Day ninety
My prayer this morning was again focused on the needs of others. My heart aches for those that are struggling with trials that seem too much to bear. I talked with the Lord about these issues and asked Him to please bless those that need Him more than ever. I also asked Him to guide me in the ways that I can help.
Genesis 39
I think this is one of the most well known chapters in all of the scriptures, everyone knows about the incident with Joseph and Potiphar's wife. She makes sexual advances towards Joseph and he will have nothing to do with it and ends up in prison because she lies about it. What a contrast from Judah and the harlot in chapter 38.
But I want to talk about verse 2:
"And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian" (Gen. 39:2).
It is interesting that Moses would make this statement at the beginning of this account. When you think of the loneliness and hurt that Joseph might be feeling as a seventeen-year-old whose plans for the future look bleak because he has been sold as a slave in Egypt, the blessings of the Lord are not the first things that come to mind. It is in footnote a that I found the Lord, it leads you to TG God, Access to.
I have often wondered how it is that Joseph was able to endure so well through his trials. I have been taught that Joseph was a righteous man and turned to God during this time. I wanted to know, What would I have to do to have the Lord with me so that I might endure and prosper during my trials? In my search I came across this verse:
"God standeth in the congregation of the mighty..." (Psalm 82:1).
I don't remember reading this verse before, I know I have, but today it jumped out of the pages and into my heart. I think Joseph could definitely be described as "mighty", he will end up being second in command in Egypt and saving thousands of people. If I want God to stand with me I need to be mighty, so how do I become mighty?
Here are a few thoughts:
Seek the Lord
The phrase 'seek the Lord' or a variation of it is found in too many scripture verses to fit them all in this post. The direction to 'seek the Lord' is found in the Old and New Testament, the Book of Mormon, and the Doctrine and Covenants. Here are a few of my favorites:
"But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul." (Deut 4:29)
"Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near." (Isaiah 55:6)
"And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13)
With such an emphasis on this principle, it's importance is evident, if we want the Lord with us we need to seek Him first.
Believe in Him
"And that he manifesteth himself unto all those who believe in him.." (2 Nephi 26:13)
Pray to Him
"For if ye would hearken unto the Spirit which teacheth a man to pray, ye would know that ye must pray..." (2 Nephi 32:8)
"...that ye may begin to exercise your faith unto repentance, that ye begin to call upon his holy name..." (Alma 34:17)
Draw Near to Him
"Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith..." (Hebrews 10:22)
"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him" (Revelation 3:20)
"Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you" (D&C 88:63)
Know that God keeps His Promises
"Blessed be the Lord...there hath not failed one word of all his good promise." (1 Kings 8:56)
"For I am the Lord: I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass..." (Ezekiel 12:25)
see also Romans 4:21; Alma 37:17; D&C 1:38; D&C 82:10
This is the area that I struggle with the most. Why do I forget this teaching? I think I get caught up in the circumstances of the trial and take my focus off the Lord, which brings about thoughts that lead to doubt. I believe one of Joseph's strengths was his ability to remember that the Lord keeps His promises, even if the circumstances at the time seem to contradict that thought. He remained true to the faith he had been taught and when all seemed lost, he completely trusted in the Lord. He showed mighty faith.
Being mighty, what an empowering thought. The ability to know that the Lord is with you always, especially when you are facing trials, certainly takes away some of the fear that accompanies the trying times. I came across this quote today that really resonates this lesson for me:
"He who is not everyday conquering some fear has not learned the secret of life" ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
Joseph's story has taught me that being mighty and conquering fear through our trials is a blessing from the Lord. Today I think I learned a little more about the secret of life.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Falling Apart
Day eighty-nine
My prayer this morning was focused on the needs of others. In the last few weeks I have been informed of the hardships that many of my family and friends are facing. It seems to be a particularly difficult time for many, so I dedicated the majority of my prayer time to those that could use some extra blessings from above. I believe in the power of prayer and I know from personal experience that there is a comfort in knowing that others are praying for you. Praying for those you love is one of the greatest ways you can express your feelings for them.
Genesis 38
Chapter 38 is not a pleasant read, it involves marrying out of the covenant, adultery, lying, breaking covenants, and hypocrisy. As I read it I kept saying to myself, "Really! What are they thinking?" The actions of the people in this account are disturbing, but there must be a reason that Moses included it. As I studied this chapter I found that it applies to us today in a very real way, which is also a little disturbing.
Falling Apart
I found this commentary on this chapter that really made me think:
"In Jacob’s day, as in our own, one of Satan’s highest priorities is the attack on the home of the people of God. The purposes of God were to be realized in the families of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It was the breakdown of the family which seriously threatened (from a human vantage point) the purposes of God. Today the same challenge faces the Christian family."
My prayer this morning was focused on the needs of others. In the last few weeks I have been informed of the hardships that many of my family and friends are facing. It seems to be a particularly difficult time for many, so I dedicated the majority of my prayer time to those that could use some extra blessings from above. I believe in the power of prayer and I know from personal experience that there is a comfort in knowing that others are praying for you. Praying for those you love is one of the greatest ways you can express your feelings for them.
Genesis 38
Chapter 38 is not a pleasant read, it involves marrying out of the covenant, adultery, lying, breaking covenants, and hypocrisy. As I read it I kept saying to myself, "Really! What are they thinking?" The actions of the people in this account are disturbing, but there must be a reason that Moses included it. As I studied this chapter I found that it applies to us today in a very real way, which is also a little disturbing.
Falling Apart
I found this commentary on this chapter that really made me think:
"In Jacob’s day, as in our own, one of Satan’s highest priorities is the attack on the home of the people of God. The purposes of God were to be realized in the families of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It was the breakdown of the family which seriously threatened (from a human vantage point) the purposes of God. Today the same challenge faces the Christian family."
"In Jacob’s day, as in our own, the same basic issues are at stake. The family was under attack, as the church is today, on two major fronts. The first is in the area of purity and separation. The second front in Satan’s attack on the family and the church is the matter of unity and brotherly love." (The Skeleton's in Judah's Closet (Genesis 38:1-30), by Bob Deffinbaugh)
Purity and separation
In Genesis ch 34 we learned of the slaughter that occurred at the hands of Simeon and Levi, Judah's brothers, and that the other brothers had joined in. If Judah had participated in this you can start to see the downward spiral it is leading him into. And in ch 37 he is the one that wants to sell Joseph as a slave for profit.
In chapter 38 Judah separates himself from his family and seeks friends among the Canaanites, he marries a Canaanite woman and has sexual relations with a woman he believes is a prostitute. He lies to Tamar and he is revealed as a hypocrite when he wants to have her punished for sins he believes she committed, even though he has committed sexual sins himself.
Today our children are facing incredible pressure to conform to the world around them, to associate with those that do not share their standards, and to forsake the faith they have learned from their family.
Separation from the world is especially important in the matter of the friends that we choose. As Judah slipped away from his family, he entered into an alliance with Hirah, a man who was always present when Judah got into trouble. Our time is not so different from Judah's time, the media is filled with stories of gangs and alliances between youth and even adults that lead to the destruction of families and communities.
Unity and Brotherly Love
Joseph’s brothers had no brotherly love and no essential unity, as evidenced in chapter 37 when they throw Joseph into the pit and want to sell him. Judah's sons appear to share these qualities with their father and uncles. Judah’s son Onan had no sense of obligation to his deceased brother and was motivated only by self-interest and selfish ambition. So far as he was concerned, it did not matter if Tamar ever had a child, but God had determined that she would be the one through whom the Messiah would come. This reminded me of a sign I saw: A parent's life is a guidebook to their children. This is so true!
This lack of brotherly love is an issue that is still prevalent today. It makes since that there would be so many scriptures talking about this issue:
"Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another" (Rom. 12:10)
"But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another." (Thess. 4:9)
"Let brotherly love continue." (Heb.13:1)
"And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity." (2 Pet. 1:7)
The reason why we lack this kind of love and the unity which it fosters is that we, like Onan, are concerned more with our own interests than with those of others. We live in a 'me first' society, where the worldly lifestyle is celebrated and the righteous are condemned for their ways. Unfortunately, we as a people have a history of falling into this trap, which leads to wars, destruction, contention, and the disintegration of society. We are falling apart.
There is hope. As you continue reading in Genesis you will find that Judah's heart, over time, is changed and his family once again will be united. It is through God and great trials that these things happen. The scriptures teach us:
"If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus."
(Philippians 2:1-5).
Notice the word any, as long as there is even a little goodness left in the world there is hope that we will unite instead of fall apart. I am wanting to be more in the hope department and less in the falling apart. We can fight Satan, we can make a difference, and we do it through the strength in our families. Let's make sure the guidebook we are giving our children is filled with the right stuff!
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Who Is In Control?
Day eighty-eight
We had a really good Family Home Evening last night filled with great discussions. It was my eldest son's turn to teach and he had very little time to prepare because of school, but he has this gift of taking something ordinary and making it into something amazing. A You Tube video about the pledge of allegiance turned into a discussion on morals, parenting, society and our part in it. I was still thinking about it when I woke up this morning, the Spirit that was in my home last night was very filling. That is what I thanked the Lord for this morning, having the Spirit in my home. I am very blessed to have such great teachers living in my house, inviting the Spirit and helping me grow. I feel very loved by my Father because of this!
Genesis 37 Part 3
Genesis 37:8-36
This part of Joseph's story used to bother me quite a bit. I wondered how God could let Joseph's brothers be so mean to him. There is a scripture that helped me to understand why Joseph had to go through this experience:
"Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." (2 Timothy 3:12)
There is a pattern of righteous people suffering because of their desire to love Jesus Christ, it is just part of being a Christian. The verse says all, not just a few, but all, that includes you and me. What can we learn about enduring persecution from this chapter in Joseph's story?
As I started to examine the facts, it became clear that Joseph was being watched over by the Lord the entire time he is going through his trials, too many things just happened to fall into place for this to be coincidence.
I find it interesting that it is Joseph's father that sends him to check on his brothers, which leads to his persecution. Does this sound familiar? Heavenly Father sending Jesus Christ among His brothers only to end in the ultimate persecution, death. It seems like something more than a coincidence, I was beginning to see that the Lord was in control of this situation from the beginning.
So why have Joseph thrown into the pit? Well the alternative was death. In verse 20 it states that his brothers wanted to slay him. Where was the Lord in this situation?
*The intervention of Reuben (Gen 37:21-22). It is Reuben that comes up with the idea not to kill Joseph, but to throw him in the pit. Reuben is not known as the most righteous of individuals, so why decide to be the good big brother now?
*The appearance of the Ishmeelite traders (Gen 37:25). This will inspire Judah to come up with another plan for Joseph that does not include death.
*Judah's idea to sell Joseph as a slave (Gen 37:26-27). It would be this plan to sell Joseph that would deter the brother's from physically harming him. Their weakness for money made this plan profitable. Who uses our weaknesses for good?
*The Midianite merchantmen find him in the well and pull him out and sell him to the Ishmeelites (Gen. 37:28). The Lord not only uses the Midianites to get Joseph to where He needs him, but this situation also will teach Joseph's brothers a lesson. Two birds with one stone!
*He was sold to Potiphar (Gen 37:36). Potiphar is in Egypt, it just so happens that this is exactly where Joseph needs to be for the Lord's plan to unfold.
This brings to mind another verse:
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)
While the events in Joseph's life appeared to be out of control, you can see how much control the Lord had by looking at the actions of the people involved in this account. Everyone was in it for their own selfish needs, but in reality they unwittingly helped accomplish the purposes of the Lord. I find it comforting that the Lord can use even those that don't believe in Him to accomplish His purposes.
This study session led to some reflection on the bad situations that I have found myself in over the years. The trials that I have had to face in order to become who I am today. I looked at these situations and the people involved and wondered where was the Lord in all of this? Who was in control? Through Joseph's story I have come to look at these situations differently, it is a blessing to know that all the events of our lives are part of God's plan for us and that He is always the one in control. I cannot think of a better person to be in control.
We had a really good Family Home Evening last night filled with great discussions. It was my eldest son's turn to teach and he had very little time to prepare because of school, but he has this gift of taking something ordinary and making it into something amazing. A You Tube video about the pledge of allegiance turned into a discussion on morals, parenting, society and our part in it. I was still thinking about it when I woke up this morning, the Spirit that was in my home last night was very filling. That is what I thanked the Lord for this morning, having the Spirit in my home. I am very blessed to have such great teachers living in my house, inviting the Spirit and helping me grow. I feel very loved by my Father because of this!
Genesis 37 Part 3
Genesis 37:8-36
This part of Joseph's story used to bother me quite a bit. I wondered how God could let Joseph's brothers be so mean to him. There is a scripture that helped me to understand why Joseph had to go through this experience:
"Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." (2 Timothy 3:12)
There is a pattern of righteous people suffering because of their desire to love Jesus Christ, it is just part of being a Christian. The verse says all, not just a few, but all, that includes you and me. What can we learn about enduring persecution from this chapter in Joseph's story?
As I started to examine the facts, it became clear that Joseph was being watched over by the Lord the entire time he is going through his trials, too many things just happened to fall into place for this to be coincidence.
I find it interesting that it is Joseph's father that sends him to check on his brothers, which leads to his persecution. Does this sound familiar? Heavenly Father sending Jesus Christ among His brothers only to end in the ultimate persecution, death. It seems like something more than a coincidence, I was beginning to see that the Lord was in control of this situation from the beginning.
So why have Joseph thrown into the pit? Well the alternative was death. In verse 20 it states that his brothers wanted to slay him. Where was the Lord in this situation?
*The intervention of Reuben (Gen 37:21-22). It is Reuben that comes up with the idea not to kill Joseph, but to throw him in the pit. Reuben is not known as the most righteous of individuals, so why decide to be the good big brother now?
*The appearance of the Ishmeelite traders (Gen 37:25). This will inspire Judah to come up with another plan for Joseph that does not include death.
*Judah's idea to sell Joseph as a slave (Gen 37:26-27). It would be this plan to sell Joseph that would deter the brother's from physically harming him. Their weakness for money made this plan profitable. Who uses our weaknesses for good?
*The Midianite merchantmen find him in the well and pull him out and sell him to the Ishmeelites (Gen. 37:28). The Lord not only uses the Midianites to get Joseph to where He needs him, but this situation also will teach Joseph's brothers a lesson. Two birds with one stone!
*He was sold to Potiphar (Gen 37:36). Potiphar is in Egypt, it just so happens that this is exactly where Joseph needs to be for the Lord's plan to unfold.
This brings to mind another verse:
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)
While the events in Joseph's life appeared to be out of control, you can see how much control the Lord had by looking at the actions of the people involved in this account. Everyone was in it for their own selfish needs, but in reality they unwittingly helped accomplish the purposes of the Lord. I find it comforting that the Lord can use even those that don't believe in Him to accomplish His purposes.
This study session led to some reflection on the bad situations that I have found myself in over the years. The trials that I have had to face in order to become who I am today. I looked at these situations and the people involved and wondered where was the Lord in all of this? Who was in control? Through Joseph's story I have come to look at these situations differently, it is a blessing to know that all the events of our lives are part of God's plan for us and that He is always the one in control. I cannot think of a better person to be in control.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Like Christ
Day eighty-seven
Spring break is over, the boys are back in school and my husband is back at work, and life is getting back to normal. Well as normal as it gets at my house! There are some exciting things going on this week, my eldest son is getting ready to put in his mission papers and my husband starts his teaching job. With that in mind, my prayer this morning was filled with gratitude for these amazing opportunities and the blessings that have led us to this point. I also prayed that the Spirit would be in our home this week guiding us to support each other through these big events.
