Because He First Loved Us

I had such a wonderful day at church yesterday. Our Stake Presidency visited and spoke to us about Charity, forgiveness and focusing on the good in all we say and do. It was so uplifting. President Christiansen focused a lot on God's love and how it works within us. He quoted the following:

“We think we have to change, grow and be good in order to be loved. But rather we are loved and we receive His grace so we can change, grow and be good.” - John Powell

Image by, Mark Mabry

It's true! In 1 John 4:19 it teaches "We love Him, because he first loved us." Grace is truly an enabling power. I pondered how often I extend grace to my fellow man or how often I only give love when I feel it's been "earned". What would happen if I gave love regardless of how others receive it? What miracles would happen, especially in my own heart?

I felt like yesterday was such a feast. I appreciated how humbling the messages were for me. I love meetings like that!

"They do much good"

I was just listening to some conference talks from this most recent conference. And I really liked this part from Elder Quentin L. Cook Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, entitled, "Our Father’s Plan—Big Enough for All His Children"

"Notwithstanding the significance of our doctrinal differences with other faiths, our attitude toward other churches has been to refrain from criticism. They do much good. They bless mankind. Many help their members learn of the Savior and His teachings.

A reporter for the Washington Post visited one of our Church meetings in Nigeria. The reporter interviewed one new member and told of his conversion. The reporter states:

“[He] said . . . he jumped off a city bus and walked into the [LDS Church building]. . . . He immediately liked what he heard inside [the chapel], especially that no one preached that people of other faiths were going to hell.” This echoes the feeling of numerous converts to the Church since its organization.

Our leaders have consistently counseled us “to live with respect and appreciation for those not of our faith. There is so great a need for civility and mutual respect among those of differing beliefs and philosophies.”

It is equally important that we be loving and kind to members of our own faith, regardless of their level of commitment or activity. The Savior has made it clear that we are not to judge each other. This is especially true of members of our own families. Our obligation is to love and teach and never give up. The Lord has made salvation “free for all men” but has “commanded his people that they should persuade all men to repentance.”- Elder Quentin L. Cook Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Let me "be a friend to man"

I heard this poem today. And I really love it. This is my wish.

“The House by the Side of the Road”

Let me live in a house by the side of the road,
Where the race of men go by—
The men who are good and the men who are bad,
As good and as bad as I.

I would not sit in the scorner's seat,
Or hurl the cynic's ban;—
Let me live in a house by the side of the road
And be a friend to man.

-Sam Walter Foss,

Eyes of Truth

I listened to a talk by President Monson the other night and he quoted the second poem I have posted here. I loved it!! Wow it is so amazingly true! This first poem is just another one I found that I think goes perfectly well with the second. It is so humbling for me to read such truths. I plead and pray for the Lord to help me see my brother through the eyes of truth, to focus on the good and to have the beam removed out of my eyes so I can see clearly.

God Bless You!

Alicia

R.L. Stevenson who once said:
"There is so much good in the worst of us,
And so much bad in the best of us,
That it ill-behoves any one of us,
To find any fault with the rest of us,"

Bolton Hall once remarked:

"I looked at my Brother
with the Microscope of Criticism,
And I said: "How coarse my Brother is!"
I looked at him through the
Telescope of Scorn
And I said: "How small my Brother is!"
Then I looked in the Mirror of Truth
And I said: "How like me my Brother is"

Christian Courage

"To respond in a Christlike way cannot be scripted or based on a formula. The Savior responded differently in every situation….

"Some people mistakenly think responses such as silence, meekness, forgiveness, and bearing humble testimony are passive or weak. But, to “love [our] enemies, bless them that curse [us], do good to them that hate [us], and pray for them which despitefully use [us], and persecute [us]” (Matthew 5:44) takes faith, strength, and, most of all, Christian courage….
When we do not retaliate—when we turn the other cheek and resist feelings of anger—we too stand with the Savior. We show forth His love, which is the only power that can subdue the adversary and answer our accusers without accusing them in return. That is not weakness. That is Christian courage.

I assure you that to answer our accusers in [kindness] is never weakness. It is Christian courage in action.

