Today's Favorite Verse: Romans 16:1-2

Today's Favorite Verse: Romans 16:1-2
"I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:
That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also."

I had two thoughts as I read these verse. First, was what a wonderful memorial of Phebe. She sounds like a wonderful woman. Not only entrusted to carry Paul's letter but a noted woman of good standing, and succourer of many, including Paul. The members must have been pleased to receive her.

The second thought was Paul calling the members saints. It is no different than us today. As the saints in the area are counseled to receive her I thought of our welcoming new members into our wards, as their names are read from the pulpit on Sunday.

Day 4186

Today's Favorite Verse: Romans 15:4

Today's Favorite Verse: Romans 15:4
"For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope."

This verse made me reflect on all that it has taken me to read the scriptures. I have been writing "Today's Favorite Version" daily for 11 years, 5 months and 14 days, and the road to it was not easy. Five years prior in 2010 I committed to reading my scriptures every day. It took so much patience to begin because I had been very ill and lost my ability to read and comprehend. The doctor suggested that I read out loud to myself or listen to recordings and follow along. I needed the combination of visual and audio to make the connections in my brain. Listening to the scriptures and following along was the perfect combination. It took four years before I could read on my own without following a recording. That was such a great milestone. Once that was achieved writing my impressions are what came next. I have come so far and learned so much building daily on what I have read and the Spirit has taught me. Truly my weaknesses have become my strengthens. There is a price we pay to understand the scriptures and it takes patience with ourselves and a slow and steady pace. The reward is not only knowledge but a peace and comfort that comes into our lives that nothing else can bring.

During these 15-16 years I have read the Book of Mormon 21 times. The Doctrine and Covenants 8, Pearl of Great Price 8, Old Testament 3, New Testament 6, the Apocrypha once, and all the Topic Guide scriptures covering Jesus Christ once. In 2014 my daily scripture reading lead to inviting my family to read together. We've done it nightly ever since. Our home is a holy place because we speak of Christ together every day. It is burned into the walls of our home. Reading the scriptures is my place of refuge from the storms.

Day 4185

Today's Favorite Verse: Romans 14:11-12

Today's Favorite Verse: Romans 14:11-12
"For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God."

I often remind myself of this, not only for myself but also for those I would want to judge. It is best to not travel down the road of judgment and just leave things in God's hands. He understands the matter more completely than I ever could. No one will miss their personal accountability before him. All will have an account for themselves.

Day 4184

Today's Favorite Verse: Romans 13:11

Today's Favorite Verse: Romans 13:11
"And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed."

People of so many different faiths have the same impression, we are in end times. When I see people fall away from the church I am so sad. Do they realize what time it is? Do they understand how close we are? Can anyone afford to fall away at this point in time? In Paul's time you couldn't afford to fall way either. The second coming was many centuries off. The problem with taking a break from church or the commandment is you may never have the desire to come back.

Day 4183