Overcome Evil

I was teaching a class a while ago and one of the children kept saying, "Revenge!"  ... That is how they could handle a situation where someone wronged them.  It was said over and over throughout the lesson, and in a way that he meant it to be funny, yet he seemed somewhat determined in that course, yet I kept strong in helping him and the whole class understand that revenge is not the way.  When we have the feeling that we want others to suffer as we have, then we will be held accountable for those "evil" feelings. 


Today in my scripture study I found this verse that I wish I had as an immediate response to his insistent course of revenge.

Romans 12:17
"Recompense to no man evil for evil." 


Matthew 5:44-45 
"But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;  That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven:"

image, and great message for the day, Overcome Evil


(To Remind Me - finding this thought reminded me of the good people in the world and that we each must be one of them!
Am I ?
What can I do to become better ?)

"If Satan can succeed in creating in us the pastime of arguing, quarreling, and contention, it is easier for him to bind us with heavier sins which can destroy our eternal lives."

 

Marvin J. Ashton (LDS Family Book of Mormon Helaman 1:7)

Hope

A second tender mercy in the same day.  This came as I was reading PMG in preparation to writing to my missionary son.  It was the first thing I read and then the last, because my heart received the message it needed.

"Hope is an abiding trust that the Lord will fulfill His promises to you.  It is manifest in confidence, optimism, enthusiasm, and patient perseverance.  It is believing and expecting that something will occur.  When you have hope, you work through trials and difficulties with the confidence and assurance that all things will work together for your good.  Hope helps you conquer discouragement." (Preach My Gospel p117)


I love Hope! I believe that paragraph ... I know it is true!  I am grateful for a loving Father in Heaven and Savior, Jesus Christ.  I feel blessed!

There are many things in life that can discourage us and indeed there have been in my life lately, and they have hit me hard lately, but I must remember to HOPE for better days ahead and remember that it will most likely "turn out better than I think".  (see also here)

His Heart ... My Heart!

I love it when I receive tender mercies in the middle of what seems like an ordinary day.
There was nothing special about this day and I was just sitting in the congregation singing the hymn, God Loved Us, So He Sent His Son (#187), when the words in the last verse stood out to me and touched my heart.

vs 3
"Oh, Love effulgent, love divine!  What debt of gratitude is mine, That in his off'ring I have part And hold a place within his heart."

I HOLD A PLACE WITHIN HIS HEART!

This isn't new revelation to me - it's something I've known before - but today it just touched me in a tender way, and I am grateful for it.   Indeed, He holds a place within my heart!  

Endured ... Promise

"And so, after he had patiently endured,

he obtained the promise."

Hebrews 6:15

Studying "Joy"

"If thou art sorrowful, call on the Lord thy God with supplication, that your souls may be joyful."

D&C 136:29

JOY

D&C 11:13
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, I will impart unto you of my Spirit, which shall enlighten your mind, which shall fill your soul with joy"