The Great Goodness - see it, recognize it, follow it!
Oh what a week it has been!
I sit here filled with gratitude for all the many things we have been able to accomplish. My faith increases on a daily basis. I have been filled with much reason to rejoice. My mind has been enlightened. Where shall we start?
2 Nephi 9:10-12 -
"O how great the goodness of our God, who prepared a way for our escape from the grasp of this awful monster;..."
As I pondered these verses this week, my mind went in so many directions.
First - I am so very grateful for all that our God has done for us. It is true, He has provided a way for us to escape the grasps of evil. It does not matter what ails us, there is a way for us to escape. I have been able to ponder a great deal upon this concept this week. I know, in my heart and mind, that it is true. My question - How to do I apply it?
Second - These verses do focus a great deal on death, temporal and spiritual. Yet there is hope through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. He, Christ, has given us a give of resurrection, the joining of flesh and bone with spirit.
In addition to these short verses, I also spent a great deal of time pondering the words of Alma to his son Corianton. Alma 40-42. I pondered the words of D&C 138 as well. This gift is incredible. It was/is give through love. Though we do not completely understand when or how it will happen, happen it will. I know this. It give me reason for Hope and Faith to do better each day. It fills my heart with joy to know that I am loved that much, that He would give so much for my freedom from the grasps of this monster.
Third - The resurrection is not only temporal. It is spiritual as well. If you jump to verse 12, I learning that through the Atonement of Christ, we are able to escape spiritual death as well, upon the conditions of repentance. We have the opportunity to call upon Mercy, through our willingness to repent and obey the laws and ordinances of the Gospel. As we do so, Christ will provide a way for our spirits to rise again, free from the bondage of spiritual death.
Wow - what a wonderful thought. Sadly, there are not many who seek to understand or apply it to their lives. Why? I realized again and again this week how much I want this for my children, my siblings, my family, friends and neighbors. But how? I realized that it is not a one size fits all type of process. It requires that I know and understand those things in their lives that might be holding them back from such blessings before I can help them see or understand how they can reach them themselves.
Where does it start? The basics. From there it will grow to more, but we have to be willing to do the basics, to obey the basics, to make the basics a priority in our lives. IF we do so, we will be freed from the many distracting grasps of that awful monster and prosper.
I invite you to do the basics.
So how did this all come about this week. Let me see what I can share....
To begin, the Queen and I were on vacation. Wouldn't you know that the minute we started planning my body decided to let go and get sick. I completely battled a horrid head cold all week long. Just when I thought I was getting over it, it would raise it's ugly head and bite me in the butt. The Queen was strong and fought it off until yesterday afternoon. Now it rests on her side of the bed.
Needless to say, much of what we planned went out the window. While I tried to build up strength, she did her best to stay busy. Cupboards and closets were cleaned out and organized. Projects were sewn up and bundled away for another day.
But Tuesday, though I had this stupid cold, I was going stir crazy. I needed to be out and doing something. We did manage to get out for short bits. We got shoes, shades, curtains, and more. We enjoyed one another's company, and planned for future days of vacation. We ended the week with adventures north in the Cache Valley.
The Professor busied herself with school and projects. Sadly, there were several nights she found herself on her own. We did find a couple evenings we were able to spend time with her. Now she is preparing to start the real deal - Grad classes.
Tall Man and Ehl-Bo dropped by a couple times this week. We learned that we need to coordinate better when it comes to sharing our tables. They continue to pursue many new adventures. We keep praying that they will be blessed for their diligence. 1 Nephi 3:7 comes to mind. A great thought was shared in Priesthood today. There is a way provided. Nephi understood this. He learned that at times there were things he needed to improve upon and others, that he just needed to keep trying and moving forward.
Puddin and Lady Hawkins were crazy busy this week. However, we did find time to help fill out applications, clean, pack, and prepare for new adventures. Puddin continues to seek employment. He had a couple interviews this week and already has several on the books for next week. We are praying that one or more of them we come to fruition. As we said, we spent the day getting them ready to start school tomorrow. The countdown to the next adventure is only 6 days away. We will let you know how that goes next weekend.
School started for SongBird last week. We hear she has been crazy busy. The Professor tried to catch up with her, but schedules did not seem to play well together. We will keep trying.
We are glad that all those who followed the Total Eclipse made it home safe. We continue praying for those caught in the challenges down south. Our thoughts and heart ache for those who find themselves flat on their backs. Until next week....
Cheerios
PS - SMITH AND EDWARDS came to West Jordan - Woot Woot!
