Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Understanding the Atonement, Grace, and Our Worth - An LDS Perspective



Lately I have been thinking a lot about the enabling power of the atonement and how to better use it and call upon it to help me be better and have more strength then I have.

I love the story of the father who brings his son to the savior to be healed and the Lord asks him do you believe. The father wants his son healed more than anything but recognizes in himself a lack of faith. Recognizes that the Saviors question and his answer to it could make all the difference to his son. He wants to believe desperately but I am sure looking into the saviors eyes he relizes that he has doubts. So he says something that I love and feel like has been an answer to my question of how to use the enabling power of the atonement more in my life
He says " Help thou mine unbelief" in other words enable my belief to be enough to create this mighty miracle for my son.
I have had a goal this year to attend the temple every week. I have set it up with a friend to help me get there and have done pretty well. But the truth is every week I have a little conversation with myself that includes a prayer to "help mine unbelief" help me be stronger then I feel right now and help me to be able to be successful in attending the temple and getting the power that I need for the week.
We some times have the erroneous belief that we have to do it alone and that we have to want to do it alone. The truth is most the time we really need help. and that help is available by asking.

What are you struggling with in your belief? What would happen if you prayed for greater strength and power to accomplish what you are trying to accomplish?

Earliest memory of Living Proof- Needle for Disneyland



My earliest memory of God's love for me personally and very individually was when I was about 8 or 9 years old. My family lived in San Diego and we were planning a trip to Disneyland the next day. My pants had a hole in them and my mother said I couldn't go unless I could find a needle for her to sew a patch on my pants. I was searching and searching then decided to pray and ask Heavenly Father to help me find a needle. Soon after I was done I went back to the sewing box and although I had looked there multiple times, this time I saw a shiny needle in a hidden corner of the box. It seemed to glow and made me feel warm all over. I had a distinct impression that my prayer had been answered and that my small needs were important to my Father. That He was aware of me and heard me.

Living Proof


I love this song by Hilary Weeks. I have tried in vain to find it on youtube but here are the lyrics

I've been asking
He's been sending
Miracles
Seen them all
Both big and small
And they’re beautiful
I can see the hand of God
Along this road of faith

Living proof
I am evidence
That His love is real

Seen the truth
And I can't deny
How it makes me feel
He heals, He knows, He gives, He cares
He hears, He shows, He’s always there
I'm living proof
I've been praying
He's been listening
To every word
I've been searching
He's been leading
And I know I'm heard
I can see the hand of God
Along this road of faith

Living proof
I am evidence
That His love is real

Seen the truth
And I can't deny
How it makes me feel
He heals, He knows, He gives, He cares
He hears, He shows, He’s always there
I'm living proof


Because of this beautiful song I have been thinking of the ways I too am living proof that God's love is real. My goal is to blog about one every week.

http://hilaryweeks.com/blog/?p=593  This is a link to Hilary's blog about how the creation of this song was a living proof.