Learning the J word

I am going to coin a phrase I was recently introduced to this week.  I have been "Jacked".  It was a marvelous experience.  I did not realize how good it can be.  I give homage to two of my favorite missionaries who provided the experience.

The past couple weeks I my mind has been following the same path.  I shared a scripture in Romans 8:16-17 that had impressed me.  Though I kind of blew off different parts of the whole group of verses, I was totally impressed with what I shared.  Then I read a couple emails for those two.

First, a story was shared about being JACKED and how one had taken it to heart.  In the same chain of communication, a story has been shared how they had been very pre-occupied about one with whom the gospel has been shared.  I was able to witness vicariously a glimpse of charity.  A charity that takes place when one is more concerned about the welfare of others than self.  My spirit was touched.  A witness received.  An impression placed upon my soul.

Then not but a moment later, I get another amazing boost of inspiration that took me to Romans 8:38-39.

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels,nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Again, I was suddenly made aware of the incredible power, strength, and grandness of this love of God.  My mind suddenly went back to where I started the week, Romans 8:16-17.  This week I would like to focus on the second verse and add to it a little.  Before you go to verse 17, start be reading Ephesian 4:1-2

1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye arecalled, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love;

What stands out to me is that we are to walk worthy of or learn the vocation wherewith we have been called.  What is that vocation?  Go now to verse 17 of Romans.  We are heirs of God, joint-heirs with Christ to be rule and rein in His kingdom as He sees fit.  WOW!  

Think about it a little.  We are royal sons and daughters of God.  He has sent us here to learn how to and prepare ourselves to one day rule as He rules. How does He rule?  LOVE!  We are to learn how to suffer as He has suffered, see verse 2 of Ephesians 4.  With lowliness, meekness, long-suffering, forbearing one another in love.  A love so deep, so powerful, that those we love cannot be separated from us in the gospel.

I have spent a great deal of time pondering this week about what it means to be an heir.  What responsibility there is in becoming such.  What must we learn?  Who is watching us?  How does it radiate in my home?  Am I learning to rule in such a manner now?  Do I still have a great deal to learn, to change, to reconcile unto my God?  You betcha.  I have been "Jacked".  I hope you are moved by it as I have been.

These are the thoughts and feelings I have been muddling in all week.  Then I had the opportunity to go out with the Elders this week.  It was fun.  In our discussion, they invited to read from the scriptures.  As they did so, they were hit with a wall of objection.  The question was raised as to why we needed to read.  The individual being taught was frustrated with reading.  When they read, they don't understand.  They are not able to focus.  They lose interest quickly.  Then they said, "What am I supposed to learn from people like Laman and Lemuel?  They lived a long time ago and what they lived through and what I live through are completely different." I could not believe I was hearing what they were saying.  I don't think they were hearing what they were saying.  Maybe they were saying it so I would hear it.  I am not sure.

We did our best to turn the table and help them understand that we are to learn from Laman and Lemuel's mistakes.  They did not believe the Lord would make things of the scriptures known unto them.  They thought they were hard to understand.  It was hard to focus and thus they lost interest quickly.  I can attest to being in the same boat at times.  Sometimes, I find myself just reading and reading with intent.  They are just words that I have learned over the years.  I have to catch myself and start over.  I have to believe I will be taught.  I have to ask that He might give.  I have to seek that He will reveal.  I have to knock that He will open.

OK, enough rambling.  It has been a good week.

We did not make much progress on the bathroom floor.  I did get it cleaned and prepped for new tile.  We just need to do it.

The Queen has been focused on getting ready for a recognition night in the ward.  When she is not working, she is focusing on that and an upcoming birthday.  We have taken the opportunity turn some the prep work in to a date night or two.  It has been fun.

The Professor is practicing the Off-Tracker this week.  She still had class of her own, but spent some additional time getting well deserved rest.  In her waking moments, she was learning how to make one of those nasty apple things with cinnamon.  Everyone said it was good and it keeps vanishing as fast as she makes it, but I just don't see it.

Tall Man is preparing to move and get in the school frame of mind.  Things are changing at work that will hopefully help him get in the right frame of mind.

SnackPack has been a senior senior this week.  He has been pre-occupied with the ACT.  He took it one more time in hope of improving his score and college applications.  The stress has been tiresome for him.  Hopefully the week to come will be better.

There you have it, a bunch of rambling rants.  Hope you all have a great week.