Excerpt from my Journal-Father's Day 2015
*I changed the names of the couple
Q: What does it really mean to keep the Sabbath Day Holy?A: Isaiah 58:13 it says in there doing HIS will, HIS pleasure, call the Sabbath a delight, honor HIM
13 ¶If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words
14 Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.
This has been on my mind throughout all last week.
With it being Father's Day, I decided to fast to show my gratitude to my Father in Heaven and to Christ. This is what follows....
Worked on my primary lesson before church. Used a blog post from my dear friend Brother Joseph on Butterflies and the Atonement. I wanted to print it off but couldn't do it at home. My husband suggested I e-mail it and could print it off in the clerk's office. I got to church about 15 min. early (which is really late for us) and went to the library first to draw a picture of a butterfly and write a little Title on top and photo copied it 11 times for each little kid in my class. I then headed to the clerk's office. While I was in there printing off the butterfly message I heard someone talk to a couple outside in the hallway. Turns out the couple was planning on meeting with the Bishop to get help, they were told they needed to get in touch with the Ex. Sec. When I came out (it was 2-5 min before Sacrament Mtg was to begin) They were so distressed. They asked if I was the Sec. I smiled and chuckled inside. I said, no I'm not, that is Brother X. I went up to them and introduced myself. They were told by Bishop from the other ward they would receive help and that everything was lined up. (Rent, gas, food ect.) *John and Jane are their names. I went and hugged Jane, she so needed to feel loved. I told her, keep hugging, it's fine. She started to sob. She was saying how scared she was, with all the heart attacks her husband has had, how they had no gas, no food, trying to find a place to live. At this time Bishop came out of his office to go into the chapel. I was guided to stroke her hair and said, is this something your Momma would do for you? She said yes. Then I said, did you call her Momma? She affirmed that. I explained how I usually don't stroke people's hair and how I don't ever say Momma. She said to me, your an empath. To which I replied, "No, I was just intuned with the Lord." He was having me do certain things and say certain things. The Bishop met John real quick and made mention of me. I sat down and asked Jane for their contact info just when Bishop asked if I could get their info. I just smiled at my dear friend who just happens to be our new Bishop of 2 weeks and said, that's what I am doing right now. He explained that the Sacrament Meeting was just about to start. He was not aware of this couple at all. Just that the other Bishop mention to him that there was a couple he wanted to introduce him to. No details were mentioned. He said the soonest he could see them was 5:15pm. It was only 12:57pm. They explained how they were hungry. Only had a doughnut for breakfast. He is a diabetic. They explained how they put their last $2 in the gas tank. They were at church earlier and was told by the other ward Bishop to come back in the afternoon to get help. So that's what they did even though they were so short on gas. Now being told they had to wait again, and with his blood sugar so high and needing his medicine that was at their home (they live in a motel-weekly rental) He didn't see how they could come back to the church. I was told by the Lord to go home and get food to share with them. I told them what I was going to do. So off I went, letting my son know what was going on and to tell his Dad (my wonderful Hubby) I was off on a mission for the Lord and that I won't be there for Sacrament Mtg. I was going to try to be back in time to teach my Primary kids.
As I drove the 15 min home to my house. I had sweet communion with the Lord. I was pondering if I should just go to the store to buy a chicken or something. Soon as I had that thought. The Lord put the following thought into my mind- just give them your Mom's food. My mom gave me a bunch of her Nutri-System food. I was using it as food storage. I smiled and thought- good idea Lord. All they have is a fridge and a microwave. That will work and I can gather some other food. The Lord also directed me to go to the gas station and fill up my 5 gallon gas can and bring it to them to fill up their car a little bit. I felt the Love of the Lord. I knew he was well pleased with me and that I was keeping the Sabbath Day Holy. I was reminded of that scripture that I was pondering throughout the week and I was told I was doing it. Although I was not sitting in Sacrament Mtg and partaking of the emblems.... I was communing directly with the Lord. The van was a very sacred place. (No, I did not see the Lord- but I talked to him thru the veil) I was filled with the Spirit of the Lord.
I went home and gathered food as quickly as I could. Got some nuts, cheese, fruit and my Mom's food and then grabbed the gas can from the shed. I went to the gas station and quickly filled up the gas can and went across town to deliver these goodies for this beautiful but broken hearted couple. After dropping off the stuff to them and giving them final hugs, off I went to go back to church. I started to stress out, I would be late with getting there in time for 2nd hour. But the Lord reminded me, I was doing his will, his pleasure and all would be well. I got there about 5 min after Sacrament Mtg should of been over. Turns out, that mtg went about 5 min over. I got there just in time to set up my classroom and greet each child into the room with a big smile and a huge hug. Taught the lesson on the Atonement of Christ. I am glad that the Lord was able to use me to help out this couple who was in need, in more ways then one. They knew I cared and loved them even though I never met them before. I sat and listened. Gave them God's love thru the hugs I gave. Shared my food, left my meeting to get that and gas for them. It was a beautiful opportunity the Lord gave me.
This is what I wrote in my Scripture journal last night
I am learning and growing. Only a short few years ago, I would of questioned all this- Buying gas on the Sabbath, skipping out on a Sacrament Mtg, ect? But I am learning to hear HIS Voice and to obey HIM. -End of journal excerpt
May we each find the Sabbath a Delight and do His will, His pleasure and speak His words is my prayer for us all.