BUS 110-Ashley Alexander

This week, as I studied the Old Testament, the reminders in Jeremiah and Lamentations to turn to the Lord when things get too much helped me. The people in these chapters had made decisions that caused real pain and had real effects on their lives. The Lord still told them to come back to Him, and He promised that His kindness would be there for them. Lamentations 3:22–23 really remained with me because it says that the Lord's blessings "are new every morning." It made me think of a song from my childhood as soon as I read it. As a child, I remember singing a song in church called "New Every Morning." The words always made me feel better. Reading this verse in the Scriptures made me feel hopeful again, as if the Lord were gently telling me that every day is a new chance to start over. The Lord is telling us to come back. "I can fix this." When I turn to Him, I have felt that peace many times in my own life. I'm thankful that I can start ov...

The Lord says in Isaiah 55:1–3, "Come, all ye that thirst, come ye to the waters." I feel like the Savior is calling me personally every time I read these verses. It reminds me that God's compassion and kindness are not only for a few people; they are for everyone. He only wants us to come as we are. We don't have to be flawless before we can talk to Him. We don't have to "earn" His love or check off a list of things we've done before we may be worthy of His presence. The phrase "without money and without price" reminds me that the blessings of the gospel are free gifts of grace that come from His never-ending love. When I'm emotionally drained or spiritually stretched thin, this verse means even more to me. The Savior really is the "living water." His peace restores our souls when life gets too much, He knows what my heart needs even when I can't say it. This verse reminds me to slow down and make time for Him in my life ...

This week I really focused on Isaiah Chapter 6:8. For me, this verse means that God has given power to anyone he wants to use for his work. In Isaiah 6:8, Isaiah quickly says, "Send me" in response to God's call. I think this verse means that if God asks you to do something, He will give you the strength to do it. The fact that Isaiah replied, "Here I am," shows that he was ready and trusted God's plan. This is how I felt when I first joined the church. At first, I didn't believe I was strong enough to do what God asked me to do. But this verse gave me hope because it told me that if I listen to God's call with an open heart, He will give me the help, faith, and direction I need to do what He has asked me to do. I’ve experienced this in my life when I was asked to help others, or take on roles at the church. The Lord always took care of me and led me, even when I didn't know where to start. These past few days, I've been thinking about...

This week while studying Job I was reminded that even the most devoted people have to go through trials. Job lost nearly everything he had, his health, his family and his comforts. But he still trusted in the teachings of God. He said, "He knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold." (Job 23:10).That verse means something to me as I too have felt more positive after going through trials. I have not always known why the trials would come while I was going through my losses and uncertainties, but I kept my trust that the Lord was still mindful of me. Now I can see how the trials I had helped to strengthen my testimony and my love for Him. The story of Job also reminds me that if we let the trials bring us toward the Savior, they may turn into blessings in the end. He is the One that makes us "Come forth as gold." I know that He is making me more humble, more kind, and more trustworthy though it may take hard trial...

Do you ever feel like you are about to run empty? Maybe it's your energy levels, your finances, or even your hope or faith that feels almost depleted. That was me this week. Between my full-time job, being a full-time student, being a wife and mother, going to all the sports things, and decorating the homecoming float, I feel completely drained. When I read this week, I told myself, "I bet this is how the widow in 1 Kings 17 was feeling. Empty." She had only a small amount of flour and oil to make one more meal for herself and her son before they would starve. Elijah then shows up. A stranger. A prophet. And he asked her to make him a cake first. To be honest, I could see myself thinking, “Really, Lord? And, I have nothing left, and you want me to share this?” But the widow decided to trust. She gave from her tiny supply, and God kept his promise. The flour and oil never ran out until the famine ended. I love when God hits me straight in the face with something. That is w...

I feel like I've grown a lot this term, not just technically but also emotionally and spiritually. This class has changed the way I think about business as a way of life, not just a job. It takes faith, vision, grit, and planning. This is the last thing I would say to a group of students: being an entrepreneur means fixing real problems for real people. It's not just about making money or putting out a product. Entrepreneurs who see needs that aren't being met, work hard to solve them, and turn their ideas into real, useful chances are the most influential. The books for this class, especially Recognizing and Shaping Opportunities, taught me that ideas need to be turned into well-thought-out business plans that take strategy, resources, and shareholder value into account. I also learned how important it is to be a "finisher," which is something I remember from President Monson's talk. While starting is important, ending with hope and purpose is even more so....