Confession

I've fallen off the wagon.  I've totally blown it on scripture reading over the weekend and am now playing catch up.  But guess what?  The good news is I can catch up, and will be back by Sunday.  So can you.  Or just pick up where you're supposed to be.  It's up to you.

Just a few notes from last night and tonight's reading.

Last night I was reading aloud over the phone with my reading buddy.  I've been a little frustrated lately because I'm having a really hard time understanding what I've been reading, and especially applying what I've read to my own life.  The Isaiah chapters kill me.  I frequently feel like my eyes are going over the words but nothing's really coming from my reading other than being able to check it off the list for that day, and really what does that even do?

My friend told me something that helps him.  He said I should just try to take one thing from my reading.  If I can just connect with one verse I should feel like I've had success.  And if I don't find that connection?  It's okay.  I can try again tomorrow.  So that's my goal for these difficult reading days, and it can be yours too.

I'm actually in the middle of tonight's reading right now, but wanted to jot down a couple thoughts.

In 2 Nephi 28:29 we read:

Wo be unto him that shall say: We have received the word of God, and we need no more of the word of God, for we have enough!

This one immediately made me think of how I can apply it in my life.  I love General Conference, but how many times have I felt like, okay, I've watched hours of this and I'm sort of ready to be done.  I'm sure a lot of you are probably shocked, and soak every second of it in, but I struggle with it.  And more commonly, sometimes I find myself dragging a little, thinking about how we spend 3 whole hours at church on Sunday.  When I break it down, really that's nothing.  It's 1/8 of one day out of 7 days in a week.  How many hours do I spend working, watching tv, talking on the phone, wasting time on the computer, and socializing?  How ridiculous for me to think that three hours is such a sacrifice.

Lastly, in 2 Nephi 28:32 we read:

Wo be unto the Gentiles, saith the Lord God of Hosts!  For notwithstanding I shall lengthen out mine arm unto them from day to day, they will deny me; nevertheless, I will be merciful unto them, saith the Lord God, if they will repent and come unto me; for mine arm is lengthened out all the day long, saith the Lord God of Hosts.

All the day long.  

Talk about awesome.  This one stirred up an overwhelming amount of emotion.  It really hit me like a ton of bricks, remember how much God loves us.  Regardless of how accepting we are, we have a loving Heavenly Father whose arm is stretched out to us, waiting for us to reach up and grab His hand.  I was just so amazed at the thought of how much He loves me.  How much he loves you.