Wrestling

Lately my prayers have been like Alma's..."Nevertheless Alma labored much in the spirit, wrestling with God in mighty prayer, that he would pour out his Spirit upon the people who were in the city; that he would also grant that he might baptize them unto repentance."

They have especially been like the prayer of Enos..."And my soul hungered; and I kneeled down before my Maker, and I cried unto him in mighty prayer and supplication for mine own soul; and all the day long did I cry unto him; yea, and when the night came I did still raise my voice high that it reached the heavens."

I have never understood the adjectives of hunger, labor, wrestling, and pleading when it comes to praying. Up until recently I don't believe I could have said that I had ever wrestled in my prayers. The miracle in these words is God is listening. My prayers are answered, sometimes in very small ways, sometimes years later. The picture above was a recent answer to one of my prayers.

I can't say I enjoy pleading, wrestling, and laboring in my prayers, but I do know that anything I have ever put all the energy of my heart into I never regret.

I Miss Mayberry!

Wow, I have been thinking a lot lately about how people are too busy and when I went to lds.org this morning I came upon this video I love! The world around seems so busy, to the point that people don't matter as much. Technology is replacing the important things. It makes me sad! I love the talk by Elder Uchtdorf "Of Things That Matter Most." I am pretty sure I have shared some thoughts from that talk before, but from reviewing his talk and watching this video I now am determined even more to let people around me know that they matter the most!!!

Sunblock

This week I have been out in the sun for many hours mostly running and gardening. Most of the time I remember to put on sunblock, but one day I didn't and burned. Sunblock and following the Spirit are synonymous to me. We can choose to put on sunblock, we can also decide what SPF to wear. Likewise the amount of hours we spend in harmful exposure matters. I know that the Spirit is there to prompt us, protect us, comfort us, & guide us. We need to be diligent in application, especially when it comes to heeding promptings.

I have been reading President Monson's Biography and was impressed from a lesson our prophet had learned. When President Monson was a Bishop he had to attend a Stake Leadership Meeting. Earlier in the evening a friend had asked him to visit his uncle in the hospital, who was a less active member of Bishop Monson's Ward. The meeting dragged on and on, as most meetings do, and he finally ran out during the closing hymn feeling an urgency.


President Monson arrived at the hospital only to be greeted by a nurse who asked him, "Are you Bishop Monson?" "Yes..."The patient was asking for you just before he died." BAM, what a shock! I would definitely feel horrible. The lesson President Monson learned from that experience was "Never postpone a prompting." I too likewise have learned from this lesson and just like sunblock need to reapply often and not let my guard down. In the long run I know I will be happy using sunblock aka following the promptings of the spirit that that I can avoid skin cancer aka harmful sin.

Happy Father's Day!

My Dad is the best! He is not perfect, but he has improved himself with time! I love that he is such a people person and genuinely cares about those around him just as the Savior does. In fact he decided to go on a trip with his Father and take him to all the sites he grew up with so we have to wait to celebrate Father's Day with him. Other reasons why he is great:

-He does his Home teaching and fulfills his callings in a Christlike manner
-Whenever a new neighbor moves in he is among the first to visit and write a bio with their family information, give them neighbor info, & introduce them to others (this is not a calling).
-He knows things about people that most don't, like what their job is, what they may be struggling with, birthdays, or interesting little tidbits.
-He is always willing to give blessings to people
-He is a great writer, especially when it comes to our family newsletter
And the list could go on and on!

Ultimately our best example is our Father in Heaven. I love him and want to do as this scripture says, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." While I cannot be perfect right now, I can improve over time just as my Dad has and hopefully one day be as perfect as my Father in Heaven.

Love

I love my Institute class. This week we talked about true love and its characteristics. Our teacher talked about 3 different kinds of love. 1-Agape: unconditional or Christlike love, given with no thought of getting anything in return. 2-Philia:friendly or brotherly, having the ability to communicate with one another by understanding each other's words and actions. 3-Eros: affection or physical part of love, developing this kind of love is easy for most people, but is the type that is twisted most often by Satan. An Eros foundation of love will not last unless agape and philia are apart of the foundation.

