Post # 29 – Faith -Drawing the Power of Jesus Christ into Our Lives

Dear Family and Friends,

 I do hope that my post today finds all of you healthy and happy!  Today is a beautiful outside, a bit to warm for me, but still nice weather. I hope that you are having good weather wherever you are at today.😊 In my last post, I was talking about Spiritual Preparedness and the beginning was prayer, today I would like to share with you about developing faith.  So, how do you develop faith?  First, we need to know what faith is? Let’s all go and find out, shall we?

The first principle of the gospel is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. In Hebrews 11: 1 it tells us what faith is – “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” - this verse tells us that to have faith we have hope for things we do not see any evidence of – is that what you got from it? Then in 2 Corinthians 5:7 it teaches us “(For we walk by faith, nit by sight:)” – when we are walking by faith we do not need to have what we hope for in our physical sight to believe it can happen.

In Romans 10:8 -9 teach us “but what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; teaches “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. So if we have faith to believe that Jesus is the Christ and that God raised Jesus from the dead we shall be saved.

In Alma 32:21 it teaches us that “Faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things. Therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true.” There you have it, just a little bit clearer – faith is when we do not have a perfect knowledge of something that we are hoping for that we cannot see but know that they are true. In Hebrews 11:6 it teaches us “But without faith it is impossible to please; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him”

As I have learned it in order to please God we need to have faith in Him.  I would say that faith is a pretty important thing to have, wouldn’t you? We need to believe that God exists and that He will answer our prayers when we are diligently trying to learn of Him and His Son, Jesus Christ or when we are asking Him for His help through our prayers. Without faith in Him this couldn’t happen. This makes faith something that we need to act on – the verse in James 2:17 “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” comes to my mind.

The Bible Dictionary teaches us a great deal about faith, to read more about faith go to: https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bd/faith

Faith is to hope for things which are not seen, but which are true (Heb. 11:1; Alma 32:21), and must be centered in Jesus Christ in order to produce salvation. To have faith is to have confidence in something or someone.

Faith is kindled by hearing the testimony of those who have faith (Rom. 10:14–17). Miracles do not produce faith, but strong faith is developed by obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ; in other words, faith comes by righteousness, although miracles often confirm one’s faith.

Faith is a principle of action and of power, and by it one can command the elements, heal the sick, and influence any number of circumstances when occasion warrants (Jacob 4:4–7). Even more important, by faith one obtains a remission of sins and eventually can stand in the presence of God.

All true faith must be based upon correct knowledge or it cannot produce the desired results. Faith in Jesus Christ is the first principle of the gospel and is more than belief, since true faith always moves its possessor to some kind of physical and mental action; it carries an assurance of the fulfillment of the things hoped for. A lack of faith leads one to despair, which comes because of iniquity.

Although faith is a gift, it must be cultured and sought after until it grows from a tiny seed to a great tree. The effects of true faith in Jesus Christ include (1) an actual knowledge that the course of life one is pursuing is acceptable to the Lord (see Heb. 11:4); (2) a reception of the blessings of the Lord that are available to man in this life; and (3) an assurance of personal salvation in the world to come. These things involve individual and personal testimony, guidance, revelation, and spiritual knowledge. Where there is true faith there are miracles, visions, dreams, healings, and all the gifts of God that He gives to His saints. Jesus pointed out some obstacles to faith in John 5:44 and 12:39–42 (see also James 1:6–8).

When Joseph Smith was a young boy he prayed after reading in his Bible in James 1:5 “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him” then in James 1:6 “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.”  These verses teach us that we need to ask God for the wisdom that we need, and we all need wisdom at some point in our lives – right? I know that I need wisdom all the time. It took for Joseph to act upon the verses of scripture that he read and go to the sacred grove to pray to a Heavenly Father that he had never seen before.

