DIY Car Mechanic

So I couldn't fix the transmission on the car...that went a little beyond my ability, but after we had the car repaired and returned to us the radio/CD was the next thing that gave out. Last year I had replaced a bulb on the back taillight with help from the internet and Youtube, so I thought I'm sure someone has put information on the internet about fuses ( as I thought that was probably what it was). So I 'googled',

"where is the fuse for the radio of a 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan". Lo and behold it was there...in answers.com. Under the hood labelled RDO/input.

A few months back I had bought a little fuse indicator for Lois's car and so after finding the box, removing the delinquent fuse and testing it I discovered that it was indeed the culprit. I simply replaced with another one from the same kit I had bought for Lois and 'voila' the radio is back working again.

So I thought I'm sure in this day and age with the economy the way it is and car repairs the price they are, someone may benefit from this information. It was an easy fix that a dealership/mechanic may have charged a lot of money to just find out what was wrong. I hope this benefits someone and ladies don't even leave all these things for your husband/dad, uncle whoever to fix you can manage these yourself. You young single ladies with cars, learn how to do these things it could save you a fortune.

Pear Tart....my style

For Sunday I always like to make a dessert. I didn't want to have to buy some more ingredients so looked in the cupboard and found puff pastry and pears. (Mine were canned pears these work great just drain them and dry them with kitchen paper before you put them in the tart.) I remembered I had this recipe and always wanted to try this one. I made individual ones as my pastry was little shells I had bought a while ago....but it worked out great.

It is from this blog which is full of great recipes....try some and enjoy!!.

Pear Tart

1 package rolled out frozen puff pastry thawed for 2 hours on the counter

4 ripe Bartlett pears peeled, cored and sliced as shown above

3/4 cup sugar

1/3 cup flour

1/3 cup melted butter

4 eggs

1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1.Roll out the puff pastry to fit the tart pan .. . even if the puff pastry is the right size to begin with roll it a bit thinner . . . .

2.Lay the puff pastry in the tart pan and roughly cut the edges and sort of twist them a bit. . .to hold some almonds. .

3.Then. . .lay your pears in the crust. . .nice and symmetrical. .

4.In the blender put the rest of the ingredients. . .and pour on top of the pears.

5.Brush the edge of the pastry with some egg white or milk and sprinkle sliced almonds around the edge.

6.Bake at 375 for about 35 minutes. . .or until golden brown.The result is a light tender pastry that holds the pear custard.

7.Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream.

Redeemed Living

Yesterday Immanuel Baptist Church hosted a Ladies teaching morning for Veritas Church of Roseville.

Mrs Kristin Meyers was the speaker and her topic was

The Preeminence of Christ in all of Life

We began by considering what our lives may be like when Christ is not preeminent. The different things that take His place things, people that we worship instead of Him. No matter whether it is our spouse, our kids, our health, money, success we can put all these things in the place of Christ. Giving all our attention, all our love, all our devotion to them and not to Christ.

After a break for some coffee and wonderful brunch snacks we came back for our second session.

We were called in Session 2 to look at Christ as the supplanter of idols.

There were two phrases Kristin used that spoke to me the most.

The first was....

"Christ has no peers."

It is not so much that I have people or things I put above Christ but that I put Him on the same level as my housework or the kids or my love for Robert. These were his 'peers' and just as bad as putting things in His place. The more I considered this the more I realized I think about Christ the same way I think about going for the groceries, or getting the chores done. Just something else I need to do...love Christ, read His word, etc,.

The second phrase was....

"We need to re-treasure Christ."

I saw afresh that this is what I needed to do. I need to have Him in His proper place - first and above all in my life. Christ needs to be above my love for Robert and the children, above my need to do housework, or run or teach the kids or anything else that I might think is just as important.

I need to treasure Christ again.

God through John in Revelation puts it this way when he speaks to the church at Ephesus....

'I know your works, your labor, your patience and that you cannot bear those who are evil....you have persevered and have patience and have labored for my names sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love." Rev 2:1-4

All the things I put on the same level as Christ are legitimate, necessary and good things but I need to love Christ more, adore Him most of all and be devoted to Him first.

Yesterday was an excellent day. I thank God for my friends in Veritas and for their commitment to Christ and the gospel. Thank you ladies for all the work and effort you put into yesterday, may Christ be praised and God have all the glory.

You can get a little taster here

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1559328468890&oid=101644366577204&comments

A Fearful Thought...

Zechariah 7:13

"As I called, and they would not hear, so they called and I would not hear." says the Lord of hosts.

