"Charity, the pure love of Christ" (Moroni 7:47)

I think the scripture I need to share today might be something I need to hear myself. I know that we all suffer and have challenges that really try our faith (see 3 Nephi 26:11). Challenges don't always make sense. Which leads me to the scripture:

Beautiful- just because we are loved

"I know that [God] loveth His children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things" (1 Nephi 11:17).

As you endure the challenges of life, I invite you to seek for the love God has for you. It is always there. I have felt it and I want everyone in the world to feel His love. This love is "charity, the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever" (Moroni 7:47). As you seek for God's love, He will fill you up with it. This love is more powerful than anything I have ever felt. It is life and heart changing. Charity is "the love that Christ has for the children of men and that the children of men have for one another. [It is] the highest, noblest, strongest kind of love, not merely affection" (Charity).

The prophet Joseph Smith said, "A man filled with the love of God, is not content with blessing his family alone, but ranges through the whole world, anxious to bless the whole human race" (Bishop Keith B. McMullin). When we feel and then are filled with the love of God, it enables us to keep trying, keep serving, keep hoping, and in so doing, we want others to feel this amazing love. So, we then go forth and help others, lift others, and this love continues to grow within us and for us. God's love for us is truly awesome.

Even though I don't understand "why" or "how come" of everything, I say to you (and myself), God loves you more than words can express. This I testify.

"...but the Lord looketh on the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7)

Day #26

I am thankful for this scripture as it teaches me to "look" the correct way.

"But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, 

or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: 

for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, 

but the Lord looketh on the heart."

(1 Samuel 16:7)

I love that the Lord teaches us to not look on the "outward appearance", but to look on the heart. The Lord knows our hearts. He knows our suffering, our heartaches, our love, our dreams, our hearts true desires. God knows us and the "thoughts and intents" of our hearts (D&C 33:1).

In a society where appearance is such a focus, it is sometimes hard to notice what really matters, the heart of others. This includes seeing myself from the heart and not the "outward appearance". It takes sincere effort to stop looking at "appearance", but to "look on the heart".

I hope that I "look on" others from the heart, that I may see as He does. I'm working on it. (Good thing I am a practicing Christian.)

Hopefully I "look" the right way, at others and myself.