Its a heat wave
Well, another week has come and gone. I understand that the Queen was closer to the Lord than I. She felt it was time for Puddin to move on to other area. Though we have not heard specifics, we are interest to know which branch he is serving in further north. We know that he is still on the border, it appears he has 1 of 3 options to be residing. I guess we will find out tomorrow for sure. We look forward to hearing how his week and holiday weekend went.
Here is has been pretty much the norm. Two of us worked, one of us was driving north, another was enjoying the first week off, and other attended to normal and abnormal Saturday responsibilities, but I am getting ahead of myself. Let me get the thoughts off my mind and then I will report.
I don't know where all you are in the progression of Sunday School lessons, but we talked about the Garden of Gethsemane this week. It is a passage of scripture I have read about, heard about, talked about, and been taught about all my life. However, this week it was particularly touching to me for some reason. I was blessed to have a small glimpse of my Savior Jesus Christ on a personal level. Hence, it has been on my mind all week.
My thoughts are drawn to Matt. 26 and Luke 22. The verses that seem to draw my attention were first in Matt. 38, 40. Christ knew what was coming or at least he had an idea of what lie ahead of him. I don't know that he completely fathomed all that it would require. However, the closer he got to the garden, it would appear that his eyes of understanding were opened. I cannot imagine the weight of such a responsibility.
He knew this was part of his calling. How many times up to this point had he said, "Thy sins are forgiven."? How could he say that if he had not understood and committed to carry out his part so that they would be? I felt impressed that as he walked to the garden that evening, he probably rehearsed in his mind each one of those personal and mortal interactions that he participated it.
Then the weight of all those past and future that would require the same small, simple, but most powerful statement in their lives, mine included, began to play out upon him, in him, around him, and consume him.
Thus back to verse 38. As I read, I envisioned him pleading with those whom he had built the greatest of all confidence, maybe even with a tempting moment of fear, doubt, insecurity in himself and whether he could actually find the strength to carry out this mission; "...tarry ye here, and watch with me." I know that with this phrase we often add "that ye enter not into temptation", but what caught me was that he asked them to "watch with him".
He was concerned just as much about himself as he was for them. He knew that if he was not able to complete this task, all would be for not. Yet it was so, so overwhelming. As he separated himself a stone throw away, he plead with our Father to have the burden taken from him. He desired to be freed from something that made him, even the Son of God, to quake and tremble.
He asked that they would be diligent in prayer. Praying for him to find strength to resist the temptation of walking away, the power to endure, the support and ability to carry out all that our Father would ask of him. Three times he did this. Three times he may have questioned maybe even doubted within, "Can I?", "Am I able?", or "Isn't there another way?", before giving himself completely to us, his siblings and all mankind, enduring our Father's will.
He was just like me the moment I read this passage. He might have questioned his ability, his power, his potential, and more as all that Satan, the Prince of this world, had to throw at him and us was unleashed upon, within, and about him. In his deepest moment of doubt and weakness our Father sent an angel to support and strengthen him. The prayers of closest and dearest apostles were answered, and he overcame the adversary.
He does the same for us. This I know. No matter how big, small, grave, or simple, he has suffered that we might hear that phrase, "Thy sins are forgiven.". As we pray for ourselves and one another, he will listen and answer. In our moments of doubt and weakness, he will send his ministering angels to lift us up.
I love you all.
On with the week.
For the most part, it has been just a normal week. Like I said previously, most of us worked.
Just for kicks and giggles the Queen and I decided on Saturday to see what it would be like to work in the heat of the day like Puddin and SnackPack. So we thought it would be fun if the A/C unit to our house decided to stop working. It happened after work yesterday. In our moments of weakness, we were blessed with a beautiful rain storm and today there have been moments of relief as small summer breezes pass through our windows. We will endure a few more days until we can call a repairman, on Monday, and then wait for them to help us.
The Professor ended the school year on Thursday. She slept in on Friday and then we decided to remind her what recess duty was like and broke the A/C. I think she is looking for a hotel room some where in the valley as we speak.
Tall Man spent the week camping down south. We understand it was fun and filled with many reunions, but we have yet to get a full report. He returned late yesterday afternoon. When he learned there was no A/C here, he sequestered himself to his little apartment that had cool air. I am sure we will hear from him today.
