Every Knee Shall Bow

by Shauna V. Brown 

     Recently, I sent out a mass email to parents who wanted their students to take early morning seminary.  I received in return a rather startling email.  It simply said:  

   “Wrong ( name withheld).  I am an atheist. Please take me off your list. I don’t have a kid.  

I don’t believe in god, jesus, ghosts, santa clause or any other make belief being.” 

     I must admit my mind went blank for a moment. It clearly isn’t a common communication response. I am employed by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  

    I re-read the email, and then my first emotion was to send a convincing testimony of contrast. An affirmation that would take his breathe away, cause an instant flush of heart burn, vibrate throughout his soul.  I hesitated, since I was representing the church (as a secretary).   Then within a moment a scripture came to mind.  

       “ Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God.”  D&C 18:10 

 So with a careful “tip-toe” I responded: 

        “Wow – I believe nothing is coincidental.  Perhaps you should ponder your statement.  Not even Santa Claus – or any other belief? I bet there is more to you than meets the eye. 

Clearly you must have an interesting outlook on ‘purpose.’    You might be interested in  

researching C.S. Lewis. He too also made the statement that he didn’t believe in God.   

     He came to have a change of heart and perspective: 

        A man can no more diminish God’s glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word, ‘darkness’ on the walls of his cell.  C. S. Lewis  

__________ 

     Thank you C.S. Lewis for your words of bold significance.  OK, so I allowed someone else to speak up. Throughout the day I continued to dwell upon his words.... “I am an atheist.”  

Then I highlighted in my mind a few of the phrases shared by C.S. Lewis :“Refusing to worship” “diminish God’s glory.”  

         As I look around today, I see a time when so many are forgetting that they are sons and daughters of God, refusing to worship, selecting alternative purpose. Diminishing God’s glory by not being true to their creator.  

      I find comfort in knowing that some day that  ‘every knee shall bow, every tongue confess - that there is a God, and a son, Jesus Christ.  

      Some day each one of us will stand in their presence. Death bed repentance will have no place. It will be a time of self reflection and self examination.  The truth of our life will be revealed within our faces and soul. I know as well, that great HOPE surrounds each of us. God’s love is infinite and eternal. He is our Father in Heaven, and most forgiving.   He wants each of us to return home.  

        Growing up I loved singing this hymn. It always makes me want to try harder to simply --follow, to seek eternal truths, walk in the light, serve freely, stand stronger.  

  

Know this, that ev’ry soul is free 

To choose his life and what he’ll be; 

For this eternal truth is giv’n: 

That God will force no man to heav’n. 

He’ll call, persuade, direct aright, 

And bless with wisdom, love, and light, 

In nameless ways be good and kind, 

But never force the human mind. 

    Many of you know that I enjoy Max Lucado. He is a preacher in San Antonio, Texas, as well as a good writer. I love his books and quotes. Let me share a couple to conclude: 

      “If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it. If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it.  He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning...  Face it, friend. He is crazy about you! ”  

     

“Let God have you, and let God love you - and don’t be surprised if your heart begins to hear music you’ve never heard and your feet learn to dance as never before.”  

                     

Enjoy your Sabbath and Earthly Journey 

Rejoicing that God is God and loves you back. 

