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Reading: 1st John 3:11-12: " 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."
Righteousness
Lord, please keep our hearts open to Your words and purpose and truth and actions.
Only through Your righteousness can we become able to love one another as You see each of us.
And choose to live into honesty from our hearts with grace and kindness.
Each day--each week--each year may our hearts grow into Your integrity.
Only see others through the guidance as led by Your Spirit.
Your thoughts,
Seeds
Sin so deep an ongoing thread often not even recognized
yet ongoingly rules our days.
Seeds of righteousness
embedded in our hearts removed
when we accept Holy protection
through born new forgiveness.
Sin can be dissolved
turned into grateful
light abiding daily
through heart and mind and choices.
Seeds of love and redemption.
Psalm 107:10: "There were those who dwelt in darkness and in the shadow of death, Prisoners in misery and chains."
Reflection Questions
1. Is it a surprise to hear that when we are born of God we will no longer practice sin? Why or why not?
2. And that He will continue to teach us to let the sons go--even the deep embedded ones within us. Are we willing to learn even when we are under attack?
3. What is your definition of His righteousness within us?
Share: What forgiveness and patience from sin has He given you that surprised you and changed your attitude towards yourself and to others?
Reading: 1st John 3:9-10: "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. By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: any one who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother."
Sinfulness
Takes hold into our deepest soul.
Twists our hearts and thoughts and actions into lies. Into emptiness.
Tightens failures.
By His grace and mercy God restores. Teaches us how to sin no more. By His grace and love redeems us with honest righteousness. Day by day.
Turns our deepest souls into His seeds of eternal life.
Teaches us to recognize deceit and to refuse its lure.
Truth overcomes powerful lies and failures, offers a new path.
By His forgiveness and compassion and love shows us sin can be broken. Guides us into His blessings of virtue and Holy choices.
Your thoughts,
Deceives
Sin often so
Subtle that we do not
See the deceit
Sowing destroying consistently Seeds to bury within us.
Our Lord ready to protect
Ongoing attacks ready to
Offer wholeness through
Opens words and strength to
Obey His choices as we listen.
Psalm 107:9: "For He has satisfied the thirsty soul, And the hungry soul He has filled with what is good."
Reflection Questions
1. When has a tiny act of sinfulness pulled you away into a deep circumstance?
2. Has something like that destroyed your ability to trust, or cause you to walk in fear?
3. What word of truth broke those chains?
Share: How do you recognize, or protect yourself, against sin attacking you--even when it seems minor?
Reading: 1st John 3:7-8: "Little children, let no one deceive you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, that He might destroy the work of the devil."
Destroys
Thank you, always now and forever, Lord, for Your ongoing protection to keep each one of us away from sin.
And the ongoing removing of the sin that is still inside us.
Please keep us listening and obeying Your words. Your choices. Your heart.
And through Your light may we grow up into wholeness as You heal.
Your thoughts,
Lawless
Lawless sin
an ongoing battleground
except when we
accept His merciful
grace to abide in Him
restoring our lives
with His grace and mercy
even when we falter
again and again
He continues to dissolve
and protect and guide.
On the cross.
Love paid.
Psalm 107:8: "Let them give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness, And for His wonders to the sons of men!"
Reflection Questions
1. He takes away our sins. How have you experienced that and now are able to let go?
2. How did you reconcile this promise when we still fail?
3. In what ways does this gift from Him cause you to act in mercy towards those who sin against you?
Share: How do you keep your soul listening so you can identify the sins that are still hiding within you?
Reading: 1st John 3: 4-6: "Every one who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. And 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."
Sins
Lord, thank you for Your ongoing grace and mercy to give forgiveness and guidance every time we each still fail.
Please continue to dissolve the sins still hiding in us, and then our weaknesses when we fall into them.
Please keep our souls listening and following You alone, moment by moment.
Lord, may we only do what You choose for each of us to be and to do as You lead.
Your thoughts,
Souls
So ignorant of so
many truths and actions
stepping into dangers
except His gift
of grace and Holy Spirit
enfold us into safety.
His presence and
honesty guides directions,
warns and protects
us from lies and evil then
wraps our souls in His love.
Psalm 107:7: "He led them also by a straight way, To go to an inhabited city."
Reflection Questions
1. How difficult, or grateful, can we be to realize we are His children?
2. His gifts to teach and guide and protect goes much deeper than our own parents could. Which sense do you need the most insight to walk?
3. How does this feel like a hint of His kingdom to come?
Share: How do you recognize His inner being is in you no matter how quiet?
Reading: 1st John 3:1-3: "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."
Children
As children, Lord, we are so ignorant of so many things.
Thank you for Your gift of the Holy Spirit to teach us and guide us and protect us, until we can enter into Your kingdom.
As children, Lord, please keep teaching each of us to sense Your presence and direction, and recognize Your Holy Spirit--no matter how quiet.
Thank you for guiding our inner being and grow our souls to be completely in You.
