Making Christ-Centered goals

When we think of New Years resolutions we might be tempted to say, “I hate my life and I want to fix this or fix that.”

God doesn’t “fix” things, he creates things (note the difference). Jacob 4:9 says, “The earth was created by the power of His (God’s) word.”

Following Christ’s example then - setting goals is an act of creation by the power of our word.

Nephi and his brothers were told to get the plates of Laban. Laman and Lemuel complained and resisted. Nephi was able to accept it and act in faith.

Likewise, our goals must not be worded as complaints. In addition, our attitude should be based on faith in the future not resistance to the present or past. If, like Nephi we accept the state of things as they are now and act in faith, we will succeed in creating a new reality… even if it will require a miracle.

Fighting Hopelessness

Some of us feel stuck. When we don’t see ourselves making progress we assume that we are stuck and this sometimes leads to a feeling of hopelessness or depression. The scriptures say, “Having all these witnesses we obtain a hope,” that things will work out and “our faith becometh unshaken insomuch that we can command in the name of Jesus and the very trees obey us or the mountains or the waves of the sea. Nevertheless, the Lord God showeth us our weakness that we may know that it is by his grace, and his great condescensions unto the children of men, that we have power to do these things.” (Jacob 4:6-7)

Read more here

Best Family Councils

Have you ever said this? “We know better, but we haven’t yet made ourselves, as a family, get down on our knees each morning and evening for family prayer.” (De Platt)

Working or praying together as a family is only possible when there is a decision to do so and the resolve to implement that plan. Family councils are a strategy for regular communication about decisions that create healthy relationships. A family council can be a formal meeting with all members of the family or an informal conversation between a parent and one child. Obviously, differences in the formality of the council are reflected in the type of conversations one would expect to have and the decisions that are made. When parents involve their children in decision-making, problems may resolve in ways that involve everyone taking a role in the solution. Family councils can help unite a blended family. (Larson) “The correction of family members in front of others is to be avoided.” (Ashton) But praise and gratitude for family members should happen in front of everyone.

Economics x Spirituality

In this post:  economics, leisure time, spirituality, "Come follow me"

If the government “creates” jobs by subsidizing one sector of the economy aren’t they taking tax dollars away from another sector?  Tax dollars are allocated to support building roads or paying farmers to grow corn.  If support is added to the Pre-K education movement, then less tax dollars will be available for roads or farmers.  The Pre-K movement is seen and the fewer jobs in road construction is that which is not seen.

If the average American spends 2.8 hours per day watching television (source: Bureau of Labor Statistics), then that is what is seen (no pun intended).  What is unseen is the place where the time was not allocated such as reading to a child, meditating, exercise, or prayer.  When I emphasize leisure time, I take away emphasis from spirituality or service or whatever.  I don’t know anyone who gets to the end of the day and has accomplished everything on their list.  I have to prioritize spirituality above other good things in order to have it in my life.

This scripture clearly states the principle of seen and unseen costs.

“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”  Matt 6:24

Spirituality is allocating resources to the strengthening of faith, hope and love.  It is placing a high priority on communicating with God and implementing into my life his teachings.  Spirituality is intentional.  Spirituality brings peace into my highly chaotic life.

“As I [have] turned to the scriptures for inspiration, a particular word [has] stood out time and time again. The word [is] ‘come.’ The Lord said, ‘Come unto me.’ He said, ‘Come learn of me.’ He also said, ‘Come, follow me.’ I like that word, come.” - Thomas S Monson

Come is an invitation.  I choose where I will allocate my time and spare brain cycles.  I choose to come to Christ every time that I pray, read the Bible or other scriptures, or spend time meditating on God’s purpose for my life.

Challenge:  Consider where you allocate your extra time and adjust it, if necessary, to bring more peace into your life.

This essay is based on the ideas of seen and unseen costs explained by Frederic Bastiat in his essay entitled That Which is Seen and That Which is Not Seen.

Spirituality: The Heart’s Treasure

In this post:  Ideas that are corrosive, Universal truths, Core Books, Spirituality defined 

The law of the harvest is that a good tree produces good fruit and a good heart says and does good things. (Matt 12:33-35)  I talked about harvesting things in my last post entitled the Parable of the Sower

Everything we see, read, think and believe becomes the treasure of our hearts.  So I see a movie and the quote stays with me, 

“Sometimes I wonder about my life. I lead a small life - well, valuable, but small - and sometimes I wonder, do I do it because I like it, or because I haven't been brave?” (You’ve Got Mail)  

I read Shakespeare and I stop to think about, 

“Be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and others have greatness thrust upon them.” (Twelfth Night)  

I believe that God has prepared a way for me to accomplish great things (1 Ne. 3:7) and together these three plus opportunity result in me doing hard things.

From QuotesEverlasting

The heart’s treasure grows throughout our lives and is only tarnished by the evil things we see, think and believe.  In Colossians we are warned, 

“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”  

This makes me think that certain ideas are corrosive.  They eat away our faith and hope.  They deceive us into hating our fellow men.  Can we really allow this to happen?

It is a universal law of nature that nothing is wasted.  There is an efficiency to the efforts of the plant and animal kingdoms.  If we are to live by this law we must not waste our time in mindless pursuits.  We run the risk of polluting God’s kingdom with our hearts’ treasure.  

D&C 84: 58-59, 85

58 That they may bring forth fruit meet for their Father’s kingdom; otherwise there remaineth a scourge and judgment to be poured out upon the children of Zion.

59 For shall the children of the kingdom pollute my holy land? Verily, I say unto you, Nay.

85 …treasure up in your minds continually the words of life…

The words of life are found in your Core Book.  My Core Books are scriptural and classic*.  Yours might be the same as mine or they might be something else.  A Core Book holds the truths we are guided by in life.  These truths produce the blessings of strong relationships, stable lives and solid homes or the condemnation of broken homes.  I think life is about testing out truths and finding the best ones to be guided by.  There is no shame in brokenness unless we never find the higher truth and live by it.  Once we find the truth, we must sell all we have to obtain it, just like the parable of the pearl in a field.

Matt 13:44

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

Spirituality reflects a heart’s treasure of Divine and universal truths.  It is an openness to the words of life wherever they are found.  It is a preference for ideas that guide and benefit the soul.  Spirituality happens when, “the solemnities of eternity rest upon your minds.” (D&C 43:34)

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*If you liked this post or want to see my Core Book list, you might like my Principles of Spiritual Nutrition.

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