No Coincidences

Tag: bible

  • Jonah and the Whale

    Jonah and the Whale

    Answer to prayer – but not what you expect!

    One of the most spiritual experiences I ever had, referenced in the post You Sent a Dog to Comfort a Boy, happened in the basement of my Aunt and Uncle’s home.  Go read the post to get some back story on why I was there, ie soul searching.

    During that trip, by some coincidence, my cousin had his farewell to go on his mission.  I went to the farewell and I felt stuff.  I felt an urge.  I felt guidance.  I came to Utah to search my soul and here it was. 

    That night I went back to the bedroom I’d been staying in.  With just Bengie (my aunt, uncle, and cousin’s dog) in the room I knelt, and I prayed.  I prayed like I hadn’t in so long.  I asked what I was supposed to do.

    Have you heard the story of Jonah and the whale?  For those who don’t know, the Bible tells us that Jonah, a prophet of God, was commanded to go to Nineveh to prophesy to its inhabitants.  He was to command them to repent and preach of their forthcoming destruction if they refused.  Nineveh was described as a scary place.  It was a near certainty Jonah would be murdered upon telling the inhabitants of their wickedness.

    I always heard that story and couldn’t imagine, couldn’t comprehend.  GOD told Jonah to do something.  If God tells you to do something – you do it!  It doesn’t matter how afraid you are or how scary it is.  You DO WHAT GOD COMMANDS.  Especially when it’s that clear.  If God told you to do something, you would listen, wouldn’t you?

    That’s what I always thought.

    That night in the basement I asked what I should do next with my life.  The answer couldn’t have been clearer if an angel appeared in the room and said it to my face.  I knew.  I needed to go on a mission.  I can’t stress this enough.  I knew what I was supposed to do.

    Then the doubts.  “I can’t go on a mission.  Where would I even begin?  I have so much to repent of.  I don’t even know who to go to” were my thoughts.  Also, I would have to give a GOING AWAY speech like I just watched my cousin give that very day.  Out of the question.  The thought of getting up in church and giving a talk was enough to make me feel sick.  I couldn’t do it.  I was too afraid.  On top of that I had big plans in the coming weeks.  It was my friend’s birthday and we had partying to do.  You know, the important stuff.  I couldn’t repent NOW.

    In the story of Jonah he gets on a ship to run away (From God- I know, crazy).  But here I was, running away from God.  I pretended like I didn’t know the answer to my prayer, but I knew.  I ran.  I ran away.

    I didn’t get swallowed by a whale.  Instead I moved on, distracted and forgetting.

    After Jonah’s whale incident, he finally agrees to do what God asked of him.  He was spit up on the shore of Nineveh and followed what God asked him to do.

    I think in a way, the few years after that moment in the basement, I was figuratively in a storm and swallowed by a whale.  Not for three days but for four years.  Eventually God had the whale spit me back up on shore. 

    You’d think I missed my chance, right?  I never went on a mission.  For a long time I thought I could never be forgiven for ignoring God.  Then I got my patriarchal blessing.  In it I am told to trouble myself not over lost days.  I can’t explain in words the comfort that simple phrase gave to me.

    Back to Jonah.  He ignored God.  Yet still, somehow, God used Jonah’s mistakes to bring about His work.  I don’t know how God makes up for our mistakes.  It recently occurred to me that in that basement I gave the first sincere prayer in a long time.  Then I ignored God.  I showed a modicum of faith followed by an excess of fear.  After that I found a job in Arizona, I settled down, and have been here in Arizona ever since.  Then I returned to church.  Now I’m here, writing to you, hopefully you’ve stuck with me this far.

    It’s so much better to do what God asks the first time.   I think we avoid a lot of heartache if we do.  But never forget – trouble yourself not over lost days.  God will have you spit up on shore when you’re ready.  When you’re really ready to trust in Him.  It took me some time.  Somehow, He accepted that.  Somehow, He waited.  I’m not saying I’ll ever fully make up for disobedience, not sure exactly how that works.  But I know that Christ will forgive me because He loves me.  There is no greater comfort than that.

