Fwd: Daily Thoughts

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Debbie <debbie12201953@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, Nov 23, 2013 at 9:00 AM
Subject: Daily Thoughts
To:

In the Book of Mormon we read that it is expedient that we should awake to the awful reality of our need for repentance and the consequences of our sins. Instead of spending our money for things of no worth and laboring for things which cannot satisfy, we need to hearken to the words of the Lord and feast upon those things which perish not. We need to pray continually day and night and let our hearts rejoice. The mercy and grace of the Lord are great and He will keep His covenants with us.   2 Nephi 9:47-54 "But behold, my brethren, is it expedient that I should awake you to an awful reality of these things? Would I harrow up your souls if your minds were pure? Would I be plain unto you according to the plainness of the truth if ye were freed from sin?  Behold, if ye were holy I would speak unto you of holiness; but as ye are not holy, and ye look upon me as a teacher, it must needs be expedient that I teach you the consequences of sin. Behold, my soul abhorreth sin, and my heart delighteth in righteousness; and I will praise the holy name of my God.  Come, my brethren, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters; and he that hath no money, come buy and eat; yea, come buy wine and milk without money and without price.  Wherefore, do not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy. Hearken diligently unto me, and remember the words which I have spoken; and come unto the Holy One of Israel, and feast upon that which perisheth not, neither can be corrupted, and let your soul delight in fatness.  Behold, my beloved brethren, remember the words of your God; pray unto him continually by day, and give thanks unto his holy name by night. Let your hearts rejoice.  And behold how great the covenants of the Lord, and how great his condescensions unto the children of men; and because of his greatness, and his grace and mercy, he has promised unto us that our seed shall not utterly be destroyed, according to the flesh, but that he would preserve them; and in future generations they shall become a righteous branch unto the house of Israel.  And now, my brethren, I would speak unto you more; but on the morrow I will declare unto you the remainder of my words. Amen."

In the Old Testament we read that an angel appeared to Gideon and calls him to deliver Israel, telling him the Lord will be with him. Gideon was from a poor family and he was the least in his father's house, but he is the one the Lord called.  It doesn't matter who we are, if the Lord calls us to do something, He will prepare the way for us to accomplish it. And if the Lord is with us, it doesn't matter who is against us.  Judges 6:11-16 "And there came an angel of the Lord, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abi-ezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites. And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him, and said unto him, The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.   And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt? but now the Lord hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites. And the Lord looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee? And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.  And the Lord said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man."

A verse with a thought booklet tells us that someday violence and destruction will end.  What a joyous thing that will be, and something to give us hope.  Isaiah 60:18 "Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise."