Day 4

Day 4: Am I a Daughter of Christ?

Read: Doctrine and Covenants 19:15-24

         Mosiah 4:2-3

         Mosiah 5:7-9

Ponder: How can I get rid of guilt?

            How can I put myself in a position to have the power of the atonement cover my sins?

            Do I understand what Christ did for me?

            Do I comprehend the great love He has for me?

     To those who may feel they have somehow forfeited their place at the table of the Lord, we say again with the Prophet Joseph Smith that God has "a forgiving disposition," that Christ is "merciful and gracious, slow to anger, is long-suffering and full of goodness." I have always loved that when Matthew records Jesus' great injunction, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect," Luke adds the Savior's additional commentary: "Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful" - as if to suggest that mercy is at least a beginning synonym for the perfection God has and for which all of us must strive. Mercy, with its sister virtue forgiveness, is at the very heart of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the eternal plan of salvation. Everything in the gospel teaches us that we can change if we need to, that we can be helped if we truly want it, that we can be made whole, whatever the problems of the past.

     Now, if you feel too spiritually maimed to come to the feast, please realize that the Church is not a monastery for perfect people, though all of us ought to be striving on the road to godliness. No, at least one aspect of the Church is more like a hospital or an aid station, provided for those who are ill and want to get well, where one can get an infusion of spiritual nutrition and a supply of sustaining water in order to keep on climbing.

     Those who will receive the Lord Jesus Christ as the source of their salvation will aslways lie down in green pastures, no matter how barren and bleak the winter has been. And the waters of their refreshment will always be still waters, no matter how turbulent the storms of life. In walking His path of righteousness, our souls will be forever restored; and though that path may for us, as it did for him, lead through the very valley of the shadow of death, yet we will fear no evil. The rod of His preisthood and the staff of his Spirit will always comfort us. And when we hunger and thirst in the effort, He will prepare a veritable feast before us, a table spread even in the presence of our enemies - contemporary enemies - which might include fear or family worries, sickness or personal sorrow of a hundred different kinds. In a crowning act of compassion at such a supper He anoints our head with oil and administers a blessing of strength to our soul. Our cup runneth over with his kindess, and our tears runneth over with joy. We weep to know that such goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of or life, and that we will, if we desire it, dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

From "He Hath filled the Hungry with Good Things"

Jeffery R. Holland

Sunday Morning Session, 5 Oct 1997

Day 3

Day 3: Do I really understand repentence?

Read: Doctrince and Covenants 58 41-43

         Mosiah 4: 9-12

         Mosiah 2:38

Ponder: Have I truly sought forgiveness from the Lord?

             Do I believe He will forgive me?

     I learned about the great plan of happiness, that we are on earth to be tested. We will all make mistakes. The Apostle John taught, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." Fortunately he added, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." I paid particular attention to the word cleanse.

     I thought that repentance, like soap, should be used frequently. I found that when I apologized for mistakes, things were better. But for serious mistakes, an apology was not enough - sometimes not even possible. While these mistakes were, for the most part, not major ones, the spiritual pain called guilt invariably set in. Sooner or later they must be resolved, but I didn't know what to do. That happens when you break somthing that you alone can't fix.
     Among you young people are those who are "vexed," as Peter said, "with the filthy conversation of the wicked." Some of you joke about standards and see no need to change behavior. You tell yourselves it doesn't matter because "everybody's doing it."
     But that doesn't work because you, by nature, are good. How many times have you heard someone say, after doing some generous or heroic deed or simply helping others, how good it made them feel? Like any natural feeling or emotion, that reaction is inborn in you. Surely you have experience that yourself! Happpiness is inseparably connected with decent, clean behavior.
     The prophet Alma bluntly told his wayward son that because he transgressed he was "in a state contrary to the nature of happiness" and that "wickedness never was happiness." Those who don;t know how to erase mistakes often feel cornered and rebellious and lose themselves in unworthy living . . .
     It was through reading the scriptures, and listening, that I could understand, at least in part, the power of the Atonement. Can you imagine how I felt when finally I could see that if I followed what ever conditions the Redeemer had set, I need never endure the agony of being spiritually unclean?
     Imagine the consoling, liberating, exalting feeling that will come to you when you see the reality of the Atonement and the practical everyday value of it to you individually.
     You need not know everything before the power of the Atonement will work for you. Have faith in Christ, it begins to work the day you ask! The scripture speaks of "obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel." We all pretty well now what it means to obey laws. But how are we to obey ordinances?
     Generally we understand that, conditioned upon repentance, the ordincance of baptism washes our sins away. Some wonder if they were baptized too soon. If only they could be baptized now and have a clean start. But that is not necessary! Through the ordinance of the sarcrament you renew the covenants made at baptism. When you meet all of the conditions of repentance, however difficult, you may be forgiven and your transgressions will trouble your mind no more.

From "Washed Clean"
President Boyd K. Packer
Saturday Morning Session 5 April, 1997

Day 2

Day 2: Am I abiding in Christ?

Read: John 15

Ponder: From whom do I get my strength?
            Am I abiding in Christ?
            How can I bring forth much fruit, Lord?
            Can He call me a friend?

