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Easter will be here on Sunday. This has been a wonderful Easter season for me. I have grown so much. I was listening to a Christian radio station this morning and they were talking about Easter. A lady asked them a question regarding how she could better celebrate this season. This lady has been a Christian her whole life and she felt that she wasn't getting the most out of the Easter season. The deejay's answered her question with a very simple solution, attitude. What we get out of Easter comes down to our attitude.
I've been thinking on this most of the morning. My attitude toward my Heavenly Father and my Savior have changed over the past couple of months. I can see that change and I believe that most other people can see that change as well. I wake up happy and I enjoy the day. I look at life and the little and big gifts that I have been given and I thank my Heavenly Father for them.
This past year has not been easy for me at all. That's okay though. I wouldn't trade my struggles because I have also been very blessed. I find it so comforting to know that Christ will strengthen us when we are too weary. He will carry our loads when we can't carry them ourselves. He walks by each of us daily. I have felt His presence in my life a lot lately. I have felt His outstretched arms pull me to safety. I know He loves me. I know He suffered and atoned for my sins so that I can continue to learn and grow. I'm very grateful for the atonement and it's healing power. As I have learned to apply the atonement in my life, I have learned to love and trust my Savior. I know He lives.
I celebrate Easter this year with a new attitude. I'm grateful that I can continue to learn to trust my Savior. This beloved hymn expresses exactly how I feel.
I know that my Redeemer lives.
What comfort this sweet sentence gives!
He lives, he lives, who once was dead.
He lives, my ever-living Head.
He lives to bless me with his love.
He lives to plead for me above.
He lives my hungry soul to feed.
He lives to bless in time of need.
He lives to grant me rich supply.
He lives to guide me with his eye.
He lives to comfort me when faint.
He lives to hear my soul’s complaint.
He lives to silence all my fears.
He lives to wipe away my tears.
He lives to calm my troubled heart.
He lives all blessings to impart.
He lives, my kind, wise heav’nly Friend.
He lives and loves me to the end.
He lives, and while he lives, I’ll sing.
He lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King.
He lives and grants me daily breath.
He lives, and I shall conquer death.
He lives my mansion to prepare.
He lives to bring me safely there.
He lives! All glory to his name!
He lives, my Savior, still the same.
Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives:
“I know that my Redeemer lives!”
He lives! All glory to his name!
He lives, my Savior, still the same.
Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives:
“I know that my Redeemer lives!”
LDS Hymn #136 - I Know That My Redeemer Lives
Hang on the walls of your mind the memory of your successes. Take counsel of your strength, not your weakness. Think of the good jobs you have done. Think of the times when you rose above your average level of performance and carried out an idea or a dream for which you had deeply longed. Hang these pictures on the walls of your mind and look at them as you travel the roadway of life.
--Attributed to Whistler by Sterling W. Sill, "Great Experiences," Ensign, June 1971, 43
This has been a wonderful and marvelous journey. I have learned so many new truths. I have had amazing experiences. What has struck me the most is the knowledge that has filled my mind. Truths have been confirmed to my heart. I have grown in so many ways.
There is a Chines proverb that says - Jade must chiseled before it can be considered a gem. Well, I am jade and Christ is the Master holding the chisel. He has chiseled away so many rough spots. He has polished and polished until I shine.
I feel a difference in my thinking. I know He is there. I know He loves me. I know He lives. I look forward to continuing this journey. The joy is really in the journey and mine is really just beginning.
The Deliverer
Take you hence … twelve stones. – Joshua 4:3
The Invitation … Remember
-Read the story of Joshua and the crossing of the river Jordan in Joshua 3 and 4.
The Journey
-Either figuratively or literally, gather twelve stones. Assign each stone to represent a blessing that you have recognized in your journey toward Christ.
-Share these blessings with your family. Testify how you are coming to know the Healer, the Master, the Son of God, even Jesus Christ. What are the stories you can tell about how He has strengthened, enlightened, comforted, or otherwise blessed you?
