Update on Family and Rewards of Faithfulness

I'm back! :)

Ah okay, I have time this morning to do my devotions. I've missed sitting here. Anyways, first an update for you all.

We've had a busy week with Jim gone. Monday we worked on the rose garden, moving the last rose that Jim wanted in the rose garden over. While I dug and moved plant and dirt Justin played in the leftover soil. THEN he stepped on a nail. Unhappy boy. VERY unhappy. Bad owie in his foot. Called the doc, his tetanus is up-to-date just watch for infection. Soak in salt water as often as you can. That kinda halted the rest of the days plans. He can't walk, he feels very badly for himself,so after he had a nap (we both napped for a while in the big chair) we went to the store to get supper. Hotdogs (Justin's choice) .. I just wanted this sad, sore little boy to eat and he wanted hotdogs so we got some. Ate like a little piggie he did. :)

Must say though, by the end of the day he figured out that he could get around by turning the garbage pail upside down and using that to support himself. I told him he was a big and smart boy to figure that one out. :) We also partially got the kitchen and living room cleaned.

Tuesday (yes, that was yesterday right?). Ah did we get alot done. Laundry, the lawn mowed front AND back! (took a while as the lawn mower is scary and J wanted me to hold him frequently) Rabbits moved around, the garage partially cleaned, finished the living room (only to have a crawler totally mess it up again!!!!) Why oh Why do they feel that compulsion??? We even had a lovely, lovely walk at the dam with Sassy. Justin wanted to call Gramma where he proceeded to tell her all about his owie foot and all he did that day.

Today is Wednesday, I hope to build a rabbit cage, and possibly move some firewood so I can have all the rabbits in one spot along the house --- I'll shove the bunnies under the hedge. :) Wouldn't that be nice???? What else? I have no clue...Oh...I want to get my sorting cupboards sliding door thingeys all sorted out. No... I can't think of the official names for them.

Chatted a bit with Jim, he's having a good time. Listened to some good speakers too.

Anyways, on to more important things now.

Last time we met for devotions we talked a bit about these verses in 2 Timothy 2 :

8Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, 9 for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! 10Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11The saying is trustworthy, for:

If we have died with him, we will also live with him; 12 if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; 13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful—

for he cannot deny himself.

And like I do, I've continued thinking on them a bit. Especially those words in verse 11-13:

If we have died with him, we will also live with him; 12 if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; 13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful—

for he cannot deny himself.

If we endure, look at the result.

• die with him = live with him
  
• endurance = reigning with him
  
• deny him = be denied
• be faithless = he remains faithful for he cannot deny himself

Interesting isn't it?
Our behaviour makes a difference in what happens.
We shouldn't be surprised that if we deny Christ that when it really matters he will in turn deny us. We should be alert though.... even if we are faithless, he remains faithful. Faith is IN Christ. See that? Even if we are faithless he remains faithful because he can't deny himself. So that implies that faith is in him. Not in the things of this world, or made up gods, faith is in him. He is that constant in our lives. Be faithful in Christ, reap the rewards of enduring and dying with him. Don't deny him or you'll ended up being denied. Not something I want, or I'm sure you either. Let's just be faithful.

Vacation Report - May 2008

Jim had a week off work.
It was filled with this that and the other thing. :)

Go here for stuff that Jim did. Van work, garden work and such like.

Go here for our trip to the zoo. Warning this is fairly picture laden.

We also spent the weekend attending as volunteers at the Regionals trials for the Agility Association of Canada. We had a lot of fun. Saw a lot of dogs run. Some really good, some well... some that needed to do some more work on handling skills and/or focus. As volunteers we were treated well, though I found not as many messages of appreciation thrown my way as last year, thought that a bit odd. But hey, I did my job as best I could and had fun doing it. I stewarded, Jim ring crewed on Saturday. Sunday morning we listened to a sermon on the radio, and both of us ring crewed for the duration of the day. Jim received a Starbucks card for his help, I picked up a shirt and some pretty candles for helping out. OH! and in the Saturday raffle I won a new chair! Cool eh? Justin and Sassy stayed at gramma's house.

