A Vessel For Honor (2 Timothy 7-21)

 A Vessel For Honor 

May I Lord 

In my own faith

fill my vessel with 

words that will cause me to 

Stand sanctified 

Useful 

Prepared for your 

every good word. 

May I Lord 

through word 

consider 

What is right, and 

through the power

 of word unto action 

find faith 

learn Love 

practice Peace 

all with a 

pureness of heart, 

That entreats

A gentle teaching 

of patience and 

correctness of word

to those who would 

unknowingly fill 

me with 

opposition.

May my 

vessel 

stand cleansed

 of dishonor

 through 

words 

spoken  unto 

the will of God. 

Copyright Linda Conkey Shaw October 2010

7 Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.

 God's words are 

• not chained (vs 9)
• beg consideration (vs 7) 
• bring faithful sayings (vs 11)
• should not be strived about .. it brings us no profit (vs 14) 
• used to help us depart from iniquity ( vs 19) 
•  can be compared to an honorable vessel within the house of God. 

This chapter of Paul's letter to Timothy is really about words. It is our words that honor or dishonor us. It is our words that cause us to consider our faith. It is in our words that we begin to consider a possible action or belief that will lead to the actions of our lives. If you will read this chapter in Timothy with an eye for the power of words in our lives, it will bring new meaning. 

vs 7 .. consider what I say 

vs 9 the word of God is not bound... words of truth will always find a way into our hearts, minds, and lives. You can put a person in prison, you can bind him with untruths, but God's word will never be kept  bound away from others. From the time of Gutenberg God's word has found flight.

vs 11. It is a faithful saying... 

vs 12 if we deny him. ... but how could be deny him if not first with our words and then our actions. 

Paul is trying to help Timothy understand that all actions begin with the power of the word. 

vs 13.  if we believe not... but what is there to believe if not in the word of God first. We must first consider the word of God in order to believe it. 

vs 14. strive not about words to no profit... we should not argue about God's words

vs 15. Study to shew theyself approved.  Study God's words.. Why ? so that we can be not ashamed 

vs 16 shun profane and vain babblings..... more ways that words that are not considered may harm us. 

they will increase our ungodliness. profane and vain babblings are not in keeping with Gods words 

vs 17 word will eat as doth a canker.... what word? profane and vain babbling words. 

vs 18. babblings... i.e. speculations... tend to do more harm than good. 

vs 20... vessels to honor or dishonor.... Paul is beginning to make a metaphorical comparison between those members of God's house that practice honorable words and those that practice dishonorable words.

Like the urns that were used anciently for various purposes within a household some carried good (food) while others carried bad (wastes). 

vs 21  If a man purge himself of these? of what?  Paul is referencing the profane and babbling words of the unclean vessels. 

What must we do to become an honored vessel? We must learn to purge ourself of vain and useless words. We must learn to consider words that will help us sanctify ourselves, and prepare us for service. 

for every good work. 

vs 22 call on the Lord with a pure heart... we call with our words. our words bring us faith charity, peace and righteousness 

vs 23 foolish and unlearned questions? again words.. we need to avoid mysteries. 

vs 24 must not strive... but when we are brought against difficult or foolish questions, we should not get into arguments over them but rather use gentleness, patience, find opportunity to teach correct principles. 

  

 

  

2 Timothy 2:1-5 (be strong in the grace)

In the Shadow of His Grace 

I sit

alone

in dark corners

crying,

despair 

darkening my soul.

Shadows stir

 and I feel

His grace

touch my being 

like the warm breath 

of a whispered wind.

I rest

in the shadow

of His grace

until my faith

remembers.

 His 

grace

defines

wisdom.

In the Shadow

of His grace

I remain, 

with His love

wrapped around

Me

always chasing  

always chasing 

my darkness into

His light.

C Linda Conkey Shaw Oct 25 2010

Grace: noun poise, elegance, fitness, suppleness, agility, nimbleness, In other words everything that is professional, refined, and the best quality. A ballerina is graceful because of her strength and training.
A butler practices refined manners to show forth his grace. And then there is the grace that means of good favor. "She fell from grace." Grace can also mean a suspension, deferral or postponement or a blessing.

