Embark brings the image of going on a journey, not just a day trip. Embarking on a ship is to leave all the things you know and go out to a unknown world. You have not control. You are dependent on the captain to take you where you are going. That is a little like our lives. Christ is our captain and he will steer our ships if we listen to his promptings. He doesn't ask for a half hearted effort. He asks for us to serve him with all our heart might mind and strength. We feel that a bit when we are on a mission. We leave the world behind and serve God 24 hours a day for 2 years. The saddest missionaries are those who did not give 100 percent and went home with regrets. We will never have a chance to live on this earth again in these physical bodies. What we do here now will determine our eternal destiny. This is a test to see if we will really serve God and choose his ways. Each day we make choices. Those choices have eternal conseqences. WE do not want to waste a minute doing things that do not matter. Life it too short. I am so proud of the lives you kids have led and the choices you make. Thanks for being our examples of truly living the gospel. WE are all here to cheer each other on. As Elder Holland said "Don't You ever give up. Don't You ever quit.
I would sure like to "stand blameless before God." On this very day that will not happen. But in this scripture is a key to how to make that happen....SERVICE. There is just no way we will get through this earth life without a few sins; even some serious ones. But God's plan is for us all to return to Him. Repentance puts us on that road back, but Service seems to be a magic ingredient to completing the repentance process. Serving God and our fellowmen keeps our focus outside ourselves. Serving others builds them and purifies us. I've got lots of serving to do if I am going to get to that blameless finish line.
My sister in law is preparing a talk she will give at their stake pioneer trek in a few weeks. She asked for suggestions on how to teach youth to love unconditionally. I suggested to her that they should do acts of service. Sometimes youth get self-centered (as we all do at times- I know I was like that back in the day) but then when we take a chance to stop and do something for someone else we take our focus off ourselves and find joy in helping ease someone else's burden. Sometimes when we embark in service it isn't by choice or with a willing heart, but in the end the results are usually the same. We are the ones who end up feeling more blessed, strengthened and helped. It's a humbling thing to realize you were the Lord's hands helping someone in his behalf- even if only temporarily.
As I have reflected on this scripture I remember sharing this section a lot as a missionary and it is a very important scripture as missionaries and we need to stand blameless for God in all we do and say ! Those are my thoughts on this scripture this week ! Mariah Sparrow
This past week as I went to my training for seminary and institute teachers, Brother Grant Anderson made this point. "Where in the D&C do you see the phrase missionary work? It's no where to be found. If you think D&C 4 is only about missionary work, your missing message of the Lord for you in your life."
That got me thinking a lot more. "O ye mothers, fathers, Nursery leaders, and so forth...serve him with all your heart, might, mind, and strength." It is only when we give our heart can we truly be ready to serve with our might, mind, and strength.
Embark brings the image of going on a journey, not just a day trip. Embarking on a ship is to leave all the things you know and go out to a unknown world. You have not control. You are dependent on the captain to take you where you are going. That is a little like our lives. Christ is our captain and he will steer our ships if we listen to his promptings. He doesn't ask for a half hearted effort. He asks for us to serve him with all our heart might mind and strength. We feel that a bit when we are on a mission. We leave the world behind and serve God 24 hours a day for 2 years. The saddest missionaries are those who did not give 100 percent and went home with regrets. We will never have a chance to live on this earth again in these physical bodies. What we do here now will determine our eternal destiny. This is a test to see if we will really serve God and choose his ways. Each day we make choices. Those choices have eternal conseqences. WE do not want to waste a minute doing things that do not matter. Life it too short. I am so proud of the lives you kids have led and the choices you make. Thanks for being our examples of truly living the gospel. WE are all here to cheer each other on. As Elder Holland said "Don't You ever give up. Don't You ever quit.
ReplyDeleteI would sure like to "stand blameless before God." On this very day that will not happen. But in this scripture is a key to how to make that happen....SERVICE. There is just no way we will get through this earth life without a few sins; even some serious ones. But God's plan is for us all to return to Him. Repentance puts us on that road back, but Service seems to be a magic ingredient to completing the repentance process. Serving God and our fellowmen keeps our focus outside ourselves. Serving others builds them and purifies us. I've got lots of serving to do if I am going to get to that blameless finish line.
ReplyDeleteMy sister in law is preparing a talk she will give at their stake pioneer trek in a few weeks. She asked for suggestions on how to teach youth to love unconditionally. I suggested to her that they should do acts of service. Sometimes youth get self-centered (as we all do at times- I know I was like that back in the day) but then when we take a chance to stop and do something for someone else we take our focus off ourselves and find joy in helping ease someone else's burden. Sometimes when we embark in service it isn't by choice or with a willing heart, but in the end the results are usually the same. We are the ones who end up feeling more blessed, strengthened and helped. It's a humbling thing to realize you were the Lord's hands helping someone in his behalf- even if only temporarily.
ReplyDeleteAs I have reflected on this scripture I remember sharing this section a lot as a missionary and it is a very important scripture as missionaries and we need to stand blameless for God in all we do and say ! Those are my thoughts on this scripture this week ! Mariah Sparrow
ReplyDeleteThis past week as I went to my training for seminary and institute teachers, Brother Grant Anderson made this point. "Where in the D&C do you see the phrase missionary work? It's no where to be found. If you think D&C 4 is only about missionary work, your missing message of the Lord for you in your life."
ReplyDeleteThat got me thinking a lot more. "O ye mothers, fathers, Nursery leaders, and so forth...serve him with all your heart, might, mind, and strength." It is only when we give our heart can we truly be ready to serve with our might, mind, and strength.