Psalm 62:8

Psalm 62:8

Trust in him at all times; eat people, pour out your heart before him, God is a refuge for us.

One of the greatest gifts a friend can give us is a listening ear, a safe place to pour out our hearts, without judgment, without trying to fix our problems.

God gives us that refuge each time we go to him in prayer. Prayer becomes our place of refuge when we do exactly what the psalmist says, "pour out your heart".

Sometimes we go through the motions of prayer and that is okay. I don't discount even those prayers. Every prayer of acknowledges our belief in God and our need for Him. We just don't want to miss the very wonderful opportunity that prayer offers. We can come to Father in prayer and freely talk to Him about everything in our lives. There is nothing taboo. If it is affecting us, then we can share it with Him.

We are always safe in His presence. We are loved and welcomed to no matter what. He wants us to lay our burdens at His feet.

LOVED   --  SAFE  --   SHELTERED  --   PROTECTED

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord

Is laid for your faith in his excellent word.

What more can he say then to you he has said

Who unto the Savior, who entered the Savior,

Who unto the Savior for refuge have fled.

In every condition - in sickness, in health,

In poverty's vale or abounding in wealth,

At home or abroad, on land or the sea

As thy days may demand, as thy days may demand,

As thy days may demand, so thy succor shall be.

Psalm 65:5-7

Psalm 65:5-7

By terrible things in righteousness wilt thou answer us, O God of our salvation; who are the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off upon the sea. Which by his strength setteth fast the mountains; being girded with power; which stilleth the noise of the seas, the noise of the waves, and the tumult of the people.

Mark chapter 4 relates the story of Jesus asleep in a boat on the Sea of Galilee when a storm arose. The disciples are frightened at the storm and frustrated at the Master. They awaken him saying, "Master, carest thou not that we perish?"

He arose and rebuked the storm with the words, "Peace, be still". Then he rebuked his disciples, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?"

That faith was not about calming the sea! They had just accused Him of not caring.

Don't we all do that at times? We pray and get no answer. "He doesn't care."

Tragedy comes. "He doesn't care."

A job search takes months. "He doesn't care."

Those are so many storms of our lives. They are frightening. Not every storm has a peaceful ending. Puerto Rico is such an example.

The psalmist says something significant. He acknowledges that God has power over the elements just as Jesus calm the storm. But the significant statement is at the end when he says that he also calms ". . . the tumult of the people".

We all have experienced tumult in our lives. The dictionary describes it as"a confused and excited state of mind or of the emotions".  That's the fear - the lack of faith. 

My own tumultuous moments felt like my whole insides were in commotion. I was a hamster running on a wheel and could not stop. My stomach was in knots. I either could not sleep or my sleep was restless, interrupted by disturbing dreams. I could not function in my daily activities. Like the disciples in the boat I asked "Don't you care?"

But unlike the disciples I did not see the storm abated. I had to trust that the stories of God's power in scripture where there - not because he would calm every storm in my life - but so that I would know He is the Almighty, Ruler of heaven and earth who has the power to say to me, "Peace, be still".

I see the calming of my own inner tumult to be the greater miracle. The inner tumult is combined with all the personal experiences that taught me not to trust and not to believe that God cared for me. That tumult represented many things that I needed to learn.  I did not have a lack of faith so much as a misunderstanding of faith and what it could do and not do. I had to learn what God could do for me and what I needed to do for myself. When peace came so much had changed. I knew He loved me. I knew I was worthy of His love. I knew there was nothing I could do that would make Him not love me. I trusted Him. I knew Him.

Hymn #105 Master the Tempest is Raging

Master, with anguish of spirit

I bow in my grief today.

The depths of my sad heart are troubled.

Oh, waken and save, I pray.

Torrents of sin and of anguish

Sweep o,'er my sinking soul.

And I perish, I perish, dear Master

Oh, hasten and take control.

Peace. Be still.

Peace. Be still.

Be still and know that I am God.

Psalm 71:1

Psalm 71:1

In Thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be put to confusion.

One of the many blessings of living the Gospel is that it maps out for us a course of life. We are not wandering through a maze of confusion, trying to figure everything out for ourselves.

My map guides me through the darkest of days, through the swamps of dishonesty and deceit, through the quicksands of doubt and depression that would pull me down. I have a light that I follow and He has simply said,  "Come follow Me".

The foundation of my life is found in the scriptures. The words of prophets but mostly the words of the Savior himself have formed the path and the road signs of my life.

