The Source

Talkers

Self Help Readers

and

Advise Seekers

ALL describe me.

How often I forget the healing balm

comes from

my Creator...

Ominipotent,

perfect in every way,

knowing the end from the beginning,

has already experienced exactly

the problems and challenges I face

and has the consummate solution to that which will make me whole?

Rena couldn't have said it better...

"We sometimes try to find answers to our most life-altering problems from 'the world',

instead of going to The One that can answer any question, calm life's stromy seas. 

and comforts our broken hearts"

(Walking with the Savior, Page 19)

Artist Unknown--Sisters Turner-Abbey ?

How often do I turn to the world

Image from Google

instead of turning to the ONE

that created and atoned for the world...

Photo I took on a Golf Course in St. George

The ONE who performs miracles,

walked on water,

hears and answers prayers,

"Child Pray to Jesus" by D?

healed the lame, the blind the leperous, the afflicted, the sinners,

overcame death and

loves me beyond comprehension?

There is a scripture in Isaiah

that often comes to mind 

after agony and frustration

Image from Google

                 

   of trying to discern which of all the opinions I sought would be the best outcome for me. On the brink of giving up,  I hear in my head: "Don't despair...just remember,

"The Son of God" Movie

' 8     ¶For my ^athoughts are not ^byour thoughts, 

"I am giving you an opportunity to change your life..." The Son of God

        neither are your^cways my ^dways, 

   saith the Lord.

       9      For as the heavens are higher than the earth, 

  so are my ^aways^bhigher 

 than your ways, 

        and my ^cthoughts than your thoughts.' "

   Isaiah  55:8-9

 As hard as that can be sometimes...

surrendering all your wishes, hopes, dreams, thoughts,

even our very selves to Christ;

it never no never disappoints.

Infact, the very times I can say that I finally handed it over to Jesus,

not pretending to or withholding one tiny microcosm 

HIS WAYS have far exceeded what my finite mortal mind could ever conceive.

Go to the SOURCE

HE is the ONE.

Image from Google

Sacrifice

I know the ultimate SACRIFICE

belongs to my Savior Jesus Christ
 and I am ever so grateful that He was willing to pay the pivotal price
in the garden and upon the cross.

Because HE WAS

I AM able to overcome all

and be perfected in HIM.

I learned that the word SACRIFICE often means

to the natural man...
painfully giving up of something that one would rather hold on to.

(RP) reminds that the word  SACRIFICE and SACRED come from the same root word.

As I ponder over the SACRIFICE of Jesus

indeed, it was a most SACRED and Holy event.

Recalling moments in my own life

of when what I truly felt to be a SACRIFICE on my part...

actually transcended into a blissfully sweet experience.

Interestingly to note.

 our SACRIFICE is not being asked to DIE for HIM

rather

ours is the SACRED call

to LIVE for HIM

and when we do...live for Him

I can promise you,

it is not really a SACRIFICE at all.
It is called living a beautiful life.

We are singing a song in primary
that seems fitting to the focus of this day:

I imagine myself to have this conversation with my son, Noah

"He Sent His Son"

Lyrics

 Mabel Jones Gabbott

Music

Michael Finlinson Moody

How could the Father tell the world of love and tenderness?

He sent his Son, a newborn babe, with peace and holiness.

How could the Father show the world the pathway we should go?

 He sent his Son to walk with men on earth, that we may know.

How could the Father tell the world of SACRIFICE, of death? 

 He sent his Son to die for us 

and rise with living breath.

What does the Father ask of us? What do the scriptures say?

Have faith, have hope, live like his Son,

 help others on their way.

What does he ask? 

      Live like his Son.

Feast

Fortunately for me,

I just completed a set of Book of Mormon

Scripture Mastery visuals and cards
for my SPIRITUALLY STRONG SEMINARY teacher SISTER.

One of them just so happens to be the focus for today...

Picture Collage using Images from the Internet

One nurtures the body with nutritious food.

What about our spiritual self?

Is it starving?

Is it being fed wholesome words, thoughts, and deeds?

Is it being filled with the things of this world?

or 

Is it entirely being neglected period?

How long has it been since I have immersed myself in the Scriptures?

Too long.

Again, MARY and MARTHA came to the foreground of my thoughts...

two sisters that receive a visit from the Savior

choose differently

one to SERVE the Master

one at His feet to obSERVE the Master.

Image found on Google "Christ in the House of Martha and Mary"

I have often thought of myself as a "Mary" type...

learning at the feet of Jesus. 

I love my Savior and would not dream of missing out on such an event

especially to be in the kitchen doing the very things

I am not so very good at...

