Showing posts with label challenge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label challenge. Show all posts

Sunday, February 15, 2015

Warmth of Light

Here we are at day 14, the last day of our challenge the last day of our walk with Jesus, but is it really?  Is it really our last day?  It doesn’t have to be, for everyday he walks with us.  So then, let us acknowledge His presence and welcome His company.  Let us continue this journey that we may gain greater light and knowledge, that we may live everyday with peace, with comfort, with hope……

If your just joining this series, this is a continuation of The Invitation, a  previously posted blog challenge to walk with Jesus.  Please feel free to read the other days and start at anytime! Incorporate this challenge to fit you!  Weekly, monthly, daily however it will work for you!   All material is original blog material written by Dixie. ( I just borrowed the idea ;)   Scripture suggestions are from my personal study, all thoughts and challenges are from my personal history and my future as I too continue to strive for more closeness to Christ.

Thought for the day:  As we acknowledge the presence of Christ in our life, let us realize that the light of Christ resides in all, in everyone that has ever been born.  It is an unconditional gift that is given to us freely, that we may endure this test of life, that we may know good from evil, that we may never be alone.
“The scriptures tell us that the Light of Christ, which “proceedeth forth from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space,” is “the light which is in all things, which giveth life to all things, which is the law by which all things are governed, even the power of God.”  It is manifested in the light of the sun, moon, and stars and is the power by which they and the earth were made. It is also the light that quickens our understanding. the Light of Christ “is the agency of God’s power; it is the means and way whereby ‘he comprehendeth all things,’ so that ‘all things are before him, and all things are round about him.’ It is the way whereby ‘he is above all things, and in all things, and is through all things, and is round about all things. – Bruce R McConkie  
One manifestation of the light of Christ is conscience, which helps  us choose between right and wrong,  and as we learn more about the gospel, our consciences becomes more sensitive; giving us a desire to do good. This will help us understand truth and help to put us on that gospel path which leads to salvation. Greater understanding about the Light of Christ will come to us as we obey the Lord and seek knowledge with pure intent. While we are growing in such knowledge, our greatest concern and effort should be to listen to and follow the voice of the Spirit that we might do the will of our Father in Heaven, to accomplish what he would have us do.

So then let us come unto Christ, let us live so that we invite always his light to reside with us. As we live daily and struggle daily, let our goal be to keep our hearts open to the promptings of his spirit and choose the right which will strengthen us; and let our minds be filled with knowledge that we may never forget that we are not alone.  No matter what we struggle we are not alone, if we allow him, he will walk with us continually….

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.” – Moro. 7:15–19

Penny in the shoe: today, when you feel the penny in your shoe remember that no matter what you are struggling with, there is always hope, there is always hope if we come unto Christ….

Challenge for the day:  Choose Ye therefore Christ the Lord.  Live today so that anyone who sees you, who knows you, but doesn’t know him, will want to know him because they know you……

Suggested Scripture Reading: (reading made easy click to view) John 1:4–9 John 8:12 Ps. 27:1  Isa. 2:5  Isa. 60:19 John 3:19–21Alma 38:9

Journaling Thought: How has the last 14 days affected my life,  have I been more aware of His love?

PATTERNS OF LIGHT….



With Love,
Dixie.....

Sunday, February 8, 2015

The Reservoir





This is a continuation of The Invitation, a  previously posted blog challenge.  We are now on Day 7.  Please feel free to read the other days and start at anytime! Incorporate this challenge to fit you!  Weekly, monthly, daily however it will work for you!   All material is original blog material written by Dixie. ( I just borrowed the idea ;)   Scripture suggestions are from my personal study, all thoughts and challenges are from my personal history and my future as I too continue to strive for more closeness to Christ.

Thought for the day:  John Chapter Four……Jesus and his disciples passed through Samaira as they were traveling from Judea to Galilee.  In the City of Sychar they stopped at Jacob’s well, “there comenth a woman of Samaira to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, give me to drink.” For his diciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.  “Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, how is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me which am a woman of Samaira?  For the Jews have no dealings iwth the samaritians.  “Jesus answered and said unto her, if thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.  “the woman saith unto him, sir, thou has nothing to draw with, and the well is deep; from whence then hast thou that living water?… “Jesus answered and said unto her, whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again, but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst but the water that I shall give him be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life”
This living water referred to is a representation of the Lord Jesus Christ and his gospel.  And as water is neccessary to sustain physical life, so the Savior and His doctrines, principles and ordinacnes are essential for eterenal life.  You and I need his living water daily and in ample supply to sustain our ongoing spiritual growth and development.  The Scriptures contain the words of Chrsit and are a reservoir of living water to which we have ready access and from which we can drink deeply and long.  You and I must look to and come unto Christ, who is the fountain of living waters. by reading, studying, searching, and feasting upon the words of Christ contained in the holy scriptures.  By doing so, we can recieve both spiritual direction and protection during our mortal journey. – David Bednar

Penny in the shoe:  everytime you feel the penny in your shoe today remind yourself to use this Sabbath day to drink from the reservoir of living waters, remember to read….

Challenge for the day:  Develope a personnal scripture study pattern that will most benifit you the.  Remember the quality of time out weighs the length.  

Do What You Can

One Church member tried many times to follow specific programs for scripture study, but it was always difficult for her. She later reflected:
“It seemed that with trying to raise a family and fulfill my Church responsibilities, I never completely reached the goal. I would designate a certain time and place to study each day, only to have the schedule interrupted by the needs of children who were ill or other crises typical of a growing family. During that time of my life, I never really thought of myself as someone who was good at scripture study.
“Then one day my mother was in my home. She looked at a large table which was covered with Church materials—among them my scriptures—and said, ‘I love the way you are always reading your scriptures. They always seem to be open on one table or another.’
“Suddenly I had a new vision of myself. She was right. I was consistently into my scriptures, even though it was not part of a formal study program. I loved the scriptures. They fed me. There were scripture verses tacked to my kitchen walls that lifted me as I worked, scriptures I was helping my children memorize for talks they would give. I lived in a world of scripture reading, and I realized that I was being nourished abundantly.”

Suggessted Scriputre Reading:  (reading made easy just click a link)
Luke 24:32  John 5:39  Matt. 22:29  2 Tim. 3:15 2 Pet. 1:20–21)  2 Ne. 32:3  Hel. 15:7–8

Journaling Thought:  Do I feel the thirst for the word of God as I should?

Developing a Personal Plan to Study the Gospel

 “It is incumbent upon each of us to do everything we can to increase our spiritual knowledge and understanding by studying the scriptures and the words of the living prophets. When we read and study the revelations, the Spirit can confirm in our hearts the truth of what we are learning; in this way, the voice of the Lord speaks to each one of us” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1998, 40–41; or Ensign, May 1998, 32).Elder M. Russell Ballard
The following suggestions can help you develop a study plan to “increase [your] spiritual knowledge and understanding,” as Elder Ballard counseled. Your plan should not be overwhelming, but it should help you be consistent in your gospel study. You may want to record your plan in a journal or notebook so you will not forget it.

What to Study

Center your gospel study on the scriptures. You may choose to study a book of scripture in its entirety, or you may focus on one or more subjects, reading what all the standard works say about them. You may combine these two methods, studying a book of scripture and focusing on topics and themes as you find them. You should also study the teachings of latter-day prophets in general conference addresses and Church magazines.
If you have a calling as a teacher, your lesson manual is an essential part of your study plan.
You should also consider including the following in your gospel study: (1) the course material for Melchizedek Priesthood and Relief Society, (2) assigned scripture passages for the Gospel Doctrine class in Sunday School, and (3) articles in Church magazines.

When to Study

If possible, set a regular time when you can study without interruption. Elder Howard W. Hunter counseled:
“Many find that the best time to study is in the morning after a night’s rest has cleared the mind of the many cares that interrupt thought. Others prefer to study in the quiet hours after the work and worries of the day are over and brushed aside, thus ending the day with a peace and tranquillity that comes by communion with the scriptures.
“Perhaps what is more important than the hour of the day is that a regular time be set aside for study. It would be ideal if an hour could be spent each day; but if that much cannot be had, a half hour on a regular basis would result in substantial accomplishment. A quarter of an hour is little time, but it is surprising how much enlightenment and knowledge can be acquired in a subject so meaningful” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1979, 91–92; or Ensign, Nov. 1979, 64).

