We went to the Discovery Science Center on 1/4/12. I took a photo of Mercury--covered with craters because it doesn't have an atmosphere.
Earth's atmosphere protects it from projectiles in space, causing them to burn up.
What does this teach us about the armor of God?
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
God's Love for Mothers
On Mother's Day, we usually hear the same scripture over and over again. (The stripling warriors' mothers . . .) That is one of my favorite stories, but the scriptures have TONS of verses and principles that apply to motherhood.
One of my favorites is 1 Nephi 17:2.
We read about Nephi's family, journeying in the wilderness--being obedient to God, and having all kinds of difficulties along the way.
But "so great were the blessings of the Lord upon us, that while we did live upon raw meat in the wilderness, our women did give for plenty of suck for their children and were strong, yea even like unto the men; and they began to bear their journeyings without murmurings."
This scripture means a lot to me because you think about the mothers who needed to live in tents and travel each day with their families. They were walking for miles. They were pregnant. They were nursing. They were trying to take care of their little ones.
This could have been miserable. But instead, they were strong. They had plenty of milk. They didn't even feel the need to complain.
How does this translate into my day? Can the Lord be so merciful to me that I can be strong? That I can have plenty to feed my children? That I can be so well taken care of that I won't even feel the need to complain?
The next verse is beautiful: "And thus we see that the commandments of God must be fulfilled. And if it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God he doth nourish them, and strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which he has commanded them. . . ."
I know that the Lord wants to offer all his blessings to all of His children. And so I am going to do my best to give Him my whole heart. and not whine one little bit. I need to trust Him with my whole life because He is in charge.
Right now I feel like there is a LOT required of me. Just teaching my children, supporting my husband, and being a good woman takes so much energy.
But on top of that, I feel called to run The Power of Moms. We just published a book, I'm creating programs and writing posts and emailing our thousands of women. I'm trying to lead this huge global organization, and it is a bit exhausting sometimes. But if I am listening to Him, I know that I can be nourished and strengthened and blessed. He is so wonderful!
One of my favorites is 1 Nephi 17:2.
We read about Nephi's family, journeying in the wilderness--being obedient to God, and having all kinds of difficulties along the way.
But "so great were the blessings of the Lord upon us, that while we did live upon raw meat in the wilderness, our women did give for plenty of suck for their children and were strong, yea even like unto the men; and they began to bear their journeyings without murmurings."
This scripture means a lot to me because you think about the mothers who needed to live in tents and travel each day with their families. They were walking for miles. They were pregnant. They were nursing. They were trying to take care of their little ones.
This could have been miserable. But instead, they were strong. They had plenty of milk. They didn't even feel the need to complain.
How does this translate into my day? Can the Lord be so merciful to me that I can be strong? That I can have plenty to feed my children? That I can be so well taken care of that I won't even feel the need to complain?
The next verse is beautiful: "And thus we see that the commandments of God must be fulfilled. And if it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God he doth nourish them, and strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which he has commanded them. . . ."
I know that the Lord wants to offer all his blessings to all of His children. And so I am going to do my best to give Him my whole heart. and not whine one little bit. I need to trust Him with my whole life because He is in charge.
Right now I feel like there is a LOT required of me. Just teaching my children, supporting my husband, and being a good woman takes so much energy.
But on top of that, I feel called to run The Power of Moms. We just published a book, I'm creating programs and writing posts and emailing our thousands of women. I'm trying to lead this huge global organization, and it is a bit exhausting sometimes. But if I am listening to Him, I know that I can be nourished and strengthened and blessed. He is so wonderful!
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
What it Means to "Keep" the Commandments
I'm studying the scriptures and Preach My Gospel in Spanish this morning, and I thought it was very interesting how the verb "guardar" is used.
In Doctrine and Covenants 109:22, when it translates "thine angels have charge over them," it uses these words: "y tus angeles los guarden."
I love that thought--angels guarding me, taking care of me, watching out for me.
And then in Preach My Gospel (page 129) it says, "se espera de usted que guarde los mandamientos," which means that "you are expected to keep the commandments."
I always thought of "keeping" the commandments as obeying them--as having an obligation to do what's right, whether you want to or not. (Not that I don't want to keep them . . . but I thought of it in the same way as "Mind your manners!")
But this verb changes the way I think about it. What if we were to really "guard" the commandments? It becomes a special charge.
Synonyms for "guardar" include "treasure, preserve, hold on to."
Today I'm going to think about that more. I'm going to ask the Lord what I can do to better "treasure" His commandments.
And I'm going to teach my children to do likewise.
I felt such a beautiful Spirit as I studied these things today. I have my new Spanish scriptures, and I am starting to mark my favorite verses and annotate in Spanish.
My heart is full of love for God. He is so, so good to us. And I want to do all I can to serve Him.
In Doctrine and Covenants 109:22, when it translates "thine angels have charge over them," it uses these words: "y tus angeles los guarden."
I love that thought--angels guarding me, taking care of me, watching out for me.
And then in Preach My Gospel (page 129) it says, "se espera de usted que guarde los mandamientos," which means that "you are expected to keep the commandments."
I always thought of "keeping" the commandments as obeying them--as having an obligation to do what's right, whether you want to or not. (Not that I don't want to keep them . . . but I thought of it in the same way as "Mind your manners!")
But this verb changes the way I think about it. What if we were to really "guard" the commandments? It becomes a special charge.
Synonyms for "guardar" include "treasure, preserve, hold on to."
Today I'm going to think about that more. I'm going to ask the Lord what I can do to better "treasure" His commandments.
And I'm going to teach my children to do likewise.
I felt such a beautiful Spirit as I studied these things today. I have my new Spanish scriptures, and I am starting to mark my favorite verses and annotate in Spanish.
My heart is full of love for God. He is so, so good to us. And I want to do all I can to serve Him.
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