I Believe It Was My Turn!

Okay, so I haven't been on the email machine this week until today. I should have been better about it. I do think it was my turn, though; so, here it is: There are a lot of prayers we offer formally or informally to God. There are things we want in our lives. We lose the keys and we want to find them. We want time from work to spend with our families. We want money. We want health. We want the means to help others. We sometimes want selfish things. We want suffering to stop. We want good times to last. Again, we look to God and ask Him for some of these things formally and informally. I have prayed for lost keys like a good boy and never found them physically (I'm pretty sure they were thrown away). I have I have wanted and prayed to know what I am "supposed to be" when I grow up... nothing yet; though I hear the whisper, "a good father" (I was looking for something a little more specific). Point being, maybe it's the way I ask, maybe I'm not always "in tune", maybe the things I ask for are not of a significant spiritual nature, or maybe my time-table to receive an answer is off, but I don't always see an answer to my prayers. Except one... When Alma the Younger was caught in heavy rebellion against God this was a turning point for him: Alma 36:17-2117 And it came to pass that as I was thus aracked with torment, while I was bharrowed up by the cmemory of my many sins, behold, I dremembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world.

18 Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, ahave mercy on me, who am bin the cgall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting dchains of edeath.

19 And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my apains bno more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more.

20 And oh, what ajoy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain!

21 Yea, I say unto you, my son, that there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains. Yea, and again I say unto you, my son, that on the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy.

Notice, no delay. He cried to Christ and the Spirit came. Again to the woman taken in adultery...

John 8:10-12
10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?

11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I acondemn thee: go, and sin bno more.

Yes, He saved her life in this instance but the greater miracle is in His ability to free her from sin and His willingness to do it. Last one for today: Christ speaking to Joseph Smith after he allowed the original first book in the Book of Mormon to be stolen shortly after its translation...

1 Now, behold, I say unto you, that because you adelivered up those writings which you had power given unto you to translate by the means of the bUrim and Thummim, into the hands of a wicked man, you have lost them.

2 And you also lost your gift at the same time, and your amind became bdarkened.

3 Nevertheless, it is now arestored unto you again; therefore see that you are faithful and continue on unto the finishing of the remainder of the work of btranslation as you have begun.

4 Do not run afaster or labor more than you have bstrength and means provided to enable you to translate; but be cdiligent unto the end.

5 aPray always, that you may come off bconqueror;

The one prayer that I know God will answer is the only prayer that we really need God to answer. It is that He loves us and so we can be forgiven. He knows we are imperfect and still He loves us. He knows we rebel at times and He loves us. He knows we won't listen at times and still he loves us. He knows that we fear the world more than Him sometimes and still He loves us. He loves us so He sent His son. And as often as we'll turn to Him and ask Him for forgiveness and ask Him if He loves us, He will answer, "Yes."
I love you guys. Don't listen to the adversary. Listen to the Spirit. Pick yourself up as often as you fall and keep moving in the right direction.

Casey

P.S. I am well aware that S.S. does not stand for Sunday SERMON.