Your thoughts,
Heals
So often we deeply desire arms holding us in love
and mercy with comfort to
heal the lose or anger or failures.
Spirit sees everything
opens healing and grace
ongoing restoration
reminds us of eternal life.
Sanctuary and protection
presence and preserves
' power of abiding comes in everlasting love.
Psalm 107:5-6: "They were hungry and thirsty; Their soul fainted within them. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble; He delivered them out of their distress."
Reflection Questions
1. Do you struggle to abide in all circumstances, or step back from His gift of presence? Why?
2. What do you consider to be His version of righteousness?
3. How does that cause you to stumble within yourself, or run to Him in love and gratitude?
4. Why the difference?
Share: When you have experienced a difficult situation when you felt the Lord wrap you into His arms with love and forgiveness?
Reading: 1st John 2:28-29: "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.
Comforts
And thank you, Lord, for the comfort You will wrap us up in when the wrongs overwhelm us. When we forget to abide in You immediately again.
And reminding us to keep our hearts and sight focused on You to see all through the loving presence of Your Spirit.
And keep us on Your path and be yielding all our thoughts and choices as You gauge.
And, Holy Spirit, may we never stop, or hesitate, to follow with trust and thankfulness for the protection and kindness You direct.
Your thoughts,
Trust
To listen as You guide
brings solid guidance
strengthening our faith
developing trust in
all circumstances Your
gift that never fails
To 'Abide in Me' a mercy.
Eternal grace.
Eternal life.
Eternal love.
Psalm 107: 3-4: " And gathered from the lands, From the east and from the west, From the north and from the south. They wandered in the wilderness in a desert region; They did not find a way to an inhabited city."
Reflection Questions
1. Do you listen daily for His words to follow and trust? Why or why not?
2. How do you define His anointing to you daily? His teaching to you?
3. Do you struggle to follow His teaching or accept it with eagerness? Why or why not?
Share: What has been a special anointing given to you when in a confusing situation?
Reading: 1st John: 2:25-27: "And this is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life. These things I have written to you concerning those who are trying to deceive you. And, as for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it is has taught you, you abide in Him."
Abide
Thank you, Lord, for reminding us of the ongoing beacon of Your presence. To remind us to listen, and follow, and trust as You have taught us.
Too often we falter into weakness when deceit intervenes. We forget to ask You instantly for Your strength and words to direct us.
To please keep showing us how to listen for Your guidance, and then act with faith and trust. To remember You are always close-by with anointing no matter the concern.
Thank you for Your merciful gift to "Abide in Me" which will never, ever fail.
Your thoughts,
Remember
Inward and outward
when we listen
remember we abide
in forgiveness and mercy
timeless kindness
that resists worry
and fear and weakness
in our hearts
instead filled with
Holy redemption.
Psalm 107:1-2: "Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; For His loving kindness is ever lasting. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the adversary."
Reflection Question
1. How do you consider what it means to 'abide' in someone? Positive or negative?
2. Do you recognize His abiding in your heart? Why or why not?
3. As He abides in you--do you abide in Him? Why or why not?
Share: How would you share this gift of His presence to others?
Reading: 1st John 2:23-24: "Who-ever denies the Son does not have a Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also. 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."
Redemption
Thank you, Lord, for this gift of Your love and mercy knowing that we can abide in You.
In ALL situations.
Thank you for Your forgiveness and kindness.
EVERY time.
Too often we allow worry and fear to weaken our hearts and actions: both inwardly and outwardly.
Please KEEP us listening.
Your thoughts,
Affirmed
Anointing Grace.
Written by His truth
woven into our hearts
and souls.
Removes when lies
attacks by denial
affirmed by His truth.
Ongoing protection.
Psalm 27:14: "Wait for the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord."
Reflection Questions
1. How does His truth, to each of us, by His words feel?
2. Yet if though we do know--how often do we forget or take this grace for granted? Why?
3. How do these words remind us we are also protected from lies when we listen?
Share: What is one detail, from the Lord, that helps you to recognize a lie instantly?
Reading: 1st John 2:20-22: "But you have 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? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son.
Anointed
Thank-you, Lord, for Your trust to speak through each of us as Your servants and allowing us to be a part of Your grace to others.
Please forgive us for the times we become so self-absorbed that we forget, or take for granted, the words You give us to share in speaking, or in prayers.
May only Your words of truth come out of our words to others and that lies immediately dissolve, both within and outwardly.
Please keep us on Your daily purpose.
Your thoughts,
Deceit So many lies twist a foundation of words
away from God's truth
so deep we cannot understand
and recognize the deceit
an ongoing bitterly round
still He will protect
always when we realize and He
abounds with grace and love a
sacrificed life His path. Psalm 27:13: "I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living."
Reflection Questions
1. What did it cost you in relationships to step away from friends and communities to walk with the Lord?
2. What parts were sorrow and what were reliefs?
3. How did the Lord enable you to see the lies and false intentions?
Share: What are some key triggers you can identify now as false even from others who do not realize they are being deceived?
Reading: 1st John 2:18-19: "Children, it is the last hour, and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even how many antichrists have arisen; from this we know that this 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 are not of us."
Intentions
Sometimes to pull away and separate from friends and community can be a relief, or sometimes heartbreaking.
Yet either can also be His purpose so that we can step into His path and see through His lens.
Whatever it costs.
He will reveal false motives. He will restore each one from the buried lies that separate us from His truth.
From the young to the elderly He is always present to bring honesty and love, mercy and forgiveness, healing and restoration.
Whatever is the cost.
He paid the price for us to give us the gift of goodness.
Your thoughts,
Choose
Sometimes in whispers
Sometimes in loud blasts
The world lures ideas and
thoughts to follow life
by fleshly desires and
boastful success.
Until the emptiness
unravels exposing its lies
yet truth can still be found always
your hope into eternity.
Standing on His words
Standing on His eternal will.
Psalm 27:12: "Do not deliver me over to the desire of my adversaries; For false witnesses has risen against me, And such as breathe out violence."
Reflection Questions
1. Have you been caught up in a worldly desire that brought you failure? What lured you in?
2. What enabled you to see the emptiness of these things?
3. How do you now recognize God's will instead--even when it seems unimportant?
Share: What blessing have you received from choosing His "things"?
Reading: 1st John 2:15-17: "Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. And the world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God abides forever."
Worldly
How often do we become caught complaining about things that really mean nothing?
How often do we see through a worldly lense because it is on normal common ground, but forget to seek His heart?
Lord, we ask to see through Your sight only, so that we can focus clearly; love others through Your eyes; see the choices before us before we act; and commit only as You lead.
Lord, we ask You to keep teaching us through Your graceful vision to follow Your will only.
Your thoughts,
Daily
All ages from
childhood to elderly
the reminder of grace
repeats over and over.
A blessed gift
that too often we
forget to hold onto
and let words weaken our hearts.
Always He gives a strong
foundation that will not bend
reminding of love and strength
every day beginning with forgiveness.
Psalm 27:11: "Teach me Thy way, O Lord, And lead me in a level path, Because of my foes."
Reflection Questions
1. How often do people sigh because you tend to repeat ideas and words often? Or how often do you sigh at people who continue to repeat to you?
2. Do we repeat for the things that matter? How do these words of repetition in this passage affect you?
3. Notice that all ages are given the 'because'. What common thread do you recognize for yourself as a forgiving reminder?
Share: What "because" in this passage do you most relate to on the list? Why?
Reading: 1st John 2:12-14: "I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake. I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children, because you know the Father. I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning, I have written to you, young men, because you are strong and the word of God abides in you, and you have over come the evil one."
Writing
Repetition for reminders? Because we SO easily forget?
Because we are all facing many levels throughout our lives and need to acknowledge Your unbreakable foundation?
Thank-you, Lord, for forgiving us our sins--again and again--for being our Father who guides us in an ongoing relationship of mercy, love, and kindness.
Thank-you for knowing each one of us so deeply, and teaching us to know our beginnings.
Thank-you for abiding in us and giving us Your strength to overcome evil.
Thank-you for writing Your truth and love of life into our every days.
Your thoughts,
Fraud attack or come to light
anger, darkness, grief
wounds from within.
Then hatred-anger
grows into more darkness
germs spread throughout our hearts and words.
His light never dissolves
even when only a flicker
every moment a choice a help to
handle deceit with courage.
When we Abide
in healing light.
Psalm 27:10: "For my father and my mother have forsaken me, But the Lord will take me up."
Reflection Questions
1. In what ways do our interpretation of dark and light towards others agree with the Lord's? Especially when in anger or hatred?
2. How can we walk away from areas of rejection without carrying any darkness?
3. In what experiences of His guidance used for us can we also act towards others?
Share: How do you turn to His light in all circumstances now? How do you handle situations without the darkness?
Reading: 1st John 2:9-11: "The one who says he is in the light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now. The one who loves his brother abides in the light and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes." Attitude Lord, we hope that we have been able to walk away from hatred now that we have received Your gift of hope and light. Yet there are still so many rejections and anger that are hiding in us. Only Your love and mercy to us can teach us how to recognize, let go, and step into healing for both as needed. Please continue to show us how to recognize our attitudes when silently against someone, and turn to You immediately for guidance and light. And how to prepare for other blindnesses still ahead. We ask for Your light to keep leading us to Your truth and healing in all circumstances. Your thoughts,
Solid
Commandments given so many
centuries ago still hold a
foundation of solid words,
forever truths.
Darkness continues to attack twisting
deceit into false perspectives.
Yet truth commandments still guide
our walk step by step.
Externally and internally His light
exposes lies and brings truth into action.
Commandments an ongoing gift of mercy
covered with wisdom and grace.
Psalm 27:9: "Do not hide Thy face from me, Do not turn Thy servant away in anger; Thou hast been my help; Do not abandon me or forsake me, O God of my salvation."
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