Genesis 37 - Part 2
Like Christ
I mentioned in my last post that Joseph was a 'type' of the Savior. In this chapter we see the comparison of Joseph to the Messiah in the following ways:
Joseph
Joseph was the beloved son of his father (Gen 37:3)
Messiah
Jesus Christ was Heavenly Father's well-beloved Son (Matt 3:17)
Joseph
Joseph was rejected by his brothers (Gen 37:4)
Messiah
Jesus was rejected by the leaders of His people, the Jews (Isa 53:3; John 1:11)
Joseph
Joseph sold at the urging of his brother Judah into the hands of the Gentiles (Gen 37:25-27)
Messiah
Jesus was sold by Judas, a form of the name Judah, and delivered over to the Gentiles, the Romans (Matt 27:3)
Joseph
Joseph was sold for 20 pieces of silver, the price of a slave his age (Gen 37:28)
Messiah
Jesus was sold for 30 pieces of silver, the price of a slave His age (Matt 26:15)
This got me thinking: How are we like Christ?
Spring break is over, the boys are back in school and my husband is back at work, and life is getting back to normal. Well as normal as it gets at my house! There are some exciting things going on this week, my eldest son is getting ready to put in his mission papers and my husband starts his teaching job. With that in mind, my prayer this morning was filled with gratitude for these amazing opportunities and the blessings that have led us to this point. I also prayed that the Spirit would be in our home this week guiding us to support each other through these big events.
Genesis 37 - Part 2
Like Christ
I mentioned in my last post that Joseph was a 'type' of the Savior. In this chapter we see the comparison of Joseph to the Messiah in the following ways:
Joseph
Joseph was the beloved son of his father (Gen 37:3)
Messiah
Jesus Christ was Heavenly Father's well-beloved Son (Matt 3:17)
Joseph
Joseph was rejected by his brothers (Gen 37:4)
Messiah
Jesus was rejected by the leaders of His people, the Jews (Isa 53:3; John 1:11)
Joseph
Joseph sold at the urging of his brother Judah into the hands of the Gentiles (Gen 37:25-27)
Messiah
Jesus was sold by Judas, a form of the name Judah, and delivered over to the Gentiles, the Romans (Matt 27:3)
Joseph
Joseph was sold for 20 pieces of silver, the price of a slave his age (Gen 37:28)
Messiah
Jesus was sold for 30 pieces of silver, the price of a slave His age (Matt 26:15)
This got me thinking: How are we like Christ?
We share the same heavenly parents:
“Beloved, now are we the sons of God,…we shall be like him.” (1 John 3:2)
“…to them gave he power to become the sons of God” (John 1:12)
We share some physical traits:
“And I, God, created man in mine own image, in the image of mine Only Begotten created I him.” (Moses 2:27)
“When the Savior shall appear we shall see him as he is. We shall see that he is a man like ourselves.” (D&C 130:1)
We were with God at the Great Council:
“According to that which was ordained in the midst of the Council of the Eternal God…” (D&C 121:32)
We can gain blessings:
“And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” (Romans 8:17)
“… it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32)
“To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” (Revelation 3:21)
“And, if you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God” (D&C 14:7)
“And then shall the angels be crowned with the glory of his might, and the saints shall be filled with his glory, and receive their inheritance and be made equal with him.” (D&C 88:107)
I think there are events in each person’s life that are similar with the Saviors. I’m sure if you looked at the events in your life you would find a time when people didn’t like you or persecuted you because of your beliefs. The list is different for each of us.
After researching this topic I was impressed by how much we are like Christ. We are very blessed to have this knowledge at our fingertips so that we can live our lives in such a way that reflects our likeness to Christ. Joseph didn’t have this information and I’m sure he wasn’t living his life knowing that someday people would compare him to Christ. He did it because he was a righteous person. My respect for him has grown because of this. This study session has made me want to be a better person, to be more like Christ. You never know who is watching you and comparing you to Christ.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
A Place of Honor
Day eighty-six
Today I have the chance to have a great start to my week. I will have the opportunity to take the sacrament, to recommit myself to doing the Lord’s will and to start with a clean slate. I am hopeful that the testimonies today will spiritually fill me and that the lessons prepared will bring me inspiration. I prayed with a heart full of gratitude for these opportunities and shared my desire to be a positive influence on those that I meet today. I asked that the day be filled with the spiritual experiences that we all need to get us through the next week and bring us closer to God.
Genesis 37
This chapter starts us into the story of Joseph. There are many lessons that come from studying the story of Joseph’s life especially when we have been taught that Joseph is a ‘type’ of Christ. However, I would like to compare Joseph’s life with our life. What can we learn about ourselves from Joseph’s story?
Love:
There is no question that Joseph was well loved by his father Jacob. Genesis 37:3 states:
“Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours”
The footnote for the word colours states: The Septuagint word indicates many colors, but the Heb. term may indicate simply a long coat with sleeves.
This coat is significant because this type of coat would have been worn by someone in a place of honor. Joseph was a righteous son who had earned the love and respect of his father. The gift of the coat would have been Jacob’s way of letting Joseph know that he loved and honored him.
Just as Joseph’s father loved him, our Lord loves us. We read:
“The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” (Jeremiah 31:3)
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:35-39)
Wow! That is some serious love, everlasting and inseparable. This is beyond our mortal ability to love. As much as Jacob loved Joseph, it would be the Lord's love that ultimately saved him! The same goes for us, it will be the Lord's love that saves us in this world.
We may not have a coat of many colors to let everyone know that the Lord loves us, but he has given us something special to let us know that His love is real:
"And that he manifesteth himself unto all those who believe in him, by the power of the Holy Ghost; yea, unto every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, working mighty miracles, signs, and wonders, among the children of men according to their faith." (2 Nephi 26:13)
I think these verses just made my day! It is always nice to know that you are loved and to be loved in such an amazing way is a special gift. I have come to understand that we too stand in a place of honor, next to God.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Giving Up
Day eighty-five
I was up early this morning to see my man off for his first 10k run. I am really proud of him for sticking with his running program. Good luck!
Speaking of sticking with something, I can't believe this is day eighty-five of posting my blog. Honestly, there are days when I just want to say, "I'm done, this is too much work," but I accepted the challenge and I intend to finish it. My husband's attitude must be rubbing off!
My prayer this morning was focused on my attitude. I am really grateful for all the blessings and opportunities the Lord gives me, but my words and actions don't always reflect that. I get frustrated or overwhelmed and look for a way out. So I shared my plan on ways to keep a positive attitude with the Lord (I am learning from my studying) and asked Him to guide me through my day in such a way that my attitude will be a blessing to others.
Genesis 35
Chapter 35 starts out on a good note; God is once again leading Jacob, which prompts Jacob to do a little house cleaning to rid his family of the unrighteous things in his household (Gen 35:1-2). It appears that some members of his household had been affected by the worldliness of the people surrounding them. He asks them to get rid of the “strange gods” (idols), to clean themselves up, and to dress appropriately.
This got me thinking, what is my family willing to give up in order to be closer to God?
Movies
It was some years ago that we decided not to watch rated-R movies. We were never really into the nasty rated-R movies, but even the mellower movies had bad language and that is something we didn’t need in our home. It was hard enough to teach my sons not to use bad language, we didn’t need them watching the actors and actresses whom they looked up to using the same language we were saying was unacceptable. And the whole nudity issue made the decision that much easier.
Music
This is probably the most difficult area for our house. We all love music very much; listening to music is an everyday thing for us. We love all types of music. I don’t think there is a genre that we don’t cover. But when we stopped to really listen to the lyrics it was really disappointing, the messages were not as positive as they should be and the language was quite bad. We all had a hard time deleting music from our computers and mp3 players. Why do they have to ruin a perfectly good song with bad language?
Computers
The content on the computer hasn’t really been an issue, except for those disgusting pop-ups. When the boys were younger we used our parental controls and as they got older we talked to them about what to avoid. The challenge at our house is spending too much time on the computer. It is easy to get sucked into the web there are millions of sites to visit and games that can be played. It starts with checking your email and the next thing you know a couple of hours have gone by and nothing else has been accomplished. This is an ongoing challenge at our house, but we are working on it together. We set limits and we have learned to speak up when we think that too much computer time is taking up some of our family time.