Psalm 85:10

Psalm 85:10

My husband and I drove eastward to the Detroit Temple last evening. It was the most beautiful drive ever. The sky was covered with a light frosting of clouds. The moon was low in the east sky - about a three quarter moon. The horizon was pink all the way around, not just in the west where you'd expect. As always the colors were constantly changing.  As we headed eastward we were noticing the clouds moving. It seemed like they were gathering around the moon. The whole scene was accentuated by the silhouette of bare trees, some stark and bold, others it seemed were made of lace.

At one point we made a right turn that took us around a lake heading south. The private Catholic School along that trail was decked out for the holidays. We were focused on their magnificent light display on the east side of the road. It was only when we made another right turn heading west for only a few feet before our next turn that we discovered the setting sun. The west horizon was a magnificent red glow. No clouds anywhere. Just this deep glow all along as far as you could see. 

And if that wasn't enough we were seeing this magnificent sunset over a large lake with the sunset reflecting on the still waters. The beauty of that entire drive over to the temple was beyond words. It was one of those experiences that just seems to fill your heart with joy.

As I read Psalm 85:10 I felt the same way. Sometimes words paint pictures that you can see it in your mind's eye. Sometimes they paint emotions. This verse just filled my heart with joy.

Mercy and truth are met together; 

righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

Enter picture from journal here

Psalm 86:5

Psalm 86:5

For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.

I am not sure why mortals are so inclined to want God to be the avenger. It is as we live by Tolstoy's book title "Crime and Punishment". We have a hard time believing that sin is its own punishment.  

But the psalmist here is stating a truth that is the core of the Gospel of Jesus Christ:   God is good. He is loving and compassionate. He is ready to forgive and will extend mercy to all who ask.

In the book ,"The God Who Weeps" by Terryl and Fiona Givens on page 86 we read: 

"In His infinite love and compassion, God wills the reintegration of every individual into the Heavenly family."

Why is it essential that we understand this about God? Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, "That which dominates our imaginations and our thoughts will determine our lives and our thoughts."

As the Savior taught, "Where your heart is, there will your treasure be also."

The Givens say in their book, "We are molding ourselves into the god or gods we thereby worship. . . All talk of heaven that talks of earning instead of becoming is misguided. Such ideas misconstrue the nature of God, His grace, and the salvation He offers."

As we come to realize the goodness of God, that love will become the model for our own lives.  We will become more loving, merciful, and compassionate.  

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Christmas is here again. This season represents the ultimate love of the Father. This is the season that reminds us of His mercy, His plenteous mercy! He sent His Son.

How could the Father tell the world of love and tenderness?

He sent His Son, a newborn babe, with peace and holiness.

How could the Father show the world the pathway they should go?

He sent His Son to walk with men on earth, that we may know.

How could the Father tell the world of sacrifice, of death?

He sent His Son to die for us and rise with living breath.

What does the father ask of us?

What do the scriptures say?

Have faith, have hope, live like His Son.

Help others on their way.

What does He ask?

Live like His Son.

Psalm 90

This psalm is called a prayer of Moses, the man of God. I have no idea how they would know that but the psalmist here is looking back over the years of his life. He is an older man. He has seen much sorrow. 

For all our days are passed away in Thy wrath; we spend our years as a tale that is told.

To me, the significant part of Psalm 90 is the reckoning of time. He begins with a description of God's time.

Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.

There is something very comforting in that thought. Life on Earth is so precarious. You try your best to create stability in your life. And yet we see in the lives of refugees how quickly it can all be taken away. There is something so very frightening about having seen the hurricanes and fires this year destroy homes and lives. Nothing on earth is permanent. 

But God is. There is One who is and was and will always be there. Be there to love and comfort and strengthen us. One who cares about each of us for we are His.

The psalmist then uses some touching phrases to describe our mortal time.

For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past and as a watch in the night.

The days of our years are threescore and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow. For it is too soon cut off and we fly away.

So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

I am threescore and ten plus six. I have become my mother. Where did the years go?

I am still that little girl I see in the photos. But I am also that young mom with her little flock of Ackroyd's. I am a grandmother. It is all so unreal. It is as a dream in the night. Why did it fly by so quickly?

It's funny how when you have a baby, the magic of watching this child grow consumes you. We record the first smile, the first word, the first step. We glory in the constant development. And there comes today all too soon when you want to yell, "Stop! I'm not ready to have you grown."