How to Study

Before you begin to study, pray for insight and understanding. Ponder what you read, and look for ways to apply it in your life. Learn to recognize and hearken to the promptings of the Spirit.
Consider using some or all of the following ideas to enhance your study:
  • Use the Topical Guide, the Bible Dictionary…
  • As you read, ask yourself, “What gospel principle is taught in this passage? How can I apply this in my life?”
  • Have a notebook or journal available so you can record your thoughts and feelings. Commit yourself in writing to apply what you learn. Frequently review the thoughts you have recorded.
  • Before reading a chapter of scripture, review the chapter heading. This will give you some things to look for in the chapter.
  • Mark and annotate your scriptures. In the margins write scripture references that clarify the passages you are studying.
  • Memorize verses that are particularly meaningful to you.
  • Substitute your name in a verse of scripture to personalize it.
  • After studying, offer a prayer to express thanks for what you have learned.
  • Share what you learn. As you do this, your thoughts will become clearer and your power of retention will increase.
We can do this, and we will feel the spirit in our lives!
Love from Dixie

Monday, February 2, 2015

The Invitation


The only way we can really know another person is to walk in his shoes, think what he thinks, learn what he knows, say what he would say and do what he would do.  Christ said "come follwe me".  And with that said I have an invitation for you.  One to walk with Christ.

This is a 14 day challenge which this blog marks day one. And for two weeks I invite you to follow our Savior in all that you do and say by tyring this challenge and reading the following instructions.

 All material is original blog material written by Dixie.  Scripture suggestions are from my personal study, all thoughts and challenges are from my personal history and my future as I too continue to strive for more closeness to Christ.

First: Each morning make time to read the scriptures even if you only have time for a line or two, a verse, anything, just start your day with the scriptures, I will list a scripture suggestion that goes along with the topic for the day, but of course you may choose to read anywhere you like, just read and also review the challenge posted in this blog for the day.  Then drop a penny in your shoe, (everyday) remembering that the penny says "In God We Trust".

Throughout the day the penny may bother you, but it is intended to be a constant reminder that you are trusting in God whatever the day may bring.  As you go about your day, reflect on the challenge given and the things you've read; at the end of the day jot a note in your journal or blog, or if you like leave a comment here; even just a few words somewhere on your feelings for that day.  At the end of the two weeks you can read those enteries and see your progress and see the diffrence and changes in your heart and mind.  Also , you can share with others your thoughts and this challenge,  that they too may feel a difference and support from the Savior in their lives.

I have faith that the next 14 days will bring us closer to Christ and help us to walk as he does, with confidence in teh future, with an abiding faith in our Heavenly Father, and with a genuine love for others. 

It is a great challenge indeed, and you might say you don't have time, we all have such busy lives, yet, our lives would not be our lives without the Savior, so let us just take a minute or two and try this and see how we get on.; I will be particpating as well and my journal entries will be in this blog and well as my personnal  journal. :)  I will begin tomorrow with day one and I hope you will too.  Again please feel free to leave comments on your thoughts and feelings as well, one never knows who is reading a blog, and it just might help someone in need.   Now on to Day one which you can start at anytime after reading this!

Day One:  An Invitation to Walk with Christ

Scripture suggestions:  John 8:12, John 10:27-28, Romans Chapter 5, 2 Nephi 31: 12-13

Challenge for Day One:  Concentrate on walking WITH Christ.  STrive to act as he would.  EAch time you feel the penny in your shoe, have a prayer in your heart.

Thought for the day:  From Thomas S Monson Ensign Magazine September 1992

 "One evening I happened to glance at a travel brrochure that had arrived at my home.  It was printed in breathtaking color and written with persuasive skill.  The reader was invited to visit the Fjords of Norway and the Alps of Switerland, all in one packaged tour.  Yet another offering beconed the reader to Bethelehem, even the Holy Land, cradle of Christianity.  The closing lines of the Brochure's message contained the simple yet powwerful appeal, "Come and walk where Jesus walked."  My thoughts turned to the counsel God's prophets provided:  "Follow the pathway of the Lord,  walk in His footsepts."  I reflected on the words penned by the poet:

 I walked today where Jesus walked.  In days of long ago
I wandered down each path he knew, with revrent step and slow
Those little lanes they have not changed, a sweet peace fills the air
I walked today where Jesus walked and felt His presence there
I knelt today where Jesus knelt where all alone he prayed
the Garden of Gethsemane my heart felt unafraid
I picked my heavy burden up and with Him by my side
 I climbed the Hill of Calvary where on the Cross he died
 I walked today where Jesus walked and felt him close to me

In a very real sense, all can walk where Jesus walked when, with His words on our lips, His spirit in our hearts, and His teachings in our lives, we journey through mortality.  I would hope that we would walk as He walked, with conficdense in the future, with an abiding faith in His Father and with a genuine love for others."


I hope you all enjoy this and in the end we all come closer to Christ

With Love from Dixie