Day 7 - Week 36 - 1 John 1:7 "But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, then we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin."

Back home again after a wonderful time with Robert's brothers and sister, Don, Gary and Mary and their spouses, Freddie, Deb & Shorty.  Couldn't ask for a more fun group to spend a long weekend with.  We always spend so much time laughing (and eating!) and just having a good time.

I've said before that I've been blessed with good Christian friends, but I don't know if I've ever paid tribute to the good Christian family that I was born into.  My mother and daddy raised me and my two sisters, Mary and Rita, in a home where there was no doubt as to their faith and their absolute desire for their children to become Christian women with a strong, unwavering trust in God.  Mother and Daddy did their very best to always walk in the light, not only because they knew that's where their lives would be the most blessed, but also because they so wanted to be good examples to their children.  And they were...I continually hold them up as my pattern of living, and I usually fall short. 

Not it's my turn as a mother and grandmother to continue to make it my goal to walk in the light, turning away from the darkness, so that my children and grandchildren can see the difference that such a life walk makes.  Robert J. Morgan makes this statement about our verse this week:

John was writing to church members, encouraging them to walk in the light and to confess their sins in order to keep their relationship with the Lord sweet and strong. 

That's what I would really like my children and grandchildren to see exhibited in my life...a sweet and strong relationship with the Lord.  Something that is so appealing to them, that they want the very same type of relationship.  Something that they see that they just would not want to miss out on. 

Morgan goes on to say something more about the closing of the verse that is also a very good reminder to us about the importance of confession:

Perhaps there is a sin into which you repeatedly fall.  It's unhealthy to allow that sin to remain unconfessed.  If we know Jesus as our Savior, we don't lose our salvation every time we sin, but we do lose something of the sweetness we should have with our heavenly Father.  We lose a clear conscience and an untarnished walk.  How wonderful to confess our sins and walk in the light as He is in the light.

Makes me realize that unconfessed sin, and repeated sin that I'm not turning from, starts snuffing out the light of God in my life.  More and more darkness creeps in and God's way is not as easily seen.  IF I'm going to have the kind of faith walk that will make my life an appealing one to those who are most important to me, then I must be mindful of the sin in my life that is trying to go unnoticed.  Admitting my sin, confessing it and claiming Christ's blood over it, allows the light to shine brighter and keeps my relationship with my Father open and honest and sweet.

Shine, Jesus, shine!!  Bring all my sinfulness into the light so that I can truly see anything that is offensive to You,  for it is You that I live for and You are the One that it is my pleasure to please!