Tag Archive for: Hope

The Source

In my preparations for a forthcoming learning intervention with a large company, I held a 1-1 call with the leader of the organisation.
He shared lots of thoughts, feelings, analysis and views about current issues, yet I felt I needed more.
After some in depth discussion, I suggested that it would be helpful to meet 1 by 1 with each of the Senior Management Team (SMT).
Thus, I travelled south, to be with them this week.
After setting the context, I asked one question and ran a little activity, repeating it several times over two days.
In each of my personal encounters, one by one they spoke openly and passionately about their responsibilities.
The outcomes were insightful, helpful and enlightening.
Spending time with each leader, connecting with them, grasping their perspectives and engaging with them personally helped me to discern the nature of the challenges at hand.
Direct communication, powerful questioning and active listening were key to each of them giving me their personal views.
Reflecting upon this activity, I believe it to have been a successful use of everyoneโ€™s time.

Why?

I went to ๐ญ๐ก๐ž ๐ฌ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐œ๐ž.

In our dialogue, connecting with each member of the SMT was a powerful ๐ฌ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐œ๐ž of helpful insight, allowing me to foster authentic relationships and avoid any distortion of information.

Since then, I have thought about another ๐ฌ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐œ๐ž of even greater insight.
Going to ๐’•๐’‰๐’† ๐ฌ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐œ๐ž, especially in matters of faith and spirituality, carries an unparalleled significance that cannot be replaced by second-hand knowledge, interpretation, or analysis.

Who?

I believe that Jesus Christ is “๐’•๐’‰๐’† ๐’”๐’๐’–๐’“๐’„๐’†”” of all peace, light, truth and joy.
When we go to Him, we are referring to an intimate, personal encounter with the divine that shapes our spiritual understanding and life in ways that books, sermons, or even conversations with others can never fully achieve.
Encountering Jesus Christ in a personal, direct manner leads to deep, long-lasting change.
๐‡๐ž is ๐’•๐’‰๐’† ๐’”๐’๐’–๐’“๐’„๐’† of the living waters, providing an abundance of life, spiritual sustenance and joy.
Speaking to the Samaritan woman as she drew from Jacobโ€™s well, Jesus declared โ€œBut whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.โ€ โ€“ John 4:13-14
I hope that we will all choose to drink from the divine ๐ฌ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐œ๐ž of all living waters and connect with Him, even Jesus Christ.

God-incidence

For those of us who have put our faith and trust in God, there seems to be a lot of “coincidences.”
I believe that God puts people in our way for a reason and He was at work again this week, with my dear friend Derek.
We were talking about recognising โ€œhand of the Lordโ€ moments in our life, when he introduced me to the term “๐‘ฎ๐’๐’…-๐’Š๐’๐’„๐’Š๐’…๐’†๐’๐’„๐’†.”
It was the very first time I’d heard such a phrase.
“๐†๐จ๐-๐ข๐ง๐œ๐ข๐๐ž๐ง๐œ๐ž” – A happening exceeding happenstance.
The hand of the Lord, divine design, divine signatures, divine appointment, divinely orchestrated, providential coincidences, or evenโ€ฆ strikingly juxtaposed events!
I encourage you to reflect on the sheer โ€˜coincidencesโ€™ in your life.
Could they be โ€˜God-incidences?

You decide!

Does any of this sound familiar?
โ€œThat is simply not possible.โ€
โ€œWasnโ€™t that just perfect timing?โ€
โ€œAnd you just happened to be in the right place at the right time.โ€
โ€œI couldnโ€™t have planned that better if Iโ€™d tried.โ€
โ€œIt just so happened that in that momentโ€ฆโ€
God doesnโ€™t work by coincidence.
I believe in God-incidence.
And this is not a faith specific phenomenon.
It occurs in all faiths and beliefs.
And yet, it baffles believers and sceptics alike.
I also believe all things are crafted by God โ€” including time.
He is omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent!
Nothing is random with Him.
If you are devoted to Jesus Christ, I am sure youโ€™ll notice God-incidence, yet many will argue simply human coincidence.
However, I know that Jesus Christ is a loving God and He has intentional plans for each of us.
โ€œThe steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.โ€ – Psalms 37:23
Let’s expect Him to be at work, in our day, every day!
Look very carefully at your own life today.
Watch and see those God-incidences unfoldโ€ฆ

