“A marvelous work and a wonder.”

I think of temples dotting the earth, messages from prophets that are spread instantly throughout the globe, well-oiled service systems ready to go in times of disaster.

There is indeed a great and marvelous work, filled with wonder, filling the earth today.

But what about in my little life?

“I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder”. (Isaiah 29:14)

Right before and after this verse, the Lord is actually talking about changing the prideful and hypocritical tendencies of people’s hearts.

I think one of the coolest, most marvelous wonders that the Lord can do is on an individual, personal scale.

I remember some super rude things that I’ve said to someone, feeling completely justified.

And now I feel embarrassed about it, and would never say something like that.

I remember having very judgmental thoughts in my mind almost constantly.

And now I have a lot more love in my heart.

I remember coming up with excuses for why I can’t keep certain commandments or principles of the gospel.

And now I sincerely want to follow the best I can.

What a marvelous work and a wonder He has done on my heart and on my will.

And just to be clear, there is a WHOLE lot more work to go.

In fact, the more Christlike my heart becomes, the more aware I am of just how far away I am from being Christlike.

The temples, the missionary force, the buildings, the service opportunities, the conferences…

It’s all amazing.

But it isn’t amazing just because it’s huge and grandiose and super cool.

It’s amazing because it allows our Savior Jesus Christ to do a marvelous work and a wonder in as many individual hearts as will let Him.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post A marvelous work and a wonder first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I heard someone say something similar to this recently.

To anyone who has studied child development, there are pretty clearly lots of different reasons why this toddler didn’t help.

The task may have been too broad and overwhelming, there may have been a distraction, they may not have understood exactly what the mom was wanting, it may have seemed like a boring thing to do, maybe they literally could not do it…

The possibilities are endless!

Anyone with a kid knows that just telling them to do something one time won’t immediately give you the lasting result that you may be hoping for.

And the funny thing that I think most of us forget is that we are exactly the same, no matter our age.

If I could just do what I was told to do all of the time, without any reminders or assistance, then I would never get frustrated, I’d have no sins, I’d never forget anything, and I’d just be perfect.

Keep the sabbath holy. Oh okay, got it!

Always be kind. Yup, perfect, I’ll do that now.

Make the temple a priority. Okay yes, done!

Nope.

Not realistic for anyone!

Not employees in the workplace. Not for us in our spiritual journeys. Not for little kids learning how to function.

So how do we do it?

Do we just throw our hands up in despair and think that our kids will never learn how to clean their messes up?

And that we’ll never figure out how to actually pray consistently?

Of course not.

“For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little”. (Isaiah 28:10)

Little steps.

It’s breaking the big task into smaller chunks that are more achievable.

It’s feeling excitement when even just a little bit of progress is made.

It’s being okay of having to give, or even receiving, reminders over and over again.

And so much more.

God is a perfect teacher in the same way that we can attempt to be good teachers for the rising generation.

Step by step.

Line upon line.

Here a little and there a little.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Reminders and steps first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I have… in the last week!

Arizona summers always baffle me.

I’ve lived here for eight years now, and most of the summer is marked by heat.

Like, extreme heat.

That sweat-dripping-down-your-back, blindingly bright, oppressive heat of the summer.

One of my favorite feelings is walking into my air-conditioned house and feeling that dramatic difference.

And then every once in a while (although this summer, more than usual), a monsoon moves through the desert.

Often without warning, high winds, thick dust storms, pounding rain, roaring thunder and constant lightning crash through the valley.

Trampolines and trees everywhere, roads flooded.

Just a few days ago, I sat inside my home as a monsoon roared through, filled with gratitude for walls, windows, and roofs that were strong enough to hold the danger outside.

I couldn’t help but notice the familiarity of these two phrases that Isaiah writes about the Lord:

“For thou hast been … a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat”. (Isaiah 25:4)

A refuge from the storm.

There are some summer monsoons that are small, and some that are destructive and deadly.

But He is there as a refuge during those storms.

Giving me peace to endure. Peace with whatever the outcome is. Peace when everything else is chaotic.

And He’s a shadow from the heat.

That oppressive, all-encompassing uncomfortable heat.

He has been that relief. Making my load feel a little lighter. Giving me comfort.

And yet my mortal mind still forgets to turn to Him sometimes.

I’ll be out wandering in the intense heat, or trying to endure a powerful storm, and I forget to ask for help.

I forget that He is the refuge and the shadow that my soul so desperately needs.

But as soon… AS SOON as I remember Him, that protection and that relief is there.

He is my refuge and my shadow.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Refuge and shadow first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

That person who gave a great lesson about loving others but then said something rude.

That guy who talked about the importance of serving others but can’t show up to help at the ward service project.

That family member who tells you not to judge, and then says judgmental comments all the time.

“Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me”. (Isaiah 29:13)

We could all sit around and point fingers endlessly.

But what about if we turned that finger around and looked at ourselves for a bit?

Could you give a great spiritual thought about the importance of keeping the Sabbath holy by doing good things that bring you closer to Christ?

How does that compare with your actual Sabbath observance?

Could you talk about the importance of temples?

How does that compare with your feelings about your personal worship in the temple and your attendance habits?

Could you give lots of reasons for why it’s so easy and important to share the gospel with other people?

How does that compare with your willingness to bring up gospel topics with people who aren’t members of this church?

At the end of the day, we ALL are able to teach about certain gospel principles much better than we are able to live them.

But here’s what I’ve learned about what actually matters most:

Where is your heart?

Our lips and our actions aren’t always going to align.

But our heart can be aligned with our lips and our actions.

Our actions will fall short, even though we have good intentions.

We wanted to serve but got too tired, we tried to make the Sabbath a delight but the kids are crazy, we want to love the temple more but we haven’t gone in a long time.

“Jesus Christ blesses those who want to improve and who try to keep the commandments. We always get credit for trying.” -Elder Holland

We always get credit for trying.

…But we have to really try.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Lips and hearts first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.