Promise in the Colors
This evening the Queen and I were driving north from Happy Valley. As we came around the point of the mountain, the skies were incredibly dark. We could see the heavy, dark, rain falling over the general area of our home. I found myself wondering about the rest of my family. My mind filled with questions. Wouldn't yours'? What would they be?
It was a beautiful moment. The closer we got to home, the further the rain and clouds became. To the West, the skies suddenly cleared up and were filled with glorious rays of sun. As the sun set, those rays reached out to the edge of that heavy, dark, rain (now on the far East side of the valley) filled the horizon with a very vivid, sharp, and colorful rainbow. And suddenly my questioning stopped. My mind was filled with a promise made long ago. My thoughts were turned upward. Peace filled my soul. Why couldn't I have that peace from the beginning?
My thoughts have been trying to wrap or unwrap themselves from that short, but glorious, experience all night long. To help re-direct them, I found myself opening the scriptures to Alma 18: 13-16. Now I have more unwrapping to do.
Have you ever really thought about Ammon as being just like you and me? Can you imagine yourself being in his shoes for just a brief moment or even putting him in yours for the same amount of time? That is what I tried to do this evening.
It had been a long day for Ammon. He was alone in a strange place. He was given a new responsibility and on the third day, he almost lost it. He had found himself worrying about being killed by a riotous gang and/or even the King of the land. When he tried to come up with solutions on his own, he was worried he would not have help. Then he realized that there was still a group of hooligans preventing him from carrying out what he had been asked to do. He went to the Lord and asked for help where he lacked. It worked.
Then he returned from his labors, went to the stables to finish up for the day, and suddenly he has been abandoned. What kind of thought would you be having? Would you be bad mouthing your fellow co-workers for not joining you? Would you be frustrated with what appeared to be incompetent individuals? I know there are several thoughts that have gone through my head.
Anyway, you finish up and head over to the palace to let the King know you are done. As you approach his chambers, you realize that everyone is staring at you? What would be going through your mind? When you enter the King's chambers, it feels very awkward. So much so that you decide to leave. Even the King is staring at you.
As you are about to leave, a co-worker says,"Hey, the King wants to talk to you." You ask the King what he would like you to do and he just stares at you, for an hour!
Think about it. What questions are going through your mind? What did I do wrong? Is there a protocol I was supposed to follow and didn't? Why are they staring at me? Why do people always judge me? Doesn't the King realize I slew those men to protect his assets? Am I going to die? What about my family? What happens if they find out my brothers are here to? Was this a mistake, coming here? What have I done? etc...
I could go on for a long time, filling my mind with questions. I am sure you could probably think of several that I have not yet asked. Then, you ask again and end up standing around for another hour. An hour of mind boggling questions. At least that is what I think I would do.
How can I be more like Ammon? I am sure that he did have those questions at first. Then we see that when in doubt, he turned to Heaven. Instead of focusing on the the What If, the What should I have done differently, and the Why can't I get it right questions, he turned to his Divine Father.
Now learn with me, turn the questions to prayer. Did you give thanks for all that had been given to you thus far today? Did you ask forgiveness for any judgements you had passed on others this day? Did you recognize your Divine Nature as a Son of God, not a son of man, and command the father of lies to get out? Did you plead for guidance and support? Did you covenant to do all that you could do and ask for discernment where you were lacking?
I don't know why the Lord took 2 hours to answer Ammon, maybe he needed to be humbled. Maybe the Lord was waiting for deeper sincerity? I don't know. I just learned that I need to learn from his experience and apply it to my own. I need to be more positive. I need to stop giving heed to the father of lies and falsehoods. I need to be humble and sincere in my requests. I need to recognize the power of divinity within. I need to remember the promises of old, though often bruised, I still have power to crush the serpent's head.
I know He hears, listens, answers, and assists when needed. Though I don't always understand, He sometimes waits, allowing me to grow or strengthen my weaknesses. I know I am His offspring. I only hope I can remember this more often.
