Scripture Insights – All About Becoming

Which Part Are You Aiming For?

Several years ago I had a powerful experience that changed my thought directive and gave me hope for the tough times ahead. (read that full story HERE). I’ll give you the shortened version here to set the stage. It was 2008, the economy had crashed, things were not looking great and several of our friends in the construction world were losing their business. Things were tough and scary. I happened to attend a Women’s Conference this one particular evening and while singing the song, “Now Let Us Rejoice,” these words popped out to my wandering mind. “… to guide through these last days of trouble and gloom.” It was like a brick was dropped on my head as I realized that was TODAY! But I needed the answer of what would guide me. As my thoughts began to process, I found the answer in “..In faith we’ll rely on the arm of Jehovah….” I had been having deep concerns of how I was ever going to make it through the “last days.” There was so much negativity and fear. But a voice seemed to ask me a question…. “what are you focusing on?”

I stopped and thought about that. What was I spending my time thinking about and focusing on? It was mostly fear and scarcity and those signs of the times that talk about destruction, hearts failing, calamaties, and nothing that sounded good, fun or peaceful. Into my head popped a law I had been studying called, “the law of polarity or opposition.” It states that everything has an EQUAL and an EXACT opposite. If something is really really bad, then by law, there is something really really good. Both are present, but what you focus on creates the outcome you are feeling and living. I had been living in fear and scarcity and new I needed to change my focus. But to what?? If things were so bad in the world, what was good? I thought that the “the signs of the times” often came with fear, but what was the good part in that? And then it hit me like a bolt of lightening…..

CHRIST IS COMING!

And then the voice said again, “what are you focusing on?” I realized in that moment that if I focused on the negative and fearful stuff, I would miss out on the good part. Faith cannot be present with fear. But when I thought of Christ and His coming and me kneeling at His feet or being embraced in His loving arms, all the fears just melted away and pure peace and joy replaced it.

“BE PART OF THE GOOD PART!” I was told. I kept repeating it, “Be part of the good part.” We know in the end that good triumphs, but what you focus on is what you get, so keep your sights set on being part of the good part. Focus on Christ. Think of Him. Pray to Him. Read about Him. Act like Him. Allow Him in. Remember Him.

Since that day I have always tried to focus on not just being IN the good part, but to BE the good part. Be kind. Be Christlike. Be patient. Be longsuffering. Be tolerant. Be grateful. Be by His side.

I’ve worked really hard to do this, especially on social media. I have friends of all colors, nationalities and religions. They are left, right, liberal, conservative, gay, straight, Christian, Muslim, Jewish and agnostic. They live all over the world. And I love and cherish each friendship and individual. While I don’t always agree with some things they post or believe, I always try to find common ground. I always try to find the GOOD PART.

Now it’s over eight years later and as I sat reading post after post about the “Women’s March” and the comments going back and forth, my heart has been heavy. There was months of negativity all through the election. And now there has been more days of bashing and negativity with President Trump’s innauguration. It’s hard to find truth. You don’t know who to trust because honesty is scarce in the media and in the world. You try to understand other perspectives, but sometimes are just dumbfounded over what little common sense some arguments make. Yet I sit on facebook trying to be kind. Trying to be understanding. Trying to be patient. Trying to be tolerant. These are my friends and people I care about. But I see a sifting taking place. Lines are being drawn. There is division. I don’t like it. I’m a butterflies and rainbows girl that wants everyone to be happy. But in my mind I hear, “wheat and tares.”

This. is. hard. This Last Days stuff isn’t a bed of roses. My heart is heavy. And as I sit and wonder, “how am I going to make it in these last days?” I hear a voice, “What are you focusing on?” I’m taken back. Literally. In time to eight years ago when I asked the same question. My husband by some off chance tells me to read an article called, “What are you Aiming for?” by Dieter F Uchtdorf (read it HERE).

