He Makes It Personal
"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." John 17:3
This has been on my mind all week. Several weeks ago, I was assigned to teach Priesthood this week. I had been given a Conference talk to reference and teach the overall message from the talk. The talk was Elder Uchtdorf's talk from Priesthood session, "Bearers of Heavenly Light".
Wow, it is such a great continuation of last week's thoughts, Light and Darkness.
Any who, I just could not get over the thoughts, impressions, and personal revelation that was flowing into my head as I pondered the message of his words. I read and listened to it over and over again.
It wasn't until the end of the week that I decided that I should check to see if I was still teaching, as we have yet to have a new Elders Quorum Presidency organized. In the 11th hours, I was told that I would not be teaching, but that it had already been assigned out. At first, I was kind of bummed. I had received so many great thoughts and discussion points for this lesson. I found myself asking, why? Why was I given so much only to be told that I would not be able to share it?
Then I remembered my verse of pondering, John 17:3. "This is life eternal...". This knowledge was shared with me. It helped me better understand my Father in Heaven, my Savior, Jesus Christ, and more about His plan.
What did I learn? Well, to continue on from last week's thoughts. Darkness leaves when Light enters. This is an eternal law. It is divine. Elder Uchtdorf talked about how sometimes we let our Light dim through stagnation, life, and so much, much more that has filled this world. The adversary is good at what he does. And when we become stagnant, the Light dims, and Darkness starts moving in.
So, how do we fill our lives with Light? Jesus Christ! The Plan of Salvation! MINISTERING! What an amazing prophecy we received from this great leader. If we have been applying the lessons he taught to use in October's Conference, we would be better prepared to receive the message of April Conference and go, go, go!
We must fill our lives with Light. Sometimes this means that we have to find, and often changes our locations or the influences in our lives.
"...it is up to us to be in the right place to see the divine light and truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ." - Uchtdorf
This is not always easy. It may been changing our routine. It may mean doing something that is not within our comfort zone. It requires discipline, self-discipline.
"Every time you turn your hearts to God in humble prayer, you experience LIGHT. Every time you seek His word and will in the scriptures, the LIGHT grows in brightness. Every time you notice someone in need and sacrifice your own comfort to reach out in love, the LIGHT expands and swells. Every time you reject temptation and choose purity, every time you seek or extend forgiveness, every time you courageously testify of truth, the LIGHT chases away darkness and attracts other who are also seeking LIGHT and truth." - Uchtdorf
Are we filling our lives, our homes, our families, and our communities with LIGHT? Are we making sure that the influences in our lives, our homes, our families, and our communities are making that LIGHT stronger? Are we willing? Are those we associate with also willing? Then we are on the right path.
However, if we are not starting with ourselves, how can we expect others to benefit from that LIGHT? If we are letting influences of darkness out weight the influences of LIGHT, then we will have darkness.
Unfortunately, not everyone wants that LIGHT. There are those who want darkness and are not willing to make those changes to come into the LIGHT because it means they have to change, they have to do hard things, they have to move from their comfort zones.
What does that mean? They don't want to live in such a way that brings LIGHT.(i.e. living the commandments, praying, reading, serving, and sacrificing) God has given us a plan. A plan that works. We just have to have the faith and trust to follow and live it. It equals eternal life.
Just some thoughts.
This week has been good.
The Queen decided to leave some of snow here vs. taking it with her to the windy city. However, I understand she had a couple of those cold SPRING days as well. The highlight of her weeks adventure was finding out that there was a Quilting Trade Show taking place at the convention center attached to her hotel.
The Professor had a little lull in her busy life. Most of her major projects for the semester were turned in. She checked and double checked them before hitting that submit button. In all the organization she did, she was a head of the game.
Tall Man and Ehl-Bo have been busy as well. It was good to hear that they were still making time for each other. We hope their "First" date went well and they will continue to see each other. We kind of like them together.
I did a quick run to the north to help Puddin replace a faucet this week. It was good to see him and fun to work together. There were hardly any kicking, screaming, or hitting. We were successful in the end. He had a couple interviews this week. We hope to hear good news soon.
Lady Hawkins was not around when I was there, but we understand she is really enjoying her new job. We hope her enjoyment continues.
The week to come will filled with more excitement I am sure. We look forward to hearing and sharing next time.