“As we respond to others, each circumstance will be different. Fortunately, the Lord knows the hearts of our accusers and how we can most effectively respond to them. As true disciples seek guidance from the Spirit, they receive inspiration tailored to each encounter. And in every encounter, true disciples respond in ways that invite the Spirit of the Lord. Paul reminded the Corinthians that his preaching was “not with the enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power” (1 Corinthians 2:4). Because that power resides in the Spirit of the Lord, we must never become contentious when we are discussing our faith.”

“…More regrettable than the Church being accused of not being Christian is when Church members react to such accusations in an un-Christlike way! May our conversations with others always be marked by the fruits of the Spirit—”love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, [and] temperance” (Galatians 5:22–23). To be meek, as defined in Webster’s Dictionary, is “manifesting patience and longsuffering: enduring injury without resentment.”2 Meekness is not weakness. It is a badge of Christian courage.”

“This is especially important in our interactions with members of other Christian denominations. Surely our Heavenly Father is saddened—and the devil laughs—when we contentiously debate doctrinal differences with our Christian neighbors.”

“This is not to suggest that we compromise our principles or dilute our beliefs. We cannot change the doctrines of the restored gospel, even if teaching and obeying them makes us unpopular in the eyes of the world. Yet even as we feel to speak the word of God with boldness, we must pray to be filled with the Holy Ghost (see Acts 4:29, 31). We should never confuse boldness with Satan’s counterfeit: overbearance (see Alma 38:12). True disciples speak with quiet confidence, not boastful pride.”

“Sometimes others want us to come down off the high ground and join them in a theological scrum in the mud. These few contentious individuals are set on picking religious fights, online or in person. We are always better staying on the higher ground of mutual respect and love.”

“…all who seek to know how we should respond to our accusers, I reply, we love them. Whatever their race, creed, religion, or political persuasion, if we follow Christ and show forth His courage, we must love them. We do not feel we are better than they are. Rather, we desire with our love to show them a better way—the way of Jesus Christ….To help them, to be an example for them, is not for the weak. It is for the strong. It is for you and me, Latter-day Saints who pay the price of discipleship by answering our accusers with Christian courage.”

- Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

view entire talk given Oct. 2008 http://www.lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-947-22,00.html

or listen to it on MP3 http://www.lds.org/conference/sessions/display/0,5239,23-1-947,00.html

(may be viewed in many different languages.) http://www.lds.org/conference/languages/0,6353,310-1,00.html

Scripture for the Day

I just wanted to share a scripture that has helped me make so many important decisions in my life.
12 Wherefore, all things which are good cometh of God; and that which is evil cometh of the devil; for the devil is an enemy unto God, and fighteth against him continually, and inviteth and enticeth to sin, and to do that which is evil continually.

13 But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God.

14 Wherefore, take heed, my beloved brethren, that ye do not judge that which is evil to be of God, or that which is good and of God to be of the devil.

15 For behold, my brethren, it is given unto you to judge, that ye may know good from evil; and the way to judge is as plain, that ye may know with a perfect knowledge, as the daylight is from the dark night.

16 For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.

17 But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him.

18 And now, my brethren, seeing that ye know the light by which ye may judge, which light is the light of Christ, see that ye do not judge wrongfully; for with that same judgment which ye judge ye shall also be judged.

19 Wherefore, I beseech of you, brethren, that ye should search diligently in the light of Christ that ye may know good from evil; and if ye will lay hold upon every good thing, and condemn it not, ye certainly will be a child of Christ.

20 And now, my brethren, how is it possible that ye can lay hold upon every good thing?

21 And now I come to that faith, of which I said I would speak; and I will tell you the way whereby ye may lay hold on every good thing.

22 For behold, God knowing all things, being from everlasting to everlasting, behold, he sent angels to minister unto the children of men, to make manifest concerning the coming of Christ; and in Christ there should come every good thing." - Moroni 7:12-21

Judging

This poem I quote the Author, Eliza R. Snow:

"Once I said unto another,

In thine eye there is a mote;

If thou are a friend . a brother.

