I John 1:8-10/Reflection

Dear women walking in the Light,

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Is it just me, or is there something about fall that catches us unaware with old memories that we haven't encountered in awhile? Like a leaf that falls gently, but startlingly on your shoulder or hair, they come. But they come transformed. Once green and new, they are now painted and weathered, perhaps even more beautiful than when they were born. I think it's life's experiences that brings this beauty. When we are touched involuntarily by a memory of an old teacher, an old friend, or just a small, vague gesture, there is a new sweetness in the remembering that colors the memory. They stand out, these sweet moments and caring people in a life that is not always vibrant and beautiful.

This morning some of those memories alighted on me and caught me by surprise. But they shouldn't. They are simply evidence of a faithful God who is with me and has been with me, who has placed these people and blessings in my life all along. Sadly, the dark moments that they shine against are often the consequence of my own faithless self, acting against the God who never fails me. But each time I cry to him in repentance, he simply forgives! He sees me as pure and holy, made fresh and new in the clothes of Christ. How can I thank him for all he does for me? For forgiving me and taking me back each and every time?

This week I battled poorly with a cold and with the urge to doubt when so many teachers laughed at, belittled, blamed and blasphemed Christianity. I stand weak and wanting at Jesus' feet this morning. And I can only thank him in response--for the gift of trials, because they bring me low to stoop and pick up this manna he offers. Without it, I will die. I thank him for the gentle taps on the shoulder--little leaves that remind me of all the gifts he's bestowed. I have failed him and will do it again. But his light continues to shine on me, exposing my sinful self and turning me back to him again. I am praying that he will shine his light into this heart of mine (and yours), for this life is a short one. And there are so many who do not know the comfort of our faithful God. Like leaves, we are here for a time, and then we are dust (and then we're with Jesus!:). God, help us to live for you and for others.

"...if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself." 2 Timothy 2:13

1 John 1:6-7

These verses remind me to "walk the walk" and not just "talk the talk". When I say I am a daughter of the King, my actions should add a resounding testimony to those words. When I tell a friend not to worry, he or she should see me putting my anxieties in God’s hands rather than getting frazzled. We can’t divorce faith from life.

The Holy Spirit certainly knew our thoughts when he inspired John to write these words. Even with the stinging realization of our own deeds of darkness and failure to live in the light - there is God, forgiving us and cleansing us in the blood of His Son. Let's embrace that forgiveness, and take up the cross anew!

I John 1:6-7

Today's reading led me to look at another one that came to mind from Ephesians, chapter 5:

"For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light ⁹ (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) ¹⁰ and find out what pleases the Lord. ¹¹ Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. ¹² For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. ¹³ But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, ¹⁴ for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said:

“Wake up, O sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”

¹⁵ Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. ¹⁸ Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. ¹⁹ Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, ²⁰ always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

²¹ Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

This portion gave me a lot to think about in terms of applying how to live in the light, but I won't comment much on it.

One final thought, though, that I had on verse 20 (always giving thanks to God the Father for everything...). This always reminds me of I Timothy 4:4: "For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer." In terms of drinking wine or watching a movie or offering advice, anything...if we can thank God for the guidance of his Word and Spirit that our action is beneficial, we can count it a gift of God. This is why it is so important to know God's will through his word. I'm glad we're learning it together--to walk in the light. :) We ARE in the light. He has shone his light into our hearts by the power of the Holy Spirit. We can rejoice in this!!

1 John 1:6-7

Good morning girls! :)
Our verses for today came out clear and strong to me as detailing 2 distinct lifestyles. Both claim to love and know God, yet one lifestyle is very devoid of the presence of God's blessing and peace. As I read our verses, went through my worksheet, and studied the section on these verses in my commentary, I thought really hard about the plain and simple message God is sending us today. It is a heavy realization for me to think how serious our lifestyle choices - our consistent behavior - depicts what we truly believe. This subject matter has always stayed sort of grey for me.
We don't want to judge others, but what you see is what you get. 
We're all imperfect, and you can't tell the motives of the heart.
He or she - or I - am just in a rut in my faith, but I still believe Jesus died for me!
And the scenarios could go on. There are so many excuses we give our selves, others give themselves, as to why we can "truly" believe in and love God but live in whatever way we're excusing.
Today, I felt my eyes were opened to the black and white of it all. It's not material given us through John to help us be better judges of others. Instead, to me, it makes it clear to me who I really am when I consistently do what I do.
I believe the important word is consistent, or persistent.
We have all sinned and fallen short of God's glory and standards, but I think we can all agree that it sends a different message to be stubborn in sin, to not show a concerned effort to change.
This is where my commentary comes in so very nicely where my words leave gaps :)

But if we now, who profess to be Christians and thus to be united with God in the most intimate union, live and behave ourselves as though we were still in darkness, if we are addicted to sin, if we in any way serve sin and corruption, then our entire life is a lie. We may be self-deceived, under circumstances, but the lie is there nevertheless. To walk and live in sins while professing to be children of God is to brand ourselves as liars and hypocrites. - Ouch.


But if we walk in the light as He is in the light...we partake of His nature by faith, and our conduct should give evidence of the faith that has made us children of the light and enables us to walk as the children of the light...If we thus live a holy and righteous life, deriving continual light, power, and life from Him - (because we cannot do it alone!), then there will be 2 happy consequences of such behavior!
#1 - Fellowship! We are closely connected with our Lord, united with the apostles and all Christians (how great a thought is that!?)
#2 - Purity! In spite of the weaknesses and imperfections of this earthly life, in spite of the many temptations and accusations of the devil and those in the world, we have forgiveness. We get to stand in the light, imperfect faith exposed, yes, but FORGIVEN all the more, always, every day, in the case of every. single. sin.


How amazing is that?!! My heart just filled with thankfulness to God this morning, even as I write this. I see the 2 choices: be a hypocrite (which is WAY easier in our world and culture) or walk the harder road and experience such blessing and joy. I have sadness for those struggling with their choice, I pray to God for those debating which is the better lifestyle for them. It's our job to stand up as loving witnesses to what God says on this matter of claiming to be in Him but living oh-so-differently. That's no easy task either!


But our God is enough for us in all of it. In the living out our day-to-day challenge of putting off the world and our Old Man; in standing up for the truth and witnessing with sometimes some tough love to those who "know God" but don't act it. 


It's all so worth it, though. Thank you, girls, for BEING one of those happy consequences for me of striving to stay and live in the Light! You are proof of God's promises coming true for me, and again THANK YOU for that! You are blessings to me, and I pray that today you will in turn be blessed for following God and staying on the narrow, Brighter way. He is always with you, forgiveness ready!


Love in Him,
Cait

God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.

As I reflect tonight, I think about all the things that are going on in our lives right now. I think about how I need God to shed light on certain things. For example, sometimes I feel inadequate as a PA and today was one of those days. I forget how God blessed me with the knowledge and ability to do what I do everyday. I've had a lot of patients lately question my diagnosis, treatment and age. I need to remember that with God in my life, I should be happy and not be so concerned about what other people may say or do but it is so much easier said than done.

I also think about how we (my husband and I) are struggling with his father, more specifically his father's girlfriend. She is so hurtful, I believe intentionally, and his dad goes along with it. It is so obvious how God's light is not shining in their hearts. I have to remember that God shining his light in my life makes the difference and that there is no darkness, however, sometimes it is so hard to push away their darkness and let his light shine.

I'm not sure this is coming out how I want it to but you know how it is sometimes when you just need to speak/type. Thank you to all of you for your support and love in Christ.

1 John 1:5

God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.

I so desperately need God's light to illumine my heart, to drive all darkness away. I pondered this morning on how darkness rears up constantly in my life...as cruel words escape my lips and hurt my husband, as fears rise up and try to choke faith's grip, as even the "good" I try to do is tainted with pride or impure motives.

God have mercy on me, a sinner.

And that sweet, pure, forgiving light of God - may it shine in all our hearts, for Jesus' sake.

"You are my lamp, O LORD; the LORD turns my darkness into light."

2 Samuel 22:29

I John 1:5

There is a big event going on in Grand Rapids right now called Art Prize. It is open to any artist in the world who can find some space or sponsorship for their art. There are behemoth structures and small, quiet paintings. Frankly, I haven't the desire to go and see it, because you find that so much of it is so very godless when you stop to examine it long enough to hear what it says. Sometimes, the paintings that are the most filled with light and bright, dazzling colors are the most lewd and blasphemous at the core of their inspiration. Some are more discrete than others. For example, I viewed an album that a facebook friend posted of some of this year's pieces. Scripted in the base of a white sculpture were the words, "I form light and create darkness. I make peace and create evil. I the Lord do all these things." This horribly untrue twisting of Isaiah is evidence of a confused world. So many artists trying to open our eyes--to the darkness. I am praying this morning that God would help me to see him, even when the bold colors try to disguise the darkness. Satan doesn't walk around in dull grays and gruesome greens. Many times he masquerades as the beautiful.

In my own life, I can think of times where I have acted for God with a secret desire for myself. I want to be heard or for people to see my bold colors. The truth is, there is not light in them. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 4:5-6, "For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ."Just as Caitlin wrote of the light we see in his beautiful creation, any feeble attempts of art are only reflections of his powerful, complex and beautiful creation. So, too, we can only reflect his goodness and love.

I'm so thankful he has poured his light into our hearts, that we can see him as he is. Praying that he'd show us our true colors as we study his perfect goodness and light, that we'd truly reflect this light, and that we'd distinguish his light from the darkness that masquerades as beautiful things sometimes. Praying for all we know who are in the darkness, that he would shine his light into their hearts.

P.S. For those who might enjoy Art Prize (mainly Liz or Zoyia), I know you won't be dissuaded by my post. There are beautiful things to see there, and even those that are designed on dark philosophies can be appreciated for the knowledge or insight they give when they are put into proper perspective, I realize. I just wanted to use it as an example.

1 John 1:5

"This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all."
I read the verse for this morning, and looked up out the window and this is what I saw! It's a perfect day for God's bright truth to shine in on me by his Word! :) What a perfect verse and perfect weather - rainy, dark, windy, unwelcoming outside - to give perfect meaning to the dire need we have for Light! I love a day like this now and again, to stay in and be cozy, work on projects, snuggle up with a book, do some cooking and baking, you know. But after a time, I long for sunshine and blue skies, the clarity and purity of a bright and shiny day. God made us in his likeness, and I think our souls relate much to our moods when darkness pervades...we long for Light and purity. We cannot survive without it. We die letting the darkness of sin and a dirty conscience fill our days and weeks. We NEED the regular and Light and cleansing power of God's perfect grace to enliven us. What energy and joy I feel on a beautiful day outside - and the same is true, yet greater is the joy and energy Christ fills me with when I have seen His Light and been filled by it once again.

Creation shows God's power, I believe that :)
Thank you Lord, for your imagery outside my window today! Send us all your guiding, holy Light today despite whatever "weather" our souls are experiencing. We need you! 

Love in Him,
Cait