more laughs!

O.K. girls I have to share with y'all what happen to me last night. It's one of those times that I really needed y'all here to laugh with/at me...I was warming up some tomato soup in the microwave last night for supper and I went to grab it out of my microwave and slip! Before I could even blink the soup was EVERYWHERE and the bowl crashed to the ground. Now, when I say everywhere I mean everywhere. Because my microwave is up high on top of my fridge before it even hit the ground tomato soup was flying. I just can not tell you where all the orange dots were. There are no words. The worst part of it all is that I was wearing my favorite pj pants, one of my favorite shirts that I wear almost on a weekly basis to work, my new fuzzy white socks, and MY NEW WHITE ROBE!!! So, after a split second of complete shock and disbelief that all that had really happened, I quickly start stripping in my kitchen. I can’t walk anywhere because I have soup all over me and the last thing I need is tomato soup on the carpet. Had I not been standing between the microwave and carpeted hallway the soup would have gotten on the carpet. So with nothing on but the essentials (and let me tell you I was freezing. I'm too cheap to turn my heat up, so my house is a little warmer than a meat locker in the winter) I make my way to the bathtub and start soaking everything. I leave all that in the tub and start cleaning up the spill. Did I tell you it was everywhere? I was on my knees wiping it all up and everywhere I looked there was soup. Bright, orange soup. I just can not believe it went so far. I'm talking cabinets, oven, door frames, EVERYWHERE! So eventually I get all that cleaned up, go back to the tub get the sopping wet clothes out of the tub, drag them to the washing machine, spray it all down with shout, say a prayer and press start. In the mean time I go back for round 2 of mopping. By the time it was all over I was exhausted. The grill cheese sandwich I made to go with the soup was cold and I just still couldn’t believe I had really done that. When I went to wash my face last night I found some soup on my eyelid! Hope you can think of me and my orange splatter painted kitchen and get a laugh today!

Ginny - Dec 15

Hi Girlz!!!

It just doesn't feel right to have a week of no blogging! I miss y'all! This week at the bank has been extremely busy! It's so nice. I absolutely love my job. Love it. Love it. Love it. I have the world's best boss and we have so much fun. There is not a day that goes by that I don't thank the Lord for bringing me to Lubbock and putting me at the bank with Jay (my boss). I didn't fall down the stairs this week but I did manage to spill the world's largest glass of water all over my desk. It was beautiful. Water every where. Shorted out my huge, roll-tape, desk calculator. That's in the trash now. Awesome.

Tomorrow I head to Dallas for Christmas. I pick Tim up at DFW at 3:00 and then we'll head to mom & dad's. Mom & Dad continue to pack up the house and move stuff to storage. I'll head back this way Monday.

Hope y'all have a great weekend!!!

Ginny

Ginny - The Big Picture reflection

The main point I got from 1 John is:
LIVE IN THE LIGHT!

I feel God wanted me to learn:
Now when I think of light I think of four things:
1. Truth - What does God's Word say about it? Line it up with His Word. The true light that directs our paths.
2. Love - Love exists in the light not the darkness, and love is the #1 characteristic of Christians.
3. Knowledge - God will reveal to me what I need to know when I need to know it. Don't go delving into the darkness to find out things.
4. Simple - When I am in the light and I can see where I am walking, I won't get tripped up or stub my toe on something otherwise hidden in the darkness. Light makes life easier.

I will forever be changed by this truth:
When life starts getting hard and complicated I will stop and scoot myself back into the light. I don't want to fiddle around with things of the darkness, no matter how "small" they might be. The biggest changes will be in the areas of relationships & attitude.

I'll be checking in too! I have loved writing each weekday! I'll be thinking about a good next study!

The Big Picture, Reflect: Karlyn

Main Point: Love everyone because we are given unconditional love.

God wants me to learn: I don't get to choose who to love I show love and live love because he lives in me and I will pour out his love.

I will forever be changed that every idol that I let creep in my life pushes Him out of the way and keeps me from loving the way he intended me to love.

Have a great weekend and a Merry Merry Christmas!  I'm gonna keep posting periodically until we decide when to start something new!

Ginny - relfection weeks 9-12

Ugh girls, I don't know why y'all are even friends with me! I can be so difficult sometimes. Just mean. I knew I needed to work on my attitude more, but this study has definitley opened my eyes to that even more. Just got a little too annoyed with a co-worker and it was such a little thing. Why do I do that? Why are some struggles so easy to fix and then others hold on for dear life? I really want to change this part of me. I know the Lord wants me to change, and I know His grace will help me. So moving on to my 3 points for these weeks...

1. Love the difficult. Don't get so bent out of shape. Just love. It's not that big of a deal.

2. Relax and enjoy. Smile more. Laugh more. I make life a lot more difficult than it has to be.

3. Start thinking of small ways (actions & words) that I can show encouragement and love towards others. Unexpected things. It means so much to me when others brighten my day, I want to do that to others.

weeks 9-12: Karlyn

I John 4:7-5:21

4:13  The Spirit is how we connect to God's love and share his love with others.  I need to listen to the Spirit more.

4:18  There is no fear in abiding in God's love.  I have to not allow fear to creep in because when it creeps in the love of God has no room.

5:21  STAY AWAY FROM IDOLS when there are no idols there is no room for anything but God's love and no room for anything else.  Idols cause all the issues with sin.

This has been an incredibly busy week and God has really helped me stay calm, focused, and almost stress free!  Hope things are going great for everyone else.  Merry Christmas and I love y'all!

Weeks 4-5; weeks 6-8; Karlyn

Weeks 4-5; I John 2:12-29
2:15  Do not love nor the things in the world.  If anyone loves the world the love of the Father is not in him

If I love the Father with my whole being I won't even like the things of the world.

If I'm practicing loving him and knowing him I won't be easily deceived because I will know the truth

v28 when I'm abiding in him I won't shrink away from righteousness when persecuted or tested.

Weeks 6-8; I John 3-4:6
3:9 No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

Sin keeps me from abiding in him, if I'm seeking his love and practicing his love sin is not going to be hanging out in my life.

3:13-18  I can't hate my brother if I'm abiding in His love and my love will show in my actions.

4:1-6  When we are abiding in his love we will know those who aren't and are being deceitful.  We will know spirit and truth.

God is constantly revealing to me those people in my life that I'm not showing a lot of love to and that I treat differently because they "get on my nerves"  this is something I didn't realize I needed to work on until this study.

Ginny - reflection weeks 6-8

Good Morning Girlz!!! Half way through the week :)

1. LOVE! LOVE! LOVE!

2. God will reveal what I need to know when I need to know it.

3. My actions must be different from that of the world. We are to be called apart.

Ginny - reflection weeks 4-5

Good Morning Girlz!!!

It's a chilly morning out there. We've got snow every where and a -3 windchill! Brrrr!

1. Be in the Word. The day is better when I am in the Word.

2. Good things, if not held in perspective, can cross over to the darkness.

3. Week 5 was when I started realizing my attitude, moodiness, annoyance, etc. I'm pretty sure this is going to be my New Year's Resolution. Who am I portraying in my actions?

Ginny - Reflection weeks 1-3

These first 3 weeks I learned so much about light. Three points that stand out to me are:

1. Light makes things easier. I can see where I am going and what is in my path to avoid when there is light.

2. Demand light. Do not settle for not understanding. Bring it to the light!

3. Light goes hand and hand with truth. God's Word is light and truth.

Update on party: It was a lot of fun. Thank y'all so much for praying. I'll still take those prayers. God is teaching me a lot in regards to this boy. I'll be sure and keep y'all posted. Love you all!

Weeks 1-3: Karlyn

S - I John 1-2:11
1:4  These things we write so that our joy may be complete
1:9  If we confess our sins he is faithful and jsut and will forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
2:11 But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

3 Main points:
1.  John had first hand experience with Jesus: he saw him, he touched him, and heard him.  So, I can trust that he is writing this book out of concern for the fellow believer to help us understand joy in Christ.

2.  Confession is key to my relationship with Christ.  This has been on my mind heavily through this whole reading.  I'm not confessing enough and that leaves me in a broken relationship.  I don't want a broken relationship or darkness I want a clear heart for Christ.

3.  I have to love my fellow believer in Christ no matter what they do to annoy me or drive me crazy.  To have a relationship with Christ I have to stay out of the darkness of hatred and love at all costs.

I John 5:13-21 Reflection: Karlyn

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Lesson: If I guard my heart from idols the sin I struggle with won't be as hard to deal with because I'm putting God first and not myself.

God wants me to consistently confess my sin so that I'm in great fellowship with him.  That way when needs come I'm not going to him only when I need something. 

Faith into action by de-cluttering my head and schedule so that my time with him comes absolutely first so that I have an open accessible relationship with him every day!

Prayer!
The next 7 days are packed full and I need your prayers that I can be calm, not stressed out, and take one day at a time, and enjoy every moment in the moment!

