2 Peter 3

verse 11-12: You out to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.

This chapter speaks of the time when the Lord returns. Many people will question when it will be and how long it is/will take {already happening} but Peter says God is just being patient so that no one will perish but "everyone will come to repentance." Wow. Thank you God. He speaks of us preparing for the day by "making every effort to be found spotless, blameless, and at peace with him," and to "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

I know I don't think about such things everyday. Should I? Am I too comfortable living as part of this world? I think just asking the question answers it...

Lord, I pray that every day I make every effort to grow in who you are so that I may be ready for your return. I pray that I can be used as a tool in your goal of seeing everyone come to repentance. I pray that I never allow myself to be content here, that I always look forward to the new heaven and new earth that you have promised. Thank you for who you are and for your promise. Amen.

this week I've gotten sick. It doesn't happen very often so when it does it kind of overtakes me.ugh.

2 Peter 2 is about "False Teachers and Their Destruction" and man, is that destruction harsh.
verse 17-18 "Blackest darkness is reserved for them. For they mouth empty, boastful words and by appeaking to the lustful desires of sinful human nature, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error."
God knows what he is doing. He's got it all figured out. I pray that I found rest in that knowledge. I pray against these false teachers and that I will always be aware; that I may never fall into the trap of such a teacher.

[I have to blow my nose like every two seconds]

Lord, I come to you this morning with a heavy heart. Please be with Grandpa Huntley and Grandma Chris. You know what is happening, I do not. You know what will happen, I do not. I pray for strength and peace in their hearts right now; that they rely on only You. I pray for my momma that she would find rest in who you are and in all your promises. I'm at a loss for words God. Take this heart and make it new, make it true, make it like You. I put my life in Your hands. I pray my grandparents, my mom, and all those who are surrounding them can do the same.

2 Peter 1

verse 4: Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

I find it so AWEsome that God gives us everything we need for success. He provides every avenue of holiness. He provides a way out of the evil and into the goodness of his promises. But how do we pursue those promises?

verse 5-8: 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, godliness; and to godlines, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they wil keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I wonder how often I have been ineffective and unproductive in my knowlege of Jesus...? Way to often!

Lord, I pray that every day I increase in goodness, knowledge, self-control, godliness, mutual affection [ok, don't really know what that means...], and love. I want to participate in Your divine nature! I want to always be effective and productive in my knowledge of who You are.

1 Peter 4 & 5

[Feeling a little frustrated with life today...]
4 verse 7- The end of all things is near you. Therefore be alert and of sober might so that you may pray.

just pray.

Peter talks a lot about suffering. yes, there are very small ways that I am suffering. but not because I am a Christian. I really can't even imagine that. I am so blessed with my community, this country, and my freedom.
my problems seems pretty small in comparison to someone living in the 1st century being persecuted.... yea, my problems seem pretty small...

God, I pray for clarity.

1 Peter 3 talks a lot about the character of a believer. Peter is describing the ways in which a believer should live, act, etc.

For wives, [that includes me!] I should be submissive, pure, reverent, beauty should come from within, gentle and quiet spirit, hope is in God; all of these things describe a holy woman.

Peter also calls us to be like-minded (with other believers), be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble, repay evil with blessing, and to be ready to answer questions about our faith with gentleness and respect.

Man, whoever said being a Christian was easy had no idea!
It is crazy to me that everyday I fail in one [or more!] of these characteristics. How often do I fail to submit to Manny, rarely am I gentle or quiet in spirit, pure-fail, reverent-rarely, humble-no, sympathetic-so often I judge first...

Lord, please keep these words, these characteristics on my heart so that I may be sickly aware of my sin and my need for a Savior. I long to be holy in your sight.

1 Peter 2

verse 4-8: As you come to him, the living Stone- rejected by human beings but chosen by God and precious to him- you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says:

"See, I lay a stone in Zion,

a chosen and precious cornerstone,

and the one who trusts in him

will never be put to shame."

Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,

"The stone the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone,

and,

"A stone that causes people to stumble

and a rock that makes them fall."

They stumble because they disobey the message- which is also what they were destined for.

So it took me some time to figure this out. But these verses stood out to me. I wanted to figure out what Peter meant...

So Christ is the living Stone, with Him as the cornerstone- the foundation, we (the body of Christ) are stones adding and building to His temple. We are a part of the holy priesthood offering sacrifices of holiness and righteousness to God through Jesus Christ.

I want to be holy. I want to live a righteous life. Lord, I pray that I may build up your temple, your kingdom everyday.

what am I truly thankful for?

the Word of God.
inspired. TRUE. blessed. LIFE-GIVING. worshipful.
I need more of God. I need more of the Holy Spirit filling me up. everyday. I need the truth of God's Word written on my heart. I desire to know only God SO much more.
Every day, every week, every night I get frustrated with myself- I let my lazy, sinful, worldly ways get in the way of truly, deeply knowing God. knowing His Word.
I need to change. I need to change. I need a new routine. I need to change. I need to make the Word of God my true priority. [NOT reading emails, facebooks, other blogs]

So what will I do? This blog will be my accountability. Every morning, just as I do now, I will get on the computer, but this time with my Bible by side and instead of reading emails, facebook, and other blogs, I will read and journal about what God is teaching me through His Word. Every-stinking-day I WILL.

So here we go. Day 1.
1 Peter. chapter 1.

verse 14-16. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."
be holy in all you do. be set apart in all you do. be set apart in all I do. in everything I do I must be holy, be set apart, be different from this world, because He is holy. in everything I do, I must be set apart, be holy. as I nanny, in class, as a small group leader, as a wife, as a daughter, and friend. even when I drive, go to the store, or blog. I must be set apart for the world. BECAUSE HE IS HOLY.

verse 23- 25. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For,

All people are like grass,

and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;

the grass withers and the flowers fall,

but the word of the Lord endures forever.

Seems pretty fitting. I need that enduring Word of God in my life. in my heart. in my words.

Lord,
THANK YOU for Your Word. that it is living. that is enduring. that I even have the opportunity to read it. to soak it in. to apply it in my life. to memorize it. to speak it. I pray that you would fill me up. fill me up with your Spirit, your Word, your promises, your life.
More of you and less of me.