Six months ago today I said goodbye to life as I knew it and walked into a totally new phase of my life. Looking back, I still can't believe I made this decision. I've already realized that it's going to effect every aspect of the rest of my life. And I'm only 1/3 of the way through this crazy experience!
Things I've done in the last 6 months (in no particular order):
-seen the ocean
-seen people find lasting happiness by following a few simple commandments
-eaten an artichoke
-knocked on strangers' door and invited them to learn more about Jesus Christ and the Book of Mormon
-learned that it is humanly possible to be joined at the hip to someone 24/7 for 6 solid months. (That's 264,960 minutes straight, for the record)
-seen people use the Atonement of Jesus Christ to become better than they were
-eaten shrimp
-learned how to make things out of duct tape
-had my core convictions challenged by very angry people
-looked those very angry people firmly in the eye and told them exactly what I believe
-realized that God is the best planner. Ever. Period.
-prayed for miracles
-seen miracles
-checked an empty mailbox one more time (just to make sure we didn't miss anything)
-volunteered to give up chocolate for a MONTH just to get someone to stop smoking
-broken into a baptismal font just so someone could make covenants with God
-grown closer to Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost than I've ever been in my life
Obviously this list doesn't even come close to everything that's happened in the last 6 months. But it's a start.
I am so grateful that Heavenly Father took a chance on me and let me come out here. I may have come out here to try and pay Him back for all He's done for me--but I ended up even more in debt to Him. Guess that's life.
I love my life!
Showing posts with label faith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label faith. Show all posts
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Friday, June 8, 2012
#18: A Tale of the Old West
Faith,
Hope
and Charity.
These three always go together. And I don't know about anyone else out there but I always had a hard time keeping faith and hope separate in my mind...they just seem to be used interchangably but I know they're different (otherwise the phrase "faith, hope, and charity" would be completely redundant). So what's the difference?
This morning, I was thinking back on a story one of my teachers told me years ago (I told you that you made a difference, Brother Butterfield!!). This story has stuck with me all this time because of how it demonstrates faith and hope and what the difference is. Here's the story as I remember it:
A man is wandering through the desert, dying of thirst. His canteens are hanging empty at his side. Just when he thinks all is lost, he comes upon a deserted town. In the middle of this ghost town is an old, dried-up well. Next to the pump the man finds a small jug of water and a note:
Hope
and Charity.
These three always go together. And I don't know about anyone else out there but I always had a hard time keeping faith and hope separate in my mind...they just seem to be used interchangably but I know they're different (otherwise the phrase "faith, hope, and charity" would be completely redundant). So what's the difference?
This morning, I was thinking back on a story one of my teachers told me years ago (I told you that you made a difference, Brother Butterfield!!). This story has stuck with me all this time because of how it demonstrates faith and hope and what the difference is. Here's the story as I remember it:
A man is wandering through the desert, dying of thirst. His canteens are hanging empty at his side. Just when he thinks all is lost, he comes upon a deserted town. In the middle of this ghost town is an old, dried-up well. Next to the pump the man finds a small jug of water and a note:
"Use this water to prime the well."
The story can take two different routes at this point. In one version of the story, the man isn't willing to take the chance on this old well and drinks the water in the jug instead. This tale doesn't have a very happy ending and the man perishes in the desert before he can reach civilization.
In the other version of the story, the man decides to take a leap of faith and trust that his sacrifice will lead to enough water to restock his supply so he can survive until he gets out of the desert. Here's where the tie-in to faith, hope and charity comes in:
Pouring the water down the well to prime the pump is FAITH. Faith is an action. In this case, the man's faith comes by testing the promise on the note.
Now, can the man just sit there and "hope" the well starts working? No--he has to pump the handle for all he's worth! That's real hope. HOPE is what sustains you between an act of faith and when you receive the promised blessing.
Where does charity fit in this situation? The man can demonstrate CHARITY by refilling the jug for the next person that comes along.
I love this analogy. Faith, hope and charity are all action words and this helps me to remember that to really have faith, hope, or charity I have to show it. I hope this story helps you remember the differences between these three principles and how important ALL of them are.
And, no matter what your circumstances are--never, never give up hope!