 I remember teaching a lesson on faith to my primary students about a little girl who brought lunch to her father who was working at the bottom of a well. She couldn’t see him so she yelled down to him that she had his lunch. He told her to drop the lunch down to him and he would catch it. A few minutes later he told her that he had too much lunch and would she come join him. He told her to jump and he would catch her. He told her that she couldn’t see him but he could see her and that he would not let her fall. The little girl jumped into the dark well and landed safely in the loving arms of her father. I’m sure they had a wonderful time together as they had lunch. This little girl trusted her father to catch her. This trust is like our faith. Faith is believing in something you cannot see, but you have great hope that it is true. 

 

This is what Moroni taught in Ether 12:6 And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto you that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.”

I don’t know that I would have been able to jump down into a well, but then I grew up after my father had passed away, so I don’t really know what that type of trust in a father would be like. I do however have experience in trusting my Heavenly Father to help me get through tough, scary, anxiety ridden situations ad I promise you that having faith in Him and His Son Jesus Christ are truly necessary for us to make it through this crazy world and have any ounce of peace in our lives.

Even though we can not see Jesus Christ and our Heavenly we can believe that They are real and that They are there for us. We can see evidence of Their existence all around us, every where we look. The world They created, the stars in the sky, the planets in their orbit, we can feel Their presence and know Them better as we read and study the scriptures and listen to the prophets.

There is a conference talk from April of 2017 that I would like to share with you that helps us learn a bit ore about faith. You can see more talks here: 

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2017/04/drawing-the-power-of-jesus-christ-into-our-lives?lang=eng

Drawing the Power of Jesus Christ into Our Lives

By President Russell M. Nelson

President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

The gospel of Jesus Christ is filled with His power, which is available to every earnestly seeking daughter or son of God.

My dear brothers and sisters, we live in a most difficult dispensation. Challenges, controversies, and complexities swirl around us. These turbulent times were foreseen by the Savior. He warned us that in our day the adversary would stir up anger in the hearts of men and lead them astray. Yet our Heavenly Father never intended that we would deal with the maze of personal problems and social issues on our own.

God so loved the world that He sent His Only Begotten Son to help us. And His Son, Jesus Christ, gave His life for us. All so that we could have access to godly power – power sufficient to deal with the burdens, obstacles, and temptations of our day. Today I would like to speak about how we can draw into our lives the power of our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ.

We began by learning about Him.” It is impossible for [us] to be saved I ignorance.” The more we know about the Savior’s ministry and mission – the more we understand HIS DOCTRINE AND WHAT He did for us – the more we know that He can provide the power that we need for our lives.

Earlier this year, I asked the young adults of the Church to consecrate a portion of their time each week to study everything Jesus said and did as recorded in the standard works. I invited them to let the scriptural citations about Jesus Christ in the Topical Guide become their personal core curriculum.

I gave that challenge because I had already accepted it myself. I read and underlined every verse cited about Jesus Christ, as listed under the main heading and the 57 subtitles in the Topical Guide. When I finished that exciting exercise, my wife asked me what impact it had on me. I told her, “I am a different man!”

I felt a renewed devotion to Him as I read again the Book of Mormon the Savior’s own statements about His mission in mortality. He declared:

“I came into the world to do the will of my Father, because my Father sent me.

“And my Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross.”

As Latter-day Saints, we refer to His mission as the Atonement of Jesus Christ, which made resurrection a reality for all and made eternal life possible for those who repent of their sins and receive and keep essential ordinances and covenants.

It is doctrinally incomplete to speak of the Lord’s atoning sacrifice by shortcut phrases, such as “the Atonement” or “the enabling power of the Atonement” or “Applying the Atonement” or “being strengthened by the Atonement.” These expressions present a real risk of misdirecting faith by treating the event as if it had living existence and capabilities independent of our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.

Under the Father’s great eternal plan, it is the Savior who suffered. It is the Savior who broke the bands of death. It is the Savior who paid the price for our sins and transgressions and blots them out on condition of our repentance. It is the Savior who delivers us from physical and spiritual death.

