So, this week, I find myself once again studying and comparing the miracles performed by Christ. I compared two similar instances where the people were gathered to be healed and taught by the Lord, and they were there so long that it was necessary for them to receive nourishment so the Lord provided a way so they would not have to leave. I realized there was a lesson here for us about how we need to rely on the Lord when we fall short.  

Here is my comparison chart of the separate stories:

	Matthew 14:14-21	Matthew 15:32-38
How many people were present?	5 thousand	4 thousand
What did they need?	“victuals” or food	food
What were they able to offer in an effort to meet the need?	5 Loaves & two fishes	7 Loaves and a few little fish
What words or phrases describe the Savior’s feeling toward the multitudes in their time of need?	Moved with compassion	He had compassion
What words or phrases describe what the Savior was able to provide for the multitudes?	“Looking up to Heaven, He blessed, and brake, and gave…” “And they did all eat and were filled”	“gave thanks and brake them, and gave…”     “And they did all eat and were filled…”

In each story, the available food was insufficient to feed the multitude, yet with the help of the Lord, the insufficiency was overcome. In Romans 3:23, we read that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. In this way, all human effort is insufficient in receiving the glory of God. According to Ether 12:27, we learn that the Lord helps us overcome this insufficiency  when we come to Him in humility and in our weakness, then He will make our weaknesses strong.

In life, I have found that while we can reach out to others and receive some help and strength in our trial and endeavors, it is not until we come to Christ that we find true healing and strenght to overcome our obstacles.

This week, I am studying Matthew 5-13, Mark 2-5, and Luke 5-8.
I decided to write up a chart showing Christ's miracles and the faith of those who preceeded them.
The day I decided to do this I ended up having five different opportunities to study the scriptures and articles written from General conference concerning topics such as hope as an anchor to the soul, the word of God, Pressing forward and being steadfast, and others that were all related to faith. It gave me hope.

1.        

Unit 1 Choice 2   Matthew 8-9; Mark 2   Miracles Are Evidence of Faith and God’s Power

References                         Miracles of the Lord                                 Who Demonstrated Faith

Matthew 8: 1-4                     Cures a Leper           The Leper who said “… thou canst make me clean”

Matt. 8:5-13              Heals a servant of palsy         The Centurion who says “…Speak the word only”

Matt. 8:14-15          Heals Peter’s Mother-in-law from fever                 The mother-in-law

Matt. 8:16              Cast out spirits and Healed the sick                    The people who came to be healed

Matt. 8: 23-27            He rebuked the winds and sea                            His disciples

Matt. 8:28-34                Cast out devils                                                  Those who were possessed

Matt 9:20-22; Mark 5:25-34  Healed a woman from a blood issue  The woman who touched His 

                                                                                                            garment

Matt. 9: 27-31              Caused the blind to see           The blind men who sought Him out to heal them

Mark 2: 1-12   Heals one sick of palsy & in need of forgiveness      the one sick of palsy & those 

                                                                                                            who carried him

                                                                                                                         

2.       It was an interesting day when I did this assignment because I ended up reading from many different passages that had to do with this same topic about faith preceeding the miracle. I am thankful that I have had so many experiences with seeing the result of my faith as I held on and receiving the blessings and rewards of doing so. I think that I needed to be reminded of this principle in a huge way as the things I have had to endure this past year have really taken a toll on me. My diligence in doing the things I know I should has waned and I know my Father is letting me know what I need to do. I am grateful that no matter what happens, my God is bigger than any adversity I face. With Him on my side, all things are possible.  

Hello folks! It's been a while since I have written on my blog, but I signed up for another class on the New Testament so here I am! I guess I am doing this backwards because the last class was about Christ's apostles and their teachings after He is crucified. This class focuses on Christ's teachings and ministry while he was here on the Earth.
So, this is the first week and I studied John 2:1-22. In this chapter, Christ performs his first miracle. I find it interesting that it was at the request of his mother. Also, what I found intriguing is that of all the things or times to choose to perform a miracle, it is to turn water into wine at a wedding. I figured there had to be a message there to teach us of the significance in that.  In reading the student manual through my church, I realized that He must have regarded marriage an important occasion. What impressed me most about what He did though, was that He literally changed one substance into something totally different. That to me, speaks volumes of who He is, and what He is capable of. He has power to change and transform the elements. He truly is the Creator of the world! Knowing and understanding what He just did leads us to realize why He has the power to take us and transform our carnal nature to a righteous state of being. I think there is significance in the fact that he did this with stone vessels which, through Jewish tradition, they retain their purity. Could there be significance in this too as we realize His power to change and purify us?
In John 2:4, Christ addresses His mother as "woman". In our day and age it would have come across as an insult, but back then, according to the study guide, it was a term of endearment from a son with great meaning of honor, love, and respect. I have to say, I had learned this quite a while ago. Somehow, my Husband at the time came across something explaining this. It was significant to us because in the beginning of our marriage, he started calling me woman. My mom hated it -which made him call me that more when he was around her. Then, it just evolved into a term of endearment like any other word- like the overused "babe" which he also called me. When he explained the way Christ used it, the way we perceived its meaning changed for us and it became something special to us that only we understood and enjoyed.
The Savior's actions as He cleanses the Temple are symbolic of what He wants for us. We must keep ourselves holy and cleanse our inner vessels as well. If we are to enter the "House of the Lord" we should shed ourselves of irreverence and worldliness. we need to keep ourselves clean so we can feel the peace He wants to give us instead of the chaos in the world. I have really learned a lot just in this chapter. I plan to work on being more reverent in my home, at church, and teach my children to be more reverent and respectful too.