I am particularly fascinated with the journey of Joshua.

I love the lessons we learn from the moment Joshua gathered the people together next to the river Jordan.  It was clear that they couldn’t go back where they had come from, and yet there was a huge obstacle right in front of them.

What were they to do?

In that period of waiting, Joshua gave clear instruction of how they would prepare for the miracle that would allow them to journey forward.  He said, “Sanctify yourselves: for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” (Joshua 3:5)

The people knew where they had come from, but they did not have any idea where they were about to be led.  They didn’t know what the end would be.  They couldn’t possibly understand that promise that awaited them.  They had to trust Joshua and believe in a God that would do wonders in their behalf.

Just before the miracle happened Joshua asked the priests to take up the Ark of the Covenant and walk before the people.  Then Joshua told the priests to walk into the water carrying the Ark.  I try to imagine what kind of faith this must have required.  In my mind’s eye I can picture those Priests stepping into the river that was overflowing its banks because it was so full.  Joshua told the people that if they watched what was about to happen they would know that a living God was aware of them, and that he would deliver them “without fail.”  (Joshua 3:10)

I often wonder what thoughts filled their mind in that moment.  Were they apprehensive about the journey they were about to undertake?  Did they contemplate how they would cross that great expanse of water?

The lesson here is so clear ––they had to begin the journey, their faith had to be made manifest with effort, before the miracle would come.  And so they stepped into the brim of water, and then the waters “stood and rose up upon an heap” and the priests “stood firm on dry ground.”  (Joshua 3:16-17 emphasis added.)

My very favorite lesson from this story is found in chapter four.   Once they had crossed the riverbed, the Lord told Joshua to have 12 men find 12 stones from the very middle of the river to use for a monument on the other side. I imagine that the journey across the river was quite a trek.  These men probably had families, young children, and personal belongings they were required to move across this great riverbed.  Now, as if they had not shouldered enough, they were asked to go back and carry an added burden.   I am sure as they walked to the very middle of that riverbed they questioned the Lord.  Could they not set up a monument with stones from the far side of the river and still remember the journey?

But the Lord wanted stones from the midst of Jordan.

Once they had brought the stones out of the riverbed, Joshua had the 12 stones placed together as a memorial.  “And He spake unto the children of Israel, saying, When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean these stones?  Then ye shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land.  That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty.” (Joshua 4:21-24)

These 12 men left a legacy to their families for generations to come of their testimony of the Lord and the great miracle of His hand in their life.  Years from that moment, when their children asked “what mean ye by these stones,” (Joshua 4:6) these fathers would point to the river, full to overflowing its banks, and speak of a time when they had walked to the very middle of the river, on dry ground, and carried those stones to the shore.

In that moment it would be their great privilege to testify of the miracles of the Lord.

What are your stones?

Do you keep reminders of the moments where you have seen the hand of the Lord in your life?

Perhaps today you could consider the miracles in your life and then find a way to remember them, so that in a time to come you might share those experiences with those you love.

This weekend we will finish Deuteronomy, we will say a final farewell to Moses, and we will be introduced to Joshua.

If you get a chance make sure you read Deuteronomy 24:5, Deuteronomy 26:11, and Deuteronomy 28:2-14 (and when you read this last one, take just a minute to wonder what it means for blessings to come on thee and to overtake thee.  I am fascinated by that promise…)

But today, if you don’t mind, I would like to introduce you to a possibilitarian.

What is a possibilitarian, you ask?

I love the definition by Norman Vincent Peale…

“Become a possibilitarian.  No matter how dark things seem to be or actually are, raise your sights and see possibilities ––always see them, for they’re always there.”

On Monday we are going to meet one of the greatest possibilitarians of all time.

His name is Joshua.

Remember when he went as a spy into the promised land?

Remember how he saw the possibilities?

Remember how he brought back a good report?

I have come to realize that being a possibilitarian requires courage and strength.  Two characteristics Joshua was blessed to have.

“…and Joshua, he shall go over before thee, as the Lord hath said.  And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou MUST go with this people unto the land which the Lord hath sworn…to give them; and THOU shalt cause them to inherit it.  And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee:  fear not, neither be dismayed.”  (Deuteronomy 31:6-8)

Did you know that the Lord counseled Joshua to be strong and of good courage six different times between Deuteronomy 31 and the first chapter of Joshua?

On Monday we are going to begin to understand why Joshua needed that counsel.

It is because what he was about to do would require great strength.

And it would require courage.

But most importantly, it would require him to know that the Lord would be with him, withersoever he went.

Joshua teaches us that when you combine courage and strength with the companionship of the Lord you can expect miracles.

Possibilities beyond your expectations.

For it was Joshua himself who said, “tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.”  (Joshua 3:5)

But I will save that story for Monday.

This weekend, in preparation for your introduction to Joshua, perhaps you could practice being a possibilitarian.

Find courage.

Gather Strength.

Allow the Lord to be with thee withersoever thou goest.

And then prepare to experience wonders.

Greet each day with an enthusiastic welcome no matter how it looks.

The covenant with God to which you are true

enables you to become enlightened by him,

and nothing is impossible for you.

(Elder F. Enzio Busche)

When thou goest out…be not afraid

For the Lord thy God is with thee.

Let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified.

For the Lord your God is he that goeth with you.

(Deuteronomy 20:1-4)

]]> http://dailyclosertochrist.com/2012/02/16/762/feed/ 7 http://dailyclosertochrist.com/2012/02/15/walking-after-the-lord/ http://dailyclosertochrist.com/2012/02/15/walking-after-the-lord/#comments Wed, 15 Feb 2012 08:52:20 +0000 admin http://dailyclosertochrist.com/?p=740 Deuteronomy 11:25 – Deuteronomy 16:13

“…for the Lord your God proveth you,

to know whether ye love the Lord your God

with all your heart and with all your soul.

Ye shall walk after the Lord your God…

and keep his commandments, and obey his voice,

and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.

(Deuteronomy 13:3-4)

Today my thoughts are focused on what it means to walk after the Lord.

I remember reading that phrase yesterday, “ye shall diligently keep all these commandments which I command you, to do them, to love the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, and to cleave unto him…”  (Deuteronomy 11:22)

I want to learn how to do that.

So this morning I read through the chapters again and I found a hint, right there in chapter eleven verses 18-21.  Interestingly, those verses are a repeat of chapter six.

I have learned that when the Lord repeats something, it is important.  And I realize this walking after the Lord must be worth understanding.  And to really understand it I need to study the counsel He gave.  Twice.  In chapter eleven and in chapter six.

It is that counsel I want to think about today.

“And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:  And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.  And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.  And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates…”  (Deuteronomy 6:6-9)

These words…in thine heart.

My thoughts turn to the scriptures.  His words.  And I want to make sure I have made a place for them in my heart.

And that I teach them diligently to my children.

And that I talk about them when we gather together in our house.

And when I walk by the way.

I want to read them before I lie down.

And again, when I rise up.

And I want them to be constantly before my eyes…upon the walls of my home, written on the posts, and upon the gates.

These words.

So they will always be in my heart.

I have spent some time pondering how well I am doing at following this counsel.  Because I really want to learn how to walk after the Lord.  As I pondered, I was reminded of some of my favorite moments this week.

Josh and I went to visit my parents.

They pulled out their scriptures, and they taught us, and we talked about His words in their home.

And in a conversation with a dear friend,

we spoke of what we had read that day,

and how much we were enjoying this journey.

And just before we went to bed, Greg and I gathered all of the kids so we could read together.

And when we were done we each shared our favorite scripture from the reading that day…because that is what we like to do

…just before our family prayer.

And Meg and I found one of our favorite scriptures written on a small block of wood, and we bought for a gift for Josh so that every time he sees it he will remember.

Is this what it feels like, to walk after the Lord?

Because those moments have been some of the sweetest moments of my week.

Take a moment to reflect on your week.

Have you found sweet moments as you read the words of the Lord?  Are His words finding a place in your heart?

Is this journey helping you to walk after Him?

I wish we could have one evening to gather as friends and read His words together.  I wish that we could share our favorite verses from this journey so far…the words we have settled into our hearts.

But since that would be nearly impossible, perhaps we could gather here.

If you would like, maybe you could share a favorite scripture in the comment section of this blog.

Then we could strengthen each other by the way.

On our daily journey.