There is no amorphous entity called “the Atonement” upon which we may call for succor, healing, forgiveness, or power. Jesus Christ is the source. Sacred terms such as Atonement and Resurrection describe what the Savior did, according to the Father’s plan, so that we may live with hope I this life ad gain eternal life in the world to come. The Savior’s atoning sacrifice – the central act of all human history – is best understood and appreciated when we expressly and clearly connect it to Him.

The importance of the Savior’s mission was emphasized by the Prophet Joseph Smith, who declared emphatically that “THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF OUR RELIGION ARE THE TESTIMONY OF THE Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heave; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it.”

It was this very statement of the Prophet that provided the incentive for 15 prophets, seers, and revelators to issue and sign their testimony to commemorate the 2,00oth anniversary of that birth. That historic testimony is titled: “The Living Christ.: many members have memorized its truths. Others barely know of its existence. As you seek to learn more about Jesus Christ, I urge you to study “The Living Christ.”

As we invest time in learning about the Savior and His atoning sacrifice, we are drawn to participate in another key element to accessing his power: we choose to have faith in Him and follow Him.

True disciples of Jesus Christ are willing to stand out, speak up, and be different from the people of the word. They are undaunted, devoted, and courageous. I learned of such disciples during a recent assignment I Mexico, where I met with government officials as well as leaders of other religious denominations. Each thanked me for our members’ heroic and successful efforts to protect and preserve strong marriages and families in their country.

There is nothing easy or automatic about becoming such powerful disciples. Our focus must be riveted on the Savior and His gospel. It is mentally rigorous to strive to look unto Him in every thought. But when we do, our doubts and fears flee.

Recently I learned of a fearless young Laurel. She was invited to participate in a statewide competition for her high school on the same evening she had committed to participate in a stake Relief Society meeting. When she realized the conflict and explained to competition officials that she would need to leave the competition early to attend an important meeting, she was told she would be disqualified if she did so.

What did this latter-day Laurel do? She kept her commitment to participate in the Relief Society meeting. As promised, she was disqualified from the statewide competition. When asked about her decision she replied simply, “Well, the Church is more important, isn’t it?”

Faith in Jesus Christ propels us to do things we otherwise would not do. Faith that motivated us to action gives us more access to His power.

We also increase the Savior’s power in our lives when we make sacred covenants and keep those covenants with precision. Our covenants bind us to Him and give us godly power. As faithful disciples, we repent and follow Him into the waters of baptism. We walk along the covenant path to receive other essential ordinances. And gratefully, God’s plan provides for those blessings to be extended to ancestors who dies without an opportunity to obtain them during their mortal lives.

Covenant-keeping men and women seek for ways to keep themselves unspotted from the world so there will be nothing blocking their access to the Savior’s power. One faithful wife and mother wrote this recently. “These are troubled and perilous times. How blessed we are to have the increased knowledge of the plan of salvation and the inspired guidance from loving prophets, apostles, and leaders to help us sail these stormy seas safely. We stopped our habit of turning on the radio in the morning. Instead, we not listen to a general conference talk on our mobile phones every morning as we prepare ourselves for another day.”

Another element I drawing the Savior’s power into our lives is to reach up to Him in Faith. Such reaching requires diligent, focused effort. 

Do you remember the biblical story of the woman who suffered for 12 years with a debilitating problem? She exercised great faith in the Savior, exclaiming, “If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.”

 This faithful, focused woman needed to stretch as far as she could to access His power. Her physical stretching was symbolic of her spiritual stretching.

Many of us have cried out from the depths of our hearts a variation of this woman’s words. “If I could spiritually stretch enough to draw the Savior’s power into my life, I would know how to handle my heart-wrenching situation. I would know what to do. And I would have the power to do it.”

When you reach up for the Lord’s power in your life with the same intensity that a drowning person has when grasping and gasping for air, power from ‘Jesus Christ will be yours. When the Savior knows you truly want to reach up to Him – when He can feel that the greatest desire of your heart is to draw His power into your life – you will be led by the Holy Ghost to know exactly what you should do.

