Quiet Pandemonium

Inspiration

21 Principles-Principle 1

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Today I am going to start a series based on the book, 21 Principles: Divine Truths To Help You Live By The Spirit, by Richard G. Scott.  Before I cover the principle for this week, I want to tell you a little story about how I ended up with this book and how it has touched me and inspired me.

A few years ago, I was supposed to teach a Relief Society lesson to the ladies in the local care center.  For those of you who are not LDS, Relief Society is the name of the women’s organization in our church.  It’s where we meet as women and discuss the gospel of Jesus Christ,  and how to be better mothers, wives, and daughters of our Heavenly Father.  We have several ladies who are members of our church that are in our local care center.  So we take turns in the community and go up to the care center and hold meetings for them there, as they can’t leave easily.  There is a main meeting on Sundays, and on Thursdays, we have Relief Society for the women.

Anyway, I was asked to teach the lesson and it was pretty much up to me what I would teach these older and much wiser ladies.  I tossed around several topics and nothing felt right.  I prayed and worried about it for a long time.  Then just 2 days before I was to teach a lesson, I went to a local store with my husband. I always gravitate to the book section, as I am a bookaholic.  While looking things over, I saw this book, and felt immediately drawn to pick it up.  I opened it, and read just a couple of the principles as I flipped through the pages.  In that instant, I knew that this was what I was supposed to teach.  And as I have had this book, I have felt very strong promptings to share these principles here on my blog as well.

So what I have planned, is to share the principle and then share my own thoughts on it each week.  If you want to read the thoughts of Richard G. Scott on each principle, (and they are VERY inspired and uplifting), you can get your own copy of this book here.  This link is to the Kindle version of this book and it is NOT an affiliate link.  Though I do have an affiliate account with Amazon, I just don’t feel right in using it here in these circumstances.

“As you seek spiritual knowledge, search for principles,” counsels Elder Richard G. Scott. “Principles are concentrated truth, packaged for application to a wide variety of circumstances.”

“A true principle makes decisions clear even under the most confusing and challenging circumstances.”

I think that this principle is perhaps one of the most important ones.  It is up to us to ask the Lord to help us and guide us and bless us with the things we need.  While the Lord knows what we need, He still needs for us to humble ourselves before Him and ask for His help.  When we do that, He will guide and direct us through the gentle promptings of the Holy Ghost.  These impressions can come as a feeling or a fleeting thought.  But the more we exercise this spiritual muscle, the better we will become at recognizing the influence of the Spirit in our lives.  We will be in tune with the Lord and His will for us.  We will be able to make correct decisions and that in turn will bring more light into our lives.

As we go through these principles each week, I will most likely point back to this one as I feel that they all point back to this one.  It is just that important for us to understand.

For me, the Spirit speaks to me in my heart and my mind.  Rarely do I ever hear an actual voice.  I know some people who do hear a voice.  But for most of us, it is more common to feel things and have thoughts that are clearly from the Holy Ghost.  In Galatians 5:22-23 we read about the fruit of the Spirit.  These are the things that are good and are how we can know we are feeling the Spirit of God.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Meekness, temperance:  against such there is no law.”

If we are feeling these feelings, then we have the Spirit with us.  And we can receive personal revelation through the Spirit from our Heavenly Father.  That comforts me and helps me to know that I am not alone.  That my Heavenly Father has given me clear instruction on how to recognize the influence of the Holy Ghost in my life and that this influence is good.  It should make me happy.

This is a spiritual muscle that I try to work on all the time.  I am not perfect at it.  But I keep trying and that is what is most important.  I know the Lord blesses me for my efforts and willingness to try.  If we ask Him, he will bless us.  Sometimes we may not understand those blessings right away.  But the Lord knows best and will guide and direct us if we ask.

 

This picture is one of my favorites of the Savior.  I have lots of favorite pictures of the Savior.  But this one especially reminds me of the importance of asking Him for the things I need.  If you look closely at the door, you will see that there is not a doorknob in the door.  That is because the Lord is waiting for us to open the door to Him.  It is up to us to invite Him in.  Once we do that, He will help us all He can.  But we have the free agency to open that door or not.