  • Prayer

    Prayer

    I don’t know exactly what I want to say on this topic because I still feel like it’s something I’m learning more about every single day.  Of course, I do have some thoughts.  Though, since it’s still something I’m always trying to understand better, these thoughts may be seemingly random with no organization whatsoever.  I know, you’re probably thinking, “uhm……. What else is new.”  My response, “be quiet and just keep reading.”

    An artist's rendition of the parable of the persistent widow.

    Christ taught to pray always.  He taught to have a prayer in our hearts.  He gave parables for us to understand.  One parable is of the unjust judge who didn’t care about anyone or anything.  But, because a woman bothered him he decided to help her simply because he didn’t want to be bothered by her.  Christ’s point with that parable was that, since a man who didn’t care about anybody gave in to being bothered, why wouldn’t God?  I agree with what you’re thinking, I find the story kind of… interesting as well.  Like God is this person being pestered to the point of answering.  I don’t think that’s what Christ meant at all.  He meant that our Father is all loving.  So, how much more is He likely and willing to help us simply if we ask?

    I’ve thought a lot about how Christ prayed.  How powerful those prayers must have been.  We see mention in the scriptures of the power of His prayers.  It was often said that the words couldn’t be repeated for they were so powerful.  My favorite is Third Nephi 17: 15-17 which reads

    15 And when he had said these words, he himself also knelt upon the earth; and behold he prayed unto the Father, and the things which he prayed cannot be written, and the multitude did bear record who heard him.

    16 And after this manner do they bear record: The eye hath never seen, neither hath the ear heard, before, so great and marvelous things as we saw and heard Jesus speak unto the Father;

    17 And no tongue can speak, neither can there be written by any man, neither can the hearts of men conceive so great and marvelous things as we both saw and heard Jesus speak; and no one can conceive of the joy which filled our souls at the time we heard him pray for us unto the Father.

    Gives me goosebumps.

    Just think about that.  Christ’s prayer was so powerful that it brought joy to those who just listened.  What love must have been expressed. 

    There are also many examples of Christ going off on His own to pray in the New Testament.  Many times He’d be gone for hours praying.  I won’t list these scriptural examples but there are plenty.  What does this tell us?  Even Christ prayed, how much more need we to pray? 

    I’ve seen many miracles come about from prayer but maybe the most amazing thing about those miracles is that they don’t quickly come to mind.  I’ve felt the power of prayer and yet often forget when I have had a prayer answered.  I try to record them, so I don’t forget.  One small example happened once at work.  I was at work and really overwhelmed.  Many requests were coming in for things I needed to help with.  I had a meeting coming up that I wasn’t prepared for.  I really needed to take some time to gather some information for this meeting.  Otherwise I’d be going in and possibly make a fool of myself from being so unprepared.  I was getting more overwhelmed by the moment. 

    As I started to panic I remembered, like a slap to the face, to pray.  Sitting at someone’s computer trying to fix a problem for them, I silently prayed for help, patience, and peace.  I immediately felt better.  Within a couple minutes the person whom I had my meeting with walked by and said they had something come up and we’d have to delay our meeting.  This gave me time to go and gather all the information I needed.

    This happened years ago but it’s an experience I’ve held to, to remember the power of prayer.  These experiences happen daily.  I know they do.  I also know we often don’t notice them.  If we constantly have a prayer in our heart, God is constantly looking to show us how much He loves us. 

    I try to remember this story especially when I feel I’m not receiving answers to prayers.  In church many people tell stories of receiving their powerful answer.  Many people talk about the warm feeling in their chest.  I don’t know how much I’ve experienced those feelings.  I do know I’ve felt peace.  I do know I’ve received answers.  Often though, they don’t come.  My faith is that I can develop my skills in prayer and be better at receiving the answers God has for me and accepting when He doesn’t have an answer to give me at that moment.