Video games
As the only woman in the house I had a battle on my hands with this issue. I’m not really into the games like the men in my house. They get playing and it is much like the computer, they get sucked in and nothing else gets done. From the beginning I was adamant about what was acceptable to play. I have been very unpopular because of this, its okay, sometimes you have to be the bad guy. I still consider myself pretty lucky; they mostly respect my rules and only tease me a little now and then.
These are some of the challenges that many families are battling with today. They are different from the challenges that Jacob’s family faced, but they can do the same damage; they can pull us away from God. Jacob knew that if his family was to receive blessings they needed to prepare themselves. He started preparing them by asking them to give up those things that were unrighteous. This is still true today. How are you preparing your family? What are you giving up?
Friday, March 25, 2011
Godless
Day eighty-four
Well it's Friday which means chores (not one of my favorite things to do) and running errands. Although I don't always enjoy the actual cleaning part, I do enjoy the clean house, which makes it worth it. My prayer today was filled with gratitude for having the blessings to do my chores, a home and family, and a request that my family would work well together as we tackle the list of things to do.
Genesis 34
This is a difficult chapter to study. It is filled with rape, deceit, revenge, and murder. This is one of those chapters that says it like it is, there is no sugar coating here. What can we learn from such events?
One of the first things I noticed is that there is no mention of God in this chapter. No one is praying and seeking out God, instead it is all based on the laws and feelings of men. There are no visits from angels or hearing the Lord's voice, even for Jacob. This must have been a dark time for Jacob and his family, and it shows in their actions.
Dinah (Gen. 34:1-3)
Dinah is Jacob's teenage daughter from his wife Leah. This chapter starts off with Dinah going out to see the daughters of the land. A little background information here is helpful. The people of Canaan are not righteous people, they do not worship Jehovah, and their society is very immoral. Dinah is putting herself in a bad situation by going to mingle with these people. Also, it is not likely that her family would have let her go by herself, there were rules regarding these things, she should have had a chaperon with her. Her safety would have been important to her brothers in particular, since tradition puts them in charge of her safety. The disregard for the rules and traditions of her family would lead to distress not only for her, but brings shame to her whole family.
There is a good lesson to the youth in this story: There are rules for a reason and the consequences of your actions can have a rippling effect on your family and others. Think twice before you put yourself and your family in a compromising situation, it will save you a lot of grief.
Simeon and Levi (Gen 34:13-29)
As the brother's of Dinah, their desire for justice for her rape makes sense. However, their actions of deceiving the people of the land using a sign of the covenant (circumcision), to provide a way for them to murder all the males does not seem like justice, but more like revenge. Justice is the quality of being just and fair, while revenge is a harmful action against a person or group as a response to a real or perceived grievance. The harmful actions of these two brothers would lead some of the other brothers to come and participate in the act. The darkness spreads. Are their actions any better than the lust that led to these events?
Lesson: What is the motivation behind your action? Unrighteous behavior, fought with more unrighteous behavior, does not lead to a good outcome, only pain and suffering for all involved comes from such behavior.
Jacob
The actions of his children bring Jacob much distress. He is concerned that their actions will lead to retaliation by the surrounding people and ultimately to his death. The safety of his family is in jeopardy and the reputation of his family is in question. It is strange to me that the only reaction we have from Jacob at the time is in verse 30 when he states that they have troubled him and he discusses his concerns about their safety and reputation. We know that these sons loose their birthright and that Jacob thought of their acts as cruel (Gen 49:5-7), but what happened inbetween these chapters? Maybe someday we will find out.
We do find in chapter 35 that God is once again active in Jacob's life. He must have turned to the Lord once again.
This made me think about the times in my life that felt Godless; were my actions to blame for this lack of involvement from God? The answer is yes. I too had to turn to the Lord and get myself back on track like Jacob. I think that is my favorite lesson of this chapter: God cannot be with us if our actions are not in line with His will, but there is hope, we can turn to Him again and receive blessings.
Well it's Friday which means chores (not one of my favorite things to do) and running errands. Although I don't always enjoy the actual cleaning part, I do enjoy the clean house, which makes it worth it. My prayer today was filled with gratitude for having the blessings to do my chores, a home and family, and a request that my family would work well together as we tackle the list of things to do.
Genesis 34
This is a difficult chapter to study. It is filled with rape, deceit, revenge, and murder. This is one of those chapters that says it like it is, there is no sugar coating here. What can we learn from such events?
One of the first things I noticed is that there is no mention of God in this chapter. No one is praying and seeking out God, instead it is all based on the laws and feelings of men. There are no visits from angels or hearing the Lord's voice, even for Jacob. This must have been a dark time for Jacob and his family, and it shows in their actions.
Dinah (Gen. 34:1-3)
Dinah is Jacob's teenage daughter from his wife Leah. This chapter starts off with Dinah going out to see the daughters of the land. A little background information here is helpful. The people of Canaan are not righteous people, they do not worship Jehovah, and their society is very immoral. Dinah is putting herself in a bad situation by going to mingle with these people. Also, it is not likely that her family would have let her go by herself, there were rules regarding these things, she should have had a chaperon with her. Her safety would have been important to her brothers in particular, since tradition puts them in charge of her safety. The disregard for the rules and traditions of her family would lead to distress not only for her, but brings shame to her whole family.
There is a good lesson to the youth in this story: There are rules for a reason and the consequences of your actions can have a rippling effect on your family and others. Think twice before you put yourself and your family in a compromising situation, it will save you a lot of grief.
Simeon and Levi (Gen 34:13-29)
As the brother's of Dinah, their desire for justice for her rape makes sense. However, their actions of deceiving the people of the land using a sign of the covenant (circumcision), to provide a way for them to murder all the males does not seem like justice, but more like revenge. Justice is the quality of being just and fair, while revenge is a harmful action against a person or group as a response to a real or perceived grievance. The harmful actions of these two brothers would lead some of the other brothers to come and participate in the act. The darkness spreads. Are their actions any better than the lust that led to these events?
Lesson: What is the motivation behind your action? Unrighteous behavior, fought with more unrighteous behavior, does not lead to a good outcome, only pain and suffering for all involved comes from such behavior.
Jacob
The actions of his children bring Jacob much distress. He is concerned that their actions will lead to retaliation by the surrounding people and ultimately to his death. The safety of his family is in jeopardy and the reputation of his family is in question. It is strange to me that the only reaction we have from Jacob at the time is in verse 30 when he states that they have troubled him and he discusses his concerns about their safety and reputation. We know that these sons loose their birthright and that Jacob thought of their acts as cruel (Gen 49:5-7), but what happened inbetween these chapters? Maybe someday we will find out.
We do find in chapter 35 that God is once again active in Jacob's life. He must have turned to the Lord once again.
This made me think about the times in my life that felt Godless; were my actions to blame for this lack of involvement from God? The answer is yes. I too had to turn to the Lord and get myself back on track like Jacob. I think that is my favorite lesson of this chapter: God cannot be with us if our actions are not in line with His will, but there is hope, we can turn to Him again and receive blessings.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Courtesy and Content
Day eighty-three
I didn't sleep well last night, I wasn't feeling so hot, so I woke up this morning still tired. I hate when that happens! Anyway, my prayer included gratitude for the day and for feeling better, and a request that the Lord would please bless me that I will stay healthy. I have way too much to do to be sick.
Genesis 33
As I read through this chapter two things really stood out to me: Jacob shows courtesy to Esau, even though he thinks he might be his enemy and Esau doesn't just accept Jacob's gift, but replies that he has enough.
This got me thinking about our society today and the lack of courtesy that people show each other. A trip to the grocery store is the perfect place to find a lack of courtesy, people arguing over parking spots and rushing to get a head of you in line. Good grief! Bad manners is a pet peeve of mine, I think manners are important, being courteous to others shows them that you care about them. Isn't that what we are supposed to be doing, loving and caring about each other?
One of my favorite quotes about courtesy:
"Courtesy is the one coin you can never have too much of or be stingy with." John Wanamaker
I love the example Jacob sets for us in dealing with Esau. He doesn't know what to expect from his brother, last time he saw him he wanted to kill him, but Jacob treats him with courtesy and respect. Jacob approaches Esau humbly, bowing himself seven times to the earth (Gen. 33:3). The number of times he bows is important, in his culture, the number seven represents completeness. This could be a gesture on his part to let Esau now that he has done everything possible to make peace. To top it off he has a huge gift of 500 plus animals he offers Esau (Gen. 33:8). Jacob has the birthright, yet he does not rub it in Esau's face, he lets Esau be the big brother in the situation and it works.
