How Can We Serve God?

God's work and glory is to help each one of us attain eternal glory and live forever with him. He serves us each and every day. He blesses us with life and love and all that we have. He asks us to serve him. How can one serve a God? What would he need from us. The greatest thing we can give God is our love for him and for those he loves.

“I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.”

Is halfway enough?

I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

This is a passage that strikes me as very interesting. Why is being lukewarm not acceptable? When we chose to follow Christ, he wants us to follow him with all our hearts. I think this also can be applied to all that we do. Why do anything with less than all our effort? Do your best at all you do and be happy with your best.

He Will Not Forsake Us

"It will all work out". This phrase has been repeated throughout time. Perhaps the most comical yet true statement made on the subject was John Lennon when he said "Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end". This perspective may cause us to raise an eyebrow or two. This attitude might seem fine when everything is okay, but when everything is not okay, this attitude, also is not okay.

Life can be overwhelming at times and usually we have three options for what to do about it. Option 1 is to wait and do nothing (it might end up getting better on its own). Option 2 is to try and fix what is not okay (this may fix the problem or it may not, but it keeps us hopeful). Option 3 is the saddest alternative and is a real problem for many around the world. Some become so depressed by their situation that they choose to leave it and the world behind, in other words, they lose hope that things will get better here. If you have not seen this option exercised by someone you love, it is possible you will. You may even think that option 3 is your best.

Please consider option 4. Option 4 is the one designed by our loving Heavenly Father. Option 4 is Jesus Christ. Option 4 is stronger at fighting hard times than any other. Option 4 tames and cures depression, turns hard times into life lessons, sins into forgiveness, broken hearts into mended and healed souls.

“It isn’t as bad as you sometimes think it is. It all works out. Don’t worry. I say that to myself every morning. It will all work out. If you do your best, it will all work out. Put your trust in God, and move forward with faith and confidence in the future. The Lord will not forsake us. He will not forsake us. … If we will put our trust in Him, if we will pray to Him, if we will live worthy of His blessings, He will hear our prayers”

— Gordon B. Hinckley

How Did Jesus Christ Serve?

During our lifetime we will all have many opportunities to serve those around us. How we choose to go about that will determine how we will be rewarded. There will be times that recognition for our service will be innately intertwined with the service that we render. At other times we will have chances to serve that would otherwise go unnoticed were it not for any public declaration of the act. Both hold great value. The stories told of Jesus Christ and his service are good because we can learn from them. 

However it is clear from the record of John that Jesus has many untold stories of service. John writes, "And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen". It is not surprising that Jesus' life would be this way. He did so much good, some that perhaps even his apostles knew nothing of. How many people have helped us in our lives that to us remain nameless? There has to be many. To God however, each act of kindness is recorded and he loves to bless his children. So find ways to serve today.

“But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.”

I am excited yeah, are you?

Long ago the Prophet Moses died as he looked upon the promised land. The people mourned, but this was not the end of the story for the people of Israel. God had a plan to love and bless them as he had done during the time of Moses. He called another to take the place of this great prophet. The Lord called Joshua. It was Joshua that took the children of Israel into the promised land. With the passing of President Thomas S. Monson, the Lord will call yet another prophet to take his place and to lead the children of God. President Russel M. Nelson has been chosen by God to lead the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and prepare the world for the Lord to return once more.

...as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

I am so excited! I've been able to spend some time around him because of my job. He is so awesome. -Rebecca

I love President Nelson. -Brigham

He is a great man! -Bryson

President Nelson is awesome! -Carla

He came to my mission twice! I got to meet him a couple times.. he’s AWESOME. -Brett

I really hope God has him with good health. -Santi

I am pretty excited for President Nelson. It just feels right now. -Samuel

I am excited yeah, are you? -Lizzie

Why Would We Ever Chose to Keep the Door Closed?

For a time I had the opportunity to work for UPS, a shipping company, where I mostly delivered small packages out of the back of large truck. On occasion we would deliver a package that had to be signed for. If no one opened the door we would come again another day. This might go on for a few days and then the package would be left in the warehouse and the customer would have to come pick it up.

Christ delivers blessings differently than UPS. He stands all day and night holding onto the blessings that we need, including being in his presence. Why would we ever chose to keep the door closed? Open it up to Christ and experience the wonder of having him enter your home and heart.

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”

What Are Some Outcomes of Our Shared Testimonies?

To have angels rejoice and to have our sins be forgiven. How wonderful it is to know that our testimonies, whether heard by those we love or if fallen on empty ears, will be heard by God and will be used to reward and bless us.

"...ye are blessed, for the testimony which ye have borne is recorded in heaven for the angels to look upon; and they rejoice over you, and your sins are forgiven you".

Could Your Greatest Weakness End Up Being Your Greatest Strength?

What is our purpose? When answering this question, it is common to think about our greatest strengths. And why not? Would it not make sense to think that we will end up doing the most good by using our strengths in the Lord’s work? This may very well be true. However, I think it might be worthwhile to think of it in a different way as well. Satan, the greatest liar, source of evil and deceiver has a goal to destroy and ruin the lives of each of God’s children. We are often tempted and led to sin. Our weaknesses are known by him and he exploits them constantly. What is trying to do by attacking us at our weakest points? Could it be that in our weaknesses lie our purpose and that by attacking us there we never would get to our true potential.

There is a sure fire, 100% percent proven way to overcome weaknesses revealed to one of the God’s prophets long ago.

“And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.”

Do You Stand On a Sure Foundation?

When starting any building, any project, or any business the foundation upon which we begin will determine the final outcome. When beginning to learn a new sport or musical instrument, its vital to master the fundamentals as our foundation. An athlete, without the fundamentals will never leave their seat on the bench. A building with a poor foundation will never become one of the wonders of the world. What then should we use as the foundation for the lives we are striving to build for ourselves? The surest foundation upon which every human life can be built is upon that of their faith in Jesus Christ. 

And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.

How Can We Be Better Friends?

Oswald Chambers, an old Baptist teacher wrote "The dearest friend on earth is a mere shadow compared to Jesus Christ". Following the logic that Christ being a perfect man would therefore be a perfect friend, Oswald has a great point. Christ will always be the best friend any of us could ask for.

Oswald may have been prophesying as well when he spoke these words. Today we are friends through social media with many people. Sometimes the only connection we maintain is through our profiles. This is being friends with the shadow of a person.

We must find ways to be a real friend today and not live as a shadow. Christ is always with us, in our midst. He can work as a friend, unseen but ever-present. As we strive to be his friend and a friend to those who need us, we will feel what Oswald felt, we will feel the powerful friendship of Christ and cherish the friendships we make with God's children. 

How Does God Know All Things?

Information technology, computer science and other technological studies have brought about the spread of massive amounts of data. In this greatly expanding world of knowledge each of us can try and comprehend God's understanding. He lives as an all-knowing being, capable of creation, destruction and perfect judgement of every human soul. As we learn more about how knowledge is acquired, stored and transmitted in computers it is worth-while to make attempts at understanding how God might perform the impossible task of acquiring and using all of his knowledge to help his children.

“O how great the holiness of our God! For he knoweth all things, and there is not anything save he knows it.”

Feeling Sheepish?

The word sheepish is often used in reference to someone without courage, someone who is ashamed or who lacks self-confidence. However to be a sheep in the flock of Christ gives courage, allows for shame and guilt to be swept away and gives us confidence more powerful than self, instead we gain Christ-confidence. Confiding in him to know what to do and then be able to do so. How grateful I am to be considered a sheep when my shepherd is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, he who gave his life for his sheep.

I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

Where Do We Go When We Do Not Know?