I love this analogy. Faith, hope and charity are all action words and this helps me to remember that to really have faith, hope, or charity I have to show it. I hope this story helps you remember the differences between these three principles and how important ALL of them are.
And, no matter what your circumstances are--never, never give up hope!
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
#16: Energy-efficient lighting
I flicked on the lightswitch in our bedroom the other day and it got me thinking...
We have those new energy-efficient lightbulbs that everyone's getting these days. You know the ones that take forever to actually get bright? I was thinking about how our testimonies are kinda like that. When we first gain a testimony of something, it's kind of like switching on the light. At first you notice a big difference because you've gone from total darkness to being able to see what's around you. But then, if you keep waiting the light gets brighter. Sometimes it happens so slowly that you don't really notice a change at first. But if you compare how much brighter it is from when you first turned the light on, you can definitely tell that the light is getting stronger.
Strangely enough, the scripture at the top of my blog has this same principle in it. (And I didn't even plan that!) :)
"That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day." -D&C 50:24
Take a minute and look at something you have a testimony of (prayer, scripture study, following the propeht, paying tithing, etc.) Think about when it first really clicked with you. Now look where you are. It's a lot brighter huh? The important thing to remember though is that you have to leave the electricity running through the lightbulb long enough to let it get bright. Just the same, you have to keep feeding and building your testimony if you expect it to get brighter and stronger.
We have those new energy-efficient lightbulbs that everyone's getting these days. You know the ones that take forever to actually get bright? I was thinking about how our testimonies are kinda like that. When we first gain a testimony of something, it's kind of like switching on the light. At first you notice a big difference because you've gone from total darkness to being able to see what's around you. But then, if you keep waiting the light gets brighter. Sometimes it happens so slowly that you don't really notice a change at first. But if you compare how much brighter it is from when you first turned the light on, you can definitely tell that the light is getting stronger.
Strangely enough, the scripture at the top of my blog has this same principle in it. (And I didn't even plan that!) :)
"That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day." -D&C 50:24
Take a minute and look at something you have a testimony of (prayer, scripture study, following the propeht, paying tithing, etc.) Think about when it first really clicked with you. Now look where you are. It's a lot brighter huh? The important thing to remember though is that you have to leave the electricity running through the lightbulb long enough to let it get bright. Just the same, you have to keep feeding and building your testimony if you expect it to get brighter and stronger.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
#15: Embrace this day!
This blog isn't very original (as if the other ones are...) but I read an article that one of my sisters sent me (you can read the whole thing here) and it had some wonderful pointers on how to grow closer to the influence of the Holy Ghost and how to stay focused on the most important things in our lives. I wanted to share the author's thoughts with you in the hopes that they affect you as much as they affected me when I read them.
* Embrace this day with an enthusiastic welcome, no matter how it looks. The covenant with God to which you are true enables you to become enlightened by him, and nothing is impossible for you.
* When you are physically sick, tired, or in despair, steer your thoughts away from yourself and direct them, in gratitude and love, toward God.
* In your life there have to be challenges. They will either bring you closer to God and therefore make you stronger, or they can destroy you. But you make the decision of which road you take.
* Put all frustrations, hurt feelings, and grumblings into the perspective of your eternal hope. Light will flow into your soul.
* God knows that you are not perfect. As you suffer about your imperfections, he will give you comfort and suggestions of where to improve.
* God knows better than you what you need. He always attempts to speak to you. Listen, and follow the uncomfortable suggestions that he makes to us--everything will fall into its place.
* Avoid any fear like your worst enemy, but magnify your fear about the consequences of sin.
* When you cannot love someone, look into that person's eyes long enough to find the hidden rudiments of the child of God in him.
* Never judge anyone. When you accept this, you will be freed. In the case of your own children or subordinates, where you have the responsibility to judge, help them to become their own judges.
* If someone hurts you so much that your feelings seem to choke you, forgive and you will be free again.
* Avoid at all cost any pessimistic, negative, or criticizing thoughts. If you cannot cut them out, they will do you harm. On the road toward salvation, let questions arise but never doubts. If something is wrong, God will give you clarity but never doubts.
* Avoid rush and haste and uncontrolled words. Divine light develops in places of peace and quiet. Be aware of that as you enter places of worship.
* Be not so much concerned about what you do, but do what you do with all your heart, might, and strength. In thoroughness is satisfaction.