The children of Israel have come back from exile to rebuild the temple.They sent messengers to ask the priests if they should continue with fasting and mourning traditions they had been keeping while in Babylon. The Lord of Hosts replies by

asking them why they were keeping these traditions, was it for themselves or for His glory?

He was questioning their motives. He was concerned that they were not primarily concerned for His glory, and I must ask myself the same question. Why do I do the things I do? What is my motivation?

Paul tells us "...Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."

Christ says " Seek first the kingdom of God."

Do I seek the praise of men or am I doing all to the glory of God?

The children of Israel were told to be generous, hospitable and benevolent this is how genuine faith is shown. Sadly they refused to listen making their hearts diamond hard

v11-12.

So the Lord of Hosts makes this fearful statement....

" As I called and they would not hear, so they called and I would not hear."

I must give serious heed to the Word of God. However, being a hearer is not enough I must also be a doer of it. My works should emanate from the faith I profess.

James tells us in 2:20 "...faith apart from works is dead."

In 2011 may I seek not only to exercise my faith in God but also let that faith be seen by my works, and all done to the Glory of God.

My Christmas card to you all....

Please take to time to open this and read it, have a little fun and enjoy!!

This was sent to me and I would like to pass it on....

Christmas Holidays...

First day off school and enjoying the rest. All my cards are written and sent, the shopping is all but finished and I will plan the Christmas dinner this evening. So I can kick back read, watch a few movies, spend time with the kids and have a good relaxing time.

Saturday and yesterday we had Philip Young stay with us from Northern Ireland.He is studying law at Harvard and took a little vacation over to Cailfornia to see us. Sorry it was raining the whole weekend but the fellowship and 'craic' was good.

Beginning to read 'Age of Opportunity' by Paul Tripp.

Have been meaning to read it for a long time so now is that time. Looking forward to some good teaching on this subject. With 3 teenagers in the house I need to learn a lot. God has been very gracious to us. Our girls are no problem and other than the usual butt of ideas at times we have good relationships with all of them, but I know I can do better.

So I will sign in from time to time these next two weeks, enjoy!!

Glossing over the Truth....

Well, my hubby is on holiday this week. He took the time off with the purpose of helping me to get some painting jobs done that I could not do on my own.

We have had a very successful two days with the living room totally completed and the hallway all done but a wall that I can finish on my own.

Up the mountain...

brush or roller?....brush, roller, roller, brush????

The title I gave this post is referring to a couple of things that happened today.

The first was when someone passed comment on Robert's Facebook page after he uploaded these pictures of our work...

and I quote....

Looks like a "coverup" to me!

If this pun fell "flat" I hope you'll just "gloss" over it. Maybe I just need to "brush up" a bit if I'm ever to get "on a roll." I hope you'll bear with my "off the wall" remarks.

This made me smile I don't think I could have strung all these together in one sentence where they would have made sense!

The second was rather quite sadder.

After we had finished our work for the day and had eaten dinner, the kids decided they would put up the Christmas tree for me while Robert and I went out and did some Christmas shopping and hung out together. So we got the shopping done and decided to go to Starbucks for a wee treat. (By the way if you haven't tried their 'sweet and salty hot chocolate then please do ...it is so good).

So we ordered our drinks and went to sit down to wait when we passed a table where two girls were obviously studying. Rob noticed one of the books was a Bible and made a comment about how encouraging it was to see two young ladies studying their Bible.

When asked what church they went to they told us they were Jehovah Witnesses.

Robert went on to have a discussion with them but they 'glossed over' the truth time and time again. Telling us that you are saved by your works. I had never heard it propagated in such a forthright manner before. It was sad to hear them talk about God and what they thought he was like yet denying Christ as God the Son....I was challenged in my own heart because I was fighting my own selfishness wanting to just chat to Rob...it's not often we get out on our own just to spend time alone...yet I eventually saw that these girls were so in need of hearing the truth of the true gospel. May God help me to have a burden for the lost and have a greater burden for them.

God is still faithful....

God still remains faithful to me and my family, sadly I have not been so faithful on my blog!

Well, over the last week I have spoken to a couple of people who told me they had looked at my blog recently and although I had not posted anything for over a year they had enjoyed reading my past posts. So this prompted me to come back to it and take up where I left off. I think I will make my posts shorter and a bit more bits and bobsy rather than anything structured and formal. Life is too busy to take up too much time here...I sill hope it will be stimulating, encouraging and glorifying to God.