I’m going to be sharing my Bible Study notes on 1 John on my blog. I’m using the SOAP method which is to write out the Scripture, write one to two Observations, make Application, and then write a Prayer. Some days I may not share if it is too personal. I hope this is encouraging to you. And if you want to join in just go to http://www.goodmorninggirls.org/

Today is a short one.  I pray it is still beneficial.

1 John 2:13- “I am writing to you, fathers, because you now him who is from the beginning.  I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one.  I write to you, children, because you know the Father.”

Observation
The more spiritually mature you are the more you will know the Father.  The better you know the Father and grow in spiritual maturity the better equipped you are to overcome the evil one

Application
As Christians we need to grow in our knowledge of God as we become more spiritually mature. The way to grow in spiritual maturity is through spiritual disciplines such as prayer, reading the Word, studying the Word, and memorizing the Word.

Prayer
Dear Lord, Please help me to continue to grow in the knowledge of You through Your Word.  Holy Spirit please guide me in all truth.  In Jesus name, Amen

I’m going to be sharing my Bible Study notes on 1 John on my blog. I’m using the SOAP method which is to write out the Scripture, write one to two Observations, make Application, and then write a Prayer. Some days I may not share if it is too personal. I hope this is encouraging to you. And if you want to join in just go to http://www.goodmorninggirls.org/

1 John 2:12- “I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for His name’s sake.”

Observation
John, in these next few verses, is emphasizing the confidence he has that he is writing to God’s people.  He is determined to bring assurance to God’s people.

The ESV Study Bible and other scholars say that “little children”, “fathers”, and “young men” refer to the stages of spiritual maturity.  This makes sense with today’s passage. Someone new in the faith may not know much more than that his sin’s are forgiven.

Our sins are forgiven for Jesus names sake. If He died and we were left unforgiven that would not bring Him glory. We are forgiven to bring Him glory. It’s not anything we have done, but it is all from Him and for Him.

Application
We can be confident in our salvation.  John is going to get into some heavy, convicting stuff but he wants us to be sure of our faith and standing in Christ.

Also, we need to live our life’s in such away as to bring Him glory. Our salvation is all for His glory and our life should be as well.  We need to put aside all pride and humbly realize it is all about Him.

Prayer
Dear Lord, thank you for salvation.  I pray I would remember that it is all about You and bringing You glory, which can only happen as I rely on You.  I confess my inability today and fully rely on You and Your grace. Help me to love my kids and run my home today in such a way as to bring glory to Your name. In Jesus name, Amen

You may have noticed last Monday that there wasn’t a giveaway. Yeah I totally flaked!  The week just got away from me. So I’m being smart this time and writing out the post Sunday night so it is all ready for Monday.  So without further ado I give you my review on Cakes with Jaz!

Cakes with Jaz is a local custom cake maker in my local area. Actually I think she may be the only custom cake decorator.  She is super sweet and makes yummy, beautiful, amazing things! I first heard about her through facebook and then decided to have her make my son’s first birthday cake.  When she came over to consult about what to do for the cake I really wasn’t sure what I wanted but then the idea came to me to have it made to look like his favorite blankie.  You see he has always loved tags…yes you heard me right tags.  He would curl up in the corner of his bed and hold the tags from the bumpers to fall asleep at night.  Well I took the bumpers out and he wouldn’t fall asleep without screaming.  So I took all the tags and sewed them on the edge of a small blankie and he now sleeps with it and LOVES it.

So I showed it to Jasmine and she was excited even talking about making real paper tags with edible paper and printing tag type stuff on them. Let me tell you she does amazing things!  Here is a picture of the yummy and beautiful cake. Oh and did I mention she threw in the small cake for free!

Zeke's 1st Birthday Cake

Close Up of the Edible Tags

The inspiration with the cake

Zeke so loves tags that we couldn’t get him to actually eat the cake but he sure loved those edible tags!  LOL

Zeke eating his tags

For this review Jasmine (yes that’s her name which makes sense since her business is Cakes with Jaz) brought me some of the leftovers from a local farmer’s market she does in town. So we got to try some yummy cupcakes!! She makes these super cute cupcake samplers in egg cartons. I just think they are adorable.  Here is a picture of the one we got.

