{My very thrashed reading schedule sheetclick on picture to enlarge}
Even reading each night before going to bed, I was still able to gain insights from my reading. I think it would be great to start each day with the scriptures, but for me it's a great way to end each day.
"For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.
But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him."
--Moroni 7:16-17
This past week I read these verses and they jumped out at me. I tend to be able to see the grand scheme of things in a simple way, but often let life cloud my vision and complicate things. But ultimately I know, I am either on the Lord's side or I am not. The world tries to convince us that there's a huge gray area in the middle of the black and white, but there isn't. We make decisions every day that either bring us closer to Christ or further from Him. When I was feeling my pangs of jealousy the other day I felt further from Him, but today I am closer. It's a constant effort because Satan is trying so hard to pull us away from Christ (frightening to think about). I think I'll read The Screwtape Letters again, because it goes so well with this thought and with the constant struggle to stay focused in life.
**What do you think??**
P.S. It cracks me up when I proof read my Sunday thoughts because the scriptures really prove a challenge for spell check.
28 comments:
Congrats on reaching your goal!
Congratulations, Jill! That's got to be so satisfying to have such a tangible goal fulfilled!
Thanks for posting~i'm printing out my plan as we speak! I need something like this to keep me on track!
Autumn
Congrats on accomplishing your goal before your birthday! That is really fantastic!
It is so true. We are either drawing closer to Christ or we are not!
Good for you! That is a great accomplishment and always feels so good to reach a goal!
That is awesome. Hoe fun to finish the day before your birthday!
this motivates me. thanks!
Congrats on such a great accomplishment! I was just talking with my SIL at church today about that cool website. I am so glad you linked it again.
Great Sunday thoughts once again :)
Good for you and thanks for a little extra motivation that I always need! What a great birthday blessing. Happy Birthday Jill!
Woohoo! You're inspiring. I was great for awhile, but I've slacked off again. Perhaps the reading schedule would really do the trick for me. So wonderful to accomplish a goal, and to feel closer to Christ today. You're right, it requires daily effort. Sometimes we just need to remember whose side we want to be on!
so proud of you. I need Pres. Hinckley to come out and give us a kick in the pants again---that challenge really got me going. Why does it take challenges for me to do anything? Way to go on being self motivated!
congrats.. I love reading the BOM... It has been a while since I have finished it... probably since Pres. Hinkley's challenge.. I think I need to make myself a chart and really make it a priority.. love your thoughts we are either moving toward Christ or away..I need to make better choices daily to make sure I am getting closer..
thanks for always sharing your Sunday thoughts.. my favorite time to read your blog!
Impressive Jill! I'm still struggling with making scriptures an every day thing. I have good weeks and more often bad weeks. I think I need to give your checklist a try- that might help!
Nice going. I've noticed the tool on your sidebar for making a reading schedule. I'm making one for myself right now. Maybe also a slower going one for the family.
In Sunday School today the question of how does one tell the difference between the Holy Ghost and one's own thoughts came up. Clearly someone should have referred to Moroni 7 to answer that question.
Congrats on finishing it. It really is quite an accomplishment to do no matter how long it takes you. I for one need to do it in the morning though, too many things come up in the evening and I end up not doing it.
I am just in the process of starting and ending before summers end. It is a YW challenge that I am taking on. Hopefully like you I can keep up the motivation. Somedays its really hard.
Done. I made my 36th birthday my goal, too. I also like the scripture memorizing helper.
Such great insight into life. I am always so happy when someone is able to overcome something small or great. It shows that the human spirit is stronger than the adversary. I've missed reading your posts and daily insights into life. So glad you are feeling good and accomplished your goal to read the book of mormon before your birthday. :-)
Congratulations!! What a great accomplishment! I took your idea for the scripture tracker for Lindsey, she wants to try to read it before she turns 8 in November. I'm not so sure it will happen, but it is the effort that makes the difference.
way to go! i'm ashamed to say i've been skimping on scripture reading and counting more "interesting" reading like the ensign as scripture reading. for shame! your post has reminded me about the importance of daily scripture reading.
Hey Jill! Birthday Girl! It's 12:40 a.m. in VA, so let me be among the first to wish you HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! I hope you have the best day, filled with fun, food, friends, and family. I think you're incredible!
Way to go Jill. I think that is an awesome accomplishment. Thanks for the inspiration!
Awesome. Of all the goals we set what a great one to keep. Congrats.
Jill, congrats on finishing. I think I need to go check out that tracker thing. I think that it would be really cool to read the whole Book of Mormon in a semi-short time span. It would give it such a different perspective. Get more of the big picture, maybe. I heard once a challenge to read it in two weeks. How would that be!? Why is it that I can read any other 531 page book in no time but its so hard with the scriptures?
And a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you too. Hope your day is fantabulous!
But I like living in a gray world with my summer home in Babylon! :) Actually this is something I am always struggling with because I do see the world as gray and I am always trying to compromise and find common ground with people so being rigid about right and wrong is hard for me. I've thought a lot about it and it seems people who do stick to white and black are very stalwart which is something I respect and there are things I am uncompromising about, I just wish it weren't so easy for me to see both sides of some of these grayer issues.
Happy birthday! I hope you have a wonderful day.
oh wow! i just think it is amazing! it has totally motivated me to try this goal as well. i just love the tradition and the emotion associated with finishing on your birthday,or before, i am so goal oriented that i will do things if there is a goal, but not always because it is the right thing to do... just like keeping my house house spotless. i don't do it because i should everyday and it is the right thing to do, but if someone comes into town, it is spic and span.
i could not agree more with you are either for it or against it, helping or hurting, progressing or not... thanks for pointing that out from your reading. I am just so proud of you and love seeing a post 7 months in the making!!!
i am now on my 10th time checking for you birthday post.....
congratulations on achieving your goal!
Well done on such a feat! I don't know anything about the Book of Mormon, as I'm Church of England, but your notes clearly show what a serious business it is.
I'm like you in that, ideally, I'd love to rise v.early and read scriptures first thing - but I go to bed too late and desperately need every last second of sleep in the mornings.
How have you managed to blog so often AND complete the BoM?? Have you got access to a secret portal to a 35-hour day?
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