Today’s experience, lesson, and invitation center around the concept of Seeking Forgiveness.

For thousands of years, people have read Paul’s discourse on charity in 1 Corinthians 13 and have tried to apply it. Many, myself included, have struggled to have charity and have often come up short of doing it.

Moroni 7:47 and 48 contain some additional thoughts on charity and applying it into our lives.
47 But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.
48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure.

Charity is a gift we receive as we learn to follow Jesus Christ and as we love Him with all our hearts, minds, and souls. Filled with this pure love from Him and for Him, we find ourselves able to love others as He has loved us. We become able to forgive the faults of others and to make amends for our mistakes.

My experience of applying the principle into my life of praying for the gift of charity or love for others has been nothing short of miraculous. There are some for whom I have felt serious resentments for real or perceived wrongs they had committed against me.  I have experienced that these negative feelings evaporated as I "pray[ed] unto the Father with all the energy of heart" to love them and to see them as God sees them; as His loved sons and daughters. At this point, when I strive to see others, as God sees others, I am more able to look beyond things that have caused, or do cause pain. Heaven knows, I have been the instigator of more than my share of pain and hurt to others.

Today’s invitation is to think of someone for whom I hold resentments and anger (Know), then to take some time today and pray to have God help me see that person as He sees them, as a loved son or daughter with flaws (Do)…  Hey, that is someone just like me!  A loved son of God with flaws.  If God can love me, He can also love that other person… and so can I.  I am just not perfect, so it doesn’t come naturally.  I have to ask for it (Know) then put it into practice (Do).

* The premise of Journey Through Life is to share my personal experiences of faith and hope, and tie those to either a verse of scripture from one of many sources that people all over the world consider as inspired and holy, or a quote from Godly and inspired men and women from throughout history.  From these experiences and sources, I will then issue an invitation to myself, and in turn the audience, to Do what is now Known.
I do not pretend to be an expert on doctrine or on any of the subject matters that will be shared.  I only claim to be one of God’s children, walking through life, striving to do God’s will for me, and sharing what I experience.
If you feel this a positive influence in your life, please subscribe to this podcast.  Also, please like and follow Journey Through Life on Facebook.  Find us here.
The key to knowing and doing, as with everything REALLY important, is Jesus Christ.

Today’s experience, lesson, and invitation center around the concept of Humility.

Of all of the words in the English language, most of my life I have considered the word "surrender" among the weakest of all words. What could be more cowardly, wimpy and weak than to surrender?
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While I agree that we can never give up and always strive to press forward in well-doing, I have come to understand a different way of looking at the word "surrender". And for me, it has since become one of the most powerful words in the English language.

I am a proud person who feels that if there is something that needs to be done, just give it to me, and "I" will do it. "I" will push through it. Or, perhaps I think that "I" am the only one who can do it, and if "I" weren't here, it just wouldn't ever get done.

From life's lessons, I have learned, painfully in some instances, that "I" just can't do it all. I cannot do everything that is out there. I cannot be the perfect parent, husband, employee, employer, servant of the Lord, volunteer, and whatever else is put before me. I especially cannot save myself or overcome my weakness and weak things on my own. I have learned that surrendering my expectation of perfection in all things and really surrendering my self-sufficient pride that I can do all things, to God gives me more power and strength and enabling grace to in fact do ALL things through Christ, which strengtheneth me. But, left to my own wisdom and power and understanding, I flounder. I often find myself wondering why I am so powerless over things and why other things have become so unmanageable. It is then that I come to myself and realize that I am taking my will back from God. It is time, once again, to surrender. It seems that when I am aligned with God, and His will, I am aware of my need for surrender every single day.

The funny thing is, that every time I surrender to God... EVERY SINGLE TIME, things work out much better than I could have done on my own... differently? Yes... but much better.

I love this passage of scripture in terms of what it speaks to me about both my nothingness in comparison, and my infinite worth to my loving Heavenly Father. It also speaks to the fact that I cannot do anything of eternal value on my own. But, if I surrender, and focus on God and His Kingdom today... He will keep me clothed, fed, etc., and I, then, can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me ... today... then again tomorrow and the next day... one day at a time.

Matthew 6:28-34

28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Today’s invitation is to look inside myself and find something that I have tried to stop doing many, many times and just seem to come back to doing that same thing (Know), then, to surrender that action to God, by giving it to Him, NOT by asking Him to take it, but by GIVING it to Him (Do).

* The premise of Know AND Do is to share my personal experiences of faith and hope, and tie those to either a verse of scripture from one of many sources that people all over the world consider as inspired and holy, or a quote from Godly and inspired men and women from throughout history.  From these experiences and sources, I will then issue an invitation to myself, and in turn the audience, to Do what is now Known.
I do not pretend to be an expert on doctrine or on any of the subject matters that will be shared.  I only claim to be one of God’s children, walking through life, following Jesus Christ, striving to do God’s will for me, and sharing what I experience.
If you feel this post is a positive influence in your life, please share it with your friends and family.  Also, please like and follow Journey Through Life on Facebook.  Find us there by searching for @JTL Podcast.
The key to knowing and doing, as with everything REALLY important, is Jesus Christ.

Today’s experience, lesson, and invitation center around the concept of Change of Heart.

"The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from the outside in. The world would take people out of the slums. Christ takes the slums out of people, and then they take themselves out of the slums. The world would mold men by changing their environment. Christ changes men, who then change their environment. The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human nature... May we be convinced that Jesus is the Christ, choose to follow Him, be changed for Him, captained by Him, consumed in Him, and born again."

I really like that quote by Ezra T. Benson. My personal experience is that no matter where I have lived geographically, where I stand can be "the slums" or it can be a holy place. But the physical location of that does not matter. It is where my heart is that matters. I could be in the House of the Lord, and if my heart is not right, I stand in "the slums". I could be in a potentially damaging location (physically or spiritually) and still be standing in a holy place when my heart is turned to God.

There have been times (and still are) where I really want to hold on to a negative emotion or character weakness. Where I think "I have gotten myself into this situation or this weakness, now I have to get myself out of it." In many cases, I have proven to myself, repeatedly, that the methods I used to develop that same character weakness are not sufficient to overcome that weakness. I may profess that I want to change this, or stop doing that, but down deep, I am pleading "God, please take this from me.... So I don't have to give it up." I have learned that God will force nothing on me... He won't take something from me without my willingness to give it up. But, He will change my heart, if I allow Him, and then, I will be willing to surrender that weakness, and He will make it strong unto me.

Ezekiel 36:26-27
26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

Today’s invitation is to look back at a time when I absolutely Knew something in my heart that did or could have changed my life for the better (Know), then, to ask myself the question, “Can I still feel and know that truth in my life?”  (Do) If I can’t or don’t know that truth anymore, the further invitation is to find out why I know longer feel the same way, to find out what has changed.  Has the truth changed?  Or have I changed?  If it is me that has changed, what do I need to do in order to get back to the truth?    

* The premise of Know AND Do is to share my personal experiences of faith and hope, and tie those to either a verse of scripture from one of many sources that people all over the world consider as inspired and holy, or a quote from Godly and inspired men and women from throughout history.  From these experiences and sources, I will then issue an invitation to myself, and in turn the audience, to Do what is now Known.
I do not pretend to be an expert on doctrine or on any of the subject matters that will be shared.  I only claim to be one of God’s children, walking through life, following Jesus Christ, striving to do God’s will for me, and sharing what I experience.
If you feel this post is a positive influence in your life, please share it with your friends and family.  Also, please like and follow Journey Through Life on Facebook.  Find us there by searching for @JTL Podcast.
The key to knowing and doing, as with everything REALLY important, is Jesus Christ.
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Today’s experience, lesson, and invitation center around the concept of Confession.

I love the Lord's promises of forgiveness for wrong-doings. As all, including myself, are imperfect, and make mistakes and sin, and fall short of the glory of God, I am grateful that I am forgiven and blessed as I continue to turn to the Lord each day and acknowledge and confess my imperfections and character weaknesses and ask Him to remove them from me. Then, I strive to continue my walk with Him, doing a little better today than I did yesterday, and trying to do a little better tomorrow than I did today, knowing that my efforts alone will always come up short. But also knowing that I can do all things through Christ.

In Isaiah 55:7 it reads:
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

D & C 58:42-43
42 Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more.
43 By this ye may know if a man repenteth of his sins—behold, he will confess them and forsake them.

