Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 28:25-26

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 28:25-26
"Thus saith the Lord God; When I shall have gathered the house of Israel from the people among whom they are scattered, and shall be sanctified in them in the sight of the heathen, then shall they dwell in their land that I have given to my servant Jacob.
And they shall dwell safely therein, and shall build houses, and plant vineyards; yea, they shall dwell with confidence, when I have executed judgments upon all those that despise them round about them; and they shall know that I am the Lord their God."

At first I thought of the Jews around the world gathering to Israel. Then I thought of the gathering taking place throughout the world to the stakes of Zion. Then I thought of the saints gathering in their homes to be taught of the Lord. There is safety within our homes as we dwell in confidence before the Lord. We are His people, he is gathering his sheep. 

"And that the gathering together upon the land of Zion, and upon her stakes, may be for a defense, and for a refuge from the storm, and from wrath when it shall be poured out without mixture upon the whole earth."
(Doctrine and Covenants 115:6)

Day 1405

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 27:26

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 27:26
"Thy rowers have brought thee into great waters: the east wind hath broken thee in the midst of the seas."

The thought that came to me was "who is manning the boat". Whoever is at the helm is directing it. Just like the rowers that take the boat along. They can take me into deep water and I can be broken up. Or, it can be the Savior that makes me swim in deep waters that heal me. My responsibility is to know who's boat I am in. Is the Savior at the helm of my boat or is it me?

Day 1404

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 26:19-20

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 26:19-20
"For thus saith the Lord God; When I shall make thee a desolate city, like the cities that are not inhabited; when I shall bring up the deep upon thee, and great waters shall cover thee;
When I shall bring thee down with them that descend into the pit, with the people of old time, and shall set thee in the low parts of the earth, in places desolate of old, with them that go down to the pit, that thou be not inhabited; and I shall set glory in the land of the living;"

This chapter reminded me of the shows I enjoy watching on archaeology and ancient civilizations. I always wonder how could such a glorious civilization can be no more? Now I realize God has removed them from their place, for even in Ezekiel's time there were old desolate places. They are a reminder to the living.  It is a very prideful thing for a civilization to think they no longer need God. That they can survive without Him. As the Lord God is telling Ezekiel, he is also telling us the same.

Day 1403

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 25:17

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 25:17
"And I will execute great vengeance upon them with furious rebukes; and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall lay my vengeance upon them."

I actually had a conversation earlier today with my son about this. With the wickedness around us and the laws supporting in too, why has the Lord's wrath not come down upon us?  I reminded him that it is for the sake of the righteous among them that they are spared.

"But behold, it is for the righteous’ sake that it is spared. But behold, the time cometh, saith the Lord, that when ye shall cast out the righteous from among you, then shall ye be ripe for destruction; yea, wo be unto this great city, because of the wickedness and abominations which are in her."
(Helaman 13:14)

Even the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were not destroyed for the sake of ten righteous. It wasn't until Lot and his family left than the Lord's wrath was turned upon it. This shows the importance of the righteous that are living among the wicked right now. While the righteous are still there, there is time for them to repent.

Day 1402