Walking after the Lord.

I am married to a lacrosse coach.

This week has been filled with lacrosse tryouts.

I wonder if you are aware that tryouts are just as stressful for a coach as they are for the players?

Because how do you choose…out of all of those boys…how do you set the team?

The Coach loses sleep over this.

And he spends a lot of time looking at each name and thinking about each boy.

Making the team requires more than just talent.  Dedication and commitment are considered.  The Coach spends a lot of time just watching.  Pondering.  Considering.  He doesn’t just choose the boys with the most talent.  Sometimes he chooses the ones with the fewest.

He knows what he is looking for.

That’s him there on the right.  You can feel the watching, the pondering, the considering.

This coaching, it’s not about the winning for him.  He will tell you it is, but I will tell you it’s not.  It’s about the boys.

He’s teaching them respect.  Honor on the field and off.  How to become a champion in the game so they can become a champion in life.

He spends a lot of time on this.

And the boys learn to honor him by honoring the game.

It doesn’t take long to realize that he loves every one of those boys ––much more than he loves the game.

Tonight he posted two lists.  A varsity squad, and a jv squad.  It was hard making the separation.  I watched him fret over it for hours.

It’s a decision he didn’t look forward to.

But the thing I love about the coach and his team tryout is this:  Everyone who tried out for the team this week made it on one list or the other.

No one was cut.

He chose to keep every single boy.

Because he believes in the potential of each player.   He would never turn someone away.

It reminds me a little bit of some of the verses we read at the very end of yesterday’s reading…and one of the verses we read today.

“For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God:  the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.

The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people;

for ye were the fewest of all people:

But because the Lord loved you…hath he brought you out with a mighty hand…

Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations.

(Deuteronomy 6:6-9, 13,14,15)

And he will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee…thou shalt be blessed above all people… (Deuteronomy 7:13)

I love that the Lord didn’t choose Israel because they were more…because in reality they were the fewest…He did what He did for them because He loved them.  That’s why He was faithful to them.  And He believed in their potential.  Enough to bring them out with a mighty hand.

And I believe He will do the same for us.

You might not be involved in a team tryout right now.  But do you ever have one of those days when you look back and wonder if you were enough?  If you gave your best?  If anyone even recognized your effort?

Do you ever wonder whose team you are on?  If anyone is cheering for you?  If someone else has more to offer than you ever could?

On those days maybe you could remember these verses.

The Lord has chosen you.  Because He thinks you are special.  You don’t have to be more than anyone else…you can be numbered among the fewest.  He will still choose you.

Because He loves you.

He won’t turn you away.  He will love you.  And bless you.

Because the Lord thy God, He is God.

The faithful God.

Who has promised that you will be blessed among all people.

Believe Him.

There is nothing that would make Him happier than to know that you are on His team.

He knows your potential.

He has chosen you.

Choose Him.

…Hey Coach,

Happy Valentine’s Day.

I love you.

Belle

Remember how on Friday I explained to you how much I love Deuteronomy?

Well, I had a super hard time choosing what to write about today.  There were so many things I loved from the chapters that I wanted to write about…

On tender mercies…Deuteronomy 4:30-35 & 39

On having such an heart…Deuteronomy 5:29

On what we need to do so that “it might be well with us”

But there is a phrase in chapter four that I absolutely can’t pass up…it teaches on remembering the special days.

As the people of Israel prepared to enter the Promised Land Moses took time to give them great counsel. “Take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons; specially the day that thou stoodest before the Lord thy God in Horeb, when the Lord said unto me, Gather me the people together. . . . And ye came near and stood under the mountain; and the mountain burned with fire unto the midst of heaven. . . . And the Lord spake unto you out of the midst of the fire. . . . Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the Lord he is God; there is none else beside him” (Deuteronomy 4:9–10, 11, 12, 35; emphasis added).

Moses knew that the burning-mountain moment had been a life-changing experience for those who recognized what it was. He wanted them always to remember what their eyes had seen, never to forget that moment in their hearts. I love how Moses reminded them to remember “specially the day.”

What are the special days in your life?