This morning Jim left at 700 a.m. to go the banner of truth Trust conference that he attends annually. He took a fellow pastor from town down with him.

So that's it. Justin and I will hold down the fort here this week. Jim will hopefully recoup some energies and life continues under God's good graces.

Cheers all!

What am I willing to endure for the elect?

Continuing on in 2 Timothy 2 we find these verses:

8Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, 9 for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! 10Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11The saying is trustworthy, for:

If we have died with him, we will also live with him; 12 if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; 13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful—

for he cannot deny himself.

I read this, and the first thought out of my brain was....what am I willing to endure for the sake of the elect of God?

Paul was willing to endure imprisonment, beatings, and other such sufferings for the sake of the gospel, for the sake of the elect of God.

What am I willing to endure?

Am I willing to endure anything that one more person might come to know Christ?
How important is this to me?

If I am honest, I have to admit, though it is important to me....I don't want to go to prison, I don't want to lose my home, I don't want to be ridiculed unfairly, I just don't want to. I want to live my life quietly, I want to just talk to people about Christ, I want my life to be an example of Christ. I don't want to have all that suffering and so forth. Am I supposed to want it? To seek it all for the name of Christ?

Would I put up with it if I needed to, for the sake of God's chosen, knowing that in Christ, come what may, I'll still be okay?
I don't know.

What do you think?

Do your job well

So I've been a bit busy and distracted this week. Jim's been on holidays, he's had a couple of days when he's been either really tired, or not feeling up to par. But none-the-less it hasn't been too bad of a week thus far. Yesterday we had hoped to go the zoo, but the weather disagreed with us, we took a trip of errands to London instead. I sold another bunny, Jim got his passport, picked up some free meat for the dog, had supper at the Flying J (collect points so save money on gas) and picked up the steam cleaner at mom's so that the van can be well-cleaned before Jim goes to the banner next week. Discovered last night that the new windshield in the van leaks. Jim is rather very much unimpressed as that puts other plans (the zoo) on hold AGAIN. ARGH!!!!!!

Ah well, life happens as God wills it.

Anyways, I've been thinking some more on the bible passage I was looking at the other day.

1You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. 5 An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. 7Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.

Last time I talked about how a soldier needs to stay involved with what he is doing. His aim should be to please the one who enlisted him, not to get involved with what civilians think is important.

But consider the following verses as well....an athlete only wins the sport IF he completes according to the rules. So if you are out in a walking race and run...even if you come in first, you still lose. A soccer player can't play a game of soccer if he tackles someone as if he's playing football.

A farmer works his fields and because HE does the work, he gets first dibs in what comes off the fields. That only makes sense doesn't it? Mind, if the farmer doesn't do the work, then he can't actually claim anything can he? (there'd be nothing to claim)

Do the job you are appointed to.
Do the job well.

This is what we are called to as believers. To do the job of being a believer in Christ to the best of our ability. To focus on pleasing God - not the world, To do things in a manner which pleases God (following the rules), and to reap the rewards of our hard-work. Being a true believer in God isn't always so easy, but the rewards are outstanding! :)

Bogged down or Reliance?

I was reading these words of God this morning:

1You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. 5 An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. 7Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.

and I was struck by this verse:

No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.

I had to stop and consider that for a moment. Have you ever noticed how easy it is to get caught up in the here and now that one forgets what one is actually here for?

I am here, on this earth, to bring glory to God, to enjoy him for all of who he is, and to help others to see him as well. Basically means I'm here to live out my faith in a manner which pleases God.

BUT...I get caught up in ....reading this or that book . or scrapbooking this or that event/life etc, or just doing my grocery shopping. I forget so often my MAIN point of living...to live out my faith in a way which brings glory to God. And then when I realize this I think to myself...ACH!!!! Woman Think about what you are doing!!!!!!

And here God's word tells me that I need to be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus. I don't have to do it all...at least I don't have to do it all in my own strength. I can rely on Christ to get me through. To help me remember what my aim is as a believer in God. He will help me be the "soldier" I'm supposed to be. It's not easy, but I don't need to do it all under my own strength.

