283 - Gathering of Israel

282 - Being Filled with the Spirit

281- Miracles To Those With Faith

Interesting thought to me... that there would be a difference in faith, between these two sets of people that were standing in the midst of their Savior.

He is right there, standing with you, teaching you, praying with and for you...

This difference illustrates the thought that faith is more than seeing the Savior.  Even in His midst there were varying levels of faith.

That would mean faith has less to do with being in the presence of our Father and Savior and more to do with our actions, our practice, our belief and devotion, our choices and obedience, our living.

I love this quote from James E. Talmage...
One cannot have faith without belief; yet he may believe and still lack faith. Faith is vivified, vitalized, living belief. 

Day 280... Prayer For Unity

THIS is my post from last year.  Unity as a people.

This year, after just listening to General Conference, I see the correlation between these scriptures and Elder Nelson's talk.

He is an apostle of the Lord and spoke about unity.  The leadership of God's church isn't a hired position.  People don't resign or get fired, even as they age.  They serve the Lord, it is His church.  They don't do anything for the benefit of themselves, it is all for the Lord's Church.

He spoke about the safety net of having a prophet, with his two counselors at the head, and then 12 apostles, all ordained, holding the restored keys to be prophets, seers and revelators.

Nothing is done,for the church as a whole, without a unanimous sustaining among all 15 people.

Elder Nelson talked about the difference between all 15 men and how unanimity is difficult among any 15 people.  And so it is with surety they go forward when all 15 of them have had the same witness of the Holy Ghost.

That is unity.  That is unity among His apostles that Christ is praying about in these scriptures.

And these men are called to the work why?  "... it is because of their belief in me that I have chosen them out of the world."

And then it trickles to all of us that are disciples of Jesus Christ, who follow Him via his Prophet and Apostles...
"Father, I pray thee that thou wilt give the Holy Ghost unto all them that shall believe in their words."

We can receive our own witness, the Holy Ghost can and will speak to us, when these men lead us in truth.

What is the purpose?  You can see it clearly... to draw us in to the Savior himself.  
"...those who shall believe on their words, that they may believe in me, that I may be in them as thou, Father, art in me, that we may be one."

These men leading us are the mouthpiece of our Father in Heaven.  Their desire isn't fame, fortune, anything of the world.  It isn't popularity, or to have control over us... how ever in the world could they?

Theirs is the work of love, to give us strength and guidance as we all navigate through life.  To hold, still, the line that is God's.  Theirs is the responsibility to call us all back, remind us of who we are, and who our Savior is.



  

October Is Here!

We did pass reading day 274.  It is the first day of October.
I recently went back and read my post from last year... Behold Your Little One's.
I appreciated it again!  It is great to re-read what we learn.

Are you ready for this?  I have all of October and November printables done!
I have a few more months to finish.  I will get them done this month!

I have put all of the printables, in zipped files HERE in this drop box folder.

And as always you can print out the lists.  I also zipped all of those and put them HERE.  I also made them look a little cuter!

Happy studying!

365 - Changing The Commandment

This had to have been a huge deal right?
If your whole life you are living a law, like the law of Moses, would it be tough to change that?
Not only that, but none of these people have seen the resurrected Christ yet, they 'hear' him.

The scriptures had alluded to this sacrifice, the one the Savior made for us, but would you get it, if it were happening right in front of you?

Would you recognize what was going on and not be so steeped in the tradition of what you'd done for years, not realizing the commandment was just part of a greater law and purpose.  Why you were doing it was of much more importance.

I hope that I'd be able to recognize that, but who knows.

At this time Christ announces the law of sacrifice is over and done.  He has made His sacrifice and now the commandment is to partake of that... use the atonement!

Bring to him a broken heart and contrite spirit... over and again.

Elder D. Todd Christofferson said, “The Savior said He would no longer accept burnt offerings of animals. The gift or sacrifice He will accept now is ‘a broken heart and a contrite spirit’ [3 Nephi 9:20]. … You can offer the Lord the gift of your broken, or repentant, heart and your contrite, or obedient, spirit. In reality, it is the gift of yourself—what you are and what you are becoming.