In the article, President Uchtdorf talks about the goal of an archer is to hit the center. We don’t shoot an arrow, then run and make a bullseye around that. We look at the target, focus on the goal, and aim for the center. We choose the good part. BAM! Literally, I was “shot through the heart.” (you’re singing that 80’s song now aren’t you?) And here I sit, with the answers flowing back. Focus on Christ. He is at the Center. He is the one to focus on and aim for. HE is the source of peace and joy. HE is the one coming. HE will guide us and direct us through the misty darkness of untruth and deception. He IS the good part.

What part are you aiming for?

I AM

This is a great image I posted on facebook. I thought it ironic since I had just listened to TWO talks on this the night before. (Sometimes I think someone is trying to get a message to me.) ;o) Let me share these talks and what I learned from this and how powerful the words are that you are saying.

First, Dallin H. Oaks was speaking on what it means as an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ to testify of His NAME. He talked about Moses at the burning bush. Moses asked the Lord, “who should I tell them sent me?” A Jewish Rabbi gave Elder Oaks some insight into this particular scripture (the Name of Christ – I AM.) He told Elder Oaks that anciently, the name of a person was the essence or nature of a person, not the “label” like it is today. Moses was saying, “what are you made up of?” What is your nature? It was simply “The nature of God” that he was trying to find out about. The word essence comes from the French (or Greek ?) derivative of “essen” which means essential. The Lord answered him by saying, “I AM.” This Rabbi explained that anciently when they changed their “essence,” they changed their name—Abram/Abraham, Sariah/Sarah, Jacob/Israel. If you are a witness of the name of Christ, in that sense, you are a witness of the NATURE of Christ. When you see me, you will know me because you will become like I am. His atonement sets us toward Him and exaltation.

I thought this interesting because I always thought Moses was wondering if it really was the Lord, but with this definition, I learned that is was quite more than that. I also learned that when one changes their nature or disposition (the essence of who they are), then their name was changed, too. Had me thinking about new names for those whose lives become more pure and why they changed them. Saul became Paul after a mighty change. Is that so good things would be associated with his new name? When a woman marries, she takes on her husband’s last name (at least in America) and that con-notates a change. Interesting to think about what you have done with your current name.

As I came home that night, my good husband said he had recorded a show on PBS for me. (Video below) It was Wayne Dyer. And at some point in the show, he started talking about Moses being at the burning bush and asking the Lord, “who shall I say sent me?” The Lord answered, “My name is I AM that I AM.”

“Now every single time that you use the words, ‘I AM,’ you are citing the name of God right from the holiest books. And every time you say the words, ‘I am weak. I am poor. I am unlucky. I am unhappy. I am sick. I am unable to attract into my life what you want; you are desecrating the name of God. God did not say, ‘I will be. My name is ‘I hope things will work out well.’ My name is ‘maybe things will show up as I wanted, but possibly not. ‘ He said, ‘I AM that I AM.’ You must be conscious of how you use these words, ‘I am.’ I am strong. I am well. I am content. Even if your senses tell you something different. I AM……You’ll see that putting the words ‘I Am’ in front of something into your mind and imagination is a very powerful way to attract into your life recognizing your own divinity. I am God is not blaspheme. It is your identity.”

This brought me to tears. Here I had first heard an Apostle of the Lord testifying of the name of Jesus Christ– The Great I AM. Then I heard this and understood for the first time, that my own thoughts and words of self-deprecation were not just tearing down me, but were tearing down My Lord, My Savior, My Brother that I love so dearly. How could I have done this? How could I continually tear myself down and Him, too? I was heart broken. I would not hurt My Lord, but I would hurt myself. I had never made the connection that if I was hurt, He was, too. I vowed to watch my thoughts and language from here on out. I found some renewed hope.

And then a bright light came into my mind. In my lifevision, I have a whole closing paragraph that is all “I am” statements. I began to rejoice that I had spent that time to write my lifevision and try to think of all the things I wanted to be or believed deep down that I was, by stating all kinds of “I am” phrases, such as: I am kind. I am tolerant. I am Christlike. I am a good mother. etc etc.

The next morning as I was running and listening to my lifevision, this particular paragraph (that I wrote as a closing) actually comes up as the first one I listen to. I set it to Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus so it would be powerful. I was nearly in tears as I ran realizing that I was not only trying to become what I had written, but that I was glorifying God. I listened and ran with a renewed, light, uplifted heart. It had a whole new meaning.

