I have… in the last week!⁣

Arizona summers always baffle me. ⁣

Most of the summer is marked by heat. ⁣

Like, extreme heat. ⁣

That sweat-dripping-down-your-back, blindingly bright, triple-digit 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, 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, grateful for walls, windows, and a roof 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.

Some summer monsoons are small, and some are destructive and costly. ⁣

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 Storms and heat first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

“a land of peace, a city of refuge, a place of safety for the saints of the Most High God”. ⁣(D&C 45:66)

Doesn’t that sound great?!⁣

But what does that mean for me right now?⁣

In President Nelson’s signature talk, “Let God Prevail”, he said something that stood out to me when I relistened recently: ⁣

“Anytime we do anything that helps anyone—on either side of the veil—to make and keep their covenants with God, we are helping to gather Israel.”⁣

I know that my mind usually goes toward missionary work and temple work when I hear that statement. ⁣

But, it recently clicked that this has SO MUCH to do with my family and home RIGHT NOW. ⁣

Anything that I do in order to help my family members make and keep sacred covenants, helps to gather Israel. ⁣

Which means that I’m picturing my home becoming a place exactly like the Lord described in verse 66. ⁣

A land of peace. A city of refuge. A place of safety. ⁣

As I work to create this type of environment in my home (peace, refuge, and safety), I am participating in the gathering of Israel in a truly essential way. ⁣

So that’s what I’m pondering on today. ⁣

How can I create more peace in my home?⁣

Not just “keeping the peace”, but actually creating true, sublime peace. ⁣

How can I ensure my home is a refuge?⁣

Keeping it different from the rest of the world, purposely. ⁣

How can I make my home feel like safety?⁣

Filling it with so much love, that any outside harm doesn’t find a place to stay. ⁣

If you are a parent, teen, young adult, or grandparent creating peace, refuge, and safety in your own home, then you are helping to gather Israel and create Zion.

“One of the greatest blessings we can offer to the world is the power of a Christ-centered home where the gospel is taught, covenants are kept, and love abounds.” – Richard G. Scott

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post The surprising place to build Zion  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.

“a land of peace, a city of refuge, a place of safety for the saints of the Most High God”.

Doesn’t that sound great?!

But what does that mean for me right now?

In President Nelson’s signature talk, “Let God Prevail”, he said something that stood out to me when I relistened recently:

“Anytime we do anything that helps anyone—on either side of the veil—to make and keep their covenants with God, we are helping to gather Israel.”

I know that my mind usually goes toward missionary work and temple work when I hear that statement.

But, it recently clicked that this has SO MUCH to do with my family and home RIGHT NOW.

Anything that I do in order to help my family members make and keep sacred covenants, helps to gather Israel.

Which means that I’m picturing my home becoming a place exactly like the Lord described in verse 66.

A land of peace. A city of refuge. A place of safety.

As I work to create this type of environment in my home (peace, refuge, and safety), I am participating in the gathering of Israel in a truly essential way.

So that’s what I’m pondering on today.

How can I create more peace in my home?

Not just “keeping the peace”, but actually creating true, sublime peace.

How can I ensure my home is a refuge?

Keeping it different from the rest of the world, purposely.

How can I make my home feel like safety?

Filling it with so much love, that any outside harm doesn’t find a place to stay.

If you are a parent, teen, young adult, or grandparent creating peace, refuge, and safety in your own home, then you are helping to gather Israel and create Zion.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Peace, refuge, and safety first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.