Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 86:15

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 86:15
"But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth."

I reflected on how Jesus Christ embodied all of these characteristic when he came to earth. How He is the same same yesterday, today and forever.

"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever."
(Hebrews 13:8)

"For he is the same yesterday, today, and forever; and the way is prepared for all men from the foundation of the world, if it so be that they repent and come unto him."
(1 Nephi 10:18)

"For behold, I am God; and I am a God of miracles; and I will show unto the world that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and I work not among the children of men save it be according to their faith."
(2 Nephi 27:23)

"And I do this that I may prove unto many that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and that I speak forth my words according to mine own pleasure. And because that I have spoken one word ye need not suppose that I cannot speak another; for my work is not yet finished; neither shall it be until the end of man, neither from that time henceforth and forever."
(2 Nephi 29:9)

"For do we not read that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and in him there is no variableness neither shadow of changing?"
(Mormon 9:9)

"And I would exhort you, my beloved brethren, that ye remember that he is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and that all these gifts of which I have spoken, which are spiritual, never will be done away, even as long as the world shall stand, only according to the unbelief of the children of men."
(Moroni 10:19)

Day 3931

Today's Favorite Verse: Colossians 1:11

Today's Favorite Verse: Colossians 1:11
"Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;"

Needing patience and being longsuffering does not sound like a recipe for joyfulness. What is joyful is knowing and relying on the source of strength that gets us through it. It is recognizing the Lord's hand in our lives and the miracles he performs in our behalf. Knowing He walks the path beside me, strengthen me to be patient and longsuffering. The yoke that joins us together brings sweet relief and joy.

Day 3267

Today's Favorite Verse: Romans 8:17-18

Today's Favorite Verse: Romans 8:17-18
"And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
For I reckon that the suffering of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."

This quote by Sister Linda S. Reeves, was in the Come, Follow Me manual and I found it so profound.

“I do not know why we have the many trials that we have, but it is my personal feeling that the reward is so great, so eternal and everlasting, so joyful and beyond our understanding that in that day of reward, we may feel to say to our merciful, loving Father, ‘Was that all that was required?’ I believe that if we could daily remember and recognize the depth of that love our Heavenly Father and our Savior have for us, we would be willing to do anything to be back in Their presence again, surrounded by Their love eternally. What will it matter … what we suffered here if, in the end, those trials are the very things which qualify us for eternal life and exaltation in the kingdom of God with our Father and Savior?”.
(“Worthy of Our Promised Blessings,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2015, 11)

Day 1627

Today's Favorite Verse: Acts 20:22

Today's Favorite Verse: Acts 20:22
"And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:"

This reminded me of what Nephi said when he went alone to get the brass plates from Laban.

"And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do."
(1 Nephi 4:6)

I pondered on how it takes faith to act in such a manner. How important it is for the Lord's disciples to have these opportunities of growth. I was thinking this morning at the temple on how may attributes, like endurance, patience, and long-suffering I have so feared and now I see them is a different light. I had a wonderful time there reading about long-suffering and the wonderful promises that come with it. Wish I had had a way to record my thoughts while I was there. These things are all opportunities for sanctifying and perfecting the soul. Blessings instead of any type of punishment. I think that when this life is said and done I will look at so many things as wonderful blessings in my life and not the horrible things I thought them to be. Just thinking about Paul and Nephi and how hard the things they endured but what a blessing it was in the end.

Day 1611