Tending my seeds

In the Bible Dictionary it says, "Faith is a principle of action and power.."

Alma taught that faith is like a seed.  Faith in Jesus Christ is the seed we plant.  As we put Christ in our hearts, we will expand and grow.

There is a stark contrast in Alma 45 where the people dwindled in unbelief.  My dad always says, "I am convinced that all you have to do to lose your testimony is nothing."  I don't think it is very hard to dwindle, my plants start dwindling pretty quickly when I neglect them.

In Alma 32 the word nourish is included 8 times!  That seed will not grow if we don't do something to take care of it!  As I exercise my faith in Jesus Christ by turning my heart to Him, my little seed of faith grows.

In 1 Nephi 8:11-12, Lehi described the fruit of the tree of life, "I beheld that it was most sweet, above all that I ever before tasted...And as I partook of the fruit thereof it filled my soul with exceedingly great joy.."
Alma 33:23 "I desire that ye shall plant this word in your hearts, and as it beginneth to swell even so nourish it by your faith.  And behold, it will become a tree springing up in you unto everlasting life."

Jesus Christ is the Tree, He will grow in your heart!  I love Him so much.  It is worth every effort to keep exercising faith by taking action and nourishing the seed.

In Alma 33:23 it also says, "And then may God grant unto you that your burdens may be light, through the joy of his Son.  And even all this can ye do if ye will."

I am a work in progress, but I am nourishing my seed of faith and He had made my burdens light.

It is TRUE!!

My bucket was empty

I love the way the Lord teaches me through the scriptures.  I was having a day/week/month that wasn't going well.  I was burned out and exhausted!  I hadn't had a full night of sleep in months and had been sick.  I was talking to Blake about this and was having a little pity party.  I even used the words, "My bucket is empty, I have nothing left to give!".

I had been studying 1 Kings 17 about Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath with the kids that week so we watched a video about it for family home evening.  The Spirit touched my heart while I watched and I learned something new.  This faithful woman was barely surviving the famine and was literally gathering sticks for the fire of the last meal she and her son would eat.  Her bucket really WAS empty.  Then she met the prophet and unlike the messages of the world we constantly hear, he asked her to give a little bit more of herself.  She acted in faith and prepared a "little cake" and took it to him first. Her faith preceded the miracle!

  

"And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah:  and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days.  And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord which he spake by Elijah." 1 Kings 17:15-16

My application was clear.  The Lord acknowledged that He understood my bucket was empty, but He also showed me that I can give all that I have as I put my faith in Jesus Christ and that there will be enough and to spare.