Familiar Lessons

Weโ€™ve been home in Scotland for 3 weeks.
Already, I have learned some old familiar lessons.
For the last 3 years, our focus on our missionary efforts, meant that our time to stay up to date with news and current affairs was at best, limited.
For certain, content standards and regulations about what can be shown on the news in the Netherlands were far less restrictive than here in the UK.
The images and footage shown were starker, never sanitized or blurred as shown here.
However, regardless of which news channel you watch, it is clear that in our day, we are living through a period of wickedness, tribulation, calamity, peril and great distress.

The Rising Generation

I know for many of the rising generation, their hopes of a bright future are filled with anxiety and despair.
I think weโ€™ve all had times of confusion.
I am a church man and have faith in God, His Son Jesus Christ and the great plan of Salvation.
Much has been written about the calamities that will overtake this generation.
Yet, I find great comfort in this pattern.

There is Hope

Make a serious study of Matthew 24 (include the inspired version).
Then study Doctrine and Covenants 45.
Followed by Sections 101 and 133 of the Doctrine & Covenants.
Finally, review section 38 of The Doctrine & Covenants.
In the first few weeks of our missionary service, we attended a conference in Copenhagen.
At one point in the conference, tensions increased as a difficult topic was discussed.
Elder Massimo De Feo, a General Authority Seventy, who was presiding, asked for a video to be played by Sissel, โ€œSlow Downโ€ from the Pioneer Concert of 2019 in Salt Lake City.
Immediately, the tension dissipated.
The room was filled with a tender, beautiful spirit of love.
I will never forget that moment and will cherish the feelings that pierced my heart โ€“ forever.
The words and message of the song are powerful and I used it constantly throughout our missionary service.
โ€œIn the midst of my confusion
In the time of desperate need
When I am thinking not too clearly
A gentle voice does intercede.
Slow downโ€ฆ..โ€
In our final Mission Conference, Emma Holmes and Brigitta Broadbent shared their own beautiful version with us.
I invite you to โ€œBe still and know that I am Godโ€ โ€“ Psalms 46:10

“Look how far we’ve come…”

After their final departing testimonies, I asked the six missionaries to line up in front of the rostrum.
โ€œElder Johnson, can you stand the middle of them please.โ€
โ€œNow take 13 steps away from Elder Johnson, in any direction you like.โ€
Departing

And off they went.

โ€œElder Santos, you take another 4 steps, so 17 in total.โ€
At that point he was in the corridor and then he came back into the chapel.
โ€œElder Johnson, will you please represent Jesus Christ.โ€
Some further instruction was given to them all.

Returning

โ€œTake 1 step towards Jesus Christโ€.
โ€œNow, take your second stepโ€ฆโ€
โ€œThirdโ€ and so forth until all 13 steps were taken and all of the sisters had returned to stand by Jesus Christ (Elder Johnson).
Elder Santos was still a little distance away, so I asked him to take his final 4 steps towards Jesus Christ.
Tenderly, they embraced one another.
In the analogy, each step represented a 6-week transfer in the mission.
Sisters have 13, and Elders 17.
As they immersed themselves in their purpose, to invite others to come unto Christ through their 18 or 24-month mission, something miraculous happens.
One by One – they ๐’„๐’‰๐’‚๐’๐’ˆ๐’†.

Faith

Step by step, day by day, week by week, transfer by transfer, they edge closer to Jesus Christ.
โ€œFor we walk by faith, not by sight.โ€ โ€“ 2 Corinthains 5:7
What did He see in each of them?
As they struggled, with their faults, failings, and human frailties, they too felt of His healing hands and frequent tender embraces.
Like each of them, He sees all of us as souls worth saving.
โ€œAs we are made new in Christ, our very natures change, and we no longer want to go back to our old ways.โ€ Elder Robert D. Hales.
We literally become โ€œin Christโ€ฆ a new creatureโ€ฆโ€ 2 Corinthians 5:17
On your journey through life, how does Jesus Christ give you the strength to change?
Ask the missionaries โ€“ they can help!