Ginny - reflection

Good Morning Girlz!!!

One important lesson I have learned this week is to hold to the truth.

God wants me to learn that I am not to compromise for anything less than the truth. Bring it to the light!

I will put my faith in action by not rushing into decisions based on emotions. I will hold it up to the truth.

Quick prayer request: Tonight is that Christmas party I had mentioned before. It's going to be a lot of fun, but I wouldn't mind some prayers. There is a guy there that I like and I wouldn't mind if going to this party started something. #1 please pray that it is fun and I just enjoy myself and all the guests, but #2 please pray that something happens. I'll report back on Monday! Love you gals very, very much!!!

Ginny - 1 John 5:20-21

Girls! This is our last day of scripture! How did that happen? I have loved this blog so much! Karlyn, thank you again for setting this all up. I'm going to miss it. Maybe after the new year we can start it back up again.

S - And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. Little children, guard yourselves from idols.

O - What a good note to end on...what is TRUE.

A - When I stop to think about it, how much do I allow myself to get caught up in that isn't even true? What I think about. Analyze. Worry. Fret. What would happen if I just stopped & went back to the basics? What is true? Am I showing love?

P - Lord thank You for understanding. May I claim that and draw myself to You in prayer and in Your Word that I may know what is true and put that in the center of my life.

Ginny - 1 John 5:18-19

S - We know that no one who is born of God sins; but He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him. We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.

O - We are set apart. We are protected. We are His.

A - I love that line, "the evil one does not touch him." It gives me goosebumps to think that Satan can not do anything to me that the Lord can not conquer. HE is victor! As much as Satan messes with me about my attitude and moodiness, God can still overcome that in my life. I can change. I don't have to live in bondage. Statan can not touch me! Love it!

P - Lord thank You for victory! Thank You that we win! Thank You for protecting me.

I John 5:18-21

S - We know that no one who is born of God sins: but He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him.  We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.  And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true, in his son Jesus Christ.  This is the true God and eternal life.  Little children guard yourselves from idols.

O - commentary again!  We have victory over sin because we are a child of God and God puts limits on Satan's persecution and power.  It also said the word "true" meant "genuine" as opposed to false.  We serve a genuine God who gives eternal life with him. 

A - Keeping God first in my life and confessing my sins daily will help me from having idols that take his rightful place.  I love that through everything John has said about us being children of God and how we know we are his children he ends with guard yourselves from idols.  Idols get me in trouble constantly.  If I would learn to love with his genuine love idols wouldn't be an issue.

P - I am so grateful Lord that you used John to write this book.  I need to know I'm your child, I need to know how to love you and love others with your love and I need to confess my sins and stay away from idols!  Help me Lord to stay aware of your Spirit's calling on my everyday life.

Ginny - 1 John 5:16-17

Good Morning again!!! (I'm playing catch up since I've been out of town)

S - If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask and God will for him give life to those who commit sin not leading to death. There is a sin leading to death; I do not say that he should make request for this. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not leading to death.

O - God forgives.

A - This is good news! When I sin and ask for forgiveness, God forgives me. Such grace!

P - Lord thank You for Your grace. Thank you for Your forgiveness.

I John 5:16-17: Karlyn

S- If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask and God will for him give life to those who commit sin not leading to death.  There is a sin leading to death; I do not say that he should make request for this.  All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not leading to death.

O - had to break out the commentary for this one.  It said that John was distinguishing from sins that lead to physical death and sins that don't lead to physical death.

A - no matter if my sin is leading me to death or not I've got to be actively confessing my sins and being an encouragement to believers around me to do the same with theirs.

P - God thank you that my sin won't affect my eternal life with you but help me to keep a pure heart so that my relationship with you isn't broken.

Ginny - 1 John 5:13-15

Good Morning Girlz!!! Oh how I wish my comment function worked up here at work. Karlyn I loved your red & gold Christmas decoration story and I am with you all the way! That would be way too much gold! It has to be red!!! Thank you for sharing! I'm glad I'm not alone in that "toot" category! Also I'm still praying for BeautiControl decisions. Hope there has been some clarity and light shed on what on path to take.

S - These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.

O - "according to His will"..."according to His will"..."according to His will"

A - Really I could just cut and paste the whole entry from Lysa Terkeurst's blog on Monday. She talks about unmet longings. Have you ever had something you've prayed and prayed for and you thought if the Lord would just give me this one thing life would be so much better? 1 John 5:13-15 talks about how we must ask according to His will. According to Lysa, sometimes His will is for us to willingly let it go so that He can fill that gap with something else. This is HARD for me. I want the Lord to grant me what I want. In my mind, that's the only way it could work. The only way I would be happy. I definitly need to concentrate on those 4 little words: "according to His will."

P - Lord I do trust You. I do believe You know what is best. So why is it so hard to let go? Lord please help me to ask according to Your will. Open my eyes and calm my heart to what IS Your will. And may this begin TODAY. I don't want to waste time holding on to something that needs to be released. Starting today may I let go and live in confidence that you will fill the gap that is left.

I John 5:13-15: Karlyn

S - I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life.  And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him.  And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for. 

O - Pleases Him - gives us what we ask for, not if I think I'm pleasing him. 

A - If it pleases him and follows what he wants to happen to glorify him I will receive what I ask for.  Not everything I think is  a good idea or thing to do is what God wants to happen and I've got to be willing to follow his plan.

P - Lord help me to be more accepting of things when they don't go my way!

I John 5:6-12: Karlyn

S - And Jesus Christ was revealed as God's Son by his baptism in water and by shedding his blood on the cross- not by water only, but by water and blood.  And the Spirit, who is truth, confirms it with his testimony.  So we have these three witnesses- The Spirit, the water, and the blood, and all three agree.   Since we believe human testimony, surely we can believe the greater testimony that comes from God.  And God has testified about His Son.  All who believe in the Son of God know in their hearts that this testimony is true.  Those who don't believe this are actually calling God a liar because they don't believe what God has testified about his Son.  And this is what God has testified:  He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.  Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God's Son does not have life.

O - I really don't understand with a human mind how any of us come to know and understand and accept Christ's sacrifice for us.  Because it takes being a believer to really begin to get it.  Here it plainly states that non believers call God a liar because they don't believe!

A - I do understand that Go uses his spirit to draw us to go out on faith!  I need to pray for others in my life that need to follow the Holy Spirit's calling and step out on faith so they can have LIFE!

P - Lord thank you for your Son and your Spirit!  I praise you for making this all work so that we can have eternal life.  Please show me how to demonstrate that faith so that others will listen to the SPirit's call for them to have faith!

I'm back and a little crazy!

Good morning!  I totally bailed on the rest of last week!  We left on Tuesday evening to go to my parents and once I'm there it's craziness!  I really missed my time with you!

Speaking of being a "toot", Ginny!  I had an episode last night.  There's a sweet (slightly insane) lady in our church who has been a member for years but she comes for a while and then she's gone for long periods of time.  However, when she does come she pretends it's OK to make big decisions about things without anyone else's opinion!  Now that I'm actually typing this it's sounds really trivial but I promise at the moment of this instance it was serious:)

So, picture this...our sanctuary has pews of yellow wood, our pew cushions are nasty gold, the bottom of the walls are wood that are a yellow tint stain, and the top of the walls are stark white!  Needless to say we need some updates.  Our Christmas decorations have a lot of red in them (which is beautiful).  Our 2 trees have all gold and white ornaments.  Now to my point...this lady decides she wants to change out ALL of our red ribbons and candles for GOLD ones.  Do you remember all the YELLOW I just described to you!!!!  It would look awful!  So, I'm the only one last night who would voice my opinion to her and then a couple others backed me up!  She wouldn't let it go!!!!  We had already bought that new meshy red ribbon to replace some of the old red velvet ribbon and she wants to exchange it ALL for GOLD!!!  I know I must sound like a psycho and I realize I have issues I need to deal with but she would NOT listen!!! 

All this to say I need to be putting into practice all that I have learned from I John with this lady because everything she does gets under my skin!  I'm laughing right now but last night I was in a panic over Gold and Red ribbon:)  Lord help me!

Ginny - praying for you and your attitude with your chick and please pray for mine because obviously God is going to keep putting me in situations with her until I can act right:) or should I say love right!

Ginny - reflection

1. One important lesson I have learned this week is what John has been telling us over and over again...LOVE. God has shed new light on this for me. #1 - my attitude must change if I am going to show love. I can not be moody. I have the power to chose to be moody or not, and I am tired of jumping the gamit from happy to irritated.

2. I feel that God wants me to learn that if portraying Him to others is my top priority then I must change and open my eyes to the many opportunites to love, serve, and encourage.

3. I am going to put my faith in action by loving Sarai more. I will change my attitude and not let her get to me and love her instead of being a toot about it.

Ginny - 1 John 5:9-12

Good Morning Girlz!!!

S - If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater; for the testimony of God is this, that He has testified concerning His Son. The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself; the one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning His Son. And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.

O - Believing Christ is the Son of God, and knowing where I will spend eternity matters more than anything else in this life.

A - If that is really what matters, then why do I get my panties in a wad about all the little petty things? My testimony for Christ is far more important than the small irritations I let get to me through out the day.

P - I pray specifically for a girl named Sarai in my Bible Study group. She irritates the heck out of me, and yes I can honestly say she has done things that completey rub me the wrong way and she shouldn't have done them, but I have got to let it go. I have harbored this dislike for her and have put barriers up and haven't gotten as much out of the Bible Study because I am so fed up with her. In the grand scheme of things all these irritations mean nothing compared to the testimony I am portraying, and it hasn't been pretty. I need to straighten up and make the best out of it.

Ginny - 1 John 5:6-8

S - This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.

O - Jesus fulfills. He fulfills the scripture and He fulfills my life. He has not left one stone unturned.

A - I don't have to wonder with my Lord. He has taken care of it all. He has thought of everything. No detail was left undone. He is constant. He is stable. He is right.

P - Lord thank You for Your Word. Thank you fulfilling all parts of scripture and for satifsfying all areas of my life.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO EVERYONE!!! I am thankful for each one of y'all!

Ginny - Please laugh with me!

O.K. girls I really needed y'all here yesterday. My bank building is huge and when you walk in you can go to the railing and see all the way down to the bottom floor and up to the 2nd floor. So it's an open center. In the middle of all that we have these circular stairs that make their way from the 2nd floor down to the bottom floor. Well, yesterday I am running to go catch the postman b/c I have to get back a letter I gave him and as soon as I start going down the stairs - boom! I crash. I do this knee-boarding stance where the bottom half of my legs is tucked underneath and I am litterally cloping my way down about 7 stairs. Ba-boom! Ba-boom! Ba-boom! Get the picture? I finally come to a stop at the middle landing. I pop up reassure everyone that I am fine, no worries, and run out the front door to catch the postman. I find my letter and make my way back in the bank where the sweet security guard is coming up to me making sure I can still bend and tells me he is still going to write a report. I make my way back up the stairs reassuring all that I am just fine and finally make it to my desk where I finally get to unzip my boots and assess damage. I have a good scrape and an awesome bruise. Glorious. Looking back on it now all I can do is laugh. I can only imagine what I looked like "sledding" down those stairs. Karlyn, all I can think about is your story about the escalator at the BeautiControl conference. If y'all had been here we would have all just sat on the steps and laughed till we peed in our pants. Let's just be gratefull I did not have a skirt on!!!

Ginny - 1 John 5:3-5

Good Morning Girlz!!!

S - For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

O - What renewed hope this verse gives! We can do it! They are not burdensome, we have overcome, we have victory. All good words for today!

A - I feel like this is a cheer. Keep going! This world has nothing on us! We can do this! Love & believe. We will win!

P - Lord thank you for a victorious life. Thank you for already winning the battle. I pray I live each day in this victory.

I John 5:3-5: Karlyn

S - For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments; and his commandments are not burdensome.  For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world-our faith.  Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

O- Old Testament law was burdensome.  New Testament faith is freeing!  Thanks goodness we live in the New Testament times!  Faith overcomes the world - I take for granted how much our faith in Christ can accomplish.  Victory is what the endqw` result is!

A - I need to live in victory in my faith.  The end result of our faith in Christ is the world is overcome and we are with him forever!

P - Help me not to take my faith in you for granted or the power that comes in that faith.  Thank you that we aren't burdened with Old Testament law but can live freely in Christ in forgiveness of our sins.  Thank you for being so much wiser than us and knowing exactly what we need!

Ginny - 1 John 5:1-2

Good Morning Girlz!!! And Happy Thanksgiving week to all of y'all too!

S - Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God; and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments.

O - I love God therefore I am to love others. Let them know I care.

A - Girls, I just had the most encouraging thing happen to me. I am going to a Christmas party next Friday and I have been having some mixed emotions. I definitly want to go, and am planning on having a lot of fun, but I am still a little confused as to why I was invited & therefore I am dealing with a few nerves in regards to it all. Anyhow, one of the girls helping host just emailed asking if I was coming and said she hoped I was. Y'all don't know what that did for me. I am soaring! Just knowing for sure that someone really wants me to be there and is looking forward to me coming has completely changed my attitude. Even just now coming back from the restroom I felt like I was walking taller. I started thinking...if I could grasp God's love the way this girl's response made me feel....wow! I'd be walking on cloud 9 everyday. God wants me. He longs to fellowship with me. He loves me no matter what. He wants to spend time with me. He thinks I'm cool. Why am I not living each day with the reality of that kind of love? And better yet, why am I not having that love towards others? Why am I not loving others so that they know I think they are cool and I want to be around them and that I think they have value. Traci's comment pushed back the clouds in my life. I want to do the same for someone else. Buying burritos and letting people know they are wanted -- that's what it's all about :)

P - Lord forgive me for not extending love towards others. Forgive me for the opportunities I've missed. Thank you for how good Traci's comment has made me feel. You didn't have to have her do that. May I take the opportunity to make others feel special. Love You!

I John 5:1-2: Karlyn

Happy Thanksgiving Week and Good Monday Morning!

S - Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him.  By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe his commandments.

O - I've always been a very trusting person and take for granted that many people in the world want answers and reasons why things are the way they are.  John does a great job in this whole book explaining the whens and whys of being a child of God.  Here he points out Belief in Christ = we are born of God, Loving the Father = loving other believers, loving God = loving believers and following his commands.

A - I'm doing better at loving others but I still need a lot of help in the area.  I'm realizing the more I love God and the less I love the world the easier loving other people is because it will naturally flow from my love of Him.

P - Lord help me to love you more than anything else.  More than sleep, food, things, and my family.  Give me a genuine compassion and love for those around me.

Reflection: Karlyn

Morgan is on her way home to Memphis.  There were at least 4 more instances with this crazy person and she felt safer just coming home.  Not sure what this person is doing but it's bad enough to freak Morgan out and that takes a lot since she grew up in Memphis:)

Ginny - can't wait to hear your story from last night!  And yay for free burritos!

Lesson:  I can't out love God and I can only love because of what he has done in me.

God wants me to:  Obey him.  When he gives me an idea or prompts me to do something out of love I can't question it I've got to do it!

Faith into action:  Keep my heart open to the Holy Spirit's nudging even when I think it might be difficult or get in the way of my schedule.  If I just trust God he will work out all the details!

Y'all have a great weekend and I can't wait to talk to ya next week!

Ginny - reflection

Good Morning Girlz!!! Karlyn still praying for Morgan. Please let us know how it turns out. Bless her heart. I'd be pretty scared too. I know her situation is a lot larger scale than this, but I remember when I was living in my first apartment in Lubbock that I had a peeping Tom. My neighbor came over and told me he had just seen a guy looking in my back bedroom window. Well, I was scared and nervous. I slept on my couch. I wouldn't go back and sleep on my bed that night. I also called Todd in the middle of the night. He was a cop at the time and I wanted his advice. He gave me his cop perspective and then he said, "but Ginny as Christains we are not to fear. We choose to rely on God, and not to be afraid of man." That has stuck with me to this day. I must choose to not be afraid, because I am not to fear this world. If I let it, fear can get a hold of me and keep me up at night. I know God is with me. Morgan is in my thoughts and prayers. I pray they catch this guy who is doing this and that she once again feels safe. I will also pray for Joan & Keith that they will know what to say and do.

Now on a completely side note, I ended up calling the cops last night on my neighbors. After a 10 foot giant of a cop, fire truck called to put out a fire pit, and college kids hiding in their house it all ended up being pretty halarious. One of these days, at our next girls weekend, I'll share all the details. Thank you Lord for protection, for those men and women who serve to protect me, and for laughter in the midst of it all.

One important lesson I want to remember from this week is to love even when it's hard and I don't want to.

I feel God wants me to learn that I am missing out on opportunities to show love and make someone's day because I am so wrapped up in myself. Just this morning I was standing in line at the grocery store fixing to pay for my bfast burrito when the other cashier came up, grabbed my burrito, swiped it at her register, and then gave it back to me. When I looked up and my brain started working again I saw one my church members standing at the other register. He bought my burrito!!!!! It was only $1.72 but he totally made my day. I stopped everything, got out of line, and gave him the biggest hug. Girls, I want to do more things like that.

I am going to put my faith in action by buying more burritos for people :) How can I brighten someone's day? How can I do the unexpected for someone? What can I do for someone where they can't do anything back for me except hug me and say thank you? 1 John says it; my church member did it; now I will pass it on: L-O-V-E. All because HE loved me first!

Ginny - 1 John 4:17-21

Good Morning! Good Morning! Good Morning! A week from today is Thanksgiving! Unbelievable! Jenifer how fun that you and Dan are doing the Turkey Trot. I'm doing one here too. Never done one before. I'm thinking we should dress up like turkeys!!!!