“Is there something in you or in your life that is impure or unworthy? When you get rid of it, that is a gift to the Savior. Is there a good habit or quality that is lacking in your life? When you adopt it and make it part of your character, you are giving a gift to the Lord”

365 - Rejecting Prophets

Oh heavens...
Where have I been?  Not recording my thoughts here!  That's for sure!
I sometimes get frustrated that there are these gaping holes in things I try to record!  I am so ambitious with what I try to accomplish, of course I can't keep up all the time.

But, I love that I can pick it up and try again.

I have almost finished my 365 Book of Mormon scripture prompts.
Finally!!!
Of course the list has always been available, but the cute printables are almost done!  I'll post them this week.

I want to post my thoughts on those scriptures here daily.
But, lately I have felt the desire to study so many other things as well.  I guess that is no different from what it always is!
I want to be more open, in my own organized, finite mind, to the possibility, to the Spirit, to study wherever I want from day to day.  It may be the Book of Mormon, it may be the Bible, it may be other religious books, or the Ensign.
As long as I'm connecting, reaching, pondering, learning each day I'm good.

-------------------------------------------
Today in the 365 we are on day 256 -

When prophecy is fulfilled, then people can see the error of their ways.
These people have regret for killing the prophets, not listening to them... because now, everything the prophets said would happen, is happening.  They are witnessing three days of darkness and great earth upheaval because of Christ's crucifixion in the old world.
The prompt says rejecting prophets brings suffering...  Is it God that is making the people suffer, or themselves?  In this case it is the choices the people have made, as they have rejected the teachings of the prophets, that has brought great suffering to them and their loved ones.

Really prophets are the mouthpiece for God.  In rejecting them we are rejecting God and His laws and ways.  He gives us commandments and guidelines to help keep us safe, at peace and happy..
When prophecy is fulfilled these people can see they are wrong, the prophets were correct, they were indeed prophets.

What happens then?  When they see they have been wrong?  Do they then suddenly turn to God and repent?

Here is where I feel the laws of heaven play themselves out.
Just because you see... now... that there is a God, that the scriptures are true, that there was/is indeed a living prophet, and your eyes are open... does it change anything?

That sudden knowledge may present itself quickly, but then, what next?  Then do you magically have faith because you see you were in error?  No!  I'm sure there is sudden remorse, sudden guilt, a sudden desire to seek mercy.  Are those things faith?  Nope!

Faith is developed, it is something you have to grow and practice.

As we read on, though we see, as we do today, that God still calls.  Now that these people see, those who want to progress and move forward can repent (none of those were listed above with all of the sudden realizations) and start to develop their faith.

I don't believe that everyone who is brought to the same knowledge will make the same choices.

But, for those who choose to follow Christ and develop their faith there is a great reward coming in the next few chapters... both scripturally speaking and presently speaking.

We have a living prophet today.  He speaks the mind and will of our Father, still.
Do we listen?  Do we follow with exactness?
The scriptures are full of prophecy for three culminating events, the birth of Jesus Christ , His atonement and His second coming.
Do you believe He will come again?

Matthew 13 - Parables and Application

The Savior taught in parables.  The apostles asked why... he answered...

How does this apply to us today?  I think the application for us today, aside from the actual information given in these parables, is in seeing how to learn and apply lessons to ourselves. 

The Savior is teaching how to not just hear something, but to hear... and understand.  He wants us not to just see but to perceive.  He teaches in a way that these people can relate to, so they can understand.

I feel that living in this fullness of times, being able to look back on all that has happened, gives us so much information.  How do we apply this to our life?

The key is in the application of information.

As we read scriptures, ponder thoughts, listen to the Prophet, we can glaze over and read, hear, see... and it is a good thing.  But isn't the better thing to make the application to ourselves? 

The purpose for the genuine seeing and hearing per these verses is that we... should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

Original post: 3/21/14

Matthew 12... Don't Judge, We All Sin

It is clear that the people of this time have lost sight of the meaning and feeling of the Gospel.
They are obeying the law to the fault of it being more important that humanity, than caring, than inclusion and love.

I don't think that is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

God has laws, that is an eternal truth.  In laws and commandments we find His order, we find clear boundaries and need for agency, which offers us growth as we figure out how to use that.
We find that as we use this agency and make good choices, we find happiness.

