..or what woman,having 10 silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and searches carefully until she finds it.
And when she found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying "Rejoice with me for I have found the piece which I lost!!" Luke 15:8-9
Have you ever wondered how “Pooh bear”
got his head wedged in that honey pot? I mean, when I was a kid, my brother and
I loved all of the “Winnie the Pooh” adventures; kids don’t know what they’re
missing these days. Secretly I wished that Christopher Robin as my brother. He was so
cool and wise beyond his ears. One reason why “Pooh” was always getting his
head stuck, was that he was a greedy little “honey” bear. He would eat and eat
and then try to waddle off and climb thru the Bunny’s small door, or he would
get stuck in a beehive tree, or worse he would just stick his too big head into
the opening of a “too small” jar. But here is the annoying thing about Pooh, he
never really learned from those episodes of “stuckness”. He forgot as soon as
another honey pot came into play. He didn’t have a “plan”, to either avoid
getting stuck, or how to get unstuck.
It occurred to me that getting stuck is
like a record skipping at the same place, a loop if you will. I have been stuck
for a minute, and I totally ignored it. I seemed to just let it pass as if
trying to get unstuck and moving forward was not very important. But it wasn’t
until I found myself with one foot wedged in the past and surprisingly my other
foot stuck in the present. It’s been a pretty painful situation and it has come
to a head, I had to shoot up a flare for help from my Heavenly Father. Jesus is
on it, right away. I realize as I am trying to unstuck myself, that this
situation sometimes comes about because of pride, of laziness, and of “Holding
on to the safe place of the past, It doesn’t fit anymore and like old clothes,
it needs to be passed down, there is a pressing need for us to let go.” I am
letting go of the past and asking for help. Stronger is just around the corner…. I have been walking on water, sort of like Peter, but this is not a miraculous thing, it is more like Nephi, being led by the spirit not knowing where I am going. But I do know, and that place is like a beacon shining before me, and I am almost there.
The best place that we can live, is in the love of the Father and his son Jesus
Christ. I feel that love, I am that love
U2 Bono & The Edge Perform 'Stuck In a Moment' on David Letterman
FIRST LOVE: 1 JOHN 4:19 We love Him, because he first love us. Today is sing a long Wednesday, not too many words, just singing, and worship . Do you remember your first love? We all do, they were the ones that made our hearts flutter, caused us to stammer, sleepless nights, and all that. But more and more, I know for a surety that the Savior is our first love and rightly so. Maybe you think that the term "first love" is a number, a time and situation. It is not, first means higher, greater, no comparison. The first to love, literally means that Jesus invented it, placed his seal on it. Our goal should be to love as he loves.He is the Teacher.
Fell for You first day that I met You Never dreamed that I ever could forget You But black and white make a mess when it turn to grey
Sunlight came sweepin' cross the window Rewind to the time when we were so close Got me longin' for yesterday
But Lord You know me so well I can be a little punk sometimes
But don't leave me, leave me alone Bust down the door to my heart like it's Your home Don't need no keys I'm on my knees Begging You please I've gotta settle this thing once and for all You got my heart my soul You can have it all I'm on my knees Beggin' You please Beggin' You please Lord, don't leave me alone
Don't leave me alone Through the tears, through the pain comes a new day Blown away still amazed You pursue me
…
I really like this song, it really makes you appreciate that the Lord will speak to us in a language that we can all understand. Sometimes it's Rap or Hip hop, Maybe Gospel,inspirational or whatever. But no matter, songs are like prayers, and the prayer of the righteous is like a song to the Savior. Holla
John 5:5-6One man there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. Jesus saw him lying there and realized that he had already been there a long time. He said: Do you want to get well.
I love finding those little surprise statements in scripture, this one; Jesus seeing this man, lying on the ground or floor or whatever by a pool. He realized that this man had already, been therea long time.
had already,
been there
a long time
Now, that puts a different spin on this tale, because the man himself verifies it, by making an attempt to explain to the Lord why he was "still " down there on the floor, and that's why he has footprints all over him from being literally trampled underfoot. But it's not about why he was still on the floor,Jesus is concerned that he had been there a long enough and it was time for a hand up for this good brother. He didn't make him feel bad, or even ask again like others have done, how long have you been down there? How long has it been since your husband or wife or family have walked away from you, or died? Has the statute of limitations on "having a hard time" passed? I am so glad he didn't ask him if had been to THERAPY. Because having a hard time gives you a special kind of crazy, that only the Lord himself can heal.
Can you imagine, that maybe you were homeless and sleeping in the street. Or worse, you tripped over your shoe,and fell in public, oh the horror!! Because you know, now days people will not help you up in public, worse they may call 911 because you are causing a public nuisance. But as you fell,maybe you hit your head, or worse damaged your pride, and if you keep your eyes closed, maybe people will step over you, kick you while you are down. But you hear a voice, and someone is tapping you, touching your face. The Voice says "Hey Buddy, buddy, are you ok, do you want to be well? Do you want to be made well?
It is well with me, I am a prize fighter, I get knocked down, and even sucker punched by this life, by this world. But Jesus, is in my corner, he is laying down on the mat, right beside me, saying, "Hey buddy, buddy "I love you, be well"
It Is Well:Kristene DiMarco // You Make Me Brave
Today is Thursday sing along, and there is also a bonus you tube. Love all of you
Francesca Battistelli - This Is The Stuff (Live Fan Video)
Four days into the New Year, hang on it is going fast, maybe even faster than 2016. I have the impression that there will be no "lull in the action" so to speak. I thought about some resolutions, but I need revelation more. So here it is, not a list, but a word. I had the opportunity to meet Elder Kim Clark last year, he was speaking at our Ward Stake Conference. His message was so important to us that he was "the only speaker" aside from the Stake president and some who bore their testimonies. (there is a link to his talk at the end). His message was so heart piercing, so phenomenal that we had what could only be described as a "Mormon Pentecostal meeting." He blew our minds with the gospel. And yet he wasn't speaking anything more than what had been said. But he showed love for us, and concern for our well being. He "disrupted" our complacency, he shook us awake with what we already knew to be true. I am forever changed and in process of changing and shedding unnecessary layers that stand in the way of God's truth, of "becoming" better. Being refined in the refiners fire. Pray for me. Our challenge is to become more profitable servants
I learned that we needed to ask ourselves two questions. I believe these are the questions whose answers will lead us to do what we need to do to prepare for what lies ahead. Here they are: (1) What am I doing that I should stop doing? and (2) What am I not doing that I should start doing?Elder Kim B Clark
Deep learning is “an increase in the … power to Know, to Do, and to Become.”12 It definitely means increased knowledge, but it also means increased understanding of the heart. It means increased skill and capacity to act. It means increased strength of character, including integrity, courage, and kindness.Deep learning is inherently a spiritual experience. Elder Kim B Clark
Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this
age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern
what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
Music for a Thursday, Sidewalk Prophets...... Keep Making Me
Happy New Years to my faithful 6 (?) What? Today is Tuesday, but really Monday. It's raining here, traffic , etc etc.Got some "good feels", some praise worthy music, something to think about. Today's question "Is love a miracle"? So Love is on my mind, dunno why, but it makes good topic. Food and love go together so check this out, and when you do, invite a friend, no matter where they are, to have a bite.
So I am going there............ Have you had your breakfast yet, or whatever meal you haven't had.
Knorr #LoveAtFirstTaste
Now after all of that, you may want to do a Happy Dance, The Mike is now Open Tasha Cobbs Put a Praise On It We're having a Pentecostal dance party, It's okay, its early
God has not ceased to be a God of miracles.16 Behold, are not the things that God hath wrought marvelous in our eyes? Yea, and who can comprehend the marvelous works of God?17 Who shall say that it was not a miracle that by his word the heaven and the earth should be; and by the power of his word man was created of the dust of the earth; and by the power of his word have miracles been wrought? mormon 9:27-28
Adam and Eve had the first
arranged marriage by their parents, it's true. Here it is in Matt 19:5, for
this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife
and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore
what God has joined together, let man not separate.
I
have always thought that the proper translation of "one flesh" should
be of one heart. I mean I am not a Bible translator, but one heart seems more relevant.
Do you think Adam and Eve met on a blind date, or a speed date or some kind of
heavenly dating service? I think that
Adam and Eve are patterns for Gods sons and daughters, to show us how to seek
for those better things that he has promised for a loving relationship and
marriage.