SnackPack has be living the dream - barefoot, water, and shades, enough said.
We hope your celebrations were safe and memorable.
Here is has been pretty much the norm. Two of us worked, one of us was driving north, another was enjoying the first week off, and other attended to normal and abnormal Saturday responsibilities, but I am getting ahead of myself. Let me get the thoughts off my mind and then I will report.
I don't know where all you are in the progression of Sunday School lessons, but we talked about the Garden of Gethsemane this week. It is a passage of scripture I have read about, heard about, talked about, and been taught about all my life. However, this week it was particularly touching to me for some reason. I was blessed to have a small glimpse of my Savior Jesus Christ on a personal level. Hence, it has been on my mind all week.
My thoughts are drawn to Matt. 26 and Luke 22. The verses that seem to draw my attention were first in Matt. 38, 40. Christ knew what was coming or at least he had an idea of what lie ahead of him. I don't know that he completely fathomed all that it would require. However, the closer he got to the garden, it would appear that his eyes of understanding were opened. I cannot imagine the weight of such a responsibility.
He knew this was part of his calling. How many times up to this point had he said, "Thy sins are forgiven."? How could he say that if he had not understood and committed to carry out his part so that they would be? I felt impressed that as he walked to the garden that evening, he probably rehearsed in his mind each one of those personal and mortal interactions that he participated it.
Then the weight of all those past and future that would require the same small, simple, but most powerful statement in their lives, mine included, began to play out upon him, in him, around him, and consume him.
Thus back to verse 38. As I read, I envisioned him pleading with those whom he had built the greatest of all confidence, maybe even with a tempting moment of fear, doubt, insecurity in himself and whether he could actually find the strength to carry out this mission; "...tarry ye here, and watch with me." I know that with this phrase we often add "that ye enter not into temptation", but what caught me was that he asked them to "watch with him".
He was concerned just as much about himself as he was for them. He knew that if he was not able to complete this task, all would be for not. Yet it was so, so overwhelming. As he separated himself a stone throw away, he plead with our Father to have the burden taken from him. He desired to be freed from something that made him, even the Son of God, to quake and tremble.
He asked that they would be diligent in prayer. Praying for him to find strength to resist the temptation of walking away, the power to endure, the support and ability to carry out all that our Father would ask of him. Three times he did this. Three times he may have questioned maybe even doubted within, "Can I?", "Am I able?", or "Isn't there another way?", before giving himself completely to us, his siblings and all mankind, enduring our Father's will.
He was just like me the moment I read this passage. He might have questioned his ability, his power, his potential, and more as all that Satan, the Prince of this world, had to throw at him and us was unleashed upon, within, and about him. In his deepest moment of doubt and weakness our Father sent an angel to support and strengthen him. The prayers of closest and dearest apostles were answered, and he overcame the adversary.
He does the same for us. This I know. No matter how big, small, grave, or simple, he has suffered that we might hear that phrase, "Thy sins are forgiven.". As we pray for ourselves and one another, he will listen and answer. In our moments of doubt and weakness, he will send his ministering angels to lift us up.
I love you all.
On with the week.
For the most part, it has been just a normal week. Like I said previously, most of us worked.
Just for kicks and giggles the Queen and I decided on Saturday to see what it would be like to work in the heat of the day like Puddin and SnackPack. So we thought it would be fun if the A/C unit to our house decided to stop working. It happened after work yesterday. In our moments of weakness, we were blessed with a beautiful rain storm and today there have been moments of relief as small summer breezes pass through our windows. We will endure a few more days until we can call a repairman, on Monday, and then wait for them to help us.
The Professor ended the school year on Thursday. She slept in on Friday and then we decided to remind her what recess duty was like and broke the A/C. I think she is looking for a hotel room some where in the valley as we speak.
Tall Man spent the week camping down south. We understand it was fun and filled with many reunions, but we have yet to get a full report. He returned late yesterday afternoon. When he learned there was no A/C here, he sequestered himself to his little apartment that had cool air. I am sure we will hear from him today.
SnackPack has be living the dream - barefoot, water, and shades, enough said.
We hope your celebrations were safe and memorable.
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