Scriptures we talked about that defined true love were Matt 6:24, Romans 8:35,39, Ephesians 5:2,25,33 and D&C 42:22-23.

President David O. McKay
“‘Well,’ you may ask, ‘how may I know when I am
in love?’
“. . . George Q. Morris [who later became a member
of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, gave this
reply]: ‘My mother once said that if you meet a girl
in whose presence you feel a desire to achieve, who
inspires you to do your best, and to make the most
of yourself, such a young woman is worthy of your
love and is awakening love in your heart.’
“I submit that . . . as a true guide. In the presence of
the girl you truly love you do not feel to grovel; in
her presence you do not attempt to take advantage
of her; in her presence you feel that you would like
to be everything that a Master Man should become,
for she will inspire you to that ideal. And I ask you
young women to cherish that same guide” (“As
Youth Contemplates an Eternal Partnership,”
Improvement Era, Mar. 1938, 139).

Elder Marvin J Ashton said, "True love is a process. True love requires personal action. Love must be continuing to be real. Love takes time. Too often expediency,infatuation, stimulation, persuasion, or lust are mistaken for love. How hollow, how empty if our love is no deeper than the arousal of momentary feeling or the expression in word s of what is no more lasting than the time it takes to speak them."

I am beginning to figure out what real or true love is. Christ knows, cares, and is sincerely concerned about my welfare. I think of the scripture in John 4:19..."We love Him, because He first loved us." True love can be summed up in one word-Selflessness.

My Favorite Hymns

"We get nearer to the Lord through music than perhaps through any other thing except prayer."
-- President J. Reuben Clark Jr., in Conference Report, Oct. 1936, 111

I have been moved a lot by music lately. Some words that have touched me are from the hymn, "I know that My Redeemer Lives." When I was younger it fascinated me that I might one day get a mansion, but now the words that touch me are right before and after that. "He lives, and I shall conquer death. He lives my mansion to prepare. He lives to bring me safely there." I will only conquer death and make it back to Him because He made it possible! I also love that he wants to bring me safely there. That makes me feel like he doesn't criticize me for my sins/mistakes, that when I go through trials he wants to strenghen me, and that He loves me so much he cares about my safety.

Other hymns I have always loved:
1-I need thee every hour
2-More Holiness give me
3-Redeemer of Israel
4-Be thou humble
5-Teach me to walk
6-O my Father
7-Let the Holy Spirit Guide
8-Lead Kindly Light
9-I Stand All Amazed

And my favorite Children's Hymn: I know that my Savior loves me

Selfless acts of Service

"Often, the answer to our prayer does not come while we’re on our knees but while we’re on our feet serving the Lord and serving those around us. Selfless acts of service and consecration refine our spirits, remove the scales from our spiritual eyes, and open the windows of heaven. By becoming the answer to someone’s prayer, we often find the answer to our own." Elder Uchtdorf

Thoughts

This morning as I was laying in bed waking up and my thoughts made a connection. So many of my worries and fears would be solved if I always remembered HIM! I thought of Doctrine and Covenants 6:36 "Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not."

Thinking of Him, having faith, not doubting or fearing are all connected. I recall the first memorable experience on my mission. We got a request for the DVD "Finding Faith in Jesus Christ" and went to deliver it in Kansas City, Kansas. When we knocked on the door we met a man that was crying. I vividly remember feeling instant love for him. He said that his wife had just passed away. While he was in the hospital with his wife he was taking a nap and remembers being awakened by the TV and saw a commercial from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints for the DVD. He said he had nothing left and figured he needed to find faith in Jesus Christ.

We gave him the DVD, shared insights about the Plan of Salvation and all three of us wept together. That experience taught me that when we have nothing left, are doubtful, fearful, and our thoughts feel hopeless we can change our thoughts and think of our Savior Jesus Christ. Things will not be instantly solved, but we will be strengthened.

Dating Lottery

I know you are all just so excited to read about dating, especially if you are in that phase of life:) Really in all seriousness a lot of people have been asking my opinions on dating lately so I thought I would share some, especially my gospel related ones.

