It is interesting in this life how we are constantly having to make a choice between good and evil. That we are now able "to act for themselves and not to be acted upon..." 2 Nephi 2:26
But we are here to learn these things! That we are here on earth to learn what good is and what bad is. That we can overcome the bad and chose to follow God.
"And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them." Abraham 3:25
But we have to know and understand how the bad, or Satan works to know how to not get caught in his traps. Here are some ways that he attacks us!
"16 WAYS SATAN ATTACKS:
1. 1. He tries to blur our vision of why we’re here… on our mission or even on earth.
2. He whispers that there is plenty of time to pull our spiritual lives together later.
3. He feeds our vanity: spend your time getting recognition and power
4. He tells us that we are not worth much, and loves when we compare ourselves to others.
5. He encourages us to judge and evaluate one another.
6. He tells us that life should be easy and fun, and if not the gospel is not working
7. He’s gradually numbing our morality: music, computer, movies, books, and our tolerance level for evil increases.
8. He wants us separated from each other. To stop caring and nurturing one another in person.
9. He wants us hung up on perfection, so we are frustrated and hopeless.
10. He loves it when we rely on others testimonies instead of gaining our own spiritual strength.
11. He tells the world that religion is restrictive and boring
12. He wants us to get hung up on unanswered questions
13. He has launched an all-out attack on women and their roll.
14. He is devouring marriages and families
15. He has others ridicule and mock religion. He will do anything to make us feel ashamed, embarrassed or to have doubts.
16. He tells us that the ‘natural man’ is good for us. He tells us that we should give in to our natural desires and do what we want. He wants us to be a slave of our appetites. He wants us to be his."
We must stand strong, Pray ofter to be able to overcome Satan and not fall into temptation or sin. Be aware of these tactics and resist when Satan tries to use them on you! I know through prayer we can overcome!
10.16.2012
10.03.2012
Faith in Good things to come
Everyone of us goes through hard times where we don't know what to do. That we feel like this time in our life is never going to end. That we can't see ahead because of the fog and storms that are around us. Sometimes even that Christ or God have forsaken us.
I am hear to bear testimony to each of you that that is NOT true! God loves each and everyone of us and He is there beside us every step of the way. Sometimes it may feel like he isn't there, or he is silent. But a cool quote I heard recently was "Always remember that during a test, the teacher is ALWAYS silent." I have felt in my life times when I thought for sure that God was not listening or around me. That was not true. Because as I continued with my faith and trust that he did exist, my faith was tested and I received the sweet confirmation that He WAS there and that I did prove faithful in times that were difficult.
The story in the Bible of when Christ is on the ship and the storm comes and the Apostles wake him up and ask "Carest thou not that we perish?" Jesus stands up and tells the storm "Peace, be still." Mark 4:36-41
Sometimes we feel like Christ is "asleep" through our trials but He never is. That he can calm our storms, and sometimes he just calms us while we endure the storm.
We will get through all of the hard times in our lives. The real question is where are we going to turn to find the peace, because as we turn from the world and rely on our faith it will be a sweet moment and we will be assured that we will not be tried or tempted more than we can bear.
Paul wrote
"But this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13-14
We can't look back. We can't dwell on the past in hopes that it gets us through the present. The past is behind and will hold us back. We must focus on the future. We must look forward with faith, hope and trust in our living God.
Elder Holland said:
"When something is over and done with, when it has been repented of as fully as it can be repented of, when life has moved on as it should and a lot of other wonderfully good things have happened since then, it is NOT right to go back and open up some ancient wound [or trial] that the Son of God himself died trying to heal. God doesn't care nearly as much about where you have been as he does about where you are, and with His help, where you are willing to go."
You can get through this hard time. Trust in him.... Rely on Him, and you WILL get through this.
Believe in good things to come!
I am hear to bear testimony to each of you that that is NOT true! God loves each and everyone of us and He is there beside us every step of the way. Sometimes it may feel like he isn't there, or he is silent. But a cool quote I heard recently was "Always remember that during a test, the teacher is ALWAYS silent." I have felt in my life times when I thought for sure that God was not listening or around me. That was not true. Because as I continued with my faith and trust that he did exist, my faith was tested and I received the sweet confirmation that He WAS there and that I did prove faithful in times that were difficult.
