Ye Say, We See; Therefore Your Sin Remaineth

These past few days, I have been reading in the New Testament John 7-9.  Christ teaches us much about judgement in these chapters.  How we should focus on our own sins, that we should not assume if someone has an affliction that they have brought it upon themselves, and how we can recognize those things that are of God.  For instance, Christ healed the man who was blind yet the Pharisees insisted that Christ was a sinner and not of God.

Christ summarizes the last chapter with these last few verses, which I have yet to completely understand.

39 ¶And Jesus said, For ^ajudgment I am come into this world, that they which ^bsee not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.

 40 And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?

 41 Jesus said unto them, If ye were ^ablind, ye should have no ^bsin: but now ye say, We ^csee; therefore your ^dsin remaineth.

We need Christ to help us see whether that is physically or spiritually.  Where have you been blind and been made to see?  And where have you said I see when in fact you were spiritually blind.  We can be very farsighted and not see things far off.  And at the same time, we can be nearsighted and think we can see everything around us but we fail to see ourselves.

This is will not change; only true faith can heal that blindness.

Growing Pains

Many people are more eloquent in the way they communicate their thoughts and feelings about spiritual matters or anything for that matter.  But I want to share my reflections on faith. I want to know how others’ faith is stretching and shaping them.

In the last year and a half, I have found myself having crises of faith.  Not a feeling of wanting to give up or run away but motivation to plant myself firmer in my faith in Christ.  It is painful and why shouldn’t it be?  What Christ suffered was the ultimate price because the fight is so hard. And being a disciple of him is not meant to be going with the flow.  I am glad I have a relationship with Christ.  For a long time, I did not really know who he was but I had a desire to find out.  Yes, I knew all the Bible Stories but knowing them and knowing Him are two different things.

I am still a baby in his Gospel.  My relationship with Him can be so much more.  But I am seeking him out and I know He is waiting with open arms.

Christ-Centered Twelve Days of Christmas

My family and I have decided to pick a family or two to take the Twelve days of Christmas to this year. I was thinking about what we should do and thought it would be nice if we brought them presents to help them remember Christ this Christmas season.

My kids helped me think about ideas for these gifts.  It gave me the opportunity to retell them the Christmas story and all the wonderful things Christ did for us while he was on the earth.

Day 1 – A light in the sky let people know that the Light of the World was born.  A candle

Day 2 – Shepherds abiding in the fields came to see the Saviour – Candy  Canes

Day 3 – Wise Men came bearing gifts of Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh –  Gold Chocolate coins or a bookmark with the saying Wise Men Still Seek  Him

Day 4 – When Jesus was 12 he went to the temple and was teaching the Pharisees and Scribes –  A picture of a Temple or a small Bible to give them

Day 5 – Jesus is the Bread of life – he fed 5,000 with 12 fishes and 6 loaves of bread; he also gave us the sacrament to help us to always remember him.   We cannot live by bread alone but by every word that proceeded out of the mouth of God. – A loaf of Bread

Day 6 – Jesus works Miracles.  He turned water into wine.  He is gives us the water where we will never thirst. John 4:14 –  A bottle of Grape Juice

Day 7 – Jesus healed people – first aid kit 

Day 8 – Jesus washed people’s feet -John 13 –  wash clothes

Day 9 – Jesus suffered for our sins so that through his blood we may be made clean- Isaiah 1:18, 1 John 1:7 – a small bottle of bleach or soap

Day 10 – Jesus was betrayed for 30 pieces of silver – give them 30 nickels, dimes and/or quarters

Day 11 – Jesus lives again, he was resurrected and has a body of flesh and bone, after he was resurrected he ate fish and honeycomb – give them some honey

Day 12 – We have been blessed with the Spirit of Christ, the Holy Ghost, which warms our souls and fills our minds with the words of Eternal Life – Hot Chocolate

A Week of Thanksgiving

Studying the scriptures is an important way I learn about God.  Often, I study the scriptures casually or do not read them at all.  Most days, I write “read scriptures” on my to do list.  Last year, I was involved in a Scripture Study Group and I learned the power of studying the scriptures topically.

Thanksgiving is coming up in about a week.  I thought doing a Scripture Study on Gratitude/Thanksgiving would be a perfect way to prepare for the holiday.  If you want, get your journal or notebook out and write some impressions or thoughts that come to your mind while you are studying.

I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ so I will include some scriptures from The Book of Mormon or Doctrine and Covenants but I will also scriptures from The Holy Bible.

WEEK OF THANKSGIVING

Day 1 – Psalms 69:30 – I will praise the name of God with song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.

Alma 34:38 … humble yourselves even to the dust, and worship god, in whatsoever place ye may be in, in spirit and truth; and that ye may live in thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessing which he doth bestow upon you.

Day 2 – The story of the Christ healing the ten lepers.  Read Luke 17:12-19

Day 3 – 2 Corinthians 9:15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

Day 4 – James 1:17  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights…

Helaman 13:22  Ye do not remember the Lord your God in the things with which he hath blessed you, but ye do always remember your^ariches, not to thank the Lord your God for them; yea, your hearts are not drawn out unto the Lord, but they do swell with great pride, unto ^bboasting, and unto great ^cswelling, ^denvyings, strifes, malice, persecutions, and murders, and all manner of iniquities.

Day 5 – Doctrine and Covenants 59:7 Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things.

1 Thessalonians 5:18  In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Day 6 –  Psalms 34:1 I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

Day 7 –  2 Thessalonians 1:3  We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth.

Questions you could ponder in your study are:

Why does the Lord command us to give thanks?

What does it mean to be thankful in all things?

What is the unspeakable gift God has given?

What are some of the mercies and blessings God has given you?

Even if you aren’t religious; I hope you can adjust these questions and we all can remember all the blessings  and mercies in our lives.