirit is still working faith in hearts worldwide, a faith that proclaims that Jesus is the Christ. He is the one thing needful.

“And his commands are not burdensome” (3) My sinful nature just balks at this one. Not burdensome? Ha! If only I could do what I wanted, instead of being constantly weighed down by these oppressive laws. But the Holy Spirit drives me back to the words of Psalm 119:24 (though the entire psalm is packed with similar acclamations of love for God’s law) – Your statues are my delight; they are my counselors. And I do love the law; I love that it drives me despairing back to the cross to cling only to my Jesus.

“Who is it that has overcome the world? Only (s)he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” (5) Take that, world! The troubles, cares and pleasures in which you revel cannot suck us in. We women have already overcome in Christ. We are no longer chained to material goods or earthly successes or man’s opinion. The truth has set us free to truly live for Him who died for us.

“We accept man’s testimony, but God’s testimony is greater…” (9) I liked this verse because it reminds me of how we believe, though we have not seen. With our limited human understanding, not everything the Bible proclaims makes sense. And we don’t fret about it – because God’s testimony is greater than our reason. We simply believe because the Spirit enables us.

“If we ask anything according to his will, he hears us” (14) Glorious, glorious comfort. He hears me when I cry out to him. And when I ask those things which are a part of his will (a heart to love his people better, patience, stronger faith, forgiveness) his answer is yes! Though sometimes he gives us what we ask through trials, so be careful what you pray for… :)

Keep asking for all those godly gifts! Your Father delights to give them to you.
Enjoy these final days of November and the beginning of the Advent season.

1 John 5: 1-2

Good morning! :)
Chapter 5 in 1 John in my Bible is titled Faith in the Son of God. I am once again urged by the Lord to remember the indisputable link between faith and love toward God and other Christians. John also talks about how great an evidence it is of being a true Christian when we believe Jesus is the Christ that came down from his Father in heaven and died for our sins. I find it hard to imagine that some believe in GOD, but not in JESUS. It would be an entirely different faith, a sad and emptier faith without belief and love for Jesus as much as God the Father. I can't understand those that don't believe Christ is who he is and did what he did, but I do know that it's a gracious and undeserving gift - a mystery - how the Holy Spirit creates and keeps the faith in our hearts that is able to believe in Jesus as the Triune God. It's important we pray for and watch for witness opportunities to reach out with the truth in love to those that don't know Jesus as God, and don't appreciate what He did out of great love for them. They need enlightenment by the Holy Spirit, something we should never take for granted!
So, this week, as I go back to work and out into the world for my varying obligations and activities, I pray to remember these lines from John's letter, coming back to us again and again, about loving others and God with our lives. It must be concrete evidence, not just talk, which is hard sometimes and I know I am guilty of that. We CAN live like this, by the power of God in our hearts, an amazing power that He sees us worthy to take part in. We are blessed! And so equipped to do what he asks and inspires us to do!

Lots of love to you all :)
Cait

Little Note

Hi gals!
The husband and I just got home a bit ago from family visits for Thanksgiving in MN and northwestern WI - we left on Tuesday and drove home today after church. It was a *long* time away, in a good way, in the way that home feels delectable, our own bed, and a kitchen and bathroom :) I'm sure you all can understand that! But we have so much to feel and BE thankful for, to remember how blessed we are. I always think of that when I come home after being away - coming back to see all the earthly blessings the Lord has given in His grace. We have what we need and a whole lot more.
He will provide even when we don't see what's around the corner.

I just wanted to pop in since I missed out on this whole week of study, and say that I might just pick up where I left off tomorrow instead of trying to play "catch up". I figured all of us were probably on Thanksgiving break this week, so maybe we'll all still be on the same page? If not, that's fine too :) Because we're already only a couple short weeks away from the end of 1 John! I am praying that the Lord would instill in us all a hunger for Him as we finish, and the quiet fortitude to finish the commitment we made, and to savor. all. the. words. because they are LIFE to us.

As the days get busier with Christmas just zipping our way so fast, I want to savor the moments I have with God in his word and prayer. Keep the quiet times if nothing else can fit into the day. It's most important.

Love you all! I truly hope you had a great Thanksgiving and are able to feel refreshed for a new week back at it! :)

And if we all could say a prayer for Jessica to feel better, that would be wonderful (she is my little brother's girlfriend, and I and my family just absolutely ADORE her, and the poor thing was sick over Thanksgiving - but she was such a trooper! In such good spirits! Jess - you radiate the joy of the Lord! Your influence is contagious - in a good way! haha)

1 John 4:17-21

“Perfect love drives out fear” (v.18) – I don’t know about you gals, but I get attacked by fears on an all-too-regular basis. These qualms about our financial well-being, health, relationships, and eternal status haunt us, just like the devil wants.

But God can expel all these petty fears from our trembling hearts with the breath of His Word. His love for us is perfect. His promises will not fail, for God cannot lie.

And so, when we find ourselves subject again to fear, whip out God’s Word and apply those promises to yourself.

God, I’m afraid we won’t meet our budget this month. But you have said, “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.” (Psalm 23)

I’m scared of the cancer attacking my loved one, God. But you have said, “Neither death nor life…nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8)

What if I won’t be a good husband/wife/parent/teacher, God? But you have said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12)

Lord, sometimes I’m scared I won’t go to heaven. But you have said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” (Acts 16)

And in all these things, we cry out with the father from Scripture – Lord, I do believe! Help me overcome my unbelief.

He is faithful.

Thanksgiving Thoughts

Please don’t give to me

Wealth or poverty

But God, I ask only for

Enough

O Enough

God, only

Just enough

Rain more than this day’s bread

And I may say I’m God instead

But take all my crumbs away

And I may rob and wound your name

So please give just enough

1 John 4:11-21

What I'm thinking about from this week's study:

• God loves us, so we want to love him and others! (His love inspires us!)
• Love lets us "see God" wherever faith-love is put in action (vs. 12)
• God's love reaches full and beautiful expression when we love fellow Christians
• We have part of God's life and power through the Holy Spirit living in our hearts. Wow. I need to remember this more often!!
• We can rely on God's love for us - he promises us boundless mercy and goodness to anyone who believes in Him. Even when we can't understand our circumstances, we can know and RELY on Him to keep his promises. He loves us that much.
• There is no fear in love - no dread of wrath or eternal death because we know all our sins are forgiven and we are loved! Even though we are still in this world, God gives us enjoyment of sharing in Christ's glory through faith. Eyes of faith will see the glory he gives. 
• Pray and fight for true faith, because it is inevitably followed by cheerful trust and godly confidence.

After a week of study so focused on loving the Lord and others, being motivated by faith, it's impossible not to be notably more aware of when and where we fall short. But to let our imperfections have the last word is not to have gratitude for grace and the loving Father who freely gives it. I pray that through all the lessons we learned this week and will no doubt learn again, that you all have peace that He is sufficient for you. It's a never-ending battle; He is always teaching us.

Seek Him first, his Words, his Body and Blood, his Love. In doing so, I know that he will equip us to extend hands and feet in loving-kindness and service to others. He will give us desires to do so some days, other days, we will just have the truth that it's what we are called to do even when we don't feel like it. The Holy Spirit will move us through the faith He's worked. 

I pray that we would all let God use us in love for his amazing purposes. He knows our hearts and our desires. I am thankful for a God who chose me, who chose you ladies, for His work in the everyday, in the not always exciting or glorious lives we may live. But I am thankful he gives us eyes to see his glories in big and little ways around us, and the faith to work out the joy and love we have for him.

Love to you all, and have a marvelous weekend! :-)

Cait

1 John 4:7-16

Hello dear sisters!
Here are a few of my reflections on these verses:

"No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us." I remember reading in one of those 365-day reusable Christian calendars the following phrase - Remember that men judge your Lord by you. As we go about our daily lives, our reactions to unexpected circumstances and simply the way in which we treat those we run into - all of this is our unspoken witness, telling others about what kind of a God we have. Oh, that He would help us to reflect Him rightly!

"God is love." It's easy to acknowledge this when life is rolling smoothly. But when the car breaks down during a financially tough time or we get sick and the projects keep mounting up...it is much more difficult to recognize God's loving hand in permitting these trials. And yet ALL that he sends us is to strengthen us, or to draw us closer to Him, or to equip us to comfort others (or all of the above :)). Until heaven, we simply keep trusting Him and that amazing love that wouldn't spare His own Son. We can assure one another in tough times - our God does all things well!

Beautiful!!

One more video. This is amazing. My heart longs to do something like this even for a day. What a great and sincere example of living a life of love and service to God and our neighbor. Enjoy :) (It's a tear-jerker!)

1 John 4:1-6 - Greater Is He That Is In You

I don't know about the rest of you, but I really gain a lot from some of the Reflections videos posted at the original Good Morning Girls site. This one is from Week 8, last week, regarding verse 4 that I really love. :) It IS truly amazing how great and loving our God is! We are so blessed that we are his! Listen to this great Old Testament Bible story. It's awesome.

I John 4:4-10 Catch Up

7 verses about the power we have through Christ and again the unmistakable link between faith and a life of love..
I love verse 4. It's always been a reminder verse to me of what's really going on. The devil and all temptations are real and strong in the world and always waging on our hearts, but God who lives in our hearts is stronger than all of it! He permits his power to assist us in our weakness, making our faith real and strong against all of it! It's never a losing battle, ultimately, "through Christ who is our strength" (Philippians 4:13). It's so encouraging to know that whatever hardship, or hatred, misunderstanding or temptation we face at any given time is not too much for us because we have God backing us up. He is aware of all of it and always guiding and helping us to maneuver around or through it. He won't ever give us more than he knows we can handle, as hard as that is to believe sometimes!
God will always overcome Satan and his helpers in the end. Hallelujah, right!? :)
Some other focus points I got from this section:

-We can't expect the world to understand us or listen to us and like us. If truth and Biblical principals aren't popular in our world, then we who live by such truth and principals won't be popular either. It's one of those "you probably can't have it both ways" things. It's the life of a Christian. Unpopular, hard sometimes, but peaceful. We know we're on the right side, the eternal side..
-Love - faith - God: linked, always, only. One can't stand apart from the other in our lives, they all naturally flow into each other. "They will know we are Christians by our love, by our love..." Remember that song? :)
-The best and most perfect example of how to love is and always will be God sending Jesus for us. He sent him from perfect blissful heaven to sin-sick, lonely, cold earth to save those that were indifferent to him (that's us!) and didn't love him back. It's indescribable and impossible to comprehend, but we want to remember & appreciate it - and often.

What a beautiful portion of Scripture ladies! I know I played catch up and read a few days' worth at once, but I hope you were/are able to spend some quiet moments on these verses also. They are comfort and guidance and glimmers of hope in the midst of busy schedules, stress, misunderstanding and sickness.

Through our Lord, everything is righted. I pray you all enjoy the newness of another week and take today as a fresh opportunity to love him with your lives and shine His light!
Love to you all,
~Cait

1 John 4:4-6

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.

First and foremost, I am ultimately comforted knowing in Christ all false prophets, antichrists, and the devil himself find their defeat. If God is with us, who can be against us? We have nothing left to fear.

On a practical note, I was pondering how we can ensure we are listening to the right Voice in our the midst of our daily living and moving. The answer is really to know God better, to know Him so well that all other voices clang false in our ears. To be like the Bereans, examining the Scriptures every day. His Word is the only Truth in this world.

God bless your weekends, dear girls!

1 John 4:2-3

Good morning women of God! :)

How we can test those who teach, preach, and minister in our lives:
If they believe Jesus came as a real man, in flesh to live and die for our sins.
If they believe Jesus is the only way of salvation, and that there is nothing we can do to save ourselves.

Any other core beliefs or claims other than those are sure signs that those men/women are not truly Christ-followers. It is hard, but necessary, to understand that there is a real possibility more and more these days that we may find this to be the case. The devil and his workers are always more numerous and we can't be too naive to think they will all stay out of our circles forever.

This reading today reminds me why exactly we read the Creeds at church most Sundays - it helps us remember what EXACTLY we believe in a world filled with so much grey space of "anything goes" and a "little bit of this, little bit of that" kind of Christians. Next time we recite one of the Creeds in a church service, I am making a point to really think through each line - and be thankful Christ has worked the faith in me to believe those statements without a hint of a doubt.

We can do nothing without him! Don't let anyone convince you the contrary!

Have a beautiful day,
Love, Cait

I John 4:1

One of my footnotes took me to Matthew 7:15, another warning against false prophets:

"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves."

I found an old note written on the margin-- "pretenders of the flock." As I read on in Matthew, I read, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord' will enter the kingdom of heaven." False prophets, it appears, are people who may wear the title of "Christian," but they are not moved by the Spirit and by the motivation of Christ's love to speak of his promises. They may belong to a church, lead a church, etc., and be dressed in "sheep's clothing." A person who, sadly, comes to mind is a rather famous pastor who was featured in Time magazine recently. He is a pastor here in Grand Rapids, where we live, and his beliefs have plummeted to no longer recognizing Christ as our only hope. I know some people who attend, or have attended the church he leads. I don't think he started out this way. Writing about this reminds me that I should pray for him. My prayer, also, will be that God will guard our hearts against any "pretenders of the flock" and any false teachings, that he will point us back to his truth and give us courage to stand for what we've been shown, to teach the truth in love. He gives us the strength to do all things through Christ.

I pray that all of you women have a great week and know better, each day, how cherished and loved you are. When we are weak, he is strong. He is waiting for us to lean on him in our struggles. Please pray for me, too, that I will trust in these promises and not be bogged down by life's schedule in a demanding season....this too shall pass!

1 John 4:1 - Week 8

Good morning ladies!!
I cannot believe this weekend we celebrated "falling back" with Daylight Savings Time already and that today is NOVEMBER 7! Fall is morphing into winter around here like crazy! I just hope we have some more time yet until it snows...! I LOVE how snow beautifies our world, but with my new job, I am mainly responsible for snow removal at our huge apartment complex - so needless to say, winter may not be as "fun" this year! Prayers are appreciated, because this is all new to me and I'm hoping for a calm and peaceful winter :)

Anyway, we are on week 8 in First John, starting into chapter four and even though I bet many of you are up to your eyeballs in homework or work responsibilities before the holidays come around, I sincerely pray that God is still able to encourage and warm your hearts with his words! Whether from current sections of our study, or other parts of Scripture, church services, or group Bible studies - however you are getting into the Word, my hope is for your nourishment and joy upon receiving it, despite what hard things you each may be going through.

I have been going through some of my own hardships lately, learning the tough way sometimes to lean on God and "not on my own understanding" (like Proverbs 3:5-6 says). I have been fighting my reality versus God's plan for me on many different levels lately, as well as trusting my own common sense instead of remembering God's ways are higher than mine. It's a story I don't need to go into very much detail about, because the situation is hardly the issue. It's where my faith is at, and where my heart is at. God is working it all like dough,  it seems, it feels, haha. Every day is a new prayer for a new start in this learning journey!

Today's verse means something to me, in that sense: we can't just go around believing everything we hear; there is evil in the world, in people that desire everything BUT God's agenda, and it is up to us to NOT blindly listen or adhere to everything or anything people say. Whether it's on TV, or in other media, but especially in places like our churches (they aren't exempt!) and friends. It's good to have a Bible open, so to speak, next to every bit of advice or wisdom we take in. God helps us discern what is right or wrong this way! We have a guidebook - let's not forget to use it as such! :)

I attached a summary video of last week's study from the Good Morning Girl's.org site that I think you all might enjoy. Angela is the sweetest lady, and I always am encouraged by her real-ness and confidence in God's word! 

Have a great week, everyone - love to you all!
~Cait

1 John 3:16-20

Hi girls!

I'd like to share a particular section of my commentary on verses 19-20 of today's study! It is SO well-written, and such an encouraging end to John's section on what true love looks like and how we should put it into practice. I don't know about the rest of you, but I know I definitely wonder why loving others sometimes comes so hard, and feel as if I always have a million miles to go on my faith journey. I believe God is growing me all the time, but sometimes I feel blind to any progress.

Paul Kretzmann says in his commentary to comfort us:

"A believer naturally wants nothing to do with hypocrisy; he wants to be, rather, a child of the truth, a follower of the truth, also in the matter of brotherly love. The love shown to the brethren is in itself an evidence, a proof, of the new spiritual life in the heart of the believers. As the Christian, however, grows in sanctification, he will often find that his heart is dissatisfied with the progress made, and therefore proceed to accuse himself of lack of love. It is true, of course that, as in all matters pertaining to the righteousness of life, so also in the matter of brotherly love, we are far from perfection. And yet we can reassure ourselves before the tribunal (any accuser), in spite of the condemnation of our heart. For God is a greater, a more reliable Judge than our heart, and he has given us the definite assurance in his Word that all our shortcomings in the matter of perfect righteousness will be made up through the perfect righteousness of our Savior, as it was imputed to us by faith. He who knows all things also knows that, in spite of our faults and weaknesses, we are His children by faith in Christ Jesus, and that our imperfections are not due to our lack of spiritual willingness or to hypocrisy. Thus we may defend ourselves against the condemnation of our own heart."


To God be the glory for the generous, amazing portion of grace he extends! And that He goes an extra measure to comfort us when our consciences are too sensitive regarding our behavior. We are never "quite there" and yet He knows us better than we do, that we'll pick on ourselves, accuse ourselves relentlessly and be tempted to give into works righteousness. Thank you Lord, for keeping us centered in your grace, remembering all we are and have is only because of you. (And please continue to strengthen our love muscles! With your help we strive to run from selfishness every day!)

Have a wonderful evening :)
Love, Cait

1 John 3:11-15

This section gave me so much to think about regarding my attitude toward those around me. Like Paula and Caitlin have written, when we truly our examine our hearts, we see how inward-turning they have become. Even when outwardly I may have treated someone well, inwardly I feel that twinge, knowing my motives were actually self-promoting. How hard it is to actually love our neighbors as ourselves! Thank God His love is not small like mine.

One of the benefits of studying a book like this is how it forcibly drags us again and again to the dear cross. We can lay all these burdens on Jesus, knowing God has already buried them in ocean depths to drown.

My prayers have been filled with thoughts like these - "Oh God, forgive it all for Jesus' sake! Teach me to see others as You see them. Help me to put their concerns above my own."

I John 3:13-15

This reading reminded me of our Bible study from Sunday. Pastor talked about how unbelievers actually validate God's Word as being divine. Their anger (whether toward believers or God's Word coming up in its various forms), is a testament that the Bible is active and true. The fact that it gets under their skin (unlike other "religious" texts, such as the Koran), attests to its truth. I hope that it means their conscience is not dead, but rather bothered, because of their anti-sentiments. We can praise God that others hate us or our beliefs, because it reminds us that God is present in our hearts (we are blessed when we're persecuted), but we can also then love, rather than hate, and pray for these people, because they obviously don't have the peace and promise of salvation in their hearts, and God wants to change them and invigorate their lives as he is doing to ours. If you have to make a stand in the near future, remember that what you are standing on is powerful. God's Word is "living and active, sharper than a double-edged sword." He is with you, and will give you the strength to stand.

1 John 3:13-15

Good morning girls! :)

I read some great commentary on our verses for the day and am again assured of the important connection between a life of love and faith. They are truly and undeniably tied together, if one is without the other, that person is spiritually dead. Serious subject matter, worthy of our prayers to God for help in this area!

I do not have more than a few seconds with the computer this morning, so I just wanted to stop in and say 'hello!' and that I encourage all of you to share too what you might learn from this section of 1 John. Praying for you all and thinking of you - I hope you all enjoy the peace of Christ today and breathe deep of his love and grace every moment.

Praying for you too, Kerry, that you have a quick road to feeling healthy and whole again and that baby is safe and healthy too! Tea, rest, and relax! :)

Love to you all. ~Cait

Prayer Request

Hello to all of you beautiful girls! I have a prayer request - this past week I was quite sick, and just starting to recover now. Please keep my baby's and my health in your prayers (we're about halfway there :)). I'm so sorry I've neglected posting lately. I've been edified again and again reading your entries. Thank you for your honest words and insights into these verses of 1 John; what a blessing to participate in this study with you!

1 John 3:11-12

Paula, thank you for your post! It pretty much summed up what I was going to talk about - the difficulty in keeping our hearts pure in our attitude and behavior towards others. It is most definitely something I doubt ANY of us ladies would even in the slightest bit consider to hurt or kill someone. Of course not in their body, but what about how we treat their souls? Haven't we all experienced the blood boiling in our veins, heart wildly thumping with anger or ....hatred.... or something a bit less, like severe frustration with one who hurts us, disappoints us, differs from us, seems to think he/she is never wrong? We've all probably felt the burning shame of knowing we just spoke or thought badly of someone. It's so easy to always assume we are better than others, that we'd never come across as rude or moody...that we always wear our best behavior clothes. I know I am a transgressor in all of the above ways and more. What purpose does doing any of that serve? When I really think about a simple & honest answer to that, I know it is so that I may comfort myself, so that I may feel better, good enough. I love myself more than others when I live this way.
And suddenly, when I fall into Jesus' arms in repentance and renewed humility, I realize my worldly-born Old Adam self will always self-protect and self-honor upon instinct. It is something else entirely to let the Father of our re-birth take over with his strength and help us on the path to loving others first.
We do not need to defend ourselves; He is our defense.
We do not need to love ourselves selfishly and uncontrollably; He loves us and gives us worth.
We do not need to look the better & right one all the time; He knows each situation and heart, and will bring honor and justice in due time.

God, clean my self-centered, worried heart of all the judgment and hatred and please chip away the walls of defense I hold up against others. I am always, daily guilty and always, daily need forgiveness. Lord, fashion my heart in likeness to your heart of compassion and love. Give me assurance that you love me and know me, and finally grant me strength enough to extend love, deserved or not, to anyone that crosses my path. I trust you to guide the outcome.

Friday Thoughts

Hi there gals,
I'm so sorry for not posting since Monday! I have been reading and writing with you all in my Bible and GMG binder, but I log on to the blog and am speechless! I don't know what's been going on with my "creative writing" side lately. I'm sure like anything it takes practice to keep it up and so maybe I'm just feeling rusty. But also I know that I don't need to have flowery or perfect posts each morning. I'm reminding myself that this blog is for community purposes, to show each other we're here for one another, to encourage each other in the midst of our busy days that time for the Lord is essential & possible! So I'm sorry my presence has been all but missing since the beginning of the week. I've been "here", just not the way I want to be for you all! I know I'm always highly encouraged to see you ladies posting and sharing :-)

Since I read only the verse/s we're given each day on their own and not usually with the surrounding context, this morning reading through 1 John 3:1-10 all together came through to me really beautifully! For me, this mode of studying the Bible in tiny little chunks always makes the "big read" so much more understandable and refreshing! I can clearly see from these 10 verses that God's love for us is so sweet, so all-encompassing, so gracious that he saw fit to destroy the devil's power in our lives. We are still on earth, so the devil will still work on us, but God cares for us, his children, so jealously, that he won't let the devil win.

I see this section as straightforward, real motivation to live for the Lord. To guard our choices, our relationships, our hearts against the devil and the world's wiles and to stand on our Father's side. To let him help us shine like bright lights in a darkened world. The Bible, as the Gospel message, is our reason and motivation to love the Lord in return and live like it. And to share him with others openly and sincerely - and always out of love for them, because we want them to have what God's given to us! So it makes sense that little portions of Scripture would be condensed versions of God's most-important message to us. He wants us to hear it and read it everyday! By that we are powerful with his armor, we are uplifted by his comfort, and we are reminded to live our gratefulness for his great love for us!

I am thankful for our beautiful and well-wrote verses this week. I pray all of you were encouraged in your relationship with the Lord as well, and that you take that joy with you into the weekend! Love to you all as you spend precious time with family and friends. :)
~Cait

I John 3:7-8

"Dear children (that's us!--children of God! :) yay!), do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning form the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work."

When I read this, I was recalling Rom. 8:38, which reminds me that God will NOT let anything separate me from his love. He defeated Satan already, and he lives that I will live forever, too. But here is a warning to not let others lead me astray. The "others" mentioned here are people who lead a life characterized by sin. People who continue to persist in sin. This is a little confusing to me at first, because I know these are the people who God wants me to love, pray for, and possibly reach out to and be "in" their lives" to share his love. But paired with the knowledge that God is with me and will protect against anything that would separate me from him, I have confidence that he will arm me with the armor of God in every situation. This reminded me, too, of some of the proverbs that warn about bad company corrupting good character:

"A righteous man is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray." 12:26

and

"He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm." 13:20

I think there comes a point where it is hard to be "friends" with people who are not led by the Spirit, but are, instead, living in sin. We love them and want to spend time with them, but we can't be a staple part of their intimate lives if they are doing things we don't agree with, because they will feel uncomfortable being their true selves around us. There is a difference between being in the world and of the world, and that starts to extend into our friendships, too. Not that we shouldn't show these people we care deeply for them, reach out to them where they're at and accept them as they are, but if we simply act as they do around them, in ways that we believe are not god-pleasing, then we are only condoning sin and, inevitably, allowing it to lead us astray.

I am convicted that I want to be the wise friend that 13:20 talks about. Even Job's seemingly well-meaning friends led him astray. I pray to be a friend who seeks to live and speak the truth in love. We need to always place advice--even from well-meaning Christians, close friends and family, against the light of God's law and love. I'm thankful for all you gals who reflect God's love and encourage me in godly ways!

I know I'm a day behind, but yesterday's passage about God's love for us and being our Father is such a reassurance to the day I had. I frequently need reminders of how blessed I am, what has been given for me and others.

Most of the time I love my job, but today was rough. I had to tell a 40 year old woman that she has cancer. Her prognosis is excellent, but there is something about telling someone this news that just tears at you. I wasn't able to sleep well and it was all I could think about before and after her appointment today. She took the news so well, her concern about the adoption that she is going through right now for a child who needs a parent to love them and care for them (so reflective of yesterday's passage!). I pray for her, her family and those who are affected by cancer every day. I know God will help her through this time and help all of us to cope with the difficulties we face every day, no matter what means they present themselves in. Thank you Lord for not only your sacrifices, but your unfailing love as your children.

1 John 3: 1-3

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world down not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure."

What wonderful, reassuring verses! Today in my Biblical History and Literature class we talked about what are bodies will be like in Heaven. So interesting to think about. Even though it is impossible to know exactly what we will be like, we know that they will be imperishable, glorious, powerful, spiritual, and pure like it says in verse 3. There's nothing more exciting than thinking about our future in Heaven. To actually be in God's arms and to be able to look Him in the eyes and see all the love He has for us is something that almost always brings me to tears when I think about it.

Thinking about what God has in store for my life brings me so much joy. I know He is in control and that whatever happens is His will and everything is ultimately out of His perfect love. Being at MLC, I could be almost anywhere imaginable in a few years when I start teaching, and it's completely up to Him!

I played piano for Bethlehem, a WELS church in Lakeville, this last weekend and the sermon was about God's love. The Pastor talked about how it's easy for us to relate our human relationships to our relationship with God - thinking that in order for God to be on our side and show us love and kindness, we need to show Him love and kindness. The Devil tricks us into thinking that God's love is only conditional. But the truth is that our Savior, loves us no matter what. No matter how horribly we may treat Him with our sins, no matter how many times we fail at being perfect - His love for us never fails.

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”[j]

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[k] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.


I hope all of you had a wonderful day, and are doing well! I am praying for you all :)

1 John 3:1-3 ~ Week 6

Good morning!
I hope all of you ladies had a great weekend with family and friends! I enjoyed yesterday especially, doing house-wifery things :) It was rainy and chilly for most of the day after church, so it was a nice cozy day inside with the husband! How about the rest of you? :)

What a great way to start our weeks fresh! Being reminded of how great God's love for us is such a comforting thing that will motivate our hearts in all sorts of ways, namely to prioritize keeping ourselves pure, as he is pure, as John says in verse 3. Our lives are ones of constant reevaluation, of what we're doing, what our true goals are, in what condition our heart is. Satan and the world does so much to chip away at our faith, at our gracious God-given purity, that John once again reminds us to be ready to repent and turn back to the Lord again and again. To take his love for us with gratitude and consider it amazing motivation to love him back with our lives! We're also given the truth that we have a great future to look forward to when we meet him someday! What will that be like, to be renewed into his perfect image wholly, forever in heaven? We don't know...all we know is that it'll be incomprehensibly amazing :)

Joyful, motivating, comforting verses for a Monday! Thank you, God! I'm sure all of us can use the jump-start for another week? :) It's ironic how the weekends are supposed to be for relaxing, but many times they bring more busyness than ever. I pray you are all brought what you need from our Lord today through his Word. Sing in your heart with joy to the Lord - he is good! :)

Love to you all,
Cait

1 John 2:28-29

Another reminder here to stay near to the Lord in our daily life so that we can be confident of our salvation and be prepared for Judgment Day. John encourages us to not foolishly depend on God's mercy and grace and just live our lives in a manner that pleases our old evil nature. It does us well to equally think on God's love and graciousness, as well as his justice and demands for perfection. It keeps a proper appreciation for our relationship with God forefront, I think. John says to "continue in Him", similar to his previous phrase, "remain in Him", like our understanding of "abiding" in Christ.

We abide in Christ by going to church each week, reading his Word often, as well as praying, talking to the Lord on a regular basis. These are the obvious ways we can remain in Him...what else can we do to deepen this journey? In what ways do you practically apply "abiding with Christ" in your day-to-day? 

I would love to hear your thoughts or any advice or tips that keep your heart and mind centered on the Lord, that help you fight temptations and distractions...

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend, with like Kerry said, good, peaceful and quiet moments in the Word. Looking forward to getting further into 1 John this week as we start Chapter 3!

Have a great night!

Cait

1 John 2:18-29

It's been a long week of poor time management, but it's so nice to arrive at this blog and take a breath. As I read the verses for the week, several phrases jumped out at me.

• Last hour - I know I always need the wake-up call to watch and pray. Every day is just a little bit closer to that glorious moment when we go to live with Him forever. I especially like the hymn phrase "The Bridegroom comes, awake; your lamps with gladness take; Alleluia!" (CW 206, I think.)
• Antichrists - I remember a professor telling us that "anti" can mean "against" but it can also mean "in place of", which is more subtle. As Caitlin was saying, may God defend us from all those would threaten our hold on Jesus, and open our eyes to recognize both those who go against Christ and those who try to usurp his place.
• Anointing from the Holy One - I really like thinking about Baptism this way!
• Remain in him - We breathe this in fervent prayer, for the Holy Spirit's aid. Oh, to remain firmly in Him, no matter the storms of life! For He has said, "Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life." (Revelation 2:10)

May God bless you all with many peaceful moments in His Word this weekend.

Wow, it's been way too long since I have blogged. I was in Arizona last week for a conference with very minimal internet and then did not feel well yesterday, I know, excuses do not make up for it.

I had a lot to catch up on and I think about how much there is to say but I will keep it short and simple. God's word is so amazing, his love for us by teaching us what to believe and how to interact with the world, living as Jesus did. Something we continue to strive for, but always fall short.

Through my daily interactions, I observe so many people. There are those who say they serve the Lord, but through their actions do not demonstrate this. Then, there are those who flatly deny the Lord and do not feel the comfort and glory of our God. The former people frustrate me when I interact with them, but I realize that none of us are perfect and it is not my job to be concerned with their behavior. The latter people break my heart. It is so sad to me that there are people who question the Lord and do not know him. I cannot imagine what I would do without him.

I pray that those who know the Lord grow closer to him each day. I also pray that those who don't know him may learn about him and see how they could have a better life with the involvement of faith. I also thank him for loving me regardless of my many imperfections.

1 John 2:24-27

Abiding in Him..
A few great thoughts from my commentary this morning I feel are better than any words I can ramble on about! :)

Honest reality, not to be considered lightly, which makes our mission to preach the Gospel to the wanderers urgent:
"We know that every one who forsakes the Word of the Gospel concerning Christ, the Son of God, will not remain in the fellowship of God and cannot inherit eternal life" - Union with the Lord and eternal life are for those that believe.

Our baptism and learning from various teachers such as our parents, pastors, Catechism/Christian school teachers are our "anointing" from the Holy Spirit, in fact, HIS teaching us. That is enough for us!
"This anointing was not a mere temporary experience, who effects might have soon worn off. By virtue of it, as it was applied to them in the Word of the Gospel, the Holy Spirit exerted His power in them. It was but necessary for them to follow His leading in the Word. This anointing gave them all the information which they needed in any situation in life, and thus, in just that form it was true, without the slightest bit of falsehood or lying."

And finally, we are in defense of our Lord; we cringe when anyone speaks ill of his name or mocks him, we love him through this faith he has worked, so very dearly, that we cannot stand the thought of anyone knowing him and then forsaking him..
"To genuine believers, the mere suggestion that Christ should not be considered the eternal Son of God, the Savior of the world, is so blasphemous that they turn from its very breath with loathing and disgust. Jesus Christ is the everlasting foundation of our faith."

This section of Scripture once again reminds me of the situation going on in my extended family right now, and it is hard to realize that this is where the situation lies. Right here in verses 24-27. We either remain in him or we choose not to. Again, another way God is black and white. He wants and demands our full commitment or none at all. He hates lukewarmness. I love pondering how great, kind, and compassionate our Lord is, but there is a time and place to also remember and harness the reality that God is just. He demands, he deserves, certain things from his created. It's not good for those that turn from him.
So prayers are continually requested that the believers in our family would have the courage to not only pray, but be bold in their witness to my cousin about the dire situation he has put himself in. The days are short.

Love all of you, thankful for all of you! I pray you are having a great week - I'm sure busy for most of you!
Take a breather to relax in the arms of our ever-faithful Jesus today :)
~Cait

1 John 2:20-23

Good morning :)
I felt really comforted reading right away John's words "But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth". John's way of writing like a loving Father to his dear children (like God is to us!) is really becoming evident to my heart as we move through this book of the Bible. I wonder if God knew some of his faithful would read John's words in vs. 18-19, and say "huh, could I ever be that antichrist? I forsake God some moments and days...am I really with Him?" Because if any of us wonder that, he turns right around and reassures us that we're not that. We have been anointed. We have been lavished with his grace, we are his. We know the truth and the truth has set us free, even though we're not perfect at living like it all the time! We have relationship with the Father and the Son, because we understand they cannot be separated! We live in beautiful pockets of revitalizing truth and grace in this marred world, because God has chosen us and anointed us.
It's none of our choosing or doing. His knowledge is that far-reaching and his love that encompassing, that he chose us and keeps us close to Him.
What a heartfelt joy to go into the day with! My prayers are of thankfulness but also of request that I not grow lackadaisical in my fleeing the lies and the liars. All at once a soberness and great joy!

God, aid me in my journey to understanding how to express and live with both. Help me to know that in the sober realities, however, comes more joy. You are good!

1 John 2:18-19... "antichrists" and Week 5!

Good morning beautiful ladies in the Lord :)
We are already on Week 5 of our 1 John study! I can't believe how the first month flew! I realize that I slipped a bit as the weeks went on in my commitment (which is 1/2 the reason we use this blog!) so I am taking today, and this week to prayerfully re-commit to my goal of early morning quiet times. Every time I fulfill that goal, it reminds me why I love it so much. And it makes me think of Jesus, who often arose early to go to a quiet place and be with his Father. Hardly anyone makes a phone call before 7am, my husband is either off to work or still sleeping, and the sun is hardly up = perfect circumstances for time to freely have my heart opened before God. It's a sacrifice not to stay snuggled up under the covers, like it's so nice to do as the fall rolls over into winter, but coffee and comfy PJ's makes it easier. :)
Anyway, our verses for today! What a reminder that we are in the last days, and to watch vigilantly for anyone, anything that might pull us from our salvation and convictions in faith. There is obviously THE ANTICHRIST, whom I am still unsure that actually is...any thoughts on that? (I've heard a lot about the Pope in regards to this, but I don't know...?)
Secondly, there's the easier-to-understand and see in the world around us, people we call antichrists. These are the folks that were in the church, believing alongside us, and then decided to forsake Christ and take along with them deceptive philosophies, claiming up and down to have truth, except it's a truth of their own. They are wolves dressed in sheep's clothing.
I cannot on my own recognize a "bad sheep" from a "good sheep"- I need the Lord's eyes and the strength of faith he gives through his Word to see what to allow in my life and what to flee far from.
I have a prayer request for you gals, regarding a cousin of mine who has turned from the faith (years ago, now) but who is moving closer to our family due to a job and marriage change. He is 4 years older than me, this is his second marriage, and he was close friends with my older brother up until their teenage years. Since then, he has persisted in unbelieving behavior and professed that he cares nothing for this "God stuff" even though he was baptized and grew up with knowledge of saving faith. What occurred to me, is that in a sense, he is the type of antichrist our verse 19 refers to. He needs the Law approach, and urgently. The rest of my extended family on that particular side feels that we just need to pray. Only pray and God will bring him back in His time. We shouldn't preach to him, they say. Needless to say, there are some familial disagreements lately. It's hard and a sad thing to experience, but the truth of God's word needs to guide us, and so I'm asking all of you to pray for this situation, that all my family would put aside their emotions and let God's Word tell them the right thing to do. My cousin knew the truth and deliberately chose to turn from it - this is a serious issue. Your prayers are much appreciated, as well as any Scriptural advice! Thank you! :)

God bless all of you today - bask in the sunshine and His love for you today!
~Cait

1 John 2:15-17

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world - the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does - comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

This section raised several convicting questions for me. Am I satisfied with what I have, or do I harbor thoughts of "if only I had _______, I'd be content"? How tight is my grip on my possessions, health, even family? How would I react if God decided it was best to take these blessings from me? Have I been crying out for the world to recognize my efforts? How much of this worldly culture has already soaked into the attitudes of my heart?

The Holy Spirit calls us back to the One Thing Needful.

Hebrews 12:1-3

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary or lose heart.

Our Jesus is sufficient.

1 John 2:15-17

Yesterday's readings are giving me a lot to turn over in my heart. To what am I giving too much love and attention? Where do I boast in myself and not in the Lord? What goals am I aiming for without God's guidance and approval? What media influences am I lured to and do I give in to?

Where does my heart need to be yanked back from worldliness and onto Christ? 

These are all hard questions and raise an important awareness in me this morning! I read in an extra study by Charles Spurgeon that, "Obedience to the will of God is the pathway to perpetual honor and everlasting joy."

It may not bring immediate gratification or attention from a whole skew of people in our lives, or bring us wealth or success in our jobs, but it will bring eternal, worthwhile benefits! To have purity, humility, and trust that God will bless us for continually turning, day after day, from the sinfulness of the world to Him - those are my prayers today. We're called to be in this world, not of this world - and he will help us in this! 

Praying for God to bring you the joy associated with being in love with Him and following in His footsteps on the path to obedience to his will!

Have a great weekend! :)

~Cait

1 John 2:12-14

Good morning gals!
I want to say thank you right away for so many of you keeping up with regular postings and refreshing and encouraging those of us struggling to make time to share what we learned at Jesus' feet! I admit that I have been having a really difficult time of it these last couple of weeks to get my distraction-free time on the computer to share with you all. I have enjoyed following our study from my kitchen table, reading and writing my way through these last few days. But my computer has seemed to have wings lately! My husband is on the prowl for another job now and so he has been taking the computer with him to the library or shutting himself away in our study to diligently look for jobs. I have only had snippets of time during the days lately to catch up on work emails or pop onto Facebook, or glance through our online banking account. And by the time the day's over, I have just been so. exhausted. Mentally mostly, in the last few weeks. Of course it's credited to my schedule going a mile a minute and having too many appointments put on my calendar FOR me, when normally (because I work from home) I ought to be able to control the timing of my meetings and appointments. Example: I was preparing to have my quiet time yesterday morning, because a contractor was supposed to come to our property by nine to work on a project. I was up by 7 and had plenty of time to get ready and have my Bible Study. However, he rang my doorbell at a little before 8am and I have no choice but to go, right then and there. That happens a lot with my job. I'm learning slowly to say no to people, or to shut off my phone, or to "hide" for awhile, from time to time, simply because, like lately - I am desperate for it. I am stretched to the nines by struggling with patience over my husband not having gotten any steady or real work since we moved to Wisconsin - that's just about 6 months ago now. I have a few aching holes in my heart where familial relationships are hard and "weird" right now. My dad hasn't had a job for close to a year now, which is so hard for me to watch happen to such a hard-working and diligent individual. And of course the daily pressures we all experience to varying degrees can just seem to mount up sometimes like a big intimidating monster that could eat you alive.

There's my real life right now - it's not so pretty, and ashamedly, neither has been my attitude. I have been slow to patience, quick to frustration, lacking in gratitude, and lazy on many fronts. This transition in mine and my husband's life has been hard on me and yet I know God is growing me through all of this. It's almost obvious in many ways that he's trying to teach me new things and attitudes at every turn, but I haven't always been the best student.

So for John to write like he did this week so far, like Kerry mentioned yesterday - in a circular fashion - it reminded me of a broken record where that part of the song gets stuck in your head. Maybe he is trying to get it STUCK in my heart and mind -

That God's word lives in me...so I have truth at all times and help whenever I'm weary and burdened.
That my sins have been forgiven, and I have overcome the evil one...so I don't have to live in the miry mess of my shortcomings and doubts and weak faith.

This time, like any other hard time in the past, God will use to form me and use me better in the future. He will use it to open wider my eyes to his greatness and what he can really do. His plans and power are boundless! If any of you are going through similarly trying times, I am praying for you as well. I am understanding your tears when it all seems like too much and we keep the heavy load instead of giving it to God. I do not judge your weak and wobbling faith at this time, instead I pray that the Lord would build you up with his promises and truth and would uphold you in future battles. I pray you would find comfort in his house and at his table more often, because ironically, it's always harder to draw near to God when feeling this way. I encourage you to break through the needs of your schedule, your job, your finances, whatever is seeming more urgent - and get to a quiet place and let the Lord get your heart right. He wants to assure us of so many loving, COMFORTING promises when we're shaky and insecure like this. I pray you rest in his arms.

Thankful with all of you that John said what he did these last few days, as repetitive as the words seemed. Because I think God knows we needs things repeated a few times before we let the words sink in, don't you? :)
I am grateful for trustworthy women like you to share with. You all have such amazing faith every day - God gives so generously. Praying you all have a wonderful day!
Love,
Cait

I John 2:12-14

"I write to you...because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one."

I, too, wanted to read ahead to get to these encouraging words. I like it how John says that he is writing purposefully to remind us that we are strong in the Lord. This struck me as a model for my writing and talking with Christian friends, not just to empathize with them or express concern, not just to remind them that I am encouraged by our shared faith, or that everything will work out for their good, but that they ARE strong! because of the word living in them. God, working outside of time, seeing the end that we cannot, already defeated Satan in the garden. Just his word was enough to seal our salvation. And his word is enough now to overcome our battles--with sinful self, rocky relationships, recurring temptations, doubts and fears, all of it. He has already won!! You are strong in Christ!

John 16:33
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Exodus 15:2
“The LORD is my strength and my defense ; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.

1 John 2:12-14

I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name. I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, dear children, because you have known the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

John seems to write in a circular fashion, spiraling back to the same ideas and at the same time deepening his point. This section offers us courage and reassurance as we "fight the good fight" of faith.

I don't know how you girls were feeling as we read previous verses, but I would occasionally get a little discouraged. I thought - here I am walking in darkness, claiming to know Jesus but not living as He did (does!) and giving in to the devil's schemes at every turn.

In come John's beautiful reminders - Yes, BUT your sins have been forgiven for Jesus' sake. Yes, BUT you do know the Father he who is, who was, who ever will be. Yes, BUT Christ has already conquered all your enemies, including the devil.

Let's soak up this Spirit-sent comfort!

I John 2:7-8

"Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one...its truth is seen in him and you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining."

My Bible notes gave three explanations for the "newness" of this command:

1. the new and dramatic illustration of divine love on the cross

2. Christ's exposition of the OT law (Matthew 5)

3. the daily experience of believers as they grow in love for reach other.

Sometimes I wonder what it might have been like to live in different cultures, families, or eras. Secretly, I have often counted the "Anne of Green Gables" moments in my life, because I think it would be awfully romantic to be that character. haha!! But when I think about how we are living in this "new" covenant of love, that we came after Christ's victory on the cross and can benefit from the teachings he gave to his disciples, I am so thankful for that. We didn't see him, so we cling on in faith as OT people did to the promise of him to come, but we have his words and his actions to read of, and I'm really glad for that.

It is a daily experience, learning and growing in love. I pray that this command and the love of him who gave it will be new to our hearts every day.

"Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:23

1 John 2:3-6

Hi everyone!

I apologize for not writing for awhile, I have been a busy girl, but that's not a very good excuse. These last two weeks have been full of stress for me, and unfortunately I haven't been leaning on my Savior like I should have been doing! A few weekends ago, my family's friend died of a sudden heart attack. Him, his wife and 6 year old son were on a little vacation when it happened. Even though it is very sad that his wife and son don't have him anymore, the worst part is that they aren't a Christian family. I would just ask that you keep them in your prayers, and pray that maybe this situation is the awakening they need for God to come into their lives. Thank you all! :)

Reading these verses remind me that I am not perfect, and it's something I will never be until I get to Heaven. I hate the moments where you realize that you just did something that you were trying so hard not to. For me, it's when I am home for the weekend, and I tell myself over and over again that I am not going to get upset with my younger brother even if he gives me a reason to. Even though I am a sinful creature, I know that our Lord will always take away my sins, over and over again. There's nothing I can do to get myself to Heaven, because that's why Jesus lived a perfect life and died for all believers! So thankful that our Savior is a forgiving God! I want to live my life for Him in everything I do. :) Praying for you all!!

1 John 2:3-6

"We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. "

These three verses reminded me of three verses we studied in James that I wanted to share.

James 1:23-25: Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror ²⁴ and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. ²⁵ But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

I want to live like Jesus, but I need to look in that mirror each day and see that I am not, so I can lean on him once again, because I cannot live like him, without him. And I am reminded that his perfect law gives freedom! It seems backward, but it isn't. The law isn't just to show us our sin, it is also meant as a blessing to us. It is light for our path! :)

1 John 2:1-2

...He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the WHOLE world!