Elder Ronald A. Rasband encourages us to “think of the special experiences you have been blessed with in your life that have given you conviction and joy in your heart. Remember when you first knew that Joseph Smith was God’s prophet of the Restoration? Remember when you accepted Moroni’s challenge and knew that the Book of Mormon was indeed another testament of Jesus Christ? Remember when you received an answer to fervent prayer and realized that your Heavenly Father knows and loves you personally? As you contemplate such special experiences, don’t they give you a sense of gratitude and resolve to go forward with renewed faith and determination? In these days of worldly intrusions into our lives, when trials and difficulties may seem to engulf us, let us remember our own special spiritual experiences” (“Special Experiences,” 11, 12).

I will never forget the day almost two years ago, when my oldest son, Caleb, received the packet containing his mission call. Caleb wanted to invite some of his friends to watch him open the call that evening at eight o’clock. I thought it was a great idea.

He wanted to serve hot dogs.

Late in the afternoon I was making a list of who would be coming to make sure I had purchased enough hot dogs. Between grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins we were expecting just over forty people from our extended family. I called him up to ask how many more he anticipated. “I don’t know, Mom,” he replied. “I invited all of the Young Men and my leaders, my home teaching companion and the families we teach, the entire lacrosse team, and some friends from school.”

I knew immediately I hadn’t bought enough hot dogs.

Not only that, I wasn’t sure if we could fit that many people into our house. At eight o’clock that night people started arriving, quickly filling the family room, kitchen, and front hall of our home. Once the doorbell finally stopped ringing, I ran upstairs to get my camera so I could record the minute when Caleb opened his call.

As I walked out of the library, I looked down the stairs at the rooms below—there were so many people you could no longer see the carpet, the tile, or even any of the furniture that fills up those three areas of our home. The house was completely bursting with people who had come to see Caleb open his call. As I turned to walk down the stairs I had an impression—take a picture of this—and so I did. Then I ran down the stairs so Caleb could open his call.

I don’t think a mother ever anticipates correctly where her son will serve, so it won’t surprise you to learn that I was completely shocked when Caleb announced he would be spending the next two years in Croatia. I didn’t even know where Croatia was. After the hot dogs had been served and the well-wishers had returned to their own homes and everyone had gone to bed, I found my thoughts racing over the events of the day.

On this day Caleb had carried that call in his hands for most of the afternoon, practically bursting with anticipation because he knew that the Lord’s prophet had extended the call contained inside. On this day he had been surrounded by people who supported him, who would cheer him through every missionary experience he encountered in the next two years. On this day he had shared his testimony before he opened his call, the light shining in his eyes as he testified that more than anything in the world he wanted to serve the Lord. On this day he could barely wait to put on a suit and get to Croatia. On this day he knew where he was going and why. There wasn’t a doubt in his mind. He was a confident and willing servant. Oh, how I wished that somehow, when he was miles and months away from here, he would be able to remember this day.

And then I remembered the picture.

Immediately my heart filled with gratitude for a loving Father in Heaven who knew in advance the thoughts of a mother’s heart. I had been inspired to take a picture of that exact moment, of this special day.

The next morning I had the picture printed in a size that I could glue into the back of Caleb’s scriptures. I knew there would be moments of discouragement when he got on his mission, times when he would wonder what he was doing and why he had come so far from home. When that happened, he could look back at that picture pasted in his scriptures and say, on this day, specially this day, I knew where I was going and why.

There is great strength in remembering our special days. Especially the days when we come to know that the Lord, He is God.

Perhaps today you could take some time to remember your own special days.

…specially the days when you recognized the hand of the Lord.

You might want to write them down, lest they depart from your heart.

So you won’t ever forget.

I have to begin this post by telling you that I love the book of Deuteronomy.

It is probably one of my favorite books in the Old Testament.  The thing I love most about this book is that it contains Moses’ thoughts on the lessons he learned from the Journey Through the Wilderness.  What some might call a recap of the events we just read about in Numbers is really a book filled with tender memories as Moses looks back over the 40 year journey.

It is as if we are spending this last week with Moses before he dies, listening to him recount the memories of his life.

I have looked ahead and chosen my six favorite lessons from the memories of Moses…one for today, and five more for every day next week.  I hope these next few days might become some of your most favorite reading so far.

Today’s lesson is on mountain moments.

