Find the Passion
Starting today we enter into Passion Week! Today, being Palm Sunday. How many of us have really studied this week and the events leading up to the death and resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ? I know that I have read the gospels many times, but I don't know that I have really focused on just this week alone. Mark, Luke and John cover this week pretty well in a sequence of events starting with chapters 11, 19, 12 respectfully. Matthew covers Palm Sunday in Chapter 12, but then jumps to Chapter 21 where he covers Monday the following Sunday. I would encourage you to pick at least one of the four gospels this week and add read through Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, or John 20. Study the daily events each day of this week. I think we will all learn something new.
My thoughts this week have been geared to Agency, subject of a lesson. It has been eye opening to me. In addition, I have pondered Alma 40:13-14. In these verses, we read of people to have willingly made choices to live in opposition to the Plan of Salvation. They have allowed and almost welcomed the adversary take possession of them that they might be instruments in his cause against the cause of God. The more I pondered this group of people, I realized that it is not really a large group, when you think in eternal perspective, but their choices and actions seem to have a huge impact on the rest of God's children.
As I pondered this group and the influence they have, I couldn't help but wonder about all those who are deceived by them and their actions, many of whom truly have no intention of being wicked or fighting against the cause of God, but inadvertently end up doing so. I was reading a recent post on social media that represented this situation so well. The person making the post is someone who I truly believe has all the best interests at heart. However, they have let the influences of those who choose to do wickedly distract them from fully following God's Plan. As I read their post, I could understand why.
It the spirit of good intention, this person shared a very clear plea for all that follow him to do good, to see the good in others, to recognize that though we have different views, we are all part of the same human family. They encouraged all to see the good in others not the bad, to take time to understand those differences and find common ground, to capitalize on the good around them and not the bad.
Within moments, he was attacked from all sides. I found it interesting that suddenly people, who profess to be seeking good, as he does, became contentious. Instead of embracing the possibility that there is light in all, they focused on the darkness, the mistakes, the errors, the natural man in all of us and torn his comments apart. It was sad really. It seems that the minute anyone wants to talk about the light and good that they see in others and how we might all be better if we combine our light for the good, it is attacked. It became evident that the adversary does not want us to come together for good. The spirit of contention was immediate.
That being said, I encourage you all to see the light in those around you. Expound and build upon such light, regardless of current beliefs, social group, or faction of belonging. Unify for good, the good we all want to see around us. Stand against the impulse to see darkness. Be a beacon. Unite our flames to build not destroy.
That is what Christ wanted. That is what His mission was, to come unto Him. He invited all, not a few. We should do the same.
Our week -
It was just a week. The Queen headed out for another fun filled week of training. It was quiet around the house without her. I guess I noticed it even more as the Professor was also back in the workplace and out of the house.
The Professor was back in the classroom. When she was not in the classroom, she was glued to her computer screen doing research, typing papers, and adding chapters to the final project. It is truly exhausting.
We didn't hear much from Tall Man, Ehl-Bo, Puddin, or Lady Hawkins this week. I know they were busy. We did see signs of Tall Man and Ehl-Bo in our driveway, but our paths did not cross. We hope they are all well and productive.
Have a great week. Take your questions to the Lord. He will answer. In addition to Passion Week, I hope that you are all as anxious for Conference weekend as I am. Many great answers will come through His chosen Prophets.
Cheerios
My thoughts this week have been geared to Agency, subject of a lesson. It has been eye opening to me. In addition, I have pondered Alma 40:13-14. In these verses, we read of people to have willingly made choices to live in opposition to the Plan of Salvation. They have allowed and almost welcomed the adversary take possession of them that they might be instruments in his cause against the cause of God. The more I pondered this group of people, I realized that it is not really a large group, when you think in eternal perspective, but their choices and actions seem to have a huge impact on the rest of God's children.
As I pondered this group and the influence they have, I couldn't help but wonder about all those who are deceived by them and their actions, many of whom truly have no intention of being wicked or fighting against the cause of God, but inadvertently end up doing so. I was reading a recent post on social media that represented this situation so well. The person making the post is someone who I truly believe has all the best interests at heart. However, they have let the influences of those who choose to do wickedly distract them from fully following God's Plan. As I read their post, I could understand why.
It the spirit of good intention, this person shared a very clear plea for all that follow him to do good, to see the good in others, to recognize that though we have different views, we are all part of the same human family. They encouraged all to see the good in others not the bad, to take time to understand those differences and find common ground, to capitalize on the good around them and not the bad.
Within moments, he was attacked from all sides. I found it interesting that suddenly people, who profess to be seeking good, as he does, became contentious. Instead of embracing the possibility that there is light in all, they focused on the darkness, the mistakes, the errors, the natural man in all of us and torn his comments apart. It was sad really. It seems that the minute anyone wants to talk about the light and good that they see in others and how we might all be better if we combine our light for the good, it is attacked. It became evident that the adversary does not want us to come together for good. The spirit of contention was immediate.
That being said, I encourage you all to see the light in those around you. Expound and build upon such light, regardless of current beliefs, social group, or faction of belonging. Unify for good, the good we all want to see around us. Stand against the impulse to see darkness. Be a beacon. Unite our flames to build not destroy.
That is what Christ wanted. That is what His mission was, to come unto Him. He invited all, not a few. We should do the same.
Our week -
It was just a week. The Queen headed out for another fun filled week of training. It was quiet around the house without her. I guess I noticed it even more as the Professor was also back in the workplace and out of the house.
The Professor was back in the classroom. When she was not in the classroom, she was glued to her computer screen doing research, typing papers, and adding chapters to the final project. It is truly exhausting.
We didn't hear much from Tall Man, Ehl-Bo, Puddin, or Lady Hawkins this week. I know they were busy. We did see signs of Tall Man and Ehl-Bo in our driveway, but our paths did not cross. We hope they are all well and productive.
Have a great week. Take your questions to the Lord. He will answer. In addition to Passion Week, I hope that you are all as anxious for Conference weekend as I am. Many great answers will come through His chosen Prophets.
Cheerios
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