The Multiplier Effect

I offered a 1 Euro coin to the missionaries on Friday.
โ€œHow much is that worthโ€ I asked?
โ€œ1 Euroโ€ came the reply.
I inquired further, โ€œAre you sure?โ€
โ€œYesโ€ he said.
I responded, โ€œItโ€™s actually worth a lot more than that, let me show you how.”
I purchased a random item from the first missionary with the 1 Euro coin.
Then he purchased an item from the second missionary in line with the same 1 Euro coin.
The second bought something from the third, and the third bought something from the fourth, with the same 1 Euro coin.
As if by magic, the 1 Euro coin had now become worth 4 Euroโ€™s.
Repeating the process, 1 Euro can become worth thousands of Euro’s.

The Multiplier

In economics itโ€™s called the ๐’Ž๐’–๐’๐’•๐’Š๐’‘๐’๐’Š๐’†๐’“ ๐’†๐’‡๐’‡๐’†๐’„๐’•.
Multiplying means to increase or cause to increase greatly in number or quantity.
Iโ€™ve learned that there are, earthly economic principles and divine eternal principles of multiplying โ€“ it depends on who is doing the work.

Scripturally

For instance, the scriptures are filled with stories of multiplying.
In each of the Gospels, we read about the ๐‘ฎ๐’“๐’†๐’‚๐’• ๐‘ด๐’–๐’๐’•๐’Š๐’‘๐’๐’Š๐’†๐’“, our Saviour Jesus Christ, feeding the 5,000 with five loaves and two fishes.
We understand that after the breaking, came the giving.
In Mark 6:42-43 we read โ€œAnd they did all eat and were filled. And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes.โ€
The multiplication was a result of His work, not our work.
To meet a great need, He always starts with what we have.
I know that Jesus Christ is an expert at multiplication.
Time and time again, our Saviour takes something small, ordinary, seemingly irrelevant, and multiplies it into something amazing, remarkable and of eternal significance.

Starting Small

I find it interesting that He always starts small.
The loaves and fishes were broken by His hands.
Sometimes we are broken too, before we see the blessings of the Great multiplier.
Tenderly, He will multiply your faith, your hope, your love, your joy and your worth.
He can supply all that you need, in abundance.
Let Him be your ๐‘ฎ๐’“๐’†๐’‚๐’• ๐‘ด๐’–๐’๐’•๐’Š๐’‘๐’๐’Š๐’†๐’“.
Ask the missionaries โ€“ theyโ€™ll help you understand.

Hope

Recently I was asked “How do you build hope?”
There are many compelling reasons to lose hope at the moment.
We may lose hope because the future for the world in general or for ourselves personally – looks increasingly bleak.
We can lose hope because it seems there are no solutions, there is no way out, or perhaps no escape from the challenges ahead.
Is that your reality?
I believe there is great hope for everyone…
Hope is “the anticipated fulfilment of a desire, to expect with confidence.”
For me, hope is the antidote for despair.
Working with missionaries every day I find that when we have hope, we trust in Godโ€™s promises.
Dieter F Uchtdorf said: “Hope is one leg of a 3-legged stool, together with faith and charity. These three stabilize our lives regardless of the rough or uneven surfaces we might encounter at the time. The scriptures are clear and certain about the importance of hope. The Apostle Paul taught that the scriptures were written to the end that we โ€œmight have hope.โ€
In a recent Zone Conference I used a 3-legged stool to reinforce this principle even further.
See Moroni 7:33, 40-43, 47-48 in the Book of Mormon.
Hope will always lighten our load and it strengthens our resolve to succeed.
Here are some ideas to build hope…
– Work on your self-discipline
– Focus on the positive
– Identify and challenge any negative beliefs
– Take care of yourself -physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually
– Surround yourself with hopeful people and environments
– Celebrate even the smallest of victories.
How are faith, hope and charity like a 3-legged stool?
What do you need to do to develop them?