Cupcake Sampler

Our sampler, and I say our because my hubby and kids had to get in on the tasting, included red velvet, german chocolate, maple bacon, and root beer float. The clear and away winner of the favorite cupcake flavor in our home went to Root Beer Float!  It truly tasted like you were eating a root beer float and it was so moist and yummy.

But our most favorite thing was the sugar cookies! I am a sucker for sugar cookies and Jasmine’s are the best!!  Plus they are beautiful!  Here is a photo of the fall ones we got.

And just in case you are wondering they make a wonderful breakfast for children. Not that I know from experience I’m just assuming they would.  LOL

So now that you have seen and drooled over all of this yummieness are you ready to win some? Just enter the giveaway below!  You have until next Monday.

And next week I will be reviewing Dove Chocolate Discoveries so stay tuned.

I’m going to be sharing my Bible Study notes on 1 John on my blog. I’m using the SOAP method which is to write out the Scripture, write one to two Observations, make Application, and then write a Prayer. Some days I may not share if it is too personal. I hope this is encouraging to you. And if you want to join in just go to http://www.goodmorninggirls.org/

I got behind this week.  I know, what’s new. It’s the story of my life. But I figure sharing with you all that I’m not perfect yet and I’m still working on consitency in my life will help you.  At least that’s what I keep telling myself.  LOL  So here are days 3 and 4.  Enjoy!!  And if you are studying the Scripture on a daily basis feel free to leave a comment telling me about it. I’d love for you to share. Or if you just have something to share please do.  I love reading your comments!

Day 3

1 John 2:7-8- “Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning.  The old commandment is the word that you have heard.  At the same time, it is a new commandments that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining.”

Observation
John is sharing a commandment that is old and not new but from the beginning. It is one we have seen from the Old Testament all the way through.  He also says it is a new commandment.  At first I was confused by this, how could something be old and not new, but new at the same time.  The ESV Study Bible notes say it’s talking about the commandment being renewed in Jesus and Him talking and teaching about it.

Application
We need to not take the Old Testament for granted. What it says is true and expanded upon in the new.  Many will say all we need is in the New Testament but this simply isn’t true.  Jesus said He came to fulfill the law not abolish it.

Prayer
Lord, help me to not take the Old Testament for granted and remember it too was written for believers. In Jesus name, Amen

Day 4

1 John 2:9-11- “Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness.  Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling.  But whoever 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.”

Observation
If we hate our brother, meaning fellow believer, we are in the dark.  But if we love we are in the light.  Being in the light refers to abiding in Christ.  When we hate our brother and walk in darkness we stumble and can’t see where we are going.  The ESV Study Bible says “darkness” and “blindness” often represent rejecting God’s truth and persisting in sin.

Application
Hate has no place in a believers life. When we hate and walk in darkness we can’t see where we are going. We live a confused life stumbling about.  But when we love others we walk in the light and can see what to do next because we are in the light or Christ.

Prayer
Dear Lord, Help me to love others the way you would have me to. Forgive me for the times I have hated others.  Give me your heart I pray.  In Jesus name, Amen

This is one of those weeks I’d rather not blog about. It was not a great week at all as far as exercise and eating go.  I gained 2 pounds this week.  (hangs head in shame)  I ate horribly!  In case you were wondering you can not lose weight while eating McDonald’s, Taco Bell, and Burger King, nor can you lose weight by eating a ton of sweets. So at least I learned that this week. Okay that was totally sarcastic I really knew better I just didn’t care.  Monday started pretty good. I did my workout at least but then Tuesday I just stretched and Wednesday I got up to do my workout and couldn’t because my knee was in excruciating pain.  It is better now though.  My shoulder is still giving me trouble.  I supposed I just got overwhelmed couldn’t work out so I hate horrible too. I didn’t track what I ate. Basically I acted like I wasn’t trying to lose weight.