And while we watch the children grow, we don't even notice the changes in ourselves until one day we look in the mirror and see an old person. Where did she come from? How did this happen? The years have flown by all too quickly. 

We long for days gone by. It all begins to feel so precious in ways we could not see when we were young.

We watch ourselves saying to those younger, "Enjoy your time of life. It goes by so quickly." We regret that we ever wished time to hurry by.

Why were we in such a hurry? How could we have known it would all be gone so very soon? Why didn't we just love every moment?

Psalm 92:1

Psalm 92:1

It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High.

I had a friend named Mary when we lived in Tennessee. She was this very wonderful and lovable person who you were happy to have as a friend. Her great sorrow in life was that her daughter was an opium addict. One day while we were talking she asked if I would like to read her journal from this period of her life. I was amazed that she trusted me enough to share something so personal. I was even more amazed at the content of her journal. It was a gratitude journal. She chose to cope with her sorrow by reminding herself of her blessings - to look for something good each day.

I believe her ability to do that is what made her such a treasured friend, someone you just wanted to be around.

In our living room, there is a picture on the wall of a rabbit by Albrecht Durer, a watercolor painted in 1502 and famous because it is so lifelike. Although just a print of his famous original, this picture is a treasured gift from Mary who encouraged me to not only look for the blessings in life but to fill my life with beauty.

In my favorite cancer book the author says:

"Even with cancer, even in the middle of a difficult treatment cycle, even in your darkest and most fearful hours, be thankful for all you do have. For life, for love, for family, for friends, for the awesome beauty of nature, for the presence of God, for all these things and more, be thankful.

Be grateful. If you wish to cultivate a deeper attitude of gratitude I suggest you begin to see yourself as a guest who is only visiting here on earth. All that you have is not really yours; it is a gracious gift from your host.

Exude gratitude. It transforms the very experience of illness and life."

(Cancer: 50 Essential Things to Do by Greg Anderson)

Happy people are grateful people.

For the beauty of the Earth

For the beauty of the skies

For the love which from our birth

Over and around us lies

Lord of all to thee we raise

This our song of grateful praise!

EXUDE GRATITUDE

Psalm 98 - A Musical Psalm

If I were an artist I would paint a picture of this song. Hmmmm - maybe I could make a Psalm 98 quilt. It would have:

• People singing
• Joy bursting forth in their songs
• Harps being played
• Trumpets
• Cornets
• Waves of the sea dancing
• Floods of water clapping their hands
• Hills filled with joy

How could you ever visually represent that?  But I can see it in my mind.

It would be a day on the California coast near Santa Rosa. It would be one of those days when the air is quiet and warm yet the breakers are crashing on the shore. There are just enough clouds in the sky that you see rays of the sun stretching forth in all directions. A harpist is sitting alone on the beach - a woman with long blond hair, a white flowing dress - the harp is golden with a hint of sunlight reflecting. On the cliff above her are two men dressed in formal black. We are seeing them from the side, their trumpets raised pointing toward the sea.

A choir of men and women are on the shore off to the far left. Their music rises from them and begins to dance and swirl first around the woman, then up and around the trumpets and then meander's out among the waves. The waves form hands and clap to the beat as the music intensifies before it rises and fades in the rays of the sun.

The words are simple: 

Hallelujah. 

Joy is ours. 

Thanks be to God!  

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the Earth; 

make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.

Psalm 100 - The Thanksgiving Psalm

This Psalm is a beautiful description of the qualities 

we can develop that will bless and enrich our lives.

Psalm 101 - The Covenant Psalm

I particularly like how this song is written in the first-person and the psalmist is making statements about he will live his life. Isn't that what covenants are? We make a decision to base our life on certain principles and then we make a promise to do so.

Often these promises are made to God but if we are sincere in wanting to live those principles, then the promise is to ourselves as well.

When we fail to live up to the standards we have adopted, it is us who suffers. God will sorrow for us because He knows our pain but He is not angry and disgusted. He is hoping we will get this figured out and become consistent in our actions because it will bring joy and peace to our lives. We are the ones who get angry - angry at ourselves for falling short of our own expectations.

Let's look at this psalm and find some of those lovely I statements.

• I will sing of mercy and justice.
• I will behave myself wisely.
• I will walk with a perfect heart.
• I will set no wicked thing before my eyes.
• I will not know a wicked person.

The second part of the psalm diverts from the lovely tones of verses 1 through 4. What the writer does is so easy to do. He stops thinking about what he can do (think Covey's "circle of influence") and starts trying to alter the world around him. He goes so far as to say he will destroy the wicked out of the land.

