Freeagency
"To fully understand this gift of agency and its inestimable worth, it is imperative that we understand that God's chief way of acting is by persuasion and patience and long-suffering, not by coercion and stark confrontation. He acts by gentle solicitation and by sweet enticement. He always acts with unfailing respect for the freedom and independence that we possess. He wants to help us and pleads for the chance to assist us, but he will not do so in violation of our agency. He loves us too much to do that, and doing so would run counter to his divine character" (The Teachings of Howard W. Hunter, p. 78-79).
The importance of Mercy
"Our salvation rests upon the mercy we show to others. Unkind and cruel words, or wanton acts of cruelty toward man or beast, even though in seeming retaliation, disqualify the perpetrator in his claims for mercy when he has need of mercy in the day of judgment before earthly or heavenly tribunals. Is there one who has never been wounded by the slander of another whom he thought to be his friend? Do you remember the struggle you had to refrain from retribution? Blessed are all you who are merciful, for you shall obtain mercy!" (The Teachings of Harold B. Lee, p. 200).
A sobering reminder that in order for us to have a hope in being forgiven that we must FIRST forgive, we must FIRST show mercy and must FIRST show love in order for any of these saintly virtues to be extended on our behalf. Life is an interesting process and I seek to do better and seek to be more. May each of us seek so to do. CP
A sobering reminder that in order for us to have a hope in being forgiven that we must FIRST forgive, we must FIRST show mercy and must FIRST show love in order for any of these saintly virtues to be extended on our behalf. Life is an interesting process and I seek to do better and seek to be more. May each of us seek so to do. CP
Wisdom from the wise
"I have wondered if restlessness and the endless searching for something new, something shinier, is the reason for the rate of divorce that seems to be spiraling in our societies. . . . The Lord has defined marriage for us. [Matthew 19:5] Surely the happiest marriages are those where your hurt is my hurt, my pain is your pain, my victory, your victory, my concerns, your concerns. The oneness of heart, of soul, of flesh seems to be more of a challenge than ever before in the world in which the question seems to be: 'What is there in this for me?' Far too many marriage partners have become merely an ornament on the sleeve rather than a part of the heart" (The Teachings of Howard W. Hunter, p. 137). CP
John Taylor
"We are living, as I have said, in an important day and age of the world. . . . [God] has reserved us for the latter days, that we may perform that work which He decreed from before the foundation of the world. If there have been any blessings enjoyed by men in former dispensations of the world, they will also be given to you, ye Latter-day Saints, if you will live your religion and be obedient to the laws of God" (Teachings of Presidents of the Church:John Taylor, p. 185).
A pearler of a quote that encourages us all to be more, to be better and the fruits that await if we are, are many. May we live faithful to this end. CP
A pearler of a quote that encourages us all to be more, to be better and the fruits that await if we are, are many. May we live faithful to this end. CP
A powerful realisation
"To find real happiness, we must seek for it in a focus outside ourselves. . . . No one has learned the meaning of living until he has surrendered his ego to the service of his fellow man. Serivce to others is akin to duty, the fulfillment of which brings true joy. "We do not live alone---in our city, our nation or our world. There is no dividing line between our prosperity and our neighbor's wretchedness. Try as some may, we cannot escape the influence our lives have upon the lives of others. Ours is the opportunity to build, to lift, to inspire and to lead" (Thomas S. Monson - Church News, May 9, 2009, p. 3). |
Todays thought.....
We are told that we will never be tempted or tested above that which we can bear - that is certainly very comforting and heartwarming.
The only sobering thing about that whole statement is this question I pose;
How much can we bear?
We are stretched and tested in ways that will allow us to seem or feel we carry the weight of the world upon our shoulders and may feel so alone. But we are not. Never give up, never stop, give your best and be your best. CP
The only sobering thing about that whole statement is this question I pose;
How much can we bear?
We are stretched and tested in ways that will allow us to seem or feel we carry the weight of the world upon our shoulders and may feel so alone. But we are not. Never give up, never stop, give your best and be your best. CP
A stitch in time.....
I am reminded of the Saviour's example when he fed the hungry with 5 small Barley loaves and 2 small fishes. The food miraculously filled the multitude and some was left over. I have thought often what lesson was there here for us, or for me. I think that on several levels there are lessons to be learned, let me share just one.
I think that it was a way of the Saviour letting us know that in a real and direct sense, when we put our trust in him, our needs no matter how small shall be met.
