Observing the wind...

I read this today in Ecclesiastes 11:3-4:

"If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.

He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap."

Could we be living in a more rainy time, spiritually? Could we be passing through life's days with wind blowing any harder? I don't think so.

Our late church prophet, President Hinckley, said nearly a decade ago that Sodom and Gommorrah had nothing that we don't have today. His exact words were these: "All the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah haunt our society" (Gordon B. Hinckley, “Living in the Fulness of Times,” Ensign, Nov 2001, 4).

But did President Hinckley focus so much on today's deadly storms that he was stymied in his progress, sowing not and reaping not? No.

President Hinckley lived the wisdom found in Ecclesiastes. He lived his life in such a way that he had vigor in his step and a smile on his lips. How is this obtained in the midst of the serial storms society sends our way? Ecclesiastes 11:3-4 contains the precious secret.

These verses speak of a storm. Will a person know the "wind" is blowing? Of course. But to stand frozen in fear, staring at a pending storm, means no healthy preparations take place. The verse reminds us if we solely focus on the storms, we have no time to "sow," to be anxiously engaged in good causes.

Does a person know they're walking under a cloudy sky? Of course. It can be seen and felt (for any with sight). But if we only focus on the clouds, Ecclesiastes reminds us healthy harvest will not come. We're too frozen staring at the windy sky.

Just as Ecclesiastes 11:3-4 states, and President Hinckley showed by his life's actions, we aren't to focus -- to the exclusion of all else -- on the spiritual rain and storms whirling around us. Are we aware of them? Yes. Are we preparing for them? Yes. But does all joy vanish? No. President Hinckley offered an alternative, a productive alternative, one that brings joy instead of fear.

Here is President Hinckley's advice: "Not withstanding the afflictions about us, notwithstanding the sordid things we see almost everywhere, notwithstanding the conflict that sweeps across the world, we can be better" (Ibid.).

We can be better. We can strive for more. That is what gets us sowing (which then gets us to the harvest). The way is found in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. When we focus on Jesus Christ in all we do, say, and focus on, we will be able to move through and beyond the world's sordid storms. We will stay spiritually dry.

That's Christ's promise. When spiritual hail and society's vicious sleet and wind threaten to destroy, here is what Christ offers: "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27).

I'm learning peace and spiritual safety are several of the priceless fruits that come from daily scripture study. Amazing. Here is an easy link to reading scriptures online. You can even bookmark your favorite verses and go back time and time again. When wicked winds howl and sordid rain crashes all around, the Lord awaits for us to arrive to give us peace and spiritual warmth. All this, in spite of society's filth found in Sodom and Gomorrah counterparts that surround us.

Ecclesiastes 11:3-4 is one cool set of verses. We need not "observe the wind" and freak out; we simply need to find the shelter the Savior provides.

The Intense Family Structure

Talk about a tear-jerker. This video clip is amazing and shows the power of family love. When a family is strong, society is strong. So why are some trying so hard to destroy this? This video clip is a must see: http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2009/03/26/fl.soldier.family.surprise.wkmg

Love this article!

Ever feel like God hates you? That what you're doing brings His condemnation? Then you simply must read this article by Maurine Proctor at Meridian Magazine entitled, "Dear God, Am I in Trouble?"

Reading today in ...

I was reading today in 1 Nephi 22 and was struck by the power of the word "and".

Notice this verse: "For behold, saith the prophet, the time cometh speedily that Satan shall have no more power over the hearts of the children of men; for the day soon cometh that all the proud AND they who do wickedly ..." (vs 15).

Wait a minute. Screech. Halt. When I'd read it in the past, I thought that the proud and the wicked were the same thing. And maybe they are. But today I realized an important distinction. There is a possibility that a person, in being proud, is not engaging in the same activities as the second category mentioned in the verse above. But simply be "proud" apparently still gets you in the booted out category.

One dictionary I looked in stated that pride was simply a pleasure felt when obtaining high achievement. No wonder we sometimes think that pride is a good thing. It's a natural feeling, after all. Right?

Yet when I looked in another dictionary, the first definition listed was "defiant attitude." It also mentioned pride as an attraction to worldly goods. Yep. Those probably are the definitional categories that place a person fair and square in verse 15 above.

