So transfers are this week and... I'll be going out west to Garden City with Elder Packard! I was honestly caught off guard. I've only been in Great Bend for 7 weeks! But I know the Lord needs me in Garden City at this specific time, just like He needed me here in Great Bend at this time, even if the time was short. And I guess that just shows how short our time really is. It flies by so fast, it's just so important that we make the most of it, because life is too valuable of an experience to rush. I love Great Bend, and even though it's a mostly English area, I feel like I've learned more of the ropes of how to become an instrument in the Lord's hands.
Yesterday, President Smith came to the Great Bend ward and talked about obedience and why. He explained first that obedience brings blessings and happiness and that disobedience brings misery in this life and in the life to come. He talked about the story in 1 Samuel 15, where Saul is commanded to "utterly destroy the Amalekites." Well, long story short, Saul doesn't "utterly destroy" them, but only partially does, sparing the best of the livestock and the king of the Amalekites. Samuel (the prophet) was told by the Lord that Saul didn't completely keep all of the commandments, but only some of them. And when confronted about it and lying about what actually happened, Samuel asks Saul in verse 22, "Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than to sacrifice..." Saul later explained that he had not fully kept the commandments because he "feared the people". Today, we're constantly confronted with challenges and trials. But when we understand that the Lord knows what's best for us in the eternal long run, we'll desire to do what He asks, even the small, mundane tasks. And the desire to do those things will come from the love we have for the Lord.
We met with the Baumgardner family a couple of times this week and they are definitely seeing a difference from when the missionaries were meeting with them a couple of months ago until now. They can see that they receive more blessings in their lives as they center their lives on Christ and His Gospel rather than not. I know that none of us are perfect at it, but Heavenly Father will send blessings and "open the windows of Heaven" as we strive, try, and choose to become and reach our potential. As we council with the Lord about the potential He has in store for us (vision), we will feel the Spirit more abundantly in our lives as our passion to become who the Lord wants us to be and our power to do so increase.
Yo se que cuando escogemos hacer la voluntad del Senor, veremos mas bendiciones en nuestras vidas y nos acercaremos mas de El. Yo les testifico que cuando edificamos nuestras vidas y familias en Jesucristo y Su Evangelio, no caeremos y venceremos los desafios y tribulaciones que vienen.
I truly am grateful for you all! You're always in my prayers! Have a super cien week! Love you!
Love,
Elder Murphy
Kia Kaha
No comments:
Post a Comment