What would it be like if in our homes, communities, and countries we chose to be courteous to each other to the extent that Jacob was to Esau? How many battles would never begin if such behavior was the norm?
Esau is also courteous to Jacob. It is apparent that the years apart have softened Esau's heart towards Jacob, and he is ready to welcome him back. Their meeting is a tender moment filled with hugs, kisses and tears (Gen 33:4). It is Esau's statement in verse 9 that impresses me the most: "I have enough, my brother; keep that thou hast unto thyself." Esau understands the meaning behind the offering of the animals and lets Jacob know that it is not necessary, he should keep them for himself.
How many people do you think in today's society would turn down such an offering? Being content with what one has is not something that is promoted nowadays, in fact, the mainstream thinking is 'the one with the most wins'. I think we are doing a disservice to each other when we try to one up each other, it actually pulls us apart, when we need to be coming together. I had this quote posted in my house for some time:
"When you are content to be simply yourself and don't compare or compete, everybody will respect you." Lao Tzu
Esau had learned not to compare himself to Jacob, but to be content with what he had. Because he took this attitude they were able to reconcile. Is there someone in your life that you need to reconcile with?
There is power in being courteous and content, it blesses not only us, but those around us. Think about the affect you could have on others if you were an example of courteous behavior and content with what you had. You could brighten their day, make them feel better about themselves, and help them see that happiness is not about what you have. These are all great blessings that we can give others and ourselves, we just need to follow the example of Jacob and Esau.
I didn't sleep well last night, I wasn't feeling so hot, so I woke up this morning still tired. I hate when that happens! Anyway, my prayer included gratitude for the day and for feeling better, and a request that the Lord would please bless me that I will stay healthy. I have way too much to do to be sick.
Genesis 33
As I read through this chapter two things really stood out to me: Jacob shows courtesy to Esau, even though he thinks he might be his enemy and Esau doesn't just accept Jacob's gift, but replies that he has enough.
This got me thinking about our society today and the lack of courtesy that people show each other. A trip to the grocery store is the perfect place to find a lack of courtesy, people arguing over parking spots and rushing to get a head of you in line. Good grief! Bad manners is a pet peeve of mine, I think manners are important, being courteous to others shows them that you care about them. Isn't that what we are supposed to be doing, loving and caring about each other?
One of my favorite quotes about courtesy:
"Courtesy is the one coin you can never have too much of or be stingy with." John Wanamaker
I love the example Jacob sets for us in dealing with Esau. He doesn't know what to expect from his brother, last time he saw him he wanted to kill him, but Jacob treats him with courtesy and respect. Jacob approaches Esau humbly, bowing himself seven times to the earth (Gen. 33:3). The number of times he bows is important, in his culture, the number seven represents completeness. This could be a gesture on his part to let Esau now that he has done everything possible to make peace. To top it off he has a huge gift of 500 plus animals he offers Esau (Gen. 33:8). Jacob has the birthright, yet he does not rub it in Esau's face, he lets Esau be the big brother in the situation and it works.
What would it be like if in our homes, communities, and countries we chose to be courteous to each other to the extent that Jacob was to Esau? How many battles would never begin if such behavior was the norm?
Esau is also courteous to Jacob. It is apparent that the years apart have softened Esau's heart towards Jacob, and he is ready to welcome him back. Their meeting is a tender moment filled with hugs, kisses and tears (Gen 33:4). It is Esau's statement in verse 9 that impresses me the most: "I have enough, my brother; keep that thou hast unto thyself." Esau understands the meaning behind the offering of the animals and lets Jacob know that it is not necessary, he should keep them for himself.
How many people do you think in today's society would turn down such an offering? Being content with what one has is not something that is promoted nowadays, in fact, the mainstream thinking is 'the one with the most wins'. I think we are doing a disservice to each other when we try to one up each other, it actually pulls us apart, when we need to be coming together. I had this quote posted in my house for some time:
"When you are content to be simply yourself and don't compare or compete, everybody will respect you." Lao Tzu
Esau had learned not to compare himself to Jacob, but to be content with what he had. Because he took this attitude they were able to reconcile. Is there someone in your life that you need to reconcile with?
There is power in being courteous and content, it blesses not only us, but those around us. Think about the affect you could have on others if you were an example of courteous behavior and content with what you had. You could brighten their day, make them feel better about themselves, and help them see that happiness is not about what you have. These are all great blessings that we can give others and ourselves, we just need to follow the example of Jacob and Esau.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Wrestling for Blessings
Day eighty-two
My prayer this morning was filled with gratitude for the lessons I am learning. My scripture study has been filled with insights that have given me the ability to see things in a different light. The events that are currently going on in my life seem to be in correlation with the verses that I am studying. This is a great blessing to me, and I am so very grateful for this gift. At the same time, I know that trials are given to prepare us for something, and I am a little nervous as to what my family is being prepared for. So I prayed that my family would be able to see the blessings that we are receiving through this time of preparation.
Genesis 32
This chapter sets up the reunion between Jacob and his brother Esau, who twenty years earlier wanted to kill Jacob. There are some great lessons to learn from this chapter regarding trying times:
Jacob Gen 32:1-2
Jacob is visited by angels of God. God is letting him know that He is with him.
Us
We have the Holy Ghost to be with us to remind us that God is aware of us. Are we acknowledging that God is with us?
Jacob Gen 32:3-5
Sends a messenger to Esau. He is not sitting around worrying about it, he is taking an action and gathering information. He is also looking for the peaceful way to deal with the situation.
Us
We must take action. Our problems will not just go away, the Lord expects us to be a part of the solution. We should keep in mind that the approach to gather information should be made in a non-threatening way. How are we taking action and gathering information?
Jacob Gen 32:6-8
The information gathered does not look good for Jacob. He does not know the intentions of Esau coming with his 400 armed men. He feels afraid and distressed, but he doesn't panic, he makes a plan, he divides his family so that they will have the best chance for survival.
Us
We have to have a plan. Even if a situation looks grim, we need to think things through and make a plan. We have to be realistic about our plan, it may be that we will not escape our trials without harm, so our plan needs to include ways to prevent as much damage as possible. Do we panic, give up, or do we make a plan?
Jacob Gen 32:9-12
Jacob knows that he needs help, so he prays to the Lord. He knows that he must rely on the Lord. His prayer is of a very humble nature and completely honest, just the way the Lord likes it.
Us
When we realize that the trials in our life are put their to help us come unto Christ, it makes perfect sense that we should pray to God about what is going on in our lives. Are we turning to the Lord in our times of need in humble and honest prayer?
Jacob Gen 32:13-20, 22-23
After his prayer he appears to come up with an improved plan. A plan still with the goal of a peaceful resolution.
Us
It is important to listen after our prayers for the guidance that the Lord would give us. The situation might require us to re-think or change our plans to meet what the Lord has requested. Are we listening to the Lord and are we willing to change our plans to meet His needs?
Jacob Gen 32:27-29
I find it interesting that Jacob decides to be alone at this time. Alone and in the dark can either be a positive time to think or a time when the weight of your problems seems heaviest. Jacob in not alone long, the scriptures state that he wrestled a man there until day break. What is up with that?
Us
Although we might not have to physically wrestle someone in our trials, we will have to mentally and even sometimes spiritually wrestle with the issues. There is a reason for this, we must work for our blessings, especially for those blessings that are life changing. For Jacob, this is the beginning of his legacy as Israel. He is renamed because he prevails (Israel means 'one who prevails with God') and he is lifted to a higher standard.
It is the same for us, we are not the same person we were before the trial. We have gained experience. If we have dealt with the situation in the way the Lord would like us to, then we are a better person and more equipped to deal with issues in the future. Because we have prevailed with God we too are lifted to a higher standard.
