Follow In Faith

This past week in New Testament, we talked about Peter when he was a fisherman, when Jesus first approached him. Peter was asked to throw the nets out again, and at this time, he was very fatigued and had just finished working all night. Peter then responded and  said: "Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net." We can learn so much from Peter's response. He had been working so hard and was so tired, but because the Savior wanted it, he did what he was asked. We need to always follow Christ, no questions asked. We don't always know why, or what is in store, but he knows best and so we must do what he asks. A lot of the time he is going to ask us to give something up, and although it may not be easy, we need to think with an eternal perspective and follow in faith. Christ won't come to us when we are completely troubled or lost, and give us an ultimatum. He will usually give us challenges, or opportunities to give up good things in life for what would be better. An example would be a mission call. With the age change, the missionaries are at a prime time in their life, and they must give up everything in order to serve the lord. It is important to always put our faith in the lord and trust in him that things will turn out the way they are supposed to, no matter how hard the sacrifice is at the time, in the long run we will be blessed.

Nothing worth having comes easy :)

This past week in New Testament, we discussed Matthew chapter 4, along with other scripture, but I want to focus on what I learned from Matthew 4. In the beginning of this chapter, it talks about when Christ was tempted by Satan after fasting for 40 days. Christ was tempted to use his priesthood power for food, to throw himself off of a cliff and to use Angels to help him, and offered him kingdoms of the world. Now Christ didn't take any of these offers, but that is besides the point. The point is that with all these temptations it doesn't matter if Christ actually did these events such as eating, but it is because it would be for the wrong reasons. Satan tries to offer us instant satisfactory for a long-term suffering. This principle applies so much in my life and I think especially right now in my life I need to make sure I keep this in mind. Yes, it would be much easier to not do assignments and say I did them, to cheat and not study for exams, but in the long run I wouldn’t be benefited. I am here in college at BYU in order to learn and to gain an education. If I were to take an easy road and cheat my way through school, I would fail miserably when it came to working in the real world. It would be easier and temporarily more enjoyable to not put forth effort, but I wouldn’t gain anything in the long run. Hard work pays off, and it isn’t easy, one of my favorite quotes is “nothing worth having comes easy,” and I truly believe it. 

In His Time

While discussing the story of Zacharias and Elizabeth, a personal story of mine came to mind. Just as a background, Zacharias and Elizabeth had been praying for a long time that they would be able to have a child. One day, Zacharias went to the temple and an Angel of the Lord came to him and said that his prayer had been answered and that they will have a son. Now my parents have a very similar story. about 11 years ago, my parents were told by doctors that their bodies didn't work and that they wouldn't be able to have any more kids. After many prayers fasting and failed attempts, they decided to stop trying. 8 years later, they were blessed with a little boy, my brother Garrett. Although unexpected and not the most ideal timing, God does answer prayers. Little did we know at the time that having another addition to the family, with such a sweet innocent spirit blessed me and my family in more ways then we could have imagined. Garrett always makes us feel loved and always keeps the sprit in the home. Heavenly Father truly knew that we needed him in our lives at this time and not 8 years sooner when we wanted him! In all things this teaches us that we need to just have faith in the Lord and trust in his timing. He knows the bigger picture and knows what is best for us! I feel so greatly blessed to know that Heavenly Father is always there for us and that he wants what is best for us, although we may think we know what that is, we don't, he does, so just trust in faith and follow Christ!

New Testament

Tonight I went to the temple with Sarah to do my scripture study for the day and for Book of Mormon. I also watched the fireside with Elder Russell M Nelson. During his talk, Motherhood and families kept on appearing into my thoughts, and also the Savior. After the fireside I couldn't stop thinking about how I need to make Christ the center of my life. While reading the assigned reading in Matthew, and all of the genealogy, it says at the end of vs 17 that there were fourteen generations. This immediately reminded me of motherhood and how that I could have 14 generations after me, and that every little decision I make will not only affect me personally, but my kids and their kids and so on. Then when reading in John, the creation of each of us by God was brought to mind, and how Elder Nelson said that as women, we are co-creators with God. Then reading about the Savior, and how the people he lived with didn't even recognize him, It made me wonder, Would I know my savior? Would I recognize him in a crowd? I want to be positive that I know him and that my future children know their savior, brother and friend, Jesus Christ. What a more perfect way then through the scriptures, they speak of Christ and in order to know him, we must read the scriptures. Not only read the scriptures, but study the teachings, and learn from them! I love my savior and I can't wait to learn more about him over the next semester.