* The pain of sacrifice lasts only one moment. It is the fear of the pain of sacrifice that makes you hesitate to do it.
* Be grateful for every opportunity to serve. It helps you more than those you serve.
* And finally, when you are compelled to give up something or when things that are dear to you are withdrawn from you, know that this is your lesson to be learned right now. But know also that, as you are learning this lesson, God wants to give you something better.
I know that some (or most) of these bullet points are easier said than done but I felt the truthfulness of these statements when I read them and I know that acting on them will lead to greater happiness. Even if you can only pick one to focus on, let that one idea change you and bring you closer to the person God wants you to be. As it says above, "God knows better than you what you need. He always attempts to speak to you. Listen, and follow the uncomfortable suggestions that He makes to us--everything will fall into its place."
Thursday, April 19, 2012
#14: 'TUTE!
Okay, this post was inevitable. I'm just too crazy about Institute classes to not say something about them when I have an audience. If you have never attended an Institute class or--perish the thought--never even heard of Institute, let me clue you in on what you've been missing all your life. :)
Let's start with the basics.
What exactly is Institute, you may ask? Well to quote the official web page...
This is how Franc describes institute:
Institute is a safe place. :)
How do I describe Institute?
Institute is a place where I have come to know who my Savior is, who my God is, and who I am. The Insitute offers wonderful scripture-based classes on a variety of topics. Whether you want to learn the history behind the events in the Old Testament, understand the life of Jesus Christ more clearly, study the early beginnings of the restored Church of Jesus Christ, listen to stories of women recorded in the scriptures, or study the words of living prophets, Institute offers something for EVERYONE (and that list only mentions a few of the classes I've taken through the Institute). Not to mention the leadership opportunities you can take advantage of (which looks great on a resume, by the way) or all the free food (because let's face it, we're starving college students).
It's through institute that I've made friends, strengthened my relationship with Jesus Christ, and learned to better recognize the promptings of the holy spirit. Making Institute a part of my life during college also helped me to realize how many people believe the same things I believe and try just as hard as I do to live great lives. When you're in the 18-30 bracket, it's really easy to get caught up in school and work and life and feel like you're the only one trying to live the standards you've set for yourself. By involving yourself in Institute, you find yourself surrounded by people that not only accept your standards, they help you to live them!
Now, I know what you're going to say, "With my schedule I don't have time for Institute" or "The Institute building is too far away from where I live".
Those are just excuses.
Trust me.
I did the whole college thing full-time (16 credits a semester) for 5 years, plus a 15-20 hour per week job most semesters, and I lived 40 minutes away from campus. If I had given into those same excuses I would have missed some of the best experiences of. my. life. Don't make the mistake of losing out on some incredible experiences and friendships just because right now you can't see how far institute can take you.
President Thomas S. Monson (a prophet of God) gave us a promise if we make institute a priority in our lives. He says:
Did you catch all those promises? Friends. The spirit of God. Increased faith. Power to avoid temptation. Direction in life. Divine favor. If that's not something you want in your life, you're reading the wrong blog. I'm not sure if I've ever met someone that doesn't want those things. The hard part in life is to figure out where to find all that...
And I'll give you a clue:
I JUST TOLD YOU WHERE TO FIND IT.
So go get it. A prophet of God just promised you that's where you'll find it all. And I can tell you from experience that it's true. I found ALL those things when I went to Institute.
Now that I've got you hooked on Institute, what's the next step? I'm glad you asked. Simply visit the Institute of Religion website for info on classes, locations, FAQs, videos, and more info. Or if you already know where your local Institute meets, just walk right in. There's plenty of people to tell you about classes and upcoming activities. You won't regret taking an Institute class. It's free, it's wonderful, it's Institute.
What are you waiting for?
Let's start with the basics.
What exactly is Institute, you may ask? Well to quote the official web page...
"Institutes of religion provide weekday religious instruction for single and married post-secondary students. Other married and young single adults ages 18-30 are also welcome to attend. Adult religion classes are available for those over 30. A variety of free distance-learning classes, including religion courses are also available."If that wasn't enough to convince you that it's awesome, just ask Franc how cool Institute is...