S - 17 By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. 19 We love, because He first loved us. 20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.

O - Lots of good stuff in here! #1 - "confidence in the day of judgment" - our eternity is secure. #2 - "no fear" - we don't have to fear when we have Jesus. #3 - "He first loved us" - that's what they call the GOOD NEWS! #4 - "love his brother" - we are to love and serve while we are down here

A - O.K. so let me examine how these things are playing out in my daily life...#1 - Salvation is nailed down. I know where I am going when I die. Hallelujiah! All because of grace. #2 - no fear is a daily realization for me. No other area has the Lord done more work and pulled me through and released the chains than fear. It is a nasty thing, and I don't ever want to go back to the bondage I was in. The Lord helps me everyday to take risks and not worry about the unknown. Love is the opposite of fear and freedom is found in love. #3 - He loves me! That's pure joy! #4 - Loving my brother is where I can use more work. Love, love, love. And not only the stranger or acquaintence, but sometimes the ones I love the most are the ones I'm least loving towards. With the holidays coming up there will be lots of family time. I get frustrated and irritated too quickly with a housefull of people. I pray for patience & love when I am around the masses this next month.

P - Lord thank you for Your Word. Thank you for salvation. I also pray specifically for Karlyn this morning too. I pray for a clear answer to what road to take with BeautiControl. I ask that you speak to her heart and mind that she may know what to do. In these next few days, please place the right people and signs in her path that confirm to her what the decision will be.

Karlyn update

Hey everybody!  Can you believe Thanksgiving is next week!!  I'm very excited.  I'm also thankful for this blog!  It's been such an accountability for me and makes me feel more connected to y'all. 

I shared with y'all a long time ago about struggles I'm having.  Right now I have a BIG decision to make.  And you're one of the firsts I've talked to about this.  I've been a BeautiControl Director for 3 years.  I only became one because I knew it was where God was leading me.  Over the past year and a half I've really struggled with being capable of handling all that Directorship requires.  I've also learned a lot about what God expects of me as a mom, wife, and leader in our church.  So, it's becoming harder and harder for me to juggle everything and make sure nothing is being neglected. 

I completely believe in this company and what they provide for women, but I'm feeling a stronger tie to my kids, Ryan, my church, and ministries I want to be involved in.  So please pray for me that if I need to back down from Directorship and take a lesser role that I can do that with confidence that it's what God is moving me to and not what I'm moving to.
 
Also my mom is having a heart catherization on November 30th which I know no details about because she still hasn't told me about it!

We will keep praying for your aunt, Ginny!  I know that's heavy on your mind.  Amber praying for y'all and those babies!  Jenifer praying for you and your relationships!  Cindy praying for y'all and baby boy!

I John 4:17-21: Karlyn

S - By this love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgement: because as He is, so also are we in this world.  There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.  We love because he first loved us.  If someone says "I love God", and hates his brother, he is a liar: for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.  And this commandment we have from him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.

O - very convicting passage from fear to loving others!  When God is in us there is no room for fear only His love.  The reason we can love our brothers and sisters who drive us crazy is because God loves us and we don't always make the best choices.  So if God loves us we have to love our brothers and sisters!

A - I've never thought of myself as a fearful person until I read Angie Smith's new book on fear!  VERY good and eye opening.  I realized that there are some things I've fearfully held on to instead of letting God's love work through me in those situations.  Our church is full of people who fear.  It's very alarming because I've never really been around this many people who are so fearful of everything.  In January our ladies group is going to read Angie's book and I'm praying that God works in all of us to get closer to throwing out fear and putting on love. 

P - Lord I'm so greatful that in you there is no fear.  And we can give you all our fears and you will replace it with peace.  God reveal to me today where I'm holding onto fears so that I can get rid of it and serve you bettter.

I John 4:13-16: Karlyn

S - By this we know that we abide in him and He in us because he has given us of His Spirit.  We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.  Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.  We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us.  God is love and the one who abides in love abides in God and God abides in him. 

O - Does anyone feel like John is repeating himself!!!  I guess they has just as hard of heads as we do today and needed to be told over and over.  God can only abide in us when there is confession of sin.  And then love will abide in us.

A - I'm so glad we are going through I John.  I've had a lot of questions from Sawyer lately regarding salvation and it's good to be able to take him to the Bible and give him info instead of this is just coming from mom.  I'm even more grateful that the Holy Spirit can take the words I use with him and help them make sense to a 4 year old!

P - Lord thank you that we don't go by the law anymore and I can base my eternity on Jesus and his forgiveness of my sins.  Thank you that I only had to repent of them once and he took care of all of them.  Help me to confess daily where I fall short so that your love can abide in me and others can see it!  Give us clear words to share with Sawyer when he has questions.

Ginny - 1 John 4:13-16

Good Morning Girlz!!!

S - By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. And we have beheld and bear witness that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. And we have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love and the one who abides in love abides in God and God abides in him.

O - "He has given us of His Spirit." I like that part. It tells me He will help me. He, living through me, will help me love.

A - Why is it love that defines our relationship with the Lord? Why can't it be the Lord got stressed or pouted or moody or selfish. I could certainly abide on those! I'd be the top student. No doubt I was a child of God if those were the defining characteristics! Sometimes I always feel two steps behind on this Christain walk thing. Always trying to speed up to stay in the race. That's why I like these verses. #1, as I've said before, abiding means being with. Daily fellowship. It's not doing, doing, doing. It's being, being, being. #2 - He helps me love. He lives in me, and His love will come out in me.

P - Lord I pray that I may show Your love to those around me. That through my love they see You.

*Quick update on my Aunt. They found some more cancer behind her ear. It is not as aggressive, but it is big cell cancer and therefore they can not treat it at the same time and in the same way as they are treating the current small cell cancer. They don't seem as alarmed by this new discovery, but at the same time it is a downer that there is more that showed up. Treatments are still going good and doing as they should, but looks like there will be something else to fight as soon as this is done. Thanks for the prayers!!!

Ginny - 1 John 4:11-12

Good evening again!

S - Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has beheld God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us.

O - The best way to show the world we know Jesus is to love.

A - So do you ever have those thoughts of "What difficult person is the Lord fixing to put in my path and I am going to have to love them? What is He preparing me for????" This Bible study has been so timely each day, I can't help but wonder what is fixing to happen. All this talk about love. Who am I forgetting to show love to? You've got to laugh, but it does put me on alert! Ha!

P - Lord I want to show Your love everyday. I want it to be my first, natural reaction. Please open my eyes to those around that need Your love.

Ginny - 1 John 4:7-10

Good Evening Girlz!!!

S - Beloved, let us love one another for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

O - We love because God loved us first. He is our example.

A - I love that line, "the love of God was manifested in us." Manifested seems like such a big, overflowing, full of good stuff word. Like it just fills up a room. I want to love others so that they see Jesus. I want them so overcome by His love that they accept Him and become one of His children.

P - Lord thank You for Your example of how we are to love. Thank You for showing us examples in Your Word of how to love even when it's tough. Thank You for loving me even when I am not lovable. I love you!

Ginny

Hi Gals!!!

Forgot my papers at home with all my thoughts written down, so I'll catch-up on posts tonight. Just wanted to say hi and thanks for thinking about me this past weekend. Race went well, but it was hard! I've never run with 40,000 other people and that adds a whole new dynamic to the whole running thing. Hope you all are doing well! Love you all!

Ginny

I John 4:11-12: Karlyn

S - Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.  No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and his love is perfected in us.

O - God is in us = we have his love = and it takes daily prep for it to be perfected and for us to become good at loving others.

A - I get very frustrated with my selfishness a lot.  I want so badly to be really show unconditional heart felt Christ love to others and I get in the way of myself ALL the time.  I've got to remember that I can't love well unless I'm loving and spending QUALITY time with Christ.  He has to be the one abiding in me not Karlyn.

P - Lord there are so many people around me that need to see and experience your love.  Help me to get out of the way and to let you truly abide in me so that I can share your love.  Thank you for all the patience and second chances you give.

I John 4:7-10: Karlyn

Congrats Ginny on your 1/2 marathon #2!  Huge accomplishment!

S - Beloved let us love one another for love is from God and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.  The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.  By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent his only begotten son into the world so that we might live through him.  In this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his son to be the propitiation for our sins.

O - It is impossible to love without Christ.  Love started with Him and if we don't know him and the forgiveness of our sins through him we can never know real true love.

A - as a kid we learned a lot of "Bible verse songs"  which now people call praise choruses!!!  This passage was one of my favorite songs. 
Because Christ gave himself for me I can love.  My relationships should be filled with his love and I should share it and live it with everyone around me.  It may be the only way for some people to see and experience Christ.

