Tonight I was reading in 1 nephi and I came across verses 22&23. They really hit home. Nephi was being visited by the spirit of god because nephi had been asking in prayer if the vision lehi had had about the tree if life was true. So the spirit came to testify to nephi. He explained what the objects in the dream had represented. Nephi was asked if he knew what the meaning of the tree in lehis dream was. Nephi responded with an explanation. He said,"it is the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore it is the most desirable above all things. God says,"yea and the most joyous to the soul".
All day, everyday I slave away in the office in hopes to strike it rich and gain a lifetime of pleasure and happiness. I desire such great wealth so I can buy the most lavish, materialistic items. I want this more than anything. But why! Reading this passage really made me feel like a chump. I have, at my fingertips, a personal map which will lead me to the most fulfilling and joyous rewards imaginable. The love of god. It is hard to imagine now, how this could possibly be greater then the worldly things I desire. But it is testimony in these verses that it is the most desired among the children of god. I desire to be a child of god and experience what it is like to feel his love and have joy flood my soul. This was an amazing scripture story to read and couldn't have come at a better time.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Faith
Tonight I was reading in 1 Nephi:10. This chapter is just incredible to me. Lehi has a vision and he speaks of a messiah, redemeer, a savior who will come to earth 600 years away. He then goes to tell as many as he can about it. I find it so impressive the faith that he has. I am trying to imagine being in his shoes. If I were to have a vision today about something 600 years away that was to happen and then go tell everybody I could about it they'd all think I was nuts. And I understand now how hard it mustve been for lehi to get people to believe and side with him. What a righteous guy he was to be driven by his complete faith and love for the lord.
Nephi goes on to speak of the holy ghost. I am a bit overwhelmed by amazment at the moment. I find it so fascinating that these guys, from soo long ago went through the same things we go through today. And why I'm fascinated is because we are using the same powers and utilizing the same faith they did to overcome their issues and problems. Nephi speaks of the power of the holy ghost. That same holy ghost has been around for decades and it's incredible to think we call on the same one for support and confirmation.
These men are my idol. They lived in a time before Christ and were able to demonstrate an incredible amount of faith. I can only aspire to be a fraction of what these guys were. How impressive
Nephi goes on to speak of the holy ghost. I am a bit overwhelmed by amazment at the moment. I find it so fascinating that these guys, from soo long ago went through the same things we go through today. And why I'm fascinated is because we are using the same powers and utilizing the same faith they did to overcome their issues and problems. Nephi speaks of the power of the holy ghost. That same holy ghost has been around for decades and it's incredible to think we call on the same one for support and confirmation.
These men are my idol. They lived in a time before Christ and were able to demonstrate an incredible amount of faith. I can only aspire to be a fraction of what these guys were. How impressive
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Uncovering Potential
**Disclaimer**. These post may often times seem to have terrible grammor and poor thought processes behind them. I appologize. I will be frequently posting these blogs from my Phone and won't be scruitinizing over spelling etc. in order to quickly type out my thoughts on passages I have just read. Enjoy!***
I am having a hard time understanding how to tap into and utalize my hidden potential. I was sitting at my desk all day stumpted and sttressing trying to understand how I can have such a passion and desire to become successful but not be able to get the ball rolling. So tonight in my scripture study I decided to research prayer and learn how to accomplish the first goal in this blog project which is creating meaningful heart-felt prayers. Then the goal being to understand how to effectively pray for help unlocking my hidden potential. I cam across this...
Jeremy gave me a book called "drawing on the powers of heaven". It is incredible and to be honest, just remembering i had ithe book was an answer to my prayers In itself. Before study tonight I prayed for inspiration and to be guided to a topic that would help me. I was Inspired to find that book. Check out the first sentence,"to realize your ultimate potential in this life you must learn to draw on The powers of heaven". Now if that's not a sign from god, I don't know what is! I read on and found the perfect scripture to go along with what I was reading in this book. Ether 12:27 says," and if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."
this scripture touched me deeply. It came at a time when I needed to be reminded of the importance of prayer and of the faith required to have our prayers be effective. I know that in addition to being humble and faithful, we are required to be obiedient to the lord councils for our prayers to be answered. I am so grateful for this blogging experience because in the 2 days of writing I feel like I have gained tremendously. I look forward to the results of this experiment and hope it really creates spiritual habits that will last me my lifetime.
I am having a hard time understanding how to tap into and utalize my hidden potential. I was sitting at my desk all day stumpted and sttressing trying to understand how I can have such a passion and desire to become successful but not be able to get the ball rolling. So tonight in my scripture study I decided to research prayer and learn how to accomplish the first goal in this blog project which is creating meaningful heart-felt prayers. Then the goal being to understand how to effectively pray for help unlocking my hidden potential. I cam across this...
