This is TRUTH.

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

1 John 1:9


I like this verse a lot. If you're just joining us, or passing by, or perhaps you have been here a while and forgot, I named this blog Aletheia because Aletheia is the greek word for truth.


Truth.


Allow that word to sink in for a moment. What is truth? Sometimes truth is hidden beneath a surface of confusion, deceit, lies, or misconception. Other times, truth is the elephant in the room that no one wants to admit is there. When truth is revealed and acknowledged, only then can it shine its light on our lives and purify that misty surface or stuffy room.


Today I want to discuss the truth found in 1 John 1:9 (and to credit my source, I got the idea of this verse from Bethannie who posted this as her status on FB). Sometimes it seems as though we walk around with the notion that God already forgave us, so we can go on living our lives however we wish and just know that you're forgiven, whether you're actually sorry or not.


But what about this verse? It says, if we confess our sins...THEN God can forgive them and CLEANSE us from them.


So what does that mean? Well, if you read the verse before and after that, it explains: "If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the TRUTH. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts." (1 John 1:8, 10)


Wow. So if we don't confess that we have sinned and ask for God's forgiveness, we are actually calling God a liar? No matter how much we convince ourselves or others that we have done nothing wrong, we are calling God a liar and his word has no place in our hearts. Ouch. That's pretty serious. So what do we gain from that?


Nothing.


What do we gain from humbling ourselves, confessing we were wrong, and asking for forgiveness?


Eternity.


You know, this makes me think of an email I received this morning. I won't go into much detail, but a few years ago when I was in college I was renting out a house with another girl. You know when you're starting off in life and perhaps haven't lived with other people before, it takes some adjusting. Well, there wasn't very much "adjusting" going on, and I ended up moving out. We tried to leave on a good note, but we just weren't seeing eye-to-eye.


This morning I went on my Facebook and had a message in my inbox from this girl apologizing for our failed attempt as roommates. Even though it was about 3 or 4 years late, I really appreciated that email. That email alone was a victory for God's truth. She not only took a stand to bring peace to the situation, but she just took a stand for God, and has finally been able to be purified of the situation. I had to do the same. But we couldn't forgive each other fully until we asked God and asked each other for forgiveness.


1 John 1 is all around a good chapter, but let me share one more verse from this chapter that shows us that when we allow victory for God's truth and God's forgiveness of ourselves, we are also allowing fellowship with each other. So, we're actually feeding our relationships with other people when we admit that we're wrong to ourselves, to God, and to each other. It is then when we finally choose to die to ourselves, and live in Christ. 


"But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.


Regardless of who you are, Christ cannot wash us clean of sin if we don't admit that we have sin! That is exactly what this chapter is saying! What do we gain from that? Self satisfaction, thinking we're right? No! We gain NOTHING. If anything, you'll lose your relationships with other people, you'll lose the chance at a pure relationship with God, you will lose your opportunity for a full, pure life. Is that really worth it? Is it really worth losing all of that just so you could say you were right? I desperately hope your answer is no.


This is truth. This is Aletheia. I'm taking this straight out of the bible. Let me reiterate one more time:


"But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.


If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth.


But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.


If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts."


1 John 1:7-10


I hope this speaks to you today. I know it has spoken to me. Take some time today and read through 1 John. It's an amazing book that tackles sin and loving God over the things and ways of the world. There are only 5 chapters in the book of 1 John, and I invite you to read through them and discover truth. Feel free to post your thoughts and experiences. I would love to read them. :)


Blessings and aletheia.

Viewer Discretion Advised

If you or someone near you is still battling with the theology of Santa Claus, you may want to stop reading now.

I remember in third grade I still believed in Santa. Kind of. At this point, I wasn't sure. I remember my classmates were debating whether Santa was real or not. You had one group that would say for sure that Santa wasn't real. Another group fully believed he was. I believe I was on the fence.

You see, up until I was questioned about it, I never questioned it myself. I just believed. It was simple as that. So how did it come to me asking, "Why do I believe in Santa? Why don't these people believe in him?  Why don't I have a more solid foundation to support my thesis???" (Okay so, I probably didn't even know what a thesis was at the time...) Point is, I was very confused and was looking for answers.

Don't we do the same with God? I know not everyone grows up in the church, but so many times the bible talks about having "faith like a child." We're human and we can't comprehend certain things. My husband and I were just watching a video by Francis Chan where he talks about how it can be difficult to believe in God simply because we can't comprehend the fact that we aren't capable of comprehending everything. He put it this way: "My mind goes to Romans 9 where God compares me to a piece of clay...Wow, that means i'm like a piece of clay trying to explain to other pieces of clay what the potter is like. Think about that for a second." It's humbling, because you can't be an expert on the creator unless he reveals who he is to you. As scripture states in Isaiah 55, His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. Our ways are not as His ways. His thoughts and His ways are in the Heavens. They are that much higher than ours. Our thoughts and ways are waaay down here on earth trying to make their way higher than they're actually capable of going. So the first step is accepting that we aren't experts, we don't know everything, we need to swallow our pride and acknowledge that the Creator knows what he's doing. He sees everything. All we see is what's in front of us at the time.

"What about all the horrible things that happen? All the evil and illnesses and death?" Again, those things go way deeper than we realize. Just as darkness is the absence of light, and cold is the absence of heat, so is evil the absence of God. But that's a whole other discussion. :)

To have faith like a child doesn't mean you have to be ignorant or delusional, it simply means to accept that you don't, and won't, know everything. Be humble, and trust.

A funny little tidbit that I posted in 2006 about Santa Claus:

"So I was sitting in my composition class when a thought had crossed my mind. What am I going to tell my kid(s) about Santa some day? I mean, I want them to know about Jesus's birth above all. However, I don't want them to go to school telling all their friends that Santa isn't real or be upset because we spoiled it for them. And I certainly don't want them to feel left out being all not believin in Santa. But how do you let them be all Santa-crazy but still understand and celebrate the Christian meaning of Christmas? Because we especially don't want our kids getting selfish at Christmas time, only doing nice things to receive things.

So then I thought of something...use Santa Claus to teach your kids about BLESSINGS! We can teach them that not only if they act good, but if they TRULY have good intentions and BLESS other people with kindness and The Good News they TOO will be blessed :D BUT instead of just counting up who's naughty or nice he's really counting how much they blessed other people without expecting anything in return. :D AND We won't tell them if Santa is real if they ask us, because then they will be compelled to search for the real truth. Therefore, we will also make theologians out of them :D

And when they find out that Santa isn't real and they're all sad, you can be all like "It's okay Jesus lives forever and ever amen!!" "

Listen closely...you don't want to miss this.

Sometimes forgiveness is difficult. One hurt piles on top of another, then another, then another...and for months, even years you may carry that weight on your shoulders. Perhaps you want to forgive, but you're afraid that forgiving will make you vulnerable, or it will make you open game for that person to harm you again. I know. I've been there. I AM there.

Where can we start? I was reading through some verses I highlighted with every bright utensil I could find (apparently I wanted to draw my future self's attention to these verses again) and right after, discovered some quotes on the same matter. It's there that the answer found me: start with yourself, and also start with praying for that person.

"Put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, accepting one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a complaint against another."

Colossians 3:12-13

"Praying about a person we need to forgive is the means by which we tip the pitcher heavenward and slowly begin to pour our negative feelings and frustrations out to God."

Beth Moore "Praying God's Word"

Now listen closely...this part is especially important. How do I know? Because it is cross-referenced from the Old Testament to the New Testament...apparently someone thought it was important enough to reinstate:

"Don't sin by letting anger control you.

Think about it overnight and remain silent."

Psalm 4:4

"Stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. And "don't sin by letting anger control you." Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.

If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. 

And do not bring sorrow to God's Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he had identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you."

Ephesians 4:25-32

Perhaps you feel that you have already failed. You allowed anger to control you. You constantly felt the bitterness in your heart. But now you can change that. Ask for God's forgiveness, forgive yourself, and forgive the person you feel wronged you. Pray for them. Pray for yourself to have the ability to forgive in compassion. It's not always easy. But that's why we need God to intervene. 

"May the Lord answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you. May he send you help."

Psalm 20:1