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!)

Friend or Foe?

God knows me better then I know myself.
  A few weeks ago we had word that I would be getting a new teaching companion.
I was so nervous. "Would she like me?" " Would we get along?"
Each night I would pray to know what to say so we could be friends.
(Living with someone 24/7 is no peace of cake, being kind is a must!)
As I drove over to the transfer sight I wanted to cry.
Sometimes I can be a tad bit dramatic ;) and that was exactly the case here.
I had nothing to worry about.
Conversation came easy and teaching the people in our area have brought
  some powerful experiences.
I didn't know this girl but I expected the worst before she came.
God knows me better then I know myself.
Again I am grateful and excited to bring others to Christ with the
talented and beautiful Sister Guilott!

"Fear not, I am with thee; oh, be not dismayed,
For I am thy God and will still give the aid.
I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand."
-How Firm a Foundation hymn no. 85

God Has a Plan

God has a plan.

A Woman we know lost her son to leukemia.

Then on the following Sunday she went up in front of the congregation and bore her testimony of the Savior.

Her entire testimony was full of the Spirit.

I couldn't help but cry as I felt Gods love for her fill that room.

He gave her so much strength to make it through. 

She talked about young trees,

 when the wind blows then the tree becomes stronger when it is grown.

This made me reflect on my life.

Boy has the wind blown.

And looking back I am grateful for it.

After she sat down another young woman stood up. 

She also testified God has a plan.

The night before she helped an elderly couple as he slipped away from this life.

The wife cried thinking it was the end, that she would never see him again.

This young woman although not a avid church goer 

heard herself in this woman's sobs.

Something told her that wasn't right.

This inst the end. 

She would in fact see her loved ones again.

Love like that does not end.

Spiders are Friends?

Washington has more spiders then I have ever seen in my entire life. 

Last year we would walk along the road with our arms out stretched to catch the webs before they hit our face. 

This year a spider appeared by our front door and built a beautiful large web.

We were freaked out by her at first. 

But each night as we passed by her (we think it was a girl spider) we became a little more comfortable with her. 

One night we even saw a bug fly right into her web! 

She ate it so fast we quickly found another bug and watched her eat again. 

The people we live with cleaned up her web and took the door decoration she lived in down. 

When we came home we noticed the door decoration she lived in sitting in our apartment.

Fear came over us as we realized she could be in our part of the house. 

We told the people we lived with and they gave us some counsel. 

They told us a story of a young boy going into the mountains to prove himself. 

On the way down he meet a snake. 

The snake asked the boy to take him down the mountain.

The boy refused.

Earnestly the snake explained how he would freeze if the boy did not take him down to the village below. 

The boy still refused for fear the snake would bite him. 

The snake promised he would do no such thing. 

The boy finally agreed, picked up the snake, and carried him down the mountain.

Right before they reached the village the snake turned around and bit the boy. 

They boy asked "Why did you do that? You promised you wouldn't."

The snake responded "You knew who I was before you picked me up."

Sister Owens and I prayed to find the spider. 

A few days later we found her bigger then ever in the extra coat closet. 

The people we live with came down, kindly took her out and again knocked down all lingering web. 

Through this experience I realized how important it is to not become comfortable with things that can hurt us. 

There is no use in feeding the fire or thinking we are an exception to the rule. 

Spiders bite. Snakes bite. Sin bites. 

Becoming comfortable with empty promises does not take the consequences away. 

"No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and Mammon."

Locked Doors & Ringing Wall Phones

God really shows us what life is all about!! And I love it! 

The more I live the more I love life, God,
and all the people in between.

As missionaries we are in meetings all the time.

Last Sunday we had just gotten out of a meeting where we prayed to be able to find
and help those in need.
The meeting could have ended early but instead it ended right on time.
My companion knew something needed to be printed so we were standing
by the clerk's office.
 The Clerk unlocked the door and within a minute or so 

(the amount of time needed to print our paper)

 the wall phone rings. 

