Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 29:7

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 29:7
"And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.'

Even though the children of Israel are carried away into Babylon the Lord would help them find peace in their captivity. There is a battle between false prophets, some say they will be back in two years, then there is Jeremiah that says 70 years. He councils them to build houses, plant gardens and fruit trees. Have children and let their children marry and have children. Their numbers would increase and not diminish. Overall they were to seek peace, they were to seek the Lord. This captivity was a time for them to repent. False prophets would expose themselves when their prophesies do not come true.

Day 4001

Today's Favorite Verse: Revelation 13:8-10

Today's Favorite Verse: Revelation 13:8-10
"And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
If any man have an ear, let him hear.
He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints."

Over the years I've seen so many conspiracies and speculations on what 666 means. I think in many respects in this chapter it's a deflection on worldly things and not the true focus for a saint. I again asked "where am I in this chapter, or where are the righteous". I found they have their names written in the book of life of the Lamb of God. They have patience and faith. If I can develop and obtain all of these things I don't even need to begin to worry about what 666 means. I find it interesting needing to have "ears to hear" about those that lead others into captivity, or kill with the sword, which can be both physical and mental. They will have the same done to them. Then there is this connection to saints having faith and patience. It makes me think of the people that conspire to dig a pit for someone and then they fall into it. It's like it's saying don't fall into this worldly practice of trying to mislead, corrupt or overcome others. Don't join in their contentions, infighting and stand separate.

I reflected on what I recently learned about patience. It truly is a god-like attribute. I learned that patience requires forgiveness not only with yourself but with others. The One that had the greatest capacity to forgive also demonstrated godly patience. As I have worked on forgiveness of others, I found being able to forgive as they are doing wrong to me, not waiting until after, changes the way I react and speak to them. It brings a level of godly patience towards them into the whole situation. There is a protection that envelopes your spirit when you combine patience and forgiveness together.

Day 3339

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 17:23

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 17:23

"Until the LORD removed Israel out of his sight, as he had said by all his servants the prophets. So was Israel carried away out of their own land to Assyria unto this day."

Israel had plenty of warning over and over again to turn away from their idol worshipping and wicked ways. To repent and turn back to the one true God. They did not, and generation after generation passed. Now the Lord removed Israel out of his sight. The ten tribes are carried away captive. I pondered on the role of a prophet and his voice of warning that should be heeded.

Day 2489

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 46:10, 27-28

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 46:10, 27-28
For this is the day of the Lord God of hosts, a day of vengeance, that he may avenge him of his adversaries: and the sword shall devour, and it shall be satiate and made drunk with their blood: for the Lord God of hosts hath a sacrifice in the north country by the river Euphrates.
But fear not thou, O my servant Jacob, and be not dismayed, O Israel: for, behold, I will save thee from afar off, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return , and be in rest and at ease, and none shall make him afraid.
Fear thou not, O Jacob my servant, saith the Lord: for I am with thee; for I will make a full end of all the nations whither I have driven thee: but I will not make a full end of thee, but correct thee in measure; yet will I not leave thee wholly unpunished."

I saw the pattern. The Lord's people don't listen to Him so he punished them for their disobedience. Once in captivity He is then able to turn and punish their adversaries. Both sides had lessons to learn from this. I guess that is why the Lord cleanses his own house first. Punishment and correction leads to them humbling themselves and turning back to him. Else how would we ever have youth strong enough to withstand a fiery furnace like Shadrach, Meshach or Abed-nego.   

Day 1366

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Chronicles 36:15-16

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Chronicles 36:15-16
"And the Lord God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place:
But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, till there was no remedy."

That final statement "till there was no remedy" spoke volumes to me. My heart grieves tonight for those that mock God and despise any mention of his words or set them for naught. In this chapter it goes on to tell how Judah was carried away into Babylon. Why?  Because they had left God with no other option in trying to reach them. Hard things had to come to soften their hearts and have them turn back to Him. The Lord's arms are forever stretched out still, and he does everything to call his people home. Even if there is no other remedy than to allow their enemies to come upon them and bring them down into captivity.

I am concerned for my brothers and sisters that appear on this same path. Seems each day a new level of people being abased. Now much deeper can we fall as a people? I know what is needed is the light of the gospel in order to change hearts. I am sadden to see how quickly people mock and attack those that try to share some light in a darkening world. I shudder to think if we reach the point "till there was no remedy."


Day 978

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 15:25, 30

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 15:25, 30
"But Pekah the son of Remaliah, a captain of his, conspired against him, and smote him in Samaria, in the palace of the king's house, with Argob and Arieh, and with him fifty men of the Gileadites: and he killed him, and reigned in his room.
And Hoshea the son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah, and smote him, and slew him, and reigned in his stead, in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah."

The word conspiracy stood out to me in the last chapter. In this chapter a form of this word is mentioned four times. I noticed that as conspiracy built so did the murders of their leaders, and eventually being made captive by a foreign land. Out of all the things I see happening in the world right now I sure hope that isn't something we begin to see next.

I searched the scriptures and read all the verses that mentioned conspiracy. Interestingly there was no mention of that word in the Book of Mormon. Instead it's called "secret combinations". There are more references to secret combinations in the Book of Mormon than the combined use of conspiracy in the Bible and Doctrine & Covenants. What an odd thing to ponder on today. Feels like a question for a board game on random scripture facts.


Day 903