OUR FAMILY: Monday, October 3rd, 2022: J & G Globe, Isaiah 58 Proper Fast & Sabbath Observance, Great British Baking Show, Crockpot dinner, Scarlett's 1st tooth, Clean car inside, Paint, DWTS, NIkki & Nora

Ciudad Juarez, Mexico

71st operating temple

Dedicated: 26-27 Feb 2000

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Son of man

Luke 12:10

And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.

Book of Mormon

Helaman 14:1-19

"Come Follow Me"

Isaiah 58-66 "The Redeemer Shall Come to Zion" Isaiah 59

OctGenCon

"Help the Poor and Distressed"

President Dallin H. Oaks

The Church of Jesus Christ is committed to serving those in need, and it is also committed to cooperating with others in that effort.

Up at 5 with James to help prepare his lunch and get him ready for Globe before Greg gets here at 5:45.

After James left I went back to my desk and read Isaiah 58 which is about proper fasting and keeping the Sabbath holy. Here are some note I took after reading "Making Sense of Isaiah" by Terry Ball:

The Lord's instructions about what constitutes a proper fast are inspiring and can be life-changing if we follow them. He explains that our fasting needs to have a purpose. For example, we can fast to help ourselves and others find strength to overcome weaknesses, to loosen "the bands of wickedness," to undo "heavy burdens," to free the "oppressed," and to "break every yoke" (58:6). The temptations, trials, tragedies, sins, and sorrows of mortality can indeed bind, burden, oppress, and yoke us, but the Lord tells us that fasting can give us the strength, power, and perspective we need to persist in faith. The Lord further instructs that rather than withdrawing and hiding as we fast, we should look for ways to help others, such as dealing our bread to the hungry and providing housing for the poor and clothing for the naked (58:7, 10). We do this today by being generous in our fast offerings, contributing what we can to the funds used to assist those who are in need. In an effective fast, our thoughts and actions are turned outwards rather than inwards.

Thus, in addition to abstaining from food for a period of time, a proper fast also includes fasting for a purpose and caring for others. Wonderful promises are given to us if we fast as the Lord instructs. Our "light," or truth, knowledge, and intelligence (D&C 93:24-37), will "break forth as the morning," surely arising each day and growing brighter as the day proceeds (58:8). Our health will improve, springing "forth speedily" (58:8). We will be protected as our righteousness goes before us and the "glory of the Lord" is our rereward, guiding, warning and defending us from behind (58:8). When we call unto our God, He will hear us, answering, "Here I am" (58:9). We will find light even in our darkest hours and living water and sustenance to satisfy our souls (58:10-11). We and our children will be able to raise up, build up, and restore the foundations and paths that will lead us to dwell with our God (58:12). Surely, fasting is a simple act of worship that yields profound returns.

I love this explanation of fasting and I am going to be more dedicated in my fasting moving forward.

Keeping the Sabbath day holy isn't as difficult for me as fasting, although I could do better on some Sundays. Here is something I found in Brother Kerry Muhlstein's book, "Learning to Love Isaiah" on page 473:

"Isaiah teaches us that the Sabbath is not for pursuing our own desires. It is for pursuing God's will. When we want what God wants, such a day is not a burden but a delight. ... When we desire God's will more than anything, then time set aside to do His will becomes a delight, and God blesses us with the greatest of covenantal blessings."

Scarlett got her birthday card from us and she lost her first tooth.

She's excited for the tooth fairy

to come!

While eating my lunch of a grilled cheese sandwich and after putting dinner in the crockpot, I sat down to watch this week's episode of "The Great British Bakeoff." Maxy is still my favorite even though Janusz is probably the best baker.

This afternoon I went out to the garage to clean my car. Tomorrow I am driving Catherine H. and Ruth W. to the temple and I especially want the inside of the car to be clean. I used my TriStar vacuum and the hand vacuum I bought a few months ago to clean the floors. I washed my Tinkerbell mats and shined up the dashboard and emptied all of the trash. I dusted and washed off the back window. I don't think my car has been this clean since it was new. I feel good about going to the temple tomorrow!

I spent the rest of the afternoon working in my room. I did quite a bit of painting and James gave me a new roller with an extension rod and plastic to put on the floor. I was grateful. I just not sure how much more time I am going to have to paint this week.

My Korean beef I put in the crockpot this morning was done cooking by the time James got home from Globe. He said it smelled delicious and he was looking forward to trying it. First he had to take a shower. I had some with some noodles and I really liked it and when he tried it, he did too. He was especially grateful that I added broccoli and cauliflower.

I watched about half of this week's "Dancing with the Stars" before turning it off so I could do something with James. Tonight they are dancing to music from the James Bond movies because this year is the 60th anniversary of the first James Bond movie. There are 25 of them. I watched my favorite couple Mark and Charli before turning it off. They did not disappoint!

James and I watched a new series on the Hallmark Movie & Mystery channel. The series is called Nikki & Nora and is about twin sisters who haven't seen each other in ten years and are totally different from each other. They inherit a detective agency from a friend of their deceased parents. Although there was a surprise ending that was a little sad, we both liked the show and will watch the next episode.