Shauna 

Making the Grade by Shauna Brown       When I was a little girl and learning to write my name was quite the experience. Van Wagenen is hard to say, let alone try to spell it correctly.  Shauna Van Wagenen would take up most of the space on the paper. Mother patiently work with me, encouraging that it would get easier with time. I cried because I couldn’t get the ‘a’s to look right, and the big S was too slanty. For me at times it was frustrating and I had to use an eraser frequently. One day mother gave me a nickel to purchase another large pink eraser.  I wrote my name “Shauna” proudly upon it, it was mine.  Mother even bought me special lined paper that they used in schools. She felt the added lines would help with my upper and lower case letters.   I practiced and practiced.  Let me just say my large eraser was a constant companion.   I was dedicated in trying to make it look good, as well as receive praise and compliments from my mother and father.  Each day I got better and skilled in writing my name.       I remember mother telling me how difficult it was for her to learn to spell her own name, Genevieve.  She shared, how she got the e’s and v’s mixed up.  It took her forever to learn to spell it. That motivated me even more to learn to spell my ‘whole name’ as quickly as possible.            Then history repeated itself. My first born, Heather, reminded me so much of myself. She wanted everything ‘perfect’.  One day when she came home from kindergarten she was in tears.  I  immediately asked Heather what had happened. No response, just more tears. I checked for clues. No cuts or scratches. I wondered if someone had been unkind to her on the bus.  I was stumped. She was clearly an upset five year old. After questioning her, and continued tears, I determined to call her teacher.  Gratefully, we both put together the pieces of my puzzlement.         “Heather is  trying to make everything picture perfect. She starts over and over again, and she's getting behind. So I gave her a pencil without an eraser. She’s probably upset because she can’t fix her mistakes,” her teacher informed me.        For years that little story has been held close to my heart. Fixing mistakes, making life corrections, striving for perfection, is part of why we are here on earth.  Sometimes it takes a while to get it right, and it doesn't always have to be perfect. Just like little hands learning to write names, we find growing experiences can be challenging.         With each of my children I have sat down beside them, practiced their letters, bought lined paper, bought big erasers, gave squeezes of approval, stickers of smiley faces for success. Cheered with them when they were pleased as well. Isn’t that what parents do?        So does God.      I can only imagine the joy in heaven when we choose to stay close, live within the lines, strive, seek to do our Father’s will, and learn of Him.      Life's school is hard.  I continue to fret that I sometimes give meager attention to things that truly matter- capital letters if you will.  There are days when I want to rewind, back up, redo, start over, and rewrite.  But like Heather’s teacher said, “She getting behind.”           Gratefully, because of Jesus Christ, we can remember He holds the eraser.  I love to visualize  “ . . . I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.”        Our Savior is more than eager to instill within each of us that he will wipe away the tears, erase the smudges, correct and give comfort as well as cheer us on.       “... tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet.”                                    ~ Anne of Green Gables           And if by chance we do make a mistake, and we will.  We can take comfort knowing: “Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more.”         As a child I loved running home from school to show Mama my papers marked with a huge letter “A”.  There is just something good about seeing your parents smile.  I continue that practice, though I carry no paper in hand. One might think it funny, but I give myself a daily grade.                How we doing today?           Enjoy the Sabbath - make it an “A” day      Love to all  Shauna

                         Never on Sunday 

 
         by Shauna V. Brown  
 
     Well, I have a modern day miracle to share.  Years ago, and I mean years ago when our little family lived on Hunts End Drive, in Sandy, Utah, our washing machine gave out. With a growing family of eight members one cannot imagine trying to keep clothes clean without a washing machine.  However, things were tight.   A new washer was out of the question.   
        It was a television commercial that guided our direction of purchase.  “Used appliances= washers, dryers.  Dan, Dan, the Maytag man."
       At that point of time the pile of laundry was reaching proportions of  a growing mountain.  I tried the best I could to wash the necessities, but it was impossible to keep up with it.  In fact, it reminded me of my childhood days when laundry was only done on Saturday with the help of every family member.  That was before we had a dryer.  I can see us now all working in the basement.  Everyone had their positions.  One rinsing, one cranking the ringer, one running the clothes through the two rollers, one shaking the clothes ready to hang, one securing the clothes to the clothes line.   Wow, what a memory of childhood.
         So Rick went to “Dan, Dan the Maytag Man” appliance store  and purchased a used washer and dryer.  When the men delivered the washer and dryer they looked just like it was indicated “used”.   I thought: Well if it makes it through a couple of months -- till we can afford to buy a new set  - it will be a miracle.   
        Then I decided to give that “miracle” thought a test of time.  I remember saying a prayer and expressing to my Heavenly Father a little promise.  I offered in faith,  “Father,  I will not wash on Sundays.  It will be a day of rest. Wilt Thou bless this washer and dryer that they will run and not be weary.” 
        Well, here’s the miracle.  We lived in that home another six years and never needed a new washer or dryer.  Then we moved to Pepperwood and lived there for thirteen years. Each time we loaded up the pair and then we moved to Cedar Hills. Are you doing the math?  All the time our washer has been most faithful and dependable.   Now, remember we purchased my Maytag washer and dryer “used”- very used.  Thankfully they are still running!   
    I am a firm believer in miracles, prayers, and promises.   So if anyone wants to see a miracle.  It’s been washing clothes for a good thirty five years for the Browns. 
        It’s like the Lord saying, “Take a load off-- your mine.”

