Daily Thoughts

In the D&C we read that woe will be unto rich men who refuse to give to the poor and woe will also be to the poor whose hearts are not humble and whose hands try to lay hold upon other people's goods.  But the humble poor who seek after the Kingdom of God will be blessed.  D&C 56:16-19 "Wo unto you rich men, that will not give your substance to the poor, for your riches will canker your souls; and this shall be your lamentation in the day of visitation, and of judgment, and of indignation: The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and my soul is not saved! Wo unto you poor men, whose hearts are not broken, whose spirits are not contrite, and whose bellies are not satisfied, and whose hands are not stayed from laying hold upon other men's goods, whose eyes are full of greediness, and who will not labor with your own hands! But blessed are the poor who are pure in heart, whose hearts are broken, and whose spirits are contrite, for they shall see the kingdom of God coming in power and great glory unto their deliverance; for the fatness of the earth shall be theirs. For behold, the Lord shall come, and his recompense shall be with him, and he shall reward every man, and the poor shall rejoice;"

In the Old Testament we read that we need to seek the Lord and call upon Him while He is near and may be found.  The wicked need to forsake his unrighteous ways and return to the Lord.  The Lord will have mercy and abundantly pardon.  The Lord's thoughts are not the same our our thoughts, nor His ways our ways.  But just like the heavens are higher than the earth, so are the Lord's ways and thoughts higher than ours.  Isaiah 55:6-9 "Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Some scriptures with a thought booklet give us a wonderful example of what to do when it seems like one things after another goes wrong in our lives.  We've all had times like that.  But I doubt any of us have had all the double and triple whammies that Job had.  First he's told that his animals have been killed, and his servants as well.  In other words, he's lost his wealth and all his possessions.  Then he's told that all his children have been killed.  Can you imagine getting news like this?  Of course he's distressed.  But instead of cursing God or blaming Him, Job praises the Lord.  He says that he was naked when he came out of the womb and everything he had was given to him by the Lord, so he blesses His name.  In all these things, Job did not sin.  Can we praise God during times of trouble?  Can we still see that the Lord's ways are higher than ours, He knows what's best for us, and place our trust in Him?  Job 1:14-22 "And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them: And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.  While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house: And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.  Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.  In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly."