Endure...Day 9 of 31 Days of Creating with Meaning

We sang this song in church today.  Nobody knew the song.  It must not be one of the more popular hymns.  But the words are comforting and powerful all at the same time...

I will not doubt, I will not fear;
God’s love and strength are always near.
His promised gift helps me to find
An inner strength and peace of mind.
I give the Father willingly
My trust, my prayers, humility.
His Spirit guides; his love assures
That fear departs when faith endures.

When Faith Endures Hymn #128

On the same note, the word endure is not one of the more popular words for me.  It sounds depressing.  It sounds like drudgery.  It sounds like nothing I want to do.  But I read this about the root of the word "endure":

The word endure comes from two Latin roots. The prefix en means “within.” The remainder comes from the verb durare, which means “to be firm or solid.” Thus, to endure means “to become firm within yourself.”

That meaning carries into the original languages of the Bible. In the Hebrew language of the Old Testament, the root word ’aman means “to render firm” or “to be faithful, to trust.” It was often translated as “faithful,” but never as “faith” alone. ’Aman meant more than faith. It was not a passive term; it meant “a firm resolve to be faithful.” ’Aman was also the Hebrew root for words that were translated into related terms, such as “verified,” “believe,” “long continuance,” “assurance,” “establish(ed),” “sure,” “trust,” “steadfast,” “stand fast,” and others.

In the Greek language of the New Testament, the verb hupoméno was used. It means “to remain,” “stay,” or “continue.” Hupo (or hypo) means “under,” as in hypodermic (“under the skin”) or hypothermia (“low temperature”). “To endure” connotes a commitment within one’s soul.

So if I look at ENDURE as "to become firm within my soul, having a resolve to be faithful and to trust, believe, and stand fast", the word endure becomes much more poetic, and much more doable.

Matthew 24:13 says:  But he that shall ^aendure unto the end, the same shall be saved.  

If you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God.   D&C 14:7. 

The Prophet Joseph Smith included this concept of endurance in the thirteenth article of faith: “We have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things.”

That's what I can do; HOPE to be able to endure all things.   


Brian is on the swim team.  Part of the training is swimming with drag, or something that is holding them back and making them work harder.  All of that hard work breaks them down and then builds the muscles back up.  It teaches them endurance and how to work past the point of exhaustion.


Does that sound familiar?  Isn't that what "endure" means, to work through whatever is holding us back and keeping us down?


I hope to be able to endure all things.  

ALL things.


I can do all things through ^aChrist which ^bstrengtheneth me.  Philippians 4:13  

Sparrows...Day 2 of 31 Days of Creating with Meaning.

I'm not sure when it was that I first read the verses in Matthew chapter 10:

29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.

30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

Christ was speaking to His apostles, telling them that they should go "to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."  They were by no means going to have an easy time of it.  They would be persecuted, not have any food or anything else with them, and would be as "sheep in the midst of wolves" and "shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved."

My day sounds pretty darn easy compared to that. I am by no means a scriptorian, but I get so much out of my study, and these are also things I want my kids to know.


To remind me of the fact that I am of worth, I made a hanging with the last part of the scripture:  Ye are of more value than many sparrows.

Of course I wanted to keep this as easy and painless as possible, using things I already had on hand.  I'm not usually the "pink" type, but when I do use pink on anything it reminds me of my Grandma who adored pink, the scriptures, and music.

I cut my regular 12x12inch paper into 8 1/2x11 paper and typed my words into a regular Microsoft Word program.  I loaded the paper and printed it out.  There is chipboard backing this paper to give it a little more stability.  I added a couple of grommets on top to hold the ribbon without tearing the paper.

The "sparrow" is a chipboard bird covered in pink paper and inked around with black.  I glued on some lace and a button and added a pearl topped pin, and that was it!

If my Heavenly Father has His eye on the sparrow, how can I doubt that His eye is on me?

Here is a beautiful rendition of the old Christian song "His eye is on the Sparrow" sung by Gladys Knight.  It's lovely, and entertaining, too.  But I love the uplifting lyrics:

"Let not your heart be troubled,"
His tender word I hear,
And resting on His goodness,
I lose my doubts and fears;
Though by the path He leadeth
But one step I may see:
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.
I sing because I'm happy, I sing because I'm free
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Keep your eye on the prize!

The other night Joseph picked out a book to read before bed. He wanted to hear about Jesus walking on the water, so we looked it up in the Bible Treasury for LDS Children and read it. We talked about Faith, and not beings scared if we have faith in Jesus Christ.

While I was listening to LDS Radio, I heard the same scriptures read from Matthew chapter 14: 22

¶ And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. 23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.
24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.
25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.
33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshiped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

How many times have I thought that I have the faith and the confidence to do something, then falter, and have to rely on the hand of the Lord to pull me up and save me from drowning?

Thanks, Joe, for choosing the story that I needed to hear.