"With a worldwide enrollment of 350,000 students in over 2,500 locations, there is an institute of religion near you. Institute is a safe haven from the pressures, trials, and challenges of the world. Institute is concerned with education for eternity and provides an opportunity for students to be touched and nurtured by the Spirit through classes and activities."
This is how Franc describes institute:
(This video cracks me up by the way)
Institute is a safe place. :)
How do I describe Institute?
Institute is a place where I have come to know who my Savior is, who my God is, and who I am. The Insitute offers wonderful scripture-based classes on a variety of topics. Whether you want to learn the history behind the events in the Old Testament, understand the life of Jesus Christ more clearly, study the early beginnings of the restored Church of Jesus Christ, listen to stories of women recorded in the scriptures, or study the words of living prophets, Institute offers something for EVERYONE (and that list only mentions a few of the classes I've taken through the Institute). Not to mention the leadership opportunities you can take advantage of (which looks great on a resume, by the way) or all the free food (because let's face it, we're starving college students).
It's through institute that I've made friends, strengthened my relationship with Jesus Christ, and learned to better recognize the promptings of the holy spirit. Making Institute a part of my life during college also helped me to realize how many people believe the same things I believe and try just as hard as I do to live great lives. When you're in the 18-30 bracket, it's really easy to get caught up in school and work and life and feel like you're the only one trying to live the standards you've set for yourself. By involving yourself in Institute, you find yourself surrounded by people that not only accept your standards, they help you to live them!
Now, I know what you're going to say, "With my schedule I don't have time for Institute" or "The Institute building is too far away from where I live".
Those are just excuses.
Trust me.
I did the whole college thing full-time (16 credits a semester) for 5 years, plus a 15-20 hour per week job most semesters, and I lived 40 minutes away from campus. If I had given into those same excuses I would have missed some of the best experiences of. my. life. Don't make the mistake of losing out on some incredible experiences and friendships just because right now you can't see how far institute can take you.
President Thomas S. Monson (a prophet of God) gave us a promise if we make institute a priority in our lives. He says:
"Think of it. Friends will be made, the Spirit will be felt, and faith will be strengthened. I promise you that as you participate in institute and study the scriptures diligently, your power to avoid temptation and to receive direction of the Holy Ghost in all you do will be increased. Divine favor will attend those who humbly seek it. That is a promise which I leave with you."
President Thomas S. Monson (April 21, 2009)
Did you catch all those promises? Friends. The spirit of God. Increased faith. Power to avoid temptation. Direction in life. Divine favor. If that's not something you want in your life, you're reading the wrong blog. I'm not sure if I've ever met someone that doesn't want those things. The hard part in life is to figure out where to find all that...
And I'll give you a clue:
I JUST TOLD YOU WHERE TO FIND IT.
So go get it. A prophet of God just promised you that's where you'll find it all. And I can tell you from experience that it's true. I found ALL those things when I went to Institute.
Now that I've got you hooked on Institute, what's the next step? I'm glad you asked. Simply visit the Institute of Religion website for info on classes, locations, FAQs, videos, and more info. Or if you already know where your local Institute meets, just walk right in. There's plenty of people to tell you about classes and upcoming activities. You won't regret taking an Institute class. It's free, it's wonderful, it's Institute.
What are you waiting for?
Thursday, April 5, 2012
#12: A sabbath day throwdown? Not quite!
Maybe you've noticed by now that the Old Testament is pretty harsh. Take this passage for example:
Exodus 31:12-17
12 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
Exodus 31:12-17
12 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
13 Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you.
14 Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.
15 Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.
16 Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.
17 It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.
Everyone that defileth the sabbath shall surely be put to death?! Ouch. Whatever happened to that merciful Father that is loving and forgiving? Oh well, you think, it's just the Old Testament, it's not like that part's really applicable anymore...
But aren't we supposed to "liken the scriptures" to ourselves? So that means there's got to be a connection somewhere, right? Maybe there is. Try this one on for size:
Nowhere in this passage does it say that you'll suffer physical death if you don't keep the sabbath day. There are two kinds of death: physical (which we're all aware of) and spiritual (which is separation from God because of the choices we make). Perhaps the scripture is talking about the second one. When we don't make time for church, we are separating ourselves from our Father in Heaven (spiritual death).
