Divinely Loved

Welcome to Day 13 

If your just joining this series; this is a continuation of The Invitation, a  previously posted blog challenge.  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:  I have been taught and believe that each individual that has ever been born into this world bears a special relationship to deity, and has been the actual spiritual son or daughter of God the Father in the pre-mortal world of spirits.  This means that you are the offspring of Deity, literal descendants of a Divine Father, inheriting godly attributes and potential. Each individual has in them divine nature.  What is the divine nature? It is the nature of God. It is the nature, perfection, personality, glory, power, and holiness not only of the Father but also of the Son, Jesus Christ, for he has partaken of the “fulness” and has become like the Father in every respect. We are promised that, since Christ has obtained this fulness, we, through obedience to him, may ultimately do so also.  In another sense, however, because we have not yet fully become like Heavenly Father, divine nature is something we must “be partakers of,”   The Apostle Peter gives us an understanding of what it means to “be partakers of Divine Nature”,  it is escaping “the corruption that is in the world through lust.”  To rise above the temporal and sensual and partake of the divine spirit of God.  To walk as Jesus walks, to walk with him…..Peter specifies faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity  these are not demonstrated in perfection by fallen mankind here below, but by the Father and Son who are above. Yet, we are to obtain these qualities too, somehow, and become perfect therein. As you learn about God and then strive to become like him, you can actually draw down the powers of heaven to help you act more like Jesus Christ here and now thus developing your divine nature.

“When through the Gospel, the Spirit in man has so subdued the flesh that he can live without wilful transgression, the Spirit of God unites with his spirit, they become congenial companions, and the mind and will of the Creator is thus transmitted to the creature.”- Brigham Young

Penny in the shoe:  as you feel the penny in your shoe today remember that,  YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD….literally…..he knows you personally, he knows what you go through, he knows of your pain, he is aware to your needs….

Challenge for the day:  develope your divine nature, it is what brings you closer to Christ.  But keep in mind as you do that we have the specific characteristics of the divine nature laid out in the scriptures; however, it is a lifelong matter of faith and diligence. But it is also a matter of divine assistance, involving a personal relationship with Christ; and a study of Peter will show you that, divine nature of the Father and the Son are well within your reach. The process is just as real and operable as you are willing for it to be in your life.

For the daily challenge consider these questions and find an area to begin work on, TODAY…..

Am I striving continually to control any undesirable thoughts that would have produced unrighteous action.
During this past week, have I read the scriptures.
Am I moderate with the things that I do, including eating, internet, video games, tv, and the like….it is not good to overdo anything and takes away from the spirit.
Am I able to forebear against retaliating by words or actions.
Am I sincerely striving to become like God in my speech and actions.
Does Love of Jesus Christ prevail in the way I speak and treat others

Suggested Scripture Study: (reading made easy click to view) 2 Peter 1:4–8  2 Thessalonians 2:13,  Philippians 4:13. 2 Peter 1:5–7 Matthew 5:48

Journaling Thought:  Can you remember a time when you felt the love of the Lord just for you, as your elder brother…..

“Remember Who You Are”

Name withheld

About the time I turned 14 years old, my mother started talking in code. Just as I would run out the door for some new adventure with my friends, she would call out, “Remember who you are!”

I wasn’t quite sure what she meant by that, but I would pretend to understand and yell over my shoulder, “OK, Mom. Bye!” At times I would think about her coded message. What was she trying to say? I knew who I was. So what?

As I was growing up, life with my family was not always pleasant. After one particularly bad night, I remember staring at myself in the mirror, hardly recognizing the reflection staring back at me because my face was red from my father’s repeated slaps. I started crying, not knowing what to do or think. I thought about running away. Even worse, ideas of ending my unhappy life came into my confused mind.

At no other time—before or since—have I felt so alone. I felt worn out, almost willing to let the surrounding darkness take over. I looked into the mirror once more. I don’t even know myself, I cried inwardly. Then I heard my mother’s phrase repeated clearly and distinctly in my mind: Remember who you are! Remember who you are!

For the first time, I realized what my mother meant. She wanted me to remember my divine heritage. A phrase from the Primary song echoed in my mind: “I am a child of God” (Hymns, number 301). That sudden reminder helped me fight Satan’s temptation to do something foolish. The knowledge that my nature was divine would help me endure; my mother understood that, and I know she hoped that someday I would as well.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the perfect example of one who understood His divine heritage. The scriptures tell us that in His youth He “increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man” (Luke 2:52). The more His understanding grew, the better prepared He was to fulfill His role as the Savior of the world.

We will not be called upon to suffer as Jesus Christ did. But to help us overcome our trials, Heavenly Father has given us tools that can increase our understanding of our divine heritage. From the scriptures, we learn how others have recognized their roles as sons and daughters of God and have acted accordingly. From living prophets, we learn of our divine nature and potential. Through the priesthood, we can receive inspired blessings that remind us of our relationship to Heavenly Father. In the temple, we are instructed as we participate in sacred ordinances. And through prayer, we can obtain the help we need when we forget who we are.

