"Becoming Stonger"

As I reflect on my life, I continue to ask myself, "How much can I take?" Our Heavenly Father is mindful of each and everyone one of us. He knows what we go through, what we face and how much we can handle. Each time we are faced with challenges and trials, it makes us stronger and stronger. It makes me think of a great poem that has great meaning as we go through life facing those things that we do not think we can bare till after the fact. It is called "The Oak Tree".

The Oak Tree

by Johnny Ray Ryder Jr.

  

A mighty wind blew night and day.

It stole the Oak Tree's leaves away.

Then snapped its boughs

and pulled its bark

until the Oak was tired and stark.

But still the Oak Tree held its ground

while other trees fell all around.

The weary wind gave up and spoke,

"How can you still be standing Oak?"

The Oak Tree said, I know that you

can break each branch of mine in two,

carry every leaf away,

shake my limbs and make me sway.

But I have roots stretched in the earth,

growing stronger since my birth.

You'll never touch them, for you see

they are the deepest part of me.

Until today, I wasn't sure

of just how much I could endure.

But now I've found with thanks to you,

I'm stronger than I ever knew.

The things that we all face in life, show us how strong we truly can Become. Just like this Oak Tree, I never knew what I could endure but with the trials I faced, the trust and faith I put in the Lord I always knew that I would come out on top and "Become Stronger".

 I know that as we put our lives into the Lord's hand and remember that we will never face anything in our lives that we cannot overcome. The Lord will help out and He will provide to make us "Stonger".

"What Lack I Yet?"

Today I have been pondering over something that everyone thinks about. What do I need to do to receive Eternal Life? Pretty big question to be asking huh? There was a story that came to mind, it is found in The New Testament in the first book, Matthew 19: 16-22;

16And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?

 17And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

 18He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,

 19Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

 20The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?

 21Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

 22But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

"What lack I yet?" We all might be good with the commandments, or other things, but we all have something that we need to work on. This life is a time to progress, live our best lives, and Follow Him. We need to continue to ask ourselves daily and ask ourselves, "What lack I yet?" What do I need to give up, change or do. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is full of things that we need in our lives. We have to take the time, stop and think about those things. We might have all the worldly things that we want but do we have the spiritual things that we need. Our Heavenly Father has given these great things for our reach, we just have to grasp a hold of them and Follow Him. That is truly the things that we need to do in this life to receive Eternal Life. Like Christ said to this man in these Scriptures, "If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in Heaven". how many of us could do that, I challenge all of us to ask ourselves "What lack I yet" and see what we need to do in this life to receive Gods greatest Gift, Eternal Life.

"Come Listen to A Prophets Voice"

Oh how grateful I am for a living Prophet that leads and Guides us today. We all have the opportunity to listen and hear from a living Prophet Today and tomorrow. I just want all of you to know that God still calls prophets today. Just like it stats in Amos 3:7; "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets." God has done that in the Past and will always do that. He never changes His word. He is the "Same yesterday, today and forever". I know that we have a living Prophet, and as you open your heart as you listen to him and the Apostles your heart will be touched and you will truly feel the truthfulness of the things they say. They hold the truth and they share the truth for our lives today.

"He was There"

One thing that has been on my mind lately is Trials. We all face trials in our lives, some more of a serious note. As for me I think of all my trials that I am face with, it gets me down at times, as we all do. I have always been a big fan of the poem, "Footprints in the Sand", especially with trials that I face. I love this poem because, when we are faced with trials in life, we tend to forget about our Lord, and ask "Where are You". This poem shares with all of us that He is there, He will always be there. Sometimes we just don't notice him. As you read this poem, think of all the hard times in your life that you have only noticed one of the footprints and then think "Who was there", was it just me walking by myself or was it Him. I can testify to you all that "He was There", He will always be there to lift us up when we are down. I will be eternally Grateful for that.

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,
other times there were one set of footprints.

This bothered me because I noticed
that during the low periods of my life,
when I was suffering from
anguish, sorrow or defeat,
I could see only one set of footprints.

So I said to the Lord,
“You promised me Lord,
that if I followed you,
you would walk with me always.
But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life
there have only been one set of footprints in the sand.
Why, when I needed you most, you have not been there for me?”

The Lord replied,
“The times when you have seen only one set of footprints in the sand,
is when I carried you.”