The second part of verse 14 makes sense in that context as well. If you don't go to church, you're cutting yourself off from that association and fellowship with those that share your values and beliefs. Why would you do that to yourself?
This Easter Sunday make the effort to go to church. Then keep coming back! Make sabbath day observance (including church attendance) a priority in your life and watch God work miracles with the rest of your week.
Everyone that defileth the sabbath shall surely be put to death?! Ouch. Whatever happened to that merciful Father that is loving and forgiving? Oh well, you think, it's just the Old Testament, it's not like that part's really applicable anymore...
But aren't we supposed to "liken the scriptures" to ourselves? So that means there's got to be a connection somewhere, right? Maybe there is. Try this one on for size:
Nowhere in this passage does it say that you'll suffer physical death if you don't keep the sabbath day. There are two kinds of death: physical (which we're all aware of) and spiritual (which is separation from God because of the choices we make). Perhaps the scripture is talking about the second one. When we don't make time for church, we are separating ourselves from our Father in Heaven (spiritual death).
The second part of verse 14 makes sense in that context as well. If you don't go to church, you're cutting yourself off from that association and fellowship with those that share your values and beliefs. Why would you do that to yourself?
This Easter Sunday make the effort to go to church. Then keep coming back! Make sabbath day observance (including church attendance) a priority in your life and watch God work miracles with the rest of your week.
Saturday, March 17, 2012
#11: Fire drill!
Have you ever had a time when you thought you received a spiritual prompting to do something and you decide to follow it?
And then nothing happens...
And in your mind you think, "Wait, what's going on? Didn't the Holy Ghost prompt me to do this? Shouldn't something have come of this to confirm that yes, I did the right thing?"
The whole experience is usually anticlimactic and confusing because then you start to second guess yourself and you wonder if maybe you just made the whole thing up.
Case in point: driving away from an appointment, a name pops into your head and you get the feeling that you should go visit them right now. That's silly, you think, they live in the opposite direction and we were already in that area earlier today. Why should we go visit them right now?
The thought feels like a prompting from the Holy Ghost though, so you shrug and say, "I'll go and do..." and then turn the car around and go visit this person like the Holy Ghost suggests. In your head you're imagining that they might open the door and burst into tears because they've been praying all day for someone to come help them and then you show up as an answer to their prayers...you can picture the whole scene and it's a beautiful sight...
AND THEY'RE NOT EVEN HOME!
What?! Why did you feel like visiting them was the right thing to do? What was the point of following that prompting if nothing happened because of it?
Here's what I think.
First of all, you never, EVER know all the results of your actions. Just because you can't see the direct result of a decision/action doesn't mean there isn't an effect.
Secondly, I think sometimes these "wild goose chases" are actually trust building experiences. Not to build our trust in the Holy Ghost, but for Him to gain trust in us. We have a personal relationship with each member of the Godhead. Sometimes it's easy to focus on our side of it but they need to be able to trust us just like we need to be able to trust them.
I feel like these experiences are almost like fire drills in school. There's no actual fire during the drill (so it may seem kind of silly and pointless) but when the time comes that it really matters, people know what to do. It may be the same with the spiritual promptings that we receive. If the Spirit knows that we will follow His directions no matter what, He will have more confidence that we will do what we're prompted to do when it matters.
So the next time you get a prompting that ends in a less-than-exciting finale, don't get discouraged. You showed the Holy Ghost that you are paying attention. That's totally worth it, don't you think?
And then nothing happens...
And in your mind you think, "Wait, what's going on? Didn't the Holy Ghost prompt me to do this? Shouldn't something have come of this to confirm that yes, I did the right thing?"
The whole experience is usually anticlimactic and confusing because then you start to second guess yourself and you wonder if maybe you just made the whole thing up.
Case in point: driving away from an appointment, a name pops into your head and you get the feeling that you should go visit them right now. That's silly, you think, they live in the opposite direction and we were already in that area earlier today. Why should we go visit them right now?
The thought feels like a prompting from the Holy Ghost though, so you shrug and say, "I'll go and do..." and then turn the car around and go visit this person like the Holy Ghost suggests. In your head you're imagining that they might open the door and burst into tears because they've been praying all day for someone to come help them and then you show up as an answer to their prayers...you can picture the whole scene and it's a beautiful sight...
