Show Notes for Episode 26 of the Teach Me to Walk in the Light Podcast. Learn how when we are rooted in Christ we can feel peace even when we are surrounded by the noise, heartache, and uncertainty of the world. Includes FHE suggestion, a teaching tip on making ministering joyful along with scientifically proven reasons why it’s important to have family dinners together. This episode goes along with the Come, Follow Me – for Individuals and Families for the week of October 14 – 20.
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**This Episode goes along with the Come, Follow Me – For Individuals and Families for the week of October 14 – 20.**
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PERSONAL STUDY
1. My family and I are good friends with a family in our ward whose oldest child has down syndrome and his name J. Will. He is about 9 years old and he is super amazing. We love J. Will. We think the world of him and his family.
J. Will’s dad gave a powerful analogy one time that I will never forget. He said, imagine that my son J. Will and I are at the beach. Imagine that we are walking out into the waves on a San Diego beach, a short distance away from each other. The waves coming in are strong – strong enough to knock J. Will down and push him under. They would easily be strong enough to hold him down, causing him to drown if he were not rescued. They don’t, however, knock me down. The wave doesn’t hit J. Will any harder than it hits me, it’s that my power to endure the effects of the wave is greater than J. Will’s.
We can compare this analogy to the power and blessings that come from standing firm in the gospel, from making righteous choices and strengthening our testimonies. As we do that, we become rooted in Christ. We become strong and immoveable so that when the waves or storms of life try and push us down, we are strong enough to stay standing.
2. Colossians 1:23 we are taught that we should “continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel…”
3. Elder Neal A. Maxwell
Events and circumstances in the last days make it imperative for us as members of the Church to become more grounded, rooted, established, and settled (see Col. 1:23; Col. 2:7; 2 Pet. 1:12). Jesus said to His disciples, “settle this in your hearts, that ye will do the things which I shall teach, and command you” (JST Luke 14:28). If not so settled, the turbulence will be severe. If settled, we will not be “tossed to and fro,” whether by rumors, false doctrines, or by the behavioral and intellectual fashions of the world.
4. In 2014 my husband unexpectedly lost his job. He had been a project manager for a civil engineering company.
After almost six months of unemployment, my husband did gain employment at the Jr. College here in town working with grants and contracts. This was a wonderful blessing in our lives. The only downside was, this job had an end date. My husband’s employment with the college was on a contract basis and it would be up in just three years. Luckily, before that three years was up, the college renewed my husband’s contract for one more year with the possibility that it might renew again for another six years.
Long story, short – not knowing what the future held for us, about nine months before my husband’s contract was officially up that fourth and final year, he began applying for jobs. Any job within his project management field, it didn’t matter where. We were tired of having a job with an end date. We just wanted a job with more security.
My husband applied and then he applied some more, and then he applied some more. He went from interview to interview. Many times, we’d get our hopes up thinking, “Yea, this is it. We’re finally getting a job,” but then he wouldn’t get it and we could never figure out why.
Three weeks before my husband would officially be jobless again, with no new job in sight and no contract renewal with the college in sight, a friend of mine was asking me about the job situation and believe it or not but I was very calm. I calmly explained to her what was going on and that I knew that no matter what, it was going to be ok, I knew something was going to work out.
Let me just say, and I’m sure my children will attest to you, that calm is NOT my middle name. Emotional is more like it. So for me to be so calm and not to instantly be crying and going, “Oh my gosh! I don’t know what we’re going to do! Blah blah blah.” This being calm was all new for me.
In fact, my friend even commented how impressed she was with my calmness and how if it was happening to her, she was sure she would be freaking out – and that’s when it hit me. She was right. Up until that point, I hadn’t even really thought about the calmness and the peace that I had been feeling over the whole situation until she had said something to me. And it made me stop and think, “Holy Cow, this is so cool. I’m honestly not worried.” That very day, I expressed my overwhelming gratitude to my Father in Heaven for lifting that burden from my shoulders and giving me the peace and surety that I needed at that time.
My husband did get a new job and he started just one week before his job at the college was up. He got on at the mine here, managing contracts. Contracts being something he had learned to do while working at the college. He loves his job, he loves what he does and who he works with, and everything has worked out perfectly. The Lord knew exactly what He was doing.
I know, that the burden was lifted off of my shoulders because my husband and I were doing all that we could to follow the Savior and I trusted Him. The Lord had been there before in our time of need and I knew that He would be there again.
Peace in the face of difficulty is like the “reward” as I like to call it, for holding on to the hope and faith of the gospel. It is the reward or the effect of rooting yourself in Christ.