    I think one day we’ll learn of the profound nature of prayer.  It likely won’t be until the next life.  I believe when we pray spectacular things happen around us that we don’t see.  The book, Visions of Glory talks about how when we’re feeling temptation or we’re in a negative environment, just a thought of prayer allows angels to surround and protect us.  I believe we are blind to the constant influences of good and evil around us.  I mean literal beings of light and darkness that want to influence us.  I think when we pray the heavens are moved and we are given protection.  Think about that.  If you knew that a prayer brought an angel to be by your side and watch and protect you, would you ever stop praying?

    She Will Find What Is Lost Litho Print - Deseret Book
    She Will Find What is Lost by Brian Kershisni

    My last thought I want to mention is that, for me, I’ve learned my life is better when I pray better.  It’s not something we notice unless we really, really stop and think about it.  But I’ve come to realize it’s true.  Stop and think about your day then think back on your prayers.  Did you have an amazing day?  Maybe an awesome conversation came about.  Maybe, if you’re a member of the church (of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints…or any church for that matter), you had a great opportunity to share something about church or the gospel.  Maybe you just had a clarity of mind, a focus at work.  Maybe you had a productive day and just felt good.  How was your prayer that day?  How about days that you feel like you’re drudging along, impatient, short with people, not interested in talking or being friendly?  How was your prayer that day?  I think if we inventory our prayers and compare it to our resultant day, we’d be blown away by the correlation.  Our prayers bring power, it’s something I’ve learned.

    The funny (or sad) thing, even with this “understanding” I claim to have, I still fall into mundane prayers.  Repetitive, mindless prayers.  When I do, I see my days suffer.  For some reason it’s hard.  We fall into a rut.  We can’t focus on what we’re saying.  I sometimes even feel like He’s not there.  Then I have to remember He’s always there.  If someone is lacking in the partnership between myself and God, it is definitely me.  I have to be vigilant and strive to pray with focus and intent.  I have to express gratitude and actually mean it.  I have to thank Heavenly Father for His plan and the Atonement of Jesus Christ and actually think about it and mean it.  I have to consider what I would be without repentance.  When I do these things, my life is better.

    When I have a prayer in my heart constantly, I am happier.  I feel light.  I feel love.  I’m more willing to serve and I’m more patient.  I’m more aware of opportunities to do good.  I’m not special in this regard, in fact there are so many out there saying their prayers the right way.  I think as we pray better, we can be better, and we can help each other. I believe this world would be a much better place if we all kept a prayer in our hearts.

    _____________________

    To learn more about prayer please check out these links:

    https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/prayer?lang=eng

    https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-principles/chapter-8-praying-to-our-heavenly-father?lang=eng

    The title is outdated but I thought this video did a good job of showing how to pray:

  • Book Review: The Joseph Smith Translation. Precious Truths Restored

    Book Review: The Joseph Smith Translation. Precious Truths Restored

    The Joseph Smith Translation.  Precious Truths Restored

    by W. Jeffrey Marsh

    Copyright 2002

    ______________________

    There are multiple ways I judge a book.  It can be so entertaining I can’t put it down.  I can feel enlightened by it, like I’m learning constantly through its pages.  Ideally a book does both.  I think this book more was on the enlightened, learning something from it category.

    I realize most people aren’t going to enjoy the books I’m enjoying.  Few people get excited about learning about the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  This is a book I wish every active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints would read.  It did so many things for me: taught gospel truths, built my testimony of Joseph Smith and his divine call, and probably the biggest thing I took away from it, better understanding of the Bible. 

    A statement from the summary on the back of the book states it:

    “will guide you through the history, significance, and insights found in the Prophet Joseph Smith’s translation of the Bible.”

    The biggest takeaway I got from this book was the knowledge of how blessed I am to have the Joseph Smith Translation (JST) of the Bible and the fact that I’ve never once doubted its truthfulness and divine nature.  The book goes a lot into the history of the JST.  I didn’t know there were many years that the JST was regarded skeptically by members of the Church.

