He Reaches My Reaching

Have you ever pondered the part in the song "Where Can I Turn for Peace?", where it states "Reaches My Reaching"? A few weeks ago in my studies, a commentary brought up this song and mentioned that the Savior isn't just reaching down to help us, but that we need to be reaching as well. 


Most of us have see this picture and feel the relief knowing that our Savior will help us when we need it. But my new awareness for this picture is that WE are reaching as well, better yet, we need to be reaching FIRST.




Then I ran across this article "When You Reach for the Sacrament, You Reach for the Savior". How do we approach the sacrament? Are we preparing ourselves each Sunday before our Sacrament meetings?

There are stories in the scriptures where people were blessed because they had faith in reaching, like the woman that reached to touch Jesus's robe, Peter reaching for the Savior on the water, and many others.

So, are we just holding out our hand, or are we REACHING, stretching, with all our might? Are we reaching with our hearts, mind and will? Reaching is an action verb. We can't expect to just sit back and wait for the blessings and knowledge to come to us.

It's time to...

He Came Back for Us!

A few weeks ago, one of my classmates posted the following:

Ellie Bake: "He Came Back for Us!"
"The part that stood out to me most this week was the fact that Christ died for all of us, but that when Christ died, he did not leave his apostles, family, friends or any of us alone. Towards the end of Luke 24, Christ appears to his apostles. He explains that he has come back from the dead in peace. He had come to explain that he died so that all could repent and receive a mission on their sins. He teaches them the things that they should teach the people and then blesses them and leaves with power from on high and the gift of the Holy Ghost."

She goes on to say; "I love this. I love that he loves us so much that he came back to give his last instructions to help us. He loves us so much that he wanted to be sure that we would be okay without him. He loves us so much that he taught about the Holy Ghost which could always help us. I just love how perfect of a plan Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ had for US. To help us."

This post made me think of when Doran and I used to run together. He is faster than I am so when we run, he would run ahead and then COME BACK FOR ME, time and time again. He put more miles in that I did just doing this several times until we were done with our route.

The Savior does the same thing! He really did come back for us and He still does. He is constantly giving us comfort, guidance, encouragement and He will do so until we have finished our "route" here on the earth.

Angels Will Bear You Up

D&C 84:88 And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.

1.     Acts 1:14 “These All Continued with One Accord”

Acts 2:44-45 “All Things Common”

Acts 15:6 “Counsels Seek Revelation from God”

I think these all work together. I love these Principles. Being one, working together and counseling together. I love when our ward families come together in unity for a cause. I see how important this principle is in a family and especially in a marriage. And yes, it does take sacrifice and love from all of us. I have seen our ward work hard on this concept over the past couple of years. We have always been a close ward, but his past year has brought many trials to a lot of families. We have prayed together, worked together, and served together to help ease and lighten the burdens that we all carry. I also believe that sometimes we need to set our pride aside or wanting things done our way, in order to fulfill the revelation God wants for all of us as a whole, no matter the level of council we are in (home, church, community).

2.     Acts 2:40-41 “Save Yourselves from This Untoward Generation”

Sometimes we must make changes in our lives that includes changing friends and possibly losing family members. But we must cling to the Savior and His teachings. By living the commandments and serving our Savior, we will receive many blessings and possibly be an example to others and bring others to Christ as well. When Doran and I started on our “conversion”, we had to make many sacrifices that were hard. But looking back, we have had even more blessings than the things we had to sacrifice.

3.     Acts 3:6-8 “Lifted Him Up”

Act 10:30-33 “Cornelius’s Prayer Answered through Peter”

Acts 16:4-10 “The Spirit Led Paul to Europe”

This made me think of ministering. Whether it be in the ward, your community or your family. Just asking someone “What can we do” is not enough. We can help where we see needs. We also need to be willing to let people help us when they feel inspired to do so. I am listening to “Insight from a Prophet’s Life: Russel M. Nelson” and in it he repeats the following to many people, even those of high office in other countries; “How can we help?” There have been many miracles come about by this statement.

Doran and I have had many experiences after we would pray at the beginning of our day or an activity and ask that we be led to someone who needs our help. I believe that we are Heavenly Father’s hands and that we need to consciously look for opportunities. We always need to have a prayer in our heart and be willing to follow the Spirit and heed promptings. We may be the answer to someone’s prayers.

4.     Acts 1:3 “Infallible Proofs”

Acts 7:52-53 “Received the Law by the disposition of Angels”

I have always thought that our “angel” experiences should remain sacred and not shared much. However, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland has said, “I believe we need to speak of and believe in and bear testimony of angels more than we sometimes do.” I have had a couple of experiences that have calmed my soul and one even saved my life. I pray that if I ever falter in my testimony, I can remember the witness and experiences that I have had and hang on to those beliefs. I am glad that I wrote one of them down. I guess it is time I record the others.