God's laws are His, not ours.  As He rules and reigns He will judge with clarity, mercy and appropriateness.
Sometimes we take that on ourselves.  This is not God's law.
We see the Pharisees falling into this.
Christ reminds them:
8 For the Son of man is Lord even of the ^asabbath day.

11 And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? 
12 How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.

On this same note...
15 But ^awhen Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all;

He didn't ask who had money, who'd been to church recently, who was still skeptical of Him, in what way they needed to be restored.  He healed them all!

This is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, being made whole through Him, as we come unto Him.  It is for all of us, and it is individual.  It is a resource of love.

The other verse that spoke to me was:
36 But I say unto you, That every ^aidle ^bword that men shall ^cspeak, they shall give ^daccount thereof in the day of ^ejudgment.

We often think we will obviously be judged by our works.  
Um, an account of every idle word... I need to watch what is coming out of my mouth!!!
It also indicates that this won't be a generalized judgement!  It will be specific.
It doesn't scare me, but reminds me that I want to live with purpose.  I want to be specific.  I want to continue to improve.
AND, thank heavens that I can repent of those times I fail!

Matthew 9: Connected To Our Healer

I wrote a post HERE that references what I've learned from the beginning of this chapter.

Also this time through v. 15 taught me that one of the purposes of fasting is to feel our Savior near.  The Pharisees ask why the disciples aren't fasting and Christ answers that He is right there, teaching them, filling them.  When He leaves, they will need to fast to maintain that connection.

This time as I read through the story of the woman who touched the Savior's robe I felt particularly touched. 
She wants to be healed, but for a reason we don't know, doesn't want to ask for that.
She has faith, she knows the Savior can heal her, but maybe she feels unworthy, maybe she doesn't want to take his time, maybe she is shy... whatever.
She tries to be healed just through touching Him.


I think it's significant that the Savior stopped.  I'm sure He knew and could've kept going, but He stopped.

I don't think it was to make sure everyone knew there was no getting anything past Him... I think it was because He wanted to see her.  He wanted her to know Him.  Part of the power in His healing is that it isn't some magical thing dissociated to one particular.  It is Him, it is our Savior who heals us.  When we try to reach Him, He will connect with us. 

He wanted this woman to not only be healed, but to feel connected, loved, whole, recognized.  He wanted her to feel valuable despite the crowd of people. 

We can all have healing, forgiveness, connection, comfort, peace... all the good stuff...  when we need it, when we reach to Him.
If anything is 'magical' it's that we all get it we don't have to wait in line, we don't have to be anything special, we don't have to pay for it... he knows us and wants to see us... we just have to seek Him.

Matthew 8 - Faith and Knowing Jesus Christ

I wrote a little bit about what I learned in Matthew chapter 8 HERE.

v. 26 - I think that of course the apostles had some sort of faith.  They were following the Savior, learning from Him.  They believed Him, were ministering with Him.
I don't know that they were doubting per say, but just didn't have knowledge of just how much power the Savior has.

Often it is the same for us.  It may not be that our faith is doubting, but that we don't have a full knowledge of just what the Savior can and will do for us.

How do we find out?  Ask him.  Go to Him.

v. 29 - Even the evil spirits know who Christ is.  They recognize him... as the Son of God... in this verse. 
- I think this speaks to a pre-existence, where we all knew our Savior.  These spirits don't have bodies, they are possessing other bodies, still they know Him, more so than anyone does at this time... they are still learning and gaining faith that He actually is the Savior.
- This speaks to agency for me.  Although all may at some point come to a knowledge of the Savior, they may never choose to follow Him.  Knowing who He is, doesn't magically make us have faith.
- Although we are all subject to the presence of Satan and his followers in this life... the Savior has power over all... Be Not Afraid!!!

Matthew 7 - Do

This chapter talks about knowing them by their fruits.  I think the fruits or actions that come out of us are a reflection of what we are rooted in.

image via

I believe the deeper we are rooted in the things of Christ, the more natural the goodness falls from us (our fruits if you will).

I believe the things we do are a reflection of what we believe.  I believe faith is an action as well as a reflection.

