Life with 1 John

We leave for Catalina (see picture below) tomorrow and I've been prepping 1 John, the text we will study as a group out on the island. I have been awestruck by John's (or whoever the author of 1 John was) view of sin and obedience as I've studied the text. He reminds us that as believers, sin is not in keeping with our identities as children of God. Though we have a beautiful solution for sin through confession and forgiveness, we are not meant to sin. It is just not appropriate for us as children of God. Personally this truth has empowered me to view temptation and my own will power in a whole new way. Sometimes I don't think I take my ability to choose life - versus the death that comes with sin - that seriously and I give in to temptation without a fight. John's exhortation inspires me to live as I am meant to live - like Jesus!

I pray I would know who I really am this week, and that I would be encouraged to walk in that true identity. May my friends be changed and transformed by the power that comes from truth intersecting with our heart's desires. May Jesus bring freedom and new life to many.

Taking Time to Slow Down

I read an old Bill Hybels chapter the other day from "Too Busy Not To Pray." He emphasizes the importance of slowing down in our fast-paced culture in order to connect with God more intimately. One recommendation he makes is to journal every day, even for a short bit, because it causes us to stop, reflect, and connect with our souls and with God. Blogging may not be the same as journaling, but since I hate having half-completed journals collect in our small home (sorry hon'), I'm going to take to blogging again. Spend some time breathing deeply, putting a few thoughts down online. Obviously some of what I write can't be as personal, but perhaps sometimes I will write an entry and just not post it. The point is to slow down - take time out to reflect. I'm grateful that even though we are moving towards a technological overhaul of everything that we know, there are still forms of reflection - for good and for bad - like blogging, that provide the necessary space to just "be." Peace to you this day.

Yesterday was a tough day - early with the kids, baby still sick, C and I SO tired. We're tired so much of the time these days. But it was so good to be in the word - to prep for camp and see such depth and power in the scripture. I pray that as I am changed by it, so would my students. I also pray for healing for our family - so that we could have some normalcy. Yet even as I pray this I recognize that I am learning long-suffering in a very gentle way, and I am grateful. Deepen in me your character, Jesus, that others would see you more clearly and be amazed.