Saturday thoughts . . .

 

When I was a much younger woman, I lived for a time in Western Canada. Tornadoes were always a big fear of mine. Whenever we had a big storm, there was always the danger that one would touch down, and indeed I have had to live through more than one large Tornado threat, although, thankfully,  have never been in an area that was directly hit. One time, following a particularly long and furious storm, I walked out into my back garden afterwards to assess the damage.  As I stepped out onto my back porch, I was confronted with the biggest, most beautiful rainbow I had ever seen. It's colours were so vivid and brilliant . . . oranges, reds, purples, blues, greens and yellows . . . Even more stunning, was the fact that immediately below this brilliant rainbow, there was another rainbow, every bit as brilliant and beautiful as the other. 

I had never seen anything like this before . . . or since. I immediately had to run back into the house and tell everyone to "Come and See!" We were all amazed and almost numb to see such a beautiful sight!  It only actually lasted moments in reality, but has stayed forever in my memory and mind. This thing of great beauty touched not only my own life, but those I had shared it with, and probably hundreds of others who just happened to be looking at the same after-the-storm sky as I . . .

It is not every day we are invited to witness a wondrous thing such as this. These moments are all too rare and fleeting. Just over two thousand years ago . . . a similar invitation was given to two hardworking brothers who were fishing upon the Sea of Galilee . . . casting out their nets. As Christ walked along the shore, they called out to Him, asking . . . "Rabbi where dwellest thou?" and He replied . . . "Come and See." 

 

(source) Youngsong Kim

 This same invitation is one that He still extends to all who would come within sight of Him. It is our choice to accept or decline. What happens after we "come and see," is no less miraculous or life changing, as it is to see and experience the beauty of a double rainbow . . . an invitation that can help to deliver us from the time constraints, worldly pursuits, pride, chores and other pressures which may prevent us from experiencing and witnessing all the beauty and joy that this life holds for those who would choose to walk His path and follow Him.

We all have nets . . . and we fill them with different things . . . things which drag us down and prevent us from reaching our full potential . . . which keep us from having a full and meaningful relationship with the Saviour. Today, won't you "Come and see?" You may be amazed at what you discover about yourself . . . and about His love for you. Leave your nets behind and walk His way. You may not hear the soft rhythm of sandled feet, but if you begin each day with a prayer in your hearts, I believe you will hear the soft whispered assurance that you do not travel this day alone.

And some days that assurance is needed much more than on others . . .

 

These past few weeks of waiting, knowing that Todd was going to be having his post/post blood test for cancer have been really playing on my mine, and I know Todd's also. I have tried to remain positive and for the most part I've been successful . . . but underneath it all no matter how hard I have tried, there has been an undercurrent of dread. You just can't help it.  Cancer colours your life in a way that is very difficult to explain to someone who has never experienced it.  Once it has touched your life, it stays with you forever . . .  because you carry with you forever . . . because you know that it can come back, and when it does it is usually worse than it was the first time around. It is the unwanted visitor that returns with a vengeance.  I cannot explain the relief that was felt yesterday when Todd got the results of his latest PSA blood test.  All is still well.  We both exhaled palpable sighs of relief.  And I am sure, for all that I love him, his was deeper than mine.

We both just felt, really, really, really blessed.

And we get to do it again in another six month's time.

Thanks so much for all of your prayers!

We could feel them!

  

I think I will bake some cookies today.  We have a lot to do . . . polish up our lesson for tomorrow. Its not easy teaching a class with your husband. We both have such different ways of going about it. He has an analytical mind and I have a feeling driven mind, so we kind of have to balance the two together and come out with a lesson that is interesting and inspiring and that actually teaches people what they are there to learn.  Plus we have a person in the class who likes to take over and overwhelm everyone else.  We have been racking our brains all week, trying to figure out a way to deal with that in a caring manner that won't hurt anyone's feelings.  Plus today we have to do the fish tank, etc.  I also like to make sure my house is spickety span for Sunday.  

And that note I will leave you with a thought for today . . .  

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★
 *.˛.°There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the

mark of weakness, but of power.

They speak more eloquently than

ten thousand tongues.  They are the messengers

of overwhelming grief, of deep contrition,

and of unspeakable love.

~Washington Irving    •。★★ 。* 。。*˚

Spiritual Enlightenment  

 

BOOK OF MORMON CORNER - Today's Reading - 1 Nephi 18:21-19:6 

Question - What have you learnt from the reading today? Why is it important to be honest with ourselves about our weaknesses?

 

What I learnt -I love step one of the addiction recovery manual. Step 1 is about honesty but it is also about being able to "admit that you, of yourself, are powerless". Honesty opens the door to humility and change. Nephi was aware of his weaknesses, as was Moroni who received an answer from the Lord in Ether 12:27 which says "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." I love the phrase "His grace is sufficient". 

 

Honesty and humility allow us to access the atonement, where can receive the Saviour's grace, or in other words, His strength and His ability to overcome weakness which he did throughout his perfect life. There is a brilliant ensign article called "it isn't a sin to be weak" by Wendy Ulrich, which was recommended to me. It completely changed the way I view my weaknesses and I like this quote from it,  "We cannot simply repent of being weak—nor does weakness itself make us unclean. We cannot grow spiritually unless we reject sin, but we also do not grow spiritually unless we accept our state of human weakness, respond to it with humility and faith, and learn through our weakness to trust in God. When Moroni fretted about the weakness of his writing, God did not tell him to repent. Instead, the Lord taught him to be humble and to have faith in Christ. As we are meek and faithful, God offers grace—not forgiveness—as the remedy for weakness. Grace is an enabling power from God to do what we cannot do on our own - the appropriate godly remedy by which He can “make weak things become strong.” 

 
I like verse 21 & 22. After Nephi had prayed 'the winds did cease, and the storm did cease, and there was a great calm'. Now they were able to sail again towards the promise land. There can be a big difference between how I feel when I start to pray, to how I feel at the end of my prayers. When I'm experiencing 'a storm' and I choose to pray to Heavenly Father, He calms my heart and my mind. I don't feel overcome by or stuck in the storm anymore. This calmness helps me feel ready to 'sail again', to move onwards in the right direction.

 

Tomorrow's reading (Day 30) - 1 Nephi 19:7-24 

Question - What have you learnt from the reading today? How do you show the Lord that you don't see Him as a thing of naught?

 

Baking in the kitchen today  . . .  Breakfast Stollen Slices.  Sooo simple.  Soooo good.

Have a wonderful Saturday.  No matter what you get up to, don't forget!

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And I do too!