Taught

You cannot teach without learning.
One day in every 6-week period, missionaries gather together to be taught at zone conference.
My experience is that these are times of great learning and understanding for everyone.
The ultimate purpose of everything in zone conference, every question, every scripture, every activity, everything taught, is to invite the Spirit to build faith and to strengthen the testimonies of each missionary as they come to know Jesus Christ even more.

In the scriptures we read, โ€œThe Holy Ghost โ€ฆ shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto youโ€ (John 14:26).

It is only through the Holy Ghost that we can accomplish the ultimate goal of gospel teaching, which is to build faith in Jesus Christ and to help others become more like Him.

๐“ฃ๐“ฑ๐“ฎ ๐“๐“ป๐“ป๐“ธ๐”€ ๐“ช๐“ท๐“ญ ๐“ฝ๐“ฑ๐“ฎ ๐“ข๐“ธ๐“ท๐“ฐ

I shot an arrow into the air,
It fell to the earth, I knew not where;
For, so swiftly it flew, the sight
Could not follow it in its flight.
I breathed a song into the air,
It fell to earth I knew not where;
For who has sight so keen and strong
That it can follow the flight of a song?
Long, long afterward, in an oak
I found the arrow, still unbroke;
And the song from beginning to end,
I found again in the heart of a friend.
– ๐“—๐“ฎ๐“ท๐“ป๐”‚ ๐“ฆ๐“ช๐“ญ๐“ผ๐”€๐“ธ๐“ป๐“ฝ๐“ฑ ๐“›๐“ธ๐“ท๐“ฐ๐“ฏ๐“ฎ๐“ต๐“ต๐“ธ๐”€.

Hopes and Dreams

For me, these words beautifully express the hopes and dreams of every teacher who has ever taught.
This is however especially true in zone conferences.
Every missionary comes prepared to learn and to be taught.
Each session is filled with such a tender spirit, as learning comes from on High.
All those who teach in such settings provide such sweet, delicate, yet powerful messages that penetrate the hearts of all attending.
My hope, like any other teacher is that the eternal principles taught, will live, not just for a day or two, but just as their own souls, will live forever.
Ultimately my experience is always this – their hearts are filled, and their notepads too.
How was your experience of being taught at a zone conference?

Things of My Soul

Ever since I received my first blank diary on Christmas day, 1977, I have enjoyed journaling.
Recording activities, thoughts and feelings has become a daily habit.
Over the years, my journals have become a constant companion in my life. Like Nephi in the Book of Mormon, he records, โ€œAnd upon these things I write the things of my soulโ€. (2 Nephi 4:15)
Recently, I have been very mindful about not only nourishing my soul, but also helping each of the missionaries to nourish their souls.
What is your soul?
The scriptures teach that โ€œthe spirit and the body are the soul of manโ€ (D&C 88:15)
Yesterday, whilst attending a funeral service my soul was stirred, comforted, and cheered on through beautiful words, uplifting music, a gentle tearful embrace and by tenderly holding hands.
I felt Godโ€™s love, in the depths of my soul.
It was peaceful, elegant, and divine.
I felt safe and secure.
Godโ€™s love entered my heart and filled me with hope.
He is anxious for all of us to feel His love, wherever we are.
In a like manner, working so closely with young missionaries from all over the world, teaching moments occur daily for each of them as they discover the things of their souls.
My heart is filled with a great love for each of them, as they come to understand the things of their own souls.

Nourishment

They are eager to learn and hungry for soul stirring nourishment.
They have many questions.
Teaching moments come frequently, as I sit and discuss with them the things of their souls.
Just as we need food and water to nourish our bodies to survive physically, we also need the gospel of Jesus Christ to feed us to survive spiritually.
Where do you record the things of your soul?
Is your soul inquiring after some spiritual nourishment?
Then, why not speak with one of the missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Each one of them know a bit about the things of their souls.
They can help feed, nourish and illuminate yours.