Thanks for letting me ramble. Hope you found something to ponder on your own.
Until the next post. Doubt Not, Fear Not
It was a beautiful moment. The closer we got to home, the further the rain and clouds became. To the West, the skies suddenly cleared up and were filled with glorious rays of sun. As the sun set, those rays reached out to the edge of that heavy, dark, rain (now on the far East side of the valley) filled the horizon with a very vivid, sharp, and colorful rainbow. And suddenly my questioning stopped. My mind was filled with a promise made long ago. My thoughts were turned upward. Peace filled my soul. Why couldn't I have that peace from the beginning?
My thoughts have been trying to wrap or unwrap themselves from that short, but glorious, experience all night long. To help re-direct them, I found myself opening the scriptures to Alma 18: 13-16. Now I have more unwrapping to do.
Have you ever really thought about Ammon as being just like you and me? Can you imagine yourself being in his shoes for just a brief moment or even putting him in yours for the same amount of time? That is what I tried to do this evening.
It had been a long day for Ammon. He was alone in a strange place. He was given a new responsibility and on the third day, he almost lost it. He had found himself worrying about being killed by a riotous gang and/or even the King of the land. When he tried to come up with solutions on his own, he was worried he would not have help. Then he realized that there was still a group of hooligans preventing him from carrying out what he had been asked to do. He went to the Lord and asked for help where he lacked. It worked.
Then he returned from his labors, went to the stables to finish up for the day, and suddenly he has been abandoned. What kind of thought would you be having? Would you be bad mouthing your fellow co-workers for not joining you? Would you be frustrated with what appeared to be incompetent individuals? I know there are several thoughts that have gone through my head.
Anyway, you finish up and head over to the palace to let the King know you are done. As you approach his chambers, you realize that everyone is staring at you? What would be going through your mind? When you enter the King's chambers, it feels very awkward. So much so that you decide to leave. Even the King is staring at you.
As you are about to leave, a co-worker says,"Hey, the King wants to talk to you." You ask the King what he would like you to do and he just stares at you, for an hour!
Think about it. What questions are going through your mind? What did I do wrong? Is there a protocol I was supposed to follow and didn't? Why are they staring at me? Why do people always judge me? Doesn't the King realize I slew those men to protect his assets? Am I going to die? What about my family? What happens if they find out my brothers are here to? Was this a mistake, coming here? What have I done? etc...
I could go on for a long time, filling my mind with questions. I am sure you could probably think of several that I have not yet asked. Then, you ask again and end up standing around for another hour. An hour of mind boggling questions. At least that is what I think I would do.
How can I be more like Ammon? I am sure that he did have those questions at first. Then we see that when in doubt, he turned to Heaven. Instead of focusing on the the What If, the What should I have done differently, and the Why can't I get it right questions, he turned to his Divine Father.
Now learn with me, turn the questions to prayer. Did you give thanks for all that had been given to you thus far today? Did you ask forgiveness for any judgements you had passed on others this day? Did you recognize your Divine Nature as a Son of God, not a son of man, and command the father of lies to get out? Did you plead for guidance and support? Did you covenant to do all that you could do and ask for discernment where you were lacking?
I don't know why the Lord took 2 hours to answer Ammon, maybe he needed to be humbled. Maybe the Lord was waiting for deeper sincerity? I don't know. I just learned that I need to learn from his experience and apply it to my own. I need to be more positive. I need to stop giving heed to the father of lies and falsehoods. I need to be humble and sincere in my requests. I need to recognize the power of divinity within. I need to remember the promises of old, though often bruised, I still have power to crush the serpent's head.
I know He hears, listens, answers, and assists when needed. Though I don't always understand, He sometimes waits, allowing me to grow or strengthen my weaknesses. I know I am His offspring. I only hope I can remember this more often.
Thanks for letting me ramble. Hope you found something to ponder on your own.
Until the next post. Doubt Not, Fear Not
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