Whether we are hungry or whether we are lonely, or whether we are reaching out for a lift or even if we are seeking for a higher and more profound experience. I am of the firm belief that only when we approach the metaphorical table before the Saviour and truly place our heart felt wishes and feelings upon that metaphorical table and then leave it up to him, that we are blessed. If we then work to our best ability to bring our wishes and feelings about, we are led. Doors will open, people will be placed on our path to help us achieve them.
One thing I have noticed in particular is that sometimes the journey can take unexpected twists and turns and whilst we may feel blindsided or completely without hope, the time will soon come when amidst prayer and reflection we will notice a higher hand has been leading us in a path which may have differed from what we wanted but will ultimately be better for us.
I heard it said once that Someone was led kicking and screaming to a place they had never wanted to be only to find it is where they needed to be.
I think to state and summarise the point more, would be to share an experience I once had in the Philippines. I lived and in Dumaguete at the time and noticed an aspect of my high school biology class come into being right before me. The principle was Geotropism.
Geotropism describes the condition that no matter which way a seed or tree or plant is planted - even upside down, the seedling, tree or plant will eventually right itself and grow upward.
I walked and worked amongst coconut trees that often from the ground were bent and disfigured, their trunks would often never grow straight up in the places where I served a mission. I became very aware and accepting of the chaos the trees looked like from the ground.
Only when I was transferred to Cebu and was flying out did I notice that tops of the trees were in perfect alignment, the canopy of palms formed perfect lines and from the sky looked ordered and symmetrical.
I was humbled and more aware than ever before that the Saviour and our Heavenly Father have all things before them they know the plan, they know us and see us so differently from where they reside.
We here on the ground have a distorted view and see our lives and perhaps the circumstances we live or find ourselves in, a little like the twisted coconut trees. I testify that if we place our trust in, and desires on, a loving Heavenly Father and His son, we will one day be participant witnesses to know that we were part of something too glorious for our present understanding. We will yet come to know that we were loved and led all the way, and the only time we were not, was when we thought we knew better and marched in a different direction. May we have the humility and wisdom sufficient to truly trust in the authors of life and walk humbly in the paths they will lead us in. CP
I think that it was a way of the Saviour letting us know that in a real and direct sense, when we put our trust in him, our needs no matter how small shall be met.
Whether we are hungry or whether we are lonely, or whether we are reaching out for a lift or even if we are seeking for a higher and more profound experience. I am of the firm belief that only when we approach the metaphorical table before the Saviour and truly place our heart felt wishes and feelings upon that metaphorical table and then leave it up to him, that we are blessed. If we then work to our best ability to bring our wishes and feelings about, we are led. Doors will open, people will be placed on our path to help us achieve them.
One thing I have noticed in particular is that sometimes the journey can take unexpected twists and turns and whilst we may feel blindsided or completely without hope, the time will soon come when amidst prayer and reflection we will notice a higher hand has been leading us in a path which may have differed from what we wanted but will ultimately be better for us.
I heard it said once that Someone was led kicking and screaming to a place they had never wanted to be only to find it is where they needed to be.
I think to state and summarise the point more, would be to share an experience I once had in the Philippines. I lived and in Dumaguete at the time and noticed an aspect of my high school biology class come into being right before me. The principle was Geotropism.
Geotropism describes the condition that no matter which way a seed or tree or plant is planted - even upside down, the seedling, tree or plant will eventually right itself and grow upward.
I walked and worked amongst coconut trees that often from the ground were bent and disfigured, their trunks would often never grow straight up in the places where I served a mission. I became very aware and accepting of the chaos the trees looked like from the ground.
Only when I was transferred to Cebu and was flying out did I notice that tops of the trees were in perfect alignment, the canopy of palms formed perfect lines and from the sky looked ordered and symmetrical.
I was humbled and more aware than ever before that the Saviour and our Heavenly Father have all things before them they know the plan, they know us and see us so differently from where they reside.
We here on the ground have a distorted view and see our lives and perhaps the circumstances we live or find ourselves in, a little like the twisted coconut trees. I testify that if we place our trust in, and desires on, a loving Heavenly Father and His son, we will one day be participant witnesses to know that we were part of something too glorious for our present understanding. We will yet come to know that we were loved and led all the way, and the only time we were not, was when we thought we knew better and marched in a different direction. May we have the humility and wisdom sufficient to truly trust in the authors of life and walk humbly in the paths they will lead us in. CP
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