Letters to President

Are you excited when you receive a letter?
Every week, I receive letters from many of the missionaries serving throughout Belgium and the Netherlands.
In my time as a young missionary 40 years ago, serving in London, they arrived by post. Now, they arrive by email every P-Day (Preparation Day) โ€“ a Tuesday.
I am always excited to read their letters and hear about all that is going on in the mission field.
They share personal stories, challenges, spiritual insights and respond to several questions such as the following:

Questions

โ€ข Please share a few successes and/or challenges from your efforts to fulfil your missionary purpose this past week.
โ€ข During the past week, did you feel joy and satisfaction in your work?
โ€ข How united did you feel with your companion(s) this past week?
โ€ข What is one area you can focus on this coming week to more closely follow the principles in Missionary Standards for Disciples of Jesus Christ?
โ€ข Did you participate in any companion exchanges this past week?
โ€ข Are there any physical or emotional health, safety, or security challenges that you would like to share?
โ€ข Is there anything happening at home or with your family that you would like to share?
โ€ข Is there anything else you would like to share?
โ€ข During the past month, how have you seen the hand of the Lord in your work?

Responding

Yesterday, I spent most of my day, reading and responding to many letters.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time understanding all that is happening throughout the mission.
After 2 years of reading letters, I am constantly thrilled to learn about the many divine experiences that happen week in, week out through the ministering efforts of these young missionaries.
Their sincerity, their faith in Jesus Christ, their spiritual insights, their drive and determination is real.
The Lordsโ€™ hand is in the details of their work, every single day.
If you havenโ€™t spoken with one of our young missionaries, then now is the time to reach out and listen.
Many of the messages in their letters to me are filled with miraculous experiences and wonders galore.
Yes โ€“ miracles happen in our day, every day.
If you allow them to, missionaries can help you slow down and see His hand in your life too.
You may not receive a weekly letter from them as I do, but the message theyโ€™ll share with you is equally as potent and powerful.
Go on, reach out to a missionary today and ask them to share a message with youโ€ฆ I know you won’t regret it! ๐Ÿ™‚

Faith precedes the Miracle

๐๐ฅ๐š๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐  ๐š๐ง๐ ๐‡๐š๐ซ๐ฏ๐ž๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ 
Over the course of the last 2 years, we have made many friends in Belgium and the Netherlands.
One of my new dear friends, is Melina. With her husband Michiel, they run a farm where they grow sugarbeets, wheat, Belgian endives and onions.
I love reading their posts on Facebook and Instagram.
In my personal study this morning, I got to thinking about planting and harvesting.
There is if you will, in planting and harvesting a design, a method, a sequence, a system, an order, a pattern.
Itโ€™s a simple one.
๐–๐ž ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐š๐ง๐ญ, ๐’ƒ๐’†๐’‡๐’๐’“๐’† ๐ฐ๐ž ๐ก๐š๐ซ๐ฏ๐ž๐ฌ๐ญ.
Mingled with lots and lots of hard work in between.
And so, it is with ๐Ÿ๐š๐ข๐ญ๐ก.

Faith precedes the Miracle

In his book Faith Precedes the Miracle, Spencer W. Kimball taught; โ€œIn faith we plant the seed, and soon we see the miracles of the blossoming. Men have often misunderstood and have reversed the process. They would have the harvest ๐’ƒ๐’†๐’‡๐’๐’“๐’† the planting, the reward ๐’ƒ๐’†๐’‡๐’๐’“๐’† the service, the miracle ๐’ƒ๐’†๐’‡๐’๐’“๐’† the faith. Even the most demanding labour unions would hardly ask the wages before the labour. But many of us would have the vigour without observing the health laws, prosperity through the opened windows of heaven without the payment of our tithes. We would have the close communion with our Father without fasting and praying; we would have the rain in due season and peace in the land without observing the Sabbath and keeping the other commandments of the Lord. We would pluck the rose before planting the roots; we would harvest the grain before sowing and cultivating.โ€
Melina and Michiel are amongst some of the hardest working people I know.
They understand that faith is a principle of action and power.
Although faith is a gift, it must be cultured and sought after until it grows from one tiny seed into a marvellous harvest.
Remember the order, through exercising our faith, first we plant, we work hard, ๐’•๐’‰๐’†๐’ comes the harvest.
What harvests have you seen as you have exercised your faith and gone to work?