2.14.2012
It All Comes Down to Love
Today, on Valentine's Day, we should remember the greatest love every shown by anyone. That is the love of our Savior, Jesus Christ, who suffered in Gethsemane and died on Calvary so we could be saved and live forever with our Heavenly Father someday. John 15:13-14--"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you." John 3:16--"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." As stated in "The Living Christ", "We bear testimony, as His duly ordained Apostles-- that Jesus is the Christ, the immortal Son of God. He is the great King Immanuel, who stands today on the right hand of His Father. He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world. His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come. God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son." The love we feel for others is a small part of the love He feels for us. As we strive to become perfected in Him, we can realize that the ultimate goal is to have His love in our hearts for everyone around us and for God. Charity is the ultimate goal. Colossians 3:14--"And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness." Love is the reason for everything. God's love for us is why He sent us here, so that we could be tested, become like Him, and eventually live with Him someday. Love is the reason Christ suffered for each and every one of us to make the Father's plan possible. Love is what we can give back to God, because if we love Him and we love others, we will naturally keep His commandments. We naturally won't steal, or lie, or cheat, commit adultery (or really any kind of sexually immoral/lustful behavior). . We will pay our tithing and go to church, we will serve. . We will treat others with kindness instead of anger. . etc. etc. etc. . . Matthew 22:37-40-- "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind., This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." Believe it or not, but LOVE really does make the world go round. :) :) <3
2.10.2012
By Small and Simple Things are Great Things Brought to Pass...
Alma 37:6-7. . 6) "..By small and simple things are great things brought to pass: and small means in many instances doth confound the wise. 7) And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls."
In the past week, I have had so many experiences and new perspectives with this scripture. .
1. Our efforts to choose the right may seem small. They may seem insignificant. But when we ask God to consecrate them and make them for our good, He can make them be enough. Our insignificant efforts become significant through the enabling power of His Atonement. We may not always feel led in our lives, and in fact, it is important to have to take a leap of faith in the dark once in a while. But if we are doing our best to live right, and having faith in Him, He will consecrate our efforts for our good and make everything work out in the end. And by small things are great things brought to pass.
2. We, ourselves, sometimes feel small and insignificant in comparison to others around us or the vast universe and everything in it. Well, to God, we are significant. We are His Sons and Daughters, for goodness sake! Of course we are important to Him! We must realize that God can make small things great. With the humble and faithful, he can work miracles. Ether 12:6-7, 12. 6)"And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith. 7) For it was by faith that Christ showed himself unto our fathers; and he showed not himself unto them until after they had faith in him; wherefore, it must needs be that some had faith in him...12) For if there be no faith among the children of men God can do no miracle among them; wherefore, he showed not himself until after their faith." If we have faith in Him, we can become instruments in His hand, and He can do miracles with us. He can bring about the salvation of many souls. Never forget that you matter! You are a divine child of a loving, perfect Heavenly Father! Never let yourself think you are less. Who knows, God may need you at any moment to be His hand on Earth to bring His children back to Him.
3. It is the little acts that matter. It is the little things like reading your scriptures daily and praying sincerely and often that matter. It is by doing these things that the big things can stay in place. Satan knows how important those little things are and will therefore try with all his might to get you to let go of those little things. Alma 31:8-10 8) "Now the Zoramites were dissenters from the Nephites; therefore they had had the word of God preached unto them. 9) But they had fallen into great errors, for they would not observe to keep the commandments of God and his statues..10) Neither would they observe the performances of the church, to continue in prayer and supplication to God daily, that they might not enter into temptation."
4. The principle of small things becoming great is evident in both spiritual things and temporal things. As I learned from my geology teacher, that even snow falls flake by flake. Sand forms grain by grain. Just like this, our knowledge and understanding comes piece by piece, and eventually can become great. We reach our potential step by step on this journey. :)
5. At some times or in some areas, our faith may seem "small." However, if we can give even that small amount to God, He can strengthen it and make it grow. A little faith is better than no faith. . And with a little faith from you, God can do miracles for you and through you. So never doubt! Never let the things you don't know let you forget and neglect the things you DO know!! Truth is eternal. And truth brings peace. God is the author of peace, not the author of confusion. So what do you want? Will it be peace or confusion?
By small and simple things are great things brought to pass. I truly believe this. :) (p.s. sorry this post was so long! :S )
In the past week, I have had so many experiences and new perspectives with this scripture. .
1. Our efforts to choose the right may seem small. They may seem insignificant. But when we ask God to consecrate them and make them for our good, He can make them be enough. Our insignificant efforts become significant through the enabling power of His Atonement. We may not always feel led in our lives, and in fact, it is important to have to take a leap of faith in the dark once in a while. But if we are doing our best to live right, and having faith in Him, He will consecrate our efforts for our good and make everything work out in the end. And by small things are great things brought to pass.
2. We, ourselves, sometimes feel small and insignificant in comparison to others around us or the vast universe and everything in it. Well, to God, we are significant. We are His Sons and Daughters, for goodness sake! Of course we are important to Him! We must realize that God can make small things great. With the humble and faithful, he can work miracles. Ether 12:6-7, 12. 6)"And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith. 7) For it was by faith that Christ showed himself unto our fathers; and he showed not himself unto them until after they had faith in him; wherefore, it must needs be that some had faith in him...12) For if there be no faith among the children of men God can do no miracle among them; wherefore, he showed not himself until after their faith." If we have faith in Him, we can become instruments in His hand, and He can do miracles with us. He can bring about the salvation of many souls. Never forget that you matter! You are a divine child of a loving, perfect Heavenly Father! Never let yourself think you are less. Who knows, God may need you at any moment to be His hand on Earth to bring His children back to Him.
3. It is the little acts that matter. It is the little things like reading your scriptures daily and praying sincerely and often that matter. It is by doing these things that the big things can stay in place. Satan knows how important those little things are and will therefore try with all his might to get you to let go of those little things. Alma 31:8-10 8) "Now the Zoramites were dissenters from the Nephites; therefore they had had the word of God preached unto them. 9) But they had fallen into great errors, for they would not observe to keep the commandments of God and his statues..10) Neither would they observe the performances of the church, to continue in prayer and supplication to God daily, that they might not enter into temptation."
4. The principle of small things becoming great is evident in both spiritual things and temporal things. As I learned from my geology teacher, that even snow falls flake by flake. Sand forms grain by grain. Just like this, our knowledge and understanding comes piece by piece, and eventually can become great. We reach our potential step by step on this journey. :)
5. At some times or in some areas, our faith may seem "small." However, if we can give even that small amount to God, He can strengthen it and make it grow. A little faith is better than no faith. . And with a little faith from you, God can do miracles for you and through you. So never doubt! Never let the things you don't know let you forget and neglect the things you DO know!! Truth is eternal. And truth brings peace. God is the author of peace, not the author of confusion. So what do you want? Will it be peace or confusion?
By small and simple things are great things brought to pass. I truly believe this. :) (p.s. sorry this post was so long! :S )
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