So just what happens to the "proud and they who do wickedly"? Here is the rest of the verse:

"For behold, saith the prophet, the time cometh speedily that Satan shall have no more power over the hearts of the children of men; for the day soon cometh that all the proud and they who do wickedly shall be as stubble; and the day cometh that they must be burned" (You can read this online at this link: 1 Nephi 22:15).

That's a pretty serious call to repentance.

I think the reason pride is one of the oft-quoted "seven deadly sins" is because it leads to this attitude: Proverbs 1:29, Alma 30:46 and 2 Nephi 9:40.

John 12:42-43

How amazing and sad is John 12:42-43.

The story in those verses seem rather like Lehi's dream with the great and spacious building (see also 1 Nephi 11:35-36 and 1 Nephi 12:18-19).

Today, it would seem, this principle still applies and I must ask myself. Do I believe in Christ and yet "confess not" because of modern-day Pharisees? Am I so full of fear--not faith--that I would love "the praise of man more than the praise of God"? The thought frightens me.

John 12:44-50

I read this morning in John 12:44-50 and was struck deeply by the fact that Jesus is not judgmental. He simply came to do His Father's will and to teach the standards of the Kingdom, but He doesn't judge us when we fall. This is so comforting to me! His love, grace and mercy are beyond comprehension to me--the depths of them, at least.

The second part of this passage that is so stunning for me is that in this ever deepening world, ever darkening, we need not remain in that bleakness. Simply by turning to Christ and following close behind, He who is the light for our world, will brighten our day. We don't need our courage; we simply need rely on His.

And finally, vss. 49-50 are deeply significant to me. What the Savior expresses here is how I want to live. When God the Father gives a commandment, whether through His Son's teachings found in the scriptures or through the living modern prophets, I want to be found equally obedient. For Christ promises therein lies happiness (see John 13:15-17).

Aah, the beauty of the scriptures in bringing peace.

The Strait Gate

My daughter and I have a little saying:

"Do the hard first, and the easy soon follows.
Do the easy first, and the hard soon follows."

It seems this pops up in life everywhere. For example, in moral issues and "one night stands." What may seem easy the next morning can bring remorse as pregnancy and other issues crop up.

My daughter is perhaps too young to understand the previous example, but we have talked about other scenarios; i.e. a person at work sees money laying on the desk and he or she has an overdue bill. What might seem easy (taking the money) soon turns into the hard if and when they are discovered, with tough consequences following.

My husband is a counselor and has worked with those struggling with addictions. What a tough road! And as a result of a multitude of choices, many are one step from prison. One more infraction and they lose their children and their freedom.

The hardest thing for an addict is to say no to the drug they've so easily brought into their lives. How much easier if the drug had never been taken in the first place. But that would have required a hard choice made under peer pressure. Thus the saying: "Do the hard first, and the easy soon follows. Do the easy first, and the hard soon follows."

Now individuals struggling with addictions must face tough choices. But if they "do the hard" now, the easy will come later--meaning the joy of still being with their kids and enjoying therefore fruits of hard decisions made well. (An addiction is something that requires outside professional help, both from the Lord and oftentimes with a professional counselor or group. Otherwise, it wouldn't be an addiction. It is tough and heartbreaking.)

What is so essential for these struggling individuals is to begin choosing "the hard first" now that their situation is so dire. Yet some continue to choose the easy way out (taking a "hit"). Then when the "hard" comes (i.e. losing their kids and going to prison), the sorrow is heartbreaking.

Thus, I've talked much with my kids how much better life will be for them when they become accustomed to doing the hard things in life first (do your homework early because then the fruits will come later, doing your chores first before playing, etc.).

So when I read in Matthew 7:13-14 today, I thought of that family expression of ours. It is a struggle to live, but how urgent to do so! Thus, these verses in the Bible are particularly significant regarding all this ... (Remember, "strait" means narrow; "straight" means not crooked):

Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

In other words, it's all too simple to choose the "easy" in life...but the consequences will come (whether the next day or in 20 years time). So few find this though, as shown in the next verse:

Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

How urgent we listen to the Lord and thereby avoid heartache.