Ah...that God would help me to rely on him all the more.

Really, I was better than this :)

You paid attention during 69% of high school!

68-84% Pretty good, you know that there are libraries and newspapers, and you remember what you've read. You were a child that wasn't left behind!

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Ending 2 Timothy 1

The last few words from 2 Timothy 1:

13 Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.

15You are aware that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes. 16May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains, 17but when he arrived in Rome he searched for me earnestly and found me— 18may the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that Day!—and you well know all the service he rendered at Ephesus.

The last time I did my devotions I was reminded of why I am not ashamed of the gospel. I saw that like Paul I was called of by God. That all I need to do is cling to him because he'll handle all the rest.

Here I read that Paul is telling Timothy to follow what he has learned from him. He needs to do this with faith and love that are found in Christ. To use the Holy Spirit to guard what he knows (the good deposit entrusted to him). The Holy Spirit dwells within all believers, he acts as a guard, helping us to know what is truth from what is not truth.

Then Paul goes on to talk about some people that turned away...people such as Phygelus and Hermogenes.

He also talks about Onesiphorus, who often helped Paul. Onesiphorus sounds like a man with a heart to help others. He had to search for Paul in Rome, and when he did, he helped him, not being ashamed of Paul's chains, but refreshing him. He was also a help in Ephesus. Paul prays that God will grant him and his household mercy.

Now that's a good thought. To pray for mercy for those who are of help to their fellow believers. To not just thank God for them, but to pray that God will grant mercy to them. I like that.

Therefore.....

8Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 10and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, 12 which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me. 13 Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.

These words move us along in this first chapter in 2 Timothy. Verse 7 reminded us that we have not been given a spirit of fear but rather we have been given a spirit of power and love and self-control. THEREFORE we should not be ashamed of the gospel. We should not be ashamed if we are made prisoners or persecuted or anything because of our faith. Rather we should know that we share in Christ's suffering, that we have been saved by Christ, that we are called with a holy calling and this is all done by the power of God. Nothing I have done influences this decision, it is all God. All I need to do is live in it.

Think about that for a moment. I know that I find immense comfort in it. Knowing that it's ALL God. It's not me at all. I so easily see my frailties and wrongs and think that I'll never get it all together as a believer and then I read these words and realize.... I DON"T HAVE TO. All I have to do is cling to my Lord and my God. That's it! Now yes, clinging is an action...it's not just a being... but it's a total dependence. That's what we need to do you know, is totally depend on God. It's all his doing. From our creation, to our salvation, to our being held to him. It's all God.

THEREFORE do not be ashamed.
THEREFORE do the job that he has called you to.
THEREFORE if you suffer, know that you are sharing in the suffering of Christ.
THEREFORE know what you believe in.

The Truth about Oil

Jim found this article.

Some clipped sections:

A recent survey on the environment found that seventy percent of people worldwide think that the planet is running out oil. Only less than one quarter believe that there is enough of it to keep it as a primary source of energy. Petro pessimism runs especially high in the United States where a full two thirds think that the point of depletion is within sight.

Here are some hard facts.

According the Energy Information Administration as of January 2007 there was more than 1.3 trillion barrels of proved crude oil on earth. Even if this were all the oil on the planet there would be no immediate danger of shortages, because at the current rate of consumption – roughly 85 million barrels a day – this supply would last for more than 40 years.

A recent survey on the environment found that seventy percent of people worldwide think that the planet is running out oil. Only less than one quarter believe that there is enough of it to keep it as a primary source of energy. Petro pessimism runs especially high in the United States where a full two thirds think that the point of depletion is within sight.

Here are some hard facts.

According the Energy Information Administration as of January 2007 there was more than 1.3 trillion barrels of proved crude oil on earth. Even if this were all the oil on the planet there would be no immediate danger of shortages, because at the current rate of consumption – roughly 85 million barrels a day – this supply would last for more than 40 years.

and

But there is more to the story. So far we have only been considering crude oil, but crude is not the sole source of this strategic commodity. There are far greater amounts of it locked in other materials such as shale, coal and tar sands.

