Loaves and Fishes

I love the example in the New Testament of the miracle of the loaves and the fishes and the symbolism it has in my life.  When I give what little I have to serve the multitudes, Christ's power enlarges it so much that I come away with more than I gave to begin with...


...I have but to trust in Him in giving all I have originally and then have the faith to look around when it's done to see the miracles of the hand of God.

Divine Gifts

Heavenly Father has blessed each of us with Divine Gifts and Talents. This scripture gives us an idea of how important we can be if we develop our gifts and make them stronger.

"...deny not the gifts of God, for they are many; ...and they are all given by the manifestations of the Spirit of God unto men, to profit them. 
For behold, to one is given by the Spirit of God, that he may teach the word of wisdom; 
And to another, that he may teach the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 
And to another, exceedingly great faith; and to another, the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 
And again, to another, that he may work mighty miracles; 
And again, to another, that he may prophesy concerning all things; 
And again, to another, the beholding of angels and ministering spirits; 
And again, to another, all kinds of tongues;
And again, to another, the interpretation of languages and of divers kinds of tongues.
And all these gifts come by the Spirit of Christ; and they come unto every man severally, according as he will.
And again, I would exhort you, my beloved brethren, that ye remember that every good gift cometh of Christ."
Moroni 10:8-18

You are all amazing individuals with incredible gifts! :)
-JS

YOU ARE LOVED! (Don't Give Up)

My Redeemer

(I took this from the song "I Know That My Redeemer Lives" and changed it up a little)
I know, that my Redeemer lives,
Oh sweet the Joy this sentence gives,
He lives to hear my souls complaint,
I'm glad I am a later day saint.

He lives to grant me rich supply,
His atonement lets me retry,
He lives my prophet priest and king,
My shelter, underneath His wing.

He lives all blessings to impart,
He lives to calm my troubled heart,
He lives all glory to his name,
He lives, and loves us all the same.

He lives my kind wise Heavenly friend,
He tells us all to give and lend,
He smiles upon us, erases my fears,
He lives to wipe away my tears,

He lives and I shall conquer death,
For He lives and grants me daily breath,
He lives, my mansion to prepare,
He lives to bring me safely there,

He lives I choose to follow Him,
By doing so I'll surely win!
He lives to guide me with His light,
He leads me on to the path so bright,

He lives all glory to His name!!!!!
He lives and He deserves all fame!!!
His whole life He did not but give,
I know that my Redeemer lives!!
~Dassia

It Might Seem...

It might seem, there's always someone prettier.
It might seem, there's always someone wittier.
It might seem, there's always someone that has it all,
And you don't, 'cause you're just really small.

It might seem, that the world looks down
Upon you, and gossips and frowns.
It might seem that nobody cares,
And you can't help think, it's just not fair.

It might seem, that you don't have worth.
It might seem, you're made fun of with mirth.
It might seem, you're just not cool.
And no one says, You rock! or You rule!

All of these things, might seem to be,
Like the whole wide world, just doesn't see,
But I have great news, for you and me!
All these things, don't have to be!

You can change how you think!
You don't have to be sad and shrink!
For you are a Child of God.
And if people ask if you're odd, then nod!

 

It's ok to be apart from the croud,
It's way better, and it's alowed!
And all that other stuff
Like being popular or tough,

Doesn't really matter one bit!
And if, ever sad, you get,
Just remember that true bliss,
Does not come from 'coolness'.

 
True joy comes from inside of you.
From selflessness and serving too.
From knowing that you're a child of God!
And knowing the narrow path, you trod.


That's what makes you happy.
And all the worldly stuff is crappy,
Compared to doing His will.
And the feeling you'll get, is real.





~Snickerdoodle ;)

The Parable of the Cracked Pot

 

A waterbearer in India had two large pots, one hung on each end of a pole, which she carried across her neck.

One of the pots had a crack in it. While the other pot was perfect, and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the mistress's house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.
For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to her master's house.
The perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.
After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream: "I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you."
Why?" asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?"
"I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your mistress's house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts," the pot said.

The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in her compassion she said, "As we return to the mistress's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path."

Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some.

But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again it apologized to the bearer for its failure.

The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side?

“That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you've watered them.

“For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my mistress's table. Without you being just the way you are, she would not have this beauty to grace her house."

I am His Daughter