Keeping watch.

Sleeping is a great past time. There is nothing like sleeping the hours of night away and waking in the morning refreshed and ready for the day. While sleeping, our minds are free to relax and renew. Slumber sets our bodies strait again.

Soldiers on a battle field or behind enemy lines need to sleep too. The problem is that when they sleep they are in more danger. This is why there is always a watch or guard setup to warn of incoming dangers. Without a watch, enemies of the soldiers can enter the camp and wreck havoc on them. The armies of the world always have a watch for warning and protection.

We are taught a similar type of "watch" in the scriptures. In Mark 14:38 Jesus teaches us to "Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation". Much like soldiers, we need to watch so we don't fall into spiritual dangers. These dangers can come in any forms such as temptations, addictions, thought and actions. If we fail to keep watch something harmful to our spiritual growth may creep in and make it harder to progress and grow.

Unlike the soldiers, we are responsible for our own watches. We cant rely on others to do it for us. This makes it that much harder and important to fortify ourselves spiritually. We have to remain watchful at all times and in all places so we don't fall. Being watchful allows us prevent bad influences from coming into our lives.

In vs. 37 of Mark 14, Jesus came to find his disciples asleep, He woke them and asked "couldest not thou watch one hour?"  Keeping watch is hard, it can be boring, trying, or just down right uncomfortable. It is easy to let our guard down and fall asleep. It takes work and effort to maintain a watch. The rewards however are worth it.

How do we watch for the temptations of the world? What can we do to guard ourselves? Jesus told us, He said "Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation". Prayer is how we protect from the temptations all around us. We need to pray and ask for help and guidance. This combined with watchfulness will keep us safe.

Here is a question I find myself asking. "Do I sleep when I should be watching?"

Monkey Traps

This week in my scripture readings I came across Luke 21:35 in which Jesus says, “a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.”

What is a snare? According to Google, a snare is “a trap for catching birds or animals, typically one having a noose of wire or cord, or a thing likely to lure or tempt someone into harm or error." A snare or trap is generally something to avoid as they are dangerous or lead to danger. What are the kind of snares Jesus is talking about? What are the snares that bring spiritual danger? How do we avoid or get out of these snares? These are some of the questions I hope to be able to answer as I share what I have learned this week.

Snares in a physical sense trap our bodies and prevent freedom of movement. On the other hand, Spiritual snares trap our spirituality and prevent the freedom of choice. Freedom of choice is taken from us through bad habits, addictions, and choices. These things, especially addictions prevent us from freely choosing an alternative action, one that will allow us to be spiritually happy.

A good illustration of this principle is a monkey trap. The trap works by cutting a monkey hand sized hole into a box. The box is then staked to the ground and made immovable. In the box is placed some kind of monkey treat; banana, nut, or other. When a monkey clutches the treat, it’s fist becomes to large for the hole. The monkey is unwilling to relinquish its prize and thus becomes trapped and ready for capture.

(Image Source)

This example is easy to understand. When we reach out and hold on to temptations we become trapped. We can no longer feel the Holy Ghost. It becomes harder to live righteously and be a good influence for others. The only way to gain freedom and get released from the snare is to let go. Repentance is the best way to let go. Through the repentance process we promise to let go of our sins and not pick them up anymore. This way we literally let go of the thing that is keeping us trapped.

This week I have been looking for the snares in my life and figuring out what I need to do to free myself. What kinds of activities are keeping me trapped and unable to be truly happy? By finding these monkey traps in my life I will be able to more fully enjoy life and have the freedom of choice.

I encourage you to look for potential monkey traps and avoid them.

"But whoso shall offend one of these little ones..."

I am taking a New Testament class as part of my schooling. This week I read Matt 18:6 In which Jesus tells his disciples: "But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea".  The Greek word for "offense" is skandalon, its meaning is boiled down to a "stumbling block". (More on the Greek word can be found here). This verse got me thinking about my children and how I treat them. What offenses or "stumbling blocks" do I place in my children's way? Does my example help my children follow the path of righteousness?

My goal for this semester is to better express love to my children by word and deed. I am not perfect. I run out of patience and end up yelling and grumpy, or unpleasant to be around. This is a habit I want to replace with love and kindness. I want to treat my children as Jesus treated those He served and taught.

I came across a message by President Gordon B. Hinkley, (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints). I feel this is a message meant for me to find. I would like to share some thought Pres. Hinkley had on children.

 “If you are worried about the future, then look to the upbringing of your children.”

Children are a blessing from God. He has entrusted their safety to Earthly parents. We are to take care of, teach, and provide both spiritually and physically for their needs. As we raise our children we ca strive to teach them the difference between right and wrong and how to show love, kindness, and respect. These attributes will help them live a happy life and make correct choices which can shape the future.  

President Hinkley also shared this wonderful thought from E.T. Sullivan about how God gets things done.

“When God wants a great work done in the world or a great wrong righted, he goes about it in a very unusual way. He doesn’t stir up his earthquakes or send forth his thunderbolts. Instead, he has a helpless baby born, perhaps in a simple home of some obscure mother. And then God puts the idea into the mother’s heart, and she puts it into the baby’s mind. And then God waits. The greatest forces in the world are not the earthquakes and the thunderbolts. The greatest forces in the world are babies” (quoted in The Treasure Chest, ed. Charles L. Wallis [1965], 53).

“And those babies, I should like to add, will become forces for good or ill, depending in large measure on how they are reared.”

President Hinkley said “If I may be pardoned for suggesting the obvious, I do so only because the obvious is not observed in so many instances. The obvious includes four imperatives with reference to children: love them, teach them, respect them, pray with them and for them.”

I think these are the simplest ways to help our children.

One last thing from Pres. Hinkley: “Do you want a spirit of love to grow in the world? Then begin within the walls of your own home. Behold your little ones and see within them the wonders of God, from whose presence they have recently come.”    Read the talk here!

So how does this all tie in to not causing our children to stumble?  This week I have been considering what my example is teaching my children. Are the things I am doing a stumbling block for my little ones? Will my example teach them ways to live that will make life even more difficult? Do my words and habits invite or repel a love of the Savior and His teachings? These are some of the questions I need to keep asking myself every week.

My actions speak louder than my words. Children understand and see much more from our actions than they do from our words. If our actions and words don't line up they will see that we don't believe what we are saying. 

When I lose my patience with a child it may be seen by all my children. This is not a good way to teach the children I have been entrusted with. I have learned that my actions, words, and even habits can be stumbling blocks place before my children.

I would invite you to ask yourself the same questions I have been considering this week. What actions, words, or habits are your children learning from you? What possible stumbling blocks are you placing before your children? What corrections can you make?

“What went ye out for to see?”

I have been taking a New Testament class for school. I have learned some things I have never thought of before. I would like to share one of those nuggets here.

Phrases are often repeated in the scriptures to emphasize importance. One phrase stuck out to me this week. In Matt 11:7-9, Jesus repeated the question “What went ye out for to see?” 3 times when asking the multitude why they sought after John the Baptist.  He was asking why the people went to see The Baptist. was it for curiosity, truth, or even knowledge.This question stuck a little. Why did Jesus repeat this particular phrase? What is its significance to me?

After sometime pondering a thought was put into my mind; why do I go to church?What do I expect from my attendance? I took the time to ponder this question. I was just given a nugget of a truth. A truth that could change the way I perceive my actions.

When you dig down into the question “What went ye out for to see?”, it means why did you go? What do you expect to find? What do you want to learn from a particular situation? If situations are looked at with these questions in mind, activities can be more enriching. Growth can occur at a faster pace.

When thinking about what I want to get out of activities like church attendance, I start to focus on what I want to learn from my lessons or the talks that are given. How can I apply the principles or doctrines, of the gospel in life?  Pondering the deeper meanings of talks, or the reasons for different activities will help me develop a deeper understanding of gospel topics.

This question Jesus asked can be applied to any situation we find ourselves in. Why are we doing this activity? What do I want to learn? Why am I here? When these questions are asked with a sincere heart great knowledge and truths will come.

I encourage you to ask yourself “What went ye out for to see?” and find the deeper meanings your life.

Enduring to the end.

This week I feel I need to share an experience I had. Lately I have begun to feel weighed down by all the things on my mind. things that may seem small but for me they cause conflict and uncertainty in this head of mine. Here are most of the items I was thinking about this week in no particular order; Showing my children I love them, struggling with math, Needing to finish my book report for school, Political decisions I need to make, The state of the country and world affairs, Figuring out what I need to do with my life in regards to a career path and employment.

I was listening to my scriptures , I say listening but I ended up in deep thought. As I found myself getting sucked down into feeling miserable about all the above I felt and even heard a voice say to me "endure to the end". Now this may seem a little unusual for the timing but this was the forth time I heard this phrase in the last few weeks. One was from a fellow student. One was from my math instructor. I read that phrase in this weeks scripture block. I heard it the other morning.

Friday came and I thought to get caught up on some of my religion class work. I had some video segments to watch that went with this weeks lesson. I listened to them while driving between stops. One of those videos brought the Spirit into my heart very strongly. I would like to share that with you.

