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

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