Daily Thoughts

In the Old Testament I read about how Jeremiah was freed from the miry dungeon by an Ethiopian and put in the court of the prison, where he stayed until Jerusalem was taken. Jer. 38:11-13, 28 "So Ebed-melech took the men with him, and went into the house of the king under the treasury, and took thence old cast clouts and old rotten rags, and let them down by cords into the dungeon to Jeremiah. And Ebed-melech the Ethiopian said unto Jeremiah, Put now these old cast clouts and rotten rags under thine armholes under the cords. And Jeremiah did so. So they drew up Jeremiah with cords, and took him up out of the dungeon: and Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison. So Jeremiah abode in the court of the prison until the day that Jerusalem was taken: and he was there when Jerusalem was taken."

In the Book of Mormon I read about the wars and wickedness of the people and how the prophets predicted their utter destruction unless they repented. Ether 11: 1-7 "And there came also in the days of Com many prophets, and prophesied of the destruction of that great people except they should repent, and turn unto the Lord, and forsake their murders and wickedness. And it came to pass that the prophets were rejected by the people, and they fled unto Com for protection, for the people sought to destroy them. And they prophesied unto Com many things; and he was blessed in all the remainder of his days. And he lived to a good old age, and begat Shiblom; and Shiblom reigned in his stead. And the brother of Shiblom rebelled against him, and there began to be an exceedingly great war in all the land. And it came to pass that the brother of Shiblom caused that all the prophets who prophesied of the destruction of the people should be put to death; And there was great calamity in all the land, for they had testified that a great curse should come upon the land, and also upon the people, and that there should be a great destruction among them, such an one as never had been upon the face of the earth, and their bones should become as heaps of earth upon the face of the land except they should repent of their wickedness. And they hearkened not unto the voice of the Lord, because of their wicked combinations; wherefore, there began to be wars and contentions in all the land, and also many famines and pestilences, insomuch that there was a great destruction, such an one as never had been known upon the face of the earth; and all this came to pass in the days of Shiblom."

Some verses with a thought booklet tell the parable of the great supper, where those who were invited had all kinds of excuses why they could not attend. The thought that went with this, written by Thomas Buice from Belleview, Florida says: When my two year old grandson is asked to do soemthing, his quick come back is, "Not now, I'm busy." The first time I heard him say that, I laughted until I cried. Here's this little guy with nothing but time on his hands, with every need and most of his wants satisfied. But he is "too busy" to pick up his toys. What is he doing that's so important? Does God ask that question when push his still, small voice into the background with, "Not now, I'm busy"? When God asks for a little time of fellowship with me, too often my response has been that of my grandson. When God asks for a little service or some form of witness from me, I have been guilty of telling God how busy I am. The little phrase considered cute coming from a toddler becomes tragic when spoken to our Heavenly Father. God has provided everything for me. God has given His best, His all. I am everything to God. So I have decided to try to replace "not now, I'm busy" with "here am I; send me!" Luke 14: 16-21 "Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind."

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