"And Mary said..." - Ponderize - Week 61

In our church, we use the phrase "magnify the Lord in your calling" quite a bit.  I've been thinking what it means to magnify the Lord.  All too often, we might think this means exhausting ourselves to do more, be more, to run "faster than we have strength" in order to magnify our calling but we forget "the Lord" part.

In Luke 1:46, Mary, the mother of Christ said, "My soul doth magnify the Lord."

What does it mean to magnify something? It means to increase, extend, expand, intensify. 

If it is the Lord that is the one that is magnified first in our heart and mind then He becomes bigger, stronger, more powerful than the other things that may try to consume us... like our fears, our weaknesses, our anxieties, our doubts, and even our foolish pride.  

The problems and struggles we face may seem Goliath in size, but when our soul magnifies the Lord,  we see that God is bigger than any obstacle. With this knowledge, we can do as David did: We will "hasten and [run] toward" those giants, with full confidence that we "come to [our problems] in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel" so "that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel." (1 Samuel 17:45, 46 & 48)

Through a vision that daily recognizes and embraces the all-consuming presence and power of God, we see that God is greater, He's stronger, He is more powerful than any troubles we face, and we will come off conquerors!! With God, we need not fear.   

-Alicia

Magnify

by, We Are Messengers

Born to Fly

I've had this old favorite Christian hymn of mine playing in my head these last several days, I'll Fly Away.  I suppose it's because I've been thinking of "A Living Prayer" by, Alison Krauss and she sings both of these.

When we are born into this world, it's expected of us to learn to walk and eventually run.  But could it be possible our earth-bound souls have been created for more than this?

Pierre Teilhard de Chardin observed:

"We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience,"  

With this in mind and the lyrics to that old Gospel hymn, I've been thinking of what it means to fly.

"Some bright morning when this life is over

I'll fly away

To that home on Gods celestial shore

I'll fly away"

It's a description of an angel's transition from this mortal place to their heavenly home.  Many Christian religions believe angels actually have wings.

"We know through the Prophet Joseph Smith that “an angel of God never has wings” (History of the Church, 3:392), most depictions of them show them with wings, and some scriptures describe them as having wings. Why?"

I love the answer to this question.

"Wings represent 'power, to move, to act' (D&C 77:4). Prophets who described angels as having wings (see, for instance, Isaiah 6:2) may have referred to wings in order to communicate these ideas figuratively." - David A. Edwards- Dec. 2014 Ensign

When we understand that the wings are a representation of the power to move and act, the imagery of the hymn is beautiful and takes on a higher and more holy meaning.  We come to understand more the identity of the spirit that lives within us.  We were made for so much more than walking and running... we were truly "born to fly."  

In the book of Revelation it says,

" I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters." - Revelation 14:6-7

Who is the angel spoken of in this verse?  It's Moroni.  

Most definitely, he exemplified a life of 'power, to move and act' in the saving doctrines of the Gospel.  He lived it with his whole soul, even when he was the last one standing.  The everlasting truths of salvation were etched in his courageous and valiant heart.  And listen to this… at the end of his life, Moroni seems to echo that old Gospel hymn, "I soon go to rest in the paradise of God, until my spirit and body shall again reunite, and I am brought forth triumphant through the air" - He knew he was born to fly. 

I love what my religion professor shared this morning about this incredible man: "Oh how I love the Angel Moroni. Once he was the loneliest of lonely and now he stands atop the Temples as a symbol of gathering." -  Jennifer Platt

This wonderful prophet of God calls for us to "awake, and arise from the dust" (Moroni 10:31).  In other words he's saying, "Jump up with both feet, brothers and sisters.  Jump off the ground and rise to what you were born to do... to move and act in power, the power of God fearlessly and full of faith.  FLY!"  His spirit lives within us. This is who we are meant to become.

-Alicia

There truly are angels among us! I don't just believe it, I know!

Angels Among Us - by, Alabama

The Power Within

This song came on as I was jogging this morning.  I had to play it back again.  I love the lyrics!  Do we realize that we can call on this power, invite it into our hearts, our homes,our relationships, and our lives?  This is incredible!  How could we ever fear or cower when we know that no matter what comes our way, we have THIS power to draw from, to speak with, to call down, if we only ask?! What is this power?  It's the Spirit of God.  To me, it is also the power of the priesthood for that is how He operates. And with Him there is nothing we can't do.  I don't just believe this, I know this!!!

