Tonight I read an amazing chapter in 1 John, chapter 4. It was all about love. I thought about going back and counting how many times the word love is said in this chapter, but decided not to. But it is a lot.
There were a couple verses that I really loved.
4. Ye are of God, little children; and have overcome them; because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
I love that verse! We are children of God. Our Father created this world we live in. If we can remember this divine inheritance we have, and remember that we already have godly characteristics within us, the world should not affect us. If we can continue to have the insight of knowing that we are children of God.
20. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother ,he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
I really like that verse too. We are hypocrites if we say we love our Heavenly Father but are holding grudges against people in our lives. How can we love like God if we don't love everyone?
I feel very uplifted after reading that chapter. It really did fill me with God's love, and I hope to keep that and let it grow, and to remember to love all men just like my Heavenly Father does.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Day 135
Today I watched a short video by President Uchtdorf about our power to create. He made such a good point about how so many of us think "well, I'm not really the creative type." But all of us are! We are daughters of the most creative being-our Heavenly Father. He's passed down characteristics of himself upon us, and that gives us the power to create. It doesn't have to just be something artistic, it can be anything.
Serving others creates new friendship opportunities. Cleaning creates a clean home. There are so many things we create everyday. And they are good things! I hope to remember when I'm feeling down on myself to remember that I am a creator in the making, and right now I'm practicing by trying to create a good home.
Serving others creates new friendship opportunities. Cleaning creates a clean home. There are so many things we create everyday. And they are good things! I hope to remember when I'm feeling down on myself to remember that I am a creator in the making, and right now I'm practicing by trying to create a good home.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Day 134
I read Daniel chapter 7 today. It was about a vision Daniel had of the kingdoms and the last days. It was actually really interesting. His vision was about how this great terrible beast with ten horns would devour man and seem to trample the earth under its feet. But just when it seemed that all hope was lost, the beast would be defeated and goodness would reign on the earth forever.
And that's how it will be, I think. Things will keep getting worse and worse and we'll wonder what is happening to the world, why is this giant beast (Satan) trampling us under his feet and gaining so many followers? But just like the end of this chapter, the righteous will be remembered, and will be chosen to live in the highest kingdom forever and ever.
And that's how it will be, I think. Things will keep getting worse and worse and we'll wonder what is happening to the world, why is this giant beast (Satan) trampling us under his feet and gaining so many followers? But just like the end of this chapter, the righteous will be remembered, and will be chosen to live in the highest kingdom forever and ever.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Day 133
Today I read Acts chapter 18. It was a good chapter. It took place during Paul's ministry. There were few verses that I really liked (obviously. That's how it always is when I read the scriptures.)
9. Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision. Be not afraid but speak, and hold not thy peace;
10. For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee; for I have much people in this city.
I just loved the "fear not" part the best. It made me wonder, was Paul scared? Is that why the Lord came to him in the night? It must have been, because the Lord knows what we need the most. I'm guessing Paul was nervous to go speak to these people, and the Lord gently reminded him that through Christ, everything is possible.
It was great to read those verses, because we all know how amazing Paul is in his ministry. And to read that he is a lot like the rest of and gets nervous and afraid sometimes, comforted me in knowing that I'm not the only one with struggles.
9. Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision. Be not afraid but speak, and hold not thy peace;
10. For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee; for I have much people in this city.
I just loved the "fear not" part the best. It made me wonder, was Paul scared? Is that why the Lord came to him in the night? It must have been, because the Lord knows what we need the most. I'm guessing Paul was nervous to go speak to these people, and the Lord gently reminded him that through Christ, everything is possible.
It was great to read those verses, because we all know how amazing Paul is in his ministry. And to read that he is a lot like the rest of and gets nervous and afraid sometimes, comforted me in knowing that I'm not the only one with struggles.
Monday, August 15, 2011
Day 132
Today I read Doctrine and Covenants section 67. Joseph Smith received a revelation about some of the brethren in the church who were wondering why they have not had the priviledge of seeing God like Joseph did. Heavenly Father gave them an answer back. And I thought it sounded like an answer a loving father would give his children when they ask for things they are not ready for yet.
He told them to "continue in patience until ye are perfected." I love that. That's what we are doing throughout our whole lives. Trying to become perfect. But we lose patience with ourselves a lot of times. I'm trying to be better at realizing Heavenly Father knows me, and knows what to help me with to help me to continue to be perfected.
He told them to "continue in patience until ye are perfected." I love that. That's what we are doing throughout our whole lives. Trying to become perfect. But we lose patience with ourselves a lot of times. I'm trying to be better at realizing Heavenly Father knows me, and knows what to help me with to help me to continue to be perfected.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Day 131
I finished reading 1st Nephi chapter 17 today. I loved the reference he made to Moses and his people as he was talking to his brothers who were murmuring against him and Lehi.
Nephi talked about how the people of Moses were sent down firery serpents because they stopped believing. They were bitten, but then God provided a way for them to be healed: by looking at Moses' staff. But since it was such a simple task, a lot died because they didn't believe it would actually heal them.
The gospel can be like that in a lot of ways to some people. There are a lot of simple, basic principles we teach. Sometimes people think they are so simple that there's no way it could be true.
I love that the gospel isn't that hard to understand. It makes sense, and it's supposed to make sense.
Nephi talked about how the people of Moses were sent down firery serpents because they stopped believing. They were bitten, but then God provided a way for them to be healed: by looking at Moses' staff. But since it was such a simple task, a lot died because they didn't believe it would actually heal them.
The gospel can be like that in a lot of ways to some people. There are a lot of simple, basic principles we teach. Sometimes people think they are so simple that there's no way it could be true.
I love that the gospel isn't that hard to understand. It makes sense, and it's supposed to make sense.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Day 130
This week I'm focusing on talks by President Uchtdorf. Today I read a talk he gave last April titled "You are My Hands". I love the title of this talk. He stuck true to the title giving us counsel and advice on how our church is a church of service, and our ultimate example of service is Jesus Christ.
He mentioned how Christ never once talks "down" to us. He talks "to" us, as equals. He loves us so much that he shares everything he can that he knows we need to know in order to perfect ourselves. And a big part of that is serving our fellow man.
We all have callings that make up our church today. All of us are giving service. Visiting teaching, home teaching, teaching sunday school, being a young women or young men advisor, being in a bishopric: all of those callings (plus many more) we do without expecting pay. Or really expecting anything in return. That's why our church functions so well and withstands the changes the world goes through. We are selfless when it comes to building the church of God. That's how we need to be in order for everything to work. And we all feel good doing service.
Heavenly Father wants us to be eternally happy. He knows that the key to that is serving each other.
He mentioned how Christ never once talks "down" to us. He talks "to" us, as equals. He loves us so much that he shares everything he can that he knows we need to know in order to perfect ourselves. And a big part of that is serving our fellow man.
We all have callings that make up our church today. All of us are giving service. Visiting teaching, home teaching, teaching sunday school, being a young women or young men advisor, being in a bishopric: all of those callings (plus many more) we do without expecting pay. Or really expecting anything in return. That's why our church functions so well and withstands the changes the world goes through. We are selfless when it comes to building the church of God. That's how we need to be in order for everything to work. And we all feel good doing service.
Heavenly Father wants us to be eternally happy. He knows that the key to that is serving each other.
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