Lessons I've learned from Peter

Matthew 14:24-33

24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.

25 And ^ain the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.

26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.

27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good ^acheer; it is I; be not afraid.

28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.

29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was ^aafraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little ^afaith, wherefore didst thou ^bdoubt?

32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.

33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

Lessons learned:

1) It was Peter's idea to walk on the water.

Peter was looking for a miracle. The Lord didn't walk on the water to test Peter. Peter walked on the water to challenge his own faith.

2) Peter didn't rely on past experiences. He only looked to the Lord.

Peter was a fisherman. He was out on the sea constantly. He knew what the sea was like when the winds were blowing. He didn't rely on his own past experience with the sea. He looked to the Lord and used Him as an example.

3) Peter had the faith necessary to actually walk on the water.

He did it! He actually walked on the water! What great faith Peter had!

4) He only began to sink when he stopped looking at the Lord.

We are all in the midst of high winds and tumultuous circumstances. We must always look to the Lord to remain afloat.

5) When Peter began to sink, the Lord immediately stretched forth His hand to lift Peter back up.

The Lord is there to help us succeed. When we don't, we need to cry for His help and He will immediately stretch forth His hand that is always there, to help us when we don't have the strength to help ourselves.

Mormon 9:11

But behold, I will show unto you a God of miracles, even the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; and it is that same God who created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are.

Let us be a people that look for miracles in our lives. The Lord has certainly shown us He will produce them.

Every, Every Minute

The last few days have been a bit difficult for me. I have had way more things to be grateful for than I had to be upset about but I was upset. I did not focus on the positive. I wallowed in my bad mood. I had happy moments - don't get me wrong. I was just having a hard time choosing to be happy. Today was another day where I was upset.

I was tired when I woke up this morning so I didn't want to go to school. My ride to Salt Lake was late picking me up. There was traffic on the freeway. I was tired in class, so it was all I could do to just write down the bare minimum of what the professor was talking about. I left my backpack in the class after it was over so I had to go back to get it. On top of all of that, on the way to get the car registered, it ran out of gas. This is the second time in three weeks my ride's car ran out of gas! At least this time it wasn't on the freeway. I got out and ran and pushed. The owner of the vehicle also got out and ran and pushed while he steered the car. Three gentlemen ran up and helped us push the car about a mile down the road. I tell you what, if you need a good workout... push a car while running for about a mile. It tears your lungs apart! That's exactly what it did. When we finally got gas in the car, the owner couldn't hold in whatever he had for breakfast and I followed suit about ten minutes later. I took the owner home to his apartment so he could rest while I took his car and went to class. The key got stuck in the ignition. I could NOT get the key out. I was so frustrated. I ended up leaving the keys in the ignition while I went in for class.

That's when my whole outlook changed. Today was devotional day in Concert Choir. I sat back, arms folded, ready for anything.. ha. Her devotional was on finding joy in the journey. It was based off of President Monson's talk with the same title. The first story she told was this, "Some of you may be familiar with Thornton Wilder’s classic drama Our Town. If you are, you will remember the town of Grover’s Corners, where the story takes place. In the play Emily Webb dies in childbirth, and we read of the lonely grief of her young husband, George, left with their four-year-old son. Emily does not wish to rest in peace; she wants to experience again the joys of her life. She is granted the privilege of returning to earth and reliving her 12th birthday. At first it is exciting to be young again, but the excitement wears off quickly. The day holds no joy now that Emily knows what is in store for the future. It is unbearably painful to realize how unaware she had been of the meaning and wonder of life while she was alive. Before returning to her resting place, Emily laments, “Do … human beings ever realize life while they live it—every, every minute?”

It definitely helps that the main character's name is Emily. That story spoke right to my heart. I have been so ungrateful lately. I need to stop, relax, and experience life in the moment. After she gave that devotional, I was holding a drink in my hand during our warmup in choir. It started vibrating because of the sounds that the basses were making. It was awesome.

Let me start over with my day. This morning, I was tired because I had such a fun time laughing with my roommates last night. I have a ride to Salt Lake that takes me every week. I left my backpack in the classroom because my hands were full of a gift someone had given me in class. When we got the car registered, I stopped and played with the cutest puppies I've ever seen in my life. When our car ran out of gas, three gentlemen came and pushed and ran with the owner and I. What a blessing! Today really has been an incredibly blessed day. I am so grateful for today.

"This is our one and only chance at mortal life—here and now. The longer we live, the greater is our realization that it is brief. Opportunities come, and then they are gone. I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn in this short sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not. I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by as you plan for that illusive and nonexistent future when you will have time to do all that you want to do. Instead, find joy in the journey—now." (President Monson)

Radiation - What do we inspire in others?