The story in the Bible of when Christ is on the ship and the storm comes and the Apostles wake him up and ask "Carest thou not that we perish?" Jesus stands up and tells the storm "Peace, be still." Mark 4:36-41
Sometimes we feel like Christ is "asleep" through our trials but He never is. That he can calm our storms, and sometimes he just calms us while we endure the storm.
We will get through all of the hard times in our lives. The real question is where are we going to turn to find the peace, because as we turn from the world and rely on our faith it will be a sweet moment and we will be assured that we will not be tried or tempted more than we can bear. Paul wrote
"But this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13-14
We can't look back. We can't dwell on the past in hopes that it gets us through the present. The past is behind and will hold us back. We must focus on the future. We must look forward with faith, hope and trust in our living God.
Elder Holland said:
"When something is over and done with, when it has been repented of as fully as it can be repented of, when life has moved on as it should and a lot of other wonderfully good things have happened since then, it is NOT right to go back and open up some ancient wound [or trial] that the Son of God himself died trying to heal. God doesn't care nearly as much about where you have been as he does about where you are, and with His help, where you are willing to go."
You can get through this hard time. Trust in him.... Rely on Him, and you WILL get through this.
Believe in good things to come!
Revelation videos!
Here are some really good videos that I came across about the light of Christ and what we can do to receive revelation! I hope you enjoy them as much as I did!
9.14.2012
Power of prayer
What does prayer mean to you?
"Because we know that we are the children of God, one of the most important things we must make up our minds to do on our way to success and happiness is to pray regularly and fervently to him for guidance and strength." - Marion G. Romney
We pray because we know, or want to know the relationship we have with the Father.
"As soon as we learn the true relationship in which we stand toward God... then at once prayer becomes natural and instinctive on our part. Many of the so-called difficulties about prayer arise from forgetting this relationship. Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other. The object of prayer is not to change the will of God, but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant, but that are made conditional on our asking for them. Blessings require some work or effort on our part before we can obtain them. Prayer is a form of work, and is an appointed means for obtaining the highest of all blessings." -Bible Dictionary
I know that was really long but it teaches us that we are God's child, that we pray for things that God is already willing to grant us, but He is waiting for us to ask for them. We receive blessings when we put forth work, and PRAYER is a form of WORK!
1. We can pray to receive answers
2. We can pray to repent and change and become better
3. We can to thank Heavenly Father for our blessings and ask him for things we need
4. Then the ultimate challenge is to discern the things that the Holy Ghost is telling us when we pray.
The next couple of blogs will be going over these points.
"Because we know that we are the children of God, one of the most important things we must make up our minds to do on our way to success and happiness is to pray regularly and fervently to him for guidance and strength." - Marion G. Romney
We pray because we know, or want to know the relationship we have with the Father.
"As soon as we learn the true relationship in which we stand toward God... then at once prayer becomes natural and instinctive on our part. Many of the so-called difficulties about prayer arise from forgetting this relationship. Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other. The object of prayer is not to change the will of God, but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant, but that are made conditional on our asking for them. Blessings require some work or effort on our part before we can obtain them. Prayer is a form of work, and is an appointed means for obtaining the highest of all blessings." -Bible Dictionary
I know that was really long but it teaches us that we are God's child, that we pray for things that God is already willing to grant us, but He is waiting for us to ask for them. We receive blessings when we put forth work, and PRAYER is a form of WORK!
How do we pray?
1. We address our Heavenly Father ex. "dear Heavenly Father"
2. Say things that we are grateful for
3. Ask for help, questions, blessings
4. close by saying "in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."
We also can receive help with praying when we seek the Spirit to help us to pray.
Ephesians 6:18
"Praying always with all prayer and supplication IN THE SPIRIT..."
The Spirit can help us to pray. Some times we can feel like we don't want to pray, or not good at praying. But when we pray with the help of the Spirit, we can have comfort and help with our prayers.
So what uses does prayer have in our lives?
