The Lord's Thoughts and Ways

I haven't written about the things I've been reading and learning about in my Old Testament Class in a while. Instead, I've been discussing them out loud. That's one of the options we're given as well. This week though, I thought I'd re-visit the blog with some of my thoughts.
I was asked to read: Isaiah 55:8–11; Jacob 4:8; 1 Corinthians 2:14–16 and answer what is comforting about these verses, along with some other things. So, here are my thoughts: 

People can change, people can repent, people can come unto the Lord; these things are all possible because the Lord's ways and thoughts are higher than ours. (Isaiah 55:8-11) This is comforting to me because I am a sinner and want to be forgiven. Through Christ, I can. This is comforting to me because it tells me I am never too far gone, Christ can always reach me.

We cannot know the mysteries and ways of God on our own, but He can reveal them to us (Jacob 4:8). This is comforting to me because when things in life just don't make sense, I can ask Heavenly Father and He can tell me what I need to know. 

Sometimes when I ask God, I don't feel like I understand His answer. Sometimes when this happens, I usually need to change me - I need to become more spiritual (1 Corinthians 2:14-16). I need to become like Christ. For me, this can be a variety of changes. I may need to make serious life adjustments, I may need to change my perspective from being selfish to selfless, I may need to change the atmosphere around me so I can feel God and His answer. Through the scriptures and God's living prophet and apostles, I can be guided in how I can be more spiritual. This is all comforting to me because it shows me that I can receive answers to my questions. 

Understanding God's thoughts and ways is the quest of an eternity. We Lived With God (video link) before we were born, and we can live with Him again. We can learn more of His ways as we strive to get to know Him by living as He would have us live, reading the scriptures, thinking and pondering our questions, praying, attending church, and making covenants with Him. 

One experience I've had where I have seen that God's ways and thoughts are not my ways and thoughts happened when my sister, Leila, died. She died this past August of HELLP. This is a website from my sister, Alisha, on HELLP. When Alisha called and told me Leila was in the hospital, with bleeding in her brain, and she was most likely not going to make it, I burst into tears. Then I tried to regain control of myself so I could get some more information. After we hung up, I prayed. I prayed so hard. I prayed for some very specific things; things that I thought would heal Leila. Things I thought for sure if they happened, she would live a happy, healthy, normal life. I ended my prayer letting the Lord know I would accept whatever His will was however, so His will be done. 

My husband, barely 6 month old daughter, and I drove to Missouri from Idaho that day and through the night. While we were there, everything I prayed for happened. Everything. But Leila did not get better. I didn't understand, I still don't understand in a lot of ways, but something I do know from this, is God's ways are not our ways. He answered my prayer because I prayed in faith and He knew I needed to see my prayer answered in full. He answered everything, including that His will be done. 

Thankfully for me and our family, we have a knowledge of the restored gospel. We have hope through the gospel of Jesus Christ that we will see Leila again, and we can be with her for forever. I believe that with all my heart. 

My Secret

So I have a little secret...I like making soap. My mother-in-law has been asking me some questions about it today, and while I'm not a total expert on soap making, and I don't want to be liable of telling people who to making and then them burning themselves with caustic lye...I do have some tips! Here are 5 little tips of somethings that will help if you keep them in mind while making your soap. 

the first batch in the soapbox

1. Have an extra pair of hands around to help. Once you get in the heat of things, you probably will need another pair of hands. You might need them to help pour something, stir something, or clean up the lye you spilled while you keep going. 
2. You could mix the lye and fat by hand together for an hour before you have "tracing", or you could use an electric hand mixer or whisk like I did. Both of those options definitely speed the process up.
3. Different types of fat create will create different hardness levels in your soap. If you're making your soap from kitchen fat, just remember that your batches of soap will probably never be consistent like when you use an exact recipe.
4. The scents and add-ins will change after you put them in. Just ask our soap that literally stinks and our soap that smells great. The essential oils both smelled good before mixing them in, just sayin'. Or you could ask our first batch of oatmeal soap...fun times.
5. Everyone on the internet has something different to say. Use good sense, try new things, and make sure you can open your windows the first time you use lye. It's stronger stuff than you might think.

Happy Soap Making!

Queen Esther

One thing I read about in the Bible this week was the story of Queen Esther, and there are three people I'd like to talk about from that story. Those three people are Queen Vashti, Queen Esther, and Mordecai. Each of these people put aside their own safety to stand for truth or help others. 

Queen Vashti

She was the queen, wife of King Ahasuerus. Ahasuerus reigned over the land “from India even unto Ethiopia” (Esther 1:1). This was a pretty large kingdom. During this time, they held a royal feast. The feast for the men and women were separate though. So, on the seventh day of the feast the king called for Vashti to come into his feast so that everyone else could look at how beautiful she was. She refused to do that. I feel at this point, the queen was being very assertive and demanding a certain level of respect. I admire her for doing this. I think this is when Vashti was standing for truth; she was standing for the truth that all people – including women – deserve respect.