(Inside the previously shut office.)
Staring at the phone I laughed to myself, I didn't know that it was
even there! Who uses wall phones anymore and more so who calls them?
  The Clerk answers, asks a few questions, then hands the phone over to us.
A little puzzled we take the phone and find an answer to the prayer we
gave minutes before.
Someone looked up this number and called needing help.
We were at the right place at the right time to provide that help.

Because we have modern technology we have continued and will continue
to be that help for this child of God.
People who are seeking truth will find it with or with out 

our efforts.

If we are in the right place at the right time, ask God for help,

and are willing we can see miracles and be a part of them.
I am so grateful to be a part of this miracle.
Don't you love the power of faith and what it can do?

Matthew 7:7-8

 "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."

I know I say this all the time but it is true, 

God can answer your prayers too.

Miracles and Hotdogs

Who knew you could find miracles in the grocery store.
This Monday we were doing our normal weekly shopping.
We were in the check out line when I remembered I wanted hot dogs.
We were already in line... And the hot dogs were in the back of the store.
I wasn't sure if it was worth it to go back and get them.
Sister Owens sensing my inner hot dog turmoil solved the problem by
suggesting we turn around and get them anyway so we wouldn't regret it
later.
We walk to the back of the store grab them and then make our way back
to the register.
In that amount of time we hear someone call after us.
My heart leaped as we were greeted  by a man I worked with months ago.
We had spent weeks in his home teaching him the gospel of Jesus Christ.
As missionaries we move around and in that lost contact with him.
Now looking at him the change in his face was indescribable and for the better.
He said "when I saw your profile I knew it was you!"
He also told us how he almost went to a different store.
And we almost didn't go back for the hot dogs.

God has his hand is in our life far more then we know.

"Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say
unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to
pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.

And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and
eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord doth confound the
wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls."
Alma 37:6-7

 

Sometimes I Wonder

Sometimes I wonder 

why I have been the places I have been 

and seen the things I have seen.

The more I think the more I see all the preparation He puts in me.

Although I don't understand everything 

I have faith that He does in fact know everything :)

 This quote from Linda K. Burton and this poem from Eliza M. Hickok
helped me see God truly knows better than me :)

"When the Lord’s timing conflicts with our own desires, trust that
there might be some preparatory experiences the Lord needs us to have
before our prayers are answered."

"I know not by what methods rare,
But this I know, God answers prayer.
I know that He has given His Word,
Which tells me prayer is always heard,
And will be answered, soon or late.
And so I pray and calmly wait.
I know not if the blessing sought
Will come in just the way I thought;
But leave my prayers with Him alone,
Whose will is wiser than my own,
Assured that He will grant my quest,
Or send some answer far more blest."

Weak Ankles

We were eating dinner with a wonderful family when
the conversation turned to the tragedies that are happening around the world.
We were sharing our need to stand strong and help others along our way.
The words were getting caught in my mouth with the strong feeling of
importance and truth.
We ran out the door more determined to step up our efforts in bringing
others to Christ.
Down the steps we went.
We cut across the grass
And boom.
My good ankle buckles beneath me.
I'm hands and knees on the ground...
The pain doesn't last long.
I'm able to hop up and keep going.
But I couldn't help but laugh.

I know the quickening of the work of salvation for our brothers and
sisters isn't going to come with out opposition.
I know the more we desire to do good, hard things will come, ankles
will give out, and heals will be bruised.

As we sincerely seek to understand God's message, we may face
challenges, but God will help us.
The question is are we prepared for what is ahead?
Are we prepared to let God help us as we help ourselves and others?

"Are we prepared for the emergencies in our lives? Are our skills
perfected? Do we live providently? Do we have our reserve supply on
hand? Are we obedient to the commandments of God? Are we responsive to
the teachings of prophets? Are we prepared to give of our substance to
the poor, the needy? Are we square with the Lord?

We live in turbulent times. Often the future is unknown; therefore, it
behooves us to prepare for uncertainties. When the time for decision
arrives, the time for preparation is past."
- Thomas S. Monson
Are We Prepared?

