Lately I have been able to find stability in my life. I am standing with both feet firmly on the foundation Christ has built for us and I am walking the line with courage, confidence and conviction.
The Iron Rod is a good thing to hold on to. Blessings for faith are poured out on those who exercise it. I am learning so much about myself and about the gospel and doctrines of my church. Of His church.
I have learned more about God in the last six weeks than I have in the last 22 years. I am gaining an ever-deeper appreciation for Him, the Savior, their love, the history of my people and the strength I gain from their example.
I'm grateful for the closeness I have found. I'm proud of my ancestors and their efforts to bring the truth to the world. I'm blessed with opportunities to do the same now.
I will walk by faith. I will follow His light. I am His daughter. And I'll make sure that is the first thing someone learns about me.
Monday, February 24, 2014
Sunday, February 9, 2014
Dear World
Today was monumental. My family (both immediate and work family) came with me to the Gilbert Temple Open house. It was incredible.
I stressed out about it for a while. I am not ashamed of my faith, I was just concerned that they would not appreciate how sacred it is to me. Things went well. They asked questions, showed genuine interest - the whole shebang.
I was reminded of why I believe what I believe and how important it is that I have this gospel in my life. I think that on occasion I forget what a gift it is to have a strong connection to Christ. As I walked through the temple today, I really payed attention to every little detail to try and see things the way my non-member family would see them. I was reminded what it was like to be learning about it for the first time. I was surprised at how much I knew when I answered their questions.
As we walked through the Celestial room, I watched all of their demeanor's change. Not because of the stunning chandelier or the hand painted gold embroidered ceilings - it was deeper. The room has magic.
I suppose what I got from this is that the Spirit can even be felt by someone who doesn't believe in God.
I am grateful I had the opportunity to show the people that mean the most to me what the rest of my heart looks like. I got to connect with them on a deeper level.
For a majority of my life, I have been fairly emotionally detached. And becoming a member of the church has put an emphasis on family and building strong relationships with them and with God. I am glad to see the progression made in my life so far. I am glad that it isn't too late for me to tell the people I care about how I feel. I have had today and many many days in the past (and hopefully many more in the future) ti show them my love for them and today's experience has made that love even deeper.
The miracles God performs all the time are well, miraculous. But my favorite ones are the ones He performs in the hearts of men.
I am grateful for the miracles He has performed in my heart. I'm grateful for the ones He is performing in the hearts of my family. I am grateful for a temple I can go to and not only grow closer to Him but for the sacred work I can do for my family. I am grateful for times shared in growing together through Him and for His never-ending presence in my life.
I hope one day I can be with all of them for eternity. I know that the choices can be made for that to happen. It is my job to get us there.
The temple is the most incredible place this Earth has to offer. I'm so happy they could see that today.
My family has witnessed the change that has took place in my heart. They have seen light in my countenance. I await the day I will see the same light in their eyes.
Ann Dibb once said in regards to the gospel: "I know it, I live it, I love it." I hope that one day we will all have this engraved on our hearts.
I stressed out about it for a while. I am not ashamed of my faith, I was just concerned that they would not appreciate how sacred it is to me. Things went well. They asked questions, showed genuine interest - the whole shebang.
I was reminded of why I believe what I believe and how important it is that I have this gospel in my life. I think that on occasion I forget what a gift it is to have a strong connection to Christ. As I walked through the temple today, I really payed attention to every little detail to try and see things the way my non-member family would see them. I was reminded what it was like to be learning about it for the first time. I was surprised at how much I knew when I answered their questions.
As we walked through the Celestial room, I watched all of their demeanor's change. Not because of the stunning chandelier or the hand painted gold embroidered ceilings - it was deeper. The room has magic.
I suppose what I got from this is that the Spirit can even be felt by someone who doesn't believe in God.
I am grateful I had the opportunity to show the people that mean the most to me what the rest of my heart looks like. I got to connect with them on a deeper level.
For a majority of my life, I have been fairly emotionally detached. And becoming a member of the church has put an emphasis on family and building strong relationships with them and with God. I am glad to see the progression made in my life so far. I am glad that it isn't too late for me to tell the people I care about how I feel. I have had today and many many days in the past (and hopefully many more in the future) ti show them my love for them and today's experience has made that love even deeper.
The miracles God performs all the time are well, miraculous. But my favorite ones are the ones He performs in the hearts of men.
I am grateful for the miracles He has performed in my heart. I'm grateful for the ones He is performing in the hearts of my family. I am grateful for a temple I can go to and not only grow closer to Him but for the sacred work I can do for my family. I am grateful for times shared in growing together through Him and for His never-ending presence in my life.
I hope one day I can be with all of them for eternity. I know that the choices can be made for that to happen. It is my job to get us there.
The temple is the most incredible place this Earth has to offer. I'm so happy they could see that today.
My family has witnessed the change that has took place in my heart. They have seen light in my countenance. I await the day I will see the same light in their eyes.
