Behold, my soul delighteth in the things of the Lord; and my heart pondereth continually upon the things which I have seen and heard.
Nevertheless, notwithstanding the great goodness of the Lord, in showing me his great and marvelous works, my heart exclaimeth: O wretched man that I am! Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities.
I am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me.
And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins; nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted.
My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep.
He hath filled me with his love, even unto the consuming of my flesh.
He hath confounded mine enemies, unto the causing of them to quake before me.
Behold, he hath heard my cry by day, and he hath given me knowledge by visions in the night-time.
And by day have I waxed bold in mighty prayer before him; yea, my voice have I sent up on high; and angels came down and ministered unto me.
And upon the wings of his Spirit hath my body been carried away upon exceedingly high mountains. And mine eyes have beheld great things, yea, even too great for man; therefore I was bidden that I should not write them.
O then, if I have seen so great things, if the Lord in his condescension unto the children of men hath visited men in so much mercy, why should my heart weep and my soul linger in the valley of sorrow, and my flesh waste away, and my strength slacken, because of mine afflictions?
And why should I yield to sin, because of my flesh? Yea, why should I give way to temptations, that the evil one have place in my heart to destroy my peace and afflict my soul? Why am I angry because of mine enemy?
Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul.
Do not anger again because of mine enemies. Do not slacken my strength because of mine afflictions.
Rejoice, O my heart, and cry unto the Lord, and say: O Lord, I will praise thee forever; yea, my soul will rejoice in thee, my God, and the rock of my salvation.
O Lord, wilt thou redeem my soul? Wilt thou deliver me out of the hands of mine enemies? Wilt thou make me that I may shake at the appearance of sin?
May the gates of hell be shut continually before me, because that my heart is broken and my spirit is contrite! O Lord, wilt thou not shut the gates of thy righteousness before me, that I may walk in the path of the low valley, that I may be strict in the plain road!
O Lord, wilt thou encircle me around in the robe of thy righteousness! O Lord, wilt thou make a way for mine escape before mine enemies! Wilt thou make my path straight before me! Wilt thou not place a stumbling block in my way—but that thou wouldst clear my way before me, and hedge not up my way, but the ways of mine enemy.
O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm.
Yea, I know that God will give liberally to him that asketh. Yea, my God will give me, if I ask not amiss; therefore I will lift up my voice unto thee; yea, I will cry unto thee, my God, the rock of my righteousness. Behold, my voice shall forever ascend up unto thee, my rock and mine everlasting God. Amen.
2 Nephi 4:16-35
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
On My Mind
Friday, July 31, 2009
Blueberry French Toast
Monday, July 27, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Out of the Mouth of Babes
Little Miss P: "Does ______ go to church?"
Miss R: "No. She wants to, but her mom & dad won't let her. They don't believe in God."
Little Miss P (with a look of disbelief and a dropped jaw): "What?"
Miss R: "I KNOW! It is very upsetting."
Little Miss P: "But God is real."
It is conversations like this that cause my heart to swell with love - for my children and for my Heavenly Father. I am so glad that they are learning at a young age to follow the Lord and know that He is real. I'm grateful for the blessing and experience He has given me of being able to raise children and participate in a vital part of this great plan He has for us.
When I struggle with the challenges of parenting and fear of letting my children go out on their own into the world, I find comfort in the scripture verse in Proverbs that says, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."
Likewise I also love a children's song at church that speaks on the same message.
We'll Bring the World His Truth
"We have been born, as Nephi of old, to goodly parents who love the Lord. We have been taught, and we understand, that we must do as the Lord commands.
Chorus: We are as the army of Helaman. We have been taught in our youth. And we will be the Lord’s missionaries, to bring the world his truth.
We have been saved for these latter days, to build the kingdom in righteous ways. We hear the words our prophet declares: “Let each who’s worthy go forth and share.”
We know his plan, and we will prepare, increase our knowledge through study and prayer. Daily we’ll learn until we are called, to take the gospel to all the world."
When I attended church as a child, this song was one of my favorites. As I started to attend church again as an adult, it moved me deeply once again. A few weeks ago in church, some of the seminary students sang this song in sacrament meeting. I could hardly hold back the tears as I felt the Spirit speak to me of the great importance of raising my children correctly, when they came to the line, "We have been taught in our youth." It spoke to me again today as I overheard my children's conversation. I am so grateful for experiences like these that strengthen me and uplift me. And that I can return to memories like these when times are hard and I am discouraged.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Mon Frere
Check this out! This is my brother and a friend climbing Colchuck Peak. Guess which one is my brother....
