1 Nephi 3
I remember one time I was talking with my friend Lili, when she said something that, to this day, has never left me. She said, "You are not believing He can do what He says He can."
That phrase sunk into my heart, and whenever I feel like I've lost touch with Him, I ponder this. Today it came to my mind once again as I was reading about Laman and Lemuel and how they doubted God. They said, "How is it possible that the Lord will deliver Laban into our hands? Behold, he is a mighty man, and he can command fifty, yea, even he can slay fifty; then why not us?" (vs. 31)
How many times do I say, "How is it possible?"
How often do I doubt the power of God and what He can make happen in my life?
I've struggled with this for quite some time, and I really want to try hard to believe.
To believe lots of things...
Tithing. Marriage for me. Children. Goals. Confidence in myself. Trust in Him. My testimony.
I love the reference I had written next to vs. 31..
Heb 10:31-32, 35-36
"It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions...Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise."
And then this reference from Elder Holland:
"Don’t give up when the pressure mounts. Certainly don’t give in to that being who is bent on the destruction of your happiness. Face your doubts. Master your fears. 'Cast not away therefore your confidence.' Stay the course and see the beauty of life unfold for you."
(Jeffrey R. Holland, "“Cast Not Away Therefore Your Confidence”", Ensign, Mar. 2000, 7)
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Murmuring
1 Nephi 3
I barely got through 5 verses today before something really made me think...
"And now, behold thy brothers murmur, saying it (going back to Jerusalem to get the plates from Laban) is a hard thing which I have required of them; but behold I have not required it of them, but it is a commandment of the Lord".
The word 'murmur' stuck out to me, like it never has before.
I've been worried about doing this lately.
I've murmured more than I ever have, I think.
It's been good to ponder this topic this morning...I need to change, badly.
I looked up several references, including a definition on what it means to murmur:
MURMUR: a muttered complaint; a low indistinct often continuous sound.
A lot of times, not wanting to 'appear' as a murmurer... I murmur under my breath...I feel the frustrations, but want to 'save face', in a way. I need to really work on realizing that things happen for a reason. I need to learn to accept those teaching moments and learn to be calm and have an understanding heart.
I love this reference I came upon while studying the topic of murmuring...
Neal A. Maxwell, "“Murmur Not”", Ensign, Nov. 1989, 82
"God accomplishes things, brothers and sisters, 'in process of time.' This calls for our patience. Moreover, doing things in process of time is often His way of either preserving our agency or of providing us with needed opportunity. In fact, certain experiences, over which we might understandably murmur, can actually be for our good. (See D&C 105:10; D&C 122:7; Gen. 30:27.) Thus you and I may think God is merely marking time, when He is actually marking openings for us, openings which are sorely needed. Even then, we are so slow to use those openings in order to escape from the familiar cell of selfishness."
My patriarchal blessing says, "I bless you with the gift of understanding, for it lies within your power to cope with circumstances that confront you day by day."
Definitely need to live up to that blessing.
Calm down a little.
Realize God's hand in my life.
I barely got through 5 verses today before something really made me think...
"And now, behold thy brothers murmur, saying it (going back to Jerusalem to get the plates from Laban) is a hard thing which I have required of them; but behold I have not required it of them, but it is a commandment of the Lord".
The word 'murmur' stuck out to me, like it never has before.
I've been worried about doing this lately.
I've murmured more than I ever have, I think.
It's been good to ponder this topic this morning...I need to change, badly.
I looked up several references, including a definition on what it means to murmur:
MURMUR: a muttered complaint; a low indistinct often continuous sound.
A lot of times, not wanting to 'appear' as a murmurer... I murmur under my breath...I feel the frustrations, but want to 'save face', in a way. I need to really work on realizing that things happen for a reason. I need to learn to accept those teaching moments and learn to be calm and have an understanding heart.
I love this reference I came upon while studying the topic of murmuring...
Neal A. Maxwell, "“Murmur Not”", Ensign, Nov. 1989, 82
"God accomplishes things, brothers and sisters, 'in process of time.' This calls for our patience. Moreover, doing things in process of time is often His way of either preserving our agency or of providing us with needed opportunity. In fact, certain experiences, over which we might understandably murmur, can actually be for our good. (See D&C 105:10; D&C 122:7; Gen. 30:27.) Thus you and I may think God is merely marking time, when He is actually marking openings for us, openings which are sorely needed. Even then, we are so slow to use those openings in order to escape from the familiar cell of selfishness."
My patriarchal blessing says, "I bless you with the gift of understanding, for it lies within your power to cope with circumstances that confront you day by day."
Definitely need to live up to that blessing.
Calm down a little.
Realize God's hand in my life.
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