Scripture reading for the day!

We were only able to read one chapter today, but it was chalk full of good stuff. I liked three things particularly. The first was Matthew 6 1:4

Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven./ Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Very I say unto you, They have their reward./But when thoud doest alms, let not they let hand know what thy right hand doeth:/ That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

I am thankful for the ability to pay tithing. I have always been blessed enough to say we are full tithe payers, and I know that the blessings we have in our lives are because of it. Lately when money is so tight it would of coarse be easier to put that money towards a bill, but I am thankful to show my gratitude and hopefully show that we would be nothing without our Heavenly Father's guiding hand.

The second set that I loved was Matthew 6:5-8

And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocites are: for they love to pray standing in synagogues and in the corners of the streest, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward./But thou, when thou prayest, enter into they closet, and when thou has shut they door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly./But when ye pray, us not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they will be heard for their much speaking./Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things you have need of, before ye ask him.

Oh there is so much even in these few short versus. I remember in high school seeing the kids in a prayer circle at the bottom of the cafeteria. I just felt that this scripture applied to them. I have had some most wonderful conversations with my Heavenly Father, and they have happened, when I have gone in secret where I could pour my heart into my prayers. Truly Heavenly Father rewards openly when we pray to him with sincere hearts. It is so fun to hear Lylia pray. I notice a few repetitions of things we say, but then she also thanks him for all the things she is thankful for. It is so fun to listen to. Her kitty is always in her prayer as are our good friends Molly and Byron. I loved learning that we need to learn to pray, thinking before hand what Heavenly father would have us pray for. I need to do this more often. I am thankful for prayer and the comfort I find there.

Okay the last thing was on fasting. The scriptures are similar to the alms one. I remember again when in high school as a stake we were participating in a stake fast to improve missionary work, and for 40 days atleast 1 auxilary in our stake would be fasting for missionary work. I remember my mom saying that I did not need to do this, but I wanted to! I wanted to test fasting. So I fasted. I was going to sit in the library so my friends would not know, but the library was closed that day, and I had no where to go except to my normal lunch table with my friends. They asked of coarse why I was not eatting, and I told them I was fasting as part of our stake to help with missionary work in our area. Immediately we had a conversation about religion, and about the Plan of Salvation. I sat at that table being blessed with a missionary opportunity. I drew the Plan of Salvation and shared my testimony that I knew it was true. I later gave one of my friends a Book of Mormon. I always remember that lesson I learned about fasting and fasting with a purpose.