-Alicia

"Same Power"

by, Jeremy Camp

I can see 

Waters raging at my feet 

I can feel 

The breath of those surrounding me 

I can hear 

The sound of nations rising up 

We will not be overtaken 

We will not be overcome 

I can walk 

Down this dark and painful road 

I can face 

Every fear of the unknown 

I can hear 

All God’s children singing out 

We will not be overtaken 

We will not be overcome

The same power that rose Jesus from the grave 

The same power that commands the dead to wake 

Lives in us, lives in us 

The same power that moves mountains when He speaks 

The same power that can calm a raging sea 

Lives in us, lives in us 

He lives in us, lives in us

We have hope 

That His promises are true 

In His strength 

There is nothing we can’t do 

Yes, we know 

There are greater things in store 

We will not be overtaken 

We will not be overcome 

Greater is He that is living in me 

He’s conquered our enemy 

No power of darkness 

No weapon prevails 

We stand here in victory

"If we are going to do our duty, we are going to need the powers of heaven. And if we are going to be given access to the powers of heaven, we are going to have to learn to wait upon the Lord....you can bring the protective powers of heaven down on you by simply deciding to go toward the Savior, to wait on him... It will be hard to see the powers of heaven magnifying us or our efforts. It may even be hard to see our work being of any value at all. And sometimes our work won’t go well... But...if you pray, and if you choose to be clean, and if you choose to follow God’s servants, you will be able to work and wait long enough to bring down the powers of heaven." 

- Henry B. Eyring (Sept. 30, 1990 BYU Devotional 'Waiting Upon the Lord')

Running to the One

This is a day to celebrate freedom!  Where do you find freedom?  

Every fourth of July, where I live, we have what is called a Freedom Run.  It's a 5K and 10K that sends the runners racing through the parade route straight through the heart of our city. 

 I've been watching these runners for 15 years now.  (Last year and this year, I've been one of those runners.) For me, getting up early to go jogging or exercising, is a spiritual experience. It's a time to reflect, an opportunity to prove to myself "mind over matter." It's a time for me to exhale, to let out all the pain, heartache, sorrow, or whatever emotions that are plaguing me. And then... I inhale hope, energy, faith, and a newness of life!!  

 I started running when I was going through a very difficult time, when I felt like I had absolutely no one to "run to" but God. I usually run alone and I enjoy it.  It's a time of communion for me, a time to pray in my heart. I like to plug in my head phones and listen to "focus music"  the kind of music that sets my mind and soul on truth, that reminds me who I am, and frees my spirit.

Lately I've been running with some friends of mine.  I've really appreciated spending time with them just deepening our bonds of friendship.  And I still believe it can be a time of communion, this "prayer time" that I enjoy.  This connection to heaven comes more easily when we have "focused conversation" when we set our subjects of talk on the things that matter most: those things that lift and inspire. the things that remind us of our true identity, the things that give us hope and direction.  Where afterward, we feel a greater desire to be closer to God.  

HE is who I RUN to...  I know God lives.  He is my truest friend.  In Him, I have hope, I have love. I have healing, I have understanding... In Him I have FREEDOM... In Him, have everything!

-Alicia

  

"Who I Am"

by, Blanca

Another voice, another choice

To listen to words somebody said

Another day

I replay

One too many doubts inside my head

Am I strong

Beautiful

Am I good enough

Do I belong

After all

That I’ve said and done

Is it real

When I feel

I don't measure up

Am I loved

I’m running to the One who knows me

Who made every part of me in His hands

I’m holding to the One who holds me

‘Cause I know whose I am, I know who I am

I am sure I am Yours

Turning down

Tuning out

Every single word

That caused me pain

Unashamed

And unafraid

‘Cause I believe You mean it when You say

I am strong

Beautiful

I am good enough

I belong

After all

‘Cause of what You've done

This is real

What I feel

No one made it up

I am loved

I am sure I am Yours

I know who I am

I am sure I am Yours

Fearfully

Wonderfully

Perfectly

You have made me

I’m running to the One who knows me

I’m holding to the One who holds me

I am sure I am Yours

And I know who I am