Food Problems

Last month I was hungry.
My body is allergic to something (not sure yet)
Thus making my normal smoothie in the morning quite unenjoyable.
Food always has been a given in my life.
Hungary. Eat. Enjoy.
Now it's more like.
Hungry. Eat. Sneeze. Pain. Unable to enjoy.
The last straw was me trying to make something I thought wouldn't hurt
and then I burnt it. Making it uneatable.
Yet again I wasn't able to feed myself like I wanted and like I needed.
My stomach rumbled.
Frustrated and hungry I started to pray.
I knew Heavenly Father wanted to tell me something but I just wasn't
getting it.
This time the answer came quickly.
To keep our body working we feed it what it needs.
To keep our Spirit working we need to feed IT what IT needs.
Our stomach rumbles and rebels when we don't fill it with what it needs.
Good!
This reminds us that our spirit should feel the same!
Also I learned that we can't eat the wrong things and expect it to do us good.
We can't allow poor spiritual influences into our lives and not expect
them to have a damaging impact.
Nope nope nope.
My tummy tells me this is true and so does my soul :)
We need to
Feed our spirit
and not eat the garbage (temptation) this fallen world throws at us.

Our Savior faced hunger as well

"Though He was tempted by that master of deceit, even the devil,
though He was physically weakened from fasting 40 days and 40 nights
and was an hungered, yet when the evil one proffered Jesus the most
alluring and tempting proposals, He gave to us a divine example of
obedience by refusing to deviate from what He knew was right." -
President Thomas S. Monson
(Obedience Brings Blessings)

We need to refuse to deviate from what we know is right :)
We need to eat good food.
We need to feed our soul.

6 And blessed are all they who do hunger and thirst after
righteousness, for they shall be filled with the Holy Ghost.
3 Nephi 12:6


Since writing this post a month ago my stomach problems have died down!

Both my body and soul feel well feed :)
(For now.. We still have tomorrow to wake up and eat all over again ;)

Ebenezer

"Here I raise my Ebenezer
Hither by thine help I'm come
And I hope by thy good measure
Safely to a arrive at  home
Jesus sought me when a stranger
Wandering from the fold of God
He to rescue me from danger
Interposed His precious blood"

Come Thou Fount is a beautiful song.
Within the last two months I have been able to sing it twice.
Once in a small group of three and second with a large group of 1,200+.
The last time I sang it was for a youth conference.
We walked in holding flags and lifted them when we started this verse.
The feeling in that moment was so powerful.
We were lifting a flag for an auditorium full of people but
symbolically we were lifting our faith to our God.
Saying "Here here is my offering. Although small it is all I have."
God in return responded with a powerful feeling of acceptance and love.
The Spirit was so strong and through the tears of the missionaries
surrounding me I know they felt it as well.
The offerings and sacrifices we give to the Lord have value.
It may be standing for your faith in a crowd of people or it can
simply be closing your computer screen.
I can promise you when you lift your faith from whatever level it may
be you will experience that same feeling of acceptance and love.

"He to rescue me from danger
interposed his precious blood."

Car Accidents and Seat Belts

This week I learned that crazy things happen and if we look with
spiritual eyes we can see why.

Car accidents are no fun.
They are especially no fun when driving 65 mph down the Interstate.
It was April 2011 and I was driving to work in my little Honda Civic.
For reasons unknown to me 

(no other car involved, no blown tire, no
blasting music, and no ice) 

I lost control.
After hitting the dividing wall my car turned, hitting the wall a few
more times...
This little car was now a ball of metal.
When the ambulance came they said it was a miracle I wasn't more
seriously injured.

I know my life was saved because I was wearing my seat belt.

In the months and year that passed I was vividly aware of my lack of car.
Walking and taking the bus in the heat and snow was hard and I often
wondered, "why?"

Fast forward to this week.
I am sitting in a room and I volunteer for some missionaries to teach me.
The subject was fasting.
In this meeting I was honest with them and I told them what I knew
about fasting.
I let them know that I didn't understand what fasting was to me.
The reason I would fast was because I believed and hoped it was
something good to do, but that was as far as my
knowledge/understanding went.

Then the missionary took what I said and bore his own testimony of fasting.
He compared fasting to "fastening" a seat belt to keep us secure and safe.
Tears started to form in my eyes, and I remembered that ugly mangled
mess of a car.

It was only because I had my seat belt on that I survived.

Prayer, with the added protection of fasting, is the seat belt needed
for our soul.
It is there to protect us from the spiritual car accidents we may face.
Fasting is humbly turning to God and asking Him for help,
understanding, direction, protection, etc.
Fasting can be giving up two meals to 24 hours of your food and water
and turning to God in prayer.
When we fast we always start and end with a prayer so we have a purpose.
We ask for what we need and we don't let the world know.
Fasting is just between you and God.
And I now know it saves lives if not physically then definitely spiritually.

"Is not this the fast that I have chosen? To loose the bands of
wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go
free, and that ye break every yoke?

Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health
shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before
thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rearward.

Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and
he shall say, Here I am."
Isaiah 58:6,8-9

The Letters

When I was a junior in high school my face broke.
It was something called Bell's palsy 

(some sort of partial paralysis.)
This illness came on so sudden, the school play I was in had to be
canceled that night...
There I was at home devastated with my life long best friend at my side.
Then they came.. The Letters.
Although I wasn't at the school, my fellow friends and cast members were.
They all wrote me encouraging letters of love and support.
My friend read them to me and I cried.
I was hurt, yet the love I felt that night was overwhelming.
Fast forward a few years and I found myself going through a different
kind of pain.
I was at home, hurt, and The Letters came.
This time from a group of sweet young women.
I felt their love and I cried.
Again I wasn't alone.
Fast forward a few MORE years.
I'm a missionary feeling pain, grief, and loss again.
Although not as prominent as my first two experiences, my hurt felt
just as real.
And then they came.
All bundled together so I couldn't mistake it... The Letters.
This time from my home congregation in Texas.
As I read of their love, condolences, and support, I cried.
I know these three tender moments were not by chance.
I know these Letters might as well have been written by God himself
with the amount of love, reassurance, and consistency they bring me.
I know I am His daughter.
I know he is aware of not only me, but all my grief and pain in
whatever form it may be.
One way I know this is through His Letters.
God sends us letters every day.
Do we recognize his handwriting?

"Everyone’s situation is different, and the details of each life are
unique. Nevertheless, I have learned that there is something that
would take away the bitterness that may come into our lives. There is
one thing we can do to make life sweeter, more joyful, even glorious.

We can be grateful!

It might sound contrary to the wisdom of the world to suggest that one
who is burdened with sorrow should give thanks to God. But those who
set aside the bottle of bitterness and lift instead the goblet of
gratitude can find a purifying drink of healing, peace, and
understanding....

.....We sometimes think that being grateful is what we do after our
problems are solved, but how terribly shortsighted that is. How much
of life do we miss by waiting to see the rainbow before thanking God
that there is rain?

Being grateful in times of distress does not mean that we are pleased
with our circumstances. It does mean that through the eyes of faith we
look beyond our present-day challenges.

This is not a gratitude of the lips but of the soul. It is a gratitude
that heals the heart and expands the mind."

-Dieter F. Uchtdorf
 (Grateful in Any Circumstances)

Lessons I have learned because my mission is hard...

Lessons I have learned because my mission is hard...
Having courage is worth it.
Loving people is always the best choice.
It's ok to have a rough day.
Only Christ can make the pain go away.
Being perfect is overrated.
People will always have their agency.
Giving up isn't an option.
Growth comes from moving forward.
It's ok to work by hope, faith will come.
Faith turns to indescribable knowledge.
The joy of getting through is only a stepping stone for next time.
Come what may and love it. (At least try to)
The blessings that have come are better than I dreamed they could be.
Being grateful makes all the difference.
Failure happens. Shake it off and try again.
There are Angels there to help. Always.

Someday when I understand. When I am standing before my God and I see
the big picture. I know I will thank him for what he did. I know I
will thank him for loving me enough to let me go through hard things.

 "Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and
stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of
Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea,
even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which
sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God."

 (Helaman 3: 35)

Friendly Polish Dumplings

Walking down the street,
We see a cute old man mowing his yard.
He pushes a huge rock out of the way with the mower.
Smiling, we sincerely ask if he needs help.
He yells in a thick polish accent
"Take it and put it in Someone else's lawn!!"
We laugh and brainstorm what we can do with the awkwardly placed throw
pillow sized rock.
Soon this man realized we were missionaries and he started sharing
miracle stories from around the world.
We asked him if he had seen any miracles in his own life.
In broken English he shared an experience on how his heart was healed.
The spirit with us on that sidewalk was so tender and sweet.
When we were done talking he offered us a frozen dinner which we
gladly accepted.
We walked away with frozen dumplings and a new friend.
That day I was grateful for the annoying rock in that mans way.
Because of that stumbling block there was an opportunity for a new
friendship, for offered help, and a tender moment with the spirit.
Have you seen your stumbling blocks create tender moments?
If not, look back and see. You never know what friendships and
spiritual moments you might find.

Matthew 25:40

" And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

(ye have done it unto me)

Trees Need to Grow

Sometimes I can be extremely stubborn.

And yet, life moves on.

This week I was frustrated..

My life was NOT what I had expected it to be.

We were walking down the street and I noticed all these blossoms and peddles on the ground.  

I looked up at these big fluffy pink trees

(which were bare only a few weeks ago.

Now their beautiful flowers were falling!

I could picture myself as the tree yelling at the sky

"Why would you make my beautiful blossoms  fall !??!

I love them just the way they are.

Don't you realize how much work it took me to grow these?

Why would you make me start all over again with ugly leaves?

Why do I have to put in more effort to bear fruit?

Can't my blossoms be enough?"

I was stomping my feet and fuming that these trees had to change.

That I had to change.

When I was a child I did Not like the growing pains in my feet and legs.

I am no different now.

Although I am stubborn I know if I neglect the fact tht seasons come and go.

That trees need to grow,

Leaves catch the sun,

and fruit is one of my favorite things.

Flowers are a good start but Big trees are far more beautiful than little ones.

Sigh.. Ready set go.

Grow!

(Will of God)

Alma 32: 38-43

" But if ye neglect the tree, and take no thought for its nourishment, behold it will not get any root; and when the heat of the sun cometh and scorcheth it, because it hath no root it withers away, and ye pluck it up and cast it out.

 39 Now, this is not because the seed was not good, neither is it because the fruit thereof would not be desirable; but it is because your ground is barren, and ye will not nourish the tree, therefore ye cannot have the fruit thereof.

 40 And thus, if ye will not nourish the word, looking forward with an eye of faith to the fruit thereof, ye can never pluck of the fruit of the tree of life.

 41 But if ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence, and with patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting life.

 42 And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst.

 43 Then, my brethren, ye shall reap the rewards of your faith, and your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering, waiting for the tree to bring forth fruit unto you."

 

Bunny Rabbits and Rocky Roads

This part of Washington has a ton of bunny rabbits running around.
Look out the window - rabbit
Driving down the road - rabbit
Walking up the hill - rabbit
Seeing all these bunnies reminded me of a road trip from my teenage years.
It was late at night and we were the only car on the highway.
Our headlights showed the display of wild rabbits ahead.
There seemed to be two kinds of rabbits.
One who would bolt form one side of the road to the other.
Unwavering speed and making it safely across.
The other sadly would start out strong only to turn half way across the road.
Thus not escaping before our car reached its path.
Thud.
This went on for what seemed like hours.
One day after we reached the camp we decided to fish further up the mountain.
To get to this spot their was a steep rocky road we had to drive up.
As we started up the rocks began to move under our wheels.
Their was again only two options.
Let up and not make it to the top.
Or keep the foot on the gas have unwavering determination despite
all the falling rocks.
Both of these experiences were etched into my brain.
I cried for the lost bunnies
And I pleaded for my own safety on that rocky hill.
 Through this I learned not to let up or give up.
When we keep our vision centered on Christ no oncoming traffic or
falling rocks can capture us. Decide now before you even cross the
road that you will make it to the other side. Decide now not to let up
on the gas fueling your faith in Christ. Faith in our Savior is what
leads us to safety and protects us from being just another "thud" on
this road called life.

Alma 26:27

" Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success."

(This is the view from beyond the rocky hill)