When you spiritually stretch beyond anything you have ever done before, then His power will flow into you. And then you will understand the deep meaning of words we sing in the hymn :The Spirit of God.”

The Lord is extending the Saints’ understanding. …

The knowledge and power of God are expanding

The veil o’er the earth is beginning to burst

The gospel of Jesus Christ is filled with His power, which is available to every earnestly seeking daughter or son of God. It is my testimony that when we draw His power into our lives, both He and we will rejoice.

As one special witness, I declare that God lives Jesus is the Christ! His Church as been restored to the earth! God’s prophet upon the earth today is President Thomas S. Monson, whom I sustain with all my heart! I so testify, with my expression of love and blessing for each of you, in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.

For more information on how to develop faith You can go to : 

https://www.mormon.org/blog/bible-verses-about-faith

I love this story, because she had faith that if she could only just touch the hem of Jesus' robe, that she would be healed, and she was. She kept her focus on Jesus Christ as she reached out to touch His robe having the faith that she would be healed. We too, need to keep our focus on Jesus Christ. 

Oh, how wonderful it would be if we could develop such faith in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. If each of us had that much faith in the Savior and truly relied on God, how much different our world would be. we would be kinder and love each other more.

You do know that it is never too late to develop your faith and trust in the Lord, to begin a serious study of Jesus Christ and learn about His life and His earthly mission. let us each make it our goal today to learn to draw on His power more fully into our lives and let's begin today, if you are not doing this already:)

Post # 28 – Just Another Side- Effect

Dear Family and Friends,

I recently went to the dentist to have an extraction of a tooth that has seen better days. I knew that there were some risks involved with extractions because I am getting a shot every twenty – one days to help strengthen my bones. Since the cancer has moved to my bones this shot is supposed to help reduce my risk of broken bones or serious bone problems. Well, there are some serious side-effects to this shot. I got the following information from the official Xgeva website here:

http://www.xgeva.com/

What is the most important information you should know about XGEVA^®?

Do not take XGEVA^® if you take Prolia. XGEVA^® contains the same medicine as Prolia^®(denosumab).

Severe jaw bone problems (osteonecrosis)

• Severe jaw bone problems may happen when you take XGEVA^®. Your doctor should examine your mouth before you start, and while you are taking XGEVA^®. Tell your dentist that you are taking XGEVA^®. It is important for you to practice good mouth care during treatment with XGEVA^®. In studies of patients with bone involvement, the rate of severe jaw problems was higher the longer they were being treated with XGEVA^®.

I had to go to my dentist to get a clean bill of health before my oncologist would begin giving me the Xgeva injection, as well as many other tests to be sure that I was healthy enough to begin the shots. I think I have been doing pretty good for three years trying to correct fifty plus years or poor dental care. When I reached fifty and still had most of my teeth, I thought I had done pretty well considering the lack of dental care throughout my life.

As a parent, you give up things so that your children’s needs can be met. And one of those things for me was my dental care, plus I did not have very good dental care a a child growing up in a very large family. My father died before I turned two years old, which left my mother with five children. She only had barely a sixth -grade education and five children to raise.

Unusual thigh bone fracture

• Unusual thigh bone fracture has been reported. Symptoms of a fracture include new or unusual pain in your hip, groin, or thigh.

Risk of high calcium levels in patients who are still growing

• Patients with bones that are not fully matured are at a greater risk to develop high blood calcium levels after they stop taking XGEVA^®, that can be serious.

Increased risk of broken bones in the spine after discontinuing XGEVA^®

• After your treatment with XGEVA^® is stopped, your risk for breaking bones in your spine can increase, especially if you have a history of risk factors such as osteoporosis or prior fractures.

Possible harm to your unborn baby

• You should not become pregnant while taking XGEVA^®. Tell your doctor right away if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or suspect you are pregnant. XGEVA^®can harm your unborn baby.

