“Wist Father”

“Wist Father”

 

cji

8/1/15

 

So much to discern

but most important

Father’s will to wist

going forth with light

seeing through fogs

caring and sharing

light and truth to all

via wisting Father

ours to discern!

 

Copyright © 2015 – cji

Home Teaching August 2015

FIRST PRESIDENCY MESSAGE

Stand as a Light

By President Thomas S. Monson

I have had the privilege of attending many cultural celebrations held in conjunction with temple dedications. I have loved all of them, including the most recent one I attended in Phoenix, Arizona, USA, last November.

Latter-day Saint youth who participate in cultural celebrations put on marvelous, memorable programs. Last year in Phoenix, just prior to the celebration, I told the participants, “You are children of light.”

I would like all of the youth of the Church to know that they are children of light. As such, they have a responsibility to be “as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:15). They have a duty to share the truths of the gospel. They have a calling to stand as a temple beacon, reflecting gospel light to an increasingly dark world. They have a charge to keep their light aflame and burning brightly.

In order for us to be “an example of the believers” (1 Timothy 4:12), we ourselves must believe. We must develop the faith necessary to survive spiritually and to project a light for others. We must nurture our testimony until it becomes an anchor to our lives.

Among the most effective ways to gain and keep the faith we need today is to read and study the scriptures and to pray frequently and consistently. To the youth of the Church, I say, if you haven’t done so, develop now a habit of daily scripture study and prayer. Without these two essential practices, outside influences and the sometimes-harsh realities of life can dim or even extinguish your light.

The teenage years are not easy. They are prime years when Satan will tempt you and do his utmost to entice you from the path which will lead you back to your heavenly home. But as you read and pray and as you serve and obey, you will come to know better “the light which shineth in darkness” (D&C 6:21), our Exemplar and our strength—even the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Light we are to hold up to dispel the gathering darkness (see 3 Nephi 18:24).

With a strong testimony of the Savior and His restored gospel, you have limitless opportunities to shine. They surround you each day, in whatever circumstances you find yourselves. As you follow the example of the Savior, yours will be the opportunity to be a light, as it were, in the lives of those around you—whether they be members of your own family, classmates, co-workers, mere acquaintances, or total strangers.

When you are a light to the world, people around you will feel a special spirit that will make them want to associate with you and follow your example.

I plead with parents and leaders of our youth to help them stand firm for truth and righteousness. Help open wide to their view the gates of learning, of understanding, and of service in the kingdom of God. Build within them strength to resist the temptations of the world. Give them the will to walk in virtue and faith, to be prayerful, and to look to heaven as their constant anchor.

To our youth, I say, our Heavenly Father loves you. May you feel also the love which Church leaders have for you. May you ever have a desire to serve your Heavenly Father and His Son. And may you always walk in truth and stand as a light among God’s children.

Teaching from This Message

Consider discussing with those you teach what it means to be a “[child] of light.” What responsibilities does it entail? You could discuss times when their light has been particularly bright and what made it bright. Consider asking them to think of a specific person, such as a youth, a co-worker, or a member of their family, who may be in need of light. Then you could pray together about a way to share light with that person.

 

“As a Light Beams”

 

cji

8/1/15

 

Many are as a lighthouse

shining in 360 degrees

always repeating circle

time and again recognized

each to be unique alone

sheltering a shore or reef

guiding light on the sea

giving both individual time

and attention while to all

always the brightest

in each degree of time

as a light beams so we

as the light of our Savior

becoming his lighthouses!

 

Copyright © 2015 – cji

Visiting Teaching Message August 2015

Divine Attributes of Jesus Christ—Meek and Humble

Prayerfully study this material and seek to know what to share. How will understanding the life and roles of the Savior increase your faith in Him and bless those you watch over through visiting teaching? For more information, go to reliefsociety.lds.org.

This is part of a series of Visiting Teaching Messages featuring divine attributes of the Savior.

Jesus said, “He that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth” (Luke 22:26–27).

“The Savior is our supreme example of the power of humility and submissiveness. After all, His submitting His will to the Father brought about the greatest, and even the most powerful, event in all of history. Perhaps some of the most sacred words in all the scriptures are simply, ‘Not my will, but thine, be done’ (Luke 22:42).”1

As disciples of Jesus Christ, we always seek to be like Him. “Meekness is vital for us to become more Christlike,” said Elder Ulisses Soares of the Seventy. Without it we won’t be able to develop other important virtues. Being meek does not mean weakness, but it does mean behaving with goodness and kindness, showing strength, serenity, healthy self-worth, and self-control.”2 As we work to develop this attribute, we will find that “humbly submitting our will to the Father brings us the empowerment of God—the power of humility. It is the power to meet life’s adversities, the power of peace, the power of hope, the power of a heart throbbing with a love for and testimony of the Savior Jesus Christ, even the power of redemption.”3

Additional Scriptures

Matthew 26:39; John 5:30; Mosiah 3:19; Helaman 3:35

From the Scriptures

One of the sweetest and most powerful moments of Christ’s ministry was when He washed the feet of His disciples. “He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded” (John 13:4–5).

As the Savior introduced this ordinance, the disciples may have been overwhelmed that their Lord and Master knelt before them and performed so meek a service. Jesus then explained the lessons He wanted them and all of us to learn:

“If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.

“For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you” (John 13:14–15).

Consider This

How can having humility help us love as the Savior did?

 

“Kneeling on the Floor”

 

cji

8/1/15

 

Washing first one’s feet

then moving to the next

serving where called

each tasked within mission

going and doing as said

without mumbling/sorrow

with a joyful heart full

first kneeling on the floor

humble and meek prayer

washing feet as tasked!

 

Copyright © 2015 – cji

“Storm Helm”

“Storm Helm”

 

cji

7/31/15

 

Lifelines rigged securely

raging the black night

setting the storm anchor

lashing the helm firm

battered by the waves

sea foam excluding view

crashing and topsy-turvy

the night long and hard

cold to the bone chilled

raging the black storm

our storm helm secure!

 

Copyright © 2015 – cji

"Choosing to be (offended)"

Gun Shop Owner refusing to sell guns to Muslims (Muslims Offended)!

 

The Council on American-Islamic Relations has already reacted to Hallinan’s new policies by asking the U.S. Justice Department whether Hallinan is violating the civil rights of Muslims by refusing to serve them on the basis of their religion.

Hallinan, however, insists that he has the right to “deny service to anyone for any reason.” He also said that he would ask potential customers if they are Muslim.

Hallinan’s posted video has been seen more than 34,000 times (H/T The Blaze). Obviously, people believe discrimination in the name of survival is justified.

The truth is when we have an avowed enemy who is working towards out destruction then it makes sense to do what we can do protect ourselves.

Back during the second World War the nation prevented both Germans and Japanese from emigrating to the U.S. And since the government is going to continue to allow Muslims into the country then it makes sense for private business owners to control who they sell their wares too.

Some activists will say this is unfair.

But hey, the power of the market will weed out these business owners if their decision is ill-advised, so they should be allowed to do what they want, don’t you agree?

“Choosing to be so (Offended)”

 

cji

7/30/15

 

All my life I’ve practiced and taught

 one chooses to be so offended

and therefore the burden is theirs

to be politically correct is ignorance

and in being so is very disturbing

but not to be considered offensive

for those who know and understand

ignorance destroyed nations before

and when some choose to do it here

then we’ve recourses to take to protect

choosing to be offended is not one

while those who scream in shame

crying racism and even worse

to those conservative in freedom

defending the Constitution as written

calling potus for what he is and does

anyone can be offended if they desire

for only one reason alone can they be

when their integrity is attacked with lies

then one can stand up and take action

choosing to defend and not offended!

 

 

Copyright © 2015 – cji

“Git Up…Wake Up!”

“Git Up…Wake Up!”

 

cji

7/30/15

 

The squirrels are wild about

birds are singing quite gaily

coming to each of us today

‘git up…wake up!’ prodding

thus to motivate us to hear

the whisperings of Father

joy and happiness for all

life’s abundance to renew

only for those found doing

service and a full measure

blessings provided earned

each of us today to awaken

squirrels and birds remind!

 

Copyright © 2015 – cji

“It Wasn’t Much”

“It Wasn’t Much”

 

cji

7/28/15

 

This inch worm hanging there

clingingly in the force winds

caught my attention for hours

just watching and pondering;

 

Then catching sight of a frog

clinging to the window pane

rain flowing all around about

just watching and wondering;

 

Quickly drawn to the sky above

the osprey flying over my head

dipping and rising in the breeze

just watching and contemplating;

 

It wasn’t much of a day today

like so many others filled in awe

inch worm, frog and osprey seen

just another wonder filled day!

 

 

Copyright © 2015 – cji

“Phototaxis 2”

“Phototaxis 2”

 

cji

7/27/15

 

Towards or away to go

one would think this easy

going into the darkness

fully aware of the danger

or towards light of safety

yet daily indecisions had

whether to choose wisely

right or wrong/good-evil

too many wait too long

tempted beyond will

grasping the immediate

as in their phototaxis

going away from light!

 

Copyright © 2015 – cji

“This Sunday Read This”

 

 

 

One must read the following – false churches are anything which takes and gives not to the LORD! Therefore we’ve to understand all of the Prophets of God that there will be mass destructions in a wicked world – which have occurred in the past and will continue until the 2^nd Coming when the Savior comes once more to rule on this earth. He and His Father returned in the Spring of 1820 to begin the last dispensation of the fullness of times – but again most of the world have simply ignored it – or spent much of their resources in denying, shaming or otherwise discrediting this restoration of the Kingdom of God. Much of what one reads below says it quite plainly. Until all have had the opportunity to hear (whether they accept or not) the final instant will not occur however, much destruction will occur.

 

 

 

 

The Second Book of Nephi Chapter 28  (see also Jer. 23:21-32)

Many false churches will be built up in the last days—They will teach false, vain, and foolish doctrines—Apostasy will abound because of false teachers—The devil will rage in the hearts of men—He will teach all manner of false doctrines. About 559–545 B.C.

 1 And now, behold, my brethren, I have spoken unto you, according as the Spirit hath constrained me; wherefore, I know that they must surely come to pass.

 2 And the things which shall be written out of the book shall be of great worth unto the children of men, and especially unto our seed, which is a remnant of the house of Israel.

 3 For it shall come to pass in that day that the churches which are built up, and not unto the Lord, when the one shall say unto the other: Behold, I, I am the Lord’s; and the others shall say: I, I am the Lord’s; and thus shall every one say that hath built up churches, and not unto the Lord—

 4 And they shall contend one with another; and their priests shall contend one with another, and they shall teach with their learning, and deny the Holy Ghost, which giveth utterance.

 5 And they deny the power of God, the Holy One of Israel; and they say unto the people: Hearken unto us, and hear ye our precept; for behold there is no God today, for the Lord and the Redeemer hath done his work, and he hath given his power unto men;

 6 Behold, hearken ye unto my precept; if they shall say there is a miracle wrought by the hand of the Lord, believe it not; for this day he is not a God of miracles; he hath done his work.

 7 Yea, and there shall be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die; and it shall be well with us.

 8 And there shall also be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry; nevertheless, fear God—he will justify in committing a little sin; yea, lie a little, take the advantage of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this; and do all these things, for tomorrow we die; and if it so be that we are guilty, God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God.

 9 Yea, and there shall be many which shall teach after this manner, false and vain and foolish doctrines, and shall be puffed up in their hearts, and shall seek deep to hide their counsels from the Lord; and their works shall be in the dark.

 10 And the blood of the saints shall cry from the ground against them.

 11 Yea, they have all gone out of the way; they have become corrupted.

 12 Because of pride, and because of false teachers, and false doctrine, their churches have become corrupted, and their churches are lifted up; because of pride they are puffed up.

 13 They rob the poor because of their fine sanctuaries; they rob the poor because of their fine clothing; and they persecute the meek and the poor in heart, because in their pride they are puffed up.

 14 They wear stiff necks and high heads; yea, and because of pride, and wickedness, and abominations, and whoredoms, they have all gone astray save it be a few, who are the humble followers of Christ; nevertheless, they are led, that in many instances they do err because they are taught by the precepts of men.

 15 O the wise, and the learned, and the rich, that are puffed up in the pride of their hearts, and all those who preach false doctrines, and all those who commit whoredoms, and pervert the right way of the Lord, wo, wo, wo be unto them, saith the Lord God Almighty, for they shall be thrust down to hell!

 16 Wo unto them that turn aside the just for a thing of naught and revile against that which is good, and say that it is of no worth! For the day shall come that the Lord God will speedily visit the inhabitants of the earth; and in that day that they are fully ripe in iniquity they shall perish.

 17 But behold, if the inhabitants of the earth shall repent of their wickedness and abominations they shall not be destroyed, saith the Lord of Hosts.

 18 But behold, that great and abominable church, the whore of all the earth, must tumble to the earth, and great must be the fall thereof.

 19 For the kingdom of the devil must shake, and they which belong to it must needs be stirred up unto repentance, or the devil will grasp them with his everlasting chains, and they be stirred up to anger, and perish;

 20 For behold, at that day shall he rage in the hearts of the children of men, and stir them up to anger against that which is good.

 21 And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well—and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell.

 22 And behold, others he flattereth away, and telleth them there is no hell; and he saith unto them: I am no devil, for there is none—and thus he whispereth in their ears, until he grasps them with his awful chains, from whence there is no deliverance.

 23 Yea, they are grasped with death, and hell; and death, and hell, and the devil, and all that have been seized therewith must stand before the throne of God, and be judged according to their works, from whence they must go into the place prepared for them, even a lake of fire and brimstone, which is endless torment.

 24 Therefore, wo be unto him that is at ease in Zion!

 25 Wo be unto him that crieth: All is well!

 26 Yea, wo be unto him that hearkeneth unto the precepts of men, and denieth the power of God, and the gift of the Holy Ghost!

 27 Yea, wo be unto him that saith: We have received, and we need no more!

 28 And in fine, wo unto all those who tremble, and are angry because of the truth of God! For behold, he that is built upon the rock receiveth it with gladness; and he that is built upon a sandy foundation trembleth lest he shall fall.

 29 Wo be unto him that shall say: We have received the word of God, and we need no more of the word of God, for we have enough!

 30 For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have.

 31 Cursed is he that putteth his trust in man, or maketh flesh his arm, or shall hearken unto the precepts of men, save their precepts shall be given by the power of the Holy Ghost.

 32 Wo be unto the Gentiles, saith the Lord God of Hosts! For notwithstanding I shall lengthen out mine arm unto them from day to day, they will deny me; nevertheless, I will be merciful unto them, saith the Lord God, if they will repent and come unto me; for mine arm is lengthened out all the day long, saith the Lord God of Hosts.

 

One has to do their own homework – paying another has no attitude adjustment other than to encourage the one being paid to enhance their own position – i.e. the philosophy of men/women which justifies denying the Christ being alive – The Father being separate from the Son – that they have physical bodies of flesh and bone – have appeared to men/women – that there are still miracles – and unlike the cries from the wilderness of the worldly – God is alive and quite well – and not dead.

 

However, the moral decadence which has overtaken our world (the US) and the whole world will only continue to get worse – it has to – because as the righteous accelerate towards Zion (in very few numbers) so the unrighteous accelerate towards Babylon. There are only two roads – two choices – and Satan has or is releasing all of his vemon on the world today to keep the truth of the Scriptures hidden, mysterious or otherwise gift wrapped in the justification of the worldly – false teachers and most of the academic clergy who teach the hatred of contention, confusion, and worse the denial of the literal truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

Oh so much I could write or explain – but to what avail? However, I’ll continue – as without it being said, written or otherwise communicated some will continue to have an excuse where none exist.

 

Hugs my friends – you know I love you – and if what I’ve written or said to be communicated is true – which I know it to be – you’d be very upset with me if I didn’t share it with you – c/ork

 

“This Sunday Read This”

 

cji

7/26/15

 

Written 2600 years ago

a Prophet of God saw

our day and our world

(Isaiah as well wrote this)

2 Nephi Chapter 28

so much wickedness

the world enveloped

from simple lies/deceits

massive moral declines

world earthquakes abound

weather and nature rebel

crying for justice for all

having felt the abuses

experienced the warfare

sheltered the poor/meek

buried the dead of all

this Sunday read this

understand accountability

remain in your comfort zone

realizing that God lives

and all will be accountable

responsible for their choices

regardless of who they follow

or worse allow to lead them

whether now or 2600 years ago!

 

Copyright © 2015 – cji