So when Paul says to Timothy "be strong in the grace that is in Jesus Christ," he is referring to Christ's ability to: bless him, defer judgment on him, act in an elegant and refined manner exhibiting a strength of character.

If we know that we are loved. If we know that we will be forgiven for our mistakes and that the goal that we have in sight is not lost to our shortcomings, then doesn't it give us a greater sense of strength?


Paul wants Timothy to always look to the standard, the love, the beauty, the example, and most of all the forgiveness that Jesus Christ has given to us. In a world where perfection brings reward, Jesus Christ offers solace for our acceptance of his love in our lives. He offers us his grace. When we are weak, he will carry us. When we are alone he will comfort.

Words and Phrases 

vs 1. be strong in the grace. - in other words use the gift of Jesus Christ's love to strengthen you. Jesus Christ's example, standard, love, guidance are all there to make you strong. 

vs 2. commit to faithful men - teach what you know and build up the faith of Jesus Christ's teachings. Know that Jesus Christ died for you. He made it possible (through his grace) for you to return to God. 
vs 3 a good soldier of Jesus Christ - Soldiers do not have it easy. There is little time for pleasure or comfort. endure your hardness as if you were in a war for a noble cause. For Jesus Christ is a noble cause. 
vs 4. entangleth himself with the affairs of this life. - If you are going to be a soldier of Jesus Christ then you must not worry about the frivolous things of this life, but rather choose to please the Lord Jesus Christ 

vs 5  except he strive lawfully - You must strive for mastery of your craft, but you must do so with honesty, and lawfully. If you are to be crowned the victors prize you must have integrity, so choose rather to follow Jesus Christ and receive his crown. 

  

the gift of God which in in thee ( 2 Timothy 1)

Be strong in the faith

Sept 11, 2001 

I woke early and drove our young son to preschool. As I returned home the phone rang. My husband Mark was calling me to ask if I had seen the news? He was in Japan on a business trip and had seen video of the air plane attack. Not able to speak English, a Japanese restaurant owner had pantomimed the planes flight into the tower.  

I turned on the television in time to see the second plane hit the second tower. I fell to my knees in prayer. What else could I do in such a time of fear and trembling? 

With imminent threat still looming, all air traffic stopped. Mark was now stranded in Japan. For how long? No one knew. The uncertainty of the situation caused me great anxiety and fear. I felt certain that I would not see him again. 

Again I prayed. Like Paul's letter to Timothy I prayed both night and day (vs 3) for the safe return of my husband and children's father. I had a great desire to see him and fill my void with tears of joy (vs 4). 

Like Timothy I had to be reminded of my "unfeigned faith" and the gift of God that had once been in me. So great was my fear and anxiety, this gift of the Holy Ghost had to be stirred unto remembrance.( vs 5,6). 

I remember calling our bishop and asking for a priesthood blessing. I remember praying often to know what to do, what to expect, and what to tell my children, two of whom were away at college. 

So many thoughts ran through my mind. Were we at war? Would other airplanes be attacked? How would he return to the American continent if not by plane? It was a time to watch the news and hope for the best. It was a time of faith in the power of the Holy Ghost. I called family and friends to garner support. 

In answer to my prayer, I was reminded again and again, "for God hath not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." 

I searched the scriptures for comfort and learned to "hold fast the form of sound words," which I "heard of (apostles), in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus."(vs 13). 

And soon the answer came. One morning I woke to a clear calm voice that rang through me.
It said very distinctly, "Mark will come home today." I had no proof other than the comforting words of the "gift of God within me," but it was enough to calm me and give me peace. 

Within a few hours the phone rang and it was Mark on the other end, "I'm flying out in 3 hours. I should be home by tomorrow morning." 

Paul was in prison when he wrote this letter to Timothy. He was alone, tired, and sick. Timothy as a physician new of his beloved apostles pain and suffering and wanted desperately to succor him and to understand those that would abuse the Lord's servant.

Paul's vision however was not of pain and fear, but of the power, love and sound mind that comes with faith. Paul stood firm and not ashamed of his situation nor his circumstance. He had a pure conscience (vs 3) and a vision of eternal life (vs 10). He was trying to get Timothy to learn how to rely on the gift of the Holy Ghost that dwelleth in us (vs 14). He wanted to teach Timothy that fear holds place with those that have the limited vision of an earthly life, but faith brings us the vision of eternal reward.

My husband was returned to our family "according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began." 


Have you ever felt afraid, alone, or abused? Have you ever had need to have the "gift of God" stir within you? If so, then you can understand Paul's "form of sound words"(vs 13) and find the grace, mercy and peace"(vs 2) that God intends for you to have through the gift and power of the Holy Ghost. 

  

A Great Gain (1 Timothy 6:3-21)

What do you think of when you think of contentment? (vs 6) Satisfaction?  complete Wholeness? 

I wonder if contentment is something that is meant for one person to attain unto himself or if others are required? How does contentment harmonize with community? 

Nature has created all of it's  animals to work together in an dance of dependency. As I sit here in the park, I see squirrels gathering pine nuts that have fallen from the trees. An interdependency between squirrel and tree allows the tree to provide the seed for the squirrel who then buries (plants) the seed in anticipation for winter storage.   

Why is man different from God's other creations? Why does man anxiously engage in activity to get gain above another? to be first, to compete, to have more? to be the best? to be "rich"? 

Paul teaches Timothy to pay caution to those who disdain wholesome words (vs 3) and doctrines of godliness. For Godliness teaches us to love others above the need for gain, to serve with charity over the need for more, to quell storms over words of strife. 


There are those that believe all gain is of godliness. In other words, if we are doing well we must be doing something right for God has blessed us. Does this mean then that all those who are not doing well are not blessed of God? It is a treacherous path to follow. 

The greatest gain comes when we measure contentment with our godliness. Contentment means that we consider the community in which we live and make sure our profits harmonize with others.  Contentment means we understand that we cannot bring anything with us into this world (of measured time) and we likewise cannot take anything with us. (vs 7) Contentment means that we count our blessings for having food and clothing (vs 8) and realize that anything above our basic needs is to be shared with others. Hoarding will only cause imbalance and strife. 

Nature can teach us of righteousness (God's creations do what they are created to do), godliness( they remind us of their creator), faith (they do not question their existence nor their purpose), love (they create social networks where they are protected and cared for and express this through their actions), patience (time has little meaning to them)  and meekness(tameness towards others of their species and even others species in need)(vs 11).

Man must consider that his prize lies in his ability to understand that the greatest gain he can attain comes not in the hoarding of earthly treasure but in the prospect  of eternal life (vs 12, 19) A squirrel does not love his food more than his community.   He has learned to respect that which gives  him food.  If he did not he might end up destroying the very tree which has been created to fulfill his needs. Likewise we are taught that we should not love that which gives us our needs (money) more than we love the community.  We are to respect that which brings us joy, food, shelter, and community. 

Paul taught us that God quickeneth all things (vs 13), and that we should not trust in uncertain riches (vs 17) but rather in the creator of both heaven and earth. God has promised  that we might, if we will keep God's commandments (vs 14) find immortality (vs 16) dwelling in his light (vs 16) . 

  

Gain is not Godliness (1 Timothy 6:3-21)

I have stewed over this post for long enough. Why has it been so very difficult? I think its because we all want gain, and we all want godliness. I didn't like being told about or (writing about) gain and godliness. We all want them (even if we don't acknowledge it) to be one and the same. 

After all, isn't that how our community and our society operates. Those who are rich are looked up to. Those who have made it and have found some measure of fame are to be looked up to. We examine what, how, why, and even where they did what they did to make it. We examine what they loved, desired, and who they became as society shaped them. But does this make them godly? 

It is easier to look outside of ourselves for things or people to worship than it is to look inwardly. For to look inward requires honesty. So in thinking about this post, I had to ask myself, What do I worship? Godliness or fame, service or riches, wholesome words or disputation? 

While in New York this past weekend we toured the King Tut exhibit. King Tutankhamun as a boy of nine was revered as a part Egyptian god, a sort of meditator between the living and the gods. Discovered in 1922 by Howard Carter his tomb remains the most wealthy of tombs ever to be discovered. Many other Pharaohs had greater and more wealthy tombs but they were plundered by grave robbers.  Did he become a God because of his family birthplace, because of his wealth, or merely because of his culture. His example is one to be considered. Would you want him to be your god?  Because of his wealth? because of his experience? because of ? It is of note to mention that he died an early untimely death most likely brought on my trama to the brain.  

Weather he continues to live on after his death and find use of any of the hundreds of golden artifacts that decorated his tomb remains unanswered. What is certain is that he has gained eternal fame. Sadly it is not because of how he treated another, nor how he cared for the needs of his kingdom, but rather for all of the wealth that he acclaimed.  I noticed as I walked through the darkened exhibit that many of the artifacts shed light on Egyptian belief and culture, but rarely did they reflect who Tutankhamen was. Those who buried him truly believed he would buy his way into the afterlife. How does that idea help the servant whose job it was to dig his tomb? 

In my lifetime I have known many types of gain. I have known financial gain and we have been most blessed to never had need of want. I have known housing gain. We have lived in many different sized homes. I can tell you the larger ones took more effort than they were worth, and caused me to choose between helping others or maintaining my wealth. I have known educational gain that has brought me the discipline to discern between truth and folly. I have known the gain of friendship. And this has been my greatest treasure. 

For in learning the godliness that Paul tried to teach Timothy I have learned the value of a true relationship holds a far greater worth than any book, any inanimate item, any amount of wealth, any amount of shelter. Why? 

Because in friendships and relationships we have community. In community we have sharing. In sharing we have security, and in security we have peace of eternal treasures. I believe eternity is not a destination. It is not a place where we all gather to sit and play out our rewards. I believe eternity comes with every smile, every gift of the spirit, every kind word, every good deed, and every act that extends one's soul out to help another. Learning to serve through contentment brings great peace. And peace of the soul is the greatest wealth known to man. 

Words and Phrases 

vs 3 wholesome words - words that teach goodness, faith, and lead us toward godliness 

vs 4 proud knowing nothing - pride blinds us from truth. pride blinds us from seeing how the desire for wealth of money causes us to disregard our respect for life. 

vs 4 Pride = little knowledge, doting questions, strife, angry words, envy, railings, evil, and evil surmising

vs 5 Pride = disputations, corrupt minds, no truth, lies, teaches gain is unto godliness, 

vs 7 - nothing - we came with no possessions and we leave with no possessions. Our souls can only carry the experiences that our lives give them. If we waste our time on earth with vain idolatry, at the time of our passing, our souls will be left wanting what they cannot have. 

vs 6  the greatest gain - to be content... to seek after experiences that will garner godliness within us- this is the greatest gain 

vs 9 they that will be rich - if we love money more than family, more than relationships, more than community, then when we have to choose weather to help another or to have our wealth, we choose our wealth. This wealth brings with it: temptation, snares, foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction .. and leads them to perdition. 

vs 10 love of money - how do  you tell if you love money too much? Do you think more of your wealth and gain than you do of service to those in your community? Do you choose work over relationships? Do you carve time out for work socials but forget your relationships? Does your job dictate how you spend your time? 

vs 11 Oh man of God -  flee from these things and follow what is right, examples of godliness, faithful moments, tender love, patience and meekness. For if you understand eternity, then you have no need for earthly gain. Your wealth comes in those you love and in your ability to bring them peace through truth.  vs 12 the good fight

vs 17 them that are rich - so it is okay to have wealth.. just be sure to temper it with contentment. 

don't be high minded (why? Because high mindedness tends to forget what it is to be without, or in need) 

vs 17 uncertain riches - riches and wealth are dependent upon the mindset of the community within which we live. If we decide that our symbol of wealth would be tin instead of gold, then our entire society would shift in both mind and custom. Economics is an uncertain science because it relies on the fallibility and whims of man. It is a psychological study based on the emotional state of man. I would say that is fairly uncertain. 

vs 18 them that are rich - should do good, find wealth in good works, share their wealth with those in need, communicate so that those in need have the ability to access what they need. 

vs 19 a good foundation - is not found in the wealth of Egyptian gods, nor in the wealth of nations, it is rather found in service, communication, sharing, and giving aid to those in need so that as a community of believers we can find the peace that comes from within. 

  

An Angel Just like her (1 Timothy 6:1-2) Do them service

Preview

I am six years old and the smell of our Christmas spruce fills up my senses. My eyes peer over the edge of the credenza that my mother has used to place her display of angels on. It has become my favorite place to be, in the living room, alone, gazing at the one tall porcelain angel that stands lovingly over the two dozen other smaller angels. I pick at the white angel hair that mother has used to simulate a cloud. I position it  higher, bunch it closer, and stretch it to reach all the way around my band of angels. 

There are twelve pink angles not much bigger than my thumb. All of them kneel in prayer while their obedient gold wings remain motionless. There are twelve white angels that stand a few inches taller. Each holds within their arms a golden musical instrument that matches their golden wings. I take all of the angels and arrange them around their "mother" angel who stands some twelve inches high and makes her presence known with her serene smile.

I imagine how she instructs the pink angels to pray. Who to pray for, what to pray for, and how to make sure that their prayers are heard. Then she must set the mood with heavenly music and makes sure that my other angels play their music with elegant perfection. I wonder how she knows who needs help? Her long slender arms reach out across the cloud of her little angels with grace. Her eyes seem to approve of their prayers and music.  

In my little world, I dream of becoming an angel just like her. 

Last week I helped my mother unwrap a box of Christmas Ornaments. She was sorting through them in order to save some for family and give others to the Good Will. We came across the tall angel of my childhood. 

"Oh, Mom. My angel. I remember my angel. But look her wings have broken off. And her hands are gone. What happened to her hands?" 

My Mother replied that I might take some angle cloud and drape it over her arms. I might be able to hide the missing hands. She was sure that her wings would glue back on without a problem. 

I brushed off the dust that clung to the creases of her dress. I wiped dirt from her face. 

"Oh no,." I said. "I like her just the way she is."

Seeing her this way reminds me that I too can be her angel. I can let my hands be her hands and together we can work to help those sisters of mine who are in need. She is not broken. She is as God intended her to be, a reminder of how we all have to do our part to work together, lightening one another's yoke of burden, learning to serve one another. 

Words and Phrases 

vs 1 servants under the yoke - when we have a task to do and we don't want to do it, it is considered that we are "under the yoke". A yoke is what the oxen wear when they are bound together. It is placed on their shoulders and helps to keep them together as they pull a cart. 
vs. 1  count their masters worthy of honor - when we consider who it is that asks work of us, we should honor them and respect them. This serves to not only change our hearts, but also serves to add honor to our being believers of God's word. 


vs. 2 believing masters - when we have masters who also are of our faith. (boss, owner(if slave), leaders, family patriarch, basically anyone who requires work from us, let us not despise them thinking that they should lighten our burden because we "brethren of the same faith", but rather we should serve them with faith 
vs. 2 do them service. - give of ourselves to those in need. Give of our hearts and of our means that we might build up the faith of the beloved. 

Community Rules! (1 Timothy 5:1-25)

Elephant's are emotional, intelligent and very social animals. There is an intricate set of social rules that keeps the matriarchal society functionally intact.  Because of their effective use of social skills, they are considered by those who study them to be "some of the best team players."  A few of these are: leadership, communication, clear understanding of social roles, co-operation, consensus building, mutual respect and "skillful reconciliation." 

I found it quite interesting that the main leadership role within an elephant clan falls upon the matriarch.  Typically this matriarch is the largest and sometimes the oldest female. If not the oldest, then she is most likely a close relative to the previous matriarch, or to the oldest of the clan. Her success depends upon her ability to rely on her clan's experience, natural intuition (skill), and memory of both historical events, characters and places. You might have heard it said "An old elephant never forgets." 

Leadership responsibility entails the making of critical decisions that will ensure the clan's health, safety and survival. So great is the leadership that if a matriarch is shot or poached, the herd will not flee, but will remain near the body and risk being shot as well. This deference of decision making toward the experienced, wiser, and older herd matriarch not only helps in the forming of "nearly unbreakable bonds" but also allows the next generation to learn "critical survival skills." 

In our family, our clan matriarch was my Grandmother Christine Conkey. From her I learned many valuable lessons of family life, history, politics, respect, health, and the love of nature. From her I learned to follow my role within the family and find a place in my community of other women. She created several book and educational societies for women. She ran for political office. She initiated the idea of a State Park along the shores of Lake Michigan, not 5 miles from our family farm. Many of the ideas that she taught about health, exercise, and community still help to guide me. Her faith in family and God were strong. 

