Humbly Seeking Repentance
Good Morning All -
What a wonderful Sabbath Day to be alive.
Yesterday, the Queen and I celebrated 31 years along our journey together. We did not do anything super special. There were other events and tasks that needed to be completed. We did our best to complete them all and then spent time together. I love spending time together. It is something that I never regret. I look forward to many more years just being together. When you read this, know I love you more.
Other than anticipating the special day yesterday, it has been relatively routine in our lives. I have had many opportunities to ponder upon the world around me and those things that I can do to lift and sustain my small corner of the plan.
Alma 32:12-13
"I say unto you, it is well that ye are cast out of your synagogues, that ye may be humble, and that ye may learn wisdom; for it is necessary that ye are cast out, that ye are despised of your brethren because of your poverty, that ye are brought to a lowliness of heart; for ye are necessarily brought to be humble."
"And now, because ye are compelled to be humble blessed are ye; for a man sometimes, if he is compelled to be humble, seeketh repentance; and now surely, whosoever repenteth shall find mercy; and he that findeth mercy and endureth to the end the same shall be saved."
I have been reading and hearing about several people who feel oppressed, cast out, rejected, and despised lately. As I have pondered these words this week, I have realized that "your synagogues", does not always mean a place of worship, though there are many types and places of worship in the world. Sometimes our synagogues may be work, a circle of friends, a team or group we want to be part of. Like the Zoramites before Alma, they/we are seeking a place of belonging.
Can you relate to them? Have you ever felt as they have? How do you react? Do you get angry and kick against the pricks of life or are you humbled and and seek repentance? Note repentance is not a bad thing. I can never say that enough to remove the stigma the world puts on repentance. Are we humbled to see that we cannot change others, how they feel, think, act, or more. We can only control own thoughts, feelings, actions, words, and more. Are we humble enough to make the changes we need to make?
Those changes may require that we focus more effort on a certain area of our lives and even sometimes removing certain influences from our lives. They may require more diligence, rising earlier, or more attention. The important thing is that we seek honest change that will make us better, that will bless our lives and the lives of others. Then we need to stick with it. If our repentance process is righteous and included the guidance of our Heavenly Father, he will always guide us along the way. We just can't give up.
Being humbled is not always a fun thing. Whether it is at church, home, school, work, or in the world. We just need to do our best, seek ways to change for the better, and stick with it. That is what Alma is trying to teach these people.
As we move on in these verses ahead, think about that word compelled. There will always be life events, controllable and uncontrollable, that will compel us to humility. Our Heavenly Father wants us to be actively engaged in looking for those things we can do to improve without being compelled. I hope you take time to ponder and reflect upon your own opportunities no matter where you are in life.
Our week -
Like I said, the Queen and I had a special day this week. The rest of the week was filled with work, event planning, trip planning, and serving others.
The Queen and the Professor spent a great deal of the week, even the past few weeks, planning an afternoon in the forest. In anticipation of a little foxes arrival into the family. The event seemed to go very well. I was around, but not fully engaged in the event.
Tall Man and Ehl-Bo are working, working, working and doing more. The days don't seem long enough to accomplish all that they need and want to do. It was fun to celebrate the anticipated arrival of Lego.
Lady Hawkins started a new job and Puddin added other employment opportunities to his resume. It sounds like they have both been very busy. Puddin shared a wonder photo of how sluggish it has become. Now we just need to sell their former residence.
SnackPack, worked, played, sang, danced, swam, spent, and earned this week. He even found time to play match maker somewhere in the middle. The adventures never seem to end.
What a wonderful Sabbath Day to be alive.
Yesterday, the Queen and I celebrated 31 years along our journey together. We did not do anything super special. There were other events and tasks that needed to be completed. We did our best to complete them all and then spent time together. I love spending time together. It is something that I never regret. I look forward to many more years just being together. When you read this, know I love you more.
Other than anticipating the special day yesterday, it has been relatively routine in our lives. I have had many opportunities to ponder upon the world around me and those things that I can do to lift and sustain my small corner of the plan.
Alma 32:12-13
"I say unto you, it is well that ye are cast out of your synagogues, that ye may be humble, and that ye may learn wisdom; for it is necessary that ye are cast out, that ye are despised of your brethren because of your poverty, that ye are brought to a lowliness of heart; for ye are necessarily brought to be humble."
"And now, because ye are compelled to be humble blessed are ye; for a man sometimes, if he is compelled to be humble, seeketh repentance; and now surely, whosoever repenteth shall find mercy; and he that findeth mercy and endureth to the end the same shall be saved."
I have been reading and hearing about several people who feel oppressed, cast out, rejected, and despised lately. As I have pondered these words this week, I have realized that "your synagogues", does not always mean a place of worship, though there are many types and places of worship in the world. Sometimes our synagogues may be work, a circle of friends, a team or group we want to be part of. Like the Zoramites before Alma, they/we are seeking a place of belonging.
Can you relate to them? Have you ever felt as they have? How do you react? Do you get angry and kick against the pricks of life or are you humbled and and seek repentance? Note repentance is not a bad thing. I can never say that enough to remove the stigma the world puts on repentance. Are we humbled to see that we cannot change others, how they feel, think, act, or more. We can only control own thoughts, feelings, actions, words, and more. Are we humble enough to make the changes we need to make?
Those changes may require that we focus more effort on a certain area of our lives and even sometimes removing certain influences from our lives. They may require more diligence, rising earlier, or more attention. The important thing is that we seek honest change that will make us better, that will bless our lives and the lives of others. Then we need to stick with it. If our repentance process is righteous and included the guidance of our Heavenly Father, he will always guide us along the way. We just can't give up.
Being humbled is not always a fun thing. Whether it is at church, home, school, work, or in the world. We just need to do our best, seek ways to change for the better, and stick with it. That is what Alma is trying to teach these people.
As we move on in these verses ahead, think about that word compelled. There will always be life events, controllable and uncontrollable, that will compel us to humility. Our Heavenly Father wants us to be actively engaged in looking for those things we can do to improve without being compelled. I hope you take time to ponder and reflect upon your own opportunities no matter where you are in life.
Our week -
Like I said, the Queen and I had a special day this week. The rest of the week was filled with work, event planning, trip planning, and serving others.
The Queen and the Professor spent a great deal of the week, even the past few weeks, planning an afternoon in the forest. In anticipation of a little foxes arrival into the family. The event seemed to go very well. I was around, but not fully engaged in the event.
Tall Man and Ehl-Bo are working, working, working and doing more. The days don't seem long enough to accomplish all that they need and want to do. It was fun to celebrate the anticipated arrival of Lego.
Lady Hawkins started a new job and Puddin added other employment opportunities to his resume. It sounds like they have both been very busy. Puddin shared a wonder photo of how sluggish it has become. Now we just need to sell their former residence.
SnackPack, worked, played, sang, danced, swam, spent, and earned this week. He even found time to play match maker somewhere in the middle. The adventures never seem to end.
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