We all know though, that Vashti’s husband wasn’t any ordinary husband; he was the king! He had the power to do whatever he wanted in response to Vashti’s defiance. This is why I say the queen is one of the people who put aside her own safety. Those around him suggested that other women might “despise their husbands” (Esther 1:17) because of what Vashti had done. Basically, they didn’t want other women to be getting ideas and following the queen’s lead. These people suggested the king send for a decree saying that Vashti is not queen anymore and women must honor their husbands. Ultimately, this is what King Ahasuerus did, and Vashti was no longer the queen.

Queen Esther

          Esther was chosen through a long process to become the queen after King Ahasuerus removed Vashti as queen. Through a chain of events, the king’s right hand man became hateful towards the Jews and wanted to destroy them. Well, Esther herself was a Jew. After fasting and prayer, Esther approached the king uninvited, which was an invitation for a death sentence. However, King Ahasuerus granted her permission to speak (and live) (Esther 5:2). She then invited him and his right hand man (Haman) to a special dinner. During that dinner is when Esther exposed Haman, and her people were saved (Esther 7-8).

Original site of Queen Esther picture

Mordecai

          Mordecai risked his life and stood for truth when he refused to bow down to Haman. (This was part of the chain of events that caused Haman to hate the Jews.) Mordecai didn’t believe in worshiping anyone but his God, so he didn’t. However, it had been a commandment from the king to bow down to Haman, and so by disobeying Mordecai was breaking the law of the king (Ester 3:2-3). He was staying true to the Lord though, which was most important to him.

The Righteous Example of King Hezekiah

Choice 5: 2 Kings 18–20. The Righteous Example of Hezekiah

In 2 Kings 18–20, we read of a time in history when Assyria conquered the northern kingdom of Israel. At this same time Hezekiah became king of the southern kingdom of Judah. He led the people toward increased righteousness, but they still feared the Assyrian armies. The Lord tested their righteousness. Read the following scripture passages and write a brief statement about how each of them could be seen as a test for the people. Answer the questions connected to each scripture reference:

2 Kings 18:19–35; Isaiah 36:12–20. What was Rab-shakeh’s goal with Hezekiah’s servants?

Rab-shakeh's goal was to get Hezekiah's servants too rebel. This could be seen as a test of their steadfastness and integrity.

2 Kings 19:1–5; Isaiah 37:1–5. What was Hezekiah’s reaction? Whom did he seek and where? How might you better follow this pattern?

King Hezekiah was distraught. The Bible says, “he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth” (2 Kings 19:1). However, he turned the Lord by going to the house of the Lord, and he sought the counsel of the prophet Isaiah. I can better follow this pattern when I am having trouble or things that cause me grief by going the temple, turning the Lord in prayer, and seeking counsel from the written words of present and past prophets.

2 Kings 19:6–7. Under what authority did Isaiah respond to Hezekiah’s plea?

Isaiah acted under God’s authority.

2 Kings 19:14–19; Isaiah 37:14–20. What impresses you about Hezekiah’s prayer? What was the desire of his heart?

As I read Hezekiah’s prayer I thought it was neat how he was familiar with the nature of God. He knew who he was praying to and had a relationship with him. Hezekiah knew where God lived, that the He was God, that He was capable of saving them, and that he himself was under God even though he was the king of the land.

2 Kings 19:20–37; Isaiah 37:29–36; 2 Chronicles 32:20–23; institute student manual commentary for 2 Kings 19, “Hezekiah Prayed for Deliverance and Isaiah Brought the Lord’s Answer” (pg. 128). What are the key points in Isaiah’s response to Hezekiah, and how did the Lord keep His promise? When have you been delivered by the Lord from a difficult situation?

2 Chronicles 29:1–11, 15–16, 22–24; 30:5–9, 20; 31:5; 32:7–8. The events in these verses took place before Assyria threatened the southern kingdom of Judah. How did Hezekiah prepare his people spiritually and physically for their deliverance? What lessons can we learn from what they did?

The key points in Isaiah’s response were: 1) it was a response from the Lord through Isaiah, 2) it was in response to a plea from Hezekiah 3) the Assyrians would be destroyed, 4) the Lord promised he would defend Jerusalem, and 5) those left of the house of Judah will do well and grow.

The Lord kept His promise to Hezekiah by sending an angel into the Assyrian camp and killing 165,000 who were described as, “all the mighty men of valour, and the leaders and captains” (2 Chronicles 32:21). The Assyrian king was also killed, by his own sons.

Many of the difficult situations that have come to my mind that the Lord has delivered me from are situations that I have created myself by my own disobedience or stupidity. Each time that I have turned to Him though, by praying and repenting, He has helped me change and have happiness again.

Hezekiah prepared his people spiritually and physically for their deliverance by personally keeping the commandments of God, calling the people to repentance – which they were then spiritually healed, made sacrifices unto God, bringing in food and provisions for the people, giving them pep talks and reminding them to trust in the Lord. From this, we can learn that there are many things we can do to prepare for the hard times that naturally come in life, and the hard times that have been prophesied for years. The spiritual preparation is especially applicable to us. 

