Did You Think To Pray?

Tonight I was studying about prayer. Jesus commanded us to pray always. I really liked this quote from President Henry B. Eyring:
"I am not wise enough to know all of His purposes in giving us a covenant to always remember Him and in His warning us to pray always lest we be overcome. But I know one. It is because He knows perfectly the powerful forces that influence us and also what it means to be human. ...
"...He knows what it is like to have the cares of life press in upon us. ...And He knows how our human powers to cope are not constant. ...
"...As the forces around us increase in intensity, whatever spiritual strength was once sufficient will not be enough. And whatever growth in spiritual strength we once thought was possible, greater growth will be made available to us. Both the need for spiritual strength and the opportunity to acquire it will increase at rates which we underestimate at our peril. ...
"Start with remembering Him. you will remember what you know and what you love. ...
"The Lord hears the prayers of your heart. The feelings of your heart, of love for our Heavenly Father and for His Beloved Son, can be so constant that your prayers will ascend always" ("Always" [CES fireside for young adults, Jan.3,1999])

Click here to see a 2 minute video entitled "I Pray When..." I didn't think to take a picture (and forgive me, I'm not really in the mood at this moment), but I pray when I feel alone. I pray when I feel troubled and confused. I pray when I feel happy and loved. I pray when I need help. When do you pray?

Be Where You Are

I have been doing a lot of thinking the last several months. A lot of that thinking was an attempt to move myself somewhere else, or to make a change to have more of a social life. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I don’t always think it matters where we live as long as we’re doing the best to follow the gospel of Jesus Christ. But every once in a while it actually does matter. Each time I would seriously think about a change I’d be redirected. For some reason at this time in my life, I’m EXACTLY where I need to be.

I’ve been giving this some thought and trying to determine what greater purpose I have to be here now. This weekend it hit me, and it hit me hard! The Young Single Adult program here is basically non-existent. As I thought about it, I realized that at best, if nothing were to change, I have 2 years left in the YSA program and then I’m done. I realized that I have an opportunity in this small window of time to make a difference. There are a LOT of people in this group and the majority of them aren’t coming to anything! This group is slipping away. This isn’t about me. This is about Heavenly Father and the fact that He works in the details of our lives. I needed a way to connect with people, to have a purpose. I’ve spoken with others who have been in need of some help to get things going. I hope to be able to help those who are struggling.

I’ve been thinking about my life and my situation all wrong. I’ve been worried about me, about my situation, what I want and need. What I’ve needed to focus my energy on are the people around me, and those especially that I don’t know yet. That’s who I’ve always wanted to be but haven’t put forth the effort. Well, that changes now. From now on, instead of just living here, I’m really going to BE here. I’ve been brought to this place for a reason and I’m just now catching a glimpse of what that is. I know as I make a valiant effort to keep the commandments the Lord will bless me to be an instrument in His hands.

Goat Love

Because sometimes you just need some extra lovin'. :)

Happy Friday!

Discover the book!

Have you ever tasted something so incredibly delicious that you just HAD to share it with EVERYONE!! It didn't matter who it was. If you could get someones attention you had to tell them how good it was! You hear the person at the table across from you order the same item and you lean over and tell them they made an absolutely AMAZING choice because you've already tasted it and you know just how good it really is!!

I've been that person, and I've also had people try to share amazing things with me. There have been times (especially in my really picky phase) that people would try to share an incredible treat with me, but because I was afraid of some of the ingredients, or because I wasn't familiar with what was really in it, I wouldn't even take a taste. And really, what was the worst thing that could have happened? I could have taken a bite, hated it, and spit it out (which, incidentally, is EXACTLY what happened with sushi). But I did try it. In recent history, as people have recommended food to me I have at least sampled it. In almost all cases I end up liking it to one degree or another (I tried frog legs on Saturday...didn't love them - they tasted like fishy-chicken!). Regardless of if I really love it, only tolerate it, or completely despise it, I'm grateful that someone wanted to share what they had with me. 

There is something else in my life that I love even more than food! It's The Book of Mormon!! There are people who, like me, think it is TOTALLY amazing because we have "tasted" it! There are others who feel indifferent, and there are those who are afraid of what may be inside or who are afraid (like me with sushi) that you may actually end up liking it one day and what that might mean (sushi, to me, is an expensive habit - I'm okay if I don't end up loving it any time soon). :)

Inside this book I find another testimony of Jesus Christ. I learn more of His teachings, His ministry, of His love for all of His children. This is a record of the people who lived on the American continent before, during, and after Christ's earthly ministry. Just as was prophesied that a new star would appear at the time of Jesus' birth, so it was prophesied in the America's. 

Signs were also prophesied about His crucifixion. After He was crucified, the risen Lord not only appeared to the people in Jerusalem, Galilee, and other areas, but He also visited the people in the America's!

As I read and study both the Bible and the Book of Mormon I gain clearer insight and understanding! They work together to testify of Jesus Christ. They work together to bring all men, women, and children to a knowledge of His love, sacrifice, and mission to bring each of us eternal life. But we have to be willing to take the first step.

