Today's Favorite Verse: Philippians 4:8

Today's Favorite Verse: Philippians 4:8
"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

This reminds me of the 13th Article of Faith.

"We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things."
(Articles of Faith 1:13)

It was also my inspiration for a mission statement on Facebook.
"If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, I seek after these things"

I wrote it because I wanted to remind myself of who I am, and be a better person. I didn't want to add to the contention and strife in the world and feed on it. Working really hard at it, it is now part of me. It has greatly added to my peace. Seek the good, and pass on the bad. The unvirtuous can have its own day and own way somewhere else, but not in me.

Day 3266

Today's Favorite Verse: Philippians 3:20

Today's Favorite Verse: Philippians 3:20
"For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:"

This made me think about family scripture time. How once a day our conversation is about heavenly things. How grateful I am for this beautiful time of the day.

Day 3265

Today's Favorite Verse: Philippians 2:14-15

Today's Favorite Verse: Philippians 2:14-15
"Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;"

I pondered on how you cannot be a light to anyone when you murmur or argue over points of doctrine or just things in general. Individual like this are not that nice to be around. I know when I get that way I don't even like being around me! I've been working on keeping my mouth shut, that seems to be getting easier. Now, I just have to control the thought in the first place.

It made me think of this talk by Elder Boyd K. Packer about "Worthy Thoughts" and how the "mind was like a stage". It was made into a film strip which has stayed with me all these years. I often tell myself to kick that thought off the stage. I wondered if I could find it online, and I did.

Day 3264

Today's Favorite Verse: Philippians 1:27

Today's Favorite Verse: Philippians 1:27
"Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;"

Nothing feels more damaging then when member of The Church of Christ of Latter-day Saints behave badly. There can be millions of good faithful members, but the actions of one that has taken strange paths is plastered all over the place as our unappointed mascot. In our day it's made worse because news can be shared instantly around the world. I was actually reflecting today on the Missouri saints in the early days of the church, and how their pride and haughtiness brought persecution on their own heads. The place of Zion and the New Jerusalem was lost because of it. I am hoping in our exuberance over the recent acquisition of the Kirtland Temple, and other historical sites and documents of the restoration, that we do not offend others. I've heard somethings that make me cringe. The need for temperance comes to mind.

"And no one can assist in this work except he shall be humble and full of love, having faith, hope, and charity, being temperate in all things, whatsoever shall be entrusted to his care."
(Doctrine and Covenants 12:8)

Day 3263

Today's Favorite Verse: Philippians 4:13

Today's Favorite Verse: Philippians 4:13
"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

I love this verse that adds to it.

"Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever."
(Alma 26:12)

I have witnessed miracles when I have needed strength greater than my own to do the Lord's work. I will never forget the time when I went to help someone because there was no one else they would let into their home. It was a job that needed to be done and physically I was not up to the task. Before I would leave my home I would pray that I would be given strength greater than my own to accomplish the task. I would step into their home and the Lord provided me strength to do things I knew I was incapable of doing. Afterwards I would walk to my car and drive the short distance home, when I got out of the car my whole body hurt and I could barely walk into the house. I would go straight to bed. For several days in a row I repeated the same thing until the job was done. It wasn't until I stepped inside their home to help that I would receive the strength. I knew then that Lord can give strength greater than your own when I am in his service. It is answered when I act in faith that he will provide.

Day 1680

Today's Favorite Verse: Philippians 3:14

Today's Favorite Verse: Philippians 3:14
"I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

This made me think of the opposite of "looking beyond the mark"

"But behold, the Jews were a stiffnecked people; and they despised the words of plainness, and killed the prophets, and sought for things that they could not understand. Wherefore, because of their blindness, which blindness came by looking beyond the mark, they must needs fall; for God hath taken away his plainness from them, and delivered unto them many things which they cannot understand, because they desired it. And because they desired it God hath done it, that they may stumble."
(Jacob 4:14)

To not look beyond the mark I need to look straight at it. That is towards my Savior, Jesus Christ. I need to press forward in Christ. How do I do that?, by plainness. The basic of the gospel, the doctrine of Christ. I need to cherish the word of God, in the scriptures and listen to the words of the prophets and apostles. They will not move me beyond the mark, they lead me towards Christ.

I love these words of Nephi for he gloried in plainness, and the doctrine of Christ.

"Wherefore, the things which I have written sufficeth me, save it be a few words which I must speak concerning the doctrine of Christ; wherefore, I shall speak unto you plainly, according to the plainness of my prophesying.
For my soul delighteth in plainness; for after this manner doth the Lord God work among the children of men. For the Lord God giveth light unto the understanding; for he speaketh unto men according to their language, unto their understanding."
(2 Nephi 31:2-3)

"I glory in plainness; I glory in turth; I glory in my Jesus, for he hath redeemed my soul from hell."
(2 Nephi 33:6)

Day 1679

Today's Favorite Verse: Philippians 2:14

Today's Favorite Verse: Philippians 2:14
"Do all things without murmurings and disputings:"

I pondered on this and decided I do to much of this. I need to do better. At least I could chuckle at myself, that it's not with "all things".  Funny how you have categories of pet peeves, I want none. I have to figure out a way to break that habit. With disputings it references contention and strife. Now I will have none of that. I end things quickly if contention appears, for the spirit flees at these times. I am fine letting others think they won the discussion, my opinions are my own. But, what I reflected on was politics and when is discussion right and wrong? There are times to reason things out. I guess the line is when you start to content with others, because no one gets anywhere with it. So I looked at murmuring and see if has the same line, it actually gets you no where. Language must have a useful purpose to improve and not tear down. I guess the things to ask myself is it helpful or kind?

Day 1678

Today's Favorite Verse: Philippians 1:10

Today's Favorite Verse: Philippians 1:10
"That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;"

Approved = prove, put to the test
Sincere = pure, spotless

The word offence or being offended takes on so much meaning in society today. I pondered on this verse and the meaning of offence. It can be either giving offence to others or taking offense. If you are pure, spotless and test things, to make sure you stand with God in all things, there are people that will become offended by that. Well, there are people period that take offence over everything. I can't control that. I can try to not sincerely offend, and there is a legitimate point in the sincerity of the actions. For there are "religious" people that will purposely flaunt it in your face. That is not righteousness and it does offend others. I cannot see Paul wanting the saints to every do that.

The other offence is the one taken by other's words and deeds, being "resentful, annoyed, typically as a result of a perceived insult". That part I have control over. That is why I have to so careful to not become part of this new culture of becoming socially offended. I would tend to think that the more pure and spotless one tries to become the less you would be offended. Yes, you're more sensitive to evil and stay away from it. But, offended as in "resentful, annoyed, with a perceived insult" it not any part of the equation. For none of these is an action becoming a saint. Interesting that Paul says "without offence till the day of Christ". Paul must have seen our day, before the Lord's second coming, for being offended is a plague among us that is quickly turning into an epidemic.

I watched again the new Book of Mormon video that came out today "Lehi's Family Sails to the Promised Land" (1 Nephi 18) and what a powerful example it is of the behavior of people that give or take offense or not.


Day 1677