My Experience …
This has been an amazing journey, one that I am going to continue to embark upon. I want to continually develop my relationship with my Savior. I want to continue to have this feeling that is in my heart. I love the peace and the comfort I feel. I know it comes from my Savior. He has delivered me from so much heartache and pain.
The trials are still going to be there. This is not a perfect world where trials don’t exist. What I have come to know and understand is that the Savior is always there. He never leaves. I have come to understand that on such a personal level. I know that because He loves me on such a personal level, I can trust His plan for me. I will not be lead astray.
My twelve stones or blessings that I have learned are:
1. Love
2. Courage
3. Strength
4. Patience
5. Forgiveness
6. Answered Prayers
7. Faith
8. Hope
9. Healing
10. Peace
11. Friendship
12. Compassion
There is meaning behind each blessing. They have been such a part of my life lately. I think that I will continue this journey by each day looking at a blessing and telling a story behind it. I want to keep feeling the way I feel. I know I am being greatly blessed.
The Friend
And it came to pass that I
… having great desires to know
… did cry unto the Lord;
and behold he did visit me.
--1 Nephi 2:16
The Invitation …
-Read the account of the disciples walking on the road to Emmaus, found in Luke 24:13-32.
The Journey
-Learn to use the scriptures to receive personal revelation from the Lord.
-Take some time today to find a scripture that speaks to you.
-Let His Spirit abide in your heart by reflecting on that scripture throughout the day.
My Experience …
Abide with me! Fast falls the eventide; the darkness deepens. Lord, with me abide! When other helpers fail and comforts flee, help of the helpless, oh, abide with me!
Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day. Earth’s joys grow dim; its glories pass away. Change and decay in all around I see; O thou who changest not, abide with me!
I need thy presence every passing hour. What but thy grace can foil the tempter’s power? Who, like thyself, my guide and stay can be? Thru cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me!
--LDS Hymns #166 Abide with Me.
I love this hymn. I love the power behind the words. I love the spirit that penetrates my soul. I love the comfort that it brings. Often times when I find myself in darkness, I find myself singing this hymn. I find myself longing for the Savior to wrap me in His arms and to feel the peace that He brings. When I sing this hymn, I feel that comfort. I feel the Savior’s arm around me. I feel his love.
The scripture that speaks to me today is in Doctrine and Covenants 6:36
“Look unto me in every thought, doubt not, fear not.”
This scripture has significant meaning because it requires action on my part. I have to look to the Savior for help. I have to look to Him for all that He gives me. I have reach out to him. When I do reach out to Him, He is there. He has never left. He comes every time I call. Doubt not, fear not are the most comforting words to me. I love how I feel wrapped in His arms.
"I delight in the examples of those in the scriptures who walk by faith on their earthly journey. Each time I walk with Abraham and Isaac on the road to Mount Moriah, I weep, knowing that Abraham does not know that there will be an angel and a ram in the thicket at the end of that journey. We are each in the middle of our earthly path, and we don't know the rest of our own stories. But we, as Abraham, are blessed with miracles." Sister Susan W. Tanner
I know there will always be a miracle for me as long as I look, doubting and fearing not.
The Savior
Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. –Psalm 30:5
The Invitation … Seek
-Read the account of Mary Magdalene in John 20:1-18.
The Journey
-Examine your life. What is your greatest need?
-Sometime today find a way to seek the Lord. Find in Christ the answers you long for. Dare to reach a new level of understanding.
My Experience …
As I look back on my life over the past few months, I realize that I have had so many prayers answered. Reading this story of Mary Magdalene has brought some new understanding.
Mary was taught so much from the Savior. She knew who he was and loved him very much. When the Savior was not in the tomb after the third day, Mary was saddened that someone had removed His body. When she looked up into the tomb, Mary saw two angels who asked her why she was crying. Her answer was that someone had removed the body of her Savior and she didn’t know where it was. Then, as she turned, another person asked her why she was weeping. Mary, supposing the man to be a gardener, asked him where he removed the body to. Mary only recognized who the Savior was when he called her name.
I want to be like Mary. I want to recognize the voice of the Savior when he calls my name. I want to be comforted by the Savior as he speaks my name. I have been very blessed over the past couple of months. I have come to understand how my Savior speaks to me.
I have gone through some difficult trials. I have longed to understand the meaning of those trials. Many times I have asked, “why me, why now?” I don’t understand everything. I don’t understand the questions of why me, why now. What I do understand is that the Savior loves me. He answers my prayers. I don’t have to know everything. I don’t have to understand everything. All I need to remember is that I can hear my Savior’s voice. He loves me. That is all that really matters.
I would love to have not gone through some of my trials. I think most of us would say that. If I had to give up this feeling that I have now, I wouldn’t trade my trials for anything. Through my trials, I have come to know who the Savior is. I have come to know that I can hear and recognize my Savior’s voice. My heart is being healed more and more everyday. I feel happy and loved. I know that it is through my trial that I have come to know the Savior.
The Advocate
And there will I meet thee, and I will go before thee …
And there will I bless thee …
And thus I will do unto thee because this long time ye have cried unto me. –Ether 1:42-43
The Invitation … Understand Grace
-Read Ether 12 and look for the blessings.
The Journey
-Remember, grace comes after all you can do. Take time today to analyze a trying situation in your life. After you have done all that you can do, place it at the feet of the Lord. Keep a written record of the greater things and the unspeakable gifts that will come as He leads you to the promise.
My experience …
Ether 12:6 says, “And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.”
Over the past year I have come to understand this scripture. I was in a pretty dark place and finally decided that I could no longer do what I was doing on my own. I needed help. I needed to allow the Savior to carry me because I really did not have the strength to go on my own. This is where I had to hope that the Savior would do what He promised and lead me in the right direction. I also had to hope that the Savior loved me enough to want to do that. It was very scary for me. I had to have enough faith to trust the Lord and jump.
I did. I jumped. I prayed that the Lord would see me through this trial. He caught me. He carried me. He sustained me in my darkness. He gave me light and knowledge. He gave me strength. He walked by me when I felt recovered. He loved me when I didn’t love myself. He opened my eyes and changed my heart.
He still loves me. He still walks by me. He still answers my prayers and gives me guidance. I know my Savior lives. I know He cares about each of us. I know He loves me. I have received my witness and I doubt not.
The Fount of Every Blessing
Till thou hast paid the very last mite. –Luke 12:59
The Invitation … Give All
-Read the account of the rich young man in Mark 10:17-22 and the widow’s mite in Mark 12:41-44.
The Journey
-Think of someone you know who has given all in service to the Lord. What Lesson can you learn from that person? How can you be more like him or her?
-Commit today to give all you have in your service to the Lord. Choose one area where you feel you could give more. What changes will this require in your daily routines?
My Experience …
Mark 10:27 – “For with God all things are possible.” I love this scripture today. I love it because that is how I truly feel. I have worked very hard lately to overcome my past. I have had to learn to trust my Savior and my Heavenly Father. I have had to learn to trust the help that was sent to me. I have felt the strength rendered in my time of weakness. Now it is time to strengthen my brethren.
I have been given so much help that I often question how I will ever be able to repay the kindnesses given to me. The only way to repay those kindnesses is to pay it forward. I am going to try and give my all in repaying the acts of service I have received. For me, this will require learning to listen to the promptings of the spirit better. When I hear those promptings, it will require me acting on them. Sometimes I hear but I don’t really listen. I’m going to do better in this.
I have been so blessed on this recent journey. It hasn’t always been roses. It’s been hard work and a lot of emotions. Even with the hard work and emotions, I have been blessed. I hope that I can be a better person because of this and help those around me. I want to emulate my Savior. In my want, I want to give everything I have. I want to make this new me a life long journey.