"A Wise and Understanding Heart"

My first Old Testament assignment is about King Solomon. Here it is, with all my thoughts and ideas. What do you think or know about King Solomon? What does his story teach you about life?

1 Kings 3–4. “A Wise and an Understanding Heart”

In 1 Kings 3, Solomon had a sacred experience seeing the Lord. Read 1 Kings 3:9–28; 4:29–31.

Answer the following questions:

Why do you think Solomon asked for an understanding heart? Why do you think his choice was pleasing to the Lord? What would more worldly people have asked for?

I think that he asked for an understand heart because he was humble enough to recognize his weakness as a leader. In verse seven he said, “…I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.” In verse nine he recognizes that is the leader, and the one who is supposed to judge the people. However, he doesn’t know how it should be done.

More worldly people may have asked for the things the Lord was pleased that Solomon didn’t ask for: a long life, death of enemies, riches and honor.

How did Solomon demonstrate that he had received this spiritual gift at the beginning of his reign?

He settled a dispute between two women. They were both claiming a living baby was theirs, and the dead child was the others. Solomon commanded the baby be cut in half and one half given to each woman. One woman freaked out and said not to do it, but the baby was the other woman’s child. The second woman in essence said to just do it. Solomon knew that the woman who cared more for the child’s life was the child’s real mother. He didn’t cut the child in half, but gave it to the real mother instead.

How could this spiritual gift help you in your life? What do 1 Corinthians 12:31 and Doctrine and Covenants 46:8, 28, 30 explain about how you could develop more gifts of the Spirit? 

This spiritual gift could help me understand my husband a lot better. It could help me in some personal things I am going through right now. Also, it could help me better understand others, so maybe I would be more compassionate towards them. Corinthians says to seek after the best gifts. Doctrine and Covenants also says to seek the best gifts and adds to “remember why they are given” (vs. 8). Doctrine and Covenants also gives another key item to receiving gifts of the Spirit. It says to ask in the Spirit, which will be the will of God, and then the person will receive what they have asked for in the Spirit. In application I think this would mean to study and ponder spiritual gifts; seek to find and know what they are. Then, to feel; feel the Holy Ghost and find what gifts of the Spirit one should ask for. Next, asking for the gift through prayer, in faith, and receiving it. Receiving it through the Spirit I feel is learning the gift through the Spirit. Solomon didn’t learn that wisdom by reading books or philosophy; he learned it from the Spirit. We can learn how to use our gifts through the Spirit as well.

How do 1 Kings 4:1–25 and 1 Samuel 11–20 relate to each other?

I am not sure which reference in Samuel this is referring to, because we’re missing either a chapter and a colon or just a colon. So, I am choosing to compare 1 Kings 4:1-25 to 1 Samuel 1:1-20. In 1 Samuel 1, Hannah earnestly sought one of the best gifts – motherhood. She so wanted to be a mother, and took her plea to the Lord at His house. She then received a promise that she would be blessed with a son, and she was. 1 Kings 4 relates to this because it is showing that the Lord did keep his promise to Solomon. He did bless him with such wisdom as never was or will be in all that land. As promised, he was also blessed with riches and honor.

Old Testament Class at BYU-Idaho

I'm taking an Old Testament Class at BYU-Idaho. As part of this, we have several different types of assignments. For one of them, we had a variety of options we could choose from and then we had several sets of questions we could pick from. Utilizing a blog to share my assignments is what I picked. So here is the beginning, with more to come.

Homemade Oil Lamp

While searching emergency prep stuff the other morning I came across a way to make an oil lamp. A great emergency prep idea so we decided to try it. We made a homemade wick and so far it's been burning for five hours, and we haven't even had to trim the wick yet.

Materials:

-wick

-oil

-glass jar

-wire

-pliers

Directions:
-using pliers curl wire to be able to hold the wick up from the bottom of the jar, and in the center of the bottom of the jar
-put wick in place
-put wire and wick in mason jar
-add oil
-light wick

By the way:
-The wick we made from flannel, but you could use a store bought wick or any cotton fabric. After cutting the flannel into three very thin strips about 6 inches long, I braided them together and that was it.
-Any NON-galvanized wire is fine. Galvanized wire releases toxins when it burns.
-You may want to create a type of handle out of the wire to be able to lift the wick out of the jar to light it.
-Any size glass jar is good, you'll just need to adjust your wick holder to the size of your jar.
-We burned vegetable oil, but any type of oil should work. From reading other people's posts and seeing their videos, olive oil is the safest (it has a higher flash point) and it burns brighter.
-Fire is very dangerous, and fire and oil (just like fire and gasoline) can be even more dangerous. Use caution. You make and use this at your own risk.

p.s. I have posted this before, but it almost/did get deleted. I was able to save the writing, but not the original post.