Did
you think that they were married when they came here? Nope, I could be wrong,
but maybe not. Jesus
said ( in Luke 20:34-36)”The people of this world and present age
marry and are given in marriage; but those who are considered
worthy to gain that other world and that future age and
to attain to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in
marriage.” Wait a minute, what? The
marriage process is part of the eternal progression? It’s like part of the body
package.
“ For they cannot die again, but they are([a]angel-likeand[b]equal to angels.) They are
immortal and partakers of the heavenly gift of eternal life;they are sons and
daughters of God.For this reason, a man
will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will
become one (flesh) heart? So they are no longer two, but one (flesh) heart.
Therefore what God has joined together, let man not (separate) cast
asunder. (Matt 19:5-6)
Now in some translations,
the word flesh is translated as heart, and to separate is translated as
"cast asunder" What does it mean to cast asunder? It means to literally
tear apart, to cast means throwing down and being trampled underfoot. It is
like “cast not your pearls before swine, they are in danger of being trampled underfoot.
So the union of man and woman is such that it cannot be “torn apart” by the
world, neither the sanctity of love between a man and woman is trampled
underfoot.
But wait, I am getting
ahead of myself. Let’s talk about Adam and Eve and when they met. So
romantic!!!!!!
So there is so much grief
about Adam being created first, Eve being a help meet yada yada. But let’s read that story again: In the book of Abraham (lds) 1:26" And the
Gods took counsel among themselves and said: Let us go down and form man in our
image, after our likeness…..And we will give him dominion over the fish of the sea,
and over the fowl of air, and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over
every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth."
Adam was a man after Gods on heart, hard
worker, responsible, loved animals etc. He was a man like David. This is what
the Lord said of David:” I have found David, son of Jesse a man after my own
heart: he will carry out my will in its entirety.” Acts 13:22.
Adam was beloved too, but
was Adam alone in the garden? No he wasn’t, Eve was there too.
Abraham 1:27” so the Gods went
down to organize man in their own image, in the image of the Gods they him, male
and female to form they them. “
Have you ever wondered
what Adam & Eve looked like? They were created in Gods own image, his own
heart. David was described 1 Samuel 16:12 as having a healthy reddish complexion,
and beautiful eyes and was fine looking. Anoint him for this is he.” (So David was hot and so was Adam)
I know, we are getting to
the good part. ”14 And the Gods said: Let us make a help meet for man, for it
is not good that the man should be left alone, therefore we will form a help
meet for him.”Was Eve in the garden? Did Adam have open heart surgery so that
a woman could be “made” from him? The Lord said “And I will give them one heart, anda new spirit I will put within them. I will
remove the heart of stone from their fleshand give them a heart of flesh,that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey
them.And they shall be my people, and I will be their
God. (That they shall united in one heart) Ezekiel 11:19-20
The Lord teaches in patterns. He prepares the
heart and "creates" a human, like Adam waiting for Eve; he creates in
the pattern of line upon line, precept upon precept. And that "here a
little" and there a little seems to allow for humanness, and frailty and
strength renewed.
Oops, did I forget about the deep sleep and the rib?
So I am no bible scholar, or Hebrew expert, but in Abraham 5:15 the Gods caused
a deep sleep to fall upon Adam and he slept. I have often wondered if Adam was
in the process of receiving deep truths thru revelation for the course of his life
and his future wife Eve. That Eve too was in this “deep sleep” this revelatory
process, being taught, having their hearts intertwined as one. This is a
spiritual process.
I mean love is like that, hearts working as one.
So now Eve is called Wo-man, which points to partner, helper. It isn’t noted as
Co-man, or two working on the same project. Help meet denotes one who is like
or complimenting the other. It is the image of the other, one heart that beats
for both, so heart of my heart, bone of my bone.
And they lived, according to the plan of
happiness, to become immortal and have eternal life.
I am a hopeful romantic. I know that the Lord is preparing my heart, and your heart for love.
1 Corinthians 2: 9 But as it is written, eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God, has prepared for them that love him.
Here is a poem for you "hopeful romantics, and earnest seekers.
I want to meet someone who makes my heart flutter and gives me
sweaty palms. Not because he’s charming or says all the right words because he
knows the game-but because he is kind and because he thirsts for Jesus in a
very authentic way.
Someone who is funny-who can make my stomach hurt from laughter because the
world needs more of that. Someone who is flawed but relentlessly seeks after
God in their humanness. Someone who knows darkness and therefore knows the
depths of light.