AND THEY'RE NOT EVEN HOME!
What?! Why did you feel like visiting them was the right thing to do? What was the point of following that prompting if nothing happened because of it?
Here's what I think.
First of all, you never, EVER know all the results of your actions. Just because you can't see the direct result of a decision/action doesn't mean there isn't an effect.
Secondly, I think sometimes these "wild goose chases" are actually trust building experiences. Not to build our trust in the Holy Ghost, but for Him to gain trust in us. We have a personal relationship with each member of the Godhead. Sometimes it's easy to focus on our side of it but they need to be able to trust us just like we need to be able to trust them.
I feel like these experiences are almost like fire drills in school. There's no actual fire during the drill (so it may seem kind of silly and pointless) but when the time comes that it really matters, people know what to do. It may be the same with the spiritual promptings that we receive. If the Spirit knows that we will follow His directions no matter what, He will have more confidence that we will do what we're prompted to do when it matters.
So the next time you get a prompting that ends in a less-than-exciting finale, don't get discouraged. You showed the Holy Ghost that you are paying attention. That's totally worth it, don't you think?
Thursday, March 1, 2012
#10: Driver and Co-driver...it's a beautiful thing
Being a missionary brings lots of different experiences. For one thing, you're with the same person 24/7 for as long as you're assigned to work together. And you do everything with this person. Including driving. How does that work? Well let me tell you. In a normal car situation, you have a driver and a passenger. In a missionary car you have a driver and--are you ready for this?--a co-driver. Pretty exciting right? The driver is the one that's actually steering the car but the co-driver is there to help them navigate and to basically do whatever they can to make sure the driver gets where they need to go.
What does any of this have to do with you, you say? Well, let me tell you.
The other day we were driving around and I was giving my companion directions to our next appointment. See, I'm the co-driver and I'm the one with the map in hand so periodically I would tell her turn right at this stop sign...take a left at the next light...and so forth. It hit me that I was only giving her one direction at a time. I wondered if she was bothered by the fact that she really didn't know exactly where she was going. I didn't give her all of the details at once on how to get to our destination; I only gave her one turn at a time and she was fine with it. She knew that I would tell her when to turn and which direction to go when it was relevant for her to know and she was content to wait until it mattered.
Have you figured out where I'm going with this yet? Life is exactly like this! We have the best Co-driver in the universe to guide our decisions in life and He will get us where we're going one turn at a time. I didn't know a year ago that I would be serving a mission right now but I didn't need to know at the time. I don't know where I'll end up after my 18 months is done here but I don't need to know right now. When I get to the point where those decisions need to be made my Co-driver will speak up and let me know which direction to go. I just need to make sure that I'm keeping that line of communication open with Him so that when He speaks I can hear Him.
Have you checked in with your Co-driver lately?
What does any of this have to do with you, you say? Well, let me tell you.
The other day we were driving around and I was giving my companion directions to our next appointment. See, I'm the co-driver and I'm the one with the map in hand so periodically I would tell her turn right at this stop sign...take a left at the next light...and so forth. It hit me that I was only giving her one direction at a time. I wondered if she was bothered by the fact that she really didn't know exactly where she was going. I didn't give her all of the details at once on how to get to our destination; I only gave her one turn at a time and she was fine with it. She knew that I would tell her when to turn and which direction to go when it was relevant for her to know and she was content to wait until it mattered.
Have you figured out where I'm going with this yet? Life is exactly like this! We have the best Co-driver in the universe to guide our decisions in life and He will get us where we're going one turn at a time. I didn't know a year ago that I would be serving a mission right now but I didn't need to know at the time. I don't know where I'll end up after my 18 months is done here but I don't need to know right now. When I get to the point where those decisions need to be made my Co-driver will speak up and let me know which direction to go. I just need to make sure that I'm keeping that line of communication open with Him so that when He speaks I can hear Him.
Have you checked in with your Co-driver lately?
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
#5: A Year's Supply of Daily Bread?
For my first few days in the mission field, I remember getting to the end of each day feeling like I had used up everything I had to make it through the day. I thought to myself: if I used up everything I had to get through today...what's left for tomorrow? A sense of panic would start to well up inside me. What was I going to do? Eighteen months was starting to look like a long time if I had already exhausted my supply of energy and courage.
Then during personal study one morning, this talk in the Ensign caught my eye. I was looking for a different subject to study but I felt the need to read a talk called Recognizing God's Hand in Our Daily Blessings. (You can check it out here.) The first line I saw was:
"Give us this day our daily bread"
We've all heard this prayer. "Give us this day our daily bread." What did this have to do with me? I don't need bread, I need energy and courage--18 months worth. I kept reading though as Elder Christofferson talked about how we all have daily needs. Sometimes we pray for "daily bread" in a literal sense but many times we are asking Heavenly Father for figurative bread. Our daily bread could be spiritual or physical strength to get through a particular challenge or help with a specific task or activity. For me the, it was the energy to get through each day's activities and the courage to fufill my assignment as a representative of Jesus Christ. Elder Christofferson mentions that we sometimes wish for our weekly, monthly, or yearly bread. I was asking for an 18 month supply of daily bread. Elder Christofferson suggests that we focus on our daily bread. Just like when the Lord gave the Israelites manna in the wilderness, He will provide us with just enough daily bread for one day at a time. Elder Christofferson says that "By providing daily sustenance one day at a time, Jehovah...was teaching them to trust Him. In essence, the children of Israel had to walk with Him each day and trust that He would grant a sufficient amount of food for the next day on the next day and so on." It was a trust-building exercise for the children of Israel.
Could it be possible that He's doing the same thing with me? I've been getting through each day just fine...why did I think I needed more than a day's worth of "bread"? (What would I even do with that much bread?) I have been blessed each day with just what I need and I am so glad I was prompted to read this article. The fear and panic I felt is long gone now because I was reminded that Heavenly Father will give me what I need when I need it. And He will do the same for you.
Elder Christofferson also counsels us to "Thank your Heavenly Father for the manna He has placed along your path that sustained you through the day. Your reflections will increase your faith in Him as you see His hand helping you to endure some things and to change others. You will be able to rejoice in one more day, one more step towards eternal life." Let's remember to take it one day at a time--that's all He's asked us to do!
Then during personal study one morning, this talk in the Ensign caught my eye. I was looking for a different subject to study but I felt the need to read a talk called Recognizing God's Hand in Our Daily Blessings. (You can check it out here.) The first line I saw was:
"Give us this day our daily bread"
We've all heard this prayer. "Give us this day our daily bread." What did this have to do with me? I don't need bread, I need energy and courage--18 months worth. I kept reading though as Elder Christofferson talked about how we all have daily needs. Sometimes we pray for "daily bread" in a literal sense but many times we are asking Heavenly Father for figurative bread. Our daily bread could be spiritual or physical strength to get through a particular challenge or help with a specific task or activity. For me the, it was the energy to get through each day's activities and the courage to fufill my assignment as a representative of Jesus Christ. Elder Christofferson mentions that we sometimes wish for our weekly, monthly, or yearly bread. I was asking for an 18 month supply of daily bread. Elder Christofferson suggests that we focus on our daily bread. Just like when the Lord gave the Israelites manna in the wilderness, He will provide us with just enough daily bread for one day at a time. Elder Christofferson says that "By providing daily sustenance one day at a time, Jehovah...was teaching them to trust Him. In essence, the children of Israel had to walk with Him each day and trust that He would grant a sufficient amount of food for the next day on the next day and so on." It was a trust-building exercise for the children of Israel.
Could it be possible that He's doing the same thing with me? I've been getting through each day just fine...why did I think I needed more than a day's worth of "bread"? (What would I even do with that much bread?) I have been blessed each day with just what I need and I am so glad I was prompted to read this article. The fear and panic I felt is long gone now because I was reminded that Heavenly Father will give me what I need when I need it. And He will do the same for you.
Elder Christofferson also counsels us to "Thank your Heavenly Father for the manna He has placed along your path that sustained you through the day. Your reflections will increase your faith in Him as you see His hand helping you to endure some things and to change others. You will be able to rejoice in one more day, one more step towards eternal life." Let's remember to take it one day at a time--that's all He's asked us to do!
Thursday, January 26, 2012
#4: The Contingency Plan
We all know the story about Moses, right?
Performed miracles, made some important people really unhappy, parted the Red Sea, brought us the 10 Commandments...you get the picture. He's a big guy.
Remember his response when the Lord first gave him his assignment to speak to all these people? It went something like this: Uh, Lord, are you sure about this? You're probably thinking of some other guy. See, I've got this speech impediment so talking in front of big crowds is just not my strong point...it's okay, you probably forgot so I'll just let you find someone that's a little better at the speech making. No hard feelings! (For the exact wording, try Exodus 4:10-16)
I feel for Moses--I really do. I had the same thought when the idea of serving a mission came up. Uh, Lord, are you sure about this? You're probably thinking of some other girl. See, I'm not so good at talking to strangers...being bold and declaring the word of God is just not my strong point...so if you just want to find someone else that's better at that, I totally understand...
Yeah, that approach didn't work out for me either. It seems Heavenly Father is determined to pull His wallflower children out onto the dance floor no matter how content we are just sitting on the sides. And the thought keeps crossing my mind: how am I supposed to do this when all of my weaknesses keep getting in the way. I stumbled upon some consolation this morning during my scripture study.
In 2 Nephi 3:17 Joseph of Egypt prophesied about Moses. The Lord told Joseph that He would "raise up a Moses; and I will give power unto him...yet I will not loose his tongue, that he shall speak much, for I will not make him mighty in speaking. But...I will make a spokesman for him." Here's the Lord, talking about an assignment He's going to give one of His children in the future, and He mentions that he's made a contingency plan to compensate for Moses' weakness! Heavenly Father not only knew that Moses would have this inadequacy, He's planned for it. Maybe He's done the same for me! Now my train of thought takes another jump: God could have very well just cured Moses so that he could become this awesome public speaker but he didn't. He provided Moses with a solution that made his weakness irrelevant. He brought Aaron into the picture to act as Moses' spokesperson. Problem solved! And Moses still had a speech impediment.
I know that Heavenly Father doesn't ask us to do anything that we can't accomplish. Sometimes He turns our weaknesses into strengths and sometimes He gives us aids to make our weaknesses unimportant. Either way, if we put our trust in Him we can absolutely do great things. Just ask Moses.
Performed miracles, made some important people really unhappy, parted the Red Sea, brought us the 10 Commandments...you get the picture. He's a big guy.
Remember his response when the Lord first gave him his assignment to speak to all these people? It went something like this: Uh, Lord, are you sure about this? You're probably thinking of some other guy. See, I've got this speech impediment so talking in front of big crowds is just not my strong point...it's okay, you probably forgot so I'll just let you find someone that's a little better at the speech making. No hard feelings! (For the exact wording, try Exodus 4:10-16)
I feel for Moses--I really do. I had the same thought when the idea of serving a mission came up. Uh, Lord, are you sure about this? You're probably thinking of some other girl. See, I'm not so good at talking to strangers...being bold and declaring the word of God is just not my strong point...so if you just want to find someone else that's better at that, I totally understand...
Yeah, that approach didn't work out for me either. It seems Heavenly Father is determined to pull His wallflower children out onto the dance floor no matter how content we are just sitting on the sides. And the thought keeps crossing my mind: how am I supposed to do this when all of my weaknesses keep getting in the way. I stumbled upon some consolation this morning during my scripture study.
In 2 Nephi 3:17 Joseph of Egypt prophesied about Moses. The Lord told Joseph that He would "raise up a Moses; and I will give power unto him...yet I will not loose his tongue, that he shall speak much, for I will not make him mighty in speaking. But...I will make a spokesman for him." Here's the Lord, talking about an assignment He's going to give one of His children in the future, and He mentions that he's made a contingency plan to compensate for Moses' weakness! Heavenly Father not only knew that Moses would have this inadequacy, He's planned for it. Maybe He's done the same for me! Now my train of thought takes another jump: God could have very well just cured Moses so that he could become this awesome public speaker but he didn't. He provided Moses with a solution that made his weakness irrelevant. He brought Aaron into the picture to act as Moses' spokesperson. Problem solved! And Moses still had a speech impediment.
I know that Heavenly Father doesn't ask us to do anything that we can't accomplish. Sometimes He turns our weaknesses into strengths and sometimes He gives us aids to make our weaknesses unimportant. Either way, if we put our trust in Him we can absolutely do great things. Just ask Moses.
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