The invitation today is to acknowledge my imperfections (Know) and confess my sins before God (Do).  Then to commit to do a little better today than I did yesterday and a little better tomorrow than I do today… One day at a time.

* The premise of Know AND Do is to share my personal experiences of faith and hope, and tie those to either a verse of scripture from one of many sources that people all over the world consider as inspired and holy, or a quote from Godly and inspired men and women from throughout history.  From these experiences and sources, I will then issue an invitation to myself, and in turn the audience, to Do what is now Known.
I do not pretend to be an expert on doctrine or on any of the subject matters that will be shared.  I only claim to be one of God’s children, walking through life, following Jesus Christ, striving to do God’s will for me, and sharing what I experience.
If you feel this post is a positive influence in your life, please share it with your friends and family.  Also, please like and follow Journey Through Life on Facebook.  Find us there by searching for @JTL Podcast.
The key to knowing and doing, as with everything REALLY important, is Jesus Christ.

Today’s experience, lesson, and invitation center around the concept of Truth.

Looking at oneself through the mirror of truth can be scary. Being honest with oneself about the sinful areas of life can be terrifying. Often people avoid looking too closely at themselves in the mirror of the past, fearing the reflection may reveal the truth of what their lives have become.

My experience is that when I am humble (or humbled) enough to see things as they really are, that I open the door to the Lord to strengthen me in my weakness.

Ether 12:27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.

2 Corinthians 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: FOR WHEN I AM WEAK, THEN AM I STRONG.

John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Today’s invitation is to thoughtfully review my life and see where I have deviated from the path that will bring me real happiness.  Then, to open my heart to the Lord and ask Him to help me get back on track 

* The premise of Journey Through Life is to share my personal experiences of faith and hope, tie those to either a verse of scripture from one of many sources that people all over the world consider as inspired and holy, or a quote from Godly and inspired men and women from throughout history.  From these experiences and sources, I will then issue an invitation to myself, and in turn the audience, to Do what is now Known.
I also believe that when people share honest experiences of faith and hope that the entire group is strengthened, edified, and can rejoice together. So, if you accept one of these invitations and experience the love of God in your life by doing so, we would love to hear your experience in the comment section below.
I do not pretend to be an expert on doctrine or on any of the subject matters that will be shared.  I only claim to be one of God’s children, walking through life, striving to do God’s will for me, and sharing what I experience.
If you feel this a positive influence in your life, please subscribe to this podcast.  Also, please like and follow Know And Do on Facebook.  Find us there by going to Know And Do.

The key to knowing and doing, as with everything REALLY important, is Jesus Christ.

Today’s experience, lesson, and invitation center around the concept of “Trust in God”.
 
Many times, I have put my hope, my faith, and my trust in others, or even in myself. I could be putting my trust in someone I truly admire, in a co-worker, a politician, a program, a philosophy, or even a religious leader. I have come to learn, by experience, that none of these people, programs, or philosophies are mighty to save. And if they are my core or foundation, I will be "let down" at some point.

I now strive to surround myself with people, programs, and philosophies that point me in the right direction... towards my Savior. His is the only arm that is mighty to save. He is the One that delivers me from bondage and captivity.
In the Book of Mormon, in the book of Helaman 5:12, Helaman is teaching his sons and shares this vital truth:

12 And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.
 
When I have relied on any of the mortal and imperfect entities I mentioned before, without Christ being my true foundation; when the devil sends forth his mighty winds in the form of trials, or his shafts in the whirlwind in the form of being let down by someone I know and trust, when he is beating on me with all his hail and mighty storm, I will fall. I will become bitter and resentful.  BUT, if I am firmly relying on, and firmly rooted in Christ, my Rock, all of that shall have no power over me to drag me down to the gulf of misery. Why? Because my faith, my life, my hopes, my trust are built upon a sure foundation... even the Rock... a foundation whereon, if I build, and stay built, I cannot fall.

