Enter with Great Force
Another wonderful week has come and gone. I feel that it was very productive. I am sure it could have been even more productive, but it was what it was and I feel accomplished in the end.
We had the opportunity to attend another session of Stake Conference this weekend. It felt more like a real conference where as the one we attended a couple weeks ago was just a discontinuance of a stake. There were no leadership, adult, or youth meetings. We just met, got the new boundaries, heard a couple testimonies, and went home.
It was fun to run into members of the former presidency this weekend and see that they have started growing some facial hair. Some said it had been over 17 years since they felt they were in a position to let their hair down a little. We will see how long they stay hidden from new callings.
Any way, back to conference. Elder Durham from the Seventy joined us. He gave us some good council. The focus for our stake remains Sabbath Day worship and missionary work. I am grateful for the opportunity that I had to attend. The Spirit whispered to my soul. Now it is time to get busy.
I have thought a great deal about the whispering part. This week I have often reflected upon JSH 1:12-13. The words that keep coming back to my mind are, "...Never did any passage of scripture come with more power to the heart...It seemed to enter with great force into every feeling of my heart..."
I began to question myself, my study, my pondering, and more. As I read the account of young Joseph, I wonder if I might have the same witness borne to me. I pondered if I was putting myself in an environment where the Spirit could "enter my heart with great force"? It gave me great reason to reflect upon my own study habits. More over my listening habits. Have I become to set in my ways? Am I just going through the motions? Or am I really seeking to have the mysteries of God opened to my vision as we would read from King Benjamin in Mosiah 2:9.
Elder Durham shared an experience he had been given many years ago. He loved to paint. In fact, when younger, he had been given a scholarship for his artistic abilities. Then one day he took a test for the military and learned that he was color blind. At that point everything he thought he knew was shattered. He wondered how it could be that he had been given monies to do something he was disabled at. He put his palettes away and moved on to business.
Then, several years later, he was praying to know what he should do with his life. He received the distinct impression that he should work on his artistic talents again. He was very reluctant to do so, but did. He said it took almost three months to complete his first piece of art. As he stepped back and looked at it, he was thought it looked pretty good. He was very excited to share it with his wife. However, when he presented the final product, she said it was very well done, she just wanted to know why the sky was green.
He was shattered, but did not give up. He knew the Lord had told him to do this. He purchased a color wheel and memorized the various levels/shades of similar color that they produced. He was determined to make a better painting. With practice, we was able to produce many beautiful paintings. In fact, a local gallery even sold some of his paintings.
Then they moved, the easel was put a way and it was several more years before he thought about painting again. When he went to the Lord, he was told that the Lord was not teaching him to paint, but how to listen. You see, since the Lord had whispered to him to take up painting again, he wanted to get it right. When he would mix colors, he would ask the Lord in his heart if it was right. Over time he learned to listen, hear, and heed the whispering. He felt it in his heart.
This is something he has used for the rest of his life, ward callings, as a mission president, as a father, and a husband. We too need to open our ears that we may hear, our hearts that we may feel, and our minds, that we may have the mysteries of God revealed to us.
Hope these thoughts have helped you as they have helped me.
On with the week:
It has been pretty much routine for the Queen and I. We both worked hard and staying busy. If she was not running to do something, I was. We juggled who got transport and who got to walk. It was good for both of us.
The Professor is trying to enjoy her short two week reprieve from the classroom, but seems to be filling her time with homework and projects. When she is not glued to a book, she is getting her haircut or going meet the parents of next years class.
Tall Man wrapped up the semester and moved back home. He felt pretty good about how it all ended, though there were moments of doubt throughout the semester. He did a good job of digging deep and getting he done. He was a little worried about his Spanish final. When they handed him the test, he looked down and felt like he the entire semester had been a waste. He did not have a clue what was on the test. After a few moments of anxiety and stress, he went back to the testing administrator and questioned them about the test, only to learn they had given him the final for a 3000 level class when he was testing for a 1000 level class. He was relieved to get the right final.
SnackPack is crazy busy. He has been a little under the weather this week. I think he spent a full 20 hours sleeping or close to it one day this week. With the little boost of juice it gave him he was able to participate in a couple polo games, stats test, state ensemble, dinner show, work, homework, and prep for AP testing next week. My head spins just watching him.
We had the opportunity to witness the blessing of little Cameryn(sp?), visit with family, catch up with a few, and learned that Laul is headed to Baltimore Spanish speaking in July. I think we know Tharp in the same mission. That should be interesting.
We missed dinner up north today, but enjoyed the time we were able to spend together throughout the week. Hopefully the winds have died down, the power is restored, and you are able to access the connections you need.
