Let see the Honor and Good
Yep, here I am another day late from the normal posting. Yesterday was an accumulation of un-expected events that just seemed to build. By the time my day ended, it was late and I did not feel like my eye lids would have sustained me writing a post.
Hence, I am coming to you now.
It has been a busy week. I have had my mind filled with many things. First, the pondering...D&C 76:75-77. In this crazy world we live in, I have a feeling that we sometimes disregard the message of these verses.
"...who are honorable men of the earth..." All to often I fear that people, regardless of individual faith and belief, put themselves on a higher plane and look down on those who do not share their individual faith and belief. Because of this, we find ourselves divided instead of unified in those areas of faith and belief that are common - Jesus Christ.
Any who, these men are honorable. We are surrounded by many who are honorable, but the natural man/adversary would have us be divided and over look the good in those around us. I am reminded that we need to see the good, the honor, the value, and similarities shared rather focusing on those that are not.
"...who were blinded by the craftiness of men..." Men - meaning the natural man, the enemy to God.
How do we avoid such blindness? What blindness is around us? Does the "craftiness of men" lure us to over spend? Attract us to idleness? Sway us to justification of not doing? Entice us with diversion that appeals to our want of instant gratification? I am sure the list could go on and on. We see it in so many forms.
This weekend I had the opportunity to participate in a stake fathers and sons camp out. It was my privilege to organize the games and activities around a virtual camp fire. As I reflect upon the event of the evening I can see how this craftiness starts even with the very young.
I had games prepared, prizes to award, and fun to be had. Unfortunately, everyone, sons, wanted to participate. We did not have enough to go around. We had to rotate in rounds and mini competitions. I fell into the trap of craftiness and blinding. Try as I might, we only seemed to celebrate the champions and not the success of all those who competed along the way.
This became very evident in one game where two siblings ended up competing against each other in the championship round, one being 14, the other being 11. To make the championship round, they each qualified with the same exact time of 50 seconds. In the end, the nerves of competing against an older sibling overwhelmed the younger. He was frustrated and suddenly crushed.
The crowd celebrated the success of the older sibling, even though the older sibling wanted to focus on the fact that his younger brother has good enough to compete against his older brother. But the "craftiness of men" blinded us all from focusing on the honor.
The blindness was even worse in the mind of the younger sibling. I wonder how many of us fall to this same craftiness. We give in to the whispering of the adversary and forget our own honor and success and start believing that we are failures, unworthy, worthless, and more.
It is because of this blindness that we do not receive the fulness of the Father. We fail to see that we all have the ability, through Christ to overcome and/or make up for those short falls. Together we can and will succeed through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, if we receive not just his glory, but the fulness of his Father.
I learned that I need to celebrate more. I need to help others celebrate more. I need to help them recognize the honor and receive the fulness. As I do, I will be able to receive it myself.
I hope that makes sense. I hope you are able to apply it to your individual faith and belief as I have been able to apply it to mine. Together we will build the kingdom.
On to the week -
Our house was a little empty this week. We were all on the road. I was in the Windy City and though they followed different paths, the Queen and Professor hooked up in the Magic Kingdom.
The Queen was on assignment in Florida. She worked some odd hours and did not return home until mid-day on Saturday. She was happy to be home.
The Professor spent a few days dividing her time between school work and fun. She was able to take the Hogwarts Express and create adventures outside her comfort zone to make memories. She returned home on Wednesday.
Tall Man and Ehl-Bo have been prepping for the "Cannon Ball". It was almost derailed due to Utah fires, but with much effort they were able to make an appearance. The continue to de-clutter and are doing their best to focus on the successes.
Both Puddin and Lady Hawkins are knee deep in homework and school. We learned today that Puddin passed his expert exam and looks forward to better opportunities. Lady Hawkins is waiting for the results of her exam, but feels confident in her abilities.
SnackPack hit a brick wall this week and needed to take a siesta for a bit. It was a small bit and he was back in the saddle of work and school. Life has in flying.
I hope that we can all remember to find the balance. When we were all home late Saturday night, we learned that family from the north west were in town and wanted to get together. We did some scrambling to make it happen. It was well worth it. We need to make that scramble happen more often.
Hence, I am coming to you now.
It has been a busy week. I have had my mind filled with many things. First, the pondering...D&C 76:75-77. In this crazy world we live in, I have a feeling that we sometimes disregard the message of these verses.
"...who are honorable men of the earth..." All to often I fear that people, regardless of individual faith and belief, put themselves on a higher plane and look down on those who do not share their individual faith and belief. Because of this, we find ourselves divided instead of unified in those areas of faith and belief that are common - Jesus Christ.
Any who, these men are honorable. We are surrounded by many who are honorable, but the natural man/adversary would have us be divided and over look the good in those around us. I am reminded that we need to see the good, the honor, the value, and similarities shared rather focusing on those that are not.
"...who were blinded by the craftiness of men..." Men - meaning the natural man, the enemy to God.
How do we avoid such blindness? What blindness is around us? Does the "craftiness of men" lure us to over spend? Attract us to idleness? Sway us to justification of not doing? Entice us with diversion that appeals to our want of instant gratification? I am sure the list could go on and on. We see it in so many forms.
This weekend I had the opportunity to participate in a stake fathers and sons camp out. It was my privilege to organize the games and activities around a virtual camp fire. As I reflect upon the event of the evening I can see how this craftiness starts even with the very young.
I had games prepared, prizes to award, and fun to be had. Unfortunately, everyone, sons, wanted to participate. We did not have enough to go around. We had to rotate in rounds and mini competitions. I fell into the trap of craftiness and blinding. Try as I might, we only seemed to celebrate the champions and not the success of all those who competed along the way.
This became very evident in one game where two siblings ended up competing against each other in the championship round, one being 14, the other being 11. To make the championship round, they each qualified with the same exact time of 50 seconds. In the end, the nerves of competing against an older sibling overwhelmed the younger. He was frustrated and suddenly crushed.
The crowd celebrated the success of the older sibling, even though the older sibling wanted to focus on the fact that his younger brother has good enough to compete against his older brother. But the "craftiness of men" blinded us all from focusing on the honor.
The blindness was even worse in the mind of the younger sibling. I wonder how many of us fall to this same craftiness. We give in to the whispering of the adversary and forget our own honor and success and start believing that we are failures, unworthy, worthless, and more.
It is because of this blindness that we do not receive the fulness of the Father. We fail to see that we all have the ability, through Christ to overcome and/or make up for those short falls. Together we can and will succeed through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, if we receive not just his glory, but the fulness of his Father.
I learned that I need to celebrate more. I need to help others celebrate more. I need to help them recognize the honor and receive the fulness. As I do, I will be able to receive it myself.
I hope that makes sense. I hope you are able to apply it to your individual faith and belief as I have been able to apply it to mine. Together we will build the kingdom.
On to the week -
Our house was a little empty this week. We were all on the road. I was in the Windy City and though they followed different paths, the Queen and Professor hooked up in the Magic Kingdom.
The Queen was on assignment in Florida. She worked some odd hours and did not return home until mid-day on Saturday. She was happy to be home.
The Professor spent a few days dividing her time between school work and fun. She was able to take the Hogwarts Express and create adventures outside her comfort zone to make memories. She returned home on Wednesday.
Tall Man and Ehl-Bo have been prepping for the "Cannon Ball". It was almost derailed due to Utah fires, but with much effort they were able to make an appearance. The continue to de-clutter and are doing their best to focus on the successes.
Both Puddin and Lady Hawkins are knee deep in homework and school. We learned today that Puddin passed his expert exam and looks forward to better opportunities. Lady Hawkins is waiting for the results of her exam, but feels confident in her abilities.
SnackPack hit a brick wall this week and needed to take a siesta for a bit. It was a small bit and he was back in the saddle of work and school. Life has in flying.
I hope that we can all remember to find the balance. When we were all home late Saturday night, we learned that family from the north west were in town and wanted to get together. We did some scrambling to make it happen. It was well worth it. We need to make that scramble happen more often.
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