2-17-14 - The End

This, my last week, I have a couple scriptures to share that I stumbled across. The first is actually found in the Book of Mormon, and in Isaiah:

Isaiah 48:18

"Oh, that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea"

I would like to focus on the second half of this verse. In the original context, it is a verse of reprimand, but I would like to take the principle out of the context. Let's rewrite it a little bit:

'Hearken to my commandments! then shall thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea'

Or perhaps even:

'Well done, my good an faithful servant. Thou hast hearkened unto my commandments, and thy peace is as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea.'

I love this imagery. I love the power in the comparisons. I testify that as we strive to follow God's commandments, we experience a kind of peace and uplifting that can truly come from no other source. We find rest (Matt. 11:28-30). We find safety.

Secondly, I would like to talk about a short reference from the Book of Mormon:

2 Ne. 2:21

 "And the days of the children of men were prolonged, according to the will of God, that they might repent while in the flesh; wherefore, their state became a state of probation, and their time was lengthened, according to the commandments which the Lord God gave unto the children of men. For he gave commandment that all men must repent; for he showed unto all men that they were lost, because of the transgression of their parents."

Now a thought. Try replacing the word 'repent' with 'change'.

'that they might [change] while in the flesh'

'For he gave commandment that all men must [change]'

I found this exchange of words helped me to throw new light on the idea of repentance... I now try to swtich out the word repentance every time with the word change. It is a powerful idea to me. I hope it helps. :)

I want to bear my testimony to seal this blog.

I testify, in the name of the Lord of Lords, that this Church is His Church. Furthermore, it is the only Church with the divine right and commission to carry the Name of Jesus Christ. I testify of the atounding, breath-taking, and peaceful Love that we can feel from our Heavenly King when we read in His Scriptures, listen to His messengers and meetings, and speak with Him in the wonderful opportunity that is prayer. I have felt it. It is truly the fruit spoken of by Nephi and his father Lehi. It is white above all that is white and sweet above all that is sweet. I testify that God loves you, and wishes so very much to see you again. Never give up. I testify that Jesus Christ is at your side. Never lose hope. I testify that angels are watching over us. Let them help you through your righteous strivings. I seal these words and my testimony in the blessed Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, amen.

- Elder Michael Bright Miles, signing out

 Elder Michael Miles will be coming home on Wednesday, February 19th. He will be speaking in Sacrament Meeting on Sunday, February 23rd at 9:00am, 942 N. 500 E. Everyone is invited to our home that Sunday evening from 6:00-9:00pm to visit.

1-26-14

One night, as I was praying, trying to ask God about how to work with some challenges, and imploring about where I needed to focus my efforts in order to change and improve, He began to prompt me to study love and charity. I have been working on just that. (Besides, it's one of my favorite study topics.) At about the same time, I decided that I wanted to begin working on reading all of Isaiah. It has been powerful to me to read of the destruction and the wrath of God, while pondering about love, or the love of God. I came to some very touching conclusions. God cares about us so much. He feels everything that we go through (perhaps even more than we do) and understands how we feel. And yet, He knows that we need the trials we get and He knows that we need the hard times and the challenges in order to progress. He loves us so much, that He is willing to overcome His immense empathy for us, in order to put us into the refiners fire. This must be one of the hardest parts about being God... But I know He is with me. And now I have a greater testimony that the trials that we go through, the wrath of God, the destructions and challenges, are amazing signs of God's boundless love for us...

I testify of these things in the name of our Messiah, Jesus Christ, amen.

I love you all. :) God bless you. :)

- Elder Michael Bright Miles

1-20-2014

Today I want to share a thought I had, as inspired by a scripture that was shared during Church yesterday (Mark 13:24-26). As I thought about it, the following formulation of the idea came to my mind:

Don't rely on the sun for light,
rely on the Son for Light.
For the sun cometh and goeth and shall pass away,
but the Son abideth forever.

I thought about how we must put our real trust in God, and stop worrying about worldly things. We need to trust our Lord more than 'mammon'. I testify that the promises that the Lord our God has given us are sure. They are true. They bring hope. The real abiding hope that comes in the faith we exercize in these promises. I testify that our Heavenly Father loves us, and that this Church, the Church of Jesus Christ is the organization of God upon the earth, organized and led by Jesus Christ. I know that everything will be ok. :) We can have hope. We can have joy, as we are intended to. (2 Ne 2:25) Never doubt in the Love of thy God. :) I testify of these things in the sacred Name of Jesus Christ, amen.

I wish you all a wonderful week, and that your hearts may be softened for the workings of the Spirit. :) God be with you. Love you guys.

- Elder Michael Bright Miles

Pictures

Video

If you would like to see Elder Miles in a music video that his district made, go to this link:

http://germanyberlinmission2012-15.blogspot.de/2013/12/german-advent-preparation-time.html

12-16-13

Oh, on that note, I have been needed for translating for the Americans in our Ward the last few weeks. It is so hard! I am sitting there, trying to listen to the speaker, not hearing everything they say, having to wait until the end of the sentances (some of which are -very-  run-on) before I hear the verb (which belongs at the end of the German sentance in most cases, but is needed for the beginning of the English sentances), and getting tangled up by the more complex and obscure words. Then as I understand one part, and begin translating it, trying to find the English equivlants, I have to put in large mental effort to keep paying attention to what is said, or I would only be able to convey every other idea to the listeners, switching between listening and translating... such a challenge... I would love to translate from German to English so much more... That way you understand everything that is said (in your native language, you understand most accents, mumbled or quickly said words are still easily understandable, and almost none of the words are new or undefined in your vocab), and then are able to express it with the words you know in the other language. Would be so much nicer...

The other day, the Sisters who work in our area talked to a man on the street. He expressed a surprising amount of interest to their brief intro of our message. They gave him a Book of Mormon in his native language, and invited him to Church, not sure what would come of it. (We do a lot of inviting to Church, and don't often see all of the peoople we invite actually at Church, and usually only after we have had some appointments with them and really had the chance to teach them.) This man, after his brief introduction, had begun reading in the Book of Mormon of his own initiative, and came to Church. We were happy to recieve him and will be meeting with him this week to start teaching him. :)

Our God is a God of miracles. :)

I wish you all a wonderful Christmas season, and a receptive mind for the wonderful focus and reminders we have during the CHRIST-mas time. :)

Another random thought I have been processing a lot this last week. I have been working on reacting to others as I would treat Jesus Christ. Especially under the context that He has to experience every way that I interact with others. I really am doing what I do not only to the individual, but also to Christ, He having experienced their lives in full during the Atonement. It has been helping me a lot to treat others better. (when I can remember it. :P ) I can recommend it. :)

God bless you and be with you. Stay in the Light, and let your good desires work in you. :)

Love you. :)

-Elder Miles

12-9-13

Hi everyone! Sorry about the post drought. :( I have some stuff this week though, just little snippets from other emails

I was astounded to find out what the actual rules for tea were in the Church when I came out here. I used to be completely unsure, and just kinda thought that all tea was against the word of wisdom. Turns out I was wrong. You just need to watch out for black, green, white,  and onlong teas. They are all made from the actual 'tea plant'. As far as my experience with tea, I have always heard very good things about Camomile and Peppermint teas. They are supposed to help with colds. Also, Camomile tea is also supposed to help with relaxation and stomach problems, and peppermint is supposed to also help with diareah and headaches. (these are all health tips from Sister Kosak (Mission President's wife)) I have also heard very good things about the anti-bacterial qualities of lemon juice and honey. Sometimes, I mix Camomile and Peppermint tea in one cup, and then put in honey and lemon juice. I keep changing the name of it, but I call it things like 'destructo tea, ulti-tea, tea of doom, etc.' I feel like it's helped with snipping a cold in the bud, and it actually tastes pretty good. :)

The German here sounds a little different, but not really. -shrug- Though there are little things. Like how in the South-East (Sachsen, Brandenburg, etc.) they say 'bissel' instead of 'bisschen', and here, as a greeting they say 'moin' or 'moin moin'. (I think that started out as a shortened version of 'guten morgen' shortened to 'morgen' shortened to 'moin', and then, in this area, they started using that as a general greeting, instead of just in the morning. Sometimes, in other areas of Germany, you will occasionally hear 'moin' as a form of 'good morning/guten morgen', but only ever when it's actually morning.)

Side note, I have been transfered to Hamburg, Altona Ward. It is great here. We even got some snow for a little before it melted the next day. :P 

God bless you. I challenge you all to let go of the 'flaxen cords' with which the adversary would bind you. The little things that would pull you away. You can always let go. You are free. Christ, through His Sacrifice, has made it possible. He loves us. Of these things I bear testimony, in the name of the Good Shepherd, even Jesus Christ, amen. :)

Have a great week! Love you all!

- Elder Michael Bright Miles