Experience should not go unheeded. Communities exist to sustain, teach, guide, support, counsel, direct, convey memorable experiences, and teach timeless lessons of wisdom. Paul understood this as he taught Timothy how to organize the community of Saints and believers. He understood the need for all members of the community of believers to have both respect, purpose and place. He understood the need for widows to share their experience and wisdom with the younger generations. 

If you read this passage carefully and with an eye for society, you will see the order of community living that Paul is establishing. 

Respect for the elders (the elderly and the priesthood bearer). 

vs 1 Treat the older male members of your society with respect. Treat them as you would your own father. Treat the younger men as your own brother. 

vs 2  Treat the older women with respect.. as your own mother. Treat the younger sisters with respectful purity. 

vs 3 Show deference and respect to the widows of your community. They have experience. They have wisdom and knowledge. They have patience and love. 

Widow Rules 

1. Let their own family : children, nephews, first take care of them: food, clothing, shelter. It is good that we should all honor our parents. 

2. vs 5.  The true widow relies on her faith in God to help her through. She is desolate and in need of help. It is through her prayers that she finds help and strength. It is through others that she is cared for. 

3. vs 8.  We should provide for our own. Take care of our elderly mother's and mother in-laws. 

4. vs 9-10 In order to be taken "into the number" cared for financially (my guess) a widow must be at least 60, have had one husband, been in good report, lodged strangers, good children, or followed every good work. 

5. vs 16 Family First - Go to the church only after all measure of family has first been exhausted. Relieve them that are truly widows and have no living family to aid them.

Younger Widows.5. vs. 11-13 refuse the younger widows - they will marry. they cast off their first faith, become idle, gossips, 

6. vs 14. Younger widows - remarry, raise children, 

vs. 6 -7  If a woman is a widow and does not rely on God, but rather relies on earthly pleasures to get her through, she is indeed dead. (in spirit). She does not require our help

Elders (Men) 

vs 17 Priesthood leaders - double the honor for those who labor in word and doctrine. 

vs 18. Why? because you should not muzzle those that do the work of the Lord. And the Laborer is worthy of his reward. 

vs 19 Accusation against and Elder? - 2 0r 3 witnesses. 

vs 20 Sinning Elder - rebuke them before all. 

Community Rules 

1. Vs 21 - Respect all. Do not prefer one before another. Do not partial out one for another because of prejudice, place, wealth, etc. 

2. Vs 22 - Hands to yourself - No hitting. No touching. Keep your hands to yourself 

3. Vs 22 - Sin not - Do not partake of another man's sin (peer pressure) but keep yourself clean and pure.

4. vs 24 - drink wine for stomach ailments (Water at this time was impure and contained many bacterial contaminants. Ale was much better as it also acted as a pain killer. 

5. vs 25 - Judgement - All sin will be eventually seen. Some will be punished here and others must accept their punishment in the hereafter. 

6. vs 25 - Rewards - Like Judgments not all rewards will be recognized here on this earth, some we must wait for in God's due time. 

Neglect not the gift 1 Timothy 4: 14-16

Gifts! They come in every form, shape, size, value, and ability. Gifts... they are only worthwhile when we accept them, unwrap them and then use them. They are only of value to us when we learn to value them. 

Gifts come to us because of celebrations, inheritance, position, choice or hard work.  No matter why we have the gift, we must learn to keep it honed and ready for service. 

Of all the gifts that we could receive, the Holy Ghost stands as the greatest. For with the gift of the Holy Ghost all of our other gifts become endowed and blessed by God's love and wisdom.

Paul cautions Timothy to not forget that the Holy Ghost is a great blessing for one who is called to serve as Timothy has been.   It can be a great blessing to all who remember to honor it and sustain it's place in our quest for godliness. 

As I contemplated the writing of this post, I thought about the gift (talents really) of music, mathematics, art, education, sports, etc. that each of us have. I thought it might be possible to write about how I have been guilty of neglecting the gifts that God has given me.  I have heard this scripture referenced many times in relation to talent and this stuck with me. 

But as I let God's spirit lead me, as I listened, I learned wisdom. Paul is speaking about  the Holy Ghost and how it is meant to guide, protect, comfort, teach and testify to us. When we ignore the Holy Ghost it looses its ability to share with us the joy of God's love. 