In Deuteronomy chapter two, Moses talks about how Israel had journeyed for almost 40 years. He reminds the people how they took their journey into the wilderness by way of the Red Sea and compassed Mount Seir for many days. Finally the Lord spoke to Moses and said, “Ye have compassed this mountain long enough: turn you northward.” (Deuteronomy 2:3).

I am intrigued by this thought.

In my mind I can almost hear the Lord saying, “You have journeyed through this place long enough. It is time to walk away from it. Leave it behind now. Let it go.”

Have you ever experienced a mountain moment?

A moment when you faced an obstacle that you couldn’t seem to move past?  Life is full of mountain moments. Within those moments we pray for direction, seek for understanding, and long for the promised end.

Our mountain moments may cause reason for mourning; we may plead with the Lord to give us strength. Sometimes those moments seem to last forever. The Lord allows time for mourning, for growing, for stretching, for gaining strength. But there will come a day, in the midst of these experiences, when we will hear the quiet whisper from the Lord, “Ye have compassed this mountain long enough.”

The Lord told Moses that the walking away from this mountain wouldn’t necessarily be easy. In fact, others would lie in the path. His counsel was clear: “Meddle not with them” (Deuteronomy 2:5).

It seems that the Lord is teaching an important principle here.

Sometimes we have to let go of what is holding us back in order to reach the promised end. When the Spirit prompts us to move on, we must find the strength to move past the painful things that seem to overwhelm and constrain us. This might require fighting for what we know is right.  Maybe it will require allowing the healing to come. Sometimes it requires forgiveness. At other times we might lean heavily on repentance. Always we must find courage.

There is another important lesson we learn from this chapter. It is one of my favorite lessons in the whole book of Deuteronomy and perhaps in the entire Old Testament.

Throughout this mountain moment, this forty-year journey through the wilderness, the people of Israel had not traveled alone. Moses reminds them, “For the Lord thy God…knoweth thy walking through this great wilderness: these forty years the Lord thy God hath been with thee; thou hast lacked nothing” (Deuteronomy 2:7).

Think about the mountain moments you have journeyed through, the great wilderness places of your life. Comfort fills my heart when I realize the Lord knows about the mountain, and He knows the walking through the wilderness.

He knows.

And not only does He see us walking through, He is there with us.

Beneath the mountain.  Within the wilderness.

Looking back at the mountain and wilderness moments of my life with a perspective focused on Him, I realize a powerful truth: As empty and heavy as my heart was, I lacked nothing. The Lord filled the empty places and lifted my heavy heart.

Often the mountain moments and wilderness places of our life provide for some of the greatest miracles. Within the journey we are able to witness moments with the Lord, if our eyes are only open to see.

The chapter of scripture ends with two important messages: “Now rise up, said I, and get you over,” and “Rise ye up, take your journey.” (Deuteronomy 2:13, 24).

Perhaps the only way we can move through the hardest days and on to the promised end is to follow this counsel and rise above them. Most often we will not have the power to do this on our own. The Lord knows how to lift. He has the capacity to strengthen us until we can move forward again on our own.

We must remember, the Lord is completely aware of our journey through every great wilderness.

He will guide us beyond the mountain moments.

He will be with us every step of the way.

He will make sure that we lack nothing.

I have become attached to Moses.

This Journey Through the Wilderness has given me a great love, respect, and admiration for a man I knew very little about before we started.

I must admit, saying farewell is tugging at my heartstrings.

This last part of Numbers is hard to take in.

Do you find it hard to fathom why Moses wasn’t the Prophet who led Israel on this last stretch of the journey over Jordan and into the Promised Land?

Our hearts wonder if it is fair.  We might argue that he earned the right.  Perhaps we question the answer to Moses from the Lord.  But from this moment in Numbers through the third chapter in Deuteronomy we learn an important lesson ––God’s will for us is good.  Always.  We must trust that principle even when we don’t understand it.  For often when our heart conceives what the perfect end should be, it is simply because it is impossible for us to imagine or comprehend how great things the Lord already has in store for us.

From Moses we learn an important lesson––sometimes the Lord prepares a different ending then what we had envisioned…but it is always the right ending.

Today we read the words that lead to the end of the journey with Moses. (I am going to mix my thoughts with some of the words of Alfred Edersheim, his beautiful descriptions explain this ending better than I can on my own.)

