2 Peter 1:5-9

"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, brotherly kindness;

and to brotherly kindness, 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.

But if anyone does not have them,

he is nearsighted and blind,

and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins."

ADD to your FAITH

Faith must be more than belief in certain facts;

it must result in action,

growth in christian character,

and the practice of moral discipline,

or it will die away.

Each of these actions do not come automatically,

they require hard work.

They are not optional,

they must be a continual part of the Christian's life.

We don't finish one and start on the next,

but we work on them all together.

2 Peter 1:1-4

"Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:

Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires."

The knowledge of God

Grace and peace is yours through the knowledge of God and Jesus Christ. We have EVERYTHING we need for life through our knowledge of HIM!!! There are GREAT & PRECIOUS promises hidden in the the pages of the Holy Bible. Do you want the abundant life, and to live with a divine nature? I certainly do, that is what keeps me digging into the scriptures to know God better and discover His purpose for my life.

1 Peter 1;18-28

"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast to what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.

Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

Greet all the brothers & sisters with a holy kiss.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you."

Formula for Peace in Christ

Give thanks in ALL circumstances

Do not quench the Holy Spirit

Hold fast to what is good

Abstain from EVERY form of evil

1 Peter 1:13-18

"Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy.'

And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot."

Be Holy

Is it possible to be Holy? Probably not, for there was only one perfect person who walked the face of this earth. Should that stop us from trying to be holy? Absolutely NOT!!! Christ lived the life that we should pattern our lives after. It was His life that paid the ransom for our lives. It was His precious blood that was shed for our sins. God sees our sins no more, but allows us to be holy in His sight, with out blemish and free from sin IF we continue in our faith.

Before you speak or act, consider one simple thought, What Would Jesus Do? It is simple!

1 Peter 1:8-12

"Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the suffering of Christ and the subsequent glories.

It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look."

I love this time of year

We are in Branson right now, enjoying a quiet time. We have gone to several Christmas shows already and the people here are proud to proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord and He died for our sins. There is no holding back their faith and their praises to God for the birth of His only son Jesus Christ. It is a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus around the world. The GREATEST gift that God could have given humanity.

Immanuel , God with us, has greater meaning this year than it did last year, as I grow in my faith and knowledge of the scriptures.

Stop and listen to the words of the Christmas carols, look for the way the Holy Spirit is present in different activities you are participating in. Allow God to use you to show the love of Christ in a new and meaningful way. This is not a magical holiday, it is a Holy season of reflection and rededication to the One who gave us such a precious and priceless gift.

1 Peter 1:6-7

Though we greatly rejoice in the knowledge of our salvation, "now for awhile you may have to suffer grief in all kinds of trials, these have come so that your faith of which is greater than gold; (which perishes when refined by fire,) may prove genuine and may result in praise glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed."

Do we have to suffer grief?

If we didn't go through the fire, how could we truly prove that our faith is genuine. It is easy to trust God when life is going swell, when blessings are being sprinkled on us and our loved ones. But the real test of a Christian is how well we rely on God's promises when trials come, when unexpected occurrences change our life, when sadness gripes our hearts because of circumstances that are beyond our control.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart.

Lean not on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge Him.

And He will make your paths straight.

He works EVERYTHING for the good

to those who love Him!

1 Peter 1:1-5

"Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

to God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood:

Grace and peace be yours in abundance.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade - kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time."

God's Chosen

I am God's chosen, a stranger in this world, sanctified by the Spirit of God for obedience to Jesus Christ! I have a living hope because Jesus was resurrected from the dead, and by his death I have received an inheritance, which awaits me in heaven. No one can take it away from me and it will never perish, fade or spoil, like other treasures on earth.

Is that good news or what???