Hopefully you have experienced those moments occasionally in your life where you can really feel God’s presence and his peace, whether that was resolution of a difficult situation in your life, or seeing the amazing beauty of a sunset, or a prayer after communion.

In the Living Bible version of 2 Peter 1:2 Peter writes “Do you want more and more of God’s kindness and peace? Then learn to know him better and better.”

Learning to know him better comes from studying, and meditating on his word, doing what it tells us, and talking with God through prayer.

James says in James 4:8 “And when you draw close to God, God will draw close to you.”

Dear Lord, help us to learn to know you better each day, take steps toward you, and give you the opportunity to draw closer to us and give us your peace. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Psalm 103 is a great text to read and think about to remind us to “count our blessings” It starts out, “Let all that I am praise the Lord, with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!

The chapter continues on with more great reasons to praise the Lord.

I have found that having and adding regularly to what I call a “gratitude list” is a great way to remember the good things God has given us, and keep a positive attitude. Here are some items from my list:

Salvation and the peace it brings
Prayer
Bible
Beautiful Healthy Christian Family
My Health
Born in America
Religious freedom
Democracy, Market Economy
Schools and teachers who care
Smart innovative people who solve our problems with new products
Soldiers committed to defending us and our way of life.
Police and Firemen/women
Church and church family
Relative Peace in the world and security in neighborhood
Beauty of Nature
Modern medicine
Good Friends

In the developed world of 2022 we have so much for which to be grateful. Praise the Lord!

Dear Lord, Praise and thanks to you for all you provide to us. We are incredibly blessed by your love. Help us learn to share that love with others so that we may be a blessing to them. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Peter provides direction to the church leaders in 2 Peter 5:2-4, “Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example. And when the Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honor.”

I think this is direction for all of us on how to lead those we are responsible for, including our families, if we are parents.

Today is my parent’s 63rd wedding anniversary, and they are tremendous Christian examples to their family flock of 17 children spouses and grandchildren (plus 4 dogs). They live as clear examples what Paul describes in Galatians 5:33, “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”

We are all so blessed to be in their flock. Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!

Dear Lord, thank you for the blessing and outstanding example of our parents Paul and Nancy, who lead, guide, and demonstrate their faiths every day, living by the fruit of the Spirit. May we all learn from their example. To your glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

In Matthew 5:44 Jesus tells us to “love your enemies.”

It takes a very mature and self-controlled person to actually care about someone that he or she despises, his or her “enemy.”

Proverbs 24:17 also says, “Don’t rejoice when your enemies fall; don’t be happy when they stumble.” again, very difficult.

Proverbs 25:21-22, has a little different perspective on the effect of loving or being kind to our enemies, that is almost humorous. It says, “If your enemies are hungry, give them food to eat. If they are thirsty, give them water to drink. You will heap burning coals of shame on their heads and the Lord will reward you.”

The Bible is clear that we are not to seek revenge; God reserves that role. However, being nice to our enemies may allow us to get the same message to them but from a caring spirit, in the way God directs.

Dear Lord, thank you for the minds you have given us that allow us to overcome our feelings and forgive those who have wronged us. Give us the strength to take the more mature and higher path and love those who do us wrong. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

David wrote in Psalm 25:1,3, “O Lord, I give my life to you. I trust in you, my God!….No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced,”

The dictionary defines “disgraced” as shamed, humiliated, and dishonored. My takeaway from this passage is that when we trust God, we should conduct ourselves with confidence, trusting in this, God’s promise. There is no guarantee that people will treat us with respect, but it does not matter, because we have the favor of God on us.

David also writes in Psalm 27:1, “The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?”

Dear Lord, we give you our lives, hopes, and dreams and trust ourselves to you. Help us remember to live therefore in the confidence of your love and favor. In Jesus’ name. Amen.