Search Results for: gods love

Gospel Consequences and Tough Love

We have the gospel of life, the world needs to to hear it. It won’t unless we persist in prayer and in sharing the truth with family, friends and neighbors. One of the consequences of living a godly life is persecution. Jesus warned his followers they would face persecution but to be of good cheer because He had overcome the world,John 16:33. Mention of persecution was not a one off. You will find this idea repeated in Matthew 5:10-12, Matthew 10:23, Matthew 24:9, Mark 10:30, and John 15:20 In the current economic crisis people are struggling for something or someone … Continue reading →

Obeying From Love

When it comes down to obedience, there are three main reasons to obey. The first comes from fear – looming punishment frightens us. The second comes from reward – we seek the prize or present. The third comes from love – we want to please the person who has asked for our obedience. Which of these do you think the Lord wants to have motivate us? We can choose to follow the commandments because of the looming fear of hell. Especially if you grew up outside of the church, you may have been exposed to images of evil pits and … Continue reading →

Discipling Young Hearts: Remembering Our Charge

As I gathered all necessary diaper bag supplies, my kids scrambled around trying to get ready. I called out, “Get your shoes we are leaving in a few minutes.” I beamed with parental pride as two of my three kids ran up to me with shoes on and coats in hand. My moment was dashed when I suddenly heard “I can’t find my shoes” coming from my son. I have reminded my son on many occasions that he was to keep his shoes in their proper place. Due to the culmination of moments like this, I responded harshly which caused … Continue reading →

Watch Your Words

Whether we like it or not, our words define us. They reveal out thoughts and heart attitudes. Jesus knew this. See Matthew 12:34-37 and Mark 7:15-23.You know it too. Listen to someone you know talk. It is easy to pick up clues about the type of person they are from the words they say and the tone of voice in which it is said. Impatience stubbornness, anger, impatience, jealousy will all show up in a person’s words or tone. So will love, gentleness, generosity, patience. Before you jump in and add your thoughts to a conversation, can I suggest you … Continue reading →

But If Not

Have you read the talk by Elder Dennis E. Simmons of the Seventy titled, But if Not? I was prompted to go look it up and read it after our lesson in Gospel Doctrine a couple of Sundays ago. It is a great talk, and I highly recommend reading it. The Old Testament is not my favorite. But, through studying it this year, I’ve learned some valuable lessons from those prophets of old. We talked about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. I was very sleepy during the lesson, and had a hard time listening (I know everyone has those days), but … Continue reading →

Something To Hold On To

I love how the gospel accounts are so different, each one inspired by God but reflecting the personality of the individual. The logical and ordered mind of Luke, the doctor, set out to write a factual ordered account to help Theophilus as well as anyone who reads this gospel, understand more of Jesus. Interestingly Luke was not a Jew, yet the starts his account with the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy of the one who would prepare people for the Savior God would send. This was John the Baptist. Luke had obviously got a lot of his information from … Continue reading →

Just What Is Needed

I love the way God brings me to parts of the bible through my daily reading and they will be just what I need when I need them. I hope you have found the same. This week I have been reading in Daniel and want to share some of the things that spoke to me from Daniel 2. In the second year of his reign Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, had a dream that concerned him. He wanted to know what it meant. His wise men could not reveal the meaning of his dream especially when he insisted, if they … Continue reading →

How To Handle Disagreements – Part 2

So, you’re finding yourself at odds with someone in your church, family or neighborhood. What can you do about it? Someone once said that ‘the faults we notice most in others are those we have ourselves.’ So before we start criticizing and trying to sort out the other person and their thinking and attitudes, it’s a good idea to look at our own lives and ask the Lord to show us what needs to be changed there. Too often we are reluctant to do that. But that’s what growing as a Christian is all about, changing to become more like … Continue reading →

Miyazaki: Master of Animation, Pt. 2

“Each cell of (Miyazaki’s) movies is a painting you’d want to hang on the wall.” –Kathleen Kennedy, Executive Producer, “Ponyo” English language version Today I’ll conclude my look at Miyazaki’s films, and consider what makes him such a great animator. Whisper of the Heart (1995; adapted by Miyazaki). Based on a comic by Aoi Hiragi, “Whisper of the Heart” is unique for Miyazaki in that it’s set in modern-day Tokyo and is not a fantasy. This is another coming of age story with some Germanic influences and a gorgeous violin soundtrack. It follows teens Shizuku and Seiji as they determine … Continue reading →

Hawaiian Location for Fourth “Pirates” Film

My second and final Hawaii week installment has Disney promising a swashbuckling adventure in Hawaii’s tropical paradise. Executives at Disney have announced that the fourth “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie will be filmed in Hawaii. “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” will begin filming this summer on Oahu and Kauai. It’s slated for release in 2011, likely in the summer. Few details are known yet for “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.” The movie is a confirmed adaptation, in places, of the 1988 historical fantasy novel “On Stranger Tides” by Tim Powers. The main plot point in the … Continue reading →