Tell your doctor if you:

• Are taking a medicine called Prolia^® (denosumab) because it contains the same medicine as XGEVA^®
• Have symptoms of low blood calcium such as muscle stiffness or cramps
• Have symptoms of severe jaw bone problems such as pain or numbness
• Have ongoing pain or slow healing after dental surgery
• Have symptoms of high blood calcium such as nausea, vomiting, headache, and decreased alertness
• Are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, suspect you are pregnant, or breastfeeding

While taking XGEVA^®, you should:

• Take good care of your teeth and gums and visit a dentist as recommended
• Tell your dentist that you are taking XGEVA^®
• Tell your doctor if you plan to have dental surgery or teeth removed
• Talk to your doctor before you stop taking XGEVA^® about your risk for broken bones in your spine
• Women of child bearing age should use highly effective contraception while taking XGEVA^® and for at least 5 months after the last dose of XGEVA^®

What are the possible side effects of XGEVA^®?

• In patients with bone metastases from solid tumors using XGEVA^®, the most common side effects were tiredness/weakness, low phosphate levels in your blood, and nausea. The most common serious side effect of XGEVA^® was shortness of breath.
• In multiple myeloma patients receiving XGEVA^®, the most common side effects were diarrhea, nausea, low red blood cells, low blood platelets and calcium levels, back pain, swelling of the lower legs or hands, upper respiratory tract infection, rash, and headache. The most common serious adverse reaction in multiple myeloma patients was pneumonia.

These are not all the possible side effects of XGEVA^®. For more information, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

How does XGEVA^® work?

Normally, your body is continually breaking down and rebuilding your bone. This helps keep your bones strong.^2,3

In people with breast, prostate, lung, or other solid tumors: When cancer spreads to bone, your bone breakdown and bone building are not balanced.³

Over time, this can make bones weak and can lead to serious bone problems.³*

In people with multiple myeloma:
The breakdown and rebuilding of your bones can become unbalanced. Over time, this can cause weak spots in the bones and can lead to serious bone problems.^2,4

XGEVA^® works by stopping cells that are breaking down bone from becoming overactive and may interrupt the process of bone breakdown.^1,2,5-7

1. Serious bone problems are defined as broken bones (fractures), the need for surgery to prevent or repair broken bones, the need for radiation treatments to the bone, and pressure on the spinal cord (spinal cord compression).¹

XGEVA^® helps prevent serious bone problems¹

1. Serious bone problems are defined as broken bones (fractures), the need for surgery to prevent or repair broken bones, the need for radiation treatments to the bone, and pressure on the spinal cord (spinal cord compression).¹

• XGEVA^® is a prescription bone-targeting medicine used to prevent serious bone problems* in patients with multiple myeloma and in patients with bone metastases from solid tumors¹
• It’s important to remember to take XGEVA^® only as directed by your doctor
• Talk to your doctor about whether XGEVA^® is right for you

How will I receive XGEVA^®?

XGEVA^® is given as a shot once every 4 weeks at your doctor's office. The shot is given under the skin and does not involve an infusion through a vein.¹

• XGEVA^® can be injected into your upper arm, upper thigh, or stomach area¹
• It is important to take XGEVA^® at the recommended treatment schedule¹
• Talk to your doctor about whether scheduling appointments in advance may help with your treatment regimen

What should I know before I start taking XGEVA^®?

• Your doctor will check your blood calcium levels before you start XGEVA^®. Low blood calcium must be corrected before you can start your XGEVA^® treatments¹

While you are taking XGEVA^®, you may be told to take vitamin D and calcium supplements to help prevent low calcium levels in the blood¹

The doctor has had me taking vitamin D3 and Calcium vitamins, but I had to stop taking them prior to my first total knee replacement in January of this year, then in May I just had the other knee done, so I just barely started back on my vitamins.  

