Not Of This World

I can’t even begin to address how frustrated I am right now about people who have the craziest mixed up misconceptions about the Mormon Church. Does anyone else feel these frustrations?

I’m here to offer my insight (as much as that may be worth).

Also, I would love it if you guys came to me with prayer requests. 
:D 

 I want to know who you are
Even if you’re falling apart
Reach in and touch your scars
And all the shame you’ve kept in your heart

‘Cause it’s not enough
it’s not enough
just to say that we’re okay
i need your hurt i need your pain
it’s not love any other way

‘Cause I already know who you are
And all things that kept us apart
So reach in and touch My scars
and know the price I paid for your heart. 

God says, BREAK MY HEART FOR WHAT BREAKS YOURS!!! 
Why? 
Because He loves you. That’s why. 

During my meeting with the missionaries today, they invited me to be baptized in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! Thank you so much God! You have brought me nearer and nearer to you. Only you know my heart. <3

He is in the heavens

and He does
what He pleases. 

In light of recent events, I’ve decided an appropriate subject to write about is persecution. 
     You may face some difficulties because of your faith. Maybe you can’t watch a movie you want to because it is inappropriate. Maybe you get funny looks for listening to worship music in the dorm lobby. Maybe your parents aren’t completely supportive of your faith-based decisions. 
     Yes, these are uncomfortable and sometimes very hard things to face. They are inconveniences in our lives. But think about this: Jesus was NAILED to a CROSS and SUFFOCATED to DEATH because He was the Savior. Wow. We DO NOT KNOW the meaning of persecution. John the Baptist was beheaded. All of the apostles were imprisoned, exiled, murdered. All because of faith.
     So, when the going gets tough, where will you draw your strength from? Will you give in, and hide your faith like a lamp under a bowl? Because it WILL get tough. You WILL, WITHOUT A DOUBT face persecution because of your faith. Maybe not to the extreme. But that’s all the more reason not to give up. 
    Jesus said:

“You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. All men will hate you because of me. But, not a hair of your head will perish. By standing firm you will gain life.” —Luke 21:16-19

     This doesn’t mean that you won’t suffer because of your faith. Harm may come to you. You may, by some chance, even be murdered because you believe in God and Jesus Christ as your Savior. But you will gain life. You will gain SPIRITUAL life, and an everlasting life with our Heavenly Father. 
     So, yes. You will be made fun of. They will call you names. They will slander your reputation. They will put you down, and attack you while you’re at your lowest. But do not be disheartened. God is looking out for you. And the will of God will never lead you where the grace of God cannot keep you.

And I don’t mean that constant sort of loneliness or yearning for another person. I mean that deep, very alone kind of feeling. 

The kind of feeling where no one will be able to see into your heart to feel your hurt.

They can say they understand or that they can relate. But no one can truly know. 

But God knows.

And God hurts too.

So take it to him. Because he truly understands.

COMPARED TO WHAT?

     I have encountered several people, over time, that have approached me rather aggressively about the subject of salvation through works. Most of these individuals have argued with me that salvation is not through works, but through a belief and a love of God. And I agree completely. It is by God’s GRACE that we are saved: there is no possible way we could earn or deserve our salvation.
      However, too many people take advantage of the idea that faith alone saves us, because they don’t understand the meaning of faith here. They think that faith means simply believing in Jesus Christ and repenting when you are able to accept that you’re in the wrong, and you’re good. You go to heaven. This is FALSE. And I genuinely feel for these individuals who think that belief alone will save them, because they’ve been fed this and only this for so long, that all other spiritual sustenance is rejected by their spiritual body. 

     Here’s the thing.
     Faith is not just believing. It is loving Him with EVERY FIBER of your being. It is being obedient, and trying to be LIKE CHRIST. That’s what being a CHRISTIAN means! 
     No, salvation is not works based. But, James 2:17 says this:”[…] faith by itself, if not accompanied by action, is dead.” 
     So, yes! You must believe in Jesus Christ and the Heavenly Father with all your heart! Yes, you must love Him! But in believing in Him and TRULY loving Him, you won’t need to worry about doing works, because they will just happen naturally! If you are giving 100% to God and are in love with Him SINCERELY, IN YOUR HEART, then every singly one of your actions will reflect His glory and you will not have to constantly worry about whether or not you are serving Him.
     I do not mean to say that you will not mess up or lose faith from time to time. I do not mean to say that you will not suffer and that you will not someday take everything that Jesus has done for you and spit it back in His face. Maybe you already have. But if you truly love God now, in this very moment, and you live life obediently according to the Gospel, then there shouldn’t even be a question in your mind about works of faith vs. salvation.