I hope that after reading this, you will also think and ponder about what you say and THINK about yourself. What words do you hear in your head? “I am fat. I am ugly. I am not good enough.” Because you ARE and your are HIS, and He paid a dear dear price for you.

Here is the Wayne Dyer video in full. It is long, but OH SO GOOD!! Well worth the time!

Faith vs Knowledge

One day in church, a friend in the Bishopric was bearing his testimony. He quoted this scripture:

Hebrews 11:1– Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

I remember something just jumping right out at me. Substance of things hoped for and evidence of things not seen. Those phrases seem like oxymorons. If there is substance, then why hope? If there is evidence, then how can it not be seen? So I pondered …. If there is SUBSTANCE to something we are hoping for or EVIDENCE of things we are not seeing, then something already exists and it is up to us to focus or look for that substance or evidence. If there is substance or evidence of that thing, then there is knowledge—not faith. So if we understand faith in this concept, we can look around us for evidence or substance of what we are having faith in. Then we will have knowledge. I hope this is making sense. Here’s an example.

I have a friend, Marnie, who lives in Georgia. I’ve never been to Georgia. So if I’ve never been and never seen it, how can I know that Georgia REALLY exists? I can have faith and hope that it does. But according to this verse, is there substance for my hope? Is there evidence of what I am not seeing? The answer is yes. First, there is Marnie’s witness. She’s been there. She lives there. I’ve seen pictures of Georgia. I can read all about it. So if I have substance and evidence, then I don’t have to have “faith” in it anymore, I can have KNOWLEDGE. And even though I have not seen, nor been there, I can still have knowledge of it and testify to others that Georgia is real and exists.

The same scenerio can happen with Christ. I have faith that Christ lives but I haven’t seen Him. Using this verse, if I HOPE that He is there, then I can look for SUBSTANCE that supports this. If I cannot see Him, I can look for EVIDENCE that tells me He is real and exists. What substance and evidence do I have? I have the scriptures. I also have those who have seen the Savior, including the prophet and apostles . They have written and testified of Him. I have the Holy Ghost who, as a WITNESS of Him (meaning He has seen Christ and KNOWS Him), has testified to me that He is real. If I were in the Holy Land, there would be tangible evidence of where He walked and lived. I look around the world at the creations, at people, at the mountains, and a tree. I have a witness every single day of a Creator. I can listen to music. I can feel His spirit when I pray. I can have tangible evidence and KNOW.

Now…if I can find this substance and this evidence, then is it not KNOWLEDGE that He exists? And if I have knowledge, then it will become as sure and real and I will see Him, yet even if I don’t right now, I can still know.

Now, what if you have to have faith in something else—like, say, paying off your house. That is also a test of faith. It is something that we have to believe in and hope for. I can take this same principle and look around me for tangible evidence that it is possible and I can find substance that will tell me that I can.

What if you are dealing with health issues like cancer? Can you look around and find evidence and substance for healing? I believe you can.

Powerful stuff. I hope that made sense and you can feel what I am saying. When this hit me, I thought that perhaps the Lord is telling us that the answers are right in front of us and are tangible. I think it is all about focus again. Time and time again, I am understanding how important it is to focus and set your sights on what is good and holy and right, then all other things will be opened unto you. Then sure knowledge comes. Past hope. Past faith. Pure knowledge.

That is what I seek. For then who can dispute?

The Difference Between Faith & Belief

My son posed an interesting question to us last night in Family Home Evening.He said that they had asked them in seminary what the difference was between Faith and Belief. (As a side note, he said he was the only one who answered the question, so that made me kind of proud that he had thought this through so well.)

So he asked us the question….What is the difference between faith and belief? And an interesting discussion started. I think this struck me because I have been documenting so many concepts from the scriptures as they pertain to Universal Law. One of the main ones I have documented is Ask, Believe, Receive. Between the Bible and LDS scripture, I have documented over 106 scriptures listed on this alone.

