Add to Your Faith Goodness

For this very reason, 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 1:5-6 

Since God is love, whoever abides in love abides in God and God in him.

For this reason, God asks us to make an effort to not only have faith, but also goodness.

And knowledge. Then add self-control.

Next pile on perseverence.

And add godliness.

Then mutual affection.

And finally love.

If I possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep me from being unproductive and inneffective in getting to know Jesus personally.

Christ May Dwell in Your Hearts

So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. — Ephesians 3:17-19 

When Christ dwells in our hearts through faith, we are filled with the fullness of God.

My coworker is getting ready to move.

So we met for coffee with her baby.

Kya is now 12 pounds at 5 1/2 months.

She was smiling up a storm before and after this photo!

Her mom is raising her to become a woman of God.

Being rooted and established in love, together with all the Lord's holy people.

To know Christ's love that surpasses knowledge.

That she may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Add to Your Faith Goodness

For this very reason, 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

Today is the Ides of March!

And Friday is St. Patrick's Day.

And our friend Laurie's birthday.

May the luck 'o the Irish be with ye!

And the blessings of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Here's a view of the Del Mar beach in March of 2019.

We're so thankful to God for His amazing creation.

Your Knowledge of Our Lord

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 1:7-8

If we possess the qualities of godliness, affection, and love, God can use us for His purposes.

These qualities will keep us from being ineffective.

They will keep us from being unproductive in our knowledge of Jesus.

Saturday when Abby and I went to Fashion Valley, we were greeted by this Christmas tree.

It wasn't even Halloween yet, and the Christmas decorations were up.

It seems strange to celebrate so early.

But we do want to remember the birth of our Savior.

Every day - not just during the Christmas season.

Grace Was Given

 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. — Ephesians 4:7

Yesterday Kirk and I both got our vaccines.

We slept in today, but I'm feeling great.

A slightly sore arm, and I keep rubbing it to help the vaccine move through my body.

Kirk isn't up yet, so we'll see how he's doing.

Hopefully just as well as I am.

We are thankful for those who volunteered to give it to us

As well as for those who made it possible to have it available so quickly.

Happy May Day!

We give God the glory.

 

We Do Not Compare Ourselves

We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. — 2 Corinthians 10:12

Today my friend Sheri and I will start a new middle school Bible study about not comparing ourselves with our sisters.

We will study the relationship between Rachel and Leah, two sisters who were both marrried to Jacob. 

While he loved Rachel, God blessed Leah with children.

And she kept hoping that the next child would endear her to Jacob, her husband.

As sisters, we compare ourselves and come up short every time.

God does not want us to compare ourselves. 

In fact, He tells us that is not wise.

Here is my sister Becky with my nephew Alex.

Thank you, Lord, for helping us understand Your Word.