Colossians 1:11

"Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;"
Colossians 1:11


I like this... patience and longsuffering with joyfulness.  Usually, when I think of enduring to the end or longsuffering... I think "long suffering" ... a long time of being really unhappy, so that someday we can get to heaven. :)   I know, it isn't really logical... but that's what I usually think.  So, this longsuffering with joy is amazing.  Longsuffering with joy seems more like a party... sitting around talking with your friends, enjoying life, waiting for the "big event." :)  I think the key here is that we're strengthened by God, so that we can be happy... and whatever burdens we have will seem light, so that we can bear them with ease. :)  So, today, if unhappiness threatens, let's turn to God and get some strength, and as a result, some joyfulness. :)

Jacob 3:2

"O all ye that are pure in heart, lift up your heads and receive the pleasing word of God, and feast upon his love; for ye may, if your minds are firm, forever."
Jacob 3:2


This verse talks about a couple of things that it seems are needful... the first is a pure heart, and the second is a firm mind.  I think that in both cases the scripture is talking about wholeness and focus.  To be pure, our hearts have to be full of the love of God, and not the love of idols or addictions or lust... and to be firm, our minds have to be focused on God, and not distracted by those other things either.  We have to do some Spring cleaning, and get all the ugly desires out of our hearts and the ugly thoughts out of our minds, and then we are freer to feel and partake of God's love.

Mosiah 2:9

"And these are the words which he spake and caused to be written, saying: My brethren, all ye that have assembled yourselves together, you that can hear my words which I shall speak unto you this day; for I have not commanded you to come up hither to trifle with the words which I shall speak, but that you should hearken unto me, and open your ears that ye may hear, and your hearts that ye may understand, and your minds that the mysteries of God may be unfolded to your view."
Mosiah 2:9


I like how he tells them to listen in three different ways... with their ears, hearts, and minds.  I think that maybe that is the problem when we listen to God sometimes... that we aren't getting all three involved.  I know that I listen with my ears a lot, and listen with my mind frequently... but I don't know how often my heart gets involved.  And then sometimes, even my ears and mind are closed to what God has to say... Today, let's focus on listening to God completely... with ears, heart, and mind.  I think that if we listen that way, and we're open in all of those ways... physically, emotionally, mentally... then we won't have so much of a problem interpreting and doing ... because all of us will understand, not just parts of us.  Perhaps that's why we war within ourselves sometimes, because we didn't get the whole involved in the communication process in the first place. :)