The Forgotten Miracle

On Monday we were asked to sing for a Christmas dinner on Saturday.
We listened to the song for the first time.
It was beautiful.
We just didn't have a copy of the song or the sheet music.
The person who asked us was working hard to find it.
Calling people who then called people to see if they had a copy.
On Wednesday we received a package.
In the package was a copy of the CD with the exact same song!
We listened to it on repeat all day to memorize it.
That night the sheet music was found and given to us.
Christmas miracle.
Looks like we get to sing!

I wondered why God cared so much about a song.
That particular song.
We could have sang any Christmas song we already knew and had access to.
But it meant a lot to the person who asked us.
The gift that was sent in the mail days before the invitation to sing confirmed it.
It confirmed God cares more about the person than the gift.
He cares more about the person then the song.
And perhaps someone needs to hear that song and THAT is why it all
fell into place.
God cares about us individually.
Go listen to the forgotten carols.
I promise God has not forgotten you.


  "But, behold, Zion hath said: The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord
hath forgotten me--but he will show that he hath not.

For can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have
compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I
not forget thee, O house of Israel."
1 Nephi 21:14-15

 

 

Share The Gift

For me Christmas past has been filled with John Denver and no snow. :)
Also Mannheim Steamroller, pink Christmas trees and carrots left out
for rain deer.
When I was little I remember going to a church Christmas party.
They decorated the building like Bethlehem and we came in wearing long
colorful robes and shawls tied around our heads.
A few people reenacted the story of Mary riding into Bethlehem for
Christ's birth.
I remember watching as Mary rolled in across the gymnasium riding on a
fake donkey with wheels.
The spotlight followed her to the manger scene.
That is where my childhood memory ends but I know the story now.
I know that is where our Savior was born.
That is when angels declared his birth to shepherds in a field.
These same shepherds followed to see our new born Savior.
Since then many have followed signs, miracles and feelings to find Christ.
To see for themselves the Savior of the world.
He is our Savior because He took upon Himself our sins and death.
Because He accomplished that, this life is not the end.
That is why He is the perfect gift.
The first real gift.
That is why He is Christmas.
If He were not born we would not live again.
This would be the end.
All the more reason to sing and celebrate with John Denver, pink
Christmas trees and Mary's rolled in on wooden donkeys.
We need to share the excitement, the gratitude and the gift that is Christmas.
We need to share the excitement that is Christ.
So everyone can know, guilt can be washed clean and death is not the end.
I know Jesus Christ made this possible.
I know He is Christmas.
#ShareTheGift

"Can a gift given by a loving Heavenly Father over two thousand years
ago still matter today? The answer is a heartfelt yes. Everything
Jesus Christ did was for a brighter future for all of God’s children.
Because of the first gift, redemption is real and death is not the
end. Sadness is temporary and love is eternal. The stain of sin can be
replaced by perfect forgiveness. As we embrace His teachings and
follow the example of His perfect life, we can become more like Him,
and experience true peace and joy. This Christmas season, let us
remember that He is the gift." - He is the Gift

 ^^^ You can share the Gift too!^^^

 So neither should we!

Merry CHRISTmas!

Dead Chickens.. Choose Wisely

When people ask me what I want to do with my life I don't like it when
I don't have an answer.
Most of the time my goal making includes sitting and waiting until
things work themselves out.  I always want the right goal/ answer for
life to just come to me!
The other night I prayed for goal making help. Goals of understanding,
direction and divine guidance. This prayer was answered the next
morning at 5:30 am by the sound of screaming chickens... We ran out in
our pajamas armed with a flashlight yet we were too late. Three
raccoons had gotten into the coop. These animals came as an example
that life moves on.. Murdered chickens and all. Those chickens sat
around in their coop being taken care of. The raccoons on the other
hand took their goal of eating seriously and they found a way into the
seemingly impenetrable coop. They found success. Not only did they
reach their goal of finding food but they ate every night until a road
block came their way 

(two sisters armed with vocal chords and a flashlight.) 

I'm sure those raccoons are not going to go lay down and die.
I'm Sure they relished in the success they did have and have now moved
on to finding another way to reach their next goal.
Raccoons need to eat to survive. We need to work at our goals to
survive and thrive as well. Goal setting is something we all can think
about, work on and stop procrastinating.  In this instance I would
much rather be the raccoon than the chicken. 

Seven hens, three nights, only one survived...Those are not good odds.
Let's make some goals!

 This last October General Conference Elder Quentin L. Cook talked 

about the importance of making sure our goals and actions complement the other.

"I believe it is of particular importance in our day, when Satan is
raging in the hearts of men in so many new and subtle ways, that our
choices and decisions be made carefully, consistent with the goals and
objectives by which we profess to live. We need unequivocal commitment
to the commandments and strict adherence to sacred covenants. When we
allow rationalizations to prevent us from temple endowments, worthy
missions, and temple marriage, they are particularly harmful. It is
heartbreaking when we profess belief in these goals yet neglect the
everyday conduct required to achieve them."

Choose Wisely Elder Quentin L. Cook
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

 

 

Three Men and a Door

A woman is ill in the hospital.
We were out one day looking for her family to see if we could help.

After we walked up to what used to be their house the door was off and three men were working inside. By working I mean, one man was scraping off the bottom of the front door with a dull knife, another was watching and the other was keeping busy doing something else. Although I was worried for the dull knife mans fingers we were all instant friends.

The conversation easily turned toward the gospel and all the different religions to be found.
Then we quickly explained how we believe in the Book of Mormon and handed one to the men.

Our minds were still focused on the sick woman and finding her family,
miraculously they did know of her and directed us to her family in the connecting apartment.
We left in a hurry and we were grateful to talk to the family.

As we were off to our next appointment we realized we didn't set a
time to see those men again.
Sitting in the car we didn't bow our heads or close our eyes, we
simply sat in silence and we prayed. A simple prayer to help those men
come closer Christ and if we could be the ones to help with that,
great :)

The next day we received a text from an unknown number asking 

"Is this the blonde or the brunet?"
Our prayer was answered! lol!

We know Christ doesn't come knocking at the most ideal time and we know we don't always have time to kneel down and offer up an elaborate 30 minute prayer.

But Christ does knock and prayer is real. God is also in the details.
His knock may come from a loved one, friend, acquaintance, blond,
brunet, red head, stranger or anything in between :)

I know God loves those men in whatever life situation they are in. I also know God loves that family to help our limited information in finding them. Through this experience I again know prayer does work. Even simple informal prayers. If we are honestly seeking we will find
what we are looking for :)

"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and
it shall be opened unto you:

For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and
to him that knocketh it shall be opened."
Matthew 7:7-8

(a quick clip on the Book of Mormon)

Pornography Can Seem Appealing...

Pornography is so sad.
During my sophomore year of high school I choose to do a project on
pornography for my English class.
Thinking back I have no idea why I did this!
What 15 year old girl says " I want to publicly talk about porn and
its effects on society today!" -_-
Any way, it was a nightmare! There I was standing in front of my class
with a modest paper stick figure woman for display.

The cat calls started as soon as I started my object lesson on modesty.

There I was shaking as I read quotes on the poison known as pornography and eventually the teacher asked me to sit down. 

-_- 

Although I am no longer 15, Pornography is still a huge huge problem!

God gave us these beautiful bodies we eat, breathe, and live in.

These bodies He has trusted us with are important to Him.

"And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments."

(D&C 59:21) 

Yes, our bodies are beautiful and wonderful! They are creations of God!

We all are His masterpiece.

No wonder pornography can seem appealing.

Our bodies are beautiful! 

Although porn may seem appealing it truly is not. 

Looking at porn, creating porn or even thinking pornographic thoughts is forgetting God.

No, we are not perfect and in this world it may seem impossible to get away from the poison that is porn. 

But with God all things are possible.

I love you :) and I don't need your confessions but God does.

Go and confess to Him.

Our bodies are Holy. 

I know as we do our best to turn away from sin God WILL ALWAYS make up the rest.

He is there to help clean out the poison. 

In the name of Jesus Christ, amen 

(here is a link on overcoming pornography)

For those Unbarable Life Moments

This last weekend a woman had an assisted suicide in Oregon.
That is where doctors help with someone's wish to take their own life.
I don't know the details because as a missionary we try not to focus
on the news but the people around us.
When I heard this my heart reached out to this woman.
I am not here to judge, her trials must have been hard and I know her
decision has people across the world thinking about their lives and
the value of them.
God gave us our bodies and our life here on earth.
They are His and we are here to take care of them the best we can.

We all go through hard things. I am reading in the Book of Mormon
where there is a very stubborn, set minded people.
They are going through some extremely rough and hard battles.
Reading their experiences has really helped me understand the
importance of trusting God. Although this passage is a little harsh it
also helped me understand the importance of having Godly sorrow for
our trials rather then a self harming lamenting sorrow.

"And it came to pass that the Nephites began to repent of their
iniquity, and began to cry even as had been prophesied by Samuel the
prophet; for behold no man could keep that which was his own, for the
thieves, and the robbers, and the murderers, and the magic art, and
the witchcraft which was in the land.

Thus there began to be a mourning and a lamentation in all the land
because of these things, and more especially among the people of
Nephi.

And it came to pass that when I, Mormon, saw their lamentation and
their mourning and their sorrow before the Lord, my heart did begin to
rejoice within me, knowing the mercies and the long-suffering of the
Lord, therefore supposing that he would be merciful unto them that
they would again become a righteous people.

But behold this my joy was vain, for their sorrowing was not unto
repentance, because of the goodness of God; but it was rather the
sorrowing of the damned, because the Lord would not always suffer them
to take happiness in sin.

And they did not come unto Jesus with broken hearts and contrite
spirits, but they did curse God, and wish to die. Nevertheless they
would struggle with the sword for their lives."

Mormon 2:10-14

What I am inviting myself and the rest of you to do is take care of
the body and life God has given you.
We are His children and I know He is in control even when things may
seem unbearable.
Please have hope in Him.

Let us not curse God even in our hard trials. Let us take care of the
gifts He has given us and let us turn to our Savor who is quick to
forgive and to save. This is my testimony that it is only through Him
we may live! In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

(here is a link to a kind of cheesy by good message on suicide)

Musicals and Singing in the Car.

Recently a production came out called 

The Lamb of God.
It is a musical production of the life of Christ put together by
various Christian denominations who worked together to create it.

My companion was given the CD's and we have been listening to the
soundtrack non stop.
The last song of the first disk is right after Christ's death. 

As we sat and listened it talked about how hope did not die with Christ but
that it was here hope was made.
I thought of our Savior on the cross and how he cried out because The
Father left Him, Christ, alone.
"And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli,
Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou
forsaken me?"
Matthew 27:46
We teach a non denominational bible study class and we just finished
reading Matthew.
When Christ called out "Why hast thou forsaken me?" The class was puzzled.
Why had God left His Son alone on the cross?
We explained because Christ had to be the perfect sacrifice He
couldn't have help.
He needed to do it alone.
But it wasn't until two weeks later as we were listing to the soundtrack in
the car this image began to make its way into my heart.
The image of Christ on the cross was portrayed in a beautiful array of
music and words.
I was overcome with the scene and these thoughts came to my mind.

God had to leave Christ so Christ would never leave us.

If we will but trust in what He has done for us we never need to feel alone.
I knew this before but now I feel this truth even more!

(This was the car in front of us on our way to the library!)