This thought is based on D&C 9:7-8. It comes directly from my inspirational journal (where I keep my notes on scriptures and church lessons) so please be aware it's my own personal thoughts. I just felt I should share it with you all.
This is when I was pondering about a lot of different things in my life, and considered asking my father for a blessing so the Lord could tell me what to do. I wanted the easy way out. What I realize now is that I don't need to ask for a personal blessing when I don't have all of the answers. That's what the Children of Israel did, and why they had so many specific rules.
I need to do many things of my own free will, and work out the specifics on my own. Then I can ask for Heavenly confirmation as to what I have chosen to do.
The closer we draw to the Lord, the less details he needs to give us. If we are actively doing good and are continually turning our lives over to Him, He doesn't need to direct us in every little thing because we will already be doing His will.
Look at the Brother of Jared's example. The Lord gave him a general commandment, (get to the Promised Land) and left the specifics, (how to light the barges that would bring them there) up to him.
If we desire personal revelation from God, we need to use our own intelligence and motivation to figure out what we think is the best choice, and then ask Him if it is His will for us.
Pretty cool, huh? :)
Monday, December 29, 2008
Friday, December 26, 2008
The parable of the Bicycle.
I read a book a while back called "Believing Christ." The main idea of the book is: since we are active members of the only true church of Christ, we obviously believe in Christ. But how many of us actually believe Christ when he says "though your sins be as scarlet they can be as white as wool." The book talks about how sometimes people think that "Christ really can't help me, what I have done is to awful." Well it easy sometimes to think that, but in that case you would calling Christ a liar. Do we actually believe Christ.
Anyway, in the book the author tells a story, he calls the parable of the bicycle. It is about a period of time that his family was having finacial trouble. His 6 year old daughter wanted a bicyle, because all the other kids in the nieghborhood had one. So when she asked him if she could get a bike he said "If you save all your pennies, one day you will have enough money to buy a bicycle." He said that to get her of his back. But then he noticed that she was doing more chores for money and was saving every last penny. Well when he saw that, he reliazed that by the time she could save enough money she would want to buy a car.
So he went and talked to her about getting a bike and they decided to looking at bikes. They walk into a store and soon she found one bike she loved, he describes it as " her and this bike were made for each other." So she ran to the bike, jumped on seat, and was ready to ride it out of the store right then. But then she noticed the price tag hanging off the handle bars. Then she got real depressed, her father came and looked at the price tag and it was over a hundred dollars. He asked her how much money she had saved, she responded $3.78. When you are talking a hundred dollars a lousy $3.78 dosen't make that much of a difference.
The Father loved his daughter and wanted her to be happy so he told her "I will make you a deal, you give me the whole $3.78 you have, give me a hug and kiss and that bike is yours." well that girl is not stupid so of course she did it.
He likens this to the Atonement of Jesus Christ. All of us want something really badly, eternal life. Well just like the father in the story, our father told us as long as we fallow all of his commandments we can obtain it. He knows that though we may try as hard as we can we can not live up to that expectation. So he sent his Son to pay for the sins of the world. And through Christ we can obrtain eternally life, but he does ask for something in return. He ask for the same things that the father in the story asked. He asks that we give our all, which will add up to if we are lucky to about $3.78. He also asks for that we make our relationship with him a personal relationship, come to him in prayer always, make him a big part of your life. That is a small price to pay for eternal life, the question is are we going to be like the child and do it imediately or will we, stupid and refuse such an offer.
How gateful I am this Christmas season, that Christ has preformed the atonment, even though he did not have any obligation to do so, he would have been saved if he would have preformed it or not. How greatful I am that I can go to him in prayer. And that his arms of mercy will always be extended towards me.