P - Lord sometimes it is really hard to love.  Thank you for demonstrating and giving us an example of what love is and not the love this world offers.  Show me how to get better at loving others daily.

1 John 4 7-10

S-v.10 This is real love. It is not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

O- Its about his Love for us not our love for him.

A- No matter what I do I can never love God as much as he loves me. That even before he knew me he loved me, sins and all. He is the true definition of pure and good. I like what my Bible had to say in the note, "He loves us but his love does not make him morally lax". This is a good reminder for me because sometimes I accept things about myself and people when I know God believes it wrong.

P- Thank you for loving me flaws and all Thank you for never giving up on me. Help to always strive for your will and to love you with all I have.


Side note- I've been kinda down. I feel like I'm always the bad parent, the one who does all the driving, cleaning, disciplining and Dan gets to have all the fun. For example he took the 2 older ones to waffle house for breakfast and I had to stay with levi since he was still sleeping. The boys give me trouble but as soon as they see Dan they are like different kids. Its very frustrating. Lately, I feel like a servant. I don't feel appreciated (I know that this is probably Satan trying to put his foot in the door). So pray for my attitude.

Ginny - 1 John 4:5-6

Good Morning Girlz!!!! Karlyn glad you're back. Boooo for crazy weeks! Tomorrow is Veteran's Day, so today is my Friday. I leave tomorrow for San Antonio to run a race on Sunday. I love San Antonio! It will always be one of my favorite places.





S - They are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world and the world listens to them. We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.





O - They (the world) aren't suppose to understand. He warns us right here in verse 6.





A - Lysa TerKeurst's blog is one of my favorites (after this one of course ;)) If y'all aren't following it, you need to. She is so good and the way she is able to put her thoughts on paper amazes me. She is funny, blunt, deep, sweet, and grounded in truth. On Wednesday she wrote something that really caught my attention. She said: "Other people aren’t always right. They are sometimes. But not all the time." Seeing that in print really took me back a bit. It seemed like a pretty forward comment, and then I realized...You know what? She's right. Other people aren't always right. They accept and do things that do not line up with the Word of God. And to take is a step forward...just like these verses say...they aren't going to get us either. We are suppose to be different. We are suppose to think of things differently. There are many times I wish this wasn't the case. I would love to jump on the bandwagon and not have to look like the fuddy duddy because I'm not doing something, but in my heart of hearts obedience to the Lord is more important to me than any acceptance or satisfaction from the World. Hard in the moment, but freedom in the long run.





P - Girls, thank y'all so much for praying for me this week. I mentioned an area of temptation I felt the Lord wanting me to nip in the bud, and Glory to God I have been 10 days free! It has been hard and moments I reasoned with myself real good about caving in, but I didn't and I am sooooooo glad I didn't. I want y'all to know I am praying for y'all too. Also an update on my Aunt...she went back to get results from the first round of chemo and it was all good! It did exactly what they were hoping it would, and even better in a few areas. So thank you, thank you, thank you for praying for her. They go back to Houston next week for round 2. And then lastly...my brother is blogging again and it will be hysterical! I highly recommend it if you just need a good read to brighten your day. The address is: http://www.seetimrun-runtimrun.blogspot.com/ And then I guess one other thing (don't worry I promise to stop after this one) found out this past weekend my parents are moving to New York City in February. Kind of crazy. It's with my Dad's job and they will be up there for 3 years. I'm good, but if y'all will please pray for my sister and Tim. Amy is going to miss them terribly. She lives 45 mintues from them now, and she is the one with grandkids. Tim on the other hand is a little less than thrilled they are moving up there. He just got there in August and is loving it. Having parents there isn't really exciting news. Alright well I'm done. Really done this time. Y'all have a great day! Love you all!!!

I John 4:2-4: Karlyn

This week has been the craziest week of my year!  Sorry I've been missing since Monday.

S - By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that dos not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.  You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world.

O- How do we judge if it's from God or not?  Do they confess Jesus Christ came in the flesh and was from God!  Seems so simple.  There's quite a lot in our world that doesn't confess Jesus for who he really is.  No wonder we are hated by the world.

A - When i come up against those things and people who don't confess Jesus I can remember that He is in me and he is greater!

P - Lord I'm so greatful that your strength, knowledge, power, everything is greater than anything else in this world and I can always depend on you!  Help me to be discerning about who is of Christ and is not.

Ginny - 1 John 4:4

Good Morning Girlz!!!

S - You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.

O - What strength this verse gives. When we are on God's team, we win! We finish as victor.

A - How would my day be different if I lived with this attitude everyday? I would probably walk around with a smile on my face a lot more. The little things would be held in perspective. I wouldn't get so stressed. I would enjoy and be thankful more.

P - Lord help me live out an "overcome attitude." Thank You for being Greater.

Ginny - 1 John 4:2-3

Good Morning Girlz!!!

Karlyn thank you so much for your prayers and encouragement! Monday was a good day. I can see the Lord teaching and changing me. I want it to continue! Thank you, thank you, thank you for your prayers!

S - By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; and this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.

O - Do not be deceived by lies. Know the truth and measure everything against that truth.

A - I don't want to jump on the bandwagon just because everyone else is doing it. I want to hold everything up to His Word, and see how it measures up.

P - Lord I pray for eyes to see truth and wisdom to discern the truth. Lord I ask for protection against the schemes of Satan. May I know the difference between light and dark, and be an example for You.

I John 4:1 - Karlyn

Good weekend but I'm exhausted!  Praying for endurance and rest!  Ginny I've thought about you a lot lately with what you shared about your attitude.  Hope your Monday was good!
 
S - Beloved , do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

O - False prophets have no truth in them so when measured up to God's word it should be obvious it's not from God.

A - Continue to be careful with books I choose to read and "CHRISTIAN" teachers I choose to listen to.  Is what they are teaching and writing measuring up to the truth in God's Word. 

P - Lord thank you for the standard of the Bible.  Thank you for giving us a measurement to test all other things against.  God I pray me nor my kids ever have to give up the freedom to read your Word whenever we want to.  Thank you for your protection and provision. 

Ginny - 1 John 4:1

Hi Girlz! Hope everyone had a good weekend.

S - Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but tests the spirits to see whether they are from God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

O - As Christians we are not to accept all that the world embraces as O.K.

A - Whether false teachers or other things of the darkness, the enemy can weezle into our lives without any resistance unless we realize that it is wrong and turn from it. We must tests these evil things. We must question them. We must demand righteousness even when the world is clueless to it being wrong.

A few weeks ago a friend of mine at work loaned me 4 books. They are Nora Roberts's bride series. They are so good. They are about 4 friends that own a wedding planning business. Each one has there area of expertiese: photographs, flowers, cakes, and coordinating/organizing. I have loved reading about these girls and their daily lives and how they are such good friends. These books also include some romance, and let's just face it what the world says is O.K. to do when you're interested in someone doesn't line up with God's rules. I'm a little more than 1/2 way through the 3rd book and it's just dawned on me how much these books affect my mood. So, I'm not going to finish the series and I'm giving the books back to my friend. It falls under just doing what's right. We have to fight not to get pulled into the darkness...no matter how innocent it looks.

P - Lord I want to purge myself of all that is not pure. I only want to put into my body, mind, heart, and soul what makes me better and not what brings me down. Thank You for revealing this step I needed to take. Thank You for the strength to make a change. Help me as I look at other areas that need to be cleaned out. Lord it's hard to live by Your rules sometimes. I ask for strength to obey Your Word even when everyone else does differently. Thank You for being my Father. Thank You for always staying with me.

Ginny - reflection

Good Morning Girlz!!! Karlyn, your weekend sounds fun! We are having our celebration dinner with my running club tonight. Tomorrow is our last Saturday run before the big race next weekend. I'm so excited! I haven't been to a dinner party in a long time. I've also decided to quit teaching Weight Watchers at the end of this month... which means I get to skip out on training tomorrow... which means after I run tomorrow morning I get to come home and do whatever I want the rest of the day. That hasn't happened in a long time. I'm going to watch football and work on craft projects all day long. Should be a nice Saturday!

The lesson I learned this week is a mixture of what the Lord is revealing to me through our 1 John study as well as my Beth Moore study, and that lesson is that I must trust Him to reveal to me what I need to know at that time and not any more than what I need.

What I want to learn is that when I am tempted to go find out more info on my own I slip back into the darkness. Keep it in the light!

I will put my faith into action by resisting temptation. I will trust the Lord that He knows what I need to know and that He will give me that info when I need it. Thank y'all for praying me through this week as I have struggled with the desire to know more than I need to. I want to stand strong and only deal with those things in the light. Love you all - have a wonderful weekend!!!

Reflection I John 3:11-24

Yes I would LOVE to come to Lubbock and to Shreveport and to Florida and to TN.  I want to see all of you!  Happy Friday Morning!  How did we get so spread out?
Busy weekend ahead...BeautiControl brunch Saturday and going to a friend's baby dedication on Sunday. 

