Patience and Afflictions

"Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongest thy brethern, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give you success." Alma 26:27

Sometimes I feel like I am on a difficult path. As I reach obstacles I stop and consider giving up or not going any further. My heart is tired and I feel spent. This scripture is exactly what happens to me. The Lord comforts me, but does not take the challenge away. Instead I am told to return to my path and "bear with patience mine afflictions" and then the blessing of joy will come.

Bear..endure, patiently..with a humble heart. I've noticed that patience is often coupled with afflictions in the scriptures. In Romans 5:3-5 it says "..but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed broad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us."

Okay, I'm not there yet. I do not glory in tribulations, but I see that is the attitude I need, because tribulations will help me develop patience, another christlike quality I need. Right along side developing patience I will find experience and then hope! Hope allows the love of God to enter into our hearts! This is the path that I need. It's time to get up and get going.

Delight in the things of the Lord!

Yesterday, I felt compeled to attended the temple. I was troubled by something and I knew that I could find peace in the temple. As I entered the Holy Temple the Spirit washed over me and comforted me. Durning my visit simple truths about the covenants I made were revealed to me. These revelations astonished me. I had heard the words hundreds of times yet never knew that I didn't really understand the meaning of certain phrases. I left the temple feeling uplifted, enlightened and blessed.

My soul delighteth in the things of the Lord! I am grateful for the many opportunities I am given to become close to my Lord and Savior. I feel blessed at the continual reminders of His presence in my life.

"Behold, my soul delighteth in the things of the Lord; and my heart pondereth continually upon the things which I have seen and heard." 2 Nephi 4:16

Isaiah teaches, that as I delight in the things of the Lord I will have reason to ponder the miracles of His presence in my life. I testify that as we ponder the seemingly normal lives we live, we will see evidences of the Savior's love for us. The key is not to let it all pass by in a frenzy before we take notice. Which leads me back to the heart. Pondering continually in our hearts the things which we have seen and heard. This does not refer to extraordainary things, I think it refers to the daily personal miracles found in each of our lives. I am blessed.

Do I need glasses?

"But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him; for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart". 1 Samuel 16:7

As I get older it has become clear to me that my eyesight is changing. I like to sew and watch a DVD at the same time. About 2 years ago I noticed that it was difficult to focus on something far away like the TV screen, especially after I had been focusing on details close, like my sewing. This experience bothered me so much that I went to have my eyes examined. The nice doctor explained to me that I was getting older and a change in my eyesight was normal. So I wanted glasses to fix the problem. I was told my eyes weren't that bad. So, now when I have trouble focusing on something in the distance I know I'm missing the details. Everyone else is sees clearly, but I'm missing the complete picture.

"..man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart", according to this scripture I was missing seeing things clearly when I thought I saw everything. I'm glad that I am older and maybe a little bit wiser. At least now I know I don't get the whole picture. The key is not the eyes and what is seen by them, but the heart and what is seen from within. I need to look to the heart of another and overlook the distractions on the outside. Those are the glasses I want, the kind that allow me to see the heart clearly.

Looking on the heart is one of the Savior's qualities. I am so grateful that my Savior looks on my heart! He sees my soul and knows who I really am.

Access to God

"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". Dueteronomy 4:29

From this point forward I can have access to God if I but seek him with all my heart, soul and being. I am not alone. I have the promise that he will allow me to find him. My part of the bargain is that I must seek him with my whole soul, which is symbolized by my heart.

What does it mean to seek something with one's heart and soul? Seek implies a journey not a destination. Seek is an action verb. If one seeks, one looks and inquires and searches for something. Is "seeking" an attitude? Yes, but I think seek means something more, like thirst, hunger or desire. Almost as if there is an intense inner drive that motivates action. Could "seeking" be a way of being?

Title - The Heart

The heart is very symbolic. We use the heart to represent love or deep affection. To me the heart signifies the very soul or being of a person. As I study the scriptures, I am drawn to the passages including the word heart. Today I will begin with a simple straightforward scripture found in the Old Testament.
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." Proverb 3:5-6
I am asked to trust the Lord entirely. I know He loves me, he knows me and he will direct me. What a blessing it is to know that the Lord has a clear understanding of the things I need and the direction I should go. Oft times my view is clouded and my judgement is not sound. I am grateful that I can relay on the Lord to direct my paths daily. I just have to listen and be willing to trust in him.