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him

Learning is a process, an enjoyable one and at times, difficult. Our pursuit of knowledge will be amplified as we ask God to help us while we lack wisdom. God knows everything already about every emerging field and knows all about that which has gone before. As we open ourselves up to the many sources of knowledge, it would be to our advantage and to the advantage of all those we associate with if we can bring to the table that which God has taught us.

Knowledge of Good and Evil

The day that Adam and Eve partook of the fruit each of us gained the opportunity to learn for ourselves the difference between good and evil. Whether we learn at school or through other means, we are faced each day with ideas and decisions we have to make to go down a path of learning and doing, choosing, good or evil. These small decisions will influence our lives and will be the steps towards our destiny.

“And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil:”

May we always choose good and may we always choose God.

Does God Hear Me?

We often appreciate a person who can talk our ear off, a good storyteller or a wise counselor. These people are often important to our progression and God is this person always. The evidence is in the scriptures. He loves to speak to his children. Although this is true, God has only published a few books that contain his word. Written in heaven however, is millions upon millions of books filled with the petitions God hears everyday from us. God is perfect. Does it surprise any of us that he listens way more than he speaks? He loves us and the proof is his love as he listens to every cry, sad story, question and all we have to say.

Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.

As we attempt to help others, we will be wise to remember that we will have a greater effect as we listen rather than speak.

Who Ranks #1 In The Kingdom of God?

“Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

Today I had a two hour experience with a Christian organization called Feed My Starving Children. In my group, we were able to provide meals for 108 children in the Philippines for an entire year. That an organization like this exists is proof that Christ cares for the children of this world. He loves all of his creations but in his kingdom the little child is the greatest.

How Can We Help The Poor?

There is a lot of homelessness and poverty in every major city in the world. This is a sad reality for many people. Often it is easy to find ways to help the poor during Christmas time and hopefully we can continue on throughout the year.

For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.

We do not have the answer to end poverty and perhaps at this time long ago Moses did not either. But even if we do not have the perfect answer, the question itself is worth asking.

What Do We Delight In?

Nephi, an ancient prophet who lived around 550 B.C. wrote these words:

"And also my soul delighteth in the covenants of the Lord which he hath made to our fathers; yea, my soul delighteth in his grace, and in his justice, and power, and mercy in the great and eternal plan of deliverance from death. And my soul delighteth in proving unto my people that save Christ should come all men must perish".

The devil tries to make us focus on all the tragedies in the world. He loves our sadness. When we focus on gratitude for the good we see all around us, our list of things we love will have at its top the name, Jesus Christ. All that he did and all that he is, makes our souls delight. God wants us to be happy, so he gave us Jesus Christ.

What Did God's Prophet Say This Month?

“Our responsibility is to rise from mediocrity to competence, from failure to achievement,” “Our task is to become our best selves. One of God’s greatest gifts to us is the joy of trying again, for no failure ever need be final.”

“Essential to the plan [of salvation] is our Savior, Jesus Christ. Without His atoning sacrifice, all would be lost. It is not enough, however, merely to believe in Him and His mission. We need to work and learn, search and pray, repent and improve. We need to know God’s laws and live them. We need to receive His saving ordinances. Only by so doing will we obtain true, eternal happiness.”

The prophet of God passed away last night and Prophet, God will make another man for His work will go on. How blessed we are to have a God who wants to speak to us today through representatives he sends to the earth. Whether you believe in a prophet or not we would be wise to heed those who God has placed in our lives. "Repent all ye ends of the earth" and "Prepare ye the way of the Lord".

God Loves Us, So He Sent His Son

Christ said of his father "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life". This scripture is probably the best known scripture in the New Testament and contains the greatest message of hope ever delivered to the world. Because God was willing to sacrifice his beloved son, human because of Mary and God because of his father, we all will receive immortality, to live forever, and have the opportunity to gain exaltation, extreme happiness. As we share this testimony of God's love for us and Christ's willingness to sacrifice for us, our love for others will increase and our ability to sacrifice our will for God's will bring us a greater life than what we can make of it on our own.