Cheerios
This has been on my mind all week. Several weeks ago, I was assigned to teach Priesthood this week. I had been given a Conference talk to reference and teach the overall message from the talk. The talk was Elder Uchtdorf's talk from Priesthood session, "Bearers of Heavenly Light".
Wow, it is such a great continuation of last week's thoughts, Light and Darkness.
Any who, I just could not get over the thoughts, impressions, and personal revelation that was flowing into my head as I pondered the message of his words. I read and listened to it over and over again.
It wasn't until the end of the week that I decided that I should check to see if I was still teaching, as we have yet to have a new Elders Quorum Presidency organized. In the 11th hours, I was told that I would not be teaching, but that it had already been assigned out. At first, I was kind of bummed. I had received so many great thoughts and discussion points for this lesson. I found myself asking, why? Why was I given so much only to be told that I would not be able to share it?
Then I remembered my verse of pondering, John 17:3. "This is life eternal...". This knowledge was shared with me. It helped me better understand my Father in Heaven, my Savior, Jesus Christ, and more about His plan.
What did I learn? Well, to continue on from last week's thoughts. Darkness leaves when Light enters. This is an eternal law. It is divine. Elder Uchtdorf talked about how sometimes we let our Light dim through stagnation, life, and so much, much more that has filled this world. The adversary is good at what he does. And when we become stagnant, the Light dims, and Darkness starts moving in.
So, how do we fill our lives with Light? Jesus Christ! The Plan of Salvation! MINISTERING! What an amazing prophecy we received from this great leader. If we have been applying the lessons he taught to use in October's Conference, we would be better prepared to receive the message of April Conference and go, go, go!
We must fill our lives with Light. Sometimes this means that we have to find, and often changes our locations or the influences in our lives.
"...it is up to us to be in the right place to see the divine light and truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ." - Uchtdorf
This is not always easy. It may been changing our routine. It may mean doing something that is not within our comfort zone. It requires discipline, self-discipline.
"Every time you turn your hearts to God in humble prayer, you experience LIGHT. Every time you seek His word and will in the scriptures, the LIGHT grows in brightness. Every time you notice someone in need and sacrifice your own comfort to reach out in love, the LIGHT expands and swells. Every time you reject temptation and choose purity, every time you seek or extend forgiveness, every time you courageously testify of truth, the LIGHT chases away darkness and attracts other who are also seeking LIGHT and truth." - Uchtdorf
Are we filling our lives, our homes, our families, and our communities with LIGHT? Are we making sure that the influences in our lives, our homes, our families, and our communities are making that LIGHT stronger? Are we willing? Are those we associate with also willing? Then we are on the right path.
However, if we are not starting with ourselves, how can we expect others to benefit from that LIGHT? If we are letting influences of darkness out weight the influences of LIGHT, then we will have darkness.
Unfortunately, not everyone wants that LIGHT. There are those who want darkness and are not willing to make those changes to come into the LIGHT because it means they have to change, they have to do hard things, they have to move from their comfort zones.
What does that mean? They don't want to live in such a way that brings LIGHT.(i.e. living the commandments, praying, reading, serving, and sacrificing) God has given us a plan. A plan that works. We just have to have the faith and trust to follow and live it. It equals eternal life.
Just some thoughts.
This week has been good.
The Queen decided to leave some of snow here vs. taking it with her to the windy city. However, I understand she had a couple of those cold SPRING days as well. The highlight of her weeks adventure was finding out that there was a Quilting Trade Show taking place at the convention center attached to her hotel.
The Professor had a little lull in her busy life. Most of her major projects for the semester were turned in. She checked and double checked them before hitting that submit button. In all the organization she did, she was a head of the game.
Tall Man and Ehl-Bo have been busy as well. It was good to hear that they were still making time for each other. We hope their "First" date went well and they will continue to see each other. We kind of like them together.
I did a quick run to the north to help Puddin replace a faucet this week. It was good to see him and fun to work together. There were hardly any kicking, screaming, or hitting. We were successful in the end. He had a couple interviews this week. We hope to hear good news soon.
Lady Hawkins was not around when I was there, but we understand she is really enjoying her new job. We hope her enjoyment continues.
The week to come will filled with more excitement I am sure. We look forward to hearing and sharing next time.
Cheerios
Comments