Ann Dibb once said in regards to the gospel: "I know it, I live it, I love it." I hope that one day we will all have this engraved on our hearts.
 |
| "The temple provides purpose for our lives. It brings peace to our souls—not the peace provided by men but the peace promised by the Son of God when He said, 'Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you.'" - Thomas S. Monson |
Friday, February 7, 2014
A God Who Listens
I am learning so much every day. I am continuing on my very own path towards the light.
I have had a few financially and emotionally draining trials lately and I think I am starting to understand the lesson God wants me to learn. I am slowly getting rid of my pride. I am recognizing that I can only turn heavenward. I am realizing that I can trust God more fully.
Last Sunday was a fast and testimony meeting. I cried in front of a hundred or so 20 something year old's. Most awful experience ever. I'm probably over-exaggerating due to lack of food but whatever. Haha.
Saturday night, after picking my car up for the 5th (or is it 6th?) time from my mechanic, it broke. Again.
And I broke, too.
I cried. A lot. Mostly to God. I walked inside my house and prayed. As I was asking Him to open lines of communication and to gain some kind of spirit cell phone to communicate with me, that very same second, one of my roommates' cell phones began to ring. Crazy, right?
Anyway, I felt blessed. I think that because of where I came from, it's been hard to trust people in general and when I do (as anyone else) it takes time to build. I am sometimes frustrated with my lack of trust toward God and that I continue to make Him work for it and build it up.
But that doesn't stop Him from doing it.
I have been looking at life a layer deeper lately. I am no philosopher but I am definitely seeing what more I can do to prepare, learn from and apply the various lessons, experiences and trials I am experiencing.
Consider Isaac for a moment. Abraham's son who is supposed to be sacrificed on the alter. This guy is 38 years old, has a 137 year old father, and is asked to hike a mountain to offer sacrifices for God (back in the time of Moses' law). At the top, his dad turns to him and informs him that HE is the sacrifice.
What does he do? Run? Get angry? Say "I love you, Dad but I can't do this"??
No. He hands him rope from the bundle of wood they carried up and instructs his father to bind him just in case he changes his mind half way through.
That requires faith if I have ever seen it. I am blown away by this scriptural story. God blesses them both for their faith and tells Abraham to not sacrifice Isaac.
Now comes the application. What things go on in my life that I really don't want to do? How many sacrifices do I make through faith? Are they really sacrifices? What instances have I followed God's will and have been blessed?
I think of many occasions filled with blessings from sacrifices. I think of more occasions when I was thinking "I love you, Dad but I can't do this." I feel like I need to work towards being more open to the things God asks me to do.
I recognize now that they aren't sacrifices but opportunities to grow. And maybe my perspective is off 98% of the time. Who knows. But I am learning.
So the journey continues. And maybe I'm going to have less "I love you, Dad but I can't do this" moments and more moments saying, "I love you, Dad and I can do this because of the strength I find in you."
I have had a few financially and emotionally draining trials lately and I think I am starting to understand the lesson God wants me to learn. I am slowly getting rid of my pride. I am recognizing that I can only turn heavenward. I am realizing that I can trust God more fully.
Last Sunday was a fast and testimony meeting. I cried in front of a hundred or so 20 something year old's. Most awful experience ever. I'm probably over-exaggerating due to lack of food but whatever. Haha.
Saturday night, after picking my car up for the 5th (or is it 6th?) time from my mechanic, it broke. Again.
And I broke, too.
I cried. A lot. Mostly to God. I walked inside my house and prayed. As I was asking Him to open lines of communication and to gain some kind of spirit cell phone to communicate with me, that very same second, one of my roommates' cell phones began to ring. Crazy, right?
Anyway, I felt blessed. I think that because of where I came from, it's been hard to trust people in general and when I do (as anyone else) it takes time to build. I am sometimes frustrated with my lack of trust toward God and that I continue to make Him work for it and build it up.
But that doesn't stop Him from doing it.
I have been looking at life a layer deeper lately. I am no philosopher but I am definitely seeing what more I can do to prepare, learn from and apply the various lessons, experiences and trials I am experiencing.
Consider Isaac for a moment. Abraham's son who is supposed to be sacrificed on the alter. This guy is 38 years old, has a 137 year old father, and is asked to hike a mountain to offer sacrifices for God (back in the time of Moses' law). At the top, his dad turns to him and informs him that HE is the sacrifice.
What does he do? Run? Get angry? Say "I love you, Dad but I can't do this"??
No. He hands him rope from the bundle of wood they carried up and instructs his father to bind him just in case he changes his mind half way through.
That requires faith if I have ever seen it. I am blown away by this scriptural story. God blesses them both for their faith and tells Abraham to not sacrifice Isaac.
Now comes the application. What things go on in my life that I really don't want to do? How many sacrifices do I make through faith? Are they really sacrifices? What instances have I followed God's will and have been blessed?
I think of many occasions filled with blessings from sacrifices. I think of more occasions when I was thinking "I love you, Dad but I can't do this." I feel like I need to work towards being more open to the things God asks me to do.
I recognize now that they aren't sacrifices but opportunities to grow. And maybe my perspective is off 98% of the time. Who knows. But I am learning.
So the journey continues. And maybe I'm going to have less "I love you, Dad but I can't do this" moments and more moments saying, "I love you, Dad and I can do this because of the strength I find in you."
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