Shark Bait?  by Shauna V. Brown        There is a popular television show that I enjoy watching. It’s called Shark Tank . It features business pitches from aspiring entrepreneurs to a panel of potential investors. The series has become very popular averaging 7 million viewers an episode.  It now holds the title as the most watched program on Friday nights for those 18-49.     I have observed some creative gimmicks, unique products, simple ideas, obvious passions, and dreams that have hooked the “sharks” into investing thousands and hundreds of thousands of dollars.  It’s interesting to listen to the sales pitches and see the excitement for those presenting the products. The ultimate hope is to make millions, not only for the sponsored ideas, but greater wealth for those sharks who invested.   Sharks.     I find it interesting as my mind explores the vast opportunity many have that seek for wealth, seek for more, and to have it all.     Not too long ago a couple we know well listened as a good friend and highly sought after therapist shared that he had been offered millions of dollars to profess that pornography has little effect on the family.       Imagine it!  Because of his background, influence, notoriety, knowledge, he was in a position that was valued.   If he would put his name to a few statements, simply validate, signoff, he could become a wealthy man, over night.        “What ever you want, why you can write your own check. Simply fill the amount in. Have what you  have always dreamed of, ” he was encouraged.            Thankfully he couldn’t do it. The enticement and hook of money had little influence on his integrity and the truth concerning pornography. He then said, “Sadly, I know that once he left my office he would  find someone else, someone willing to perpetuate a lie.”           None of us would eagerly jump in and swim in a shark infested water. We understand some of the risks involved, even the ultimate cost of life. Yet, it seems that many today are lured and enticed by the louder voices, the stronger causes, money,  new scientific data, the letters behind the name, research and books written.      Whether we choose to see them, there are sharks swimming so very close.        Brigham Young warned, “It is your duty to study ... We should not only study good, and its effects upon our race, but also evil, and its consequences.”      It’s the consequences and hooks that I am concerned with. Sadly, it is a fact of time:  there have always been deceivers, people who appear confident, all knowing, well educated, who enjoy dangling hooks in deep waters of deception.  They seek to persuade, invite, entertain and seduce  many - even unto the peril of  lured distraction.  Seldom are they around to witness the rippled currents of  fear, distrust, and questioning. While some others enjoy watching the dog-paddling moments of another’s despaired.   In all reality - they have become bait - hooked by deception.       I take heart, as I continue to trust that I can follow the invitation for all. I believe there is no ‘bait and switch” here: “Learn of me, listen to my words, walk in the meekness of my spirit, and ye shall have peace in me. “  It’s a promise and a guide for each of us.   I am ever grateful that Jesus Christ shows the way. In all things He seeks to lead, guide and stand beside us, until we have finished our work.           Jonah had to learn a lesson the hard way. I can’t imagine how it must have been to realize he was sucked into a whales gut.  I can almost hear Jonah yelling aloud, “gird up your loins.”        Let’s pray we  don’t get hooked on things that don’t matter in the eternal perspective of life.    Enjoy the Sabbath Love to All  Shauna