But now it is time to look forward.  What is the plan now.  This week I go to the doctor on Tuesday to talk to him about my shoulder and other pain I’ve been having. So that’s a start on getting back on the workout train. Tomorrow morning I will get up and do as much of the workout as I can without injuring myself further.  I WILL track what I eat and stay within my points.  (repeat to self 100 times)  I will not beat myself up about this week.  It is time to move onward and upward or downward depending on how you look at it.  LOL

I’ve been busy studying for my medical terminology class.  Since we pay for it on a monthly basis it behooves (don’t you just love that word) me to finish it quickly.  Right now I am busy memorizing prefixes, suffixes, and word roots.  Now I know you all are jealous but just try to contain it.    As I have been doing this though I have been convicted on my lack of scripture memory.  What could be more important than getting God’s Word in my heart.  I grew up going to AWANA and have memorized tons of Scripture in all my years in public school and at Bible colleges, but lately it is a habit that has been lacking.

Well, as is usually the case when God is leading you towards something, I’ve been also reading a lot about others who are memorizing Scripture and many who are doing the Hiding His Word in my Heart challenge from Do Not Depart. Now apparently I am a little late to the party but better late than never.  There doesn’t seem to be any time frame other than what you put on yourself. So as I was searching around more it appears they have done a Hiding Philippians in My Heart Challenge that went with the Philippians Bible Study they did over the summer.  Once again I am late to the party but I am planning on memorizing the book of Philippians and finishing it by my birthday at the latest. I also am going to do the Philippians study once I get through the Abiding Fruit study. 

Anyway, I am excited about all of this.  I am so thankful to God for allowing me to find these blogs with great Christian woman studying the Word of God and encouraging me in my walk.  God is good!

I haven’t done my Bible Study for today as I woke up late but this will have to do for my Woman in the Word Wednesday post. 

I’m going to be sharing my Bible Study notes on 1 John on my blog. I’m using the SOAP method which is to write out the Scripture, write one to two Observations, make Application, and then write a Prayer. Some days I may not share if it is too personal. I hope this is encouraging to you. And if you want to join in just go to http://www.goodmorninggirls.org/

1 John 2:3-6- “And by this we know that we have come to now him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says, ‘I know him’ but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word in him truly the love of God is perfect.  By this we may know that we are in him; whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.”

Observation
This verse flies int eh face of those who tell you it’s “all about love” and to “walk in liberty”.  While it is true that you can sum up the commandments in loving God and loving others, and it’s also true we can walk in liberty, if we are truly in Christ we will strive to live a lifestyle of obedience. You can’t just read something in the Scripture and decide to “walk in liberty” instead of following it. Or completely ignore a fellow brother or sister in Christ when they are walking outside of God’s will and just call it love.  Or not call sin sin just because you think we need to love and not judge.  We can’t be justified by following the commandments but it is a part of sanctification.

Application
When we read the Bible we need to be thinking how to pattern our lives after it.  Instead of thinking of what the world or the church says a Christian it to look like, we need to look to the Word and its commands.  You will get persecuted for this even by those in the church, but we live to please God.  Choose to follow ALL God commands.

Prayer
Dear Lord, Give me the courage to follow ALL your commands.  Please give me the grace to do so as well.  Help me to stand firm in the face of adversity, standing on Your Word.  In Jesus name, Amen

I’m going to be sharing my Bible Study notes on 1 John on my blog. I’m using the SOAP method which is to write out the Scripture, write one to two Observations, make Application, and then write a Prayer. Some days I may not share if it is too personal. I hope this is encouraging to you. And if you want to join in just go to http://www.goodmorninggirls.org/

1 John 2:1-2- “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin.  But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.  He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

Observation
“May not sin” means not to stay in a continual pattern of the same sin.  Obviously we will sin because we just learned in the last chapter that if we say we have no sin we are a liar and the truth is not in us. But this is talking about habitual sin, which the Christian is not to engage in if he is truly in Christ.