Today’s invitation is to acknowledge a time that I have felt let down by someone. (Know)  Then to let go of that resentment I hold due to that perceived letting down from someone I trusted (Do).  Then, to move forward, trusting that God can and will make that resentment or pain turn to peace. (Do)

* The premise of Journey Through Life is to share my personal experiences of faith and hope, tie those to either a verse of scripture from one of many sources that people all over the world consider as inspired and holy, or a quote from Godly and inspired men and women from throughout history.  From these experiences and sources, I will then issue an invitation to myself, and in turn the audience, to Do what is now Known.
I also believe that when people share honest experiences of faith and hope that the entire group is strengthened, edified, and can rejoice together. So, if you accept one of these invitations and experience the love of God in your life by doing so, we would love to hear your experience in the comment section below.
I do not pretend to be an expert on doctrine or on any of the subject matters that will be shared.  I only claim to be one of God’s children, walking through life, striving to do God’s will for me, and sharing what I experience.
If you feel this a positive influence in your life, please subscribe to this podcast.  Also, please like and follow Know And Do on Facebook.  Find us there by going to Know And Do.

The key to knowing and doing, as with everything REALLY important, is Jesus Christ.

My experience is that no matter where my choices and paths I have followed have taken me; no matter how lost and forsaken I feel, I have found that when I take a tiny hopeful action of reaching my arms up in surrender, and asking for God's help in leading me back, His hand is stretched out still. His all-powerful, infinitely far-reaching hand has not failed to reach me. It has never been too late. It is never too far. I am never too lost.

In Acts 17:27, it reads:
27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:

In Jeremiah 17:7 it reads:
7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.

I know that each time I choose to reach out to Christ, His extended arm is ALWAYS there, waiting to pick me up and lead me to where He needs me to be.  This is my hope. 
 
The invitation today is to be aware and watch for evidence of the love and power of God in my life and in the lives of others (Know).  Then, to share that evidence with someone else (Do).

* The premise of Journey Through Life is to share my personal experiences of faith and hope, tie those to either a verse of scripture from one of many sources that people all over the world consider as inspired and holy, or a quote from Godly and inspired men and women from throughout history.  From these experiences and sources, I will then issue an invitation to myself, and in turn the audience, to Do what is now Known.
I also believe that when people share honest experiences of faith and hope that the entire group is strengthened, edified, and can rejoice together. So, if you accept one of these invitations and experience the love of God in your life by doing so, we would love to hear your experience in the comment section below.
I do not pretend to be an expert on doctrine or on any of the subject matters that will be shared.  I only claim to be one of God’s children, walking through life, striving to do God’s will for me, and sharing what I experience.
If you feel this a positive influence in your life, please subscribe to this podcast.  Also, please like and follow Know And Do on Facebook.  Find us there by going to Know And Do.

The key to knowing and doing, as with everything REALLY important, is Jesus Christ.

Being able to see things as they really have been, are, and will be... even if my past and present are not a rosy picture, is vital for me in my understanding of my current situation and standing with God. When I can be honest about my situation, only then can I begin that path that leads to God and to happiness. 

In the Book of Mormon, in 2 Nephi 4:18-21 the prophet Nephi is doing some self-introspection.  He says:

18 I am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me.
19 And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins; nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted.
20 My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep.
21 He hath filled me with his love, even unto the consuming of my flesh.

When I can look at myself and those around me, seeing things as they honestly are, I can then acknowledge the weaknesses that are present and turn them over to God, so that He can make those weaknesses become strengths. 

The invitation today is to honestly reflect on the choices, good and bad, that I have made in my life that have brought me to where I am.  Then, to humbly ask God to show me one thing that I need to remove from my life to help me be a more pure vessel of His word to those around me.  Then, once I know what needs to be changed, to do it, and eradicate that one thing. 

The premise of Journey Through Life is to share my personal experiences of faith and hope, tie those to either a verse of scripture from one of many sources that people all over the world consider as inspired and holy, or a quote from Godly and inspired men and women from throughout history.  From these experiences and sources, I will then issue an invitation to myself, and in turn the audience, to Do what is now Known.
I also believe that when people share honest experiences of faith and hope that the entire group is strengthened, edified, and can rejoice together. So, if you accept one of these invitations and experience the love of God in your life by doing so, we would love to hear your experience in the comment section below.
I do not pretend to be an expert on doctrine or on any of the subject matters that will be shared.  I only claim to be one of God’s children, walking through life, striving to do God’s will for me, and sharing what I experience.
If you feel this a positive influence in your life, please subscribe to this podcast.  Also, please like and follow Know And Do on Facebook.  Find us there by going to Know And Do.

The key to knowing and doing, as with everything REALLY important, is Jesus Christ.

