The Quiet Moments We Feel The Spirit #16

The Quiet Moments We Feel The Spirit

 

I want to spend a few moments telling you my experience this Sabbath day. As I was coming to the end of a short film I was watching, my wife came and tapped me on the shoulder, I was wearing headphones and wouldn't hear her if she had just said something. I stopped the short film, removed my headphones, then she asked, “are you ok, I thought you were crying, and you are, what’s wrong”? I found at that moment it was hard for me to speak a word as if I said one word, I would collapse into full blown tears. As I tried to pull my emotions together, I showed my wife what I had been watching. In an instant she understood what was going on.

I was watching a short film or documentary as it were about the life Thomas S. Monson. Thomas S. Monson was the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints until his passing in January of 2018. The love I had for the soft-spoken man, leader of our church, I just can’t explain here.

But what I do want to tell you is about where my tears came from. When my wife tapped me on the shoulder and I realized I was crying, I knew my tears were coming from the Spirit of the Lord. I didn’t care that I was crying, my heart was filled with the love for Thomas S. Monson, a servant of the Lord and the Holy Spirit was confirming this to me.

After having the sweet feelings/promptings of the Spirit how can one ever stop seeking to be obedient to our Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ.

President Thomas S. Monson

On the Lord's Errand: The Life of Thomas S. Monson

Link to Video: On the Lord's Errand

Don’t let the situations of this world change your focus on what’s important. #15

 

Don’t let the situations of this world change your focus on what’s important. #15 

As I was scrolling through Facebook, I ran across a video of a man talking about the world in which we are living in today. As he was talking and giving scriptural references to what he was talking about I felt moved to look up these scriptural references for myself and mark them in my scriptures. Even though I’ve read them before I wanted to highlight them and spend more time thinking and praying that I may become better at applying them in my life.

Isn’t it great that as we read and reread the scriptures, we sometimes don’t see the wisdom of what we’re being told? But then when we’re ready and open to learning we are given a gift or as I like to call it “finding a golden nugget of wisdom”.

The man in the video was talking about how “we” as brothers and sisters are treating each other with all that’s happening in the world. As we talk about the problems in politics or with all the discussions dealing with discrimination it tends to bring out some form of emotion in everyone, whether it be sadness, guilt, anger, or fear. The point he was making was, these are earthly matters that we’re spending time getting so emotional about and not where we should be spending our time and energy. We’re taught by the Saviors example to treat everyone as brothers and sisters and give a helping hand when needed. To love ALL our brothers and sisters NOT tear them down.

To me these scriptures are teaching us not to let the things of this world control our emotions or occupy our time. Our time should be spent on more heavenly things such as, charity, services, and trying to be more like our Savior. The situations that today we’re seeing all around the world are tools of the adversary. He’s trying to keep our eyes focused on things of this world and not where they truly need to be.

·         Set your desires on things not of this world but on things of heaven.

Colossians 3:2

2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

Colossians 3:2

New Testament

Scriptures

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/col/3?lang=eng&verse=2#p2

 

·        Don’t let the situations of this world change your focus on what’s important. Try to see the bigger picture.

Luke 24: 13-26

13 ¶ And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.

14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened.

15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.

16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.

17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?

18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?

19 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:

20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.

21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.

22 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;

23 And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.

24 And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.

25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:

26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?

Luke 24:13-26

New Testament

Scriptures

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/luke/24?lang=eng&verse=13&context=13-26#p13

 

·        The problems that we see are of this world.

John 17:16

16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

John 17:16

New Testament

Scriptures

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/john/17?lang=eng&verse=16#p16

 

·        We must have respect for all our brothers and sisters.

James 2:9

9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

James 2:9

New Testament

Scriptures

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/james/2?lang=eng&verse=9#p9 

Respecter [ ri-spek-ter ]

noun

someone or something that is influenced by the social standing, importance, power, or any deterrent put forth by persons or things (used chiefly in negative constructions): Death is no respecter of wealth.

