You'll have to forgive me...I don't get to teach Gospel Doctrine any more and since I really wanted to share this I'm blogging about it ;)

I started reading "The Continuous Atonement" a few weeks ago after it was recommended and subsequently lent to me. It's excellent and I also highly recommend it. The book offers valuable insights about God, Christ and our relationship with them.

Anyway I was reading it today and came across two quotes that I wanted to share. The chapter I'm on is called "After All We Can Do". It talks about the general misunderstanding of that phrase and in particular the word after -as if it were time related. Brad Wilcox shares " I believed I had to do all I possibly could and then grace would kick in--as if it were a finishing touch to all I had to first accomplish alone." He goes on to say that the gift of grace is not limited in time to after all we can do. We receive his help before during and after, it is continuous.

A little later in the chapter he examines the word/concept all in the phrase "after all we can do" and I love what he teaches us...

"In those anxious moments,[when I want to beat myself up for not being better] the greatest comfort I have found is in knowing any effort is pleasing to God even if He and I both know it's not my all or my best. It may be far from an acceptable offering, but God accepts it nonetheless because ultimately He is more concerned with the offerer than the offering."

Easter is always a time of great reflection for me. I am so grateful for the blessing of our Savior's atonement and for the opportunity that we have to strengthen our personal relationship with Him and our Heavenly Father. Happy Easter Everyone!