Lessons from a Pelican

Psalm 139 13-16 (CSB)
For it was you who created my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s
womb. 14  I will praise you because I have been remarkably and wondrously made. Your
works are wondrous, and I know this very well. 15  My bones were not hidden from you
when I was made in secret, when I was formed in the depths of the earth.
16  Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all my days were written in your book and
planned before a single one of them began.

Ephesians 2: 4-10 (CSB)
4  But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, 5  made us
alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!  6  He
also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus,  7  so
that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through
his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.  8  For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is
not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—  9  not from works, so that no one can boast.  10  For
we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared
ahead of time for us to do.

2 Peter 1:3-11 (CSB)
3  His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the
knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.  4  By these he has given
us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine
nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire.  5  For this very
reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with
knowledge,  6  knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with
godliness,  7  godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.  8  For if
you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being
useless or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  9  The person who lacks
these things is blind and shortsighted and has forgotten the cleansing from his past
sins.  10  Therefore, brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and
election, because if you do these things you will never stumble.  11  For in this way, entry
into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly provided for
you.