 Lesson:  LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE one another.

God Wants me to learn:  I don't have to worry if I'm loving people the way the want to be loved he just wants me to love them with Christ's love by showing compassion

Faith into action:  Live out COMPASSION every day with everyone by listening to the Spirits calling and don't ignore it or question it.

Ginny - 1 John 3:21-24

Good Morning Girlz!!! Don't y'all want to come to Lubbock!?! We could all sit in my den and eat puppy chow. I have been so hungry for puppy chow! It would be so fun!

S - Beloved if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from Him because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight. And this is the commandment that we believe in the name of the His Son Jesus Christ and love one another just as He commanded us. And the one who keeps his commandments abides in Him and He is in him. And we know by this He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.

O - #1 - believe in Him #2 - love one another

A - How would my day be different if all I concerned myself with was these two commands? Believe & love. How often I focus on unneccesary issues & forget the most important stuff. Believe & love.

P - Lord I pray I portray You today. Lord I believe in You. Help me to love others as You would love them. I ask for patience and mercy in dealing with others.

I John 3:21-24 - Karlyn

S - Dear friends if we don't feel guilty we can come to God with bold confidence.  And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him.  And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another just as he commanded us.  Those who obey God's commandments remain in fellowship with him and he with them.  And we know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in us.

O - This reminds me a little of the Israelites.  God gave them tons of very strict commandments to live by.  His reasonings for them was to keep them safe, healthy, and to show them He was God.  After the cross we believe in Christ, love one another, and obey God.  We've got it so much better than them but yet I still choose to disobey and miss out on blessings.

A - I'm very thankful for the Holy Spirit's presence in my life.  I'm continuing to be more attentive to him and listen to "stay away from that or go do this".  I want to be so close to God that when the SPirit calls me to do something I don't have to go through a long list of confession to get my heart ready to go serve.
 
P - Father thank you for the gift of your Spirit.  Please help me to love others today the way you love us.  Help me to keep close fellowship with you every minute of this day instead of just when I need something. 

Ginny - 1 John 3:16-20

Good Morning! Good Morning! Good Morning!

S - We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethern. But whoever has the world's goods & beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. We shall know by this that we are of the truth and shall assure our heart before Him, in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things.

O - Serving others and meeting needs is what we are to be about.

A - Nothing speaks God's love louder than our actions. As this holiday season approaches I want to find a area I can serve in and help those in need. Whether it be something through my church or something through the city, I want to give of myself and my time and my energy to bless others the way I have been blessed.

Also, I want to point out that I love that last line -- "God is greater than our heart and knows all things." Can I get an A-men?!? Thank goodness God is greater! Thank goodness He knows all things! Life can get jumbled up sometimes and I don't even know what I think and feel, but He is always constant. He is still on top of things. He knows. That brings me much comfort this morning.

P - Lord I pray for an opportunity to serve. A ministry I can get involved in where I can give of my time to help others. Lord, thank You for being all knowing. Forgive me for how I confuse things and make them so much more dramatic than they really are.

I John 3:16-20 - Karlyn

S- We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us.  So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.  If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion - how can God's love be in that person?  Dear children let's not merely say that we love each other let us show the truth by our actions.  Our actions will show that we belong to the truth so we will be confident when we stand before God.  Even if we feel guilty God is greater than our feelings and he knows everything.

O - Actions speak louder than words.  Compassion is an action not a passive thought towards someone.  Our actions prove to the world and other believers that we are living in Christ.  I also love the phrase God is greater than our feelings and knows everything.

A - Compassion is a trait I have been thinking about a lot since this summer when I really learned what compassion was.  However, I haven't put my feelings into full action yet.  I'm still praying that the Holy Spirit will open my eyes to all the small and big things he wants me to put into action. 
Sometimes I let my feelings be greater than God in my mind.  That has to stop because he knows everything!

P - Lord give me a compassionate heart.  One that always thinks about others needs before my own.  Help me to put that compassion into action to bring others to you.

Jen 1 John 3:1-5

S-v.6 So if we continue to live in him, we won't sin either. But those who keep on sinning have never known Him or understood who he is.

O- This is convicting to me. If you first read this you come away thinking that none of us are truly living in Him. I know I sin every single day and its usually the same sin! I know I'm his child even though I commit sins. The difference between me and a nonbeliever is attitude, grace and mercy. As a Christian, I come to to God each day confess, ask for forgiveness, and help to break the sin I'm struggling with at that time. A nonbeliever does the opposite and keeps going about their life.

A- Everyday to ask God to show and bring to my attention the areas where I'm sinning. That I will truly be sorry and strive to break sin.

P- Lord, show me on a daily basis where I've sinned against you. Help me to be truly convicted of those sins. Help me to strive for pureness in my daily walk with you.

ginny - 1 John 3:13-15

Good Morning Girlz!!!

S - Do not be surprised brethren if the world hates you. We know that we have passed out of death into life, becuase we love the brethern. He who does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

O - Love, love, love. It's the most important thing.

A - When am I going to learn this lesson? I have got to start loving more.

P - Lord I'm so sorry for not being a good example of You. Help me as I try to love.

Also, thank you girls for praying for me yesterday. It was a good day. Love y'all!

I John 3:13-15 - Karlyn

S - So don't be surprised dear brothers and sisters if the world hates you.  If we love our Christian brothers and sisters, it proves that we have passed from death to life.  But a person who has no love is still dead.  Anyone who hates another brother or sister is really a murderer at heart.  And you know that murderers don't have eternal life within them.

O - Murderers at heart - that is STRONG wording there.  It makes me really think about how I feel towards other people that I have difficulty with.  If I feel that I hate them God's love isn't working in me.

A - In my heart hate for other people needs to be gone and never allowed in.  Instead those who I have difficulty with, I need to work harderer at building a relationship with them or praying for them and me!

P - Lord thank you for being such a loving God and showing us what it means to love with your love and live with your love in us.  Please help me to stay away from hate and instead turn to your love when I can't love.  Because my love is nothing without you.

I John 3:11-12, Karlyn

We had a busy and fun weekend.  Friday night we just hung out together at home which was nice!  Saturday Sawyer had soccer and then Fall Festival at our church Saturday night.  Sunday afternoon I got to do some pumpkin decorating!  Looking forward to starting NOVEMBER!!  I LOVE Thanksgiving!!!!!

S - This is the message you have heard from the beginning:  we should love one another.  We must not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and killed his brother.  And why did he kill him?  Because Cain had been doing what was evil, and his brother had been doing what was righteous. 

O - I've never physically killed anyone, but there are many times that I haven't loved my fellow believer the way I should.  i've gone as far to be jealous of others when they're following God's calling and I'm sitting on my calling and not following.

A - I need to fully LOVE everyone.  I'm going to grow closer to Christ when I do.

P - Lord please help me to love with your love and follow your calling.  I can only love when I'm following you!

Ginn - 1 John 3:11-12

Good Morning Girlz!!!

S - For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another; not as Cain, who was of the evil one, and slew his brother. And for what reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil and his brother's were righteous.

O - You can't help but read the story of Cain and Abel and think jealousy, but what struck me this time is that when we deal with things in darkness it ends up affecting others too.

A - Cain's emotions of jealousy were not brought to the light and dealt with & therefore festered and eventually made way to murder. All the more reason to get out of the darkness - I don't want to hurt anyone or bring any one else down. No I am not talking about murder, but just the quenching of the spirit in others. As John says - love. Love one another and then you don't have to worry about acting out in wrong ways.

P - You know it's interesting how God always gets His point across. I've mentioned how I am doing a Beth Moore study at the same time as doing this, and the Lord is weaving them both together so well. Last night the Lord really convicted me about some very innocent actions that are not portraying the light. Please pray that I am able to resist temptations and stay in the light. Love you girls!

Reflection I John 3:1-10, Karlyn

Lesson : Don't take for granted just how huge God 's love is for me.  I am his child and b/c of his huge LOVING sacrifice I can know him.

God wants me to learn:  Although my heart condition is what determines my salvation my actions speak volumes to others and the world that I am or am not following Christ faithfully. 

Faith into action:  Continue to ask God to reveal to me the sin that needs to be confessed and trust that he will help me grow in the weak areas and he can be in control and change me.

Ginny - 1 John 3:1-10

Good Morning Girlz!!! It's FRIDAY!!!!!!!! Get excited!!!!!!! What's everyone doing?

Lesson to remember: The Lord is continuing to show more and more about the concept of light & dark, and how sometimes good things can change into things of darkness. The Lord is also convicting me a lot about my moodiness. I don't want my mood to hinge on my circumstances. I want to be constant. I want people to know what to expect from me.

God wants me to learn: I can control this. I must stop and chose to not go down that road. Be aware of times when moodiness is moving in and stop it before it makes an appearance.

Faith into action: To continue to pray about this, and actually write out a plan of action for what I will do when I find myself being inconsistent with others.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend! I'm praying for you all! Lots of love!

