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II PETER 1;3-11

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ who are having trouble overcoming a sin or obedience, have hope. Every time you feel yourself slipping, pray. You must keep your spirit elevated, that being, close to Jesus.

As Christians, we are promised to be partakers in the divine nature of GAod. This divine nature has all that a believer needs for life and godliness.

We can attain godliness through the knowledge of Christ. The more knowledge, the closer walk is attained. with intimate knowledge brings spiritual power and growth.

We are commanded to apply all diligence to our precious faith and to supply moral excellence to spiritual knowledge by the Holy Spirit, and with knowledge, self-control, and with your self-control, perseverance, and with perseverance, godliness; This list ends with believers caring for other Believers and this brotherly kindness with agape love.

With these qualities, you are fruitful in the true knowledge of Jesus Christ. Awe should work hard in cultivating and having these virtues keep one spiritually elevated in his life. In the latter days, believers will be surrounded by many things that pull them away from Christ. One must be single-minded to endure the adversity that will come. I do believe that has begun as birth pangs.

These virtues are divided into two groups. The first virtues deal with your relationship with God. The last two deal with your relationship with other believers. But both involve your inner life. This all begins with our faith in Jesus and ends with our godly love toward others. But we must grow in each of these virtues or we become ineffective. Many remain baby Christians. Jesus does not want unproductive Christians. We are to grow in grace and knowledge.

If a person is not growing, he is to make certain about his calling (v10). In other words, make sure you are a Christian. There should be evidence in their life that they are a Christian.

Christians, they will have a rich welcome into the kingdom of Jesus Christ when the time comes. Peter knew his time was short when he wrote these letters. Peter wrote these with agape love. Peter wanted them to be the best that they could be for Christ. I am 77 years old. This life has passed quickly. Don’t let yours pass without you being the best you can be for Christ.

Have you pulled off to a “Scenic Lookout” and while standing there it is as though God comes on the breath of a breeze filling you with His presence? It awakens you to His presence carrying His love and peace.

This experience is unexpected by most. A Christian walking with the Lord encounters these moments often. If they are walking close to the Lord, the moment is enhanced.

Those that do not know the Lord, still feel something. That place within them that is reserved for God is stirred. That, in itself, will cause the question to rise, “Who made all of this? Who created all of this? But one can reject God a few times or more and not feel a stirring at all.

We see a glimpse of God in Nature. His invisible power is made known in nature. In nature, we see His character, from tender to all-powerful.

We are without excuse in our rejecting God for nature itself proclaims Him.

Romans 1:20 CSB states:

For his invisible attributes, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what he has made. As a result, people are without excuse.

What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor human heart conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him. I Corinthians 2:9 NRSV

Back in the 1980s and 90’s, I had so many hopes and dreams. One was a nice barn for my horses. A barn made of wood and metal. I even asked for a barn up in heaven instead of a mansion.

One night, I had a dream that I was in heaven. I was standing at the end of a barn. My back was facing most of the barn while I faced the last six stalls. I felt that maybe those were stalls for my horses. I had six horses at the time.

I turned around and saw more stalls. Maybe 100 stalls altogether. But this stable was not made of wood and metal. It was made of emeralds and sapphires. The floor was somewhat white in color.

When I woke, I thanked God for having a better imagination than I did.

Years have passed since that dream. I lost two mares when they were in their 30s. A few weeks ago, I lost one of my beloved stallions, Chairo. He broke his hip. I purchased him and his mother when he was about a week old. He was in his late 20’s, so he gave me many special moments. Moments designed by God. Do you stop at the end of your day and think back to remember moments where God renewed your spirit? Where God gave your spirit new breath.

Our family saw the play “Esther” at the Sight and Sound Theatre in Branson, Missouri. The play keeps the youngest children’s attention, with camels, horses, donkeys, and birds flying overhead. Why would they not be attentive?

