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