“And the Lord said unto Moses, Get thee up into this mount…and see the land which I have given unto the children of Israel.  And when thou hast seen it, thou also shalt be gathered unto thy people. ..and Moses spake unto the Lord, saying, Let the Lord…set a man over the congregation which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the Lord be not as sheep which have no shepherd.  …And the Lord said unto Moses, take thee Joshua…and give him a charge in their sight.”  (Numbers 27:12-20)

It is touching to see how meekly Moses received the sentence from the Lord.  Faithful to the end in his stewardship over God’s house, I love that his chief concern was that God would appoint a suitable successor for his people.  This is one of the crowning moments of Moses’ leadership.

“Throughout his life all his thoughts had been for Israel…his last care also was for the people whom he had loved, and for the work to which he had been devoted…”

Once he knew his people would be taken care of, his thoughts shifted to the pain of not being with them as they entered the Promised Land.  In Moses’ weakness we see so clearly a kinship to our own feelings.  Moses longed to share what was before Israel.  He had grown to love them.  It must have been so hard for him to think of leaving them now.

It is no wonder Moses wanted so desperately to have part in the conquest and the rest of the Promised Land.

“He had believed in it; he had preached it; he had prayed for it; he had laboured, borne, fought for it.  And now within reach and view of it must he lay himself down to die?”

Scripture records, with touching simplicity, what passed between Moses and the Lord.  “O Lord God, thou hast begun to show thy servant thy greatness and thy strong hand: for what God is there in heaven or in earth, that can do according to thy works, and according to thy might?  I pray thee, let me go over, and see the good land that is beyond Jordan…and the Lord said unto me, Let it suffice thee:  speak no more unto me of this matter.”  (Deuteronomy 3:24-26)

There are two phrases within that verse that stand out to me…thou hast begun…and…Let it suffice thee.

First, we learn that Moses had just begun to see the greatness of the Lord.  In 120 years he had just begun.  Which leads me to understand that he knew the Lord still had great things in store for him.  And second, I love the words let it suffice thee.  As if the Lord was saying, This is enough…find joy in this much…and then trust me. Moses would not lead the people into the Promised Land, but he would have the privilege of seeing it.  And then he would have to trust the will of the Lord.  That it was good.

“Thus, amid the respectful silence of a mourning people, Moses set out alone upon his last journey.  All the way up to the highest top of Pisgah the eyes of the people must have followed him.  They could watch him as he stood there in the sunset, taking his full view of the land ––there to see for himself how true and faithful Jehovah had been.”

When we think of Moses we must remember, He did stand on the goodly mountain within the Land of Promise.

And we also must remember that there, on the top of Pisgah, God prepared something better for Moses than even entrance into the land of earthly promise.

“And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses,

whom the Lord knew face to face.”

(Deuteronomy 34:10)

Have you ever read the scripture in first Nephi that talks about the people who were bit by the fiery flying serpents and wondered what that was all about?

For years I was intrigued by the phrase in chapter seventeen which reads, “and the labor which they had to perform was to look; and because of the simpleness of the way, or the easiness of it, there were many who perished.”  (1 Nephi 17:41)

In essence, all the people had to do to be healed from these bites was to look.  But it was too simple.  Too easy.  Instead, they perished.

I always wanted to know more of that story. I wanted to understand more of the details.

…I don’t want to be the person who becomes disillusioned by the simpleness  ––the person who forgets to look.  Every time I read that verse in the Book of Mormon I want to know how to avoid that mistake.

One of my favorite parts of this daily journey so far is the fact that what I am learning  from the Old Testament is strengthening my understanding of what I have read previously in the Pearl of Great Price, the Book of Mormon, and the Doctrine and Covenants.  Today what I am reading in Numbers 21 is strengthening my testimony of what I have read before in 1 Nephi 17, and in Alma 33.  My eyes are being opened, and I am gaining a deeper understanding through knowledge I didn’t have before.  The Old Testament is teaching me to look at things in a different way.

It is teaching me to look.

In today’s reading that lesson is taught twice.

First, we are taught about the people “who were much discouraged because of the way.” (Numbers 21:4)  I know what it is to be discouraged because of the way.  In those moments we lose sight of the goal, focusing instead on what is getting us down.

