Hebrews 4:12

Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a dicerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

I have found a new appreciation for this scripture. When I think of the word of God I usually don't think about something quick and sharp. Powerful yes, but if we truly let the word of God work its way in all aspects of our lives then it can cut our souls and spirits quickly and sharply. It can also help us discern the thoughts and intent of the heart. I am very grateful for the word of God in my life, and enjoy my personal and family study where we can study together and learn together.

Acts 22:4-16

Acts 22:4-16

The visualization of these verses really brought them to life for me. Saul is traveling and a great light shown onto him while he had just came to Damascus. Then a voice called out Saul, Saul. Saul fell to the ground not knowing who it was The Savior tells Saul that it is Jesus who he has been persecuting. And after a conversation the Savior tells him to go into Damascus to receive instructions. When he goes into Damascus he meets someone named Ananias who tells him to not only receive his sight but that he is a chosen one to declare the knowledge of the Savior unto mankind. But the part that really has stood out to me is when Ananias tells him to get baptized and have all of his sins washed away. This is true for all of us, if we know that these things are true and we can see how Saul/Paul is struggling with the fact that he was teaching so many that the Savior was false and now he was supposed to go and teach of the truthfulness. He was probably struggling with that sin and how he would be able to do this thing that seemed impossible. But if he would go and be baptized all of those things could be forgive of him and he could move forward toward what the Lord asked him to do.

2 Corinthians 2:10

2 Corinthians 2: 10

 To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ;

The phrases in this verse that stood out to me are forgive and forgave. I love how they are really showing that we can be forgiven of anything through Christ. He has paid the price of sin for us. These phrases are also telling me that if I forgive others our Heavenly Father will also forgive them. We have been blessed with the Atonement and through this we can be forgiven of our wrong doings and be made whole again, but if we withhold our forgiveness from someone else that is seeking the Atonement then we are the sinners and not those that are seeking our forgiveness. 

I am so grateful for the Atonement and that I have been blessed to know that I can be forgiven of my sins. I hope that everyone can someday understand the Atonement and the blessings it has given me and everyone else that has a knowledge of it.

1 Corinthians 1:10

1 Corinthians 1:10- Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

Why is this scripture so hard to follow? Why can't we be united, or have no divisions? Why can't we be perfectly joined together in the same mind and judgement? We can, but so many of us choose to dwell on hate, or fear. We fear that someone might think of us as weak. We fear that because someone has been mean to us that others will be mean to us too. 

I feel like this scripture can also be applied in our families. If we are not united as a family or acting with the same mind/judgement we will not be able to be as one. I am so grateful for my family and for the scriptures that I have. We have been richly blessed from having the scriptures and reading them regularly.