The years following the night I figured out my mother’s code were difficult. But recognizing my divine nature helped me view my challenges with an eternal perspective. This knowledge eventually led me to marry in the temple and to work with my husband to rear a family firmly grounded in the gospel.

I still think often about my mother’s words. At times I have imagined a final moment with Heavenly Father before I departed for earth. I like to picture Him embracing me and urging me on with a few last words of advice: “Remember who you are!”

With Love from Dixie…..

Beside Me.....

We are now on Day 12, only two more challenge days to go.  Has your heart been touched, has this been of benefit to you, did you find it interesting, has it helped in scripture study?  These are questions I ask myself and would like also to ask you.  Anything you would like to share would be wonderful.  At the end of the 14 days I will do a summary of my thoughts throughout the challenge and what it has done for me, but I can tell you that just the study and preparation I’ve done so that I can post these for you, has been fulfilling for me and I have greatly benefited, I hope it is and will be the same for you as you read and ponder, and  thank you for reading!  May the Spirit of the Lord be with us all!

Thought for the day:  The process of conversion is not an overnight change.  It is an ongoing continual process with peaks and valleys and as we continue to strive to be closer to the Lord, our desires become different, our thoughts change and we become more like him.  But the question is today, is this our thinking at all times, in all places and in all things.  I chose about 5 years ago to stop watching certain tv shows and movies.  I chose not to watch movies that are rated R, and am very careful about PG13 as that can be just as bad.  I also stopped watching tv shows that don’t have my value system, that contain strong language, sexual scenes, violence and so on.  I did this because one day out of the blue, while watching the Sopranos, I looked up at the picture of Christ on the wall staring at me.  I could feel a presence with me and suddenly I could no longer watch the show, it wasn’t right and I thought, if the Lord were here right now would he be watching this show???  No, no he wouldn’t, it’s not the kind of show that is conducive to the spirit.  And then I thought, ” I bet Thomas S Monson doesn’t watch this either ” ;) so my life changed.  I stopped watching tv basically at all except for a less than a handful of decent shows.  I went through my movie collection and got rid of “beloved” classics like Grease, Saturday Night Fever, anything rated R that wasn’t of a historical nature, (some historical war movies are rated R because they are of war, I have some but they are not bad, but let it be said I am quite picky :)  I also started watching my language.  And even words like Sucks and Freakin left my vocabulary.  I often wonder if people really thought about what the word sucks means, would they be using it knowing that the Savior could appear at any minute standing next to them.  If the Savior were physically beside you on a daily basis would he be accepting and approving of your choices, in music, tv, movies, talk, actions and it’s not just these things, it also includes gossip, back biting, rudeness, selfishness and so on and so on…..I said one night to my husband as he watched a show that I really didn’t want to be a part of, “Do you think we ought to be watching this, the language is very bad not to mention the other aspects.”  He said to me, “if we stop watching things that have bad language in it we might as well not watch tv.”  that made me very sad.  Why should I lower my standards just to watch tv, tv should bring their standards up to meet ours.  It also made me sad to think of how many of us, are just moving along accepting political correctness just to fit in or to have something to do.  We are taught that we are to lead our lives so that the spirit will want to dwell with us and so that if the Lord came tonight, he would dwell in our homes. We must try to be less worldy and selfish in our desires and actions.   As Christians we need to try harder to be Christians and stand with the values Christ has taught us.

Penny in the shoe:  When you feel the Penny in your shoe, imagine Him next to you, because he is…. are your thoughts, actions and words appropriate for His presence…..

Challenge for the day:  Make a change, you can’t do it all at once, so pick one area, and make that change even for one day.  Choose to clean your language, choose not to gossip, choose to change the channel, choose to walk with Christ…..you’ll feel the difference immediately…..

Suggested Scripture Reading:  (reading made easy, click a link to view)  Matthew 25:1–13  Matthew 5:14–16

Journaling Thought:  How will developing Christlike attributes help me fulfill my purpose in this life…..

If The Savior Stood Beside Me

If the Savior stood beside me,

Would I do the things I do?

Would I think of His commandments and try harder to be true?

Would I follow His example?

Would I live more righteously if I could see the Savior standing nigh,

watching over me?

If the Savior stood beside me,

Would I say the things I say?

Would my words be true and kind if He were never far away?

Would I try to share the gospel?

Would I speak more rev’rently if I could see the Savior standing nigh,

watching over me?

If the Savior stood beside me, would my thoughts be clean and pure?

Would His presence give me strength and hope and courage to endure?

Would His counsel guide my actions?

Would I choose more worthily if I could see the Savior standing nigh

watching over me?

Watching over me, watching over me,

He is always near me, though I do not see Him there,

And because He loves me dearly,

I am in His watchful care,

So I’ll be the kind of person that I know I’d like to be

if I could see the Savior standing nigh watching over me.

I will be the kind of person that I know I’d like to be

if I could see the Savior standing nigh watching over me.

Copyright © 2007 by Sally DeFord. All rights reserved. This song may be copied for incidental, noncommercial home and church use. This notice must be included on each copy made.

Love From Dixie…..

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