Anyway, in the book the author tells a story, he calls the parable of the bicycle. It is about a period of time that his family was having finacial trouble. His 6 year old daughter wanted a bicyle, because all the other kids in the nieghborhood had one. So when she asked him if she could get a bike he said "If you save all your pennies, one day you will have enough money to buy a bicycle." He said that to get her of his back. But then he noticed that she was doing more chores for money and was saving every last penny. Well when he saw that, he reliazed that by the time she could save enough money she would want to buy a car.
So he went and talked to her about getting a bike and they decided to looking at bikes. They walk into a store and soon she found one bike she loved, he describes it as " her and this bike were made for each other." So she ran to the bike, jumped on seat, and was ready to ride it out of the store right then. But then she noticed the price tag hanging off the handle bars. Then she got real depressed, her father came and looked at the price tag and it was over a hundred dollars. He asked her how much money she had saved, she responded $3.78. When you are talking a hundred dollars a lousy $3.78 dosen't make that much of a difference.
The Father loved his daughter and wanted her to be happy so he told her "I will make you a deal, you give me the whole $3.78 you have, give me a hug and kiss and that bike is yours." well that girl is not stupid so of course she did it.
He likens this to the Atonement of Jesus Christ. All of us want something really badly, eternal life. Well just like the father in the story, our father told us as long as we fallow all of his commandments we can obtain it. He knows that though we may try as hard as we can we can not live up to that expectation. So he sent his Son to pay for the sins of the world. And through Christ we can obrtain eternally life, but he does ask for something in return. He ask for the same things that the father in the story asked. He asks that we give our all, which will add up to if we are lucky to about $3.78. He also asks for that we make our relationship with him a personal relationship, come to him in prayer always, make him a big part of your life. That is a small price to pay for eternal life, the question is are we going to be like the child and do it imediately or will we, stupid and refuse such an offer.
How gateful I am this Christmas season, that Christ has preformed the atonment, even though he did not have any obligation to do so, he would have been saved if he would have preformed it or not. How greatful I am that I can go to him in prayer. And that his arms of mercy will always be extended towards me.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Lessons From Christmas Classics
Has anyone really listened to the lyrics of the song "Just put one foot in front of the other" from the movie Santa Clause is Coming to Town. In the song the Winter Warlock says: You mean if I want to change the reflection, I see in the mirror each morn, it's just my election to have a chance to be reborn."
Yes Mr. Warlock, all you have to do is decide what kind of person you want to be and Christ has payed to price for our ability to change. we can wake up each morning and decide not only to be happy but to have our "icy hearts melt away" just like the winter warlock. Its as easy as putting "one foot in front of the other" and takes that kind of simple faith.
Merry Christmas.
Yes Mr. Warlock, all you have to do is decide what kind of person you want to be and Christ has payed to price for our ability to change. we can wake up each morning and decide not only to be happy but to have our "icy hearts melt away" just like the winter warlock. Its as easy as putting "one foot in front of the other" and takes that kind of simple faith.
Merry Christmas.
Friday, December 12, 2008
On My Honor
The other day I was applying for BYU-I, and I remember see a quote that was amazing. It said something to the effect of: "Some people have asked what I mean when I say your word of honor. If you put me in a jail cell there is always a way for me to get out, no matter how high you build the walls or how deep you go in the ground they go. But, if you draw a line on the ground with a piece of chalk and put me inside and I give you my word of honor that I won't leave, is there a way for me to get out? no not one, I die first."
- I can't remember, I think it was one of BYU-I presidents
This got me thinking on how much do I value my word of honor. Would I really be willing to sit in a box drawn on the ground for the rest of my life just because I promised someone I would? well thats not a real hard question but the answer depresses me, I for one wouldn't. I need to change that major flaw within me. Just something interesting I was thinking of.
- I can't remember, I think it was one of BYU-I presidents
This got me thinking on how much do I value my word of honor. Would I really be willing to sit in a box drawn on the ground for the rest of my life just because I promised someone I would? well thats not a real hard question but the answer depresses me, I for one wouldn't. I need to change that major flaw within me. Just something interesting I was thinking of.
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