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I've been tired lately. Today more so than a few days ago, but here's my post! I didn't forget it! I thought about the verses I read today but am still working on them. They made me think of several other verses and I haven't taken time to look all of those up yet.

I read 2 Peter chapter 2 today. It spoke about false teachers and people that know and believe the gospel but turn away from it. Pretty heavy.

My first thought was about a verse that says nothing can take us from God's hand after we've put our faith in Him but maybe we can jump out? There are lots of verses that talk about the fruit that we'll show when are faith is in Christ and that we should work out our salvation with fear and trembling. Also that some people will get to heaven and God will tell them He doesn't know them. Those thoughts furthered my thinking that we can't just say a few words or do any special action, we need to truly believe in Christ and spend the rest of our lives loving Him and serving Him.

If I really believe that Christ is the only way to heaven and I put my hope and faith in him then my actions will reflect that. Whenever they don't it's because I'm hoping or trusting in something else (like myself, or Chuck, or money or whatever).

I'm not going to copy all of 2 Peter 2 so I'll leave you with James 2:14-18. 

14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

18 But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 

37

I'm wearing an apron this morning. I have yet to find or sew the perfect apron but this one that I made several years ago is working pretty well. I'm also trying a new system for getting this done. I work hard on one task for 5-10 minutes and then give the kids some attention for a few minutes (get Enzo a new toy, give Ruby some more peanut butter, the usual) and then I tackle the next 10 minutes. I don't always get 10 minutes but sometimes I get 15 and if I work hard for that time then while Enzo takes his morning nap and Ruby plays I'm able to have a cup of coffee and read the Bible rather than feel like I've gotten nothing done.

I'm continuing reading in 2 Peter. I thought last night and this morning again about my struggles but also about idols. Things I think about more often than I think about Jesus. Most of the time it's me and my plans like I've talked about. The verses today tell me that i should think about Jesus and focus on being fruitful and serving Him.

We all know that a negative attitude never helps our days go better and that worrying doesn't make things go smoother it just makes us feel worse. That's the case because it's not how God designed things. If we think about positive things and remember that the reason is because God gave us Jesus so that we may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. (2 Peter 1:4b)

2 Peter 1:5-8 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness,7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

See also Phil 4:8

36

I read in a book by David Tripp last night that in Jesus we have all the strength and patience and power we need to get through our struggles and our sin. It's not that when we get into a situation we need to wait for Jesus to recharge us or get our message and send back-up, he's given it to us. It's ready, we just need to accept it.

When I think about my struggles, the common everyday ones, it's not that I find Jesus peace lacking, it's that I accept. I don't go to it for comfort. Instead I sit and wallow in my inadiquicy and the frustration I have in my situation. I prefer my ideas of entitlement to His plan for my life.

I thought about it all day and was even more frustrated at myself thar I still got angry with the dog chewing Ruby's shoe and dinner not going as planned.

Thankfully He forgives me and loves me. I have hope to overcome my struggles because He has overcome the world.

2 Peter 1:3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 

35

Both kids fell asleep in the car this afternoon. It was lovely. Neither one of them stayed asleep upon our arrival home. Two cranky babies is not so lovely.

I, however, was reminded this morning that God doesn't owe me anything. And on a more comforting note, that Jesus knows I'll have troubles in this life but he over came even death and is willing to give me strength to overcome my struggles. Jesus is with me through an afternoon with cranky kids just as he is through a tragedy. (Phil. 4:11-13) Neither of which is worth comparing to the glory of eternity with God (Romans 8:18).

Romans 4:1-5 

What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness." 4 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. 5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,

34

*I had my numbering all off because I really wasn't keeping very good track. This is no longer the 34th day of photo-a-day, it's the 34th photo... kinda... but we're going to go on from here and in a few weeks no one will remember what the numbers really signify anyway*

This apple came from the tree in our backyard! I thought it was just crab apples the last few years but Chuck trimmed it yesterday and found this one so maybe with a little attention we could get more! It was quite tasty.

It and my reading today got me thinking about arrogance and pride and how, although it's easy for me to see Adam's foolishness in Eden (eating the only fruit he wasn't allowed too when there were so many delicious ones that he could) I don't always see my foolishness.

Rather than revel in the awesome gift that He's given me I covet control. 

Like Pharaoh, rather than heed Moses warning and letting the Israelites go (repenting) I stand defiant and require discipline. Which reminds me also of Ruby and Hebrews chapter 12. 

Romans 2:4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

Hebrews 12: 3-11

3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. 4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?

"My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
nor be weary when reproved by him.
6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and chastises every son whom he receives."

7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

33

I'm going to try to get back into the photo a day routine. I also want to add a verse or thoughts about a weekly verse to remind me to be reading and applying the Bible each day.

It's too easy to overlook it when there are more immediate needs (like kids diapers and food and the like) but I'm so much better equipped to do all of those things with patience and love when I'm focused on God each day.

One way of doing that is to read some scripture each day.

Here's a great post about this topic for mom's from Passionate Homemaking.

32

Romans 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

31

Liz just roasted some coffee in a popcorn maker. She's so cool.

30

Thanks to my loving, thoughtful husband I get a few hours to sit and read by myself this morning.
Thanks to a friend at my favorite coffee shop (Jupiter House) I get a sweet treat as well.
I pray that these sweet times remind my heart even more how to be grateful during the hard times.

29

We had a beautiful day yesterday that reminded me that summer won't last forever. I am so excited for fall and riding my new bike. Chuck is building me one - I'll update all about this weekend - and this would be a perfect outfit for riding it.

28

We played with blocks today.

27

Having a snack. Naked cookies, according to Ruby. Ruby knows she's being silly and it makes her giggles even more enjoyable.

26

Enzo's first time swinging!
I missed a few days but want to keep it up so instead of everyday I'm going to try to better document the activities of our days. Like this milestone. So sweet. They're growing every day!

25

I iz the champagne of kittiez.

23

We took a walk yesterday and I snapped a few photos of the Opera House building. I'm really liking purple right now.

22

Enzo in his upcycled t-shirt screen printed by local artist Jenn Gooch. We got it at the Denton Community Market. She was having a sale before moving out of state.

21

There's not much going on tonight. We had a full day but I (not unpredictably) didn't photograph any of it. So here's a high contrast picture of our dining room ceiling fan.

20

Sunday afternoon treat. Rebu loves ice cream. She's loved it since before she was born. I wonder if that means that Enzo will love chocolate cake? Too bad for him he's not getting any until he's 10 years old. Ok grandparents maybe 6... No younger than 3!
We made a lot of progress on the kids room yesterday. Chuck got a nail gun kit which makes building bunk beds and bookcases way easier and I'm working on picking out the perfect wall color.

19

Technically Ruby took this photo on Saturday but it's better than any I took.

18

Ok, I'm caught up. Today is #18.
I'm still liking my dreads but there are days when I feel impatient. I just have to give myself a quick peptalk, though, and I'm glad I'm taking this journey.
This photo is evidence of the living room's cavelike quality. It's in line for renovations. Our goal is to finish the kids room before the fall semester (a couple of weeks) and I'm not sure what's next. Eventually he living room will get new Sheetrock (no more paneling) and a pleasant gray color on the walls at least. We have ideas for a skylight or two so it's less of a cave as well as a built in bookcase with a ladder!