It would be nice to live in a community where all are good but we really don't get to kill others to create our perfect world. So I choose to ignore verses 5 through 8 and put those into the historical context and secretly wish - or maybe not so secretly - that our scriptures didn't include such statements:)

Looking now at the five statements I highlighted, I will reflect on my own life and what I do to live these principles.

I WILL SING OF MERCY AND JUDGMENT

Mercy is defined as "compassion or forgiveness towards someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm."  We usually think of mercy as something very beautiful.

The word judgment in a religious context can evoke a negative feeling or even fear because of the way we talk about the Lord judging us or the "last judgment".

Judgement actually is the ability to make thoughtful decisions or to come too sensible conclusions. It also means a decision of a court or a judge but is it not assumed that decision will be made thoughtfully?

Perhaps we need only add an adjective here to clarify.  We are talking about using "good judgment".  To say a person uses good judgment is a high compliment.

Good judgments seem as lacking in politics as is mercy. 

When politicians choose to focus their campaign on tearing down their opponent instead of showing us what they plan to do to make America strong, is that not a lack of mercy?

When politicians tackle difficult issues like immigration and refugees with words that depict bias or stereotypes and then make laws that allow for no case-by-case consideration, is that not a lack of mercy?

When a politician is supported by his party because they need his vote even though he has committed crimes, is that not a lack of judgment?

When a president calls anyone who opposes his policies rude names, is that not a lack of judgment?

Examples abound. So how about me? How am I doing? It's always much easier to point out the faults of others.

I like the phrase "Give them the benefit of the doubt".  Another saying by Dr. Wayne Dyer is "When given the choice between being right and being kind - choose kind".

Quoting from The Huffington Post writer Scott Stabile, "We all struggle with the insecurities of our ego, with the insecurity of being wrong. And a threatened ego will almost always lash out. When we make an effort to prove somebody wrong by establishing ourselves as right, we're being unkind in the process whether we intend to be or not. Only the ego cares about the distinction between right and wrong. The heart simply loves and accepts whomever is on the other side of the conversation. Let's operate from our hearts, with kindness."

That last part about simply loving and accepting those on the other side of the conversation has challenged my thinking.

We were in a meeting the other night to make some tough decisions about which organization our stake will be supported with a request for humanitarian funds. This discussion led to a decision not to support one request while a go-ahead was given for another.

As we shared the reasons for this decision there were differing opinions, opinions with some emotion behind them. I realized that it was easy to feel opposition to the people - not to just the ideas.  I had to admit that I was not loving those on the other side of the conversation.  My ego was battling my heart.

This article also suggested that we use openness, detachment, humility, forgiveness, along with kindness.

Wow, what great tools for when you are tryng to solve problems.  Be open and honest. We have to know and understand each other. Detach - we must deal with the issues - not the person who presents them. Let go of ownership. Put it on the table and let go. Be humble - it's not about right and wrong. Your ideas will not always be the best for a given situation. Your way of seeing things is not  the only way of seeing things. Listen to others. Paraphrase what they have to say. Show them you understand.

Forgive - we all step on each other somewhere along the way. We say things, we do things,  and we will be misunderstood at other times.  "When the desire to forgive takes precedence, the need to be right dissipates, opening the door for a more conscience and healthy connection."

I'm glad I found this article this morning. Mercy and judgment are qualities I would like to develop.

It's easier to be like the pharisees to whom the Savior spoke, "Woe unto you, scribes and pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithes of meat and anise and cumin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgement, mercy and faith; these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone."

I very much like how the Savior added faith to the mix here. If we use good judgment and extend mercy we must also exercise faith - faith that the other person will be worthy and accepting of our trust, faith that the Lord will bless our efforts since we are living those principles He taught. 

Once again we realize that joy comes from living the principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and knowing that the Lord will support and strengthen us and those efforts as we seek His help.

I WILL BEHAVE MYSELF WISELY

Wisdom is intelligence that draws upon experience and acts with prudence or forethought. "Think before you act" is another way of saying this.

Unfortunately human beings are very complicated and often respond first with their feelings and don't always understand the source of those feelings.

Experience is a wonderful teacher. It is also a painful teacher. The road to wisdom lies through a myriad of choices and consequences both good and bad. Hopefully those experiences mold us and change us for the better.

It is a lifelong journey to always behave wisely. The more open we are to learning, when we can drop our defenses, we can learn much more quickly.