Proven technologies exist to obtain oil from these resources but they have not yet been widely exploited, because until quite recently the extraction costs – ranging from $40 to $90 per barrel – exceeded the market price. The currently high and rising prices, however, are quickly turning these methods into potentially profitable ventures.

With many companies positioning themselves to take advantage of the opportunity, we are witnessing the birth of a giant industry and one that might eventually eclipse that in crude oil. This is because the estimated global deposits of recoverable shale oil alone exceed three trillion barrels. This is more than twice the world’s current crude oil reserves.

and

All this should make one thing amply clear – there is enough oil to go around for a very long time. Even on conservative assumptions – accelerating consumption and few new discoveries – earth’s oil supplies should last for at least a century.

This, however, is the worst case scenario. We can be reasonably certain that new exploration and advancing technologies will in coming years greatly add to the quantities of available oil. So much so that Morris Adelman, Professor Emeritus in Economics at Harvard, has argued that the ‘amount of oil available to the market over the next 25 to 50 years is for all intents and purposes infinite.’

The notion that this planet is running out of oil is one of the great misnomers of our age. There is more oil available today than there was a hundred, fifty or ten years ago. And there is every indication that this trend will continue into the future. Instead of lamenting that we are running out of it, it would be far more accurate to say that we are constantly bumping into new oil. This is why two years ago the Economist headlined an article on the topic The Bottomless Beer Mug.

The general public, however, is largely ignorant of these facts. The divergence between the conventional wisdom and reality could hardly be any wider. Profoundly misinformed and alarmed, people place false hopes in misguided alternatives. Rather than implementing harmful, inefficient and expensive substitutes, we should insist that our government lift the obstacles which prevent us from availing ourselves of this superabundant resource.

Thank God for Ability to Pray

3 I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. 4 As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. 5I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. 6For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

These words come to us from 2 Timothy 1.
When I first read verse 3 I thought HUH? What's Paul talking about here, and then as I went to see what the e-sword commentators would have to say about it, I realized he was talking about his family and how they raised him up in the fear of the Lord. As Barnes tells us :

Paul reckoned among his forefathers the patriarchs and the holy men of former times, as being of the same nation with himself, though it may be that he also included his more immediate ancestors, who, for anything known to the contrary, may have been distinguished examples of piety. His own parents, it is certain, took care that he should be trained up in the ways of religion...

So Paul is thankful for the upbringing that he had - he can serve God with a clear conscience. He goes all to tell Timothy that he prays for him all the time. He is thankful to God that he can pray for Timothy.

Hmm....now that's a thought isn't it? When have you ever expressed thankfulness to God that you can pray to him? It's not something I think of regularly to do. Probably should. As Clarke says

"The apostle thanks God that he has constant remembrance of Timothy in his prayers. It is a very rare thing now in the Christian Church, that a man particularly thanks God that he is enabled to pray for Others."

Paul remembers Timothy for his tears and for his sincere faith. He longs to see him again. He wants to be filled with joy just by being with this young man.

I read those words and I can't help but think how encouraged this young pastor must have felt reading those words. I know the support and care and prayers that he had through Paul.

Makes me think.....I need to tell the young people that I pray for how much I care and love and support them as they move into the larger world of work and business and showing their faith to the larger world around them.

The benefits of being raised in a faith filled home are mentioned here. :) Paul is sure that the faith his mom and grandmother had is residing in Timothy. Just as Paul's upbringing was something he was thankful for, I get the impression is also thankful for the upbringing that Timothy had (and in someways would remind Timothy to also be thankful). Certainly reading this has made me thankful for the way my parents raised me up in the church. :)

BUT that's not enough folks. It's not enough to be raised up in the church with faith-filled parents. We have the responsibility to fan into flame the gift of God that is in us. We don't have to be afraid. God gave us a spirit of power and of love and of self-control. We need to exercise what we've been given. Don't rest on the laurels of our parents, but take some responsibility for the faith that we ourselves possess.

Thank God for it, pray for others, let them know so they can be encouraged, and fan into flame the gifts that God has given. Do this.