This blog is to record in writing many of my musings that turned into the first 80 or so episodes of my podcast, which used to be called Know and Do, which is now called Journey Through Life.  This first blog post shares the idea behind Know and Do and why it became such an important thing to me.  Please enjoy this post and all of the others that will follow hereafter.  This was, is, and will be a very meaningful project to me.  - Justin Barton

Welcome to the very first episode of the podcast, Know AND Do (Now called Journey through Life).  I am Justin Barton, a son of God, and host of this program.  As a new podcast, and as the first podcast I have ever done, I would like to give a little background on why I have felt to create this podcast. 

I have had a recurring theme in the lessons I am learning from life and from the Lord over the last while. I have given a name to that theme; it is the "Know AND Do" principle. I am developing that theme into a bit of a way of life for me. And while I am not perfect, nor do I expect to become such anytime soon, I am finding that there are treasures of the Spirit when I choose to live this way.

In the Know AND Do principle, I seek the Lord's will through prayer and meditation (Know), I then ask for the power to carry it out (Do), when His will is manifested (Know). I then go throughout my day, keeping my eyes and ears open to opportunities to lift and serve and share (Do). When they arise, hopefully I act on them (Do).

As I have been experiencing this, some lessons have been learned (Know). A few of those have been quite eye-opening and painful to me, but I know in whom I trust, and I know that He lifts me and puts me on His path as I allow Him to.

Here are some of those lessons:
1. If I have knowledge (Know) yet I don't act on it (Do), it doesn't do me, or anyone else, any good.
2. If I have an education (Know) yet I don't apply it (Do), it doesn't do me, or anyone else, any good.
3. If I have faith (Know) yet I don't have works (Do), that faith is dead, and it doesn't do me, or anyone else, any good.
4. If I have a testimony of any principle (Know) yet I am not converted or practicing that principle (Do), it doesn't do me, or anyone else, any good.
5. If I have received a calling or assignment (Know) yet I choose not to magnify it (Do), it doesn't do me, or anyone else, any good.

In this light, the following passage of scripture from the New Testament comes to mind wherein the lit candle is the "Know" and the shining/sharing of it is the "Do".

Matthew 5:15-16
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Throughout my life, God has blessed me with a lit candle (Know). There have been times where I have chosen to hide that light and even be ashamed of it. Sometimes that light has grown quite dim and neared being extinguished; not because the light wasn't real, but because I hid it and tried to smother it (NOT Do). But, as I choose to Do and lift that light by acting (Do) on what I receive (Know), not only is the path illuminated for me, but it also "giveth light to all that are" upon that path with me. And all are edified (Know) and can rejoice (Do) together.

The premise of Know AND Do is to share my personal experiences of faith and hope, tie those to either a verse of scripture from one of many sources that people all over the world consider as inspired and holy, or a quote from Godly men and women from throughout history.  From these experiences and sources, I will then issue an invitation to myself, and in turn the audience to Do what is now Known. I also believe that when people share honest experiences of faith and hope that the entire group is strengthened, edified, and can rejoice together. So, if you accept one of these invitations and experience the love of God in your life by doing so, we would love to hear your experience in the comment section.

​I do not pretend to be an expert on doctrine or on any of the subject matters that will be shared.  I only claim to be one of God’s children, walking through life in the best way I know, and sharing what I experience.

I am an unashamed follower of Jesus Christ and a practicing member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I am one who believes and has experienced that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and that all are strengthened and lifted as we strive to live what He and His disciples teach and follow Him. I have been rescued by Him, and continue to be rescued, one day at a time. I know that I have been saved by Him FROM sin and death... But I also believe that I have been saved by Him FOR something. I am striving to live my life in a way that this "FOR something" can be made manifest in what I do. That perhaps someone may see my good works and glorify my Father in Heaven.

This is why I have felt to start this daily devotional podcast called Know AND Do.  The plan is to keep each of these episodes/entries to an average of about 7 minutes.  Thus it will be simple to listen to while eating breakfast, going to work, or any other of your morning activities that could be elevated with a little spiritual meal each day.

If you feel this a positive influence in your life, please subscribe to this podcast or follow this blog.  Also, please like and follow Know And Do on Facebook.  Find us there by searching for Know And Do and to find our current and more active Facebook page, come to JTL Podcast.

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