God is not mentioned in the book of Esther, but you see Him working in the background, even though a large number of Jews had not returned to Israel. God is working in the background of our lives. This book shows God’s protection and mercy for His people. The Jews include Esther in their writings, so they will know how the “Feast of Purin” began.

Historical records do mention Xerxes, but not Esther, Mordecai, or Shaman. Xerxes and his large harem in Susa are mentioned in other historical records. His fits of rage along with his drinking parties were noted. Now we know why Esther was so afraid to approach him.

Let this book encourage you of God’s faithfulness. God placed Esther in a position to help before she was needed. Esther was placed in a position in one step. Joseph’s position had many steps that took years. Just have your spirit and heart ready.

Psalm 69:13-19 NAS

13 But as for me, my prayer is to THEE, O LORD, at an acceptable time; O God, in the greatness of Thy lovingkindness, Answer me with Thy saving truth.

14 Deliver me from the mire, and do not let me sink; My I be delivered from my foes, and from the deep waters.

15 May the Flood of water not overflow me, And may the deep not swallow me up, And may the pit not shut its mouth on me.

16 Answer me, O LORD, for Thy lovingkindness is good, According to the greatness of Thy compassion, turn to me.

17 And do not hide Thy face from Thy servant. For I am in distress; answer me quickly.

18 Oh draw near to my soul and redeem it. Ransom me because of my enemies!

19 Thou dost know my reproach and my shame and my dishonor; All my adversaries are before Thee.

Here is one of David’s prayers of distress. He is petitioning the Lord for help. He felt as if he would drown in his troubles to the point of death. He was overwhelmed. David did not ask for help because he had done something good. He asked God out of His lovingkindness and mercy. David reminded God of His compassion.

Do family member you love and pray for do not ask you to the family events because you love Christ? It is not because you may share what Christ has done that week in your life, but that they may want to drink or do other things that may make them feel guilty about doing so, if you are there.

Or do you love Christ and love serving Him and then become disabled? But they laugh and say things like, “See God does not care”, or “There is no God.”

This list is endless. We can endure this list knowing Christ is with us. Christ did on the cross except for the time when Jesus asked in Mark 15:2, “My God, My God, Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me?

In Luke 23:24 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”

James 3:8-10,13

8 But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.

9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God.

10 From the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.

No one can tame the tongue even though it is put in a cage behind teeth and lips. Only by abiding in Christ, walking with Him daily, can the tongue be tamed by the Holy Spirit. But Christians can quench the Holy Spirit and allow a poison of hate to flow from their tongue and grievous gossip. The tongue hurts the very people Christ died for.

Remember what Christ said in Acts 9:4. “Sau, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” So, if we do something to another Christian, we do it to Jesus Christ. They are one with Christ.

Back in James 3. I love verse 13. “Who among you is wise and understanding. Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.”

Beloved, gentleness means power under control, spiritual control. Wisdom is measured by deeds and applying truth to life while being humble.

I have mentioned in the past, that the Holy Spirit is our engagement ring to Jesus Christ. Oh, Beloved, I hope you have learned to remain close to Him. The Holy Spirit is the breath of God within us. One can not learn the truth and awe of the scripture without Him. The Holy Spirit is the one that takes scripture from the head and moves it to the heart. There He gives those words illumination to light our path.

The Holy Spirit helps us to pray in the Father’s will. The Holy Spirit helps us to lay them at the feet of Jesus. I imagine then they are discussed with the Father.

Now I do not understand the complete workings of God and how He moves. But this past week I traveled to New Mexico by plane with my husband. I pray for safe travel when flying. On the return home, my husband and I boarded a new plane. The door was closed and we waited to start taxing to the runway. At some point in time, we were suddenly told that the plane was no longer in service and we were to exit the plane and go to a different gate and wait. After everyone left, my husband went to the exit and waited there for my scooter to be brought up from the belly of the plane. I waited in my seat on the third roll. My husband overheard someone talking from near the cockpit. They said, “I could not release the plane with a Code F (something).

Beloved, pray without ceasing. Then in between those breaths, give thanks.