Jeremy gave me a book called "drawing on the powers of heaven". It is incredible and to be honest, just remembering i had ithe book was an answer to my prayers In itself. Before study tonight I prayed for inspiration and to be guided to a topic that would help me. I was Inspired to find that book. Check out the first sentence,"to realize your ultimate potential in this life you must learn to draw on The powers of heaven". Now if that's not a sign from god, I don't know what is! I read on and found the perfect scripture to go along with what I was reading in this book. Ether 12:27 says," and if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."
this scripture touched me deeply. It came at a time when I needed to be reminded of the importance of prayer and of the faith required to have our prayers be effective. I know that in addition to being humble and faithful, we are required to be obiedient to the lord councils for our prayers to be answered. I am so grateful for this blogging experience because in the 2 days of writing I feel like I have gained tremendously. I look forward to the results of this experiment and hope it really creates spiritual habits that will last me my lifetime.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Fast Offerings
"A person cannot give a crust to the Lord without receiving a loaf in return" - Melvin J. Ballard
This is a perfect quote to start of my blogging. Last night I was talking to Jon telling him about this blog and the five things we are focusing on and we latched on to fasting for a few minutes. One of the points Jon emphasized was one that often gets overlooked... "fast offerings". So I devoted my morning study to learning more about fasting.
I began my quest I came across a talk from general confrence May 1986 from Elder L. Tom Perry. It was interesting in that at the time, the country was in a simular financial crisis as we are now. He tells a story about how how there are always been and always will be economic ups and downs but by following the lords council, we have and always will make it through them ok.
He goes on to talk about the law of the fast and the 3 main points.
1. Provide assistance to the needy through contribution of fast offerings- consisting of the value of meals from which we abstain.
2. A fast is beneficial physically.
3. A fast increases humility and spirituality on the part of the individual.
I wanted to write about the first one and how it is often overlooked by myself and i'm sure others. This is a cruicial step to the fast and thank you Jon for reminding me this.
Going back to "economic ups and downs". I remember my childhood and something called the bishops storehouse. I remember from time to time going with my dad to a grocery store in the middle of and industrial area. took about 30 mins to get there. Always wondered why we drove so far and went to this wierd place to get our groceries and I never realized til now. We would usually offer to unload crates of food or some other "back of the house task" before we spent the next hour filling a massive grocery order for ourselves. I understand now that we were on the church welfare program and the steps my dad had fulfilled in order for us to partake.
There was so much food. we always came back with tons and tons. And I realize now it was all paid for by fast offerings. My dad had to be obeying the requirements, paying tithe, fast offerings and offer service in order to partake. I saw first hand the power of how fast offerings can impact lives. It is a wonderful, wonderful thing and easy to overlook when you don't realize that the offering is very real and is going to help someone you may know eat today.
"Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the Lord, we have had enough to eat, and have left plenty: for the Lord hath blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store" -2 chronicles 31:10.
A true genuine fast cannot have full effect without the offering. It is a cruicial step and I understand first hand why. I am grateful for this study this morning and grateful for my testimony. This is going to be a great experience blogging and look forward to the days to come.
This is a perfect quote to start of my blogging. Last night I was talking to Jon telling him about this blog and the five things we are focusing on and we latched on to fasting for a few minutes. One of the points Jon emphasized was one that often gets overlooked... "fast offerings". So I devoted my morning study to learning more about fasting.
I began my quest I came across a talk from general confrence May 1986 from Elder L. Tom Perry. It was interesting in that at the time, the country was in a simular financial crisis as we are now. He tells a story about how how there are always been and always will be economic ups and downs but by following the lords council, we have and always will make it through them ok.
He goes on to talk about the law of the fast and the 3 main points.
1. Provide assistance to the needy through contribution of fast offerings- consisting of the value of meals from which we abstain.
2. A fast is beneficial physically.
3. A fast increases humility and spirituality on the part of the individual.
I wanted to write about the first one and how it is often overlooked by myself and i'm sure others. This is a cruicial step to the fast and thank you Jon for reminding me this.
Going back to "economic ups and downs". I remember my childhood and something called the bishops storehouse. I remember from time to time going with my dad to a grocery store in the middle of and industrial area. took about 30 mins to get there. Always wondered why we drove so far and went to this wierd place to get our groceries and I never realized til now. We would usually offer to unload crates of food or some other "back of the house task" before we spent the next hour filling a massive grocery order for ourselves. I understand now that we were on the church welfare program and the steps my dad had fulfilled in order for us to partake.
There was so much food. we always came back with tons and tons. And I realize now it was all paid for by fast offerings. My dad had to be obeying the requirements, paying tithe, fast offerings and offer service in order to partake. I saw first hand the power of how fast offerings can impact lives. It is a wonderful, wonderful thing and easy to overlook when you don't realize that the offering is very real and is going to help someone you may know eat today.
"Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the Lord, we have had enough to eat, and have left plenty: for the Lord hath blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store" -2 chronicles 31:10.
A true genuine fast cannot have full effect without the offering. It is a cruicial step and I understand first hand why. I am grateful for this study this morning and grateful for my testimony. This is going to be a great experience blogging and look forward to the days to come.
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