"... Wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it." (Exodus 20:11)

Sunday. The Sabbath day. Sabbath means "a time of rest" (Sabbath). It's also defined as: "the first day of the week, Sunday, similarly observed by most Christians in commemoration of the Resurrection of Christ" (Sabbath).  Every Sunday is a day for us to refocus on Christ and His Resurrection, His love, His life.

I really like the definition from Guide to the Scriptures about the Sabbath: "A holy day set apart each week for rest and worship. After God created all things, He rested on the seventh day and commanded that one day each week be a day of rest to help people remember Him (Ex. 20:8-11)... The Sabbath reminds people of their need for spiritual nourishment and of their duty to obey God. When a nation grows careless in observing the Sabbath, all aspects of life are affected and its religious life becomes decayed (Neh. 13:15-18; Jer. 17:21-27). (Sabbath).

Each Sunday, I get to set aside the entire day to help my mind focus on my Savior. He loves us all so very much. He gave His life for us. What do I do to show my love for Him? How can I serve as He served? I'm working on doing the small things and acting on the gentle and quiet promptings that I too often ignore or think of as "nothing". It's a bit of a challenge at times to not get caught in the trap of being "busy". When I do that I usually end up not helping or serving others. I am grateful for the Sabbath, for a day of rest from the labors of the world.

"I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink..." (Matthew 25:35)

After having eaten my 4th piece of chocolate, several cinnamon santa's, and many other treats, nuts, and fruit (I did eat one tiny orange), the phrase keeps coming to my mind: "And blessed are they who do hunger and thirst after righteousness..." (Matt. 5:6; 3 Nephi 12:6). I believe it is a little different than just changing my eating habits of candy and other junk food...but then again, it's really about changing my habits of what I am hungering and thirsting for. I know there is a whole big blog on this...but that will have to wait or you can read this one.

On another note about water, the #Day2 of #LightTheWorld the scripture is Matthew 25:35: "For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in". I love this. We all get hungry. We all thirst. And sometimes, we are all strangers. I know that as we "hunger and thirst after righteousness", we are fed. And when we are fed, we can in turn feed others. And when our thirst has been quenched, we can help others drink of the Living Water.

Christ showed us the way.

Christ is the Living Water. This I testify.

"...I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things" (Alma 26:12)

It's Christmas season again! I so love this time of year with all the lights, the gift giving, the gift receiving, the good food, great time with family and loved ones. I love thinking about the love God has for us through the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ. It's so humbling to think of all I have been given because of Him. I have to say, "...My God shall supply all [my] need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19). I am indeed a blessed woman!

This year is the second Christmas that I have CRPS (learn more about that here). There are times when I think about all I have lost because of this condition. I can't bike anymore (this has been super difficult...but the more time passes the easier it gets?), I can't hike, I can't walk, run, jump, or pretty much do any exercise that requires me to use my foot a whole heck of a lot (that's just the tip of the iceberg, so to speak). It's easy to get sucked into the comparison game and feel the "whoa is me" part of CRPS (see Jeremiah 15:5).

But! There is a whole other part of CRPS that I am choosing to focus on this Christmas season. I figure it is a gift I can give myself. It is to focus on what I can do (that's not really a part of CRPS, but I am going to pretend it is). "Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things" (Alma 26:12). I can sing...Christmas Carols are so beautiful! I can write. I can cook. I can enjoy the beautiful lights from all the people who have taken the time to put them up. I can stroll with our new dog (I believe Hershey is pretty much the perfect dog for our family)! I can read. I can see! I can be thankful for all I have, this includes suffering and pain (see D&C 98:1). I can smell all the yummy smells of Christmas, even "an odour of a sweet smell" (Phil. 4:18). I can listen as others share their experiences of the season. I can do so many wonderful things!

One of my favorite parts of Christmas is all the lights. I love how happy all the lights make everything. Again, this year, on Mormon.org there is a #LightTheWorld campaign (go here). I am so grateful for this simple expression of gratitude and giving that I can do each day. It doesn't need to be difficult or big. It's a simple way of giving thanks for all I can do. Today's message is "...freely ye have received, freely give" (Matt. 10:8).

One more thing I can do is to testify of what I know and believe. I know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (Acts 8:37). He was born in a manger (see Luke 2:1-7), the Son of Mary (see Mark 6:3). He is the King of Kings (see Rev. 19:16), and the Prince of Peace (see Isaiah 9:6-7). I can do many things, and there is so much to be grateful for because of Him (see 2 Corinthians 2:14). I can also tell you that I know you are loved beyond words, beyond comprehension...because of Him (see John 17:23, 26). This I testify.

#LightTheWorld

This is Hershey, the perfect dog for our family!

 

"Doubt not, but be believing" (Mormon 9:27)

I have to share my thoughts about a couple of scriptures that really struck a chord with me. The first is Mormon 9:26 (italics added): "And now, behold, who can stand against the works of the Lord? Who can deny His sayings? Who will rise up against the almighty power of the Lord? Who will despise the works of the Lord? Who will despise the children of Christ? Behold all ye who are despisers of the works of the Lord, for ye shall wonder and perish.

