Today's Favorite Verse: Lamentations 3:32-33

Today's Favorite Verse: Lamentations 3:32-33

"But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.

For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men".

This made me think of the story of Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead. It was part of our family scriptures this week in Come, Follow Me.

"When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.

Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.

And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him."

(John 11:6, 14-15)

Jesus tarried until he knew Lazarus was dead. He knew the grief that Martha and Mary would experience from this. Jesus himself wept. How hard it must have been for him to stay his hand and not immediately go and heal Lazarus. Yet, he knew that there was a greater lesson here for all. Mary and Martha would have their testimonies of the divinity of Jesus Christ strengthened. Jesus apostles would have a deeper understanding of what was to come. They would know in coming weeks that Jesus would rise again from the dead. Sometimes we have to face grief, so we can learn greater things when Jesus shows mercy upon us. Why do bad things happen to good people? For the intent that we may believe. It is through Christ that all our wounds are healed.

Day 2959

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 16:11

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 16:11

"Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."

This reminds of an article I was reading today about the loss of belief in God happening. It really hit me thinking about the youth.

"When I was a kid, my parents took it for granted that we’d be brought to mass, we’d be taught the ways of prayer, we learned about the saints. They just immersed us in that world," Barron recalled. "Well, when you don’t immerse people in that world, you say things like, ‘Oh, it’s up to you, you decide what you want to do when you’re 16.’ You lose all that. And then we’re surprised that young people are adrift and young people have lost their sense of purpose and meaning?"

(Catholic Bishop Robert Barron, "US religious leaders explain why faith in God hit lowest level ever, say COVID made it worse" by Andrew Mark Miller, Fox News)

Without God in my life, and the guidance, direction and purpose He gives me, I don't know how I would find my way without it in my life. How would you know a fulness of joy?

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

(Proverbs 22:6)

Day 2653

Today's Favorite Verse: Genesis 43:32-33

Today's Favorite Verse: Genesis 43:32-33

"And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians, which did eat with him, by themselves: because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that is an abomination unto the Egyptians.

And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth: and the men marvelled one at another."

I took time to think about this one and make sure I could picture it correctly. There were three separate tables. The Egyptians sat by themselves, Joseph sat by himself, and his brothers sat by themselves. So first it's odd that Joseph is not sitting with either party. He's saying at least to them, I'm not an Egyptian. Then he has the brothers seated at their table according to their birthright. They would marvel again on how he would know this.

Abomination had a footnote for Genesis 46:34

"That ye shall say, Thy servants' trade hath been about cattle from our youth even until now, both we, and also our fathers: that ye may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination unto the Egyptians."

I didn't really understand why the shepherd or the Hebrew was an abomination to the Egyptians. Then I found this.

"Several Egyptian deities were represented by cattle, especially female cattle. Since the Hebrews were herdsmen who slaughtered and ate cattle, regardless of sex, this practice would have been viewed by the Egyptians as a terrible abomination. Whatever the reason, Joseph seemed to respect the custom of Egyptians and Hebrews eating separately."

(Old Testament Student Manual, Genesis 37-50: Joseph: The Power of Preparation)

What this all made me ponder on was respect for the customs and beliefs of others. Let others be separate if that shows respect to them. Yet, we can all get along with each other.

"And he took and sent messes unto them from before him: but Benjamin's mess was five times so much as any of theirs. And they drank, and were merry with him."

Day 2202