Sorry...

Just to say sorry that I was a slacker last week. The kids were out of school the first 3 days of the week. So, I slept in. I'm a sloth. So, I'm going to read double this week to get caught up. I noticed a huge difference in my week when I didn't do my scripture reading. It occured to me yesterday while teaching my class. The lesson was about how we all chose to follow Heavenly Father's plan, and that we chose to earth to receive a body. We talked about how Christ said he would go and do as Heavenly Father asked of Him, and He would give all the Glory to Him. Then we talked about Lucifer and how he wanted us to have no choices. I went on to explain how there was a war of thoughts in heaven and that Lucifer and many of our brothers and sisters were expelled. I asked the children, "Will they ever be able to receive bodies?" "No", they said (my kids are so smart) I was showing the kids a CTR ring and I asked them if they knew what a shield was. None of them knew. So I asked if they knew what a sword was. Yes, they all knew. I traced with the hands a imaginary shield in front of myself and said this is a shield and it protects you from being stabbed by a sword. Just as real shield can protect your physical body, a shield of righteous living can protect your spiritual body. It will protect you from Satan's stabs. It was kind of an ahha moment for me. Not that this is a new metaphor. But, I could see how last week I'd been walking through it without my shield, and Satan is no dumbie. He's tricky and such an excellent liar. I have to remember that he's been practicing his art alot longer than I've been practicing mine. So, this week I'm back at putting up my shield. I'm so grateful that we can always try again. And, I'm so grateful for scriptures.