One of the greatest lessons I learned was about belief. Several of these scriptures say, “Ask, BELIEVING THAT YE WILL RECEIVE.” I guess this hit me so hard because I have spent the majority of my life praying and asking, but never BELIEVING I would receive what I was asking for. I thought that it was up to the Lord to determine if I was worthy enough, had done enough, if I deserved it, or if it was okay for me to have what I was asking for. I never realized the responsibility was on ME to believe I was going to get it, not to test the LORD to see if it was ok with Him to bless me with.

In James 1:9, it says, “be not a double minded man.” Well, that’s EXACTLY what I was doing– being double-minded. I was asking for what I wanted, but not believing I would get it. How can you give someone something if they don’t know what they want?

So when my son posed this question, I thought I understood BELIEF enough to answer this. But I was still stumped.

Have you figured it out yet? What is the difference?

Really, it seems that faith and belief are the same thing. Faith is BELIEVING in that which is not seen, but is true. So faith involves belief, but it is something just a little more. What is it? What is the difference?

ACTION. Those who have true faith will take the step past belief to take action on what they believe or have faith in. This is a powerful concept.

My son gave the example to us of Joshua trying to take the Children of Israel across the River Jordan and into the promised land. They had to cross this river, but how? It says in Joshua Chapter 3 that the banks were overflowing at this time of year. I assume the waters were very deep. But Joshua was told that if the priests bearing the Ark of the Covenant would just step into the water, they would part, just like they had at the Red Sea. There was an action that they had to take. They had to step into the water. That could have been scary as deep and wide as the water could have been, but because they BELIEVED and took ACTION, a miracle occurred.

I have a quote in my scriptures that says, “A miracle is not the suspension of a natural law, but the operation of a higher law.”

There are many scriptures which talk about miracles and most of them say that faith has to be present in order for miracles to occur. And when you read about miracles ceasing to exist, it is because the people lacked faith– that is a BELIEF plus ACTION.

Here is a scripture from the Book of Mormon that clearly defines this:
Ether 12:12

12 For if there be no faith among the children of men God can do no miracle among them

Another great scripture popped into my mind. Remember when Moses was leading the Children of Israel through the wilderness and they were being bit by poisonous serpents. Mostes was told to have them look to the serpent on his staff and they would live. All they had to do was LOOK– take ACTION. Yet many did not because they did not believe. To us it seems so crazy! Why would they just not LOOK??!! Yet, do we find the same thing in our day where people just don’t believe or have faith, so they just turn away?

Here is a great summary of that from the Book of Mormon:

2 Nephi 25:20

20 And now, my brethren, I have spoken plainly that ye cannot err. And as the Lord God liveth that brought Israel up out of the land of Egypt, and gave unto Moses power that he should heal the nations after they had been bitten by the poisonous serpents, if they would cast their eyes unto the serpent which he did raise up before them, and also gave him power that he should smite the rock and the water should come forth; yea, behold I say unto you, that as these things are true, and as the Lord God liveth, there is none other name given under heaven save it be this Jesus Christ, of which I have spoken, whereby man can be saved.

Those who took action were saved. They received a miracle. I thought it interesting that in the story of Adam and Eve, the Serpent represents Satan. It made me wonder….Is the “poisonous bite” of the serpent (Satan) that is striking at our heels trying to get us to sin “killing us” spiritually? If so, we need only to look to the Savior and live. We need to take action. We need to Look to Him! Many people SAY they believe in Jesus, but their words and actions don’t show that. We need to take ACTION and live like Him– keep His commandments, that is action! When we have faith in Christ in healing our souls or creating the miracles that we need, we can take ACTION– complete faith– and BELIEVE that He WANTS to send a miracle our way. It just takes faith!

Helaman 8:15

15 And as many as should look upon that serpent should live, even so as many as should look upon the Son of God with faith, having a contrite spirit, might live, even unto that life which is eternal.

My mind has been reeling with all kinds of thoughts on this. So, I will be posting a little more. =)

Write The Vision–You, Me, and Habakkuk

I’ve been writing a lot recently about vision, goals, writing, and lifevision. I suppose it is because while I was doing my Lifevision certification, I read these different scriptures in my reading each morning and Lifevision was forefront on my radar.