I don't think it will be enough to just say we believe in Jesus Christ, to spend eternity in His presence.  The action of that belief is what will change us, making us worthy to be with Him.

 21 Not every one that ^asaith unto me, ^bLord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that ^cdoeth the ^dwill of my Father which is in ^eheaven.

Our behavior is a manifestation of our faith.  As we do as Christ does... as we serve, as we respond in humility, as we love, as we repent, as we go to church, make covenants, as we do... we manifest faith.  The result of that doing is a refining within us, a growth of character, a cleansing of spirit a training in Godhood.

Matthew 6 - Eternity with the Savior

Of course this chapter has a ton of great insight with the beatitudes.
This time through this chapter I pondered on these scriptures...

19 ¶Lay not up for yourselves ^atreasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves ^bbreak through and steal:

20 But lay up for yourselves ^atreasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor ^bsteal:

21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

 

Recently our bishop quoted someone he knows that said something to the effect of spending just 20 minutes a day with our Savior will result in an eternity with him... or something like that.

image via

 

Treasures in heaven.  It is true that believing we are working for something, beyond just this life affects our choices, what we choose today.

 

Not only does seeking my savior, spending time in scripture study, prayer and pondering, benefit me right now, (making me feel good inside, changing who I am, how I behave, what I'm learning and growing into) but I believe it ultimately will affect my afterlife. 

 

I don't think we will magically be something different when we cross the veil.  I believe what we have worked to become in this life is what we will still be when our spirit moves on.  What is important to us now will be the case later. 

 

So, now is the time to lay up our treasures, to make sure things of eternal importance are right there at the top of our lists.  Spending time each day with my Savior benefits me in this mortal journey, but also is where my heart really desires to be, where my treasure lies.  It's where I want to be when my life here on earth is finished.

 

Spencer W. Kimball

"No father, no son, no mother, no daughter should get so busy that he or she does not have time to study the scriptures and the words of modern prophets.  None of us should get so busy that we crowd out contemplation and praying."

 22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine ^aeye be ^bsingle, thy whole body shall be full of ^clight.

 

This has become one of my most favorite scriptures, of all time...

 

The light of our body is in the eye... the eyes are the window to the soul, our spirits.

The light of our body is our spirit.  When our eye is single to the glory of God, when we keep that in focus it will fill our body with light. 

Have you received His image in your countenance?  I think this is a real thing!  When someone is full of faith, eye single to the glory of God, you can see it in their physicality.

 

Also, reading D&C 93:28 footnote... as we keep an eye single (to the glory of God) we are filled with light and knowledge.

 

What better reward than light and knowledge? 

The more I understand God and His plan, my Savior Jesus Christ and the mysteries of His gospel, the deeper my devotion, the more sincere my conviction, the more anxiously engaged I am in my own change and betterment.  

Matthew 4... Fasting

Satan came to tempt Christ when he perceived Him to be at His weakest.
He'd been fasting, was subject to hunger and thirst, human/body weakness.

2 And when he had ^afasted ^bforty days and forty nights, ^che was afterward an hungred.
3 And when the ^atempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made ^bbread.

4 But he answered and said, It is written, ^aMan shall not ^blive by ^cbread alone, but by every ^dword that proceedeth out of the ^emouth of God.

Sometimes in a very real way, our human/body weaknesses really do leave an opening for Satan to tempt us. 
We can become frustrated, angry, sad, when our bodies are injured, broken, damaged, when we make unholy choices with our bodies... that range from what we put in it, to what we do to it.
Those feelings are not very Godlike, but can bring me humbly to my Savior, asking Him for relief.  If that is the case I am made whole and feel peace.
But, often when we feel angry, sad, negative we seek resolve on our own and turn to things of the world, that leave us feeling empty and sad still, with no resolve, which is the goal of the adversary.

What Satan was hoping for was this weakness.  He was hoping the Savior would break through this physical weakness.
What Satan may not have seen is the additional power the Savior had.  Because he was fasting, he was physically weak, but His spirit was strengthened by that same act of faith.
He would not give in to temptation.
Our spirits have power over our bodies, this is the important reminder of fasting... reaching to our Father in Heaven for that reminder, through this sacrifice.

I need to do better at fasting.  I know I'm not tapping into blessings and power via this wonderful opportunity.  Do better!

Matthew Chapter 3 - John the Baptist

- Why is it noted what he is wearing?
He was not wearing fancy, comfortable robes of those that worked in the temple and synogoges.  He didn't eat fancy food.  He was a man of the desert, rough and simple.  Much like the prophets of old, one with God, taught of Him one on one in the desert (Moses).

 - He warns the Pharisees and Sadducees who had been caught up in the ceremonialism so much that their spirituality had 'withered almost to death in the hearts of the people'.   His warning is to soften their hearts for repentance. 

- He is trying to help them see that the gospel of Jesus Christ is for everyone, and Christ was on His way.  You don't just walk into the kingdom of God because of your lineage.  You have to be worthy of that, and that the promise of Abraham is for all who repent, enter the waters of baptism and receive the Holy Ghost, which he knew he didn't have the authority to give at that time. 

Matthew Chapter 2

- The wise men made Herod aware of Christ's birth.  They came seeking Him, that made Herod aware of his birth.

- His priests confirmed a birth in Bethlehem, or at least that was what was written, the prophecy.

- Herod enquires diligently, the wise men.  He wants to know when the star first appeared.  He hadn't been paying any attention, he didn't see the sign.  Many of us are looking down at the humdrum of life in front of us.  Are we watching for the signs?  Are we seeking?  Would we know if something happened, if a sign were to be given today? 
Thankfully we can look to a living prophet today along with his apostles to help us see signs happening in our day.
There are many signs, prophecies fulfilled with regards to the Second Coming of our Savior.... I think much of the world today is how Herod was, unaware of what was going on around him, because he wasn't looking.  Looking and seeking take the element of faith.

- Don't know how many wise men there were.

- They didn't find Christ in a manger, they found him at home.  He wasn't a baby, he was a young child.

Matthew Chapter 1

The lineage of Joseph, Christ's earthly father... and Mary...
- I'm amazed at the record keeping, the genealogy, what a treasure that these people kept records.

What do I learn from this?
- Joseph was of royal lineage.  The Jews of course did not recognize that.
There are two genealogies in the four Gospels. Matthew’s account lists the legal successors to David’s throne. It is not necessarily a genealogical list in a strict father-to-son sense, for, as is true in many kingly histories, the eldest surviving heir may be a grandson, a great-grandson, or even a nephew or other relative of the reigning monarch. Luke’s record, however, is a father-to-son listing linking Joseph to King David. Of course, Jesus was not Joseph’s son, but Joseph’s genealogy is essentially Mary’s genealogy, for they were cousins; Jesus inherited from his mother, Mary, the blood of David and therefore the right to David’s throne. Jesus was born in the royal line, and as Elder James E. Talmage has explained, “Had Judah been a free and independent nation, ruled by her rightful sovereign, Joseph the carpenter would have been her crowned king; and his lawful successor to the throne would have been Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” (Jesus the Christ, p. 87; see also pp. 83–86, 89–90; McConkie, DNTC, 1:94–95.) via

- Reminded that Isaiah prophesied of this situation (Isaiah 7:14)
14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a ^asign; ^bBehold, a ^cvirgin shall conceive, and bear a ^dson, and shall call his name ^eImmanuel.
I wonder if Joseph recalled these words from this ancient prophet.  I wonder if he could believe that he and Mary would be the ones to fulfill this prophecy.  I'm sure the angel that visited him confirmed this to him.

A New Year... The New Testament

A new year is here!  2014! 

This year I want to read the New Testament.  I'm excited for that!  Along with what I'm reading I hope to add in quotes here this year.

There are 260 chapters in the King James version of the New Testament.  That means I can read one a day, then study as I wish at the end of the year.

I still intend to be in my Book of Mormon, I just don't feel the same without reading it... good thing I've got my prompts, they give me the little bits I need, plus this year I want to read from the BofM with the kids.  In the past we've used story book type study, but the big kids are big enough that I want us to read from it.  It's been good so far.  We stop to talk about what is going on so they can better understand the language.

My hope is to do an FHE each week from what I'm learning in the NT, so they can be more familiar with that as well.

Here is a quote for today...

 

What are you studying this year?