I had an epiphany (aka a revelation) the other day. I was standing at one of the folding machines at work and thinking about the process I go through at each machine so that I can get it to run as fast as possible and still be doing the work correctly. I realized that as long as you come up with a system or routine and stick to it, you can keep up with the machine. Then the revelation came as I realized there is a system for everything in this life. I started to think about what the leaders of a leadership development organization I worked with a few years ago would say: that you just need to plug into the system and you would be successful. As I pondered this, my mind was flooded with all these different ways that "systems" applied to the world around me.
In science there are systems: the solar system, the water cycle, the rock cycle, weather patterns, chemical bonding, laws that govern physics, etc. There is an order to all of it that seems natural. I know this order comes from God and he has established order in all things. There are systems for happiness and misery in life; systems for business success; systems for creating unity; computer systems, game systems, and plumbing systems. The system(s) that interested me most out of all that I thought of were the ones for successful living in this life. God has given us a specific order or system that will lead us back to live with him and all we have to do is step into that system and become what he wants us to become and we will have accomplished what he sent us here to do. I testify that He put in order all the systems here for our success. When you discover the system, jump into it with both feet, swallow your pride and make whatever changes are necessary and I promise you it will be worth it!! I love you and Heavenly Father loves you more!
Monday, September 9, 2013
Saturday, August 3, 2013
God Knows Each Of Us Very Personally
I had the chance tonight to give a priesthood blessing to my neighbor and it was a reassurance of my faith in God. He has had some health issues and just needs some comfort now and then. In the blessing the Spirit prompted me to speak to my neighbor about the atonement of Jesus Christ and remind him that it covers all of our earthly pains as well as our sins and that Jesus felt them so that he could know how to succor us. After I finished, I was talking with him and he said that earlier today he had read an article in the church magazine for this month about the atonement and that it gave him great comfort today.
Experiences like this really strengthen my testimony of God's love for us because I had no idea that my neighbor had read about that at all today or that he was feeling comfort through the atonement somewhat already today. But God knows us so well that he knows what we need each step of the way and will watch over us even though it may not seem like it sometimes (or sometimes, more often than not).
Have you noticed that there are times when it seems like he has a very specific message for you because it seems like every time you turn around, people close to you are talking about the same thing as people you respect and perfect strangers somehow address the same idea or issue with you all around the same time? It's pretty amazing!
Experiences like this really strengthen my testimony of God's love for us because I had no idea that my neighbor had read about that at all today or that he was feeling comfort through the atonement somewhat already today. But God knows us so well that he knows what we need each step of the way and will watch over us even though it may not seem like it sometimes (or sometimes, more often than not).
Have you noticed that there are times when it seems like he has a very specific message for you because it seems like every time you turn around, people close to you are talking about the same thing as people you respect and perfect strangers somehow address the same idea or issue with you all around the same time? It's pretty amazing!
Sunday, July 14, 2013
New Direction...
I've decided to take a little bit different direction with this blog. I posted a status on Facebook this morning that got reactions more than I had expected so I am going to start recording my notes from my studies of the scriptures each day and share the post link on G+ and FB as well as a tidbit or highlight from my studies. I hope that in some small way I can help bring the Spirit of God into your life. He will help you make it through any trials you may be facing. He will strengthen any faith you may already have. I know God is our father and that gives me hope and confidence far beyond anything anyone else could offer! I hope you will stick with me and any suggestions you have will be welcomed and considered. I love you and I hope I can share God's love with you, too, because I know he loves you.
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Well, I know it's been almost three months since my last post. I've been overwhelmed with school and family and work responsibilities and things like this blog have fallen by the wayside to the more important priorities in my life. Today, though, something has been impressed in my heart and mind that I need to share here. A man was giving a talk in church today on the topic of gratitude. He quoted a scripture that says: "And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments." I realized that the underlying purpose of this blog is to promote and share my gratitude for God and his greatness, especially the greatness of the ordinary things or the things that we pass by every day and take little notice of.
I've spent the last several days laid up in the hospital. I've never been more than a few hours in a hospital, and up until two years ago, I had hardly even stepped foot in one. This last week, I had a bout with my Crohn's disease that landed me in the ER two nights in a row, then admitted me here for the next four days. I haven't spent as much time reflecting as I thought I might, but when you don't eat or drink for several days straight, your mind is not in the right place most of the time. I sought merely to be entertained and distracted from the pains I was feeling and the time I was going to have to pass here -- not knowing how long it would be.
What I've learned to be grateful for is life, for one, but I have been treated well here at the hospital and I've been grateful for the availability of great healthcare. As much as I don't like the attitude that can be cultured with free government benefits, I am grateful to have them while I am in need. I am grateful for the people who dedicate their lives to helping others. I have felt thankful to the many people who have stepped up and helped my family while I was not able to. Praise to my Father in Heaven who has given us his Gospel and scriptures and prophets to teach us how to become like Him.
I've spent the last several days laid up in the hospital. I've never been more than a few hours in a hospital, and up until two years ago, I had hardly even stepped foot in one. This last week, I had a bout with my Crohn's disease that landed me in the ER two nights in a row, then admitted me here for the next four days. I haven't spent as much time reflecting as I thought I might, but when you don't eat or drink for several days straight, your mind is not in the right place most of the time. I sought merely to be entertained and distracted from the pains I was feeling and the time I was going to have to pass here -- not knowing how long it would be.
What I've learned to be grateful for is life, for one, but I have been treated well here at the hospital and I've been grateful for the availability of great healthcare. As much as I don't like the attitude that can be cultured with free government benefits, I am grateful to have them while I am in need. I am grateful for the people who dedicate their lives to helping others. I have felt thankful to the many people who have stepped up and helped my family while I was not able to. Praise to my Father in Heaven who has given us his Gospel and scriptures and prophets to teach us how to become like Him.