Lifevision is a powerful tool in changing subconscious thinking and super charging your goals, giving you true clarity and focus.

Imagine how excited I was to come across this scripture in Habakkuk.

Habakkuk 2:2-3

2 And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.

3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

Let me break this down so you can see why I was so excited.

Write the vision and make it plain…

One of the biggest reasons for having a coach while writing your lifevision statement is to get clear on what your want or “make it plain.” Wording is very important so that your subconscious mind will absorb and take in what you have written.

…”that he may run that readeth it….”

It is interesting because when coaching others in writing lifevision, they can have a statemtn written that they REALLY want to accomplish, but if it isn’t written to resonate and feel comfortable, then you will resist it subconsciously. When it is written correctly, you truly feel like running! You are excited and invigorated and truly ready to RUN!

For the vision is yet for an appointed time,

Most goals we have will have a time for completion or a target date set for them.

but at the end it shall speak, and not lie:

The results we get/see are what speak and not lie. Aren’t actions really truth? ;o)

though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

Sometimes we have to be patient in waiting for our goals. Some have a gestation time. (check out the Universal Laws for more on that.) But results DO come. We reap the fruits of what we so (Another universal Law here– Cause & Effect/Law of the Harvest). We either get what we want or we don’t. Both are results and both are fruits of our labors.

When you write your lifevision and record it in your own words and set it to the correct music, you have a much better chance of reaping the fruits of what you truly want because you are changing subconscious on a deep level. It works.

I’d love to be your Lifevision Coach. Read about Lifevision HERE:

Journals, goals, and Lifevisions

A year or so ago, I had a powerful aha about writing, journaling and goals. I was reading in the scriptures in Revelation 20:12 where it says, “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.”

I was struck by the phrase “judged out of those things which were written in the books.” I began wondering if my journaling and the things I am writing down are those things that I will truly be judged by. I thought, that if that was the case, I was going to write some GOOD STUFF!! Of course, the remainder of the sentence says that judgment will also come from our works. I believe that both of these are true.

As a teacher and life coach, I understand on a huge level the subconscious mind and how it works. I also remember when I started Leslie Householder’s Family Time and Money Freedom home study course. The first thing we were told was that we were to keep a journal and that there were rules to this journal. The rules were that we had to keep things as positive as possible. If we were having a struggle that we were documenting, then we had to make sure that at the end, we showed the upside or resolution to our problem. The reason for this is really in the basic law of attraction—you get what you think about and ask for and when you put something on paper, it commits you on a deeper level to “getting what you want.” This is why the guru’s out there always tell you that you HAVE to WRITE your goals down. What you write down, comes to pass.

So if you are journaling and writing the “book of your life,” wouldn’t you want it to be a GOOD, uplifting book? And if you know that what you write down leads to actions or “works,” then you really should be writing good things down and taking a positive spin.

If you’ve written it down, and your works follow suit, then your judgment will be a sweet occasion. I liked that. I thought, “Man, I’m gonna write some GOOD THINGS down! I’m going to have a great life to be judged by!” And the truth is that most of us journal what has already happened—we are writing down what “works” we have already done. So document all the good stuff you ARE doing and the good stuff you WANT to do. I think it will have some great eternal consequences, based on this scripture.

When I learned about Lifevision, I realized how much more powerful this scripture is. We truly can create the life we vision—the life we dream about! For more info on Lifevision, you can click HERE.

I did come across some other scriptures that back this one up. They are found in the LDS Scriptures of the Book of Mormon and also in the Doctrine and Covenants. For those interested in more validation, they are listed below:

2 Nephi 29:11

For I command all men, both in the east and in the west, and in the north, and in the south, and in the islands of the sea, that they shall write the words which I speak unto them; for out of the books which shall be written I will judge the world, every man according to their works, according to that which is written.

· 3 Nephi 27:25

For behold, out of the books which have been written, and which shall be written, shall this people be judged, for by them shall their works be known unto men.

· Doctrine and Covenants 128:6

And further, I want you to remember that John the Revelator was contemplating this very subject in relation to the dead, when he declared, as you will find recorded in Revelation 20:12—And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

· Doctrine and Covenants 128:7

You will discover in this quotation that the books were opened; and another book was opened, which was the book of life; but the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works; consequently, the books spoken of must be the books which contained the record of their works, and refer to the records which are kept on the earth. And the book which was the book of life is the record which is kept in heaven; the principle agreeing precisely with the doctrine which is commanded you in the revelation contained in the letter which I wrote to you previous to my leaving my place—that in all your recordings it may be recorded in heaven.

Interesting here that Joseph Smith is actually quoting the scripture from the Book of Revelation as he explains this.

Got Vision?

I have been thinking about having vision (or a dream or a goal) again. I wrote recently about bucket lists and the gal who said that she didn’t dream of “bucket lists” because they had to no money, so there was no reason to think about it. I woke up this morning and had this thought pop into my head, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” Prov 29:18

Isn’t that interesting to think about. When we have no vision or goal, we perish. It’s true and part of what I was trying to describe in the “bucket list” post. Without a goal or direction, we lose hope and become depressed. We don’t look forward. We go through motions, but for what? We must have something to keep us moving forward. If we didn’t want to reach the peak and see the vistas and majesty of beauty, we would never climb the mountain. And climbing the mountain isn’t easy, but getting to the top and reaching the goal is indescribable. If we set our goals low and decide that we can’t go to the top of the mountain, but only part way up, we will never feel the “high” of accomplishment and we will never know the grandeur of the view from the top. How many people do you know that have no vision or dream or goal? Are they perishing? Are they going through the motions? Do they feel hopeless and in despair?

An interesting side note to this that popped into my mind along with the scripture is this: The prophets were considered “visionaries” as well. They would receive visions of what their people should do and also of things to come. When the prophets were rejected and considered “crazy,” the people would not listen and obey and then they would perish. How many times did the children of Israel become captive and taken away or put into bondage? This usually came about because they quit listening to the prophet. They took their sites off Christ.

Did you catch that? They took their sites off Christ. They weren’t looking to Him anymore. They weren’t living the commandments. Their goals and focus were on idols and money and power. They didn’t listen to the prophets. (Listening to the prophet is looking to Christ because they are His mouthpiece.) I have pondered this in my own life. When I just go about wanting “things” but have not set my sites on the Savior and following Him, my life really lacks vision. It becomes greedy and selfish. But when I focus on Christ and how He lived and how I can follow His example, then things seem to change for me. For example, I love to travel because I love to meet people from all over the world. I love learning about new cultures and lives. And what I love most is to see how, no matter where I go in the world, there are really good people who are basically trying to live good lives and love their families. When I want to travel for myself, I don’t get as much out of my trips. So one thing I try to do when I travel is see if there is any good I can do when I go. I always try to find a church to attend if I am traveling on Sunday. Then I try to contact someone in that church and see if there is anything we can do for them when we come. We have been able to bring clothing, scriptures, and do humanitarian projects on some of our trips because of that. It’s a very simple thing, but it brings so much joy AND it helps me to meet the people and get to know them. I have developed some great friendships with many of these people.

So have a vision. Have a dream. Have a goal. But keep Christ as your main goal and focus, then all the others will fall into place. One way to keep Christ in focus is that we live the commandments and laws. When we do this, we can reach our goals, but do it correctly. The last line in Proverbs 29:18 says, “but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” When we have a vision and we live the commandments, we will truly be happy.

Got vision? You bet!

1/14/12

Parable of the 10 Virgins and Oil in OUR lamp

The parable of the 10 Virgins has always been intriguing to me. I have known there was a deep message in that parable just for me, yet for years I have not discovered what it was until just recently.

