i know i've probably blogged about this chapter before but i just read it in my daily reading this morning and it touched me once again. i love the word of God.
He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw all men unto him. Wherefore he commandeth none that they shall not partake of his salvation.
Behold, doth he cry unto any, saying: Depart from me? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; but he saith: Come unto me all ye ends of the earth, buy milk and honey, without money and without price.
Behold hath he commanded any that they should depart out of the synagogues, or out of the houses of worship? Behold, I say unto you, Nay.
Hath he commanded any that they should not partake of his salvation? Behold I say unto you, Nay; but he hath given it free for all men; and he hath commanded his people that they should persuade all men to repentance.
Behold, hath the Lord commanded any that they should not partake of his goodness? Behold I say unto you, Nay; but all men are privileged the one like unto the other, and none are forbidden.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
blessings
after watching that advice from elder eyring, i started to think of the things that we have been blessed with lately and had to write them down.
today my sweet friend came and took max and ava for the day. this is the second time she has done this and what an enormous help it is. i am able to get the laundry done, i am able to relax, it is wonderful. i know that they are in good hands and are having a wonderful time with her, so i have peace of mind.
we are buying a house. that, in and of itself, is an enormous blessing in how things have just fallen into place and how good we feel about this house. but since we will not be living in the city anymore, we will be very far from a busline for paul to get into seattle to work. it is possible for him to take a bus but the commute would be very, very long. so, we have been praying and hoping for some way to get a commuter car. a cheaper than cheap commuter car since we already have our van payments and will now be buying a house. paul has been stressed out and worried and constantly looking on craiglist and just last week i was talking to my sister and she mentioned that grandpa is giving away his car. for free. i just knew it was meant to be. i knew it was an answer to my prayers. so, instead taylor will give us back our car which we gave to him and he will take grandpa's car. i have no doubt that the Lord's hand was in this.
today my sweet friend came and took max and ava for the day. this is the second time she has done this and what an enormous help it is. i am able to get the laundry done, i am able to relax, it is wonderful. i know that they are in good hands and are having a wonderful time with her, so i have peace of mind.
we are buying a house. that, in and of itself, is an enormous blessing in how things have just fallen into place and how good we feel about this house. but since we will not be living in the city anymore, we will be very far from a busline for paul to get into seattle to work. it is possible for him to take a bus but the commute would be very, very long. so, we have been praying and hoping for some way to get a commuter car. a cheaper than cheap commuter car since we already have our van payments and will now be buying a house. paul has been stressed out and worried and constantly looking on craiglist and just last week i was talking to my sister and she mentioned that grandpa is giving away his car. for free. i just knew it was meant to be. i knew it was an answer to my prayers. so, instead taylor will give us back our car which we gave to him and he will take grandpa's car. i have no doubt that the Lord's hand was in this.
Monday, June 1, 2009
fasting
i think these verses of isaiah, regarding the blessings of the fast, are so beautiful and poetic. i have received countless blessings from fasting and and am so grateful for this commandment.
is not this the fast that i have chosen?
to loose the bands of wickedness,
to undo the heavy burdens,
and to let the oppressed go free,
and that ye break every yoke?
is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry,
and that thou bring the poor
that are cast out to thy house?
when thou seest the naked,
that thou cover him;
and that thou hide not thyself
from thine own flesh?
then shall thy light break forth as the morning,
and thine health shall spring forth speedily:
and thy righteousness shall go before thee;
the glory of the Lord shall be they rereward.
{protection}
then shalt thou call,
and the Lord shall answer;
thou shalt cry, and he shall say,
Here I am.
if thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke,
the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;
and if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry,
and satisfy the afflicted soul;
then shall thy light rise in obscurity,
and they darkness be as the noonday:
and the Lord shall guide thee continually,
and satisfy thy soul in drought,
and make fat thy bones:
and thou shalt be like a watered garden,
and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.
and they that shall be of thee
shall build the old waste places:
thou shalt raise up the foundations
of many generations;
and thou shalt be called,
the repairer of the breach,
the restorer of paths to dwell in.
isaiah 58:6-12
is not this the fast that i have chosen?
to loose the bands of wickedness,
to undo the heavy burdens,
and to let the oppressed go free,
and that ye break every yoke?
is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry,
and that thou bring the poor
that are cast out to thy house?
when thou seest the naked,
that thou cover him;
and that thou hide not thyself
from thine own flesh?
then shall thy light break forth as the morning,
and thine health shall spring forth speedily:
and thy righteousness shall go before thee;
the glory of the Lord shall be they rereward.
