Day 100 of #100daysofJesus

 DAY 100 of #100daysofJesus

Today I want to reflect on these past 100 days of learning more about Jesus.

I appreciate those who have followed these posts. The primary purpose for this 100-day challenge was for ME to learn more about and draw closer to the Savior, but I'm glad many of you were able to share in the journey.

GOD HAS A PLAN - JESUS IS THE PLAN

During this challenge it has become even more clear to me that God has a plan for his children both collectively and individually.

The creation of the world, fall of Adam & Eve, Jesus' redemptive atonement, the calling of prophets, the restoration of the gospel and Jesus' church in the latter days, and the current efforts to gather scattered Israel are all key pieces of God's plan for humankind. The atonement of Jesus Christ is at the center with Jesus being the Cornerstone of the plan.

But there is also a plan for you and me as individuals, a plan of growth, progression, learning, choosing, covenanting, and becoming. We were created, we fall, we are redeemed, we receive divine guidance, we make eternal covenants, and then we assist Jesus in His work by gathering Israel. Again, Jesus' atonement is at the center, and it's His grace that makes it all possible.

JESUS LOVES US

It has become more obvious to me than ever before how much Jesus loves each of us. His love extends beyond suffering and dying for us so that we can have redemptive hope and second chances.

I love this artwork by David Bowman. Jesus offers us a hug when we need a hug. He is with us when we're sick, when we mourn, when we're tired and overwhelmed. Jesus is by our side when we struggle, and as we fall, and it's His hand that lifts us up again. We could not have a more loyal friend than Jesus.

MASTER HEALER

There are dozens of examples of Jesus healing individuals in the scriptures. There are thousands of additional individuals of whom we don't have play-by-play accounts but whose healings are also mentioned. But not even 1% of His works were recorded. And that's just during his three year ministry!

But I don't believe the healing started then. I believe Adam's and Eve's hearts needed healing when Cain killed Abel. Abraham needed healing when he couldn't have a child and then again when he was asked to sacrifice his only son. Moses needed healing after killing an Egyptian and recognizing the oppression of his people. I could go on with Isaiah, Elijah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Lehi, Nephi, Alma and many others.

Nor do I believe that the healing stopped at the conclusion of Jesus' ministry. In fact, I've felt His healing hand over and over in my own life, and I've seen it in the lives of others.

I often feel wounded and hurt by my own shortcomings, sins, and weaknesses as a father, husband, and mortal. Jesus heals, lifts, comforts, and brings new hope each time.

I've come to better understand that Jesus, the Master Healer, the Great Physician, WANTS to heal us. Surely it is one of His greatest privileges of being our Savior - the ability to help and heal each one of us. It's not a burden but a pleasure, and rather than hesitate in seeking His help, we should RUN to Him for help every chance we get.

THERE'S ALWAYS HOPE

Story after story began with seemingly impossible hopelessness. Lazarus was dead. The leper had an incurable disease. The blind, deaf, and maimed had always been that way and could expect no change. The possessed had lost all control. The sick had no modern-day hospital to go to for relief. The fishermen fished all night but were skunked. There was not enough food to feed the hungry multitude. The billowing storm was about to sink the boat. Sarah was too old to get pregnant. Moses' people were trapped between the red sea and the world's greatest army.

I could go on, but you get the point.

In each story, Jesus performs miracles, and restores hope to the hopeless. This is a message for us!

He's done so for me in my life. He'll do so for you in your life.

Jesus brings hope to sinners that they can repent and reform, addicts that they can get sober and recover, prodigal children that they can return, and grieving families that they can be reunited with their deceased loved ones.

I love how Elder Jeffrey Holland says:

"However late you think you are, however many chances you think you have missed, however many mistakes you feel you have made or talents you think you don’t have, or however far from home and family and God you feel you have traveled, I testify that you have not traveled beyond the reach of divine love. It is not possible for you to sink lower than the infinite light of Christ’s Atonement shines."

I love Jesus. And I am so so grateful for Him.

As this 100-day challenge concludes, my commitment to seeking Jesus and making intentional efforts to center my life on Him continues stronger than ever. I invite you to join me on that life-long journey.

DAY 99 of #100daysofJesus - A New Dispensation

 DAY 99 of #100daysofJesus

On a spring morning in 1820, the history of the world changed forever.

