Daily Thoughts

In the Old Testament I read that Hezekiah invited all Israel to a solemn passover and encouraged them to not be stiffnecked like their fathers, but to turn unto the Lord. 2 Chr. 30: 1-2, 6-9 "And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, to keep the passover unto the Lord God of Israel. For the king had taken counsel, and his princes, and all the congregation in Jerusalem, to keep the passover in the second month. So the posts went with the letters from the king and his princes throughout all Israel and Judah, and according to the commandment of the king, saying, Ye children of Israel, turn again unto the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and he will return to the remnant of you, that are escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria. And be not ye like your fathers, and like your brethren, which trespassed against the Lord God of their fathers, who therefore gave them up to desolation, as ye see. Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves unto the Lord, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: and serve the Lord your God, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you. For if ye turn again unto the Lord, your brethren and your children shall find compassion before them that lead them captive, so that they shall come again into this land: for the Lord your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto him."

In the D&C I read that sometimes the Lord chastens us because we need to learn obedience by the things that we suffer. Our trials and tribulations can be learning experiences for us. D&C 105: 6 "And my people must needs be chastened until they learn obedience, if it must needs be, by the things which they suffer."

A verse with a thought booklet, appropriate for Thanksgiving Day, tells us that we need to have graditute in our lives and thank the Lord for our blessings. Sometimes we may not feel very thankful. Sometimes we allow the small irritations of life to get us down and sour our attitudes. But if we look at other people in the world we can see how blessed we really are, just to have sufficient food to eat and a roof over our heads. If we have reasonably good health, it is a rich blessing indeed. If we have family and friends to love, they are blessings, even though sometimes we lose patience with them. Whether you look for the good in life or the bad, you're likely to find what you look for. Let's look for the positive things in our lives and give the Lord thanks for them. Ps. 95: 2 "Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms."