Half Full or Half Empty...

  I have heard this question asked many times in many different ways... Is the glass half full or is it half empty? There are many different ways to look at it or different parts to argue but here is my two cents on this topic. I saw this and it brought this question to a whole new light for me. When you see the glass you can see how much water is actually in the glass, but what about all of the stuff in the glass that you can't see... like the air!

  

  We so often just look at what we can see and don't focus on what that we can't see. We can apply this to what Christ does for us in our lives. We can do all we can to try and "fill" the glass that is our life full of good things, but there will always be a bit more "water" to be put in or better things that we could have done. But the same way the air fills the part of the glass that we can't see, so Christ does for our lives. Just like this scripture from the Book of Mormon in 2 Nephi 25:23 where it says, "...to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do."God knows we can't do it all on our own, and He doesn't expect us to do it all. He just wants our best. One may feel he has done everything that he needs to do and yet to another they see the empty parts but Christ is there to fill it up. So when you are filling empty or think that you are doing pretty good by yourself just realize that there is someone filling in for you! In the end the glass is always full.

How Bad Do You Want It?!

  I have had this topic on my mind a lot these last few weeks. There are many things in life that we have, or more like get to choose how much, or how bad we "want" them. We get to choose how much effort we put into sports, or class, work or how much effort we put into following the Master, Jesus Christ. A great deal of how well we do in these things, or whatever it is that we are working towards in life, depends on how bad we want it! I know for me putting effort in my school work was a struggle because I didn't care for the work and at the time I didn't see what I would get out of it. But when it came to working with my hands I would gladly give all that I could. And now that I have been able to build such a greater relationship with my Savior, and I want to follow Him!


  We all my see different types of blessings or rewards to how much effort we put into things. For the same reason that all of us get different things out of what we read or the jobs we do, because we are all different. But one thing that will always be the same is that God will love us. The scripture comes to my mind from the book of Matthew chapter 11 verses 28- 30:  "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." We all have the different challenges different interests and the different things we enjoy as our reward to a job well done, knowing that you have given it our all. The reward that we know will be the same for the work that we put into it is, if we put all of our trust in the lord and "serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day." I know this to be true because this is what the Lord has promised us. So ask yourselves a question, How bad do you want to live with God some day? Then get to work and do what He asks of you, you know your best and so does He. When the road gets hard and the journey seems like it will never end, He will give you rest. This is my testimony in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.                                                 

The Book of Mormon

   Since yesterday was about weaknesses, and how we all have them, and how Christ is the one we can look to and go to for help in over coming these weaknesses. I thought I would share one of my favorites from the Book of Mormon about Christ's Atonement. This scripture will come form the Book of Alma chapter 7 verses 11-13. I love these few verses because it covers so many of the things that Christ was willing to go through for us.

  "And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities. Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me."

  What a powerful testimony that the Prophet Alma had about the great mission that our dear Savior came to do. To suffer for all of the pains, temptations, sicknesses. I have thought many times if only someone else knew what I was going through. If only I had someone to talk to about this, and thats exactly why Christ went through those things, is so that we would never be alone! That when life gets to hard to stand on our own and everything we try by ourselves isn't working, thats when we can turn to him for help. His bowels truly are filled with mercy so Christ can indeed give succor to His people. What the word succor means is to run to and give aid. Who better to come to us and give us aid that the very man that was willing to suffer for all of the same things we go through each day. But we must open the dooor to Him and let Him in. Jesus Christ and our Heavenly father love us far more that we could possibly comprehend. Thats one of the best parts about what Christ did for us is we don't have to know how He did it, just know that He did and do all you can to make sure that suffering was not in vain. Christ lives and loves us all very much, if He didn't he wouldn't have done this for us. I know these things to be true and add my own testimony to it in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.