We love you all. Have a great week
We had the opportunity to attend another session of Stake Conference this weekend. It felt more like a real conference where as the one we attended a couple weeks ago was just a discontinuance of a stake. There were no leadership, adult, or youth meetings. We just met, got the new boundaries, heard a couple testimonies, and went home.
It was fun to run into members of the former presidency this weekend and see that they have started growing some facial hair. Some said it had been over 17 years since they felt they were in a position to let their hair down a little. We will see how long they stay hidden from new callings.
Any way, back to conference. Elder Durham from the Seventy joined us. He gave us some good council. The focus for our stake remains Sabbath Day worship and missionary work. I am grateful for the opportunity that I had to attend. The Spirit whispered to my soul. Now it is time to get busy.
I have thought a great deal about the whispering part. This week I have often reflected upon JSH 1:12-13. The words that keep coming back to my mind are, "...Never did any passage of scripture come with more power to the heart...It seemed to enter with great force into every feeling of my heart..."
I began to question myself, my study, my pondering, and more. As I read the account of young Joseph, I wonder if I might have the same witness borne to me. I pondered if I was putting myself in an environment where the Spirit could "enter my heart with great force"? It gave me great reason to reflect upon my own study habits. More over my listening habits. Have I become to set in my ways? Am I just going through the motions? Or am I really seeking to have the mysteries of God opened to my vision as we would read from King Benjamin in Mosiah 2:9.
Elder Durham shared an experience he had been given many years ago. He loved to paint. In fact, when younger, he had been given a scholarship for his artistic abilities. Then one day he took a test for the military and learned that he was color blind. At that point everything he thought he knew was shattered. He wondered how it could be that he had been given monies to do something he was disabled at. He put his palettes away and moved on to business.
Then, several years later, he was praying to know what he should do with his life. He received the distinct impression that he should work on his artistic talents again. He was very reluctant to do so, but did. He said it took almost three months to complete his first piece of art. As he stepped back and looked at it, he was thought it looked pretty good. He was very excited to share it with his wife. However, when he presented the final product, she said it was very well done, she just wanted to know why the sky was green.
He was shattered, but did not give up. He knew the Lord had told him to do this. He purchased a color wheel and memorized the various levels/shades of similar color that they produced. He was determined to make a better painting. With practice, we was able to produce many beautiful paintings. In fact, a local gallery even sold some of his paintings.
Then they moved, the easel was put a way and it was several more years before he thought about painting again. When he went to the Lord, he was told that the Lord was not teaching him to paint, but how to listen. You see, since the Lord had whispered to him to take up painting again, he wanted to get it right. When he would mix colors, he would ask the Lord in his heart if it was right. Over time he learned to listen, hear, and heed the whispering. He felt it in his heart.
This is something he has used for the rest of his life, ward callings, as a mission president, as a father, and a husband. We too need to open our ears that we may hear, our hearts that we may feel, and our minds, that we may have the mysteries of God revealed to us.
Hope these thoughts have helped you as they have helped me.
On with the week:
It has been pretty much routine for the Queen and I. We both worked hard and staying busy. If she was not running to do something, I was. We juggled who got transport and who got to walk. It was good for both of us.
The Professor is trying to enjoy her short two week reprieve from the classroom, but seems to be filling her time with homework and projects. When she is not glued to a book, she is getting her haircut or going meet the parents of next years class.
Tall Man wrapped up the semester and moved back home. He felt pretty good about how it all ended, though there were moments of doubt throughout the semester. He did a good job of digging deep and getting he done. He was a little worried about his Spanish final. When they handed him the test, he looked down and felt like he the entire semester had been a waste. He did not have a clue what was on the test. After a few moments of anxiety and stress, he went back to the testing administrator and questioned them about the test, only to learn they had given him the final for a 3000 level class when he was testing for a 1000 level class. He was relieved to get the right final.
SnackPack is crazy busy. He has been a little under the weather this week. I think he spent a full 20 hours sleeping or close to it one day this week. With the little boost of juice it gave him he was able to participate in a couple polo games, stats test, state ensemble, dinner show, work, homework, and prep for AP testing next week. My head spins just watching him.
We had the opportunity to witness the blessing of little Cameryn(sp?), visit with family, catch up with a few, and learned that Laul is headed to Baltimore Spanish speaking in July. I think we know Tharp in the same mission. That should be interesting.
We missed dinner up north today, but enjoyed the time we were able to spend together throughout the week. Hopefully the winds have died down, the power is restored, and you are able to access the connections you need.
We love you all. Have a great week
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