I sit here filled with gratitude for all the many things we have been able to accomplish. My faith increases on a daily basis. I have been filled with much reason to rejoice. My mind has been enlightened. Where shall we start?
2 Nephi 9:10-12 -
"O how great the goodness of our God, who prepared a way for our escape from the grasp of this awful monster;..."
As I pondered these verses this week, my mind went in so many directions.
First - I am so very grateful for all that our God has done for us. It is true, He has provided a way for us to escape the grasps of evil. It does not matter what ails us, there is a way for us to escape. I have been able to ponder a great deal upon this concept this week. I know, in my heart and mind, that it is true. My question - How to do I apply it?
Second - These verses do focus a great deal on death, temporal and spiritual. Yet there is hope through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. He, Christ, has given us a give of resurrection, the joining of flesh and bone with spirit.
In addition to these short verses, I also spent a great deal of time pondering the words of Alma to his son Corianton. Alma 40-42. I pondered the words of D&C 138 as well. This gift is incredible. It was/is give through love. Though we do not completely understand when or how it will happen, happen it will. I know this. It give me reason for Hope and Faith to do better each day. It fills my heart with joy to know that I am loved that much, that He would give so much for my freedom from the grasps of this monster.
Third - The resurrection is not only temporal. It is spiritual as well. If you jump to verse 12, I learning that through the Atonement of Christ, we are able to escape spiritual death as well, upon the conditions of repentance. We have the opportunity to call upon Mercy, through our willingness to repent and obey the laws and ordinances of the Gospel. As we do so, Christ will provide a way for our spirits to rise again, free from the bondage of spiritual death.
Wow - what a wonderful thought. Sadly, there are not many who seek to understand or apply it to their lives. Why? I realized again and again this week how much I want this for my children, my siblings, my family, friends and neighbors. But how? I realized that it is not a one size fits all type of process. It requires that I know and understand those things in their lives that might be holding them back from such blessings before I can help them see or understand how they can reach them themselves.
Where does it start? The basics. From there it will grow to more, but we have to be willing to do the basics, to obey the basics, to make the basics a priority in our lives. IF we do so, we will be freed from the many distracting grasps of that awful monster and prosper.
I invite you to do the basics.
So how did this all come about this week. Let me see what I can share....
To begin, the Queen and I were on vacation. Wouldn't you know that the minute we started planning my body decided to let go and get sick. I completely battled a horrid head cold all week long. Just when I thought I was getting over it, it would raise it's ugly head and bite me in the butt. The Queen was strong and fought it off until yesterday afternoon. Now it rests on her side of the bed.
Needless to say, much of what we planned went out the window. While I tried to build up strength, she did her best to stay busy. Cupboards and closets were cleaned out and organized. Projects were sewn up and bundled away for another day.
But Tuesday, though I had this stupid cold, I was going stir crazy. I needed to be out and doing something. We did manage to get out for short bits. We got shoes, shades, curtains, and more. We enjoyed one another's company, and planned for future days of vacation. We ended the week with adventures north in the Cache Valley.
The Professor busied herself with school and projects. Sadly, there were several nights she found herself on her own. We did find a couple evenings we were able to spend time with her. Now she is preparing to start the real deal - Grad classes.
Tall Man and Ehl-Bo dropped by a couple times this week. We learned that we need to coordinate better when it comes to sharing our tables. They continue to pursue many new adventures. We keep praying that they will be blessed for their diligence. 1 Nephi 3:7 comes to mind. A great thought was shared in Priesthood today. There is a way provided. Nephi understood this. He learned that at times there were things he needed to improve upon and others, that he just needed to keep trying and moving forward.
Puddin and Lady Hawkins were crazy busy this week. However, we did find time to help fill out applications, clean, pack, and prepare for new adventures. Puddin continues to seek employment. He had a couple interviews this week and already has several on the books for next week. We are praying that one or more of them we come to fruition. As we said, we spent the day getting them ready to start school tomorrow. The countdown to the next adventure is only 6 days away. We will let you know how that goes next weekend.
School started for SongBird last week. We hear she has been crazy busy. The Professor tried to catch up with her, but schedules did not seem to play well together. We will keep trying.
We are glad that all those who followed the Total Eclipse made it home safe. We continue praying for those caught in the challenges down south. Our thoughts and heart ache for those who find themselves flat on their backs. Until next week....
Cheerios
PS - SMITH AND EDWARDS came to West Jordan - Woot Woot!
Comments