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Sorry, it's been a couple of weeks. I had finals to study for and we had a surprise meeting for church last Sunday. So I just finished up an Intro to Geology class this term. This had to be one of the best classes I ever attended. The teacher kept the lectures exciting and integrated gospel truth with scientific truth very well. In fact, much of the information that I want to share in future posts will come from things that, either he shared, or I learned while preparing for class. I am so excited to share the things I have learned and be able to combine two worlds that are often considered complete opposites: science and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
There have always been disagreements about the integration of science and the gospel, but they have to go hand-in-hand, especially if you believe that God created this world. I think that the number one thing that divides the two systems is the concept of time. Growing up under the teachings of the scriptures, I believed that the world had been created in six days, like the 24-hour days we reckon today, and that man can only have been around for about 6000 years beginning with Adam. Scientists have dated the earth to 4.57 billion years old. How is it that there is roughly a 4.57 BILLION year difference in reckoning? Who is right, and who is wrong? Are they both wrong? Are they both right? The truth is that we probably won't know the exact answer until we get to heaven and we can ask the Creator, himself, but let me share with you some things I have learned that have allowed me to accept both points of view. I have faith in our Father in Heaven and that he has revealed many things to us in scripture and through prophets throughout time, including today. I also have faith that He guides the work of science and technological advancement, in order to advance his work here on earth.
The experiences we have here on earth, are experiences we could only have as we live out of the direct presence of our Eternal Father, and only with a mortal body. It's like moving out of your parents' house; there are just some things that cannot be learned while still living under their roof. That being said, though, we are also taught that knowledge is the only thing that rises with us after the grave and any intelligence we gain here will put us that much further ahead in the life to come, when we have to learn everything and become like God. For this reason, I believe that secular knowledge is essential in our eternal progression.
Clearly, some things are better to learn than others. God has told us that everything we need to know in order to make it back to live with him eternally is found in the Holy Scriptures, but that does not mean that everything there is to learn is contained in those scriptures, or that through modern Prophets and Apostles we can't learn modern applications to the principles taught in them. If we will follow the simple steps of the gospel, we WILL return to live with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ for the rest of eternity. In addition to this knowledge, though, we have much to learn before we can know all things, like they do.
So my point with all this talk about knowledge is that, we must be open to learning all things, as they relate to eternal life. The one disclaimer I have to put on this is the disclaimer that God put on learning all things: we must "ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost." This is the kicker: "And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of ALL THINGS." All truth comes from God and the only way to know if something is true is to ask Him. He promises you and me that if we will ask him, he will tell us the truth of it through his messenger, the Holy Ghost. Of this I testify; I witness that the only way to know the truth is through Him. So when I say be open, that does not mean accept anything that comes along because you will be blown around in the whirlwinds of popular opinion, which often is not truth, but doctrines that make people feel complacent in their existence. Build on the foundation that our Creator has laid, and you WILL NOT be persuaded by the often changing winds of popular beliefs. Here is some wise counsel I will leave you with: "Question boldly, even the very existence of God." I pray that God will bless you in your search for truth. I love you!
There have always been disagreements about the integration of science and the gospel, but they have to go hand-in-hand, especially if you believe that God created this world. I think that the number one thing that divides the two systems is the concept of time. Growing up under the teachings of the scriptures, I believed that the world had been created in six days, like the 24-hour days we reckon today, and that man can only have been around for about 6000 years beginning with Adam. Scientists have dated the earth to 4.57 billion years old. How is it that there is roughly a 4.57 BILLION year difference in reckoning? Who is right, and who is wrong? Are they both wrong? Are they both right? The truth is that we probably won't know the exact answer until we get to heaven and we can ask the Creator, himself, but let me share with you some things I have learned that have allowed me to accept both points of view. I have faith in our Father in Heaven and that he has revealed many things to us in scripture and through prophets throughout time, including today. I also have faith that He guides the work of science and technological advancement, in order to advance his work here on earth.
The experiences we have here on earth, are experiences we could only have as we live out of the direct presence of our Eternal Father, and only with a mortal body. It's like moving out of your parents' house; there are just some things that cannot be learned while still living under their roof. That being said, though, we are also taught that knowledge is the only thing that rises with us after the grave and any intelligence we gain here will put us that much further ahead in the life to come, when we have to learn everything and become like God. For this reason, I believe that secular knowledge is essential in our eternal progression.
Clearly, some things are better to learn than others. God has told us that everything we need to know in order to make it back to live with him eternally is found in the Holy Scriptures, but that does not mean that everything there is to learn is contained in those scriptures, or that through modern Prophets and Apostles we can't learn modern applications to the principles taught in them. If we will follow the simple steps of the gospel, we WILL return to live with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ for the rest of eternity. In addition to this knowledge, though, we have much to learn before we can know all things, like they do.
So my point with all this talk about knowledge is that, we must be open to learning all things, as they relate to eternal life. The one disclaimer I have to put on this is the disclaimer that God put on learning all things: we must "ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost." This is the kicker: "And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of ALL THINGS." All truth comes from God and the only way to know if something is true is to ask Him. He promises you and me that if we will ask him, he will tell us the truth of it through his messenger, the Holy Ghost. Of this I testify; I witness that the only way to know the truth is through Him. So when I say be open, that does not mean accept anything that comes along because you will be blown around in the whirlwinds of popular opinion, which often is not truth, but doctrines that make people feel complacent in their existence. Build on the foundation that our Creator has laid, and you WILL NOT be persuaded by the often changing winds of popular beliefs. Here is some wise counsel I will leave you with: "Question boldly, even the very existence of God." I pray that God will bless you in your search for truth. I love you!
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Why this blog?
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