"In our hour of deepest sorrow, we can receive profound peace from the words of the angel that first Easter morning: ‘He is not here: for he is risen.'"
~Thomas S. Monson
President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
~Thomas S. Monson
President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
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| Tulips. Thanksgiving Point Tulip Festival. 2007. |
Today was a great day! Taught Gospel Doctrine (Sunday School class) all about the miracle of Christ healing the blind man in John Chapter 9 in the New Testament. What a beautiful chapter with so much to glean and learn. And then Easter dinner at Mom's with cousins. So fun. :) I love my family and I love laughing until I cry! (Even if it does hurt.)
In class, we talked a lot about why God allowed Christ to perform miracles then and still, yet today. Often these type of faith-building experiences are not just for our benefit, but for the benefit of those with whom we share. God performs miracles so that we can, with a surety, know that that He exists and then He expects us to share. I felt that way when Amber was in the hospital. I had a distinct impression that this experience was not solely for her learning and growth; on the contrary, actually. It was for us. And the miracle did not occur until all had been done to save her, until her doctors sat across from us and said, "We've done all we can. Now we are just waiting for her miracle." Amber lived and there is no way I will ever be able to deny the hand of God in her healing. There is no doubt in my mind. And I am prepared to share that and defend it, if I need to, for as long as I live.
The blind man, whom Christ healed, as is recorded in John, is questioned several times by the Pharisees and Jews with increasing skepticism: How were thine eyes opened? I believe the blind man was given his sight not just for his sake, not just for the convenience and blessing of seeing, but he was given an experience so miraculous, one that was undeniable, so that he could share the miracle. So that he could simply testify of Christ. He could not deny who healed him and how. "If this man were not of God, he could do nothing," he testified.
He boldly, yet very simply, states that Christ healed him by anointing his eyes with clay and then he could see. Each time he is questioned again he shares the same experience, gradually becoming more bold in his testimony. Would that we all would be so faithful, valiant, and fearless in sharing what we know to be true in our lives.
I believe in miracles. And I believe they occur to benefit us, but also to remind us that God is real. That Christ is His son. That they love us. And that together, they watch over us and are mindful of every little thing (and big thing) in our lives. God lives. Christ lives.
I love Easter. I just keep thinking about all that Easter means and visions of The Passion Play in Oberammergau just keep popping into my mind. What a phenomenal portrayal of the life of Christ and most especially, the week leading up to his crucifixion and his resurrection.
I love Easter. I love the sense of renewal it brings. Tomorrow, I'm going to get some Spring cleaning done. I'm also headed to the Thanksgiving Point Tulip Festival, where I hope to get more tulip pictures like the one above. I'm also extremely excited to be going to the Carl Heinrich Bloch exhibit at the BYU Museum of Art. I'm sure I'll have a whole post about that coming up. Hooray for a day off from work!
Happy Easter, my lovelies.
In class, we talked a lot about why God allowed Christ to perform miracles then and still, yet today. Often these type of faith-building experiences are not just for our benefit, but for the benefit of those with whom we share. God performs miracles so that we can, with a surety, know that that He exists and then He expects us to share. I felt that way when Amber was in the hospital. I had a distinct impression that this experience was not solely for her learning and growth; on the contrary, actually. It was for us. And the miracle did not occur until all had been done to save her, until her doctors sat across from us and said, "We've done all we can. Now we are just waiting for her miracle." Amber lived and there is no way I will ever be able to deny the hand of God in her healing. There is no doubt in my mind. And I am prepared to share that and defend it, if I need to, for as long as I live.
The blind man, whom Christ healed, as is recorded in John, is questioned several times by the Pharisees and Jews with increasing skepticism: How were thine eyes opened? I believe the blind man was given his sight not just for his sake, not just for the convenience and blessing of seeing, but he was given an experience so miraculous, one that was undeniable, so that he could share the miracle. So that he could simply testify of Christ. He could not deny who healed him and how. "If this man were not of God, he could do nothing," he testified.
He boldly, yet very simply, states that Christ healed him by anointing his eyes with clay and then he could see. Each time he is questioned again he shares the same experience, gradually becoming more bold in his testimony. Would that we all would be so faithful, valiant, and fearless in sharing what we know to be true in our lives.
I believe in miracles. And I believe they occur to benefit us, but also to remind us that God is real. That Christ is His son. That they love us. And that together, they watch over us and are mindful of every little thing (and big thing) in our lives. God lives. Christ lives.
I love Easter. I just keep thinking about all that Easter means and visions of The Passion Play in Oberammergau just keep popping into my mind. What a phenomenal portrayal of the life of Christ and most especially, the week leading up to his crucifixion and his resurrection.
I love Easter. I love the sense of renewal it brings. Tomorrow, I'm going to get some Spring cleaning done. I'm also headed to the Thanksgiving Point Tulip Festival, where I hope to get more tulip pictures like the one above. I'm also extremely excited to be going to the Carl Heinrich Bloch exhibit at the BYU Museum of Art. I'm sure I'll have a whole post about that coming up. Hooray for a day off from work!
Happy Easter, my lovelies.
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