Isaiah 65:2

"I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts."
Isaiah 65:2


I think it is interesting that this scripture talks about us walking after our own thoughts.  Most of the time I think that is a pretty good and independent way to be... not going after the crowd, thinking independently... :)  But it is quite true that my own thoughts have gotten me in to a lot of trouble... walking in ways that were not good.  So maybe I should start walking after God's thoughts instead.  It is probably like having a goal or an ideal to work towards... and when I am working towards my own ideal, I am going in quite a different direction than I am when I am working towards God's ideal.  No matter how imperative our own  ideals and thoughts seem, God's thoughts are infinitely superior in every way.  He offers us more than we can imagine for ourselves, and we will have more joy and love and satisfaction from walking after his thoughts than we ever could walking after our own.  If we could learn to trust that... to trust him... we would be the happiest of all people.

Psalms 4:8

"I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety."
Psalms 4:8


I like this image... God offers us that perfect peace where no stress can penetrate. :)  If God is watching over us, we can curl up and sleep without worrying about anything at all.  Something to strive for.

Proverbs 17:3

"The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the Lord trieth the hearts."
Proverbs 17:3


It's interesting that we seem to forget what life is about sometimes... forget that it is a test and a proving ground.  When things go badly, or get difficult, we start asking ourselves why God would treat us this way, or we start doubting him altogether.  We seem to want to avoid the very reason that we are on the earth.  I think this happens even more often when our current trial crosses some imaginary line we have set... as though we could pick and choose what sort of trials to accept, and which not to.  As long as God tests us physically, for instance, we're okay... but as soon as he starts testing us socially, we become resentful.  For other individuals it could be the spiritual tests that cross the line, or the psychological.  Whatever it is that we protect at all costs... whatever lies at our heart... the Lord will try it.  We can't afford to be dedicated to the Lord in some areas and not in others... we can't afford to have holes in our belief, or our faith.  It's like Achilles' heel... and if we don't learn to strengthen even our weakest areas, we will fall.  God doesn't try our hearts to hurt us... he does it to make us stronger, and more confident in ourselves.  We must allow ourselves to change and grow.  Even when it is painful.

Proverbs 21:13

"Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard."
Proverbs 21:13


This makes me think of a paper that I was editing the other day.  It was about welfare reform... the whole thing is interesting, trying to find a middle ground between providing for the hungry and trying to encourage personal responsibility.  Unfortunately, whatever our individual political views, there are still poor people who don't have enough to provide the necessities of life for themselves and their families.  As we learn how to become a Zion people, we will have to change this... in Zion there were no poor.  There wasn't the scary division of wealth that we see today... everyone was provided for.  How did they do it... and how will WE do it, as we move toward Zion?  As we go throughout our individual lives, do we hear the cry of the poor?  We can make a difference in someone's life... we just have to act.

John 14:5-6

"Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
John 14:5-6


A lot of times I think that I will find my way by finding the right place... that if I just find where I am supposed to be, that things will work out. :)  But the truth is that most of the time there isn't a right place.  Not everyone needs to be led to a physical promised land. :)  The way is Christ, and when we are focused on and dedicated to him, then we are headed in the right direction, no matter where we find ourselves.  We can't get where we want to go by following a map... we get to the best places (including Heaven) only by following Christ.

Alma 62:51

"And they did pray unto the Lord their God continually, insomuch that the Lord did bless them, according to his word, so that they did wax strong and prosper in the land."
Alma 62:51


Prayer is always a good idea.  this scripture seems to be saying that it is all about consistency.  If we pray consistently, then good things will naturally follow.  I don't think that it is because we are following a commandment necessarily, although that is, of course, good... I think that what happens when you pray consistently and often is that you naturally develop a relationship with God, and that relationship affects all areas of your life, making you more confident, more aware of your personal power for good... more loving, basically more everything... more of what you should be.  And when you are that, then how can you help but to wax strong and prosper? :)

Ezekiel 33:5

"He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him.  But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul."
Ezekiel 33:5


God gives us warnings in our lives.  Sometimes we have to be very watchful to see them, and very careful not to dismiss them when we first hear or feel them, but he always warns us when we are taking the wrong path... sometimes very strongly in an attempt to turn us aside from doing something that will sear our souls.  In the end, what we choose wrongly is so very much our responsibility, because God has attempted to turn us aside, again and again.  We can't argue our life choices away as being made in the heat of a moment, or using some paltry justification... because first God warns us, and then, when we choose the wrong anyway, he invites us back.  If, in the end, we are found on the wrong side of the battle, our death will be our own... but until that moment, God is doing all... even the very smallest things to preserve our lives and invite us back to his people.  Today, let us take heed of his warnings.  Let us turn our traitorous hearts aside, and rejoin our God in victory.

Psalms 68:5-6

"A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.
God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land."
Psalms 68:5-6


I think this is cool... God is family to those who have none, and he offers community to those alone.  Even when we have bound ourselves, he can save us... from isolation, perhaps. :)  Very interesting verses. :)  I love the scriptures... you can read and read and read them, and they still are surprising and enlightening.

Hebrews 4:11

"Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief."
Hebrews 4:11


It is interesting how hard you have to work to be able to rest sometimes. :)  But rest that you have worked for is peaceful, and unstressed.  Rest that you haven't worked for usually has some stress around the edges... worry seeps in that you should be doing this or that, or that you need to face something. :)  I can't even imagine how peaceful the Rest that God offers will be, but it has to be ten times better than the best you can get here. :)  The other thing that this scripture brings up is how easy it is to fall or be diverted when you aren't working for something... when there is no purpose or goal to focus your mind, heart, and actions on.  We are free to choose what to believe, but when we choose to believe in nothing at all then we just start unraveling ourselves because there is nothing to hold us together.  I don't know if I am making sense to anyone besides myself, but I suppose the point is that we should be working for something greater than ourselves or we will get stuck in not having anything to work for at all... and pointlessness is never good. :)

Galatians 2:16

"Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified."
Galatians 2:16


It seems that salvation lies at the very core of our beings.  It cannot be touched by outward actions alone... no matter how dedicated or obsessed we are with obedience to the letter of the law, if our dedication does not seep far beneath the surface, then we are not converted.  I've thought for a long time that part of knowing yourself and is becoming the same person in every situation... not changing depending on whether you are at home or with friends, or whether you are at work or school, and today, though I think that I have been learning it the hard way for a long time, I can see the deep truth that we have to be the same inside as well as outside.  We can't just go through the motions of belief and dedication... we can't just act as though we know our God.  If our faith doesn't reach down to the core of who we are, then it doesn't have a place in our souls at all.
The other day I was talking to a friend about one of her relatives that she was worried about.  She said that she had prayed for this relative harder than she had ever prayed for herself... that she didn't know she had it in her. :)  The truth is, she always has... and the rest of us have it as well, we just have to reach within us and find it... we can't be content to dwell only on the surface.  The Lord requires the heart, and he does so because realizing that we have hearts, and including our hearts in our everyday decisions and actions, is necessary to becoming whole people.  We can't dedicate our minds to one cause and our hearts to another or we'll tear ourselves apart, little by little.  You have to live what you love to find any happiness at all... and the true, eternal happiness is to be found in learning to love and connect ourselves to Christ.

