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Sunday, December 21, 2014

Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read that if Ammon and his brethren had not come from the land of Zarahemla, the Lamanites they'd be able to help bring to the Lord would still have hated them and they would have remained strangers. Aaron rebuked Ammon, saying his joy was carrying him into boasting. Ammon told him he was not rejoicing in his own strength, but was rejoicing in the Lord.  Miracles had been wrought and thousands had been loosed from the pains of hell. This is reason to praise God forevermore. Who can glory too much in the Lord? Alma 26: 9-17 "For if we had not come up out of the land of Zarahemla, these our dearly beloved brethren, who have so dearly beloved us, would still have been racked with hatred against us, yea, and they would also have been strangers to God.  And it came to pass that when Ammon had said these words, his brother Aaron rebuked him, saying: Ammon, I fear that thy joy doth carry thee away unto boasting.  But Ammon said unto him: I do not boast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God. Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever. Behold, how many thousands of our brethren has he loosed from the pains of hell; and they are brought to sing redeeming love, and this because of the power of his word which is in us, therefore have we not great reason to rejoice?  Yea, we have reason to praise him forever, for he is the Most High God, and has loosed our brethren from the chains of hell. Yea, they were encircled about with everlasting darkness and destruction; but behold, he has brought them into his everlasting light, yea, into everlasting salvation; and they are encircled about with the matchless bounty of his love; yea, and we have been instruments in his hands of doing this great and marvelous work.  Therefore, let us glory, yea, we will glory in the Lord; yea, we will rejoice, for our joy is full; yea, we will praise our God forever. Behold, who can glory too much in the Lord? Yea, who can say too much of his great power, and of his mercy, and of his long-suffering towards the children of men? Behold, I say unto you, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel.  Who could have supposed that our God would have been so merciful as to have snatched us from our awful, sinful, and polluted state?"

In the New Testament we read about how Joseph was warned in a dream to take his wife Mary and the baby Jesus and flee into Egypt, thus escaping having the baby killed by the wicked Herod. Sometimes the Lord speaks to us by dreams, sometimes by a still small voice, sometimes by impressions that come into our minds.  But no matter how these promptings come, we need to listen and obey, just as Joseph did.  Matthew 2:13-15 "And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.  When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:  And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son." 

A verse with  thought booklet warns those who are rich in worldly wealth not be arrogant or proud, nor put their trust in their money which is uncertain, but to put their hope and trust in God. Worldly fortunes can be wiped out in an instant, so no matter how much money we accumulate, it cannot offer us the security we can have by trusting in the Lord. He can help us get through anything, and we can depend on Him. And remember:  on judgment day all your wealth and worldly possessions will be worth nothing--the only thing that will matter will be your relationship with the Lord.  1 Timothy 6:17 "Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;"
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