1. We can pray to receive answers
2. We can pray to repent and change and become better
3. We can to thank Heavenly Father for our blessings and ask him for things we need
4. Then the ultimate challenge is to discern the things that the Holy Ghost is telling us when we pray.
The next couple of blogs will be going over these points.
Praying to know knowledge
There are 3 examples from the scriptures that I want to talk about that prayed to know knowledge.
These 3 men knew the source of all truth. Lehi, was a prophet who desired to know the will of God. He was instructed to leave Jerusalem and go to the "promise land." He was very close to the Lord and asked in prayer which way to lead his family. What to do when they got to the Americas. His prayers and obedience allowed him to see a vision called the "tree of life" vision. This vision he saw different people in life, some trying to be obedient and others not so much. But it gives us great knowledge to learn from. Lehi seeing this vision led Nephi, his son, to pray and to ask God to see the vision and the interpretation of the vision. He had 3 qualities that allowed him to receive an answer to his prayer.
1 Nephi 11:1
When we have desire to know specific knowledge, faith that God will give it to us, and ponder it out in our minds, GOD ANSWERS OUR PRAYERS. The answer most likely won't be a vision, but will come in the form of peace, joy or happiness with the decision. Your mind can become enlightened on a subject you are struggling to understand. If the answer is not necessary for you right now, he grants peace and patience until the time is right.
Joseph Smith is another example of this. He had desire. He wanted to know what church to join. He wanted to be obedient and follow God with exactness. He had Faith. He knew that after he read James 1:5 that "if any of ye lack wisdom, let him ask of God." Joseph Smith knew if he followed this scripture, that God would answer him. Then he pondered it. I use to think that Joseph Smith woke up one morning, debated which church to go to. Read the scriptures and BAM- James 1:5 was read. And the rest was history. That is far from the truth. Joseph Smith debated this out in his mind. He records in the Joseph Smith History 1:8 "I attended their several meetings as often as occasion would permit." 1:13 "At LENGTH I came to the conclusion..." This was not an overnight decision. Joseph allowed it to stew in his mind. he pondered it and wanted to learn truth and asked in faith, knowing that God would answer his prayer.
Sometimes our questions are answered the day of. Sometimes we are allowed more time to ponder and pray about a question so that when we are prepared most, we will receive the answer. Some times answers take time and effort to show God our faith, patience, and dedication to know the answer. Think of how much more you appreciate anything you get if you worked for it versus when you just receive it. Our appreciation grows. We cherish the answer or gift we receive.
I know that God will answer our prayers. If he doesn't answer with the answer we want, he has something better in store for us!
Lehi
Nephi
Joseph Smith
1 Nephi 11:1
"For it came to pass after I had desired to know the things that my father had seen, and believing that the Lord was able to make them known unto me, as I sat pondering in mine heart I was caught away in the spirit of the Lord..."
When we have desire to know specific knowledge, faith that God will give it to us, and ponder it out in our minds, GOD ANSWERS OUR PRAYERS. The answer most likely won't be a vision, but will come in the form of peace, joy or happiness with the decision. Your mind can become enlightened on a subject you are struggling to understand. If the answer is not necessary for you right now, he grants peace and patience until the time is right.
Joseph Smith is another example of this. He had desire. He wanted to know what church to join. He wanted to be obedient and follow God with exactness. He had Faith. He knew that after he read James 1:5 that "if any of ye lack wisdom, let him ask of God." Joseph Smith knew if he followed this scripture, that God would answer him. Then he pondered it. I use to think that Joseph Smith woke up one morning, debated which church to go to. Read the scriptures and BAM- James 1:5 was read. And the rest was history. That is far from the truth. Joseph Smith debated this out in his mind. He records in the Joseph Smith History 1:8 "I attended their several meetings as often as occasion would permit." 1:13 "At LENGTH I came to the conclusion..." This was not an overnight decision. Joseph allowed it to stew in his mind. he pondered it and wanted to learn truth and asked in faith, knowing that God would answer his prayer.I know that God will answer our prayers. If he doesn't answer with the answer we want, he has something better in store for us!
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