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