I love this truth--that God died for everyone and wants all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth. At the secular univ. I attend, three of my teachers this semester emphasize a God who doesn't care, or a God who demands your love and forces you to not care about certain people. It's so untrue. Zoyia and I somehow got on to the topic of Rahab this weekend, and we couldn't remember the details, so we looked her up. We read that the people of Canaan KNEW about the Lord and his many wonders. But just this Rahab believed, and God saved this prostitute and her whole family. He promised other times--like with Abraham--that he'd save the city if there were believers, and, true to his word, he rescued Lot and his family (sans his wife, because she disobeyed and turned back). He gives so many chances (like our pastor reminded about Judas--he said that someone would betray him--he gives us so many chances to repent). I'm praying that I will heed those calls to repent this week, because Jesus will speak in my defense to the Father, and he will forgive, just as he promised!

P.S. A few prayer requests. Do you have any??

*Liz is traveling a bit this week.

*Kerry is pregnant! Kerry, when are you due?

*prayer that I would get my butt to the doc. I think i have a sinus infection

Love you all! God bless you this week.

ArtPrize Winner 2011 (he always wins!!!)

Side Note: Just to let you know, after I complained about ArtPrize, the art that won was an image of Jesus. :) He lives for us. In Bible study this weekend, we merged with the New Life in Christ class, which was focusing on the topic of the fall. It was encouraging to be reminded that God is outside this thing called Time. He--the Beginning and End--knows all outcomes. He had already conquered Satan before Christ even came. When Jesus rode on that donkey before he went to the cross, he'd truly already triumphed. It was comforting for me to be reminded that Satan isn't some ruler of hell, but that God is in control of even him and he will not let us fall (especially for me, because I was up to my ears in Puritan readings that perceived Satan in all kinds of different ways last week). Pastor described him as a pit bull on a chain. If we get near, he'll bite. I pray he is far from us this week! Love you girls.

1 John 2:9-11

Reading these words warning against hating our brothers and sisters reminded me of a book I reread last week. It's called "The Theology of the Cross", written by Daniel Deutschlander.

May I share the quote which jumped to my mind? The author writes, "You are one for whom Christ died and rose again and so am I. For you, no less than for me, he rules all things in heaven and on earth. If I can just keep that reality in mind, what respect, what dignity, what honor you have in my eyes! To use you or take advantage of you for my own ends should never even occur to me. I wouldn't dream of hurting or harming you. I cannot imagine speaking ill of you or insulting you. My fondest ambition is only this, to love and serve you. For in loving and serving you, I love and serve Christ, who lives in you (Mt 25:40). If you are sad or depressed, I want to cheer you up by reminding you of the reality of your status and of the reality of my love for you and my eagerness to serve you. If you are in need, it is an honor for me to be able to help you in any way that I can; for in helping you, I come as close as I can to giving the infant Jesus a blanket against the cold Judean night. In serving you, I wipe his tortured brow on the way to the cross. Even if you are in error, have fallen into sin or even into self-righteousness, I can only ache until I have done all that I can to call you back to the love and grace and mercy of Christ."

It's a beautiful example of how we love our brothers and sisters, and my prayer for each of us as we reflect on what God has been teaching us this week.

1 John 2:9-11....Reflection

Most of our readings for this week immediately, for me, brought on the awareness that "there's no way I'll do what God's saying perfectly" - so does that mean I live in darkness?...or that I am not His?...It's what our fearful Old Man would have us wonder.
It's very sobering to see God's standards so clearly laid out for us here in 1 John, as well as many other places in the Bible. Consequently, it's very easy to write them off a bit with the huge letters G-R-A-C-E and reminding ourselves that Jesus saved us from all that.
But like I was taught again and again in childhood catechism classes, in Bible classes these days, and as my husband learned so fervently in studying to be a pastor over the last 5 years, God presents heavy Law for a reason. - So he can rescue us, beaten-down and needy, with the light and beautiful Gospel of how much he loves us and forgives us!
That's been happening for me in little bursts over and over again this week. I know I've said it before, but I am just so thankful for my additional study guide of the commentary I use. (It's by Paul E. Kretzmann - an older book but I love it's beautiful wording!) This morning this sentence put this week's lesson in perspective for me:
"If a person professes to be a Christian, men have a right to expect a corresponding conduct from him, one which agrees with the will and character of Christ, one which is conspicuous for its show of brotherly love."
No amount of grace or repetitive reminders of Jesus work for us in faith or dying on the cross should allow us to think our willful actions and behavior patterns don't matter - or don't affect our witness. Paul was fervent about this in Romans 6: "Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?" Our Father cannot bear pretense, faking it, showing off, hypocrisy...as Christians. It's the real deal or not. It's that black and white with God. However, I am comforted to know he sees my heart, when I sin again and again, even though I try and try not to. We're like Paul when he said in Romans 7:19 "For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do--this I keep on doing." He isn't referring to decision-based, willful, sinful lifestyle choices and acts of the heart. Instead he puts to words the struggle all true Christians face daily - hourly - to put off their Old Man. It's an intense battle and an often one, but we wage war on it with Christ's strength and because we desire to know God more and be more truly His. This is a blessed battle!! (Hard to believe, but true!) 


My thought now is of Proverbs 4:23 that says "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." With the power of God and his truth on our sides, girls, we can guard our hearts and pray to have eyes that see with His light any darkness that tries to creep in, any hatred or prejudices, anything evil! Because it tries all the time, to squeeze into the little spots where we are distracted or unaware. I am praying today for all of us to wear firm and strong armor of all of God's Words to help us fight off the devil and this world, so that we can better love each other and better praise the Lord with our lives! 


"You will not have to fight this battle [alone]. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you... Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you." 2 Chronicles 20:17 - -LOVE THIS! :)


Praise God for his presence in our daily struggle and for his Grace that covers our multitudes of sins!
Love in Him (and have a relaxing weekend, girls!),
~Cait

We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.

Today's words bring the constant reminder of how our work as Christians is never done, that everyday our focus needs to be on keeping his commands and living our lives the way Jesus did. We have to keep that in mind when dealing with unpleasant situations, including professors, patients, clients, other drivers on the road, whatever we come into contact with. Sometimes it is a little (or more than a little) difficult to behave like Jesus did when we're in these difficult situations. I pray that I may keep this in mind when I deal with unpleasant patients, work situations, silly arguments and family issues.

1 John 2:1-8

God in the flesh in our advocate before God. Old Testament believers like David knew God is our only defense, our only possible refuge:

"Awake, and rise to my defense! Contend for me, my God and Lord. (Psalm 35:23)

The book of Psalms must have been on my mind a lot the last few days, because as I read the final verses of this section about obeying God's commands and living as Jesus did, Psalm 119 came to mind. 176 verses just filled with thoughts about delighting in His decrees, loving His laws, obeying His word. And this love affair with the Word happened centuries before God fulfilled his Garden-promise to send a Savior. How much more beautiful His words are to me now, knowing that my Jesus lived and died for me, rose and ascended, defends and protects not only me but His beloved bride, the Church.

My prayer is that these honey-sweet Gospel promises nourish us and make us bold to be His witnesses to the world, for "the true light is already shining."

"Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell." (Psalm 43:3)