The great apostasy prophesied of by Paul, Amos, and others would soon come to an end as the restoration of Jesus Christ's gospel commenced. Prophesies of Ezekiel, Daniel, Isaiah, Jesus Christ, and many other prophets were being fulfilled with the dawn of a new dispensation.

The Second Coming of Jesus Christ approached, and the world needed to be prepared. The Kingdom of God would once again be established on the earth, this time to never again be taken.

Jesus had been born in a humble stable; His Apostles chosen from among the humblest professions. Why would this new prophet be called from any other circumstance?

Joseph Smith described himself as "an obscure boy...of no consequence in the world." He was the son of poor farmer and lacked much formal education. Even as an adult, his wife would later say that he "could neither write nor dictate a coherent and well-worded letter."

Yet, it was through this humble boy that Jesus would reveal Himself.

From an early age, Joseph was concerned about the welfare of his soul. There was much religious excitement in the community with local pastors and traveling preachers competing intensely for converts. Even his own family was split in their religious affiliations.

While struggling to know what to do, Joseph read this passage in the New Testament: "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."

He later described, "Never did any passage of scripture come with more power to the heart of man than this did at this time to mine. It seemed to enter with great force into every feeling of my heart. I reflected on it again and again, knowing that if any person needed wisdom from God, I did."

Joseph visited a secluded spot in the woods near his home, determined to ask God directly about the welfare of his own soul and for direction on which religious sect to join. He fully expected to receive an answer but never could have imagined what would happen next.

In Joseph's own words: "I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me... When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!"

The heavens had gloriously opened, and a new dawn was breaking. Joseph would soon become the Prophet of the Restoration, an instrument in God's hands to restore the Church of Jesus Christ, priesthood authority, and the fullness of Jesus' gospel to the earth.

This event over 200 years ago is celebrated by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints around the world. Along with millions of others, I recognize how impossible this story sounds, yet with them I believe it really happened.

For those seeking tangible evidence, I would present the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ. This book of scripture was "translated by the gift and power of God" by Joseph, an uneducated young adult in about 60 days.

And even more importantly, we can take on the same challenge as Joseph, given by James, to "ask of God." I've received my own witness of the truthfulness of these events by doing just that - asking God. I feel it in my heart and mind, and it fills me with peace and joy.

How does reading about Joseph's experience make you feel?

I believe that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was founded by the resurrected Jesus Christ through His servant Joseph and that Jesus continues to lead His church today through His chosen prophets.

Only one day left of my hundred-days challenge. Thanks for letting me share with you a bit about my belief in Jesus Christ. My beliefs shape my character and deeply inform who I am as a person. It's not easy to share things so personal and sacred in a public setting, but I have enjoyed the opportunity to do so. I love talking about Jesus.

DAY 98 of #100daysofJesus - I Stand at the Door and Knock

 DAY 98 of #100daysofJesus

In a chapter full of instruction and guidance, and with us as the intended audience, Jesus invites us to zealously repent. In connection with that invitation, Jesus gives this beautiful promise:

"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me."

To me, this is what repentance (personal change and growth) is all about. It's letting Jesus into our lives and hearts.

Jesus helps us transform ourselves into new creatures.

I love the paintings that depict a door with no knob on the outside. Jesus won't just barge in on us and force us to change. He patiently waits, knocking, calling our name, and let's us answer when we're prepared to do so.

At baptism, we make a promise to God that we will follow Jesus, and in return, we are born again and sanctified. We, in essence, open the door for Him.

But life happens, and it's hard to maintain space for Jesus in our hearts every moment of every day while we are so easily distracted by the allure of the world and neverendingly busy.

None of us are perfect, and we make mistakes. Sin closes the door on the Savior until we proactively invite Him back.

As we repent daily, we can retain a remission of our sins through Jesus' grace. This is like opening the door anew each day to continually invite Jesus in. And it can be more often than daily, even hourly, minutely (is that a word?) if needed.

There is no literal door, but Jesus does visit us in a very real sense. This is largely the role of the third member of the Godhead, the Holy Ghost. He is a personage of spirit, able to literally dwell within each of us. He's sometimes referred to as the Spirit of Christ.

There is great power that comes into your life when you have a member of the Godhead with you. Jesus has taught us how to enjoy that special gift by opening the door.

