What can we hope for?
Happy Sabbath Day!
I hope this post finds you all well, rested, and healthy. It has been a busy week. I have been around, but not around. I feel like the week to come will be even more disjointed, but we will deal with it. If I don't catch up today, I will catch up soon.
This week's pondering has me going in many directions. I guess it is because of the discussions I have been asked to lead in other meetings this week and preparation for discussion I will be leading today. The principles of the gospel apply to so many different areas of life, only if those areas of life would let the gospel in.
Here we go. Alma 32:21-22
"And now as I said concerning faith - faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true."
"And now, behold, I say unto you, and I would that ye should remember, that God is merciful unto all who believe on his name; therefore he desireth, in the first place, that ye should believe, yea, even on his word."
How many of us get up everyday, not knowing what the day will bring, but hoping it will be successful? How many of us have faith that if we are doing our part, our family members will do the same, our co-workers will do the same, our neighbors will do the same, our world leaders will do the same? We don't know what they are thinking, what they are doing, what they are going through, but we hope that they will do their best just like we are doing our best?
The next question is, how much of that can we control? Yep, you can only control one thing, you and your performance/actions. Last week's pondering, in context, is related to this week's pondering. Remember verse 19?
"And now, how much more cursed is he that knoweth the will of God and doeth it not, than he that only believeth, or only hath cause to believe, and falleth into transgression?"
Verse 20 tells us that we have to judge between the two. How do we judge? Do we blame others because we think they should be doing more? Because we think they know they should be doing something that they are not? or do we assume that they know more or as much as we do, therefore they should be doing it?
How do you judge? Have you ever found yourself in a position where others expected more of you, but you really didn't know what you were doing? Have you ever found yourselves in situations where you knew what you should be doing, but because of other event in life were not able to do them or give your all? or have there been times that you just weren't feeling it, so you didn't give it your best?
How are you judged?
Now read verse 22 again. "...I would that you should remember, that God is merciful unto all who believe on his name;..."
This is how I hope to judge and hope to be judged. Mercifully, as long as I am doing my best to do the things that I can control. I will let the Lord judge others for what they are doing and whether they are doing their best.
It is not easy to have such faith. It is hard not to judge or expect the same/more from others that we expect of ourselves. The best we can hope for is the best we can give and the justice and mercy of God for the rest.
Where do we start? First we must learn what is expected of us so we can do our best and that comes from His word. That is where we start. Are we learning His word? Are we doing our best to live His word? Are we letting what we have learned and what we do flow in all our actions, words, thoughts, and deeds? Then we must have faith in His mercy, not only for us, but for the hope we have in others as well.
A lot to think about.
Our week -
The Queen has made a list. Actually she had made several lists. She is doing all she can to make it through each item on the list. She has been crazy productive. When she finishes one list she starts another.
The Professor has been gearing up for her first day back to the classroom. She has been researching, crafting, planning, organizing, and now starts making the drive to the classroom this week. Yeah!
I don't think that is how she said it.
I understand it has been an eventful week for Tall Man, Ehl-Bo, and little Lego. I love the picture they sent this week of Mermaiding adventures. Tall Man has been a little under the weather. We hope he is on the mend. Ehl-Bo has had a couple auditions, we hope there is success coming from some of them. And Lego just loving going along for the ride as long as he can sleep and there is someone with a bottle.
Puddin and Lady Hawkins are making life work. Lady Hawkins has been asked to work more hours on her new job. I has been a major adjustment. Puddin's work routine has not changed that much, but finding time to share together seems to go early into the morning hours, which is crazy for both of them.
SnackPack is exploring many options. He has also been under the weather this week, but on the rebound. Work has been crazy. Night adventures even more so. He is doing his best to live the dream.
I hope this post finds you all well, rested, and healthy. It has been a busy week. I have been around, but not around. I feel like the week to come will be even more disjointed, but we will deal with it. If I don't catch up today, I will catch up soon.
This week's pondering has me going in many directions. I guess it is because of the discussions I have been asked to lead in other meetings this week and preparation for discussion I will be leading today. The principles of the gospel apply to so many different areas of life, only if those areas of life would let the gospel in.
Here we go. Alma 32:21-22
"And now as I said concerning faith - faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true."
"And now, behold, I say unto you, and I would that ye should remember, that God is merciful unto all who believe on his name; therefore he desireth, in the first place, that ye should believe, yea, even on his word."
How many of us get up everyday, not knowing what the day will bring, but hoping it will be successful? How many of us have faith that if we are doing our part, our family members will do the same, our co-workers will do the same, our neighbors will do the same, our world leaders will do the same? We don't know what they are thinking, what they are doing, what they are going through, but we hope that they will do their best just like we are doing our best?
The next question is, how much of that can we control? Yep, you can only control one thing, you and your performance/actions. Last week's pondering, in context, is related to this week's pondering. Remember verse 19?
"And now, how much more cursed is he that knoweth the will of God and doeth it not, than he that only believeth, or only hath cause to believe, and falleth into transgression?"
Verse 20 tells us that we have to judge between the two. How do we judge? Do we blame others because we think they should be doing more? Because we think they know they should be doing something that they are not? or do we assume that they know more or as much as we do, therefore they should be doing it?
How do you judge? Have you ever found yourself in a position where others expected more of you, but you really didn't know what you were doing? Have you ever found yourselves in situations where you knew what you should be doing, but because of other event in life were not able to do them or give your all? or have there been times that you just weren't feeling it, so you didn't give it your best?
How are you judged?
Now read verse 22 again. "...I would that you should remember, that God is merciful unto all who believe on his name;..."
This is how I hope to judge and hope to be judged. Mercifully, as long as I am doing my best to do the things that I can control. I will let the Lord judge others for what they are doing and whether they are doing their best.
It is not easy to have such faith. It is hard not to judge or expect the same/more from others that we expect of ourselves. The best we can hope for is the best we can give and the justice and mercy of God for the rest.
Where do we start? First we must learn what is expected of us so we can do our best and that comes from His word. That is where we start. Are we learning His word? Are we doing our best to live His word? Are we letting what we have learned and what we do flow in all our actions, words, thoughts, and deeds? Then we must have faith in His mercy, not only for us, but for the hope we have in others as well.
A lot to think about.
Our week -
The Queen has made a list. Actually she had made several lists. She is doing all she can to make it through each item on the list. She has been crazy productive. When she finishes one list she starts another.
The Professor has been gearing up for her first day back to the classroom. She has been researching, crafting, planning, organizing, and now starts making the drive to the classroom this week. Yeah!
I don't think that is how she said it.
I understand it has been an eventful week for Tall Man, Ehl-Bo, and little Lego. I love the picture they sent this week of Mermaiding adventures. Tall Man has been a little under the weather. We hope he is on the mend. Ehl-Bo has had a couple auditions, we hope there is success coming from some of them. And Lego just loving going along for the ride as long as he can sleep and there is someone with a bottle.
Puddin and Lady Hawkins are making life work. Lady Hawkins has been asked to work more hours on her new job. I has been a major adjustment. Puddin's work routine has not changed that much, but finding time to share together seems to go early into the morning hours, which is crazy for both of them.
SnackPack is exploring many options. He has also been under the weather this week, but on the rebound. Work has been crazy. Night adventures even more so. He is doing his best to live the dream.
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