{protection}
then shalt thou call,
and the Lord shall answer;
thou shalt cry, and he shall say,
Here I am.
if thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke,
the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;
and if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry,
and satisfy the afflicted soul;
then shall thy light rise in obscurity,
and they darkness be as the noonday:
and the Lord shall guide thee continually,
and satisfy thy soul in drought,
and make fat thy bones:
and thou shalt be like a watered garden,
and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.
and they that shall be of thee
shall build the old waste places:
thou shalt raise up the foundations
of many generations;
and thou shalt be called,
the repairer of the breach,
the restorer of paths to dwell in.
isaiah 58:6-12
Monday, May 18, 2009
control
a very large ship is benefited very much by a very small helm in the time of a storm, by being kept workways with the wind and the waves.
therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.
d&c 123:16-17
therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.
d&c 123:16-17
Sunday, April 26, 2009
ether
"neither at any time hath any wrought miracles until after their faith."
ether 12:18
in all my preparation for what lay ahead i constantly prayed for faith. the other word that hung in the air, fear, was one that i never even allowed to enter my mind or reach my lips. i was adamant that i would allow the power of my mind and my words to control the coming situation. so fear was not in my vocabulary. and shouldn't ever be, really.
and when i've read this scripture before, i've always considered the enormous miracles. instead of the little ones. for good reason, though. the entire chapter is one verse after another of miracles coming because of the faith of various prophets and missionaries. ammon, lehi and nephi, alma and amulek. all very substantial and amazing miracles.
not to say that childbirth is not a substantial miracle but today while reading this chapter and this verse in particular, i applied it to me and my situation. and the months and days leading up to my choice to remain focused, faithful, calm and in control when the time came to give birth to my child. and i did. and that miracle came because of my extreme faith. i don't think i've ever prayed as much as i did while i was in labor.
"for if they humble themselves before me, then will i make weak things become strong unto them."
i felt so unbelievably weak and incompetent at the time. and scared. but i had those months of prayer and those months of determination and those feelings throughout that i could do this. and it was truly miraculous that i conquered and did it and the Lord answered my prayer and helped me through it.
that afternoon while holding my hours old baby, my miracle, i said a fervent prayer to my Heavenly Father, thanking him for the help i knew i could not have done without. He strengthened me when i was at my weakest and i love the knowledge and comfort i have that i can call upon Him anytime, anywhere for any reason.
ether 12:18
in all my preparation for what lay ahead i constantly prayed for faith. the other word that hung in the air, fear, was one that i never even allowed to enter my mind or reach my lips. i was adamant that i would allow the power of my mind and my words to control the coming situation. so fear was not in my vocabulary. and shouldn't ever be, really.
and when i've read this scripture before, i've always considered the enormous miracles. instead of the little ones. for good reason, though. the entire chapter is one verse after another of miracles coming because of the faith of various prophets and missionaries. ammon, lehi and nephi, alma and amulek. all very substantial and amazing miracles.
not to say that childbirth is not a substantial miracle but today while reading this chapter and this verse in particular, i applied it to me and my situation. and the months and days leading up to my choice to remain focused, faithful, calm and in control when the time came to give birth to my child. and i did. and that miracle came because of my extreme faith. i don't think i've ever prayed as much as i did while i was in labor.
"for if they humble themselves before me, then will i make weak things become strong unto them."
i felt so unbelievably weak and incompetent at the time. and scared. but i had those months of prayer and those months of determination and those feelings throughout that i could do this. and it was truly miraculous that i conquered and did it and the Lord answered my prayer and helped me through it.
that afternoon while holding my hours old baby, my miracle, i said a fervent prayer to my Heavenly Father, thanking him for the help i knew i could not have done without. He strengthened me when i was at my weakest and i love the knowledge and comfort i have that i can call upon Him anytime, anywhere for any reason.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
humility
in the book of helaman, nephi the prophet is trying desperately to get the nephites to be obedient. even after he prophesies of the killing of the chief judge, they are still wicked and prideful. at one point he is feeling rather down and out. he feels like he is not making even a dent of success in his missionary work when the Lord speaks to him from heaven saying,
"blessed art thou, nephi, for those things which thou has done; for i have beheld how thou hast with unwearingness declared the word, which i have given unto thee, unto this people. and thou has not sought thine own life, but hast sought my will, and to keep my commandments."