That simple statement "Think before you act" is a good starting place. Another starter is counting to ten (or a hundred) when you are feeling angry. The question "How is that working for you?" is another simple reminder to help you learn from experience.

I have been a slow learner, a late bloomer. My heart has always been in the right place but I have been naive with negligible "street smarts". I feel like at age 76 I am finally fitting the pieces of my life experience together. Maybe I have gained some wisdom along the way.

I WILL WALK WITH A PERFECT HEART

I love this phrase! It doesn't say anything about not making mistakes. It isn't about doing - it's about being.

I have a favorite story from my early years of mothering. I had a incident with one of my daughters and asked her to take time out in her bedroom and think about what she had done. As she walked down the hall toward her room she stopped and looking back at me said, "But I want to be good!"  How to melt a mother's heart!

Oh, how many times in my life have I cried similar pleas to my Father in Heaven! Isn't that what the Apostle Paul was saying in Romans 7:19, "For the good that I would - I do not. But the evil which I would not, that I do."

Is there any question that Paul had a good heart? Or let's look at Nephi - a true Book of Mormon hero, a man who loves the Lord. We would all probably say he had a perfect heart. What does he say of himself?  (2nd Nephi4: 26-27)

"Oh then, if I have seen so great things, if the Lord in his condescension unto the children of men has visited men in so much mercy, why should my heart weep and sorrow... And why should I yield to sin?"

Perhaps one of the most hopeful of all scriptures comes from 1st Samuel 16:7.

"For the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh upon the heart."

The Lord knows my heart just as I knew the heart of a little girl sent to her bedroom. She was so sweet and good as a child could be. But she had made a mistake and needed to think about it.

I often find myself in prayer having a similar conversation with the Lord. "You know I love you, Lord, and I want to do what is right but I have once again ___________. Put in any number of my human failings in the blanks there. It's good to have these conversations with Him. He does know my heart. I want to be good. And as often as I repent, He remembers my sins no more. His loving kindness and forgiveness gives me hope that one day in the eternities, my heart and my actions will be one.

I WILL SET NO WICKED THING BEFORE MY EYES

We are constantly making choices of how we will spend our time. Life is a constant series of choices. One choice we all make is about the things that surround us and the recreation we do.

My bottom line is simple. I choose to fill my life with beauty and there is so much beauty around us. Every picture hanging on our walls has some special meaning. Our yard reflects our love of God's world. The music we listen to inspires and uplifts us. We are always striving to create a respite from the world, a place of happiness where we both create and enjoy the goodness of life.

I WILL NOT KNOW A WICKED PERSON

In order to create our own Heavenly spaces, we have to associate with heavenly people. It has been my experience in life to discover that most people are really good.

I have an incredible family, good neighbors, and church friends who I love and trust. I have been blessed to live in safe places where war and crime have not touched our lives. That in itself is a marvelous blessing.

My fellow teachers in Farmington were the cream of the crop. The incredible experience my husband and I shared through the Personal Storehouse Project has connected us to the community in ways that have been humbling. We have realized that whatever good we may be doing with our lives is dwarfed by so many great people who are completely dedicated to making the world a better place. 

When we look for the good in others we find it. Our lives are rich in good friends.

Psalm 103 - God is Good!

Psalm 103 - God is Good!

This is a psalm that you should read whenever you are feeling down, weak or fragile.  There are times when we carry burdens it is time to give up - whether it be sorrow, sin, or guilt.  There are times when our own weaknesses seem impossible to overcome and we withdraw from the Lord fearing chastisement.  There have been days that I cannot even explain - maybe PMS, maybe depression but I could not see anything good in myself.  I just wanted to disappear.

At times like that we need a friend - the kind who we can tell everything and they'll still love us.  The kind who sees into our hearts and knows our worth in spite of how we're feeling or acting at the moment.  A friend who can say "You're a really great person.  You'll get through this." - and mean it!

Heavenly Father is just such a friend! 

Listen to the Psalmists' description of him:

Forgiveth all thine iniquities

Healeth all thy diseases

Redeemeth thy life from destruction

Crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies

Executeth righteousness and judgment for the oppressed

Merciful and Gracious

Slow to anger

Plenteous in mercy

He hath not dealt with us according to our sins

nor rewarded us for our iniquities

Here is my favorite part:

For as the heaven is high above the earth, 

so great is his mercy toward them that *fear him.

As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us . . .

The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting.

* When the scriptures talk about "fearing" the Lord, it means "to feel reverence and awe" of Him.