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