David O. McKay taught that we affect others constantly by “radiation.” He said the effect of our words is being broadcast to the world. “There is one responsibility which no man can evade; that responsibility is his personal influence. Man's unconscious influence is the silent, subtle radiation of personality -- the effect of his words and his actions on others. This radiation is tremendous. Every moment of life man is changing, to a degree, the life of the whole world. Every man has an atmosphere which is affecting every other man. He cannot escape for one moment from this radiation of his character, this constant weakening or strengthening of others. Man cannot evade the responsibility by merely saying that it is an unconscious influence. Man can select the qualities he would permit to be radiated. He can cultivate sweetness, calmness, trust, generosity, truth, justice, loyalty, nobility, and make them vitally active in his character. And by these qualities he will constantly affect the world. This radiation, to which I refer, comes from what a person really is, not from what he pretends to be. Every man by his mere living is radiating either sympathy, sorrow, morbidness, cynicism, or happiness and hope or any one of a hundred other qualities. Life is a state of radiation and absorption. To exist is to radiate; to exist is to be the recipient of radiation.” (David O. McKay, April 1948, emphasis added)

“Every man and every person who lives in this world wields an influence whether for good or for evil. It is not what he says alone; it is not alone what he does. It is what he is. Every man, every person radiates what he or she really is. Every person is a recipient of radiation. The Savior was conscious of that. Whenever He came into the presence of an individual, He sensed that radiation -- whether it was the woman of Samaria with her past life; whether it was the woman who was to be stoned, or the men who were to stone her; whether it was the statesman, Nicodemus, or one of the lepers. He was conscious of the radiation from the individual. And to a degree so are you, and so am I. It is what we are and what we radiate that affects the people around us. As individuals, we must think nobler thoughts. We must not encourage vile thoughts or low aspirations. We shall radiate them if we do. If we think noble thoughts; if we encourage and cherish noble aspirations, there will be that radiation when we meet people, especially when we associate with them. (David O. McKay, 1964, emphasis added)

After All We Can Do

I had been in that hole for a very long time

In the dark and the damp, in the cold and the slime.

The shaft was above me; I could see it quite clear

But there's no way I ever could reach it from here.

Nor could I remember the world way up there

So I lost all my hope and gave in to despair.

I knew nothing but darkness, the floor, and the walls

Then off in the distance I hear someone call:

"Get up! Get ready! There's nothing the matter.

Take rocks and old sticks and build up a fine ladder."

This had never occurred to me -- had not crossed my mind.

But I started to stack all the stones I could find.

When I ran out of stones, then old sticks were my goal,

For one way or another I'd get out of that hole.

So I soon had a ladder that was sturdy and tall

And I thought,"I'll soon leave this place once and for all."

I climbed up my ladder. It was no easy chore,

For from lifting those boulders, my shoulders were sore.

I climbed up on the ladder, but soon had to stop

For my ladder stopped short -- some ten feet from the top.

I climbed back down my ladder and started to cry

I'd done all I could do. I gave my best try.

And in spite of my work, in this hole I must die.

And all I could do was to sit and think, "Why?"

Was my ladder too short? Or my hole much to deep

Then from way upon high came a voice, "Do not weep."

And then faith, hope, and love entered into my chest

As the voice said to me that I'd done my best.

He said, "You've worked very hard, and your labor's been rough,

But the ladder you've built is at last tall enough.

Do not despair. you have reason to hope.

Just climb up your ladder; I'll throw down my rope."

I climbed up the ladder, then climbed up the cord.

When I got to the top, there stood the Lord.

I couldn't be happier; my struggle was done.

I blinked in the brightness that came from the Son.

I fell to the ground, his feet did I kiss

I cried, "What can I do to repay thee for this?"

Then he looked all about Him. There were holes in the ground

They had people inside, and were seen all around.

There were thousands of holes that were damp, dark, and deep.

Then the Lord turned to me and he said, "Feed my sheep."

Then He went on his way to help other lost souls,

And I got right to work, calling down to the holes:

"Get up! Get ready! There's nothing the matter.

Take rocks and old sticks and build up a fine ladder."

It now was my turn to spread the good word.

The most glorious message that man ever heard.

That there's one who is willing to save one and all

And we've got to be ready when He gives the call.

He'll pull us all out of the hole that we're in

And save all our souls from death and from sin.

So do not lose faith; there is reason to hope

Just build up your ladder; He'll throw down His rope.

~Robby Pierce