5. The Apostle Paul teaches us what else we can do to stay rooted in Christ and to experience that peace – the peace that passeth all understanding.
Philippians 4: 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Prayer and expressing gratitude.
Humble, trusting prayer brings consolation, solace, comfort, direction, and peace the unworthy can never know.
7. Think positive.
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
8. The Real Meaning of Peace, Click HERE
9. Life will never be 100% perfect or void of trials and tribulations because that isn’t the plan. The Lord’s plan is for us to come to earth to be tried and tested but along with that plan, He has also made a way for us to find everlasting peace in the midst of it all. A peace that doesn’t come from the outside, but a peace that comes from within. As we look to Jesus Christ, in the midst of life’s storms and a world full of turmoil, we can be undisturbed in our surroundings. We can be in perfect peace.
10. On Joseph Smith’s way to Carthage Jail, although he had been arrested and acquitted thirty-seven times, he knew this time he would not return. Joseph Smith said, “I am going like a lamb to the slaughter; but I am calm as a summer’s morning.” (Documentary History of the Church, vol. 6, p. 630.)
11. Peach in Christ, 2018 Mutual Theme, Click HERE
FHE
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TEACHING TIP
Today’s teaching tip comes from a church article entitled Making Ministering Joyful.
I couldn’t agree more when it said:
“Sometimes our search for happiness in this life can seem like running on a treadmill. We run and run and still feel like we haven’t gotten anywhere. For some, the thought of ministering to others simply feels like adding more to do.”
Life is so busy and overwhelming. My friends have heard me say many times how I feel like I’m barely keeping my head above water and that I’m just treading water, many times feeling as if I’m getting nowhere.
It is time we change our way of thinking. If we were to pray for a new perspective on life and on ministering I believe the Lord would tell us that “men are, that they might have joy” and in order to have joy – something we don’t get running on a treadmill or treading water- is to do as the Savior did. Minister to others. Ministering to others is an essential part of bringing joy into our lives.
In the article it also says how Elder Uchtdorf told about a single mother who got chickenpox—and then her children got sick too. The normally spotless house became cluttered and messy. Dishes and laundry piled up.
In a moment when she felt completely overwhelmed, Relief Society sisters knocked on her door. They didn’t say, “Let us know if we can help.” When they saw the situation, they sprang into action.
“They cleared up the chaos, brought light and clarity into the home, and called a friend to bring over some much-needed groceries. When they at last finished their work and said their good-byes, they left that young mother in tears—tears of gratitude and love.”
Both the givers and the receiver felt the warmth of joy. Now that is happiness.
Let us each strive to change our perspective on ministering, look at it as a means of finding JOY in our crazy hectic lives, not as another item on our to-do-list.
#taketimeforfamily
7 Scientifically Proven Reasons Why We Should Eat Together As Families
- FAMILY DINNERS MEAN BETTER FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
For younger children, routine family meals can provide a sense of security and a feeling of belonging in the family and in a recent Columbia University study, 71% of teenagers said they consider talking, catching-up, and spending time with family members as the best part of family dinners.
- FAMILY MEALS LEAD TO HEALTHIER FOOD CHOICES
A survey found that the 9-14-year-olds who ate dinner with their families most frequently consumed more fruits and vegetables and less soda and fried foods.
- EATING AS A FAMILY LEADS TO BETTER GRADES
Studies have proven that there’s a significant link between family dinners and academic performance. A report by CASA found that teens who have between five and seven family dinners per week were twice as likely to report receiving mostly A’s and B’s in school, compared to those teens who have fewer than three family dinners per week.
- FAMILY DINNERS LEAD TO GREATER HAPPINESS
Research examining 5,000 teenagers has shown that when children eat with their parents regularly, they are more likely to be emotionally strong and have better mental health. Teens who ate regular family meals were also more likely to be adjusted, have good manners and communication skills. This effect is not restricted to the children – mothers who ate with their families often were also found to be happier and less stressed as compared to mothers who did not.
- HOMEMADE MEALS PROMOTE PORTION CONTROL
The average restaurant meal has as much as 60% more calories than a homemade meal. Combine the fact that portions served in restaurants are continuing to expand.
- FAMILY DINNERS RELIEVE STRESS
In 2008, researchers at Brigham Young University conducted a study of IBM employees and found that sitting down to a family meal helped working moms reduce the tension and strain from long hours at the office.
- EATING AT HOME SAVES MONEY
According to a cost comparison of home cooking versus restaurant delivered meals, on average, you can save around $16 per meal by cooking at home.
(For resource, click HERE)
Yours Truly,
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