Friday, May 14, 2010

The Wind Blows. . . Ether 1-6

The wind blows and the storms rage, but if we build our boats the right way, all that force pushes us to a happy, promised place. The Lord will not suffer us to stop until we reach that promised land (2:7) because He knows that there is a peace there that we can only enjoy after we've braved the storms. He promised the Jaredites that he would "prepare (them) against these things." (2:25)What are "these things"? Wind and rain, floods and waves, bumps and bruises, discouragement and despair. Our boats aren't in the ocean, but they are in life and that gets awfully bumpy sometimes. But "who knoweth but the Lord will carry us foth into a land which is choice above all the earth?" (1:38) I can't imagine the places where God will take me. The map I drew for myself 10 years ago was way off. . thank goodness. I know that God has blessings reserved for us we cannot imagine and every wind that He sends is aimed at getting us to a place where we can receive them. Blow winds blow.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Who Will I Be?

Today I watched this

It made me think alot of things. It made me get up and jump one more time on the trampoline with my daughter. . just because I could. It made me ponder how quickly life can change so completely. And it made me think alot about the woman I am, the woman I want to be, and if I am busy bridging that gap. I thought about talents I have and how I can use them to build up the Kingdom of God. First and foremost my stewardship is my children. My job, above all, I believe is to bring them to Jesus Christ. But I have to know the way before I can show the way. And along that path to bringing my children to Christ, I can reach out my hand and invite others to come and see. Come and see what makes me happy. Come and see and read and think.
So, out of all this pondering came an idea. This site has been used (sporadically) to post stories I am writing. And there will be those. But, I've decided that this will also be a place to share what I learn from the scriptures and the Spirit. Most will be brief. Some will be long. All, I hope, will be helpful. I know God lives and I know He speaks to us through His scriptures. And we can become more like Him as we read His words, then stop and think about what He wants us to do with them.
. . . so today. . . I read in Mormon 9. As a recap, this is Moroni speaking. Everyone he loves has been killed. It is near the end of The Book of Mormon. The Lamanites have destroyed every Nephite and now Moroni is left to wander for 20 years, writing, wondering, and observing. I can't imagine this is a happy time of life. And yet, he writes: "I will show unto you a God of miracles. . . Behold are not the things that God hath wrought marvelous in our eyes? Yea, and who can comprehend the marvelous works of God?" Does that sound like someone who has seen hundreds and thousands of his people hewn down? Does that sound like someone totally, utterly alone? It sounds to me like someone who looks around and sees the Hand of God when most people would look around and assume God was taking some time off. Miracles have not ceased. If they hadn't ceased for Mormon, they certainly haven't ceased for me. Maybe I can make it through Seminary after all. What miracles do you need??