When we do sin we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus. He is our mediator.  When we confess our sins, we can be forgiven because God looks at what Jesus did for us on the cross.  He can be our mediator because He is righteous.

Application
We need to watch our lives and look out for habitual sin.  By staying in the Word and examining ourselves and confessing daily we can ensure we do not live in a lifestyle of sin.  Praise God we do have an advocate and can be forgiven of our sins when we confess.

Prayer
This week I will not be sharing my prayer as I have taken Courtney’s, of good morning girls, challenge and will be confessing sin daily in my prayer.

I’m going to be sharing my Bible Study notes on 1 John on my blog. I’m using the SOAP method which is to write out the Scripture, write one to two Observations, make Application, and then write a Prayer. Some days I may not share if it is too personal. I hope this is encouraging to you. And if you want to join in just go to http://www.goodmorninggirls.org/

This week was not a great week as far getting up in the morning and getting in the Word.  I failed miserably.  At least I was trying though and that is more than what has happened in the past.  Tonight I read a great blog post by Inspired to Action on about failing.  If you are struggling with getting down on yourself for failing than please take the time to go and read this post.

I spent tonight getting caught up with the GMG study on 1 John and I am so glad I did.  Let me share with you my notes from week 2 of the study of 1 John.

Day 1

1 John 1:5- “This is the message we have heard from Him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.”

Observation
John is passing on what he heard from Jesus.  This is an eyewitness account. Not only is he passing it on, but proclaiming it without a shadow of a doubt.

We see a stark contrast between God who is light and humans who are full of darkness and depravity.  There isn’t a big of darkness in God.

Application
To be able to abide in Christ we can have no darkness.  On our own we can not get rid of our darkness.  It is only through the blood of Jesus that we can abide in Him.

Prayer
Dear Lord, Thank you for providing a way for me to abide in You. In Jesus name, Amen

Day 2

1 John1:6-7- “If we say we have fellowship with Him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.  But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”

Observation
Since God is light, those who walk in darkness are not of God no matter what they say. You can not walk in darkness, i.e. sin, and have fellowship with Him.

Walking in the light means to reflect God’s perfection which is twofold: correct doctrine and moral purity.  We can only know correct doctrine as we are faithful students of His Word.  His Word is also where we learn about moral purity.

Application
We need to be in the Word so we can walk in the light.  When we walk in the light and reflect God’s holiness we will shine on dark places in those around us.  We may ind the world begins to hate us, but take heart Christ has overcome the world.

Prayer
Dear Lord, Give me the courage to continue to walk int he light.  Help me to live the life you have called us to as Christians.  Please give me friends who are doing the same to encourage me along the way. In Jesus name, Amen

Day 3

1 John 1:8-9- “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Observation
I have always known verse nine but never really read it together with verse eight.  What a contrast we see! If we deny we have any sin and try to act righteous we have no truth in us.  But if we own up to our sin and realize we are depraved, confessing it to God, He is faithful to cleans us.

Application
Confess your sin.  Own up to what depraved humans we are.  You will find peace in Christ. He will cleanse you.  We are dependent on Him.  We can’t do it alone.

Prayer
Dear Lord, Thank you for cleansing me from my sin when I confess it. Help me to own up to my own wretchedness and declare my full reliance on You.  In Jesus name, Amen

Day 4

1 John 1:10- “If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”

Observation
You cannot be a Christian and not realize what a wretched , depraved sinner you are.

Application
Humble yourself before God and remember what drew you out of.  Compare yourself to His holiness and throw yourself at His feet.

Prayer
Dear Lord, I am a wretched depraved sinner who must continue to come to you for forgiveness.  Thank you for your grace and mercy.  Help me to never take it for granted.  In Jesus name, Amen

I found Inspired to Action when I heard about the maximize your mornings challenge, which I promptly joined. So far I haven’t been doing that great but better than I was before I started the challenge. Anyway, she has some great posts and in her last post was this video and it was so super encouraging! Take the time to listen. It will make you feel renewed about being a mom. Enjoy!