Hold, and let me pull it out.

But I could not see it fairly,

For my sight was very dim;

When I came to search more clearly,

In my eye there was a beam.

If I love my brother dearer,

And his mote I would erase,

Then the light should shine the clearer.

For the eye's a tender place.

Others I have oft reproved,

For an object like a mote;

Now I wish this beam removed,

Oh, that tears would wash it out!

Charity and love are healing,

These will give the clearest sight;

When I saw my brother's failing,

I was not exactly right.

Now I'll take no further trouble,

Jesus' love is all my theme;

Little motes are but a bubble,

When I think upon the beam."

- Eliza R. Snow

Offended

I had a good conversation with a friend of mine the other night. The subjects varied from casual to serious. Among the subjects of conversation, the one that stood out to me most, was offences and pride. Sometimes those of us who claim to be Christian deny our convictions for fear of scorn or fear of not being accepted. Or a more common thing is we deny our convictions because someone offended us... for example: we set high expectations for our fellow Christians leaving no room for weakness or mistake by those within our own congregation - wherewith if a person says or does anything that offends us we refuse to return to that place of worship, hold onto grudges and turn bitter.

This morning I awoke with this subject of "offence" on my mind. I knelt to pray before beginning my morning study of the scriptures and then opened up the Bible. I found it to be no coincidence that my eyes fell upon these verses;

"And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold." (Matt 24:10-12 KJV)

Of course we know that Jesus Christ is prophesying to His Apostles of the events that would take place before Jerusalem would be destroyed... but He was also prophesying these same events to take place before His 2ND coming, before the destruction of the world. It's important to note the council He gives that follows:

"But he that shall endure unto the end, [steadfast in following the teachings and example of Jesus Christ and applying His Atoning blood] the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place [or in other words, stand in holy places, stand with God]." (Matt 24:13-15)

After Jesus Christ instituted the sacrament, He warned the Apostles they would all be offended of Him that night, "Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night:" This was hard for Peter to believe and he could not foresee his own weakness in the face of temptation, "Peter answered and said unto Him, Though all men shall be offended because of Thee, yet will I never be offended." Of course, the Savior's prediction was right and after Peter denied Christ 3 times "he went out, and wept bitterly." (Matt:26:31-33 & 75)

We learn from this a great lesson: we must be so careful to not get so confident to think we will never be the one to fall. The Savior, in His mercy understood this tendency in all of us and lovingly counseled to "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." - (Matt. 26: 41)

I love the power of prayer. I know that as we call upon God and pray for His strength and foresight we can withstand the evils of this day. May one of the things we pray for more earnestly is compassion and the ability to stand our ground regardless of circumstances. Let us be anchored in our Savior, Jesus Christ and pray for the strength to not be offended.

Poem: Govern the Tounge, Pray for Charity

I was inspired to write this poem after studying the following verses in the Bible:
Luke 5:44. John 13:34, 35. 1 Corinthians 2:9-14. 1 Corinthians 13:1-4. Galatians 5:16-26. Ephesians 4:29. James 3:3-17.

Compared to the ship itself,
The helm is rather small;
But it’s the helm that turns the ship
And guides it though it all:
So this is with our tongue,
This tiny little member-
Can blaze destruction like a fire
From the smallest of an ember.
If one gives a blessing,
And then they turn to curse another:
Sings praises to our God above
But loathes and hates his brother…
Which master do they follow?
What are the seeds then sown?
Discern the works of righteousness,
By their fruits they shall be known.
If something does not edify
And encourage greater love,
How can it truly be of God-
Or claim wisdom from above?
If I preach great words of knowledge
And have the gift of prophecy
My words become as sounding brass
If I am void of charity.
Let us then control our tongues
Of speaking ill of others,
And rid our hearts of prejudice
Or fighting with our brothers.
Let us follow Jesus Christ.
Let us pray for charity-
Pray for strength over the flesh
And walk more peaceably.
Through His grace may we strive
To focus on the good
And never tear another down
Let us do as Jesus would.

By- Alicia Rawlins
Visit my website http://www.aliciarawlins.com/