In Sunday school, we were talking about the parable of the 10 Virgins and how it relates to us. I’ve heard it said that the oil in our lamps is our testimonies, and that is why we cannot “share” our oil with others. During the lesson, our teacher mentioned olive oil was used to light the lamps and how much effort went in to producing the olive oil. In my mind, I thought of the process of making olive oil. We have heard it used in symbolism with Gethsemane. Here is the piece written by David Ridges in his “The New Testament Made Easier” book that popped into my mind and got me thinking on a deeper level:

Gethsemane
The word “Gethsemane” means “oil press.” There is significant symbolism here. The Jews put olives into bags made of mesh fabric and placed them in a press to squeeze olive oil out of them. The first pressings yielded pure olive oil which was prized for many uses, including healing and giving light in lanterns. In fact, we consecrate it and use it to administer to the sick. The last pressing of the olives, under the tremendous pressure of additional weights added to the press, yielded a bitter, red liquid which can remind us of the “bitter cup” which the Savior partook of. Symbolically, the Savior is going into the “oil press” (Gethsemane) to submit to the “pressure” of all our sins which will “squeeze” His blood out in order that we might have the healing “oil” of the Atonement to heal us from our sins.

When the teacher mentioned the process of getting olive oil, I thought, “it is the intense pressure that extracts the oil and gives us the purest oil. If we think of this symbolically in our life, then is it the pressure (the struggles and challenges) that we go through that extract the best in us—that makes us pure and creates our oil? If that is the case, it is our challenges and pressures that create our oil and make us pure enough to see Christ. THIS is the reason we cannot “share” our oil. Our trials are our own. It is through overcoming them and becoming pure that we have ‘oil’ and we cannot share that. Each person must go through this individually.” This was such a profound AHA for me—an epiphany, a lesson. It hit me so powerfully. The trials and challenges we go through are truly blessings. It is the Lord’s way of purging the impurities from our souls and creating a pureness so that we will be able to stand in His presence and live with Him again. When I see someone going through a trial, in my mind I think they must be special because the Lord is giving them a gift and helping them create oil for their lamps.

I found that interesting as read about the second pressing creates a bitter red oil. I thought about how when we continue to press and press on our own problems and struggles, like calling friends or family and hashing and discussing and complaining and continually talking about your problem/issue, then you can create bitterness in your own life. I’ve done this, so I know. I usually can talk myself through a problem, but when I call someone or somebody asks me, then I can get heated up, worked up, and re-wrapped up in an issue. The secret is to not keep pressing and create bitterness, but to use the struggle or trial to create purity, and then let it fill our lamp and move on.

I now know that this was part of the deeper message I was to get from this scripture. I know there is more—something about the virgins themselves that I have not uncovered yet, but I do know that one day I will and the deeper meaning will become clear to me then, too.

Good things in the Last Days: Scriptures of Encouragement

Letter to my Son:

I finished the New Testament today. Wish I could share some great insights, but I don’t have a whole lot of understanding of that book (Revelation). I wish I did. I guess I need to ask Heavenly Father for more insight, seeing’s as it does have all the last day’s prophecies. ;o) There were a few verses here and there that have such a positive note for us and how we will be blessed even in the difficulty of the last days if we keep and live the commandments . Here’s one verse I liked:

Rev 21:7 “He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.”

I just thought that was cool—that if we overcome all these difficulties and challenges and struggles, then we can inherit ALL things. LOVE IT!! And isn’t the last part tender? I love the line, “and he shall be my son (daughter).” Just brings comfort and peace. And knowledge that we truly are His!

Overcoming Temptation: Scriptures of Encouragment

Letter to my Son:

Read some great scriptures this morning. I sure LOVE the New Testament. I read James today. Love the first verses on Ask, Believe, Receive. Thought this verse was cool: 1:12 “Blessed is the man that endures temptation, for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him.” Isn’t that a powerful promise on overcoming temptation. It made me think of the time you said you had been praying for the temptation to be removed. Interesting that when we endure it and move through it, then great blessings await us. He can’t take them away, but He can help us through them and help us OVERCOME them, making weak things strong. I whole heartedly believe this!

I also love the verses on being a doer of the word and not a hearer only. Taking action is key to change, huh? Faith without works is dead…..

Such great messages and maps for life in the scriptures. How I love them!!