2 Peter 3:1-18 KJV 1 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: 2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: 3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. 8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. 15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. 17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. 18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

Are you a taker or a giver? Do seek others out, or do they seek you? Or do friends and love ones seek you as much as you seek them? God in his wisdom, calls to our heart to read his word, to know him even after salvation. In fact so much we need to understand that Christ prayed that our spirit would be one with Him and each other. I am speaking of the interworking of the Holy Spirit. Can people backslide from God? Can they truly fall away? The prodigal son, and the lost sheep both found protection and love from the Father. They found their absents was missed, but one had to seek and other to be found. Sometimes people are at a place they need to be found in life and other times they need to search out their own soul. Many of live in a backslidden state almost apostasy. The idea of God not even in our hearts or mind through the day. The conciousness of God waxed dim some might say. Yet in the recesses of the soul there is a little light still shining. You can not get rid of God so easily after receiving as Lord and Savior. Today I want ask several things of why are you reading this sight, is to help in spiritual growth, or is it only to perhaps learn something new, maybe missed in your own study? In truth it not important reason your still reading to me. After fifteen years of writing one either feels to high minded or finds the scripture knocking themselves to their knees over and over again. Some felt this was like a biog, in truth this is not about me necessarily. It is about God, his Son and Spirit. There days though the evil one is highlighted only to explain the depriatity of the crime against humanity he performs, as well as how often when we failing God it may appear we are part of his family and not God's. The prodigal son lived like the devil, partying,and spending all he had. He send one hope that was to return to his father, in hopes to be at the minimum a servant. His father received him as a son. God our Father knows about our weaknesses, what to enable us to overcome, but knows we have to come to a place where our weakness of yielding to temptation or our desire is no more, and our rejection of it is greater then the temptation. Cigarettes are not good for you, but their are worse evils out their, some call it sin others do not, that is for you and God to decide. It not healthy for the body so perhaps more sin then good. However many things we do daily that more dangerous to the body like driving car or going outside. Point being we face death daily. If you watch the news, people are dying because of evil men. Not necessarily because they were in the wrong. Noah preached for 100 years to people who mocked him, only for him to go inside the boat and know the sounds of the wrath of God, if the roaring waves did not cover the screams and the pounding on the side of the boat outside. Noah knew the wrath of God and still got drunk. The world around us is one day going to face the wrath of God while his children watch. None of us can imagine the wrath of God beyond the horrors in the street that occurs or the weather destruction by the hand of God. Yet most know that life in general is good for most people. Why does not God allow the son of perdition to run to and fro through the earth deceiving the world, his sin so gross that it must be locked away forever and ever, he does not have choice as the prodigal son had to return, and the shepherd is not going to be hunting him because he knows where he put him. Who is the sons of perdition. The sons of perdition are the false prophet and the devils that live for themselves, for their greed, for their money, for there wealth and care nothing about anyone elses need beyond what they can gain. Some people even marry for money or help another hoping to steal the heritance of the children. Truth it sad to think of someone not having enough respect to protect people from thieves of all kinds. The devil wants to steal your soul. Wants to steal you away from your inheritance in heaven. He wants you to experience his torment and the wrath of God. Those in sin never want to be alone in the act of sin. If you watch the show cops, you learn that most crimes there is a partner. Some truly innocent going to jail because of the sin of another. Perhaps the one deceived might get off with a light sentence or probation, but it only if the one deceiving the innocent tells the truth. Judas sold Jesus for money. He could not find forgiveness, probably not even of himself for he hung himself seeking God. Yet he was the one called to betray Christ. Christ has a job for the devil and each of those children but their reward for their job, but an eternity of torment. If your backslidden there is hope, if you fail again there maybe hope, but what if you fail to return, then were you of Christ, probably not. Many receive Christ on emotion, never taking the reception to the next level of doing or being a person who was saved and changed by Christ. People run from God like Jonah, who believed in God and was a preacher of righteousness. But Jonah ran because of disobedience from God. Are you running from God or to God? We all run sometimes, and sometimes we yield to temptation. Both types of sin must come with turning away from and obeying God. Our disobedience brings shame to God and His Son, crucifying his Son over for our sins. If a child sins against their parents it brings shame to them if it public sin. See if someone knows your saved are you living as you should. I am talking about being in a crowd of sinners where sin probably still happening and being a witness, I talking about what is that you are verbally saying on social media, or writing. Is what your posting of God. I be honest i see a lot of funny things on social media not of God. Some are brave in posting and others don't care what they post. Out in the world it is like that too. That four letter word slips without meaning too, or one's action and attitudes are just not godly. Does God judge the world in such a fashion that when his children slip up, the world sees and can not see the difference Jesus made in their heart. Sometimes I think it be easier for Christians to tatoo on their forehead or wear a shirt would be better that says all sin and fall short of the glory of God Romans 3:23) Showing the imperfection so we can still be naughty or forgivable from judgment of man? Are we miss using scripture in order to justify sin. Our actions are not justifiable, but a reality of our humanity, God hopes for better things for all of us, to sin not. The son of perdition justifies his actions of sin by lying about his salvation, for his eternity is not the saved person's eternity. As a beleiver our goaled is to follow in Christ footsteps. None of us do it has well as we could or should. God does understand our humanity, but His Son did walk in the perfection of example of faith. Jesus went to a wedding where wine was served and we know there was drinking and drunkness at this party and he made more wine, but did not get drunk. Checking our behavior no matter where we go, is not so no we can not have fun. It is so Christ our Savior is tarnished. None of us do this well. Yet the hope and strive of faith is to walk in obedience to God. learning that lifting bigger weights in a gym takes time to be able to do. No one can lift a new weight increase everyday. Walking in obedience to Christ is a continual work grace in a believers life, because those slip ups are not like a diet, where you secretly indulge but more like a scratch when you bruise your knee. It can be healed, but increase of obedience is slow at times, but then you are able to do more then you thought you could do for Jesus. As you get stronger in the Lord you will get more obedient. As your faith increases you think more on Christ. When your first saved it like opening that one gift at Christmas that you play with everyday, only for a backslider one day lay it aside not because you do not like it anymore or are bored, but you time for it might seem less, or tempation to do something else is greater. Obedience to God even when you want to lay the Bible aside or take a break from God. If you take break from God sin will occur at some point, if not with the need of a break could be sin. Elijah ran to Mount Horeb and seen the power of God, and knew his running was in vain, that God power was greater the kings of the earth. Elijah would come off mount Horeb to face Queen Jezebel and King Ahab prophets. Don't fear the enemy, fear the Lord, for his power is greater. Death come to all of us in God's timing. When the enemy comes, do not fear what he can do to you, but what God can do to you. Know that the promise of the believer is not irrevokable, but the promises of God is witnessed by His Word and Spirit. His Word will not be changed, you have a home in heaven, if you are a believer. Run the race of faith, striving and conquering temptation and evil in your pathway. Pray and seek you and will know the power of God in your life if you will only believe and allow Him to work in your life. Dear Heavenly Father, keep our feet rooted in faith of Jesus, enabling us to grow strong in faith and not to be one of perdition as the devil is. In Jesus precious name, Amen. Continual Scripture Study for Devotion: I Timothy 6:9-12 KJV 9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. Hebrews 6:1-11 KJV 1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this will we do, if God permit. 4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. 7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: 8 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. 9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. 10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. 11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: http://www.turtle30cshell.com