Adversity is a learning experience. After analyzing this chapter I am taking the view that I am not wrestling with problems, but I am wrestling for blessings. Blessings that will lead me to become the person the Lord needs me to be and strengthen my relationship with Him. These are definitely blessings worth fighting for.
My prayer this morning was filled with gratitude for the lessons I am learning. My scripture study has been filled with insights that have given me the ability to see things in a different light. The events that are currently going on in my life seem to be in correlation with the verses that I am studying. This is a great blessing to me, and I am so very grateful for this gift. At the same time, I know that trials are given to prepare us for something, and I am a little nervous as to what my family is being prepared for. So I prayed that my family would be able to see the blessings that we are receiving through this time of preparation.
Genesis 32
This chapter sets up the reunion between Jacob and his brother Esau, who twenty years earlier wanted to kill Jacob. There are some great lessons to learn from this chapter regarding trying times:
Jacob Gen 32:1-2
Jacob is visited by angels of God. God is letting him know that He is with him.
Us
We have the Holy Ghost to be with us to remind us that God is aware of us. Are we acknowledging that God is with us?
Jacob Gen 32:3-5
Sends a messenger to Esau. He is not sitting around worrying about it, he is taking an action and gathering information. He is also looking for the peaceful way to deal with the situation.
Us
We must take action. Our problems will not just go away, the Lord expects us to be a part of the solution. We should keep in mind that the approach to gather information should be made in a non-threatening way. How are we taking action and gathering information?
Jacob Gen 32:6-8
The information gathered does not look good for Jacob. He does not know the intentions of Esau coming with his 400 armed men. He feels afraid and distressed, but he doesn't panic, he makes a plan, he divides his family so that they will have the best chance for survival.
Us
We have to have a plan. Even if a situation looks grim, we need to think things through and make a plan. We have to be realistic about our plan, it may be that we will not escape our trials without harm, so our plan needs to include ways to prevent as much damage as possible. Do we panic, give up, or do we make a plan?
Jacob Gen 32:9-12
Jacob knows that he needs help, so he prays to the Lord. He knows that he must rely on the Lord. His prayer is of a very humble nature and completely honest, just the way the Lord likes it.
Us
When we realize that the trials in our life are put their to help us come unto Christ, it makes perfect sense that we should pray to God about what is going on in our lives. Are we turning to the Lord in our times of need in humble and honest prayer?
Jacob Gen 32:13-20, 22-23
After his prayer he appears to come up with an improved plan. A plan still with the goal of a peaceful resolution.
Us
It is important to listen after our prayers for the guidance that the Lord would give us. The situation might require us to re-think or change our plans to meet what the Lord has requested. Are we listening to the Lord and are we willing to change our plans to meet His needs?
Jacob Gen 32:27-29
I find it interesting that Jacob decides to be alone at this time. Alone and in the dark can either be a positive time to think or a time when the weight of your problems seems heaviest. Jacob in not alone long, the scriptures state that he wrestled a man there until day break. What is up with that?
Us
Although we might not have to physically wrestle someone in our trials, we will have to mentally and even sometimes spiritually wrestle with the issues. There is a reason for this, we must work for our blessings, especially for those blessings that are life changing. For Jacob, this is the beginning of his legacy as Israel. He is renamed because he prevails (Israel means 'one who prevails with God') and he is lifted to a higher standard.
It is the same for us, we are not the same person we were before the trial. We have gained experience. If we have dealt with the situation in the way the Lord would like us to, then we are a better person and more equipped to deal with issues in the future. Because we have prevailed with God we too are lifted to a higher standard.
Adversity is a learning experience. After analyzing this chapter I am taking the view that I am not wrestling with problems, but I am wrestling for blessings. Blessings that will lead me to become the person the Lord needs me to be and strengthen my relationship with Him. These are definitely blessings worth fighting for.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
One of Those Weeks
Day eighty-one
I had a really good day with my family yesterday, which is good, because this spring break has been filled with challenges and it's only Tuesday! I am grateful for the good days and I expressed that in my prayer this morning. I am also grateful to talk to the Lord about the challenges that we are facing, He is a good listener. After sharing my thoughts with Him I asked for the strength to do all that I need to do to get through this rough patch and for the wisdom to see His hand in all the things in my life. I felt better just talking to Him.
Genesis 31
I think this chapter in Genesis was included just for me. I remember reading this story as a youth and thinking I could totally relate to Jacob persevering through all that Laban put him through. Laban manipulates the situation to meet his needs over and over again throughout the twenty years that Jacob spends working for him. Jacob meanwhile, keeps his word and continues doing what the Lord requests of him.
I have found myself disappointed, used, and abused by others throughout my life too. However, I have not always dealt with these situations in the best manner. I don't know how Jacob did it. I catch myself sometimes thinking, why me? or getting angry and letting that control my actions (never a good idea). How did Jacob persevere so well?
He is aware of other's feelings about him. (Gen. 31:-2)
He prays and listens to the Lord. (Gen. 31:3)
He counsels with his wives. (Gen. 31:4)
He recognizes his blessings from God. (Gen. 31:5)
He presents the facts to be discussed. (Gen. 31:6-13)
He listens to the counsel of his wives. (Gen 31:14-15)
He obeys the Lord. (Gen. 31:16-18)
He is honest with those that are part of the conflict. (Gen. 31:31)
He is fair in his dealings with others (Gen. 31:32)
He stands up for himself in a positive way. (Gen. 31:36-42)
He finds a peaceful resolution. (Gen. 31:45-54)
He has definitely learned a thing or two from his father and grandfather. They quietly go about doing their work, not dwelling on the negatives of the situation, but looking to the Lord for answers and guidance, and try to find a peaceful resolution. I don't think it is a coincidence that the Lord has these three men deal with difficulties in the same way and that their stories are included in the scriptures. It's that whole repetition teaching method; keep saying it until they get it. It has taken me a while, but I think I am finally starting to get it.
Considering the week I am having, I am particularly grateful for this lesson. I am following the pattern set by these great men and my obedience is paying off. I am learning to see the situation through a different perspective, I am seeking the Lord's advice, and I am not letting it get to me too much. Instead of self-pity and anger, I find myself seeking a peaceful resolution, one that is fair to all parties. Most of all I am learning to trust in the Lord more. With blessings such as these, I am even grateful for the trials as they are happening (not an easy task).
My new motto for dealing with trials:
"What seems to us as bitter trials are often blessings in disguise." ~Oscar Wilde
I had a really good day with my family yesterday, which is good, because this spring break has been filled with challenges and it's only Tuesday! I am grateful for the good days and I expressed that in my prayer this morning. I am also grateful to talk to the Lord about the challenges that we are facing, He is a good listener. After sharing my thoughts with Him I asked for the strength to do all that I need to do to get through this rough patch and for the wisdom to see His hand in all the things in my life. I felt better just talking to Him.
Genesis 31
I think this chapter in Genesis was included just for me. I remember reading this story as a youth and thinking I could totally relate to Jacob persevering through all that Laban put him through. Laban manipulates the situation to meet his needs over and over again throughout the twenty years that Jacob spends working for him. Jacob meanwhile, keeps his word and continues doing what the Lord requests of him.
I have found myself disappointed, used, and abused by others throughout my life too. However, I have not always dealt with these situations in the best manner. I don't know how Jacob did it. I catch myself sometimes thinking, why me? or getting angry and letting that control my actions (never a good idea). How did Jacob persevere so well?
He is aware of other's feelings about him. (Gen. 31:-2)
He prays and listens to the Lord. (Gen. 31:3)
He counsels with his wives. (Gen. 31:4)
He recognizes his blessings from God. (Gen. 31:5)
He presents the facts to be discussed. (Gen. 31:6-13)
He listens to the counsel of his wives. (Gen 31:14-15)
He obeys the Lord. (Gen. 31:16-18)
He is honest with those that are part of the conflict. (Gen. 31:31)
He is fair in his dealings with others (Gen. 31:32)
He stands up for himself in a positive way. (Gen. 31:36-42)
He finds a peaceful resolution. (Gen. 31:45-54)
He has definitely learned a thing or two from his father and grandfather. They quietly go about doing their work, not dwelling on the negatives of the situation, but looking to the Lord for answers and guidance, and try to find a peaceful resolution. I don't think it is a coincidence that the Lord has these three men deal with difficulties in the same way and that their stories are included in the scriptures. It's that whole repetition teaching method; keep saying it until they get it. It has taken me a while, but I think I am finally starting to get it.
Considering the week I am having, I am particularly grateful for this lesson. I am following the pattern set by these great men and my obedience is paying off. I am learning to see the situation through a different perspective, I am seeking the Lord's advice, and I am not letting it get to me too much. Instead of self-pity and anger, I find myself seeking a peaceful resolution, one that is fair to all parties. Most of all I am learning to trust in the Lord more. With blessings such as these, I am even grateful for the trials as they are happening (not an easy task).
My new motto for dealing with trials:
"What seems to us as bitter trials are often blessings in disguise." ~Oscar Wilde
Monday, March 21, 2011
A Woman of Influence
Day eighty
I am very blessed to spend this whole week with my family. We are hoping to use our time to do some spring cleaning and to have some fun! I cannot express how much I love my family, we are quite the team. So my prayer this morning was about gratitude for my family and all the blessings that they have brought to me, and a request that we may always be there for each other!
I started my scripture study in Chaper 28 of Genesis. This chapter picks up where chapter 27 ends, with the concerns that Jacob be safe and also that he would marry appropriately. Isaac agrees with Rebekah and sends him back to Haran to look for a wife. I thought about how hard it would have been for me to send my son away. Did Rebekah know that this would be the last time that she would see Jacob? If so, that would make it even harder to let him go. Could I have done what Rebekah did?
There is more to this story than Rebekah trying to save Jacob from Esau's threat. Remember that she is a spiritual woman and looks to God for guidance (Gen. 25:22), she receives revelation from God (Gen. 25:23), and her actions reflect her desire to do God's will (Gen. 27:46).
Bruce R McConkie describes Rebekah as: "One of the strongest personalities in all scripture."
"What a marvelous example Rebekah has set for all the women of the Church. Not only did she pray and get personal revelation when she needed it, but she so influenced her husband and her son that they did what was necessary so that Jacob married in the Church and, with his beloved Rachel, gained eternal life as a result." (Bruce R. McConkie, "Mothers in Israel and Daughters of Zion", New Era, May 1978, 35)
Power to teach gospel principles.
Forgiveness
"The heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness." ~Honoré de Balzac
Love
"Mother love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible." ~Marion C. Garretty, quoted in A Little Spoonful of Chicken Soup for the Mother's Soul
These are just a few ways we can be women of influence. I hope that those that will look at my life will see that the things I did were for their benefit and were in tune with God's plan. I have made plenty of mistakes along the way, but there is a positive to this too, it gives others a chance to learn from my mistakes. Besides, Rebekah wasn't perfect either, but she still managed to influence her family for good and to achieve exaltation. There is hope for me too!
I am very blessed to spend this whole week with my family. We are hoping to use our time to do some spring cleaning and to have some fun! I cannot express how much I love my family, we are quite the team. So my prayer this morning was about gratitude for my family and all the blessings that they have brought to me, and a request that we may always be there for each other!
I started my scripture study in Chaper 28 of Genesis. This chapter picks up where chapter 27 ends, with the concerns that Jacob be safe and also that he would marry appropriately. Isaac agrees with Rebekah and sends him back to Haran to look for a wife. I thought about how hard it would have been for me to send my son away. Did Rebekah know that this would be the last time that she would see Jacob? If so, that would make it even harder to let him go. Could I have done what Rebekah did?
There is more to this story than Rebekah trying to save Jacob from Esau's threat. Remember that she is a spiritual woman and looks to God for guidance (Gen. 25:22), she receives revelation from God (Gen. 25:23), and her actions reflect her desire to do God's will (Gen. 27:46).
Bruce R McConkie describes Rebekah as: "One of the strongest personalities in all scripture."
"What a marvelous example Rebekah has set for all the women of the Church. Not only did she pray and get personal revelation when she needed it, but she so influenced her husband and her son that they did what was necessary so that Jacob married in the Church and, with his beloved Rachel, gained eternal life as a result." (Bruce R. McConkie, "Mothers in Israel and Daughters of Zion", New Era, May 1978, 35)
To be a wife and mother like Rebekah, willing to sacrifice for the good of her family, is something I strive for. I want to be a women of influence and be a positive example. What powers of influence do mothers have?
Power of prayer.
"I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life." ~ Abraham Lincoln
Power to lead them to God.
"The real religion of the world comes from women much more than from men - from mothers most of all, who carry the key of our souls in their bosoms." ~Oliver Wendell Holmes
Power to teach gospel principles.
Forgiveness
"The heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness." ~Honoré de Balzac
Love
"Mother love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible." ~Marion C. Garretty, quoted in A Little Spoonful of Chicken Soup for the Mother's Soul
These are just a few ways we can be women of influence. I hope that those that will look at my life will see that the things I did were for their benefit and were in tune with God's plan. I have made plenty of mistakes along the way, but there is a positive to this too, it gives others a chance to learn from my mistakes. Besides, Rebekah wasn't perfect either, but she still managed to influence her family for good and to achieve exaltation. There is hope for me too!
Sunday, March 20, 2011
The Good in Weaknesses
Day seventy-nine
Today is my birthday! I woke this morning with a heart filled with gratitude for all the blessings I have received over the last year. This was a particularly rough year, but there were a lot of moments that I wouldn't change, because they brought my family even closer. It was a simple prayer of gratitude.
Genesis 27
This chapter in Genesis is interesting because we see a different side to Isaac and his family. As the story reads now, it exposes some of their weaknesses.
Isaac - Is it right that he favors Esau?
Rebekah - Is it right for her to deceive her husband?
Jacob - Is it right for him to deceive his father?
Esau - Is his attitude about his birthright wrong?
One of the interesting things about the Old Testament is that it presents people as they are. Thus, we are often shown the human weaknesses of great people in its pages. With that said, we also have to think that there could be more to this story that we don't yet have, further details might let us in on events that show this story in a totally different light. Even if this is the case, the question should be what can we learn from this chapter just the way it sits?
There is a reason that we have weaknesses. God often uses our weaknesses to achieve His goals:
To do His work
"But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty" (1 Cor 1:27)
To bring us closer to Him
"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." (2 Cor 12:9)
To perfect us
"For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection." (2 Cor 13:9)
"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." (Ether 12:27)
It was through the weaknesses of these Old Testament characters that the Lord was able to move His work forward. This should be comforting to us, knowing as we do that if they could make it to exaltation despite their weaknesses, so can we through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Next time you become frustrated with your weaknesses, stop and think about how God could use them to further His work, and how the challenge to overcome our weaknesses actually brings us closer to Him! It really is a brilliant way to do things!
Today is my birthday! I woke this morning with a heart filled with gratitude for all the blessings I have received over the last year. This was a particularly rough year, but there were a lot of moments that I wouldn't change, because they brought my family even closer. It was a simple prayer of gratitude.
Genesis 27
This chapter in Genesis is interesting because we see a different side to Isaac and his family. As the story reads now, it exposes some of their weaknesses.
Isaac - Is it right that he favors Esau?
Rebekah - Is it right for her to deceive her husband?
Jacob - Is it right for him to deceive his father?
Esau - Is his attitude about his birthright wrong?
One of the interesting things about the Old Testament is that it presents people as they are. Thus, we are often shown the human weaknesses of great people in its pages. With that said, we also have to think that there could be more to this story that we don't yet have, further details might let us in on events that show this story in a totally different light. Even if this is the case, the question should be what can we learn from this chapter just the way it sits?
There is a reason that we have weaknesses. God often uses our weaknesses to achieve His goals:
To do His work
"But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty" (1 Cor 1:27)
To bring us closer to Him
"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." (2 Cor 12:9)
To perfect us
"For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection." (2 Cor 13:9)
"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." (Ether 12:27)
It was through the weaknesses of these Old Testament characters that the Lord was able to move His work forward. This should be comforting to us, knowing as we do that if they could make it to exaltation despite their weaknesses, so can we through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Next time you become frustrated with your weaknesses, stop and think about how God could use them to further His work, and how the challenge to overcome our weaknesses actually brings us closer to Him! It really is a brilliant way to do things!
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Whose Blessings...
Day seventy-eight
Today I prayed with a plan. The plan did not cover all the issues I am dealing with, but I thought tackling one issue at a time might be a better way to start. So I shared my plan with the Lord, hoping that I am on the same page He is, and with the intent to follow any guidance He will give me.
My scripture study focus is on Genesis 26:14 which mentions a problem that requires some attention:
"For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him."
The 'he' in this verse refers to Isaac. Isaac is doing well in Abimelech's land and the people of the land are noticing his wealth, and envy him, which leads them to vandalize and sabotage Isaac's wells. What leads people to such behavior?
What is Envy?
First, we need to define envy: to desire something that belongs to another (Guide to the Scriptures). I think the word desire is not strong enough; to envy is to covet or be jealous of. A person can have righteous desires, but there is nothing righteous about coveting or jealousy. In Ecclesiastes 4:4 the word envy is described as 'vanity and vexation of spirit'.
Envy has been a problem since the time of Adam, just think about Cain and Abel. It became such a problem among the Hebrews that the Lord gave a commandment regarding envying or coveting:
"Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s." (Exodus 20:17).
Envy is such a big problem that it is talked about in the Old and New Testaments, the Book of Mormon, and in the Doctrine and Covenants. Why has envy been so hard for us to overcome?
The Root of Envy
In a talk titled, "Stripped of Envy”, by Pam Wilson Vandenaker, the root of envy is described as:
Today I prayed with a plan. The plan did not cover all the issues I am dealing with, but I thought tackling one issue at a time might be a better way to start. So I shared my plan with the Lord, hoping that I am on the same page He is, and with the intent to follow any guidance He will give me.
My scripture study focus is on Genesis 26:14 which mentions a problem that requires some attention:
"For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him."
The 'he' in this verse refers to Isaac. Isaac is doing well in Abimelech's land and the people of the land are noticing his wealth, and envy him, which leads them to vandalize and sabotage Isaac's wells. What leads people to such behavior?
What is Envy?
First, we need to define envy: to desire something that belongs to another (Guide to the Scriptures). I think the word desire is not strong enough; to envy is to covet or be jealous of. A person can have righteous desires, but there is nothing righteous about coveting or jealousy. In Ecclesiastes 4:4 the word envy is described as 'vanity and vexation of spirit'.
Envy has been a problem since the time of Adam, just think about Cain and Abel. It became such a problem among the Hebrews that the Lord gave a commandment regarding envying or coveting:
"Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s." (Exodus 20:17).
Envy is such a big problem that it is talked about in the Old and New Testaments, the Book of Mormon, and in the Doctrine and Covenants. Why has envy been so hard for us to overcome?
The Root of Envy
In a talk titled, "Stripped of Envy”, by Pam Wilson Vandenaker, the root of envy is described as:
"The practice of comparing ourselves to others is usually at the root of envy. It causes us to feel that we aren’t good enough and that in order to be acceptable we have to achieve more, acquire more, or in other ways appear to be “better” than others. It occurs when we do not value ourselves sufficiently as children of God and consequently feel we have to prove our worth by “doing” or “having.”"
Envy is a form of pride and pride creates enmity, or hatred, which separates us from our fellowmen.
I have found myself on this side of envy. It is not a pretty picture. It led to terrible mistakes and lots of hurt feelings. I did not attack the person's property, like the Philistines, my attach was much more personal, I went after the person's character. This is one of those dark times in my life for which I am not very proud of my behavior. It didn't take long before I started to feel the vexation of spirit, which led to sorrow and a desire for forgiveness. Luckily, the person was forgiving and I learned a very important lesson, I don't do envy well!
The Other Side
Like most of us, I have also been the victim of envy. I have to say that I was not very comfortable on this side of the issue either. There are strong emotions that surface when you feel attacked and you are not always mature enough to deal with these emotions in a positive way. Looking back, I wish I would have read Genesis 26 during these trying times, because Isaac gives us a great example of how to deal with envy.
First he recognizes the problem and removes himself from the situation (Gen. 26:16-17)
He doesn't let it get to him, he gets back to work (Gen. 26:18)
When strife appears again, he doesn't get angry, he moves again and keeps doing his work (Gen. 26:19-22)
He focuses on the blessings in his life, not the problems (Gen. 26:22)
Because of Isaac's choices, the Lord appears and renews the covenant He had made with Abraham, with Isaac. He receives more blessings! Since envy does not appear to be leaving this world any time soon, it would be nice to have the skills to deal with these difficult situations in such a way that we receive blessings from it. Fortunately, the Lord has given us the resources we need to learn these skills, what we do with these resources is up to us.
I have a quote that helped me see the true nature of envy that I would like to share with you:
"Envy is counting the other fellow's blessings instead of your own." ~Harold Coffin
Whose blessings do you want to count?
Whose blessings do you want to count?
Friday, March 18, 2011
Lessons From A Servant
Day seventy –seven
Life is presenting some interesting challenges lately. I am definitely being stretched and molded, which brings with it some less than pleasant side effects, but I know that it’s important for my personal growth. My prayer this morning was focused on perspective. I thanked Him for all He is doing in my life and I asked Him to help me throughout the day to see things through His perspective as it relates to me and those around me.
Genesis 24
This chapter is about finding a wife for Isaac. Abraham, Isaac’s father, does not want his son to marry a daughter of the Canaanites (Gen. 24:3), there is a lack of priesthood among the Canaanites, so he calls on one of his servants to travel to the country of Abraham’s relatives in search of a suitable wife for Isaac (Gen. 24:4,10).
I really enjoy this story because it is filled with lots of lessons to learn; each character provides an opportunity to see the events in a different way. What you take from these verses depends on the point of view you take when you read it. I would like to focus on the servant.
He is not a prophet, or a church leader, he is just a regular guy.
He believes in God [He makes an oath with Abraham in the name of the Lord (v 3). He prays to the Lord (vv 12-14). He praises the Lord (Gen. 24:26-27)].
He is trustworthy [This servant is the foreman over all of Abraham’s properties and concerns (Gen. 24:10)].
He wants to do his best [What if the woman will not come? (v 8)].
He is loyal [Hinder me not…that I may go to my master (Gen. 24:56)].
These are just a few of his characteristics. The thing is; this description could fit many people, even you and me, which makes him easy to relate to. It is this ability to relate to the servant that makes him so important.
This regular guy has been entrusted with the great responsibility of finding a suitable wife for another man, the son of his master. His mind must have been racing with questions such as: How will I recognize her? What if her family won’t let her go? What if I take her back and they don’t like her?
Take a moment to think about your life, you have probably experienced moments when you were asked to do something that was really important and was filled with all kinds of opportunities for something to go wrong. Did you have questions floating around in your head too? I know I’ve been there!
Abraham’s servant is wise, and realizes that he cannot do this on his own, so he turns to God. He comes up with a plan, shares it with God, and before he is even finished with his prayer it is being answered! It is answered in a way that every part of his plan is fulfilled. There was no doubt where the answer came from; he knows that it was God who answered his prayer.
It is important to recognize that the servant didn’t dump his problems on God, but thought it through first, then asked God to help. He received the help because his plan was in tune with God’s plan. I sometimes forget to come up with a plan and I just ask for the help. When I do that I am skipping a step, trying to take a short cut, and that’s not how it’s supposed to work. I need to rethink my strategy. After my scripture study I began to think about the prayer I had offered this morning, it was lacking in the planning department. The question popped into my head: How much easier would it be to recognize the Lord in the answers to my prayers if I come up with a plan?
That’s the best part of reading the story from the servant’s point of view: If this could happen to a regular guy like the servant, is it possible for me to have a similar experience? The answer is yes! If we follow the pattern shown by the servant, the Lord will bless us too, and like the servant, we have the chance to receive answers that are doubt-free. Chances are the Lord is just waiting for us to share our plan!
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