Ether 1:43

"And there will I bless thee and thy seed, and raise up unto me of thy seed, and of the seed of thy brother, and they who shall go with thee, a great nation.  And there shall be none greater than the nation which I will raise up unto me of they seed, upon all the face of the earth.  And thus I will do unto thee because this long time ye have cried unto me."
Ether 1:43


I think it is interesting how the Lord rewards persistence and inquisitiveness.  When we give up, we always lose... but when we continue to try, no matter the odds or the improbability, we always have some hope of success.  And, when we ask questions, the Lord delights to answer us.  Not asking gains us nothing.  The verse above is talking about Jared and the Brother of Jared, but it could be anyone... because when we look to God, and we do so consistently, we all get what God has to offer us.  It's just like training for the Olympics.  If you train for 3 years and then give up, you have no chance.... but if you continue to try, who knows what can happen?  Or sitting in a college class, confused.  We can sit there and remain silent, and maybe read the textbook and try to figure it out on our own... but it is a lot easier to just ask the professor. :)  Yesterday, one of my good friends asked me why there hadn't been a scripture of the day for a while... and asking did some good, because here one is. :)

Luke 18:27

"And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God."
Luke 18:27


This is the spot of hope for today. :)  You know, sometimes things do seem impossible.  We think that things will never work out for the good, and we find ourselves wondering why we are even trying.  Those are the mists of darkness that cloud our paths from time to time.  And, you know, if we were on our own, perhaps some of the things we hope for would be impossible.  Without God around to help us, maybe we *would* be irredeemable.  Maybe there *would* be no reason to get up in the morning... or the afternoon. :)  But, even when things are impossible with us, they are possible with God.  Prayer can soften hearts and heal souls when no amount of pleading or self-contempt will. :)  Prayer can grant us motivation, desire... whatever it takes to get us out of bed and willing to attempt the day.  The only thing is that we actually have to do it.  We have to pray... we have to figure out something that will help, and then ask for it.  The brother of Jared asked God to touch rocks and make them shine... and God did it.  It doesn't matter whether there is no realistic solution. :)  Perhaps there is an impossible one that God is just waiting to bless you with.

Mormon 9:10

"And now, if ye have imagined up into yourselves a god who doth vary, and in whom there is shadow of changing, then have ye imagined up unto yourselves a god who is not a God of miracles."
Mormon 9:10


This is interesting to me, that there is no shadow of changing in God.  Always consistent, always the same, always right, always perfect.  Here on Earth change is something that you have to get used to, or die of a nervous breakdown I suppose... but then, even that would be a change. :)  I think the cool thing is that God isn't boring.  We, perhaps to soothe our ever-changing level of self-esteem, tend to nurture the opinion that sameness is boring.  But, with God... it means that he is always a God of miracles.  That doesn't sound boring to me. :)  I think that perhaps we search for drama and change because we, despite all the changes we put ourselves through, are unable to find perfection... so we keep looking, and sometimes find better, sometimes worse... but never perfection.  Maybe the difference is mainly that God knew when to stop. :)  The city of Enoch didn't become perfect overnight.  They had to work at it for a very long time, they had to work on equality and love on every level, from every angle... and when they reached that perfect society, they had to sustain it for more than a few minutes. :)  Becoming like God is going to take some effort... but perfection is worth it.  More than worth it.  So today... let's avoid those shadows, and remember to keep God in our lives as the one constant, even when everything else falls apart.

Ezekiel 20:18

"But I said unto their children in the wilderness, Walk ye not in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their judgements, nor defile yourselves with their idols."
Ezekiel 20:18


I think this is interesting as it relates to individual responsibility.  We can't dismiss our attitudes and actions by saying that we grew up that way, or blame our faults on our parents... or on society for that matter.  No matter who we are, or how long the battle, we can free ourselves of the shackles of incorrect and unfortunate influence in our lives, and are free to choose to be good or bad according as we will.  So, God says here... don't follow people who were doing the wrong thing.  Stand up and choose for yourself.  The truth and power of God is available to us all, if we search for the evidence.  Taking someone else's word for it... pro OR con... isn't enough.  To survive the buffetings of our lives, we *must* know, and act, for ourselves.  It takes effort to find your own way and opinion... but the effort must be exerted, and the vulnerability endured, if we are to have a chance at becoming who we can be.  Today, let's think for ourselves... talk to God, find out if he is there.  Take the chance. :)