Don't just leave the testimony, live it daily
Greetings Earth Dwellers -
I hope that you are all doing well. Before I begin, I wish to let you know that those of you who get this as an email each week are continually in my thoughts. No matter where I am or where you are, I always find time to think of you, each and every day.
It looks like the axe throwers had a blast. I hope the pee roller is healing well. I am continually thinking of those who are checking out historic sites this week. It sounds like you are in good company. To those in various stages of recovery, I pray for you daily. To those sleeping on Pacific Coasts in varying degrees, make sure you use sunblock. To the rest of you, make this Sabbath Day Holy.
Yeah, I know I am coming to you a little early this week. It is amazing what you do when you find yourself alone. There are times that the minutes fly past me and then there are times that I think that the second hand is hardly moving. Regardless, I find myself slightly ahead of the game this day and sending a post early.
It has been a good week. My pondering and study have found my thoughts in D&C 76:21-24. There have been many times that I have tried to envision myself with those "holy angels". Then I started evaluating myself and wondering, am I doing what I need to do to be worth of such holy ground? What do I need to change to get there? What am I doing on a daily basis to be "sanctified before his throne". Have you ever wondered? Is it a goal you are aspiring to? How important is it for you to be there? Who do you see being there with you?
I know we often get caught up on the last question. We always have a tendency to see others, their short comings and weaknesses. We often spend a great deal of time trying to figure out how we can help them make the changes they need to make to be in those holy courts on high, yet we do not think about ourselves.
I am just as guilty of this as anyone else. However, as I continued reading these verses, I am reminded that Joseph and Sydney talked of themselves.
"...after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all that WE give of him:..."
Yes, they, like us, have received many witnesses. On a daily basis we have many who are living examples of testimonies, large and small, but what about us individually. What are we doing to leave our testimony? What are we doing on a daily basis to not only leave our witness, but build the power of our testimony of him?
In this mortal life, I have not literally seen him standing on the right hand of God, but I have heard the voice. It is small and simple. It powerful beyond all imagination. It has been seared t my soul. I see this amazing world that has been created by him. I am grateful for the time I have to spend with the inhabitants thereof that ARE his begotten sons and daughters. I know this.
Yet, it is not enough. That witness is not just a one and done. How many of you remember what happened on June 3, 2003 at 2:35 p.m.? You were all here. You all witnessed it. But do you remember it? Have you taken that moment and strengthened it? Probably not. I know I have not. That being said, I cannot tell you what happened on that day. Because I have not made an effort to remember it, witness it, and strengthen it, I have forgotten it.
Likewise, our testimonies can be forgotten as well. We MUST make a continual effort to keep that witness, that we, like Joseph and Sydney, can give our own. In doing so, we will be "sanctified before his throne".
Does that make sense. As I pondered these words, studied the most recent words of living prophets and seers, made time to read and ponder the scriptures in all their formats, I have been reminded of how powerful and important they are. As I have done so, I am amazed to find that those important testimony strengthening, powerful witness bearing moments of my life have been brought to my remembrance. In them, I am strengthened to overcome those small and simple attacks of the adversary.
I encourage each of you to do the same. MAKE IT A PRIORITY. When you do, HE will be with you. For HIM, nothing is impossible to overcome. Nothing is impossible to accomplish. He will be in your forward and rearward. He will fight your battles for you. I was reminded of this as my studies took me to Joshua 6, 2 Kings 19:32-35, Numbers 21:9.
The enemy will always be at our gates as in Kings. If we put God first in our lives, He will fight our battles as he did in Jericho and with the Assyrian armies of 185,000. The fiery serpents are all around us. Some of us will be bitten. To live, we must continually look to Christ as the children of Israel were told to look to the brazen serpent. Our brazen serpent is daily prayer, daily scripture study, partaking of the Sacrament, FHE, attending our meeting and sustaining our chosen leaders.
Ok one more before I go. Even if you have read or listened to it once, read or listen to it again, Dallin H. Oaks - Small and Simple Things. It would be a good place to start this week. Build on it.
This week has been good.
The Queen and the Professor spent most of the week back East. They were able to put a couple notches in their bucket lists - Carlos and Manhattan - DONE.
I was able to visit with Tall Man briefly over the phone this week as he stopped by to house only to find it dark and empty. It sounds like he and Ehl-Bo have some plans in the works. I did not get an update on the results of Ehl-Bo's adventures last week at the Complex, but hope it was productive in all.
Likewise, I had a moment to catch up with Puddin. He is busy and needs to get busier. It sounds like Lady Hawkins is as well. I am not sure when the Summer semester ends, but it sounds like they have an adventure or two in the works.
Me? I was on the road. I spent a lot of time going from frigid temperatures to searing heat. My glasses are still re-cooperating. We will see what the adventures of this week brings.
I hope that you are all doing well. Before I begin, I wish to let you know that those of you who get this as an email each week are continually in my thoughts. No matter where I am or where you are, I always find time to think of you, each and every day.
It looks like the axe throwers had a blast. I hope the pee roller is healing well. I am continually thinking of those who are checking out historic sites this week. It sounds like you are in good company. To those in various stages of recovery, I pray for you daily. To those sleeping on Pacific Coasts in varying degrees, make sure you use sunblock. To the rest of you, make this Sabbath Day Holy.
Yeah, I know I am coming to you a little early this week. It is amazing what you do when you find yourself alone. There are times that the minutes fly past me and then there are times that I think that the second hand is hardly moving. Regardless, I find myself slightly ahead of the game this day and sending a post early.
It has been a good week. My pondering and study have found my thoughts in D&C 76:21-24. There have been many times that I have tried to envision myself with those "holy angels". Then I started evaluating myself and wondering, am I doing what I need to do to be worth of such holy ground? What do I need to change to get there? What am I doing on a daily basis to be "sanctified before his throne". Have you ever wondered? Is it a goal you are aspiring to? How important is it for you to be there? Who do you see being there with you?
I know we often get caught up on the last question. We always have a tendency to see others, their short comings and weaknesses. We often spend a great deal of time trying to figure out how we can help them make the changes they need to make to be in those holy courts on high, yet we do not think about ourselves.
I am just as guilty of this as anyone else. However, as I continued reading these verses, I am reminded that Joseph and Sydney talked of themselves.
"...after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all that WE give of him:..."
Yes, they, like us, have received many witnesses. On a daily basis we have many who are living examples of testimonies, large and small, but what about us individually. What are we doing to leave our testimony? What are we doing on a daily basis to not only leave our witness, but build the power of our testimony of him?
In this mortal life, I have not literally seen him standing on the right hand of God, but I have heard the voice. It is small and simple. It powerful beyond all imagination. It has been seared t my soul. I see this amazing world that has been created by him. I am grateful for the time I have to spend with the inhabitants thereof that ARE his begotten sons and daughters. I know this.
Yet, it is not enough. That witness is not just a one and done. How many of you remember what happened on June 3, 2003 at 2:35 p.m.? You were all here. You all witnessed it. But do you remember it? Have you taken that moment and strengthened it? Probably not. I know I have not. That being said, I cannot tell you what happened on that day. Because I have not made an effort to remember it, witness it, and strengthen it, I have forgotten it.
Likewise, our testimonies can be forgotten as well. We MUST make a continual effort to keep that witness, that we, like Joseph and Sydney, can give our own. In doing so, we will be "sanctified before his throne".
Does that make sense. As I pondered these words, studied the most recent words of living prophets and seers, made time to read and ponder the scriptures in all their formats, I have been reminded of how powerful and important they are. As I have done so, I am amazed to find that those important testimony strengthening, powerful witness bearing moments of my life have been brought to my remembrance. In them, I am strengthened to overcome those small and simple attacks of the adversary.
I encourage each of you to do the same. MAKE IT A PRIORITY. When you do, HE will be with you. For HIM, nothing is impossible to overcome. Nothing is impossible to accomplish. He will be in your forward and rearward. He will fight your battles for you. I was reminded of this as my studies took me to Joshua 6, 2 Kings 19:32-35, Numbers 21:9.
The enemy will always be at our gates as in Kings. If we put God first in our lives, He will fight our battles as he did in Jericho and with the Assyrian armies of 185,000. The fiery serpents are all around us. Some of us will be bitten. To live, we must continually look to Christ as the children of Israel were told to look to the brazen serpent. Our brazen serpent is daily prayer, daily scripture study, partaking of the Sacrament, FHE, attending our meeting and sustaining our chosen leaders.
Ok one more before I go. Even if you have read or listened to it once, read or listen to it again, Dallin H. Oaks - Small and Simple Things. It would be a good place to start this week. Build on it.
This week has been good.
The Queen and the Professor spent most of the week back East. They were able to put a couple notches in their bucket lists - Carlos and Manhattan - DONE.
I was able to visit with Tall Man briefly over the phone this week as he stopped by to house only to find it dark and empty. It sounds like he and Ehl-Bo have some plans in the works. I did not get an update on the results of Ehl-Bo's adventures last week at the Complex, but hope it was productive in all.
Likewise, I had a moment to catch up with Puddin. He is busy and needs to get busier. It sounds like Lady Hawkins is as well. I am not sure when the Summer semester ends, but it sounds like they have an adventure or two in the works.
Me? I was on the road. I spent a lot of time going from frigid temperatures to searing heat. My glasses are still re-cooperating. We will see what the adventures of this week brings.
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