• Sticking to the treatment schedule your doctor prescribes will help give you the best chance of preventing serious bone problems¹

So, the thing my dentist and my oncologist are concerned about is called Osteonecrosis. My dentist told me I should google it for more information, so I did and I thought I would share it with all of you. I go t the information for you from the following website:

https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/osteonecrosis

What is it?

Points To Remember About Osteonecrosis

·    Osteonecrosis is a bone disease that may cause pain or limit physical activity.

·    Anyone can get osteonecrosis, but it is most common in people in their 30s, 40s, and 50s.

·    Osteonecrosis results from the loss of blood supply to the bone. Without blood, the bone tissue dies and the bone collapses.

·    Loss of blood supply to the bone can be caused by medicines or medical procedures, medical conditions, alcohol use, injury, or increased bone pressure. It is not always known what causes the loss of blood supply to the bone.

·    Most people with osteonecrosis need treatment. Your treatment options may be nonsurgical, surgical, or both.

Osteonecrosis is a bone disease. It results from the loss of blood supply to the bone. Without blood, the bone tissue dies. This causes the bone to collapse. It may also cause the joints that surround the bone to collapse. If you have osteonecrosis, you may have pain or be limited in your physical activity.

Osteonecrosis can develop in any bone, most often in the:

·    Thigh bone (femur).

·    Upper arm bone (humerus).

·    Knees.

·    Shoulders.

·    Ankles.

It is also called:

·    Avascular necrosis.

·    Aseptic necrosis.

·    Ischemic necrosis.

Who gets it?

Anyone can get osteonecrosis, but it is most common in men and people in their 30s, 40s, and 50s.

What are the symptoms?

Osteonecrosis does not always cause symptoms, especially when it first develops. As the disease gets worse, you may feel pain when you put your weight on a joint that is affected by osteonecrosis. Over time, you may feel pain in the joint even when you are resting. 

Pain caused by osteonecrosis may be mild or severe. If it causes your bone and joint to collapse, you may have severe pain and not be able to use the joint. For instance, if you have osteonecrosis in the hip, you may not be able to walk.

What causes it?

Osteonecrosis results from the loss of blood supply to the bone. Loss of blood supply to the bone can be caused by:

Medicines or Medical Treatments

·    Chemotherapy.

·    Radiation therapy.

·    High-dose steroids.

·    Organ transplants.

Medical Conditions

·    Cancer.

·    Lupus.

·    HIV/AIDS.

·    Gaucher’s disease.

·    Decompression sickness, also know as divers' disease, the bends, or caisson disease.

·    Gout.

·    Vasculitis.

·    Osteoarthritis.

·    Osteoporosis.

·    Blood disorders, such as sickle cell disease.

I have cancer, I am having chemotherapy every three weeks, I have had radiation therapy, so I have three of the above things that might cause osteonecrosis and I have had poor dental care most of my life. I am praying that the three strikes and you’re out doesn’t apply in my case😊 or yours either if any of this applies to you or those you care about.

Alcohol Use

Excessive alcohol use causes fatty substances to build up in the blood vessels. This can cause a decreased blood supply to the bone, which can lead to osteonecrosis.

Injury

A broken or dislocated bone, or a joint injury, may damage the surrounding blood vessels. This can cause a decreased blood supply to the bone, which can lead to osteonecrosis.

Some people develop osteonecrosis for no known reason.

Well, this is enough information to scare most people, but for me it is just information so that I can be more knowledgeable about the possible side-effects from this drug that I am taking to protect my bones. You can check out the website for more information as I do not want to make this post too long. I did want to share some of the information with you all, so that you can be aware of what might be going on with someone you care about and be a good support for them through all of the different side-effects they too may be subject to.

Have I mentioned before that we can do all things in the strength of the Lord? We can do this – with His help!! together with His help we can make it through any trial that comes our way in this life. So, you all keep your chins up, never give up hope, and put your trust in the Lord. Let's make it a great week!! Remember to hold on to your faith in the Lord!