First things first..."Stop looking for the one, and be the one you are looking for!" I cannot emphasize that enough.

Who am I kidding, I am no expert, LOL! Just because I have dated more in the last few months than ever I attribute that to one thing only. I have drawn nearer to my Savior! Without daily scripture study, prayers, regular temple attendance, constant repentance, etc...I know that I would not have hit the dating lottery. I can sum it all up with one scripture, "For of him unto whom much is given much is required;"-Doctrine and Covenants 82:3

Dirty Washing

Recently my Aunt sent me the story below in a email. She did not know, well still doesn't know the effect the story had on me and how the timing was perfect.

"A little girl had been shopping with her Mom in K-Mart. She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful red haired, freckle faced image of innocence.

It was pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the earth it has no time to flow down the spout.. We all stood there, under the awning, just inside the door of the K-Mart.

We waited, some patiently, others irritated because nature messed up their hurried day. I am always mesmerised by rainfall. I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world. Memories of running, splashing so carefree as a child came pouring in as a welcome reprieve from the worries of my day.

Her little voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we were all caught in, 'Mom let's run through the rain,' she said.
'What?' Mom asked.
'Let's run through the rain!' She repeated.
'No, honey. We'll wait until it slows down a bit,' Mom replied.
This child waited a minute and repeated: 'Mom, let's run through the rain..'
'We'll get soaked if we do,' Mom said.
'No, we won't, Mom. That's not what you said this morning,' the young girl said as she tugged at her Mom's arm.
'This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?'
'Don't you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, ' If God can get us through this, He can get us through anything! '

The entire crowd stopped dead silent.. I swear you couldn't hear anything but the rain.. We all stood silently. No one left. Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say.
Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly. Some might even ignore what was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child's life. A time when innocent trust can be nurtured so that it will bloom into faith.

'Honey, you are absolutely right. Let's run through the rain. If GOD let's us get wet, well maybe we just need washing,' Mom said.

Then off they ran. We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they darted past the cars and yes, through the puddles. They got soaked.
They were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars. And yes, I did. I ran. I got wet. I needed washing.

Circumstances or people can take away your material possessions, they can take away your money, and they can take away your health. But no one can ever take away your precious memories...So, don't forget to make time and take the opportunities to make memories everyday. To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven."

This is going to get pretty personal...but I just found out my Mom doesn't have long to live because of her cancer. She has had chemo for almost 2 years and was told it is not working anymore and has grown. This story helped.

Proverbs 3:5-6 has been running through my brain non-stop because of this..."Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

We all get "dirty" in life through trials and sin. I had a fun time getting physically dirty this weekend, but as I participated in the race I pondered repentance, the atonement, and trusting in the Lord regardless of the circumstance. I know that if I truly put all my trust in the Lord things will be okay. He really will direct my paths because of the atonement. That atonement made it possible for us to conquer death, sin, and pretty much everything else. So as we get dirty I am going to try to remember to have the faith of a child, or in this case the little girl at Kmart, and trust in that washing!

Joy in the Journey

If there is anything I have learned in life it is attitude determines the outcome! So many times I have met people that are negative, pessimistic, or just angry when they don't need to be. I always remember a Humanities teacher saying "Happiness is not a destination, it is a decision." I love that!

Let us relish life as we live it, find joy in the journey, and share our love with friends and family. One day each of us will run out of tomorrows.-President Monson

Why do any of us have to be so mean and unkind to others? Why can’t all of us reach out in friendship to everyone about us? Why is there so much bitterness and animosity? It is not a part of the gospel of Jesus Christ.-President Hinckley

I recently went on a few dates, two in particular were night and day. The first guy was the most prideful, arrogant, and money obsessed man I have ever met. I was instantly turned away because of his attitude towards others. The other guy was one of the most humble I have met...he talked about his family a lot, did not say a single mean or negative thing and was just optimistic about everything.

I don't think any of us wants to be around negative people. I guess that is also why I like "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade."