The Why of the Priesthood
"There are times when we have to step into the darkness in faith, confident that God will place solid ground beneath our feet once we do" -Elder Uchtdorf
What Thinks Christ of Me?
Elder Neil L. Anderson
I watched this talk during lunch today and typed up a few of Elder Anderson's words that struck me and that I wanted to remember...
-Does my life reflect the love and devotion that I feel for the Savior?
-The Lord blesses us with customized direction through the gift of the Holy Ghost
-Discipleship is not a competition at all, but an individual invitation to all.
-His invitation is a call to daily duty
-What would Jesus do?
-Discipleship is believing Him in seasons of peace and believing Him in seasons of difficulty, when our pain and fear are calmed only by the conviction that He loves us and keeps His promises.
-Miracles are not always so immediate. At times we thoughtfully wonder why the miracle we have so earnestly prayed for does not happen here and now. But as we trust in the Savior, promised miracles will occur.
-Whether in this life or the next, all will be made right. The Savior declares: “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."
-As you love Him, trust Him, believe Him, and follow Him, you will feel His love and approval.
-As you ask, “What thinks Christ of me?” you will know that you are His disciple; you are His friend.
-By His grace He will do for you what you cannot do for yourself.
-In a future day, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that He is the Christ. On that day, our concern will not be, “Do others consider me Christian?” At that time, our eyes will be fixed on Him, and our souls will be riveted on the question, “What thinks Christ of me?”
My day...
Today was a today but a new and different day. I woke up early to do Zumba Wii. Glad I did because I needed the energy for the rest of my day. Bryan didn't have to leave until 8:30 which blessed me with not only time to really finish getting ready, but to finish getting the details done for our presidency meeting scheduled at 9. Our little dude went with me this morning to our presidency meeting at the second counselor's home. I prayed he wouldn't be too fussy, especially since he woke up early and didn't sleep through the night. I have a hard time concentrating and focusing during presidency meetings when he is fussy, especially with the new whine he has invented as of late.:) Overall, he did pretty well. He had his crying bouts when he thought that someone was taking his cars away from him, but a hug and being held was able to console most of it. Then after the 2 hour pretty successful presidency meeting, we headed home. It was then around 11:30 I realized that I had only eaten a banana for breakfast, which helped me recognize why I was starving, and I had forgotten to take something for my allergies that the insane but beautiful early spring brought that we have been having as of late, which explained the headache I was dealing with. So after a glass of water, 2 ibprofen, and a zyrtec, I changed out of church clothes and got our little dude some lunch. Then I had a knock at the door and one of my sweet visiting teachers showed up at my door with some delicious bread and a hug. A very much needed treat and a tender mercy. Sometimes when you try so hard to care about others, it is nice to be surprisingly cared about yourself.
Then it was naptime for our little dude and I actually got to breathe for a moment. I got myself some lunch and sat down and watched President Monson's talk from the recent General Conference (see below). I then had a thought to talk with someone via phone and was glad to hear she was doing alright. Then I decided to take a pleasure of all pleasures for myself....I took a nap.:) It was a lovely hour in length. Then our little dude was up for the afternoon and I dropped him off at one of his grandma's , and went and got my yearly hair cut. ( I say yearly because I always seem to cut it short, then grow it out and by the time to cut it comes again it has usually been a year:) Then I went back to my mom's and had an emotionally sustaining conversation with her while playing with my son Then little dude and I went on a walk with my sister. We then loaded up in the car, headed home for dinner. After dinner it was little guy's bedtime and my time. Bryan had class tonight, so I heated up some leftovers and watched the news and even pinned a little to pintrest:).
A wonderful day. A perfect day to me. A day full of joy. No my house isn't cleaned and there is still laundry to be folded, but we lived lives of joy.
Ready to find the joy in tomorrow.
Then it was naptime for our little dude and I actually got to breathe for a moment. I got myself some lunch and sat down and watched President Monson's talk from the recent General Conference (see below). I then had a thought to talk with someone via phone and was glad to hear she was doing alright. Then I decided to take a pleasure of all pleasures for myself....I took a nap.:) It was a lovely hour in length. Then our little dude was up for the afternoon and I dropped him off at one of his grandma's , and went and got my yearly hair cut. ( I say yearly because I always seem to cut it short, then grow it out and by the time to cut it comes again it has usually been a year:) Then I went back to my mom's and had an emotionally sustaining conversation with her while playing with my son Then little dude and I went on a walk with my sister. We then loaded up in the car, headed home for dinner. After dinner it was little guy's bedtime and my time. Bryan had class tonight, so I heated up some leftovers and watched the news and even pinned a little to pintrest:).
A wonderful day. A perfect day to me. A day full of joy. No my house isn't cleaned and there is still laundry to be folded, but we lived lives of joy.
Ready to find the joy in tomorrow.
Easter Egg Hunt....
So Friday I took our little dude, with my mom and sister, to his first Easter egg hunt, that was very close to our home. Little dude seemed very excited about getting to pick up colorful eggs and putting them in his blue basket. I think it would have been fine, except for before it even started the Easter Bunny came up to him and shook his hand. Our little dude went ballistic and wouldn't really calm down. He was so upset that when it came time to start the Easter egg hunt to start, he was still very distraught. I picked up a few eggs fro his basket and then we were done. Oh well, maybe next year. And needless to say the picture with the Easter Bunny didn't happen this year. Check out our photo blog for the pictures we did get for posterity.
Easter Traditions...
... Due to the fact that Easter is approaching. It has been on my mind a lot. We have been talking about Easter traditions as a family and what we want to keep and what we want to change. For my fellow bloggers out there...what are some of your Easter traditions? And how have you tried to keep Jesus as a pivotal part of some of those celebrations? ( Especially those of you with toddlers:))
Loaves and Fishes
Lately I have been pondering and studying about the Savior and the 5 loaves of bread and 2 fishes that fed thousands of people. You can find the account a few places in the New Testament of the Holy Bible.
Maybe my mind has been drawn to it because my life has gotten a little more crazy lately, or maybe it is that- plus I just really needed to be reminded of some of the lessons that are taught from that example.
I really appreciate the lesson that even when we have very little to give, that the Savior Jesus Christ can make it so much more. That He is willing to accept all that we can give, even if to others it may not appear to be enough. I am grateful to know that Jesus Christ can and always will make up the difference for us, just like He did with the loaves and the fishes.
In the past few months I have felt a mixture of emotions:
*Frustrated , overwhelmed, and tired and I still have a lot more to do and give before my day is over.
*Like my actions, words, and what I give both physically and emotionally can never be enough for some.
*Frustrated when all some can see is what I don't do rather than what I do.
*Hurt by judgements placed upon me and my family, by people who know better, and yet don't think twice about what I do give or who expect me to act like they would when I am not them, and am not supposed to be them.
* Hurt that some who are so close have never tried to see my heart, when I was trying so hard to give all I could from it, in the best ways I knew how.
*Grateful for the knowledge that God does not expect me to be perfect at everything in a day, month, or lifetime, even if others might.
*Grateful for the priesthood, and a loving, kind husband who holds it.
* Grateful for a little boy who smiles at me hundreds of times a day.
*Grateful for family that do support and uplift, and think only the best of me.
*Grateful for prayer.
*Grateful for faith and hope.
*Grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ.
*Grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ, that makes it possible for all aspects of an imperfect person and life to be made whole and acceptable.
I am so grateful for Jesus Christ. I know that He is my Savior. I know that God is my Heavenly Father and that He and my Savior hear the sometimes anguish of my heart, the words I cannot speak, and the hurt that I feel. I know that They accept the things that I accomplish, and those things that I try to do and the ways in which I do them, regardless of how others might perceive them. I am grateful that They see and know my heart, and that they make my daily offering of 5 loaves and 2 fishes somehow enough. Most of all I am grateful that they let me give.
P.S. Upon my recent study of the story of the loaves and fishes, I have come to really like Hillary Weeks take on it in a Christian song " Give Ye To Me." ( You can probably listen to an excerpt of it on itunes and you can find the lyrics here.)
What a wonderful weekend!
This weekend was General Conference for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It happens twice a year and I love it each time. It is broadcast live from Salt Lake City, Utah, which means for our little family living in the southeastern United States, the first session doesn't begin until noon and the second session at 4pm our time. So on Saturday, we got to spend lots of needed time as a family full of fun and encouragement.
In the morning,we went downtown and walked across the Walnut Street Bridge and played around at the local park. Our little dude was plenty worn out for nap-time, which was scheduled right as the first session of conference began:) I have to say that I was very grateful for the first sessions on both Saturday and Sunday, because I was able to actually sit and listen versus chasing a toddler and trying to listen (which is where both 2nd sessions would fall under:))
I love hearing from the leaders of the church, mostly because what their words encourage me to do and to become. I am so grateful for a living prophet on the earth today.
For those who would like to see just what it was that made us spend most of our day Saturday and Sunday watching click here.
In the morning,we went downtown and walked across the Walnut Street Bridge and played around at the local park. Our little dude was plenty worn out for nap-time, which was scheduled right as the first session of conference began:) I have to say that I was very grateful for the first sessions on both Saturday and Sunday, because I was able to actually sit and listen versus chasing a toddler and trying to listen (which is where both 2nd sessions would fall under:))
I love hearing from the leaders of the church, mostly because what their words encourage me to do and to become. I am so grateful for a living prophet on the earth today.
For those who would like to see just what it was that made us spend most of our day Saturday and Sunday watching click here.
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