From: Dictionary.com 

Respecter

See also Respect

God is no respecter of persons, Acts 10:34.

same Lord over all is rich unto all, Rom. 10:12.

if not so, God is … a respecter to persons, Moro. 8:12.

I am no respecter of persons, D&C 1:35 (38:16).

twelve sons, and is no respecter of them, D&C 38:26.

See also Alma 29:8.

Respecter

Topical Guide

Study Helps

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/tg/respecter?lang=eng&verse=#p 

·        ·        Always speak in an uplifting way, never down on anyone or anything

Colossians 4:6

6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

Colossians 4:6

New Testament

Scriptures

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/col/4?lang=eng&verse=6#p6

How do we view Heavenly Father #14

I've been pondering how I view Heavenly Father. Over the years I've come to view my Heavenly Father as kind of an all-powerful being, someone that loves me unconditionally, one who is at the head of all things that we have come to know and understand, and the one who I want to return to when my mortal probation is over. But at the same time Heavenly Father is also kind of mystical, mysterious, and really unknown to me. Don’t get me wrong, I love my Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ. But I've never seen Him in the flesh or heard His voice, so, how should I view Heavenly Father? I’ve spent a lot of time over the years searching the scriptures and other writings from trusted brothers and sisters in the church. I've listened to His prophets and apostles and spent a lot of time in prayer but yet, I still fall short of that deep-down fatherly connection.

Early Christian views of God (our spiritual father) were personal, more anthropomorphic, meaning more like our earthly father and less abstract, meaning a mysterious, mystical, or not like us. But with a lot of prayer and deep contemplation my perspective has changed. Whenever I'm thinking about my Heavenly Father I also stop to think about my earthly father and how he as a person that I have physical knowledge of might feel or act. For example, we all know that when we do something that is not in line with gospel principles aka sin, we hear that our Heavenly Father is sad that we've made a bad chose. What does Heavenly Father look like when He's sad or how do we think Heavenly Father feels deep down when we mess up. So, I stop and think what would my earthly father think or feel when he has found that I had done something not inline with his teachings.

When we do things that make our earthly father sad or happy, we know how that looks and feels. So, I think our Heavenly Father must feel and look the same way but magnified of course because we can't comprehend the depth of His love or anger.

Inconclusion, if we view our Heavenly Father like we view our earthly father it may help us to feel that closeness we seek with our Heavenly Father and understand how we can make Him happy or sad by our actions.

It is important to realize that everyone may not have had an earthly father in their life for one reason or another.

 So, look at that one person that loves us and only wants the best for us. This person could be a mother, a grandparent, a sister or brother, or even a friend that has helped you through some of life's harder roads.

Side note:
I try to always add a scripture or two to help convey my point or reference where I found my information but, this proved to be most difficult. So, I'll add Genesis 1:26-27 to show our earthly father can be viewed in some ways like our Heavenly Father because he was made in His image.

Genesis 1:26-27
26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

I've been struggling #13

I've been struggling to come up with how to share my love and dependency on the gospel of Jesus Christ. As I continue to think, ponder, and pray about what I could write that would better serve my brothers and sisters, I keep coming back to tell YOUR story. Write about my daily struggles, questions, triumphs, and failures that I face daily and how my reliance on the Gospel helps me through it.

So, in keeping with the Blog title “More Than Scripture Study” I'll be doing just that, writing about faith, scriptures, prayer, and blessings from our Heavenly Father that keep me going. I guess this will at least for a time, become more like a journal, sharing stories that show why we all need Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ at the center of our lives. It’s my deepest prayer that I can in some small way help my brothers and sisters see that we all have our trials and opportunities that we can learn from as we’re striving to gain a more Christ like attitude.

It's Been A Long Time #12

It’s Been A Long Time

It’s Been A Long Time
Wow, it's been a long time since I posted a new blog, I hardly know where to start. 

In The Beginning
When I started this blog, I was deep in scripture study and was so focused on progressing in the gospel and learning all I could about the scriptures that I didn't see the rest of the world going on around me. Not that it’s a bad thing, seeking further light and knowledge about Heavenly Father’s plan for me -- where and what he wants me actively engaged in. But in the last and a half year since my last blog post, my eyes have been opened to a much different path He has chosen for me. When you completely dedicate yourself to only one thing everything else in your life will suffer, there must be a balance in all things, or all things will fail.

What Has Changed
So, what has changed in the last year and a half and how do I begin to describe it. I’ve been on so many adventures and new places and it’s all due to one person, a beautiful lady named April. But I’m kind of putting the cart before the horse as it were. I’m telling you about the adventures before telling you how I came to meet and quickly fall in love with April.

Romance
I’ve found the love of my life, and the funny thing is I wasn’t looking. I was at a point in my life that I didn’t want anyone in it. Having someone in your life can be a full-time job. At least that’s how I felt up to this point. When I first meet April, I was invited to a friend’s house for dinner because the couple I was living with had been out of town for a few weeks and my friends thought it would be nice to have me over for a home cooked meal. Little did I know that my friend’s cousin from Michigan was visiting and would be joining us for dinner. When I first walked in and meet April I thought, OK she’s nice and beautiful but I’m not looking so I was just going to be myself. Straight forward, over the top and funny (I like to make people laugh). Not wanting someone in my life took all the stress off being proper and giving a good first impression. At this point I didn’t care; I was just going to enjoy the evening. And that’s what I did and had a really good time. The next night they invited me over for dinner again and also on the 3^rd night. I thought great more home cooked meals. Now don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t going just for the food, I was having a good time talking to April and just running my mouth. I could say or do anything I wanted (within reason, I’m still a gentlemen) because I didn’t want anyone in my life and wasn’t looking to impress anyone.

On the 3^rd and last night April was here, dinner was set for 6pm. At about 4:30pm I called my friend to inform her I was going to be late because I was still at work and over 90 miles away plus I still needed to go home and shower. I was thinking I would get there closer to 7pm. She said that would be good because they also were running behind.

The funny thing was after all that I was still able to show up around 6. The dinner went on as planned and we had a great time, as we were sitting in the living room I was running my mouth about how I didn’t want anyone one in my life, I was completely happy and I couldn’t see meeting anyone that would motivate me to go out of my way to date and all that entailed. (as I’m saying this I’m thinking: like rushing to get my work done so I could get out of the office, racing home to get a quick shower and thinking of clever things to say to impress.) Then it hit me like a ton of bricks, right while I was in the middle of saying I couldn’t see myself doing all this I stopped mid-sentence and said (out loud) O-Crap. April and my friend both said what’s wrong, I smiled and said that’s exactly what I’ve been doing. I spent the better part of the day rushing and trying to get ready to come over because I couldn’t wait to see April. That was 11 months ago, and we’ve been together ever since. When I say together, I don’t mean that literally. We’ve been to gather a half dozen times but talk on the phone at lest 3 times a day. We have our evening prayer every night without fail. April lives in Michigan and I live in Maryland but that will be changing soon. I have asked April to marry me and she has said yes so, I’ll be moving soon.

How God has blessed Me
I have been shown many great things by Heavenly Father, such as how great is the love of my friends and family, how beautiful life can be when we put Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ at the center of our lives and how Heavenly Father will give us and guide us to where He needs and wants us to be.

Just like April and I finding each other. It’s all about timing, His timing. Neither of us were looking for someone but here we are.

Everything that we thought would be a negative about ourselves in the sight and heart of the other seemed to come out as a positive.

Prayers are answered, I prayed long and hard about April and received the answer that April is indeed the one that has been handpicked for me.

Closing
It’s easy to see if we always put Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ first in our lives, we will be guided in such a way that brings us happiness. Remember my friends that we are His servants and He will put us were He needs us.

The Pure Love of Christ #11

What is the pure love of Christ?

According to Moroni 7:47, it’s charity.
47 But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.

The Bible dictionary says under “The Pure love of Christ” is also charity.
Charity: The highest, noblest, strongest kind of love, not merely affection; the pure love of Christ. It is never used to denote alms or deeds of benevolence, although it may be a prompting motive

The “Teachings of the Presidents of the Church, Howard W. Hunter,
Chapter 20, Walking the Savior’s Path of Charity” also says it’s charity.
In short, we need to love one another with the pure love of Christ, with genuine charity and compassion and, if necessary, shared suffering, for that is the way God loves us.

And the list goes on, but I pulled out just a few to give us an idea of where this is going.

As we can plainly see the answer to the question is CHARITY.
Hum, ok, we now know that the Pure Love of Christ is charity. So what is charity and how does it play a part in our lives?

I think the first step in understanding charity is to recognize that charity is more than just giving assistance to the poor or needy, whether it be through physically helping someone or by giving monetary assistance. That would be too easy, but it is one part of the process of being charitable.

 The second part of charity is LOVE. It’s easy to give money to the panhandler on the corner, or work in a soup kitchen for the poor on Christmas day. But we are to love our brothers and sisters in the same way we love ourselves or our family. If you had a brother, sister, mother, father or child that was less fortunate then we are, wouldn’t our love for them make us want to care for them the best that we could?

Something I started to realize when I began reading the scriptures and pondering the concept of charity is what my own thought process was when confronted by a panhandler or someone in need that was less fortunate than myself. I looked at that person and started to question, why! The panhandler, does he want money for drugs or food? If for food, I will most definitely give it to him. But if they looked like they would use the money for drugs I would just pass by them.

People that physically needed help I would question, what brought them to this point? Most of the time I would still help because in my mind I thought it was the “Christ-like thing to do”. But then it hit me, would I feel the same or ask the same questions if it was one of my family members? Would the reason matter? I love them and want to do what ever I can to help them.

That was a light bulb moment for me. Everyone is a brother or sister to me. The fact was, I was judging them. I felt about as low as you could when I realized what I was doing.

Nephi tells us in 2nd Nephi 31:20
20 Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.

And there’s no questioning the council from the Savior himself in Matthew 22:36-40.
36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37 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.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

We need to learn how to be more like the Savior and gain The Pure Love of Christ. Don’t ask why they need help, ask how can I help, for their our brothers and sisters and we love them.

Finding Christ-Like Love In Setting Boundaries. #10

If nothing else the title sounds interesting. And if I came across it, I would stop and read what it had to say. So let me try to make your time reading this profitable.

We all know that our Savior Jesus Christ was perfect in his love and understanding of all Heavenly Father’s children. But knowing all that we do, from our studying of the scriptures and what has been testified of by the Prophets of the church, how could he have loved everyone the way that he did? I have a hard time just trying to get to work in the morning without getting irritated at someone.

We are taught that we need to develop Christ-like attributes. And that includes loving our brothers and sisters. All of our brothers and sisters, even the ones that mistreat us, hate us, hurt us or just don’t want to deal with us. Not an easy task, but were do we start?

I think the answer could be found in setting boundaries.

Boundaries are essential to healthy relationships, whether it be family, friends, co-workers or passersby. Loving someone doesn't mean loving them to the point that they hurt or mistreat us. And sometimes the pain and hurt can come from you loving them too much.

Having healthy boundaries means “knowing and understanding your limits and how far you're willing to go to love that person. Then having the courage to not cross over those limits you’ve set and letting that person make their own decisions on whatever you were trying to help them with. This can be especially hard with people we love, children, spouses, parents or close family friends. There are times we can love them so much that we are willing to do anything and everything in our power to help them. But sometimes that leads to us getting hurt because in our eyes their making unwise decisions. But in all situations we need to remember one thing, We have all been given the gift of free agency.

That’s were setting boundaries can help. By allowing people to make their own decisions and exercising their free agency they will learn and progress. Good or bad they will learn. But if we become so emotionally involved in their decisions or actions it can do harm to us and our emotional state. We are here to help and guide not dictate and manage when it comes to loving people.

Can we love someone enough to let them fail if need be?

Matthew 10:14
And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.

We can only try to help someone through love, compassion, forgiveness and patience but at the end of the day they have free agency to choose their own path.

2nd Nephi 2:27
Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.

The Savior had unconditional love, forgiveness, compassion and patience. But I bet He also set boundaries.