(preparing a feast)

YET

today's focus has made me realize

that I may not be in the kitchen...

but I am everywhere else.

The Savior may not be at my table physically,

but He is in word.

If I really believe the Scriptures are the word of God

and I do...

and if I really believe myself to be a "Mary" type;

why am I encumbered about with my "to do list"...

 forsaking the opportunity to learn of the Master,

my guest through

FEASTING onHIS words?

The Scriptures contain HIS solutions

to MY situations.

Today is the day to begin anew...

open the scriptures and learn of my Savior.

FEAST upon HIS WORD(S)

Troubled Heart

Think of someone you feel close to.

It seems the people that I have a strong bond with are those that I can talk to and not just about anything but especially those things I am troubled about:

my weakness

my insecurities

my inadequacies

my disappointments

my heartaches

my failings

my regrets

my misunderstandings

as well 

as my hopes and dreams

In the past,

I may have disclosed too much with too many of the wrong people

which now has found a home in my TROUBLED HEART.

What I have learned:

There is one whom I can share all of the above with

and then some without worry of the outcome.

This person has all sides of the story,

all the hearts and perspectives involved.

He knows the end from the beginning.

Heknows the exact antidote for my pain and misgivings.

He has a listening heart as well as a listening ear.

He does not have to try to put Himself in my shoes to try to understand my heart.

HE ALREADY KNOWS.

He knows perfectly and exactly how to SUCCOR me.

I will never have to worry that what I share will have dire implications and a great cost for another. 

I will never have to give a second thought that what I have shared in confidence

will spread like wild fire.

That person is my SAVIOR

no matter what I tell Him

He will never lead me astray.

Here is my TROUBLED HEART.

"Lift up your HEART and be glad, for I am in your midst and am your advocate with the Father"

(Doctrine and Covenants 29:5)

Photo Manipulation: In My Midst

To Really Know Him

KNOWLEDGE

Have I obtained sufficient knowledge ABOUT my Savior?

Hardly !
but I am working line upon line, precept upon precept...

baby steps

until I have what is described in the Book of Mormon

as a  PERFECT KNOWLEDGE

(RP) brought up something for the upcoming week

that caused me to ponder...

"It is not enough to KNOW about Him."

I must KNOW Him.

I must come to KNOW Him personally

as my friend and confidante.

That is what desire with all my heart...

to develop that personal relationship with my Savior.

I have loved Him my whole entire life.

I have felt protective of Him.

I have waited and watched for His return,

but...

do I KNOW Him?

do I REALLY KNOW Him?

"Will I KNOWHim when He comes again?"

He stands at our doors knocking

waiting for us to open

to LET HIM IN

Image found on Google

His outstretched hand

never tires as HE beckons

"Walk with Me. Here's my hand..."

and that is what this JOurneY is really about...

The Path of My Feet

Ponder the PATH OF MY FEET, and let all thy ways be established 

(Proverbs 4:26)

(RP)  suggests a Personal Awareness Check:

Am I moving forward?

Am I stumbling backwards?

  Is this my highest priority?

 Is this in my best interest?

 Is this in this interfering with my eternal progression?

 Does this bring closer to my Savior?

 Will this unite my little family?

 Am I even on the right path still?

Maybe, just maybe...I am SITTING on the right path instead of moving forward...

Get up.

Take a few steps forward.

This is a LIFETIME JOurneY.

I can do it.

Beseech

I am a connoisseur of fine WORDS. 
There are some WORDS that cause me to stop and PONDER.

The WORD BESEECH reeled me in today...especially because of the context in which it was used:numerous times throughout the scriptures "the Savior BESEECHES us (me) to come follow HIM."

                                                          BESEECH?

HEBESEECHES ME?What does that mean?

beseech:
ask (someone) urgently and fervently to do something; implore; entreat: 
literary implore, beg, entreat, importune, plead with, appeal to, exhort, call on, supplicate, importune, pray to, ask, request, petition; 
HE is URGENTLY and FERVENTLY asking me to follow HIM
HE is IMPLORING and BEGGING me"Come follow me"HE does not appear to be passively asking or casually saying:"Hey if you happen to have time...oh and only if you want to...I mean, want to come with me...you really don't have to though"HE is ENTREATING me to walk with HIM.How can I possibly refuse?As I looked for Art on this topic...I found two Artists portrayinghappy children FOLLOWING CHRIST. I wondered if the WORD"BESEECHING" applied to them. Then I remembered"Become as a little child..."

Sandra Rast

trusting, innocent, and not yet set in their waysquickly accepting the invitation to COME and FOLLOW HIM

Helen Thomas Robson