Thankful Thursday: Reassuring words

This afternoon I felt exhilarated after working three+ hours with Mom cleaning up an extraordinarily messy blackberry patch, but tonight I felt overwhelmed.  I am grateful for all three stewardships my family shares responsibility for (a family ranch, a family farm, and the house+property my immediate family actually lives on), but sometimes it is hard to work and work and work and NEVER be done.  

So it was a sweet moment reading these words tonight:

"Let no man count them as small things; for there is much which lieth in futurity, pertaining to the saints, which depends upon these things.

You know, brethren [and sisters], that a very large ship is benefited very much by a very small helm in the time of a storm, by being kept workways with the wind and the waves.

Therefore, dearly beloved brethren [and sisters], let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed."

:)  

58th Thankful Thursday: Service enabling Christ

I would be totally thrilled if you take time to read this post--it is one of my favorites.  :)


The past few months I dabbled in and out of a shallow mire of gloom from thinking about myself too much.  I finally learned for myself a principle that saved me; and while I'm certainly not stellar at living it yet, in a few weeks I have felt much happier.


The principle: Losing myself in service allows Jesus Christ room to be in me.

Christ washing Peter's feet and the Atonement

A couple weeks ago I read the account in the Bible of Jesus washing his apostle's feet after the Passover dinner and prior to his Atonement in the Garden of Gethsemane.  I was struck for the first time how these versus relate not only to the principle of service, but to the principle of repentance through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

The account I quote from is in John 13: 4-9.  In verses 8-9 I include the Joseph Smith Translation* of the Bible, with differences in italics.  I apologize if there are typos in the scripture below.

4) He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.
5) After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
6) Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?
7) Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.
8) Peter saith unto him, Thou needest not to wash my feet.  Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
9) Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.  Jesus saith to him, He that has washed his hands and his head, needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit; and ye are clean, but not all.  Now this was the custom of the Jews under their law; wherefore, Jesus did this that the law might be fulfilled.  

35th Thankful Thursday: Indebted servants

My interpersonal communications class learned when we are in relationships where we either over-benefit or under-benefit much more than the other person, we often feel uncomfortable and want the relationship to change.

Later that day, I was reading my Book of Mormon. A new facet of one of my favorite passages of scripture was illuminated in light of what I’d learned in class.

In the Book of Mormon, King Benjamin knows he is about to die. He gathers his people and speaks to them for the last time. He confers the kingdom to his son, Mosiah, and teaches the people about their relationships to each other and God.

33rd Thankful Thursday: Jesus Christ and yoke partners

I understand you may or may not include Jesus Christ in your life. That's your choice, and I respect that. I hope I've written this post in a way you feel comfortable participating.

One of my favorite passages in the Bible is Matthew 11: 28-30. Jesus pleads with us:

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."