It really is just that simple.  Just ask.  Open the door to your heart and mind.  He will bless you.  He will send the Holy Ghost to guide and direct you to what the Lord has in store for you.  It will make you truly happy.  This I know.  And you can too.  Just ask.

Come Unto Christ Challenge–Day 72

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I have decided to share a 72 day daily challenge with you each day until Easter, April 1st. We are doing this in our Relief Society, and I thought I would like to share it here as well.  I shared a little about the challenge here.

Each day I will share the daily video here and then my personal thoughts about it after I have personally watched it. Today is the last day and is Day 72.  Happy Easter!!

For God So Loved the World

Give thanks for the Lord Jesus Christ: His life, His atoning sacrifice, and His resurrection.

John 3:16

16  ¶For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

 

My Impressions:

Happy Easter!  It is hard to believe that this is the last day of this challenge.  In some ways it has gone so quickly.

I am so thankful that God loved us enough to sacrifice His Son so that we could have everlasting life.  He is Risen!  Such glorious news and it always fills me with HOPE.  There is hope. HE is the hope that shines brightly in the darkness.

 

What did you learn from today’s video?

Come Unto Christ Challenge–Day 71

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I have decided to share a 72 day daily challenge with you each day until Easter, April 1st. We are doing this in our Relief Society, and I thought I would like to share it here as well.  I shared a little about the challenge here.

Each day I will share the daily video here and then my personal thoughts about it after I have personally watched it. Today is Day 71.

Feed My Sheep

Jesus Christ shows himself to his diciples at the sea of Tiberias and implores Peter to “feed my sheep”

John 21: 1-22

1 After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.

2 There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.

3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.

4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.

5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.

6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.

7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.

8 And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.

9 As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.

10 Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.

11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.

12 Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.

13 Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.

14 This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.

15 ¶ So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.

16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

18 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.

19 This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.

20 Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?

21 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?

22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.

 

My Impressions:

Quite simply, if we love the Lord and want to follow Him, we will share His gospel with others.  We will feed His sheep and help them come to the Shepherd.

 

What did you learn from today’s video?

Come Unto Christ Challenge–Day 70

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I have decided to share a 72 day daily challenge with you each day until Easter, April 1st. We are doing this in our Relief Society, and I thought I would like to share it here as well.  I shared a little about the challenge here.

Each day I will share the daily video here and then my personal thoughts about it after I have personally watched it. Today is Day 70.

Blessed Are They That Have Not Seen, and Yet Have Believed

Thomas, one of the Twelve, doubts the appearance of the risen Lord. Christ appears and tells him, “Blessed are those who have not seen, and yet have believed.”

John 20:24-29

24  ¶But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.

25  The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.

26  ¶And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.

27  Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

28  And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

29  Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

 

My Impressions:

I know several people who have to see things to believe them, much like Thomas.  I think it is sad that even today, people can’t believe without the proof of seeing.  I am glad that I do not have to see the Lord to know He is there.

 

What did you learn from today’s video?

Come Unto Christ Challenge–Day 69

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I have decided to share a 72 day daily challenge with you each day until Easter, April 1st. We are doing this in our Relief Society, and I thought I would like to share it here as well.  I shared a little about the challenge here.

Each day I will share the daily video here and then my personal thoughts about it after I have personally watched it. Today is Day 69.

The Risen Lord Appears to the Apostles

The resurrected Christ appears to the Apostles and tells them, “Peace be unto you.” They touch His hands and feet and He eats with them. He tells them He will send them as His Father sent Him.

Luke 24:36-41, 44-49; John 20:21

36  ¶And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

37  But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.

38  And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?

39  Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.

40  And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.

41  And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?

 

My Impressions:

It struck me how his apostles immediately knew Him, but they were a bit puzzled about how he was standing there with them.  Once He spoke to them, they were completely at ease and ready to hear His message.  I hope that I will immediately know Him when He comes again.

 

What did you learn from today’s video?