Justin with Mayin's babies

My buggy is starting to feel somewhat better from his bad cold, though he still naps because of it. He took a late nap (6-8) and then was full of beans for the rest of the evening. This is how we helped alleviate some of his beaniness. :)

can you spot them?

See the mommy cat? :) (for the uninformed, Justin is the mommy cat).

watch a horsey show! He has them all lined up facing my writing desk. :)

Here he's changing the channel to the horse station.
This was just before he thought he put them UP in the desk to watch TV closely and discovered that bunnies hop away into corners when given the opportunity.
Late night cries of frustration were not so good to have so, they soon went back on the coffee table to watch TV again.

Intro to 2 Timothy 2

Here are the opening words from 2 timothy 1:

1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus,

2To Timothy, my beloved child:

Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

This is a book written by Paul.

Paul is an apostle of Christ Jesus by God's will. This is according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus.

It is written to Timothy, who Paul calls his beloved child.

Paul extends a greeting "grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord".

Looking at this a bit more...
Paul was chosen by God to be an apostle. It wasn't Paul's decision, it was God's good pleasure that made Paul an apostle. It was God's good pleasure, God's choice that gave Paul life in Christ Jesus.

One of the e-sword commentators mentioned that the word used for "beloved child" implied a measure of respect. Timothy had showed himself to be a man of God, and since he was younger in years, Paul claimed him as a spiritual son. This is how JFB put it :

But this {thinking of it as mere love or affection} seems to me not justified by the Greek word agapetos, which implies the attachment of reasoning and choice, on the ground of merit in the one “beloved,” not of merely instinctive love.

And then what I think of as a standard greeting is issued to Timothy. Grace, mercy and peace. All three. Shows that grace and mercy are different. He is asking for God's favour to be on Timothy, for God's mercy to be shown him, and for him to be free from the affects of war on his life. This all from God the Father and Christ Jesus the Son.

Today's Expenses

Our not quite so local solid Christian bookstore is moving. They are moving from Guelph to Kitchener. Saving rental costs and getting a bigger space. Heinz is looking forward to the move.
They are having a 40-80% off sale. :)

Jim was excited.

We took a chance with a boy suffering from a bad cold and headed down to Guelph.
Justin did fairly well until he put a hole in his bottle nipple and then he just had a melt-down. I left Jim to look at books and Justin and I headed to the local wal-mart to get a new bottle nipple for him. He's still not too impressed because we couldn't find "just the right one" for him.

And no... I need no comments about him still having a bottle.
he's a good boy with two areas of VERY strong will, his bottle is one of them. But he's getting better with it. :)

Anyways, we came back to a hubby/daddy who was looking pleased.
I looked at a few books, came up with some I thought would be useful with Justin. :)
No, I didn't look for myself, I trust Jim to know what I like/need. And right now I have enough to read and do.

We thought we were all done and some friends of Jim's came in so he chatted with them for a while. As he did so, Justin discovered some story books that he liked. Dad said, sure you can get them, so he did. :)

We left with a hungry and tired boy. (he was hungry!!!! yeah!!! He's getting better, he wants more to eat than chocolate milk!!!!!) Got him food (fries and a slice of cheese), he was much happier, he napped in the car. I left him in it while I emptied the van. H even ate a bit for supper. Ah...good to have a boy who's starting to feel better.

Anyways, spent a bit of money for a lot of books. Fun times. :)

Justin's had a bad cold

In case people have wondered where I've been.

Justin's had a bad cold.
Bad enough that he's been sleeping with me so that I can care more easily for him.

Not much sleep.
Busy days reading books upon books upon books, interspersed with other stuff.

He's getting better, but life has been tough for a wee lad.

Praise!

My neighbour does not have cancer!

Wow....all indications were that she did.
But she got a clean bill of health from her family doctor AND the specialist.
Life is good.

She is so happy and so relieved and was very grateful for our prayers.

So YEAH GOD! :)

Introduction to Second Timothy

Today we leave 1 Timothy behind as we delve into the next book that Paul wrote to young pastor, Timothy. I expect that Paul will continue teaching Timothy more of the same that he started with the first letter to him. To be alert to false teaching, to stand firm for the gospel and such like. I went to e-sword to see what the commentators there would have to say.

Gill helps me to see more clearly how this book will progress:

The design of it is to stir up Timothy to the faithful and diligent discharge of his duty, as a minister of the Gospel; to abide constantly by the truths of it, and to animate him to suffer patiently, cheerfully, and courageously for the sake of it; and to warn him against false teachers, and their errors, who were already risen, and would afterwards arise, and be followed by such who had itching ears, and could not bear sound doctrine; but this should be no discouragement to him in the prosecution of his work; and lastly to desire his presence with him at Rome, being now destitute of his several assistants.

This is probably the last book that Paul wrote. Paul is an old man now, aware that his time on earth is growing shorter. He writes to Timothy encouraging him as a Christian.

JFB has this to say:

Paul was anxious to see his disciple Timothy, before his death, and that Timothy should bring Mark with him (2Ti_1:4; 2Ti_4:9, 2Ti_4:11, 2Ti_4:21). But feeling how uncertain it was whether Timothy should arrive in time, he felt it necessary, also, to give him by letter a last warning as to the heresies, the germs of which were then being scattered in the Churches. Hence he writes a series of exhortations to faithfulness, and zeal for sound doctrine, and patience amidst trials: a charge which Timothy seems to have needed, if we are to judge from the apostle’s earnestness in urging him to boldness in Christ’s cause, as though Paul thought he saw in him some signs of constitutional timidity (2Ti_2:2-8; 2Ti_4:1-5; 1Ti_5:22, 1Ti_5:23).

And PNT adds this:

Timothy, his "beloved son" in the gospel, was still laboring in distant Ephesus, but the aged apostle, about to go to rest from his weary labors, desired to see him once more in the flesh. Hence, he bids him come, as speedily as possible; but, lest he might arrive too late to receive his parting words, he impresses upon him in this letter, with the earnestness of a last charge, the various duties of his office, and especially of opposing the dangerous heresies which threatened to destroy the vitality of the Christian religion.

Overall, it sounds like a book relevant for the age we live in. May I learn much from it and take it all to heart.

Lessons Learned

When one is tired, and is dealing with a tired boy, getting frustrated and angry doesn't help. What helps is redirection of a tired child. :)

Scenario....had a busier day than planned.
Boy had napped but wasn't quite himself as the day was getting on.
HE wanted to "help" mommy do dishes by washing all his trucks in my rinse water.

I was finding that rather inconvenient so removed said child to the living room.
This resulted in angry child and a getting REALLY frustrated and bordering on angry mommy.

I stopped. And it was like God said.. PATIENCE, girl child. THINK!

So... I "accidentally" kicked his cars all over the kitchen and "Oh oh Justin, Look what happened with your cars."
He looked puzzled. Stared hard at those way-ward cars.
"Oh, I think you need to clean them up before you play in the water." As I put his car bucket down with the cars.

Screams of "I no wanna in a bucket. I wanna in a box"! then when I got him a box.... a "No wanna play dough box".
My response was "I don't care Justin.... just put them in something, some where, then you can play in the water".
He looked at me with this sad little face and i said "You can figure it out buddy, what do the cars need to go in"?
He stood quietly so I continued with the dishes.... and then I heard it....
A lawnmower in my house????

Yes...a playdough box was turned into a lawnmower who then gathered up ALL the cars. Every single last one of them which then proceeded to drive all over the kitchen floor.
"I driving lawnmower mommy! I drive it, eat all trucks up mommy!"
I smiled. He smiled.

I finished the dishes, I got us some ice cream for snack and then that lawnmower drove into the living room to become a train truck and all was good in the life of the Vellenga household.

Ah... isn't God good, making us pause and rethink ourselves? :)

Five Minutes for Mom Contest

I've entered
bebepod plus
nerf blaster
evenflo exersaucer
easy bake oven
canopy wagon
river run water park
wheely bug
hasbro giveaway
sophie the giraffe

There's lots more contests, enter them, find a child, gift them. :) what fun. :)