Ginny - 1 John 3:9-10

Good Morning Girlz!!!



S - No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God. This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister.

O - Here are the qualifications. You say you are a child of God, then...do you do what is right and do you love?

A - 2 things: do what is right and love. How well am I doing these? Do others know I am saved based on the evidence of these two qualifcations? Do what is right. Am I doing what is right? I know I need to work on my attitude in general towards people. What about love? Is that my top priority in making decisions? I could use more love.

P - Lord thank You for Your Word and how it instructs us.

I John 3:4-10 - Karlyn

Good Morning!  It's been a totally crazy week and now I'm catching up!

S - Everyone who sins is breaking God's law, for all sin is contrary to the law of God.  And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, and there is no sin in him.  Anyone who continues to live in him will not sin.  But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know him or understand who he is.  Dear children do not let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous.  But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning.  But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil.  Those who have been born into God's family do not make a practice of sinning because God's life is in them.  So they can't keep on sinning, because they are children of God.  So now we can tell who are children of the devil.  Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God. 

O - How do we know for sure we are believers and others are too?  John says it here:  if we are continuing in sin God's life isn't in us because sin is contrary to his nature and if we are new in him it will be contrary to our nature too.

A - With God's help I've had some wins over sin here lately.  It seems to be never ending though b/c soon as I begin walking away from one thing he opens my eyes to something else.  I'm so thankful that he covers all our sins when we accept him as Savior and I don't have to worry about losing my salvation when he reveals sin in my life to get rid of! 

P - Lord please continue to open my eyes to continual sin in my life that needs to be removed and help me to lovingly help other believers too.  Thank you thank you thank you for your forgiveness!

World Series:  well we are BIG cardinal fans and were pretty surprised they even made it to the world series but we like the Rangers too so it's been fun to have 2 teams we like playing and not the YANKEES!!!!

Jen I'll be praying that God gives you a good friend to replace the void!  I know it's been hard.  My closest friend here moved to Houston in August so I understand a little how you feel.  You can get through this!

CAN YOU BELIEVE AMBER IS HAVING TWINS!!!!  So fun!

Ginny - 1 John 3:7-8

Good Morning Girlz!!! Half way through the week - yipppeee! Rangers play tonight and hopefully become the new World Series Champs, cold front moves in tomorrow & I will be pulling out all my sweaters, and parents come in Friday to celebrate their 60th bdays with a Tech football game. Lots of fun stuff! Hope each one of y'all is doing good and enjoying this time of year. Lots to be thankful for.

S - Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as He is righteous. The one who does what is sinful is of the devil because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work.

O - This is like a big DUH! Hello McFly! The devil has been doing this for years. He's a pro. He's not planning on stopping anytime soon, so get your game on and be ready!

A - It always chaps my hide how the devil knows me so well! He knows just where my weaknesses are and how to really throw me off balance. He can really get to me! When I stop to think about how to win this battle, I realize it comes with the first step...the first turn of the head...the first rise of the eyebrow. In Weight Watchers I always tell my members that there is power in a small pause & asking ourselves "do I really want to do this?" before we dive-in. That 2 second pause can determine staying on program and losing weight, or forgetting it all and spriralling down hill. The first step is always the most crucial. So, when the devil comes with his temptations I must pause & chose righteousness or defeat.

P - Lord open my eyes to satan's schemes. Help me see light as light and dark as dark. I desire to be righteous. To follow Your example. To be like You.

I John 2:18-23

Sidenote, I found out yesterday that one of my very dear friend is moving away in 3 weeks. I knew she was probably moving soon but not that soon. Her husband is currently our youth minister. They are leaving for him to become a pastor in Columbus, Ms. I have had 3 very close friends move since June. Its been very hard and its very easy for me to want to slip into my old habits of pushing people away and building walls. It's my way of protecting myself.

S- v.19 These people left our churches because they never really belonged with us;otherwise they would have stayed with us. When they left us it proved that they never belonged with us.

O- I see this all the time in the American church. People come to the church building because its expected, out habit, or out of guilt. These people never had a personal relationship with God. They are just going through the emotions. Our church has experienced a rapid growth in the last 2 years. We went from around 700 on Sunday mornings to over 1300. A lot of these people have come from sister churches that are having problems, a small percent are new believers, but the majority come for the social reasons. My prayer for everyone coming through our doors is that they each have a personal realtionship with God; that its a daily part of their life not just Sunday morning religion.

A- That I will reach out to these people in my church and in my community. That I need to be bold and not just assume. Many people in our churches will still be sitting in their chairs come rapture time.

P- Lord, help me to an instrument. Show me ways to show these type of people your love and how there is so much more than religion. Open the eyes of the people in the church who truly don't know you. Who may have head knowledge, but not heart. Amen

Ginny - 1 John 3:4-6

Good Morning!!!

S - Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. You know that He appeared in order to take away sins, and in Him there is no sin. No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him.

O - "There is NO sin." I am so glad our God is perfect. Absolutely clean. There are no "little" sins or no-big-deal sins or white lies or gluttony every once in a while. He is white as snow. No blemish. No dirt. No sin.

A - I bring this out today because I have a decision to make that is one of those that rides the fence a little bit. It is not bad, but as a Christian why even go there? One of those "above reproach" things. You know what I mean? This verse is a good reminder that it can be black or white. Either it is good or it isn't.

P - Lord, I ask for wisdom to make the right decision. Please continue to show me truth and compell my heart and mind to the right decision.

Ginny - 1 John 3:1-3

S - See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God and it has not appeared as yet what we shall be we know that, when He appears, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him just as He is and everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

O - Family. We belong together. We are claimed.

A - Today I will rest in the fact I have a Savior. I am His child. Not gonna figure it all out today. I'm gonna live enjoying the fact I'm claimed. Sealed.

P - Lord, so much clouds my view. I get caught up in all kinds of goals and deadlines. Thank You for what You are showing me. I have so much to learn, but today I'm gonna start by enjoying You.

I John 3:1-3 - Karlyn

Happy Monday Morning!

You are soo right this year has flown by.  When I look back I think it's been a little slower than the past few years.  October usually flies by and I wonder how I got to December so fast but this month has been really good.  I've intentionally tried to slow down the pace of our lives.  There's things I've missed out on b/c of that but it has made life a whole lot less stressful.  It's nice not to be busy 7 days a week from sun up to sun down.  Hopefully we can carry over through 2012!

S - See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are.  For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know him.  Beloved now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be.  We know that when he appears, we will be like him, because we will see Him just as he is.  And everyone who has this hope fixed on him purifies himself, just as he is pure.

O - Can I get a HALLELUJAH!!!  This is exactly what I need to hear on a MONDAY morning and every morning for that matter. We are so BLESSED with a love from the ALMIGHTY and we are HIS CHILDREN.  And the hope I have in him purifies me to be just like him!!!!

A - There are many times when I start self centered thinking and it puts me in a bad mood full of jealousy, pity on myself, and wondering who am I?  This passage needs to be on the tip of my tongue.  The world doesn't like me and that's fine b/c I have an ALMIGHTY FATHER who loves me with HIS love not the world's, purifies me, and makes me into a new creation just like HIM!

P - Lord thank you that there is NO other love like yours.  I praise you that I can confess my sins to you and you purify me to be like you.  I can't wait for the day that you come back for us and take us from a world that doesn't know you or love you.  Help me today to be a light for you.

Ginny - 1 John 2:18-29 reflection

Good Morning! Good Morning! Good Morning! O.K. so we were talking this morning how fast 2011 has gone. Seriously, this year has flown by! It doesn't seem possible that the rest of the year is planned and 2012 will be here in a blink of an eye. Time passes so fast. Makes me even more grateful for y'all. Friends that stand the test of time. Love you gals and hope you each have a wonderful, wonderful weekend!

Lesson to remember: Letting outside circumstances determine my attitude blocks others from seeing Your light in me. Right now I see a lot of moodiness and inconsistency in my attitude based on the stresses in my life. I don't like being mad one day, quiet the next, sarcastic the next, and then all happy and easy going once the stress has calmed down.

God wants me to learn: Consistency in my mood comes from being grounded in His Truth. He is my rock when I am wishy washy. He is stable when I am slipping. He is logical when I am emotional. He is constant when I am random.

Faith into action: When the urge comes to be moody, mad, or just roll my eyes; I will stop and ask myself what is the truth. What type of person do I want to portray here? Am I living by love showing his light, or am I being selfish & letting the world determine the type of person I am. I will claim scripture and walk a road of dignity rather than spiratic emotions.

P.S. thanks for praying for my Aunt Lynn. My parents are going to Houston tomorrow for a visit. I'll let y'all know any updates I get. Praying for you all too!

Reflection I John 2:18-29 - Karlyn

HAPPY HAPPY FRIDAY MORNING!!!

