Make Every Effort to Add to Your Faith Goodness

Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. — 2 Peter 1:5-8

We can't add these characteristics to our faith without God working in us.

But when the Holy Spirit works in me, goodness and knowledge become possible.

I can't do it on my own.

Jesus has opened the door with His death and resurrection.

Only He can keep me from being ineffectual and unproductive.

And only as I get to know Him personally.

Thank God for You

We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing. — 2 Thessalonians 1:3

I always thank God for my mom.

Her birthday would have been yesterday.

The same day my neice Maggie turned 30.

She helped my faith grow more and more each year.

Answering all my questions about God, why bad things happen in our world, how we should live, and more.

Even as she suffered from small-cell lung cancer, her faith remained strong.

As she was dying, she prayed over each of my siblings and me.

Then she prayed over our children.

A wonderful example of God's love.

Helping our faith grow more and more.

We Thank God for You

We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing. — 2 Thessalonians 1:3 

I thank God for those around me who follow Him.

For the. mentors who have helped me stay on the right path.

And have guided me through life.

Their faith grew more and more.

And their love for Kirk and me continually increases.

I always thank God for their guidance and love.

The saints who have gone before me are rich with God's love.