How do we nurture the gift of the Holy Ghost?

We meditate (we be.... still, ponder, contemplate, consider listen)

give ourselves wholly to it (allow it to guide our thoughts and actions) 

that all might profit  (when we work with the H.G. we serve, teach, and uplift one another)

How do we neglect it? many  ways., but mostly we forget to meditate and listen. We allow things to noise out  the tuning frequency of the Holy Ghost. Each generation has its own devices that steal the messages of the Holy Spirit from our hearts. This generation must deal with texting, computer, gaming, telephones, television, radio, Ipods, tweets, cell phones, etc. 

Elder Bednair taught of the sacred nature of the Holy Ghost today in this mornings conference. He said that Holy Ghost's mission is to guide us in wisdom's path and that when we receive it (neglect it not) we have the 

1. blessing of having Christ's spirit with us 

2. companionship 

3. light and knowledge 

4. help us to always remember Heavenly Father and his son 

5. the ability to communicate 

I believe that each of us has the right to this beautiful gift. We each have the ability to learn how to recognize the Holy Ghost, use it to bless our lives and others, and find growth and joy because of it. 

This gift is the greatest gift we could ever receive. It will bring all other gifts to our awareness

1 Timothy 4: 7-16 exercise unto godliness

Exercise unto godliness.

My heart was breaking. I had arisen at 5:30 so that I could get my three mile run in before waking the children for their school day. As I quietly slipped from the house, my eleven year old fifth grader followed me to the front  door and begged me to take her.

 She cried and pleaded. “Please Mommy, Let me come. I will keep up you will see. I am fast.”

I turned to hug her, gave her a squeeze, and trotted off to find my rhythm as I began my loop through the neighborhood. I was well into the last leg of my run before the image of her sad face pressed up to our glass door left me. It tugged at my heart and slowed my race. Little did I know that the day would come when she would run and win many a race. She would win state titles and break records. She was fast and she knew it. But the race does not always go to the swiftest nor he who exercises the most or the hardest.  Sometimes it is more about the heart of discipline.

Paul was an older man who had lived a hard life. He spoke often of the pain in his side and other ailments that burdened him. Timothy was a younger man. I presume he was an athlete who ran races. ( I have run a good race 2 Timothy 4:7) The letters that Paul writes to Timothy reflect this difference in age.   

In my youth and as a mother of a large family,  I ran three  miles almost every day. It refreshed my soul, bridled my energy, and balanced my hormonal surges. Exercise helped me maintain my strength, my posture, my endurance, my health, and my happiness. I value my ability to exercise daily and strike a balance to my day. But exercise can be like a drug. That high you get when you hit your first “wall”, begins to stretch itself out farther and farther from your goal. Your times get faster, your distances longer, and before you know it you are addicted to the routine of training. It overshadows all other areas of your life.

I wonder if Timothy didn’t train hard for  races. Paul often uses images of racing when he writes Timothy. In preparing for this essay, I found an excellent (really excellent) sermon on this. It called Running the Race of Faith and its from a 1995 sermon from a pastor in Massachusetts. It’s worth the read, especially if you enjoy running. 

Paul wants us to understand that while exercise is good for the body and the soul, the body will wear out. The time will come when you will not be able to use your hips, your knees, or your feet. 

Unlike the body, your soul does not wear out. It lives eternally. But like your body, you can train your soul to run in a race of godliness.  “Godliness profiteth unto all things.” Paul is trying to help Timothy understand that while exercise is good, moderation is better, and the exercise of the spiritual matters is the best use of your time. Why? Because it will bring the greatest eternal rewards.

  Just like exercise, our faith needs to work hard. It should accept the reproach from our lack of faith and trust in the Living God.  Faith should not be despised because of youth (inexperience) but should be an example to all. 
We can be an example by speaking God's word, by keeping our conversations pure and clean, by giving charity to others, sharing a good spirit, building our faith, and showing forth the purity of our soul and of our purpose. 


Faith like exercise must be worked at. We must read God's word daily. Give a good spirit to others daily, keep our hearts and minds pure daily, and endure the race daily. 


I am very proud of my young daughter who saw the joy that the exercise of her body would bring, but I am even greater to realize that the she also understands the greater eternal joy that the exercise of her faith will bring.