Steph's Sunday Snippets - January 19, 2025

 **Sorry for the late post, had an emergency come up!**

Howdy Hon,

Here we are halfway through January already.  

Here are the Steph’s Sunday Snippets for January 19, 2025:

1.      In my testimony a couple of weeks ago, I think I reference James 1:5.  That was part of our scripture study this week.  If there is a big decision to be made in your life, you need to figure out what direction to go in, what the next step should be…  One thing you can always do is get on your knees and pray to God to ask where should I go or what should I do?  Or tell Him, here’s my plan, and ask if it’s a good plan, because the Lord does love effort on our part.  Quite honestly, it doesn’t matter what the question is, God has the correct answers.  Now, bear in mind it may not be the answer you want right then or even the way you want it.  But trust in the fact that he knows more than you; as matter of fact, He knows all.  Sometimes you can’t see the forest for the trees, but he can always see it all.  Learn to trust Him, and He will lead you to much better things than you could ever do on your own.

2.      I can remain true to what I know, even if others reject me.  Sometimes others may reject you for your beliefs.  They may try to tell you that you’re just imagining things, that God doesn’t help people like He did back in the biblical days, and that God doesn’t care about me or you.  Do not let others convince you that what you know to be true is not.  Don’t let others’ doubts become your worry.  I know that God is real; I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior; AND I know that God and Jesus KNOW that I KNOW.  So, I can’t be worried about offending man; I must be concerned about denying my Christ and offending my God.  Now who do you think will have more impact on my life now and later?  I KNOW it, whether others choose to know it or deny it.

3.      Testimony – always take the time to share your testimony when you feel prompted to do so, I have to be better at doing this.  But here are some good questions in a talk by Elder Stevenson, “Nourishing and Bearing Your Testimony”.  Ponder these questions for yourself this week; I’ll give you the author’s brief response; he digs in deeper in the talk: 

a.      Do you know and understand what a testimony is?  It’s your belief/knowledge of the truth given as a spiritual witness through the influence of the Holy Ghost.

b.      Do you know how to bear your testimony? You bear your testimony when you share spiritual feelings with others.

c.       What are the obstacles in sharing your testimony? They may include uncertainty about what to say. Feelings of fear come from the adversary.

d.      How do you keep your testimony? Feasting on the word of God, heartfelt prayer, partaking of the Sacrament, feeding your testimony with truth, and asking the Lord how to hear Him better. Make it your highest priority.

You can find this talk here:  https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2022/10/55stevenson?lang=eng#title1 It’s a good read and edifying.  In the interest of keeping this post at good length, I did not answer any of the questions, but they are discussed in the article. 

 

I hope you know without a doubt that God Loves you very much, and so do I. 

Have a wonderful week.  I invite you to share your testimony, you can start here if you like or on my Instagram and Facebook post where I post these SSS.

Love ya,

 

Sister Ladner, MHC

Ghana Cape Coast Mission 

SSS - January 12, 2025

 Happy Sabbath to All, 

This has been a beautiful Sabbath day here in Ghana. I was unexpectedly called upon to teach Sunday School this morning. Remember the Boy Scout motto, "Always be prepared"? Well, today, Urh...  But I added a quick prayer to the person’s opening prayer and jumped right in.  Although I have this new space, I will try not to be too lengthy today. 

Welcome to this week's Steph's Sunday Snippets:

 1) “Hearken, O Ye People” was the title of today’s Sunday School lesson.  What is hearken? 

”To hearken means to “hear Him”—to hear what the Savior says and then to heed His counsel. In those two words—“Hear Him”—God gives us the pattern for success, happiness, and joy in this life. We are to hear the words of the Lord, hearken to them, and heed what He has told us!”  

President Russell M. Nelson, what more can I add to that.