     As a Saint you say, 'I think I understand my duty, and I am doing very well'. That may be so. You see the little twig: it is green; it flourishes and is the very picture of life. It bears its part and proportion in the tree, and is connected with the stem, branches and root. But could the tree live without it? Yes it could. It need not boast itself and get uplifted and say, 'How green I am! And how I flourish! And what a healthy position I am in! How well I am doing! And I am in my proper place and am doing right.' But could you do without the root? No: you bear your proper part and position in the tree. Just so with this people. When they are doing their part - when they are magnifying their calling, living their religion, and walking in obedience to the Spirit of the Lord, they have a portion of his spirit given them to profit withal. And while they are humble, faithful, diligent, and observe the laws and commandments of God, they stand in their proper position on the tree: they are flourishing; the buds blossom, leaves, and everything about them are all right, and they form a part and parcel of the tree . . .' (John Taylor, Journal of Discourses, 6:108.)

A Fourteen Day Walk With Christ

This morning in church I received a little booklet entitled "A Fourteen Day Walk With Christ". I was so excited to start this challenge, and as I read through it I knew I had to share it with you.
I've been having a hard time keeping in mind the true reason of the season, and I know this will help me keep my focus as well as bring me closer to my Saviour. Who dosen't need that blessing in their lives?
So, you can follow along for the next 14 days and I will keep the posts coming. Here's the challenge:

A Fourteen Day Walk With Christ

The only way that we can really know another person is to walk in their shoes: think what they think, learn what they know, and what they would say, do what they would do.

Each morning, leave enough time to read the scripture references and other items for that day. Read and PONDER what is written. try to keep what you read in mind throughout the day and make a conscious effort to improve in that particular area.

At the end of the day evaluate how you did by writing your thoughts and feelings in a journal. The questions presented can help. Every day has a set of questions followed by scriptures to help you walk with Christ.

Day 1: Am I seeking Christ's help?

Read: Proverbs 3:5-6

         Jacob 4:7

         Ether 12:27

Ponder: Am I seeking the Lord's help in all I think and do?

             How can He help me overcome my weaknesses?

Dear Friend,

     I just had to send you a note and tell you how much I love and care about you. I saw you yesterday and you were walking with your friends. I waited all day hoping you would want to talk with me also. It hurt me, but I still love you because I am your friend.

     I saw you fall asleep last night, and longed to touch your brow. So I spilled moonlight on your pillow and your face. Again I waited, wanting to rush down so that we could talk. I have so many gifts for you, but you awakened late the next day and rushed off to school. My tears were in the rain.

     Today you looked sad, so alone. It makes my heart ache because I love you. Oh, if you would only listen to me. I really love you. I try to tell you in the blue sky and green grass. I whisper it in the leaves on the trees and breathe it in the color of the flowers. I shout it to you in the mountain streams and give the birds love songs to sing, clothe you in warm sunshine and perfume the air with nature scents. My love for you is deeper than the oceans and bigger than the biggest want or need in your heart.

     If you only know how much I want to help you. I want you to meet my Father. He wants to help you too. My Father is that way, you know. Just call me, ask me, talk with me. Please, please don't forget me. I have so much to share with you. But I won't hassle you any further. You are free to call me. It's up to you. I'll wait because I love you.

Your brother,

Christ

Halloween and the sniffles

Halloween wasn't as fun as I was anticipating this year. Kael came down with a cold just two days before. And just when I thought we had that under control he picked up some kind of 24 hour stomach flu as well.
I was still determined to take him out and show of his cute little costume. But the poor kid was miserable and we didn't make it very far. He didn't want to get in the car, and he definitely didn't want to wear something as stupid as an elephant hood on his head. He told me so.

Luckily he was generous enough to keep it on long enough for me to snap some photos.
Hopefully it will be more fun for the both of us next year.

A little kitchen entertainment

This is his new spot. Whenever I can't find him, he's here:

                                                 

Where has the time gone?!

It's hard to believe that it's been since July when I last updated. Seriously, where does the time go? I know that once our new addition arrives it's only going to get worse and you'll probably hear from me even less than you do now. So here is my sorry in advance. SORRY.

In case you haven't heard, in 14 weeks we'll be having a little girl join our family. Every week it becomes more real and more exciting! Choosing a name for her has been quite the ordeal. Dustin and I have comepletely different taste when it comes to baby names. But, we finally decided on Ella Renae. I hope she likes it as much as we do.

I'm really excited to see what kind of big brother Kael is going to be. He's so cute with her already. Whenever I tell him to say 'Hi Baby' he will try to lift up my shirt and rub my belly. And from time to time I will look over and catch him rubbing his own belly. Oh how I wish I could read his little mind. Especially when he's babbling on and on about something with a real serious look on his face. He seems to say a lot of important things lately. I'm excited for the day when we can have a real conversation. Which I know won't be long. He's getting so big so fast!

His first birthday was a hit! We threw him and his cousin James (who turned 5) an Alphabet themed party. There was a whole lot of family crammed into our small space for a living room, but it was so worth it! A BIG thanks to everyone who came. It sure meant a lot. And thanks for all of the loot! Kael made out like a bandit. So far this has been his favorite:

He's constantly loading and unloading his car with all of the other goodies that he received.

That and he's always walking (yes, that's right, walking) around with this.

At least I've succeded in teaching him the importance of using a toothbrush. His first 2 pearly whites FINALLY came in about a month and a half ago. He definitely looks like a toddler now.

Kael also enjoyed a yummy birthday breakfast of waffles and ice cream! A sweet tradition in my family.

Oh, one more thing. I turned 24 a couple of weeks ago. It seems the older you get the less exciting birthdays become. I'm scared to get any older. I would like to stay 24 for awhile, if not forever. I'm loving where I'm at in life.