'Instinctively we strive to win—
No matter what the race,
A still small voice within us says,
“Don’t slacken off the pace.”
Not all of us can come in first,
There must be also-rans.
He wins a special vict’ry though,
Who does the best he can.
And when it’s run, the question’s posed,
Who really won the race,
He who did the best he could,
Or he who took first place?'
George T. Johannesen Sr
We all want to win. Some of us start off with the best shoes, some start with holes, some have none at all. The Lord only asks us to do what we can, he will make up the rest. Have a goal and go for it. The Lord never compares your best to anyone else's best. Neither should you.
Friday, November 25, 2011
WHO WINS THE RACE?
'Instinctively we strive to win—
No matter what the race,
A still small voice within us says,
“Don’t slacken off the pace.”
Not all of us can come in first,
There must be also-rans.
He wins a special vict’ry though,
Who does the best he can.
And when it’s run, the question’s posed,
Who really won the race,
He who did the best he could,
Or he who took first place?'
George T. Johannesen Sr
We all want to win. Some of us start off with the best shoes, some start with holes, some have none at all. The Lord only asks us to do what we can, he will make up the rest. Have a goal and go for it. The Lord never compares your best to anyone else's best. Neither should you.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Spiritual Resuscitation
Are you in need of some Spiritual resuscitation? Then ...
DO-CPR! 
Diligence: Merriam-Webster definition: the attention and care legally expected or required of a person (as a party to a contract).
The Lord expects our Diligence. We have made covenants with Him, and we are to use all Diligence in keeping those promises.
Alma 32:43 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.
Obedience: "One of the sneaky ploys of the adversary is to have us believe that unquestioning obedience to the principles and commandments of God is blind obedience. His goal is to have us believe that we should be following our own worldly ways and selfish ambitions. This he does by persuading us that “blindly” following the prophets and obeying the commandments is not thinking for ourselves. He teaches that it is not intelligent to do something just because we are told to do so by a living prophet or by prophets who speak to us from the scriptures.
Our unquestioning obedience to the Lord’s commandments is not blind obedience. President Boyd K. Packer in the April conference of 1983 taught us about this: “Latter-day Saints are not obedient because they are compelled to be obedient. They are obedient because they know certain spiritual truths and have decided, as an expression of their own individual agency, to obey the commandments of God. … We are not obedient because we are blind, we are obedient because we can see” R. Conrad Schultz
Charity: 1Peter 4:8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
Moroni 10:20 Wherefore, there must be faith; and if there must be faith there m
ust also be hope; and if there must be hope there must also be charity.
21 And except ye have charity ye can in nowise be saved in the kingdom of God; neither can ye be saved in the kingdom of God if ye have not faith; neither can ye if ye have no hope.
Patience: "The ability to put our desires on hold for a time—is a precious and rare virtue. We want what we want, and we want it now. Therefore, the very idea of patience may seem unpleasant and, at times, bitter. Nevertheless, without patience, we cannot please God; we cannot become perfect. Indeed, patience is a purifying process that refines understanding, deepens happiness, focuses action, and offers hope for peace." President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Repentance & Responsibility:
Repentance is a divine gift, and there should be a smile on our faces when we speak of it. It points us to freedom, confidence, and peace. Rather than interrupting the celebration
, the gift of repentance is the cause for true celebration.
Responsibility is so essential to all of the above. Do we realize that we will be held accountable, or responsible for everything we do? Are we are diligent, obedient, have charity and patience? We are responsible for all that the Lord has given us. Even our time. I pray that WHEN we are all in need of 'Spiritual Rescusitaion' we will turn to the Savior and apply these principles to living a happier, more peaceful life.
Diligence: Merriam-Webster definition: the attention and care legally expected or required of a person (as a party to a contract).
The Lord expects our Diligence. We have made covenants with Him, and we are to use all Diligence in keeping those promises.
Alma 32:43 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.
Obedience: "One of the sneaky ploys of the adversary is to have us believe that unquestioning obedience to the principles and commandments of God is blind obedience. His goal is to have us believe that we should be following our own worldly ways and selfish ambitions. This he does by persuading us that “blindly” following the prophets and obeying the commandments is not thinking for ourselves. He teaches that it is not intelligent to do something just because we are told to do so by a living prophet or by prophets who speak to us from the scriptures.
Our unquestioning obedience to the Lord’s commandments is not blind obedience. President Boyd K. Packer in the April conference of 1983 taught us about this: “Latter-day Saints are not obedient because they are compelled to be obedient. They are obedient because they know certain spiritual truths and have decided, as an expression of their own individual agency, to obey the commandments of God. … We are not obedient because we are blind, we are obedient because we can see” R. Conrad Schultz
Charity: 1Peter 4:8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
Moroni 10:20 Wherefore, there must be faith; and if there must be faith there m
ust also be hope; and if there must be hope there must also be charity.
21 And except ye have charity ye can in nowise be saved in the kingdom of God; neither can ye be saved in the kingdom of God if ye have not faith; neither can ye if ye have no hope.
Patience: "The ability to put our desires on hold for a time—is a precious and rare virtue. We want what we want, and we want it now. Therefore, the very idea of patience may seem unpleasant and, at times, bitter. Nevertheless, without patience, we cannot please God; we cannot become perfect. Indeed, patience is a purifying process that refines understanding, deepens happiness, focuses action, and offers hope for peace." President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Repentance & Responsibility:
Repentance is a divine gift, and there should be a smile on our faces when we speak of it. It points us to freedom, confidence, and peace. Rather than interrupting the celebration
, the gift of repentance is the cause for true celebration.
Responsibility is so essential to all of the above. Do we realize that we will be held accountable, or responsible for everything we do? Are we are diligent, obedient, have charity and patience? We are responsible for all that the Lord has given us. Even our time. I pray that WHEN we are all in need of 'Spiritual Rescusitaion' we will turn to the Savior and apply these principles to living a happier, more peaceful life.
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Let's Get Real
For the past few months I have been trying to figure out why I don't like writing blogs. I love reading them and trying to think of new ones, but when I get to the keyboard and I'm staring at a blank screen, my mind becomes just that...blank. I believe that I have found my answer! As I was getting ready today my epiphany came to me. I have been faking it the whole time. I have not been myself. I have tried to be the 'perfect' missionary, and they just don't exist. (Except in the District 2)
I am Not a Barbie! I am not a Stepford Missionary!
When I first set out to write a missionary blog I had an idea of what it would be: I would be real. It would be me.
But then I started looking at other blogs and tried to be like them. Not that those other blogs are bad by any means, they are just not me. And anytime I try to be like someone else, I get depressed because I move farther and farther away from the person/missionary that Heavenly Father wants 'ME' to be. I put on a facade and failed.
So this is my attempt to apologize to my readers and rectify my mistake. From now on this blog is me. My life. My mission. My story.
What has been happening in my life: I just found out that I have a Gluten Intolerance. My life has turned upside down! Just when I thought I had every thing under control...I g
et this thrown into the loop. I have been praying for years to be able to be healthier, I just didn't expect the answer to come this way.
I have been gluten free for about 3 weeks. It is really hard! I feel so much better when I don't eat gluten and I can feel like a human again, but see there is one tiny, little problem...This new found diagnosis takes a lot of time and effort to make the treatment work. I'm a missionary. I don't really have time for anything else. So then this wonderful test came along to make me realize that I don't have everything under control as I would like. Plus I feel like such a burden to the members that we eat dinner with every night, becuase they have to tell me exactly what they are cooking and read all the ingredients to me and if there is anything that I can't eat they either have to start from scratch or make me a seperate meal. I'M SORRY! :(
Life is interesting. And I'm greatful that Heavenly Father doesn't allow me to beome complacent in my day to day routine. I'm thankful that he throws in a few sour skittles to let me realize how sweet life can be.
To be continued...
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