~helaman 10:4
the Lord goes on to bless nephi "forever" and to make him mighty in word, deed, faith and works. and to bless him with the sealing powers of a prophet. basically the power to call on God to strike the nephites with war or famine or to remove the war or famine, etc.
my first thought was that i love that the Lord told nephi "i have beheld" thee. he had been watching nephi and all his good deeds and hard work. nephi preached the gospel with unwearingness and it did not escape the Lord's notice. i would like to think the Lord is observing me. sometimes i would rather he not, when i lose my patience with my children or choose to go to sleep instead of read my scriptures at night. but for the most part, it brings much comfort to my soul to be reminded that he is aware of me constantly and knows of my good intentions.
the story continues as nephi asks God to send war upon the nephites, which he does. but after a time nephi notices that it is not making a difference on the nephites humility. they still are prideful. so, he asks God to then send a famine upon the land. and almost instantly the nephites humble themselves, repent and ask nephi to call upon God to remove the famine. and this is what struck me most. nephi is a prophet of God. he has been blessed with the sealing powers. he has already called down a war and famine upon the people, but when he supplicates God to remove the famine, it is not a casual, quick prayer,
"o Lord, behold this people repenteth; and they have swept away the band of gadianton from amongst them insomuch that they have become extinct, and they have concealed their secret plans in the earth. now, o Lord, because of this their humility wilt thou turn away thine anger, and let thine anger be appeased in the destruction of those wicked men whom though has already destroyed. o, lord, wilt thou turn away thine anger, yea, they fierce anger, and cause that this famine may cease in this land."
~helaman 11:10-12
those were three verses of supplication and there are four more of him pleading with the Lord to remove the famine from the land. this pleading and praying and supplicating the Lord by the prophet nephi was such an example to me in how we should pray to Heavenly Father. he wants to bless us, he wants to help us, but no matter who we are, we need to work hard and show our faith and humility.
"blessed art thou, nephi, for those things which thou has done; for i have beheld how thou hast with unwearingness declared the word, which i have given unto thee, unto this people. and thou has not sought thine own life, but hast sought my will, and to keep my commandments."
~helaman 10:4
the Lord goes on to bless nephi "forever" and to make him mighty in word, deed, faith and works. and to bless him with the sealing powers of a prophet. basically the power to call on God to strike the nephites with war or famine or to remove the war or famine, etc.
my first thought was that i love that the Lord told nephi "i have beheld" thee. he had been watching nephi and all his good deeds and hard work. nephi preached the gospel with unwearingness and it did not escape the Lord's notice. i would like to think the Lord is observing me. sometimes i would rather he not, when i lose my patience with my children or choose to go to sleep instead of read my scriptures at night. but for the most part, it brings much comfort to my soul to be reminded that he is aware of me constantly and knows of my good intentions.
the story continues as nephi asks God to send war upon the nephites, which he does. but after a time nephi notices that it is not making a difference on the nephites humility. they still are prideful. so, he asks God to then send a famine upon the land. and almost instantly the nephites humble themselves, repent and ask nephi to call upon God to remove the famine. and this is what struck me most. nephi is a prophet of God. he has been blessed with the sealing powers. he has already called down a war and famine upon the people, but when he supplicates God to remove the famine, it is not a casual, quick prayer,
"o Lord, behold this people repenteth; and they have swept away the band of gadianton from amongst them insomuch that they have become extinct, and they have concealed their secret plans in the earth. now, o Lord, because of this their humility wilt thou turn away thine anger, and let thine anger be appeased in the destruction of those wicked men whom though has already destroyed. o, lord, wilt thou turn away thine anger, yea, they fierce anger, and cause that this famine may cease in this land."
~helaman 11:10-12
those were three verses of supplication and there are four more of him pleading with the Lord to remove the famine from the land. this pleading and praying and supplicating the Lord by the prophet nephi was such an example to me in how we should pray to Heavenly Father. he wants to bless us, he wants to help us, but no matter who we are, we need to work hard and show our faith and humility.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)