    I am truly grateful to be living while I’m living, with so much truth and light surrounding me.  This book helped me appreciate how lucky I am.  There was a part of the book where the author talked about how there would one day be a generation that never doubted the divine nature of the Joseph Smith Translation.  He talked about how that generation will know the scriptures better than any prior generation.  That generation will know Jesus Christ better than any prior generation, due to the truths restored by Joseph Smith.  He talked about this generation that will have more fullness of scriptures than any generation ever had.  Truly the fullness of times.

    This made me appreciate my place in time, my place in history, my place in the fullness of times more than ever.  It’s never been a doubt to me that the Joseph Smith Translation is holy scripture and worth studying.  It helps me trust Joseph Smith as a prophet and teaches me more about Jesus Christ. 

    I know these things aren’t to be taken for granted.  Our generation isn’t gifted greater scriptural knowledge simply by living now.  We must study and learn.  If we devote ourselves to the Word of God, there is more out there for us to devour and grow from than any people on this earth has ever had the opportunity to know.

    I’m so grateful to be alive today and I’m so grateful to Joseph Smith for the truths he restored.

    ____________________________

    To learn more about the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible go here:

    https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/revelations-in-context/joseph-smiths-bible-translation?lang=eng

    https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/history/topics/joseph-smith-translation-of-the-bible?lang=eng

  • Worldwide Fast

    Prophet and President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Russell M. Nelson, asked the world to fast on Good Friday, April 10, 2020.  His invitation:

    “I invite all, including those not of our faith, to fast and pray on Good Friday, April 10, that the present pandemic may be controlled, caregivers protected, the economy strengthened, and life normalized.”

    Russell M. Nelson

    I was a member of a group on Facebook for the Worldwide Fast.  Last I checked, that group had over 537,000 people! Click Here To See the Group

    This group turned into a worldwide testimony session.  There were so many amazing posts.  I spent the entire morning after Good Friday reading them.  There were two that I really loved.  I asked permission from the original posters to share their stories.  I hope my friends and family (those who didn’t already see these) enjoy them as much as I did.

    The first was about a young boy: 

    My 7 year old nephew wanted to be part of today’s fasting and prayer. He loves to eat, so this was a true sacrifice for him. He’s been very prayerful all day. His mom found him praying in the yard. When she told him she was proud of him, he responded “Sometimes we just need to find our own sacred grove.” Isn’t that true?!?! The pure faith of a young man has served as an example and blessing to the world many times throughout history. I pray that the faith of this little boy and all the world fasting and praying together today result in modern day miracles.

    Many of the posts were about children and they were some of the most touching.  This is a reminder that we must “become as little children.” (Matthew 18:3)

    The second post said:

    I could not join the first global fast on March 29th. I was battling with COVID-19, fighting to stay alive. During this difficult time, I received a promise from my Heavenly Father: “These tribulations shall be but a small moment. But WHEN you are healed, testify to the world of the God of mercy”. I recovered through the fasting and prayers of others by God’s grace and mercy. Tomorrow, It is my turn to give back and to join this fast for all those who are facing this tough battle around the world so they may be blessed like I have been. I love Christ’s comforting words:
    These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
    May God bless us all!

    I am so grateful for these two powerful testimonies and I’m so thankful they shared them.

    I hope as a world we don’t soon forget this.  As things do return to normal, I hope we don’t immediately turn back to our old ways.  I hope we can learn, grow, love, and rely on God more than ever.

    Isaiah 40:31 reads:

    “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

    A friend posted something that I think is important to remember. He pointed out that the footnote for wait says “to hope for or anticipate.”  Let’s remember things won’t change overnight.  But as we continue in faith, Christ will pour out his spirit on us and the world can change. Finally, how grateful I am for a prophet that can lead a worldwide initiative of faith.  This affirms my testimony that he is a Prophet of God and he leads God’s church.  All are welcome to follow.

    We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet