362: EVERYTHING'S NOT FINE

There are a lot of great blogs out there that are written by gifted writers, this is not one of them. The main purpose why I even continue to post on this blog is to help me remember the things that I see as well as some of the things I have learned. It is basically for me to create a "record." If I only have one reader, that is okay because that reader is me. I consider this more of an online journal than anything else. Anyway, I post the below video because it is expresses a lot of my feelings this week. It hasn't been an easy week for many reasons. We live in dark days. Among other things that have happened (including the recent bombing in Belgium)  a friend of our family, who is  husband and father of four children tragically ended his own life. I don't think we have any idea of the pain and suffering that others deal with on a daily basis. If only we knew how to heal and help others better.... or better yet, if only we were better at pointing others to the Lord instead of false ideas and traditions.. if only we were better at bearing record of Him.

 Here is the video:

 

 

 These are the things that I need to pray
Because I can't find peace any other way
I'm a mess underneath and I'm just too scared to show it

Everything's not fine
And I'm not okay
But it's nice to know
I can come this way

When I'm with You
I feel the real me finally breaking through
It's all because of You, Jesus
Anytime, anywhere, any heartache
I'm never too much for You to take
There's only love
There's only grace
When I'm with You

Nobody knows me like You do
No need for walls, You see right through
Every hurt, every scar, every secret… You just love me

.....................................................

 

 

Sidenote:

 

Today is Good Friday. As part of my appreciation and gratitude to the Lord for the events that took place over 2000 years ago,  I share a few more photos from my hike that I took on Sunday (Palm Sunday)  which was the Spring Equinox, the beginning day of this Holy Week.

 

Atonement/Suffering in Gethsemane:

I was high enough in the mountains to be able to see the moon as it was setting below the horizon on my early hike on Sunday morning. The atmosphere caused the moon to appear "blood" red.  It was a reminder to me of the blood spilt in the Garden of Gethsemane. A recent blog post explains that while we mainly remember Easter for the resurrection, it might be better that we remember the suffering in Gethsemane.. and repent.   

 



photo taken about 6:00 AM as the moon set in the West.

 Crucifixion

On Sunday the weather was beautiful with perfectly clear blue skies.  

However, just before the sun rose, two planes crossed paths in the sky leaving a cross in the sky.

 

Burial

Just before reaching the summit, there was a pile of rocks exposed from the snow creating what looked like a burial place.

 

 

 

Resurrection

 

The Light breaking forth from the grave. Photo taken as the Sun rose in the morning sky.

 

 

 

 

 

361: SPRING EQUINOX 2016

Photos taken this morning on an early morning hike in the mountains

to observe the Spring Equinox.  It is always incredible to have a hawk soar overhead.

 

 

Photo looking South above the Salt Lake Valley

 

Photo looking northwest towards the Great Salt Lake

 

 

Panoramic photo taken above 10,000 feet in elevation of the Wasatch Mountains

still covered in a lot of snow. It hardly looks like the first day of Spring

 

360: BLIND TO OUR OWN SINS

 

Unfortunately we are blind to our own sins and imperfections, but how ironic that we can see clearly the faults in others. Heaven help us to repent of our blindness and remove the beam in our eyes.

359: ANTI-ZION

The following is from an email I received yesterday which was the inspiration for the above meme.

“In the early days of this church as soon as the Lord invited the saints to bring about Zion he referred to the place as "Zion" and the people as "children of Zion". He commanded them to do many things and they were obedient for a time. 

In December 1833 he told them they had "lost their inheritance in Zion" and then he told them the specific sins that had caused them to lose their inheritance. The list is found in D&C 101:6-7.

“Behold, I say unto you, there were jarrings, and contentions, and envyings, and strifes, and lustful and covetous desires among them; therefore by these things they polluted their inheritances. They were slow to hearken unto the voice of the Lord their God; therefore, the Lord their God is slow to hearken unto their prayers, to answer them in the day of their trouble.”

If you want to lose your inheritance in Zion be contentious, accuse others, be jealous, be stingy, desire what others have, judge others, seek for your own welfare and let the other guy fend for himself. Lastly, do things your way rather than Gods way. That's how we lose our inheritance in Zion. 

There is hope for us if we are kind, courteous, respectful, think of others welfare, allow others to be themselves rather than judge and condemn them. In short, loving our neighbor and God.”

...
I might add one more to the Pro-Zion sign... Forgive others. :)