I know that in today’s world, this kind of person is very few and far between.
But I won’t give up in holding out, I won’t settle for anyone to
compensate my loneliness.
I am not a half looking for someone to make me whole, I am whole now, I have
joy now.
But I hope to do this life thing with you someday, and I hope this waiting is
deepening you into a better, stronger person as it is for me. I
can’t wait to not be strangers.
See you when I see you.
Oh yes and I can't leave you with out at least one song from the heart. Keith Urban: Making Memories of us
Happy New Years everyone, turn your love light on, sweep the earth for that person that God is creating a new heart just for you.
“Life
is full of voices of God, only we lack the spiritual faculty which discerns
them--The responsibility of life lies in listening for Divine voices, and in
the response to them that we give. We may cultivate the spiritual faculty that
hears God’s call, or we may make it obtuse. We may cherish God’s call, or we
may silence it; obey it, or rebel against it.”
The Lord never stops talking to us; we just choose whether or not
we hear him. In the book of Moses he tells Moses this:
And God spake unto Moses, saying : Behold IAM the Lord God Almighty, and Endless is my name, for I am without beginning of days, or end of years and is not this endless? 4 And behold, thou art my son, wherefore look, and I will show thee the workmanship of mine hands, but not all, for my works are without end, and also my words, they never cease.
He is a good, good father,
a loving parent, who is always, endlessly looking out for us, and working on
our behalf. His work and glory is to bring about the immortality and the
eternal life of man. The Lord has been
whispering in my ear for a long time, and it has been only recently, that I
recognized that voice. For a moment I felt like Samuel, when as a toddler, the
Lord called out to him, when he had been put down to sleep. And it wasn’t in a
dream state that the Lord called out to Samuel, but the scripture says that the
“Spirit of Lord”, stood at the foot of his bed.
But Samuel was like a lot of us, he heard the voice and it sounded
familiar; so we ask others if they have spoken to us. So Samuel ran into the
old Priest Eli’s room, to find out if he had called. Now Eli was “going blind”,
his eyes had “waxed dim”, he said, I called not my son, lie down again. So Samuel went back to bed, and 2 more times
during the night he heard this familiar voice calling his name.
Wemanytimesreceiverevelationwithoutrecognizingpreciselyhoworwhenwearereceivingrevelation David A
Bednar: The Spirit of Revelation
The scripture says that Samuel did not “know” the Lord yet and
the word had not been revealed to him (yet). It is amazing those words that
Samuel had not been taught about the Lord, he had not been properly introduced
to Him, neither had the adults who were in charge of him, bothered to teach
him. But the Lord did make his presence
known to little Samuel,
Moroni 7:48…. thatwhenheshallappearweshallbelikehim,forweshallseehimasheis;thatwemayhavethishope;thatwemaybepurifiedevenas he is pure.
The scripture says that the Lord came, and stood and called. What
is the significance that the Lord stood? Does standing mean that in this
posture, his voice and message will be clearer? Does it mean that the Lord is
presenting himself as the authority? And
in that posture of standing he called. What does the Lord say when he calls,
what is that call? Is it a request or is it a statement. I believe that the standing or proclaiming of himself, the authority, is the bid to
come unto Christ. When he appears to us in the form of “revelation” or
communicating, it can take on various forms of an established pattern.
When I was a child growing up, my biggest problem, according to my
mother at least, was that I “did not listen”, that my “mouth was always running”.
She feared that I would suffer because of this obvious defect and I was pronounced
“hard headed. But lately, I have tried to overcome this. I have felt like
Samuel and maybe Joan of Arc; hearing voices, exploring ideas that clearly I
had not focused on previously. The Lord has revealed a plan for my life, that
when I look at it, I am sure I have imagined it, that I wished for it like
children do. So surely it is not true, right? I have had very “low “expectations
for my life, or no expectations of anything changing, and I feel like, the
Father decided to stage an intervention, to help me in my unbelief. He sent messengers, so in effect he “came and
stood and called “out to me. He sent 2 priesthood holders, who being guided by
the Holy Spirit, asked to know who needed prayer, who needed some interaction
in their lives. So they came to my house and said, “We don’t know why we are
here”, and I said “I know why you are here, please give me a blessing”. It was a teaching moment and I did my best to
lean into it.
Thursday Devotional: Pass me not O Gentle Savior, Speak Lord, for thy Servant hears