2)  The Lord’s voice of warnings: 

• Who are they for?  ALL the inhabitants of the earth!  Remember the Lord is no respecter of persons.  He loves us all and wants to see us all come back to Him. 
• How do we receive them?  Through the scriptures, through his prophets, through your church family, through your ministering teachers, home teachers, Sacrament prayer…
• Why does God give them to us?   A few reasons:  to prepare us for what is coming, increase our faith, instruct us, chasten us, help us repent, and give us more knowledge.  
• Choosing not to follow the Savior’s way can allow negative consequences and influences in your life. 

3)  God has often chosen the weak and simple to do his work.  He chooses those who are ready (sometimes even after a gentle nudge) and willing to do His work.  If we get so educated or trained in a field or get so many initials behind our names (and nothing wrong with that, you should get absolutely all you can, however…) we think we know it all and there is no one better qualified than us to go out there and do whatever.  If your cup is so full that you think you do not need to be poured into then how can you be of service to God and your fellow man?  We should always be ready to receive whatever God has to pour into our cups – blessings, inspiration, revelation for ourselves and those we are stewards over, knowledge, gifts, lessons, etc.  Of course, not everyone will receive calls to be prophets, bishops, presidents, etc.; that is not important.  Being ready, willing, and presenting an open cup to be poured into so that you can help in the Lord’s work of going forward and bringing about His work for the joy and salvation of mankind, IS important.

I hope you have a wonderfully blessed week.  Remember God loves you a lot, and so do I.    

Sister Ladner, MHC

Ghana Cape Coast Mission

 

 

SSS - January 5, 2025

Howdy hon, 

 

A new year had started.  With a new year comes new ideas, challenges, and growth.  

While sharing Steph's Sunday Snippets throughout 2024, there is one thing that really bugged me.  I HATED having to erase parts of my messages to fit into the box on Instagram or things like having my testimony broken into 3 separate posts.   After much pushback from me, I finally took Elder Ladner's advice to put the SSS on a blog of its own.  This blog has no other purpose than to continue to share what I have learned, enjoyed, or pondered on Sundays from church and gospel studies at home.    I will now share the blog post on social media, or you can just come here and check it out each Sunday.  

Shall we begin with the first Steph's Sunday Snippets blog post of 2025!  

1.      What are your gifts from God and how are you using them?  Yes, of course, you have some.  God blesses each of us with many spiritual gifts.  No one gets all the gifts, and sometimes, you may not have gotten the gift you wanted.   He gave us all gifts, but know this - God did not give you gifts for you to keep them to yourself or to ignore them.  He gave them to you to use.  Even if you didn't get the gift you wanted, work with the gifts He gave you and show your willingness to use them for His good.  Then ask Him for the gift you want.  I want the gift of tongues, especially since I have scriptures in 4 languages in my personal collection and I'd like to speak openly with those I serve here in Ghana.  The first and greatest gift He gave you is in John, chapter 3, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."  He has given us scriptures to help us find our way, commandments to help us avoid the pitfalls of the world, and repentance for our mistakes... just to name a few.  

2.      Please accept this challenge from our mission president and his wife given to us at zone conference:

o   Take a sheet of paper and write the title "What Gifts Has God Given You" at the top. 

o   Under that, draw a line down the center dividing the page into 2 sides.

o   On the left side, title it, "MY Gifts".  List all your gifts you can think of on the left side of the paper.  I don't mean only popular gifts like singing, dancing, speaking, stuff like that, but dig deep.  This can include such things as: the gift of the Holy Ghost (we all got that one after baptism), the gift of tongues, the gift of listening, the gift of smiling, the gift of organization, compassion, etc., ...

o   On the right side. title it, "How Am I Using Them".  Now on that line of each gift, go to the right side and write what you are doing with that gift.  How are you using that gift to help bring others to Christ, to uplift and encourage others?  

3.       As you go into 2025, think about those gifts often and how you are using them. If you are not, then hop to it, my friend. 

That's it hon!  Remember God loves you so much, and so do I.  

Have a blessed week!

 

Sister Ladner, MHC

Ghana Cape Coast Mission