Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Alma 37

Don't worry, I haven't fallen off the wagon.  Truth be told, however, I did fall behind last week while I was in California.  For the last month or so I've wavered from being 1-2 days behind.  I never could quite catch up.  However, with my vacation my routine was totally thrown off and I sadly, missed reading more days than not.  
SO.  Here's what I've decided.  Rather than turn what's an inspiring and motivating goal into something that feels like a task I'm wavering a bit on my deadline.  I'm still shooting for the end of the year, but I know mathematically that's not possible.
So, I guess like anything else in life, I'm just doing the best I can.
Tonight's reading was really good for me.  It was just one of those nights where you feel like, wow, this is definitely what I needed to hear.
In verse 36 Alma tells Helaman:

Yea, and cry unto God for all thy supoort; yea, let all thy doings be unto the Lord, and whithersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord; yea, let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever.

I love this.  I love knowing the Lord wants to know everything.  I love knowing that He already does know everything, but He still wants to sit and listen to me talk about it.  He still is happy to listen to me ramble on and on about the same things, no matter how trivial they are, no matter how meaningless they are in the grand scheme of things.  I love that we're not only told that we can talk to the Lord about anything, but that we should talk to the Lord about everything.  It's so.....relieving?
Also, I loved in verses 44-46 when Alma states:

For behold, it is as easy to give heed to the word of Christ, which will point to you a straight course to eternal bliss, as it was for our fathers to give heed to this compass, which would point unto them a straight course to the promised land.
And now I say, is there not a type in this thing?  For just as surely as this director did bring our fathers, by following its course, to the promised land, shall the words of Christ, if we follow their course, carry us beyond this vale of sorrow into a far better land of promise.
O my son, do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way; for so was it with our fathers; for so was it prepared for them, that if they would look they might live; even so it is with us.  The way is prepared, and if we will look we may live forever.

It's so plainly stated.  Just as the Liahona directed Nephi and his family, we have the words of Christ to direct us, as a compass, to eternal happiness.  How plain and simple is that!

Sorry if some of my thoughts don't make sense.  They're just some fragments from my mind that mean something to me.

5 comments:

Michelle said...

It is great to hear your testimony, and that you proudly express it to the world.. It takes a really strong person to do that, and it is admirable. Love you :)

Liese said...

Love this. I like in verse 37 where it says "Yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day"
The scriptures are so wonderful and bring us such comfort.

P.S. Read 8 pages a day and you can finish it by the end of the year! :)

Rachel Gillie said...

I love the short hair cut and I am sad that I missed seeing you when you were down in Cali. I am glad that you had a lot of fun with the family. I know your mom was so excited that everyone was coming out!

DebiHope54@gmail.com said...

I am so very proud of you honey for reading the Book of Mormon by the end of the year. What a great testimony!

Anonymous said...

Rach,

I had been thinking I needed to remind you that "God is in charge" for 3-4 weeks. Amazing that you got there yourself!

Love you!