Trying to Be better:

Trying to Be better:

For my blog post of the week, I had to read in Thessalonians and make a list of attributes that we are told to work on. When I read these verses, I definitely loved them and I am really excited to pick a few at a time to work towards fixing. They all seem simple, but in a world like the one that we live in today, it is harder to remember some of these principles. If you see there are a few listed more than once, the reasons being it is mentioned more than once. I included multiples because there is a reason it is listed more than once.

• Love one another , including ALL people
• Establish your hearts in holiness before God
• Abstain from fornication
• Be of honor and sanctification
• Never defraud one another
• Be clean and holy
• Love one another
• Study to be quiet
• Mind your own business
• Do your own work
• Be honest
• Be sober
• Sleep at night, work in the day
• Be sober
• Be loving and faithful
• Have hope of salvation
• Live together with God
• Be of comfort
• Edify one another
• Esteem one another
• Have love for others and their work
• Be peaceful
• Have patience
• Be not of evil, nor render it
• Follow the good
• Be rejoicing
• Pray without ceasing
• Always be thankful
• Despise not prophesying
• Abstain from evil
• Pray for the Brethren
• Have love for God
• Don’t associate with those that are evil and do evil
• Don’t be a busy body

The three that I have chosen to work on today are:

• To love everyone
• Don’t be a busy body
• Always be thankful.

I have chosen these 3 for a few different reasons. These three concepts are things that I have already been working at but I need reminders. I think the best way to change yourself is when you put yourself into a situation as if you were a different person. The  idea of loving everyone is something I need to work on. I don’t have a problem getting along with most people, but there are just those that take a little more effort. I realized with the right attitude, that I don’t need to be friends, but I do need to love them, just as Christ would. The second is to not be a busybody. As a young girl living with other girls it is easy for this to get thrown to the side. If I think of how I would feel if someone were talking about me, then I would definitely not like it, hence why I need to change. The third is to be thankful. I seem to have a good grasp on this, but I need to be more vocal about how thankful I am to those that have made an impact on my life. Hence why it is one there.

ACTS 13:1-5

For my class, we have to read these scripture verses. The prompt to go along with it said to read and outline in writing 3 points that could help a discouraged missionary.

In these verses, there are a few different things that we could pull out to help a missionary who is struggling.The three that I found were to fast, to pray, and to follow the Holy Ghost and to always be worthy to have that gift.

I think that these three tools are so important for someone to realize when they are facing a tough time in their life. When you fast and pray you are turning to the Lord for strength and for guidance. The thought about fasting for me is the sacrifice that you are giving up so you can be closer to the Lord. When you fast with a purpose, then you can be more aware of the things you need to do and even how to go about receiving the help you need. Prayer is an important tool as well. There is nothing more powerful and personal that turning to the Lord with your problems and feelings and asking sincerely for the help and strength. The power of prayer is truly remarkable. If you are praying then you are going to receive an answer, and the way we accept it is key. I would tell a struggling missionary this, and to remind them to pray with an open heart. If that is hard for them, I would say pray for an open heart and mind. The third item being the companionship of the Holy Ghost is also important. Being on a mission is going to bring lots of trials and grief to go along with the joys and humility and blessings. When you have the Holy Ghost there with you it is easier to be in tune with the spirit that will guide you. If you are living so that the Holy Ghost cannot be there with you, praying and fasting will be much harder than any other time.

Being discouraged is discouraging in itself, but with these tools life will get better. I personally have not gone on a mission, however, I do know through my own discouraging trials, when I have tried my hardest to grow closer to the Lord through prayer and fasting that I have been able to see the good in life. 

For our first assignment, we were asked to read Acts 1-8 and 10-12. In Acts 12, I was asked for my assignment to compare Herod and Peter. I really liked this assignment, because I was able to compare and change and make sure that I had more attributes like Peter, rather than Herod. Sometimes it is a great reminder that power isn't everything. 





What motivated each of them?

Herod: Herod enjoyed the idea of dominance and power over the people. Because of the influence of the Jews, he placed Peter in Jail. The idea of being able to do something like this thrilled him. He was so power hungry and liked to be in charge that he would do whatever to whomever. 

Peter: Peter was motivated by God. Because of this, the importance of teaching the people the Gospel was his top priority. This is what he did and always stayed faithful to God. 



How did they deal with others?

Herod: Herod would just punish people. He had slain James and John, put Peter in Jail. Later he killed the guards that were supposed to be watching Peter. 

Peter: Peter dealt with people the way that he was supposed to. With manners and a polite attitude. Never was he awful or hurtful. 

How did God Deal with them?

Herod: The Lord smote him. He didn't give God the glory and therefore he was done with. 

Peter: God sent an angel to save him from Jail. He listened to the angels promptings that was sent from God, and saved his life from danger.

New Testament

I am taking a New Testament course online and I decided the best way to share my assignments is through the blogging world. It will be great to see the progress I make through these assignments and what I learn. I also enjoy the idea of being able to share my thoughts and feelings of the New Testament somewhere public, as it is often that I cannot do such things.