The Look of a Broken Heart

 

 

 

 

 

Call Me a Prophetess

I was cleaning out my e-files and found this document.  I wrote it the day after the Presidential Election in 2012.  Call me a prophetess.

My predictions for a second Obama term:

Israel will fight back against Iran and other radical Islamic nations and the entire world will turn on Israel.  Israel knows she must defend her existence alone.  The USA is no longer her ally.  I think she’s shown restraint up to now hoping for a Romney victory.  I only hope that when that happens, it will usher in Armageddon and Christ will come because I think that’s the only real hope for us now.

Obama will invoke executive privilege more often until Congress is emasculated so as to be non-existent.  The balance of power our founding fathers gave us will be gone. The Constitution won’t have a thread to hang by.  The country will be run by the unholy trinity: Obama, Pelosi, and Reid; and the even more unholy powers (and money) behind them.

Gas prices will skyrocket.  Taxes will go up.  Inflation will run rampant.

The national debt will continue to skyrocket with no budget and no concern for the future.  Taxes will go up.

Small businesses will continue to fail.  Unemployment will continue to grow.  Regulatory agencies will spin even more out of control.

More people will be on welfare, unemployment, and food stamps than ever before.

Islamic nations will continue to be appeased and terrorist attacks will increase.  There will be more violence in the streets of America as people become more afraid.

The conservative media will be driven underground and the only “truth” the American people will hear is the party line from the White House.  The heinous cover-up on Benghazi is just the beginning.

In my house, I will serve the Lord.  I will prepare my home as a place of refuge.  As Christians, we are going to have to band together for mutual support.  I will continue to pray for my country because I love her, but I believe God will withdraw His hand from America.  This people have chosen taking God’s name from the platform, public buildings, and the public meetings.  They have chosen abortion, gay marriage, legalized marijuana, and assisted suicide.  They have chosen to spend more than they make.  They have chosen to throw Israel under the bus and God said in the Old Testament that any nation that fights against Israel will be punished.  I think that the scripture is still true and God will not be mocked.

I hope my children love me enough to take care of me when I can no longer do so myself because under Obamacare, I will be disposable when I get old.  It will be cheaper for them to give me the suicide pill – which I will refuse to take.  So when they take away my pension and my Social Security and my Medicare because I am a drain on society, I am counting on you, Kids!

Here are my thoughts: Romney is a godly and prayerful man.  He would have been our best hope to pull us back from the brink.  An ancient civilization had the same experience we had last night.  They, too, were a government by the people.  As long as the people of that nation were faithful to God, they prospered.  But as soon as they turned their back on God, their government became corrupt.  Here’s how it was described at the time: Helaman 5: 2:

“For as their laws and their governments were established by the voice of the people, and they who those evil were more numerous than they who chose good, therefore they were ripening for destruction, for the laws had become corrupted.” 

People don’t realize that they were not voting for a man: they were voting for a set of professed values.  Romney’s values were reflected in his platform – God firmly in place as our country’s center; protect the sanctity of life from the womb forward; marriage between one man and one woman; fiscal responsibility; support Israel – just to name the key ones for me.  Then there is the democratic platform – take the name of God out of any reference (can’t even say God-given – yes, I know they put it back under protest, but the people on the convention floor booed when they did); support gay marriage; continued support for Roe vs. Wade (abortion); government dictating to religious institutions that they have to pay for birth control and abortion in their insurance plans, even though that is against their faith.  And the American people chose the Godless ideals last night.  I pray for this country and for Israel.  I think the road to Armageddon has been paved, for Israel will defend herself despite us.  Obama has already thrown her under the bus.  Oh, and by the way, the ancient people I mentioned?  When they chose evil over good, God withdrew His hand from their nation.  Eventually they were destroyed – wiped off the face of the earth as a people.  A cautionary tale for us all.

How about this one - Zechariah 14 (Old Testament KJV)

2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, . . .

12 ¶And this shall be the plague wherewith the Lord will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.

13 And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the Lord shall be among them; and they shall lay hold everyone on the hand of his neighbor, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbor.

16 ¶And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts,

19 This shall be the punishment . . . of all nations that come not up . . .

I pray for the Savior to come and save us from ourselves.

Sunday, Sweet Sunday

There is a song from the musical Flower Drum Song  with this lyric:

Sunday, sweet Sunday, with nothing to do.
Lazy, and loving; my one day with you.

I don't have a special someone to have the one day with, but I am looking forward to a day of rest.  I have been working almost non-stop for weeks so that our new school, George Washington Academy, can open tomorrow.  I've always had faith that we would make despite the apprehension of others and the critique of naysayers.  In the end, everyone pulled together and went the extra mile and we are ready.

Tomorrow, I stand before my own fifth and sixth grade class for the first time since 1985.  All prayers appreciated!

Today,  I will rest.

Jayne Eyre

To say it's been awhile since I've posted would be the queen of understatements.  I have been so busy getting ready for my new school to open that I've rarely had one minute to myself.  Needless to say, today I won't be wordy.

I had insomnia last night, so at 3:00 A.M. I was on Facebook.  My sister posted one of those online tests that are fun to take.  This one was called "Which Gothic Character Are You?"  My sis had tested out Dracula, which I found interesting.  I decided to take the test just for fun.