In the midst of this discouragement the people began to murmur.  It wasn’t new murmuring, it was the same complaints they stumbled upon every time:

Why did we leave Egypt? To die in the wilderness?

I read this familiar line, “and our soul loatheth this light bread,” (Numbers 21:5) and it breaks my heart to think the people were so discouraged they again began to loath the miracles and daily tender mercies of the Lord.

Because of the murmuring the Lord sent fiery flying serpents among the people.  Those who were bit, died.  As they became humbled from this plague they begged Moses to ask the Lord to take away the serpents.

The Lord’s answer for healing was simple.  Easy.

Look.

And live.

But Nephi tells us they didn’t.  Because of the simpleness.  Because it was too easy.

In our day the promise is the same.   “Look to God and live.” (Alma 37:47) But how often does the simpleness, or the easiness of that suggestion fall by the wayside?  How simple, or easy, is it to become distracted?

Look.

In case we missed the lesson the first time, the book of Numbers teaches it again.  This time through the story of Balaam.

Balak offered Balaam money and cattle and great honor if he would curse Israel.  But the Lord made it clear that was not what He wanted Balaam to do, “thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.”  (Numbers 22:12)

Balaam knew he shouldn’t go, and yet he rose in the morning, saddled his ass, and went.

The Lord wasn’t happy with his choice.  An angel of the Lord stood in the way so that he wouldn’t be able to proceed.

But Balaam didn’t look.

The ass saw the angel and would not proceed.  After much struggle between the ass, and the rock and the hard place, and the narrow way, finally the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel standing in his way.

His response is important, “I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way…” (Numbers 22:34)

I knew not.

Why didn’t he simply look?

Today I am taking counsel from Nephi and the lesson I learned today from Numbers…

“And the labor which they had to perform was to look.”

Today I am going to look.

…for healing, for direction, for counsel, for answers, for miracles, for daily tender mercies…

for whatever it is the Lord wants me to see.

Today.

Last night my family was invited to a celebration.

We gathered to a high mountain overlooking the valley below, with friends who had come to remember.

There we spoke reverently of a sweet girl born on a February day two years ago.  She was privileged to spend a few hours with her tender mother, doting father, dear sister, and brave brothers.  Just long enough to leave a gentle impression on their hearts, and then she returned home to Heaven.

Yesterday was her birthday.

In honor of her memory, her mother asked that we write down a celebration in our life and tie it to the end of a balloon.

…because in her mother’s heart this dear, sweet baby will always be remembered as a celebration…

So our thoughts were drawn inward, and we pondered happy things, and we wrote down our celebrations on pale pink cards and tied them with a bright bow to the end of a pink balloon.

We stood there in a circle, and we sang softly, a melody of words to remind us that families can be forever.  The testimony of that truth burned in my heart and streamed in wet tears down my cheeks.

Then, the baby’s mother asked us to let go of our balloons.

In celebration.

And we remembered.

And our eyes lifted heavenward.

Today Moses teaches a lesson on the importance of remembering.

“Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments…that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue: And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the Lord, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart…that ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy.”  (Numbers 15:38-40)

I love this thought of fringes.

Do we have fringes today?

Just like the pink balloons, which led our hearts to remember, and our eyes to draw heavenward?

Do we have fringes that we can look upon to remind us of the commandments of the Lord?  To lead our hearts to remember, and to draw our eyes heavenward…

I wanted to think I might, so I wandered around my house looking.

For fringes.

Reminders placed around my home that would help me remember all the commandments of the Lord.

…there up the stairway, a reminder of our family mission statement…

…and in the family room, three keys ––family prayer, FHE, family scripture study…

…and in the girl’s room…

…and Grace’s favorite painting of the Savior…

…and Meg’s necklace for Sunday’s…

…and our General Conference Quote Wall…

…and the table in the front hall…

As I wandered I began to realize there are fringes all around us.  In our clothing, our home decor, our jewelry.  Reminders quietly prompting us to consider the commandments.  Lifting our hearts heavenward.

Can you think of some fringes in your own life?

Would you like to add more?

Today try to think of one tangible item that reminds you to keep the commandments of the Lord.

“And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember…” (Numbers 15:39)