Hello everyone! Well can you believe it? Sunday
marked 2 months of being out on my mission! Let me just say that it has flown
by waaaay too fast! I've finished my first transfer and I am so happy that I
get to stay in Bathurst for Transfer #2 woohoo! Great things are going to happen this transfer;
I can just feel it!
So! How did y'all do with your invitation last week? I hope you all
found opportunities to be TRUE FOLLOWERS of Christ! And I invite you to keep
doing this!
This week my message is short and sweet. I have a quote I would like to
share with you all from President Dieter F. Uchtdorf:
"Love is what inspired our Heavenly Father to create our spirits;
it is what led our Saviour to the Garden of Gethsemane to make himself a ransom
for our sins. Love is the grand motive of the plan of salvation; it is the
source of happiness, the ever-renewing spirit of healing, the precious fountain
of hope. As we extend our hands and hearts toward others in Christlike love,
something wonderful happens to us. Our own spirits become healed, more refined
and stronger. We become happier, more peaceful, and more receptive to the
whisperings of the Holy Spirit."
Something I spent some time pondering on is "What are the sources
of happiness that we have?" Of course we have our family, our friends and
the gospel which bring so much happiness into our lives but what else do we
have?
In Job 5:`7 we learn that we have correction from God, Proverbs 3:13 we
learn that we are able to find wisdom and get understanding, James 5:11 we
learn that enduring to the end and patience can bring happiness and in Mosiah
4:11 a great source of happiness comes from keeping the commandments of God.
There are so many scriptures that provide each of us 'sources of happiness'.
What are some sources of happiness in your life?
Another question I asked myself as I read this was "How is LOVE a
source of happiness?"
Everything that Christ and Heavenly Father have done for us has been out
of love. It was love for Heavenly Father that we desired to become just like
Him, follow His plan and come to earth so that we could return home to Him. It
is our love for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ that drives us to make the
right choices which will allow us the opportunity to be in his presence again.
Jesus Christ is at the centre of our lives.
Without him none of the plan of salvation would be possible.
Because of his love for us he saved us from spiritual and physical
death.
Because he loves us he is merciful and frees us from the bands of
justice as we obey him and repent of our sins.
Without his love we would not be able to return to live with Jesus
Christ and Heavenly Father or our families for eternity!
The last part that I want to share with you all is a phrase that sticks
out to me "EXTEND OUR HANDS AND HEARTS towards others" One of my
favourite things to look for in the scriptures is when it talks about the Lord
EXTENDING (or stretching) his hand towards us - to lift, bear and strengthen
us.
In Matthew 14:28-31 is the account of Peter walking on the water with
Jesus Christ. He had the faith that he would be able to walk with Christ but
then when the storms came Peter lacked faith and he began to sink. Now this is
my favourite part "And immediately Jesus STRETCHED forth his hand, and
caught him".
How many times do we catch ourselves slipping or sinking? Do you
recognise his hand STRETCHING or EXTENDING towards you? Are you WILLING to grab
hold of the hand who is the Almighty's? The hand of the rock of our sure
foundation?
I am grateful for the hand that is ever extended to help me when I am in
need of saving, when I am sinking, when I am not strong enough to be up on my
own. We all have this hand extended to us. And because of this, we should not
with hold our hands being extended to those around us!
My invitation this week is to EXTEND or STRETCH your hand and your heart
to someone this week! If you see them sinking, slipping or in need of saving,
be an instrument in the Lord's hand and help them! I promise that as you do
this you will not only bless the life of those you are helping but you will
also be blessed.
I am so grateful for each of you and the example of extending your hands
to others! May we each continue to WILLINGLY STRETCH forth our hands and help
those in need!
I love you! I pray for each of you daily!
Sister Roos xx (: (:
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