My character was Jane Eyre.  It's been so many years since I've read Jane Eyre that I don't identify with her, but the test description of why I am like her was spot on:

Beneath your calm exterior a storm is building. You know it and secretly you're afraid of it but you won't allow that to distract you from doing what you believe to be the right thing. You are resourceful and intelligent, both of which leave you with a feeling of alienation from your peers.

Hmmmmmm.  Am I that transparent?

Dancing in the Rain

President Thomas S. Monson introduced this year's 184th General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by describing the recent dedication of the newest temple in Gilbert, AZ.  As with all recent dedication, the young men and women, ages 12 to 18, in the temple district delivered a beautiful cultural celebration of music and dance. 

Arizona has been experiencing a significant drought and the Latter-day Saints have prayed many months for rain.  Those prayers were answered as it began to rain heavily just as the program started and continued to pour throughout the hour and a half presentation.  That didn't dampen the spirits of the youth as they sang and danced in the pouring rain.

How often in life do we pray for a specific blessing and wonder if our prayers have been heard?  God does answer prayers in His own time and in His own ways.  Often our adversities are really blessing in disguise, prayers answered by a loving Heavenly Father.

I hope I will always have the spiritual faith and maturity to dance in my rains.

Text copyright April 2014, Gebara Education

Picture of youth dancing in the rain from www.deseretnews.com



Covenent Experiences ~ Baptism

President Henry B. Eyring

First Counselor in the First Presidency

 

WHAT?

 

President Eyring quoted two favorite passages of scripture relating to the covenant of baptism.  One was from the 18th chapter of the Book of Mosiah in the Book of Mormon:

 

And it came to pass after many days there were a goodly number gathered together at the place of Mormon, to hear the words of Alma. Yea, all were gathered together that believed on his word, to hear him. And he did teach them, and did preach unto them repentance, and redemption, and faith on the Lord.

 

And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light; Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—

 

Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?

 

And now when the people had heard these words, they clapped their hands for joy, and exclaimed: This is the desire of our hearts. (verses 7 - 11)

 

The other was from the Doctrine and Covenants which outlines the responsibility of parents to prepare their children for the covenant of baptism:

And again, inasmuch as parents have children in Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized, that teach them not to understand the doctrine of repentance, faith in Christ the Son of the living God, and of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of the hands, when eight years old, the sin be upon the heads of the parents.  For this shall be a law unto the inhabitants of Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized.  And their children shall be baptized for the remission of their sins when eight years old, and receive the laying on of the hands.  And they shall also teach their children to pray, and to walk uprightly before the Lord. (D & C 68: 25-28)

SO WHAT?
 

I chose the picture to the right because it reminded me of my youngest son's baptism.  He was baptized by his older brother and confirmed by his oldest brother while his father and grandfather stood in the circle.  It was a wonderful day, made more so by the fact that his father died in a terrible accident just two weeks later.

That son has left the faith, although his does teach his children to pray and walk uprightly before the Lord as a non-denominational Christian.  The brother who baptized him has been active.  The brother that confirmed him and his sister have both struggled.  Some of my grandchildren have been taught. 9 have been baptized, one at age 18.  Only 2 of these is still active in keeping and renewing this covenant.

Did I do as good a job as I could have in preparing my own children for the covenant of baptism?  I probably did the best that I could given my knowledge and circumstances at the time.  Could I have done better?  Yes, without question.  I struggle with that as I look at my inactive children and grandchildren.  It is so easy to feel as if I have somehow failed them.

 

NOW WHAT?
 

Since I don't own a time machine, I cannot go back and do it over.  I'm not sure I would want to relive those years.  The only thing I can do is to live true to my own covenant promises and renew them every week as I partake of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper.  I try to set an example of a Christian disciple's walk in everything I do.  I pray for them all.  I answer questions when they ask and bear my testimony to them when moved upon by the Holy Spirit. 

I am open and willing if the Spirit should ask that I do more.

Text copyright April 2014, Gebara Education

 

Pictures from www.lds.org

except

Back-to-the-Future from www.hollywood.com 

Know Who You Are and Be Not Distracted

Linda K Burton
 

WHAT?

Sister Burton talked about being true disciples of Jesus Christ by serving others.  She told the parable of the rich young man who could not give up the things of the world to follow the Savior.  She then told of the prophet, Mormon, who boldly declared: "I am a disciple of the Lord, Jesus Christ" even though he lived in one of the most wicked times in his people's history.  She said: "Mormon knew who he was and was not distracted.

SO WHAT?

So many of us don't know who we are.  We forget that it is in our divine nature to nurture and love as the Savior loved.  We belittle ourselves and we become distracted by the things of this world.  Like Martha, there are things that need to be done.  But like Mary, there are also times to be still and know that He is God.  As a disciple of Jesus Christ, I must remember that Jesus loved both women.  There is a time to be Martha, but there is a time to be Mary as well.

NOW WHAT?

I need to slow down.  I need to pray more.  I need to listen more.  I need to be more patient.  I need to serve more.

I am a disciple of Jesus Christ.  I will not be distracted!

Text copyright April 2014, Gebara Education 

Picture from www.lds.org