In the past week I've barely gotten through 2 chapters and not just because I'm pondering over each verse in depth. It's because a) I get easily distracted by the girls and only read a few verses each day and b) I'm in the war chapters of Mormon which tend not to be too interesting or captivating to me. But without further ado and sans excuses.
Mormon 5:2 - talk about me! Here I am, or have been (when I don't read my scriptures), "struggling for my life without calling upon that Being who created me." I've also been hanging out with a few friends who are suffering from depression and how I long to tell them and explain to them that we don't have to, and shouldn't struggle through our problems without turning to our Maker. It's like the book You are Special by Max Lucado. We need to return to our Maker, for He knows us. His tender mercy is always extended to us so that we don't have to struggle!
Mormon 3:3 - it says "the Lord their God." Sometimes, I am sure, in the scriptures it says just the Lord God. But here it is explicit in the Lord their God. He is a personal God. A God to His people, as well as THE God. But how sad is it that they/we/I can harden my heart against MY own God, someone who is personally mine?
Mormon 3:12 - This verse is just amazing. I can almost hear Mormon's voice; that personal, painful struggle where he leads and loves a people who are such a source of sorrow to him. It's amazing how he can love a people so much that it hurts, loves them and is so hurt by them and feels such sadness for them. It's very tender. Or as he says in 5:8, "harrowing" to the soul. What an agonizing existence. And I wonder what that means when he says he leads this people, prays for them but "without faith..." ? I cannot imagine a prophet of God as diligent as he praying without faith. Maybe without hope? Praying with a knowledge that God cannot bless the people and act contrary to His own laws of righteousness, that He cannot bless a people in sin?
Mormon 5:18 - the ship/vessel analogy. Where else is that in the scriptures? "Be ye clean, ye that bear the vessels of the Lord?" Am I making that up? Ah... electronic scriptures and searches - 3 Nephi 20:41. Be anchored, be clean, be a vessel/receptacle filled with the good things of the gospel, have a sail... I bet I could really study out this little analogy. Maybe at a later date.
Mormon 5:21 - so powerful for those of us who have loved ones for whom we pray. The Lord remembers, hears, honors the prayers that we pray for others. Those who are dear to us may NOT turn to the Lord, but if we continue to pray for them (and are righteous), the Lord hears us. So keep praying for them. One of our Heavenly Father's tender mercies.
RE: Mormon 5:2 - this reminds me of something I read today in 2NE10:20. What I got from it is that God has given us KNOWLEDGE. Because of that knowledge there is no reason that we should become discouraged because of our sins (or our trials, situation in life, etc, etc). We know the gospel plan, we know God is merciful, we know we can repent so why would we NOT do it? There's just no good reason to not repent.
ReplyDeleteRE: Mormon 3:3 - love this. As with all relationships sometimes it can be hard to rekindle the love, as it were. After days, weeks, months of prayer hiatus it's so vital to remember that God is mine. He is mine and I am His. That is beautiful!
RE: Mormon 5:21 - I think I needed to hear this today. I love that it's an actual scripture and not just a nice thought. 2 things that did my heart some good and confirmed this principle: 1) I just found out that my 40yr old cousin (who I love and adore) is getting his patriarchal blessing soon. How cool is that? A reminded that it's never too late to change, grow, progress. 2) Graham (ya know, the guy I told you about...) went to church on sunday. While that may not sound like a big deal, it actually is a big deal to me. It's been months since he's attended. I've been praying for him. Tried to force him to read the BoM with me (this went well for about 2 weeks until I failed in my follow up after he made me feel guilty for forcing him to do it - long story short). Anyway. He went to church. All by himself. Of his own volition. Happy day.
Sooooo glad that Graham went to church!!! That IS huge. And that's great that you "forced" him to read BoM with you. Hahahaha... until the follow-up... which DL said to us, "you're only as good as your follow-up, sister." ? Anyways... SO glad to see you on here! After I read your comments I said to myself, "This is awesome. I love Marc, but even though we read together {sometimes} he and I just never have the feedback and exchange that mimics this. I love it."
ReplyDelete"You're only as good as your follow up" has been the phrase going through my mind for the past few weeks! bwaha! I can't remember which DL said it but I remember that it was said.
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