Lesson to remember:  When you are a believer you can't help but pour out Christ.  He will be evident in your life.  To be completely full of him him his word needs to be poured in me.

God wants me to learn:  I need to be more aware of what the Holy Spirit is teaching me.  I don't have to wonder what is truth and what is lies because the Holy Spirit isn't going to conceal that from me.

Faith into action:  When question of truth come up don't form my own opinion but go to prayer and ask Holy Spirit to make it clear and go to God's Word.

Have a great weekend everybody!  Drink some hot chocolate eat something with pumpkin in it, and enjoy the weather. 

Ginny still praying for your aunt and family. 

I John 2: 28-29- Karlyn

Good Morning it's almost FRIDAY!

S - And now dear children remain in fellowship with Christ so that when he returns you will be full of courage and not shrink back from him in shame. Since we know that Christ is righteous we also know that all who do what is right are God's children.

O - Here is a reminder that as Christians we need to spend time with other Christians.  This is a great resource to point people to when they say I don't need to be in church to be a Christian.  Being with other believers helps strengthen our faith and gives us courage to stand alone when we need to. 
 
A - These verses and chapters will be a good resource for me to go back to with my kids when they ask questions about why we go to church and for new believers or those not believers yet when they don't understand the importance of being involved in church and with other believers.

P - Again Lord thank you for the freedom we have to be in fellowship with other believers.  God I pray that you protect that freedom and not let there ever be a time in America that we can't worship you freely.   

Ginny - 1 John 2:28-29

Good Morning Girlz!!!

S - And now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming. If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him.

O - I want to be ready to meet Him in the clouds!

A - If He came today, would I be ready? Yes, my salvation is secure. I know where I am spending eternity, but would I be proud of what my life is about or would I "shrink away?"

P - Lord I want to be confident of what I am about here on Earth, not shameful. May my days be filled with what matters.

I John 2:24-27 - Karlyn

S- So you must remain faithful to what you have been taught from the beginning.  If you do, you will remain in fellowship with the Son and with the Father.  And in this fellowship we enjoy the eternal life he promised us.  I am writing you these things to warn you about those who want to lead you astray.  But you have received the Holy Spirit and he lives within you so you don't need anyone to teach you what is true.  For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know and what he teaches is true it is not a lie.  So, just as he has taught you remain in fellowship with Christ.

O - There's plenty out there to lead us astray, but this passage tells me that even those who have little or no access to God's Word have the Holy Spirit to direct them in truth.

A - I need to be even more appreciative of the many copies of the bible I have and put into action memorizing so that when I don't have it in front of me the Spirit can bring to mind what I've learned and direct me in truth.

P - Thank you for all the privileges you given me Lord, freedom to go to the church I want, many Bibles and commentaries to read from, and the internet.  Help me to not take your Word or the Holy Spirit for granted.  Help me to listen to the truth that the Spirit is leading me to.

Ginny - 1 John 2:24-27

Good morning/afternoon!!!

S - As for you, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life. These things I have written to you concerning these who are trying to deceive you. And as for you, the annoiting which you recieved from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His annoiting teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.

O - The word "abide" is mentioned 5 times in this passage.

A - "Abide" is one of my favorite words. It is easy to get caught up in going and going and thinking of things to fix or make the situation better, when all we need to do is abide. To be connected to our Father. Close to Him so we can grow in Him.

P - Lord help me as I learn to abide. I pray the craziness and moodiness ceases and I draw myself to You. Thank you for Your love.

I John 2:20-23 - Karlyn

S - But you are not like that, for the Holy One has given you his Spirit, and all of you know the truth.  So I am writing to you not because you don't know the truth but because you know the difference between truth and lies.  And who is a liar?  Anyone who says that Jesus is not the Christ.  Anyone who denies the Father and the Son is an antichrist.  Anyone who denies the Son doesn't have the Father, either.  But anyone who acknowledges the Son has the Father also. 

O - You cannot separate the trinity.  You accept one you accept all.
-I know the truth and I use to think it was hard to tell the difference between those who were pretending to know Christ and those who really do but as I get deeper in the word I'm seeing that the evidence in our lives is plain as day.  And when you acknowledge the Father and Son in your life there's no hiding or denying it.  And when you deny one it's pretty obvious by what plays out in your life - no fruit.

A - Am I showing without a doubt that the Father Son and Holy Spirit are in me?  Do my actions match up to my words?  Am I hanging out on the fence a little too much so the world will accept me?

P - God I acknowledge that you are mighty God the only God and I ray that my words and actions match up to what my heart beats for you.  Over fill me with you so that no one can deny your presence!

1 John 2:17

S--And this world is fading away along with everything it craves. But if you do the will of God you will live forever.

O- That even back then they struggled with the things of the world. They also had the daily struggle of honoring and following God's will.

A- To live each day as if it's my last. I need to strive and be in the Word so that I will clearly know God's will for my life. I need to store up treasures in Heaven and not here on earth.

P- Lord, help me to see the big picture. Take away all temptations and desires for earthly things. Help me to focus on your will for me and the things of Heaven.

Ginny - 1 John 2:20-23

S - But you have an anointing from the Holy One and you all know I have not written to you because you do not know the truth but because you do know it and because no lie is of the truth who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ the one who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also.

O - It's almost like John is saying, "O.K. people let's cut to the chase. This is how it works: you are either in the truth or a liar. One of the other - take your pick."

A - After all the talk and repetition it is time to draw a line in the sand. We've been reading about light and dark. We've read scripture after scripture talking about saying one thing but doing another. John has sounded like a broken record at times. Now is the time to ask myself, "What are you going to do about it?" What is it going to take to recognize the dark and turn from it? How long will I ride both sides of the fence? I don't want a divded heart.

P - Lord there are areas I need to clean up. Please help me. I don't want to be mediocre.

Ginny - 1 John 2:18-19

Hey Gals!!! I'm doing a little catch up tonight :) Hope everyone is doing good. The race this weekend went great! There are very few vacations that I miss the place when it's over, but Marathon, TX is one. I could so easily live down there. I just love it!

Also, please continue to pray for my Aunt Lynn. They checked into MD Anderson today. The cancer is in her lungs, liver, and lymph nodes (sp?). They will be doing chemo everyday for 2 weeks and then she has 3 weeks off and then they start again. This type of cancer does respond very well to chemo, so we are praying that they get it all and she has many more years.

S - Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have arisen; from this we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, in order that it might be shown that they all are not of us.

O - The word loyalty comes to mind. You are either for us or against us.

A - If it's not of the light, let it leave. Seperate. Put distance between that which would hide the light. I want to confide in those that are in the Truth, not those that walk in darkness.

P - Lord thank You for the friends you have given me that are seeking You and Your ways. May we continue to hold each other accountable according to Your Word.

Ginny - Week 4 reflection

Good evening Girlz!!!

1. The Lord really opened my eyes last week to a pivot player in my darkness -- money. I am a big budgeter, which is good, but not when it starts determing my mood. I realized this week that 9 out of 10 times when I am testy and grouchy it is because I have been dealing a lot with finances and it is weighing down on me.

2. I feel the Lord wants me to learn to let it go. Budgets are good things, but I am missing out on the joy of the process. I need to loosen up a little and not let it consume so much, and certainly not let it determine my mood.

3. I am going to put my faith in action by not getting frustrated at the daily things. I will stop and recognize the situation and ask myself if I am about to react because I am wound tight or if this truly is a big deal that constitues frustration. Light. Living in the light. That's where I want to be.

I John 2:18-19 - Karlyn

Had dr appointment today and baby is growing right along:)

S - Dear children, the last hour is here.  You have heard that the Anti Christ is coming, and already many such antichrists have appeared.  From this we know the last hour has come.  These people left our churches, but they never really belonged with us; otherwise they would have stayed with us.  When they left, it proved that they did not belong with us.

O - This is an example of how we can be sure of those who are really and truly believers.  When you have Christ in you, there is a desire to be like him and be with others who have him in them.  You can only fake it for a little while and then the true colors come out.
  - I can get really stressed out with people like this.  Sometimes it's people who think they are "christians" but they really just don't get it and no matter how much you try to help they fall away because Christ wasn't in them to begin with.  THen it's the people who know they aren't believers but still try to make others feel they are and then they fall away because they can't keep the lie. 

A - What I've learned lately is not to get frustrated or stressed with them but to pray that the Holy Spirit continues to call their hearts and I'm available to help when they come asking.  I'm not in control of their spirit, God is the only one who can change them.  When they choose to leave I cannot stop them but just pray specifically for them.  

P - Lord please place heavy conviction on David, Holly, and Jacque's hearts tonight.  If they are your children I pray that they will listen to the Spirit calling their hearts to confession.  Lord if they aren't your children I pray that the Spirit strongly calls their hearts to repentance.  Help me to not get lazy in praying for them and to be ready to answer questions if they ask and ready to interact with them if you call me to that.  Thank you for not giving up on us when we fall.