Zealously repent to hear Him and open the door. Jesus is already standing right there, knocking.

(Revelation 3)

DAY 97 of #100daysofJesus - Daughter of Jairus

 

Jairus desperately sought out Jesus, full of faith that Jesus might save his daughter. His twelve-year-old girl was dying, and Jairus would do anything to save her. Hope propelled him forward.

Jairus was "one of the rulers of the synagogue," a group that considered Jesus a threat and had mistreated and criticized Him at every opportunity. But none of that mattered now, nor did it matter that he might lose his lofty position, power, and influence. Only his daughter mattered at that moment.

When Jairus found Jesus, he begged with words that pull at my heart strings, "My little daughter lies at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live."

It's hard to know what else Jesus may have had planned that day. It would be easy to respond with, "I'm too busy" or "why should I help YOU after how you've treated me?"

But Jesus is a God of love, compassion, and mercy. He dropped everything to go with the man.

As they arrived at his residence, Jesus asked the disciples, other than Peter, James, and John, to wait. We might look at this as Jesus walking "into enemy territory" with only his three closest disciples. Few of those present, and it sounds like there was quite the gathering, would have been amiable to Jesus showing up there, especially at such a time. The girl was dead.

Well, they believed her to be dead and were already mourning her. Jesus perceived that it was more like a coma: "the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth." The cruel response was that of contempt and scorn. A faithless, contentious group.

Undeterred, Jairus, now accompanied by his wife, asks the scorning group of mourners to give them some space, and enters the house with Jesus to see his dying daughter.

The Master Healer next takes the girl by the hand, saying, "Damsel, I say unto thee, arise."

"And straightway the damsel arose, and walked."

And then oddly, Jesus asks those who witnessed the miracle to stay quiet "that no man should know it." He was worried about Jairus' family being ostracized and rejected by their community. Protecting them was more important that spreading His own fame or taking a shot at the Sanhedrin.

So many lessons are taught in this experience.

We must rise above our societal differences, whether political, racial, religious, or economic, and with compassion serve one another.

Sometimes we have to kick out the haters and distractions to make space for the sacred in our lives.

Humility and faith allow us to reach out to and invite the Savior so that He can visit and heal us and our families.

Be kind and meek, even in success. Graciously let others save face.

Don't give up, especially on life, for with God nothing is impossible.

Jesus loves us, and it's truly His great pleasure to come to us and heal us. Trust Jesus.

(Mark 5)

DAY 96 of #100daysofJesus - Walking on Water

 

DAY 96 of #100daysofJesus

Jesus walked on water, and then Peter did too.

It was a dark and stormy night (literally), and some of the disciples were out in their fishing boat on the sea. They were afraid when they saw a man walking towards them ON THE WATER.

Remember, this was before paddleboards were invented, so seeing the silhouette of a man on the water was unnerving.

Soon they heard Jesus' voice, "Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid."

Peter answered Jesus with, "Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water." And Jesus replied "Come."

As Peter looked towards the Savior, filled with faith, he took a step out of the boat and onto the water. And then another. "He walked on the water, to go to Jesus." Pretty incredible!

But then Peter made a mistake. He took his eyes off Jesus and began to notice the danger around him, which caused him to fear.

We know that fear and faith, as opposites, cannot coexist. So the without faith, Peter began to sink.

Lucky for Peter, he knew what to do. He called out to Jesus, "Lord, save me." It's doubtful Peter could comprehend at that time the full significance of his desperate plea.

"And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?"

We see here that even a "little faith" is enough to perform miracles if our focus is on Jesus. And replacing our faithful focus on the Savior with circumstantial fears will quickly cause the best of us to begin sinking.

We don't know how far away Peter was from Jesus when he began to sink, but we do know that once Peter cried out for help, Jesus "immediately" closed the gap "and caught him."

I've had times where I felt like I was drowning, and all I could do was similarly call out to God, "Save me!" And He does.

As we are doing our best to come unto Jesus, we will inevitably make mistakes and experience "boisterous wind" challenges.

How comforting is it to know that Jesus is nearby and ready to catch us?! He won't let us drown! While in the midst of our life's storms, this reality can help us to "be of good cheer."

What next step of faith do we need to take to come towards Jesus?

How can we ignore the storms and fix our focus on Him as we take that next step?

Are we ready for the miracles He has in store for us?

Trust Jesus.

(Matthew 14:25-33)

DAY 95 of #100daysofJesus - Eternal Marriage

 DAY 95 of #100daysofJesus

On August 16, 2008 I was sealed to my beautiful bride in the St. George Utah Temple. This was possible only because of Jesus Christ.

Sealing is the term we use for an eternal marriage. One key difference between sealings and civil marriages is that sealings are for "time and eternity" while traditional or civil marriage is typically pronounced "until death do you part" or "as long as you both shall live."

The sealing ceremony and ordinance is the crowning blessing of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is not just a marriage between husband and wife but also a three-way covenant with God. It is only performed in sacred temple sealing rooms and by authorized temple sealers.

This authority is not new; in fact, it was held anciently by the prophet Elijah. As prophesied in the book of Malachi, Elijah returned to the earth in 1836 restoring the sealing power that will eventually link all of mankind back to Adam and Eve as one eternal human family.

Peter, James, and John also received this authority from Elijah while with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration. You'll recall that Jesus told Peter, "I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven." This is sealing authority.

Jesus revealed much about eternal marriage in 1843 to the prophet Joseph Smith in what would eventually be canonized as the 132nd section of the Doctrine & Covenants. One excerpt in particular serves to reinforce this doctrine:

"If a man marry a wife by my word, which is my law, and by the new and everlasting covenant, and it is sealed unto them by the Holy Spirit of promise, by him who is anointed, ... [the marriage] shall be of full force when they are out of the world...therefore shall they be from everlasting to everlasting."

I love this quote from Elder Jeffrey R Holland of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles:

“I don't know how to speak about heaven in the traditional, lovely, paradisiacal beauty that we speak of heaven. I wouldn't know how to speak of heaven, without my wife or my children. It would not be heaven for me.

"Now, you can say that's wishful thinking, or you can say that's just because you love each other and you've gotten cozy here on earth and you like each others company. It's a lot more than that.

"There is something eternal in the statement that, 'neither is the man without the woman, nor the woman without the man in the Lord.' That isn't just good sociology, that is theology, it's eternal.”

Let me end where I began - none of this is possible without Jesus. His resurrection broke the bands of death and paved the way for us to have eternal life. His great atoning sacrifice allows us to repent and become clean to one day dwell with God. And, in the meantime, Jesus' grace helps us from day to day to do and become better while experiencing joy in this mortal journey.

Because of Jesus, I can be with Jessica and our posterity forever, and that means everything to me.

(Matthew 16:19, Malachi 4:5-6, D&C 132:19-20, D&C 110)

DAY 94 of #100daysofJesus - The Lost Sheep

 

DAY 94 of #100daysofJesus

On more than one occasion, Jesus taught a parable about rescuing a lost sheep.

Jesus taught, "For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost."

Jesus asks, "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?"

Sheep are dear to the heart of a shepherd. Shepherds know each sheep in their flock, and the sheep know and love him in return. So of course a shepherd would seek out the one lost sheep, regardless of the effort, and bring it back to be reunited with the others.

Jesus continues, "And when he hath found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying unto them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost."

The image of triumph and celebration at the reunion of the shepherd with his lost sheep is beautiful. Another indication of the love he has for his sheep.

Jesus then brings it home, "I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repents, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance."

We often use this parable as our mandate to seek out fellow Christians who have wandered from the faith. Sometimes all they need is us caring enough to seek them out and invite them back.

Certainly the heavens rejoice when we help rescue one of God's children.

But this parable also speaks to me in another way. I am the one lost sheep. You are the one lost sheep. Each of us is the one lost sheep.

This parable is first about our own rescue where we are the sheep, and second about the opportunity we have to assist Jesus in His rescue efforts.

This is a parable about Jesus rescuing sinners, and don't we all sin and fall short of the glory of God?

Remember Jesus' words that he came to "save that which was lost?"

Part of our mortal experience is being lost and then allowing ourselves to be found by Jesus. He loves and seeks us out as individuals.

While lost, Jesus never stops seeking for us. He won't stop seeking "until he finds [us]."

And when he finds us, there is celebration in heaven. Have you experienced the joy of being found?

It might be nice if this were a "found and done" one-time thing, but the reality is that it's a pattern of repentance and redemption that we experience throughout our entire lives.

I'm so grateful Jesus never gives up on us.

(Luke 15:3-7, Matthew 18:11-14)

DAY 93 of #100daysofJesus - The Road to Emmaus

 

DAY 93 of #100daysofJesus

Two disciples journeyed to the village of Emmaus discussing the events of the past three days, how Jesus had been crucified but was no longer found in the tomb.

Could He be alive? Did angels really appear testifying of Jesus' resurrection? Or is this some elaborate hoax?

While they traveled, "Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. But their eyes were holden that they should not know him."

Jesus asked them what they were so glumly discussing.

They told Him and complained, "we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel."

Jesus, perhaps disappointed at their inability to connect all the dots, began to "expound unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself."

And while the disciples would later ask themselves, "did not our heart burn within us while he opened to us the scriptures?" they still did not recognize Jesus.

As they arrived at their destination, they pleaded with Jesus to dine with them, "Abide with us," and He decided to join them for supper.

During the meal, Jesus "took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight."

Forgetting whatever it was that had brought them to Emmaus, they immediately returned to Jerusalem as quickly as they could, declaring to the apostles and anyone who would listen, "The Lord is risen indeed!"

I love this story, and it contains so much for us. Only one of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus is named (Cleopas), so put yourself into the story as the second disciple.

Sometimes, as we walk through life, Jesus is right there next to us, but we do not recognize Him. Perhaps the promise that "where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them" is more literal than we realize.

I love how the disciples ask Jesus, "abide with us," and though Jesus knows He cannot by with them long, He provides a way to be within them through the bread of the sacrament. The ordinance of the sacrament allows us to have Him with us as we renew our commitment to and covenant with Him.

It was not until they partook of the bread, which Jesus broke and blessed, that "their eyes were opened."

How can this sacred ordinance help us to open our own eyes and see the Savior?

How can it help us see that Jesus was with us the entire time, and that when we have felt our own hearts burn within us, it was because Jesus lives?

Jesus is the Redeemer of Israel, and He lives!

(Luke 24:13-35, Matthew 18:20)

DAY 92 of #100daysofJesus - Jesus Appears to Mary

 DAY 92 of #100daysofJesus

Sunday morning had been horrible for Mary Magdalene, one of the most devoted of Jesus' disciples and someone who had loved him with all her heart.

Jesus had literally and spiritually saved her, and she had pledged her life and devotion to Him.

It was bad enough that the Jews had crucified her Lord and trusted friend, but why had they also stolen His body from its tomb?

From John's account, after alerting the other disciples and a investigating as best they could, the disciples returned home while Mary returned to the empty sepulcher to continue her mourning.

The past couple days had been an emotional rollercoaster for Mary, and the tears continued flowing that day.

As she again peered into the sepulcher, weeping, hoping beyond hope to see Jesus where he had lain the previous day, instead she saw "two angels, in white sitting...where the body of Jesus had lain."

After the brief encounter with the angels, confusion may have been added to her grief. What had happened here?

So, when she turned around and noticed the presence of an approaching man, she could not recognize him through her tears and "supposing him to be the gardener" she asks if he knows where Jesus' body has been taken.

And then, in one of the most beautiful moments of all history, Jesus says to her, "Mary."

One word. Her name. Mary.

Recognition floods her mind. Grief and confusion are replaced with joy and clarity, and she responds with the word "Rabboni" (master).

Mary was the first mortal to whom Jesus showed himself, but she would not be the last. And Jesus will come to any of us if we seek Him and learn to recognize Him, even through our tears and confusion.

Jesus is with us when we weep though we may not recognize Him at the time.

He is "a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief... the chastisement of our peace was upon him" so that He could really "know according to the flesh how to succor [rush to the aid of] his people according to their infirmities."

Grief, sadness, and despair are all a normal part of life - feelings we will all experience during our mortal sojourn. During these times we often feel alone as our emotions can hijack us and hide reality.

But we are never truly alone. We are God's "work and glory" because we are his children. Pray to hear the voice of Jesus calling your name, and replacing your grief with joy, your confusion with clarity.

I believe in a resurrected Jesus Christ. A living Jesus who loves each of us so much that He gave His life for us. And now, He lives for each of us to help us because life is hard, and we cannot do it on our own. Trust Jesus!

(John 20, Isaiah 53:3-5, Alma 7:12, Moses 1:39)