As I first listened to this video I heard President Eyring mention that while we have challenges in this life it is important for us to endure to the end. I needed to hear that again. Life gets challenging and while no two people have the exact same challenge, it is how we react to said challenges that make up who we are. As the video states, we all have "Mountains to climb".

If I may, (and I may because it is my blog), I would like to quote from a song that I think helps illustrate this idea as well.With a small twist and a little imagination I think this song has some eternal truths in it. It is from the song "The Climb" by Miley Cirus:

There's always gonna be another mountain

I'm always gonna wanna make it move

Always gonna be an uphill battle

Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there

Ain't about what's waitin' on the other side

It's the climb

The struggles I'm facing

The chances I'm taking

Sometimes might knock me down,

But no, I'm not breaking

I may not know it,

But these are the moments

That I'm gonna remember most, yeah

Just gotta keep goin',

And I, I gotta be strong

Just keep pushing on,

Here is a link to the video: Miley Cirus,The Climb. give it a try and see what you think.

So I would like to encourage all to "Endure to the End". Our journey here is but a short time and we should be making the most of it, and learning all we can.

Showing greater love for our children

It has come to my attention that I need to work on something. Something that I have not been the best at. Sure I do it in a roundabout general way. I work, I bring home the bacon so-to-speak, I do the best I can to make sure things are taken care of. What could I possibly be missing? What in the grand scheme of life is there to do?

In life we are given many duties and responsibilities. We have jobs, callings, volunteer efforts, civic duties, and what ever crops up to interrupt those things. There is one thing that trumps all. What is it, you may find yourself asking? I'm getting there.

One of the most important things in this life is our families, more importantly our relationship with our families. Fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, grandparents, second cousins twice removed; all these are important and have meaning in our lives. They can help us grow into who we are.  In times of difficulty they can offer support and love. For some there is a special select family group that is the ultimate in life... I am finally talking about immediate family: father, mother, son, daughter. This group should be the goal and center of every person's life. (I understand that it may not happen for everyone. If that is the case then you begin by strengthening your relationship with your extended family.)

I have a large family with 9 children between my wife and I, (sometimes quite literally).
One of the things I have come to realize recently is that I don't show my children that I love them enough. I tell them at bedtimes... that is not enough for the children. They deserve to hear their father say those three great words "I love you" much more often. It is a very important phrase containing more than an idea. When the words "I love you" are spoken with meaning they convey a sense of being, a promise of acceptance, and teach that love is an important part of life. I realized some of these things earlier last week when I was thinking about my progress in being cheerful. I came to the conclusion that I was doing pretty good at having a cheery disposition. What should I work on next? That's when it came to me, I need to express by both word and deed my love for my children, let them know that I am there for them, that I do love them,

I even set some goals to help me.

• I will start listening more carefully to what my children are trying to tell me about their day.
• I will make sure to tell them "I love you" multiple times a day.
• I will put my phone down more than just sitting there within easy reach (distraction much?).

My children are very important to me. I know they are here to learn from their parents, but they are also here to teach Mom and Dad about love and how to share it.

So here is a challenge for you. Make sure you don't forget to tell your loved ones that you love them. Spend time with them and help them feel your love.

Scripture study

This week's "something that needs to get out" post.

Life has a tendency to get busy. So busy in fact that we forget the little things and worry about the big things that need to get done, like work, transportation, grocery shopping, what to wear to work, how to spend time with the family in all the busyness, and what people think about you. But what about the things that affect how we feel, or what motivates us? I'm talking about something that can uplift us, help us to have hope, give us encouragement. I'm talking about daily scripture study.

I have learned in the past several weeks the power of this daily action. I have been doing an online school through the Pathway Program through my Church, (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints). In this program we study an academic and a religious course each semester. We are given the assignment to read and study in our scriptures daily.  I wanted to get into my scriptures and learn to love them, I was excited to get started. After the first few weeks I started to just get it done.This activity became a kind of a "must accomplish" thing. It wasn't as fulfilling as I knew it could be.

So what changed this week? Well over the last few weeks I was making a real effort to read and learn. This week I made double the effort, I read in the morning and then listened while I drove for work. This created a better learning atmosphere. I felt better too. I was able to keep a good attitude despite some difficult situations at work. I also had a better time at home with my family. 

Daily scripture study allows us to learn, from the scriptures, what God wants us to know in order to make it through this life and return to Him. Daily scripture study also allows us to be taught, by the Holy Spirit, those things which are of a spiritual nature that we may not have known before hand.

When we read the scriptures we open our hearts and minds to the influence of the Holy Spirit.

I have had a good week because I have done a better job at reading and studying daily. I encourage all to do the same and see if it works for you.