1 Samuel 16:1

....Fill thine horn with oil and go...

In the course of several years I had experienced the crushing pain of loss in several different aspects of my life.  We all suffer with hurts and loss.  Sometimes those things can literally debilitate us.  As I reflect on the story of Saul, the last judge and first prophet in the old testament, I am drawn into my own life reflecting as I renew my faith and trust in our amazing God.

The fall of Saul was one of Samuel's biggest disappointments. Samuel had hit ground zero as he mourned the loss of Saul. Then the voice of God rang from heaven teaching Samuel a lesson we can all learn from when we have been hurt.  "Fill your horn and go."  Fill your horn with oil and be on your way.  When we get moving out of our sorrows and move on the path God sets before us we find  beauty from ashes and treasures that are meant for our lives.  God is our refuge and will guide us to our Bethlehem where we will find peace and favor in the Lord.  There comes a time to get back on the horse and ride.  I like to view it as dancing with God above the trials that are under our feet.

Photo by: Jeri Burt

Hebrews 13:18
Pray for us: for we trust we have a good
conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.

Honesty is a wide topic and as I thought on this
I remembered a time when I was in grade school.
I was in the band and played the clarinet.  Our band
teacher was, of course, avid about us spending time
at home to practice.  
It was the day of one of our first performance for our parents
and fellow students at school.  My dad was a school
teacher so he was there to listen to his daughter play
with the band on this exciting day.
After our performance the band teacher surprised several
of us in the band by randomly picking a student to share
how much they practice.  Suddenly, my name rang in my ears when our band teacher asked me to stand and share.  My heart throbbed,
I felt dizzy, and in just a few split seconds I debated on
telling the truth or making some awesome tale of how I
practiced every day. It's amazing how many thoughts can go
through your mind so quickly.  So I made my choice. 
No matter how embarrassed I was I had to be honest.
I blurted out, "Well, sometimes I don't practice at all!"
The auditorium was filled with laughter as I concluded,
"but when I do practice I practice a couple times a week."
After the program my dad came to me and let me know I
embarrassed him, and the band teacher said, "and that's why
you're in last chair."  What I never did have the chance to say
is, "I play by ear; and although I can read music to a point 
I rely on my ears to learn, and my memory to play. 
As years went by I was never my band teachers favorite; yet I can say that although honesty doesn't always bring you popularity - you can fly with the angels when your conscience is clear.

Photo by: Jeri Burt

Proverbs 15:14
The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh
knowledge; but the mouth of fools feedeth on
foolishness. 

When I woke up this morning the following
words came to me:
"knowledge, understanding, and love can
heal nations."
As I reflect on these words I recall misunderstandings
and false judgments that have been fed on gossip or hear say;
and how it not only affects personal lives
but nations.  If knowledge, understanding, and love
can heal nations just think what it could do in our daily
lives as we interact with others.  In 1 Corinthians 
chapter 13, the love chapter, we learn that love takes 
no offense, love is patient, love is kind, love is long 
suffering, love endures, and so on.  The magic of love 
comes alive when we seek understanding and knowledge 
with a loving heart. Then, the magical words sung by
Louis Armstrong, "What a Wonderful world," becomes  
reality.

Photo by: Jeri Burt  Heart in the Rock

Isaaiah 58:6-8
Is not this the fast that I have chosen to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free and that ye break every yoke?  7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? 8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy reward. 

As I prepared for the songs I had chosen to lead in Sacrament meeting, I read this scripture that went with the opening song, "In Fasting we Approach thee."  My heart was filled and my testimony grew in the importance of fasting; and my mind took me back to the example my daughter, Danelle, had set for me.  After her accident she demonstrated an amazing physical strength as she conquered the challenges of re learning, overcoming and being healed in such a miraculous way.  Not only did she demonstrate strength physically, she was a spiritual giant.  She took the law of fasting beyond and fasted faithfully once a week for 24 hours.  One Saturday, as she was getting upset easily and a little shaky, I suggested she go ahead and eat; her body was trying to heal and eating was important.  Although it had been 23 hours since she had eaten, her 24 hours was not up, so she waited.  I did not understand at that time her determination was Faith. Her faith was in God to sustain and heal her.  I learned a lot from her that day - and every  week when I knew it was her fast day I was always filled with awe.  Now, in my older age, I finally understand.  
The hymn we sang today was reminding us of the blessings that come as we fast.  My daughter understood that. Fasting is an act of humility.  We learn from the song that fasting will cleanse our hearts and drive away fear as our trust in our Heavenly Father increases. Our spiritual growth comes as we fast and pray.

photo by: Jeri Burt  tree growing in the rock

Psalms 95: 1-2
O come, let us sing unto the Lord:
Let us make a joyful noise to the rock
of our salvation.
2 Let us come before his presence with
thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise
unto him with psalms. 

The Hymn, For the Beauty of the Earth,
reminds us of these verses in Psalms. The
hymn is a song of Thanksgiving as we attune
ourselves to the simple beauties in nature,
our families, and our friends. We sing about
the joy of human love, the beauty of each hour,
and we sing about the natural beauties of the 
earth such as the trees, flowers, the sky, the sun, 
the moon and the stars. 
These are sources of joy, which
in turn can give us new found hope each day.
In the last line of the song we lift our voices
with a joyful noise to God, as we sing,
 "Lord of all, to thee we raise this our hymn of 
Grateful praise."
Note: Hymn scholars believe that the scriptural
inspiration for this hymn is found in James 1:17


 Photo by: Jeri Burt

Stitches

Colossians 2:2
"That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father and of Christ."

Knitting in scripture is a metaphor to describe Gods creative relationship with us. I love to crochet which is similar to knitting.  I think about this scripture often when I am crocheting afghans, scarves, slippers, and toys for those who seem to need a little comfort; the creative language to share the love of God.  I am reminded how each stitch brings us closer to God and in turn to each other, and how connected we all really are to the one, "In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." Colossians 2:3


Bear Crocheted by:  Jeri Burt

Doctrine and Covenants 88: 63
 Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me, ask and ye shall receive, knock and it shall be opened unto you. 

The Hymn, Nearer My God to Thee, is one of my favorites.  This hymn is consistent with longing.  When I sing this song I feel it within my being how I long to be near to our Father in Heaven.  In verse two we sing, "though like the wanderer the sun goes down,/ darkness be over me, My rest a stone,"  compares us to Jacob in the old Testament story, Jacobs Ladder.  There is a promise in the song taken from this story in verse 4.  "Bethel I'll raise."  We consecrate our lives, even our trials and griefs to the Lord, then like Jacob, we take our stones of suffering, trials, pain, we use for a pillow and build an alter pouring out an offering of oil unto the Lord.
Im reminded of a song I used to sing during my years of ministering in the jail called, Lost and found.  "Jesus don't you keep me from that storm, I want to walk on sacred ground, for you are master of it all, and I am but a lost and found."  
We can offer up our lives to God and there we draw nearer to Him.


 Photo By: Jeri Burt