Despise is to "look down on with contempt or aversion. And to regard as negligible, worthless, or distasteful." (Merriam-Webster). At a time when there are so many people talking about acceptance of others, or the need to be tolerant, none of us want to put ourselves in the category of being one who "despises". But I ask, are you? This is a hard question to ask oneself. It is something we must each ponder individually and then be totally honest with ourselves about our own behavior. I love that Mormon asks if we not only despise the children of God, but also, do we despise the works of God? How are you doing in that category?  This statement, made by a prophet of God, is a good one to ponder about gender: "Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose" (The Family: a Proclamation to the World). Do we despise this work of the Lord? How about marriage between a man and a woman? These are good questions to ask ourselves and seek for God's help in understanding them and all of His works.

The word wonder also caught my attention. It isn't wander, like being lost. It is wonder, as in doubt and uncertainty (see Merriam-Webster). Those who despise or hate or dislike the works of God or the children of God will wonder- they will doubt and be uncertain and shall "perish". Do you "wonder" if there is a God? If so, how do you seek to know if He is there? It's not wrong to have doubts, but it's what we do with our doubts and how we address them that make all the difference.

So what is the solution to wondering and despising? The next verse has a wonderful answer. It reads: "O then despise not, and wonder not, but hearken unto the words of the Lord, and ask the Father in the name of Jesus for what things soever ye shall stand in need. Doubt not, but be believing, and begin as in times of old, and come unto the Lord with all your heart, and work out your own salvation with fear and trembling before Him." (Mormon 9:27)

We are being invited to "despise not, and wonder not" and replace those behaviors with the action to "hearken" - which is to "give respectful attention, to give heed to" (Merriam-Webster). Mormon also invites us to "ask the Father in the name of Jesus for what things soever we shall stand in need". Ask! He doesn't say, quit thinking, just obey.  Rather he invites us to the best solution- which is to ask for the things we need. Sometimes the things we need are compassion, understanding, kindness, patience, or perhaps even a new heart.

How often has someone whom you disagree with, invited you to ask for anything you stand in need and that it will be given to you? The way of God is to extend the hand of mercy, "His hand is stretched out still" (Isaiah 9:12). One must take notice of the footnote to this phrase. It says: "In spite of all, the Lord is available if they will turn to Him", (see also verses 17, 21). He is asking us to "come unto [Him]". He wants us to be able to feel His love for us as we come unto Him by serving and helping others, by making and keeping covenants. We all get to decide how we want to "work out" our salvation.

One last thought. God wants us to know, to understand, and to believe truth. In order to do this we must first let go of our doubts and open our hearts with faith, believing we will receive all that we desire for our good (see Mosiah 4:21, James 4:2-3). I love this encouragement from Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf: "Doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith" (Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf). I love that he invites us to let faith lead us when we have doubts. I feel it takes a lot of courage to move forward when one has doubts. God will help us with anything we need clarity. Anything! That's pretty awesome, if you ask me.

"Faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things..." Alma 32:21

Today, I am pondering faith a bit. "Faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; ...if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true" (Alma 32:21). Some things are true that I cannot see with my physical eyes. I can't see the wind, but there is evidence of the wind. I see the evidence of the wind as it blows  leaves off of trees and at times, gently caresses my skin and ruffles my hair.

As I have pondered things that are true, but I can't see, I have also thought about learning. I have to ask myself, am I willing to learn all that God wants me to learn, even when I can't see the end from the beginning? What about from all sources? Am I willing to learn His ways through enduring all things? Am I willing to "...seek learning, even by study and also by faith" (D&C 88:118).

This leads me to ponder about being humble and teachable. I ask, how humble am I, really? "...for I verily believe that there are some among you who would humble themselves, let them be in whatsoever circumstances they might [be in]" (Alma 32:25). And there are some who, no matter what their circumstances, no matter their suffering, they want a sign, saying: "If thou wilt show unto us a sign from heaven, then we shall know of a surety; then we shall believe" (Alma 32:18). But, receiving a "sign" requires no faith. On the other hand, "ye shall receive no witness until after the trial of your faith" (Ether 12:6). In other words, faith proceeds the miracle. I continue to work on this.

Some days can be so difficult that thoughts of quitting tease and taunt me. But I don't quit. And I don't give up. I keep believing and having faith in a loving God (see 1 John 4:16; Ephesians 2:4), who is "merciful unto all who believe on His name" (Alma 32:22). I believe and have faith that there is something more to this life than enduring pain or seeing others suffer (see Luke 12:23). In those times of pain and suffering that don't make sense it is through faith that I can say as Nephi: "I know that He loveth His children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things" (1 Nephi 11:17). I know in the long run, things always work out...perhaps not as I thought they would, but they always work out.

Am I humble enough to trust God, to have faith in His plan? Especially when things aren't going according to my plan. God's plan is one of happiness (see Alma 42:8). It is one of great joy! His plan is one of choice, we get to choose and receive what our hearts truly desire (see 2 Nephi 2:27-30). Perhaps some do not desire to be like God, "pure even as He is pure". And that is what some people choose. "Remember that [we] are free to act for [ourselves] -to choose the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal life" (2 Nephi 2:23). We can choose to put our faith in Jesus Christ, our Creator and our Savior. We can choose to have faith that He knows exactly what we need to learn, and what we need to endure so that we be prepared for that "great and coming day" (3 Nephi 28:31).

"Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). Having faith, for me, is to put my trust in the God that I see in His creations all around me. To trust Him enough to never quit, never give up, no matter how hard or how painful it may be. This I testify.

I see God in all the amazing creations I get to enjoy on a daily basis

His love is even shown in the details of every flower. Look at those peppers! What beauty and creativity!

I see Him in all He creates for my joy and comfort.