So, here is my invitation for you to try something new! I invite you to "taste", as it were, the most delicious treat EVER! One of my most favorite chapters in The Book of Mormon is 3 Nephi 11. This is the chapter in which Christ appears to the Nephites (the people who lived on the American continent). I love the feeling of peace that I get as I read about Christ descending out of Heaven and into the midst of the people. I hope as you sample it that you enjoy it as much as I do. If you'd like a free copy of The Book of Mormon, leave me a message!

#discoverthebook

Orlando Trip

Have I ever mentioned how wonderful life really is? Even with all of its ups and downs it is amazing!

I started writing out what we’ve been up to but, as usual, it’s WAY too wordy (surprise, surprise)! So, here are the highlights:

•  We stopped at “the Small” (Waycross has a mall but it has all of about 6 stores, so the “Small” it is) to buy a few last minute necessities for the trip.
•  We stopped in Jacksonville to visit a family friend who was in the hospital. Unfortunately we didn’t get to see him, but we got to spend some time chatting with his sweet daughter, Heather, who we haven’t seen in over 10 years! So fun to catch up with her!
• We had time to kill before the dance so we went to the pool and swam/lounged for a while in the evening sunshine (have I mentioned how much I love Florida for that?).
•  We went to a dance, learned a new dance, made new friends, and just had fun!
•  We took night pictures of the temple (read: Lori took pictures and I drove slowly once in the car…we’re a good team)
•  We attended the temple on Saturday morning…as always, the most perfect and peaceful place on earth. I love being at or in the temple.
• We drove to Lakeland for a devotional with Elder Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Elder Rasband of the Seventy. AMAZING! (A post with highlights from that will be forthcoming).
• Before the meeting we ate the most AMAZING Thai food ever!! It was so good we went back for dinner with friends!
• We saw our former Young Women’s leader, Sister Bailey, and got to chat with her.
• We got to visit (and eat dinner with) our friend Erin from Pennsylvania. She lives in Miami now and came up for this meeting too. 
• We went to Lake Morton to feed the ducks, geese, and swans (we used to to that often when we lived in Lakeland).
• We watched (I listened) to the movie “The Saratov Approach” on the way home. It was a really intense movie, especially on the dark roads, but certainly kept me awake. We did great until I missed one of the exits in Jacksonville and then missed the alternate and we ended up taking an extra HOUR to get home. I was not a very happy camper. Lori rescued me and let me be the passenger for the last hour.

It was awesome!! We did all of this in 36 hours and put over 600 miles on my car, and I wouldn’t trade it for a minute!

Enjoy a few pictures. :)

Feeding the ducks at Lake Morton

Lori and I

Worlds collided: Sister Bailey (FL), me (GA), and Erin (PA).

Orlando Temple

Me, Lori, and Erin

Lori and I

Orlando Temple at night

Sky writing we saw right after leaving the temple Saturday morning. The message? Love God!

Best Thai food EVER!

Thanks to Lori for the pictures. :)

This and That

Since my last couple of posts I've found that I don't have much to say on the blog. Part of it may be out of fear for exposing that side of myself, though it is the more minor side of myself (what do I say now??). Part of it is the reality that yes, I am imperfect and that is PERFECTLY normal! We all have issues of some kind. Some people face their demons publicly...others in the quiet moments of their lives. Since writing these things down, reading other blogs and articles, and listening to uplifting talks, I've discovered peace. It truly has come as I've turned to Jesus Christ. It is through Him that I am able to accept my imperfections, to strive daily to do a little better, and to pick myself up again and again as I inevitably fall. That is incredible!

On a lighter note, we celebrated Mother's day yesterday. Lori and I decided to splurge on one BIG gift for the entire family this year. It was going to be given as a Mother's day gift, but instead we gifted it on Friday night as an early Mother's/Father's/Birthday for everyone. Each person got to open an envelope containing a ticket to the Celtic Thunder concert in Jacksonville in November! We're all just a little excited about this. Have you heard of them? Check out a couple of my favorites! We're groupies!!

Ahh, sigh, amazing!! Have an amazing week everyone! Check back soon for some fun posts of some upcoming activities!

A Healthy Dose of Honesty - Part 2

In my previous post I wrote about my struggle with what I call undiagnosed depression and a food addiction. I've been learning a lot as I go through this and I've turned to my Savior for His help because I've come to realize in a way I've not previously known that I am truly nothing and can do nothing without His help. I've been listening to talks from various church leaders, uplifting music, and reading inspiring messages.

Today I "happened" (can we say "tender mercy"?) to see this post on Facebook. I'm glad I found this for a couple of reasons.

1. It helped me see that I'm truly not alone. Not only is Jesus with me on this, but there is at LEAST one other person who, though the reasons for our addictions are not the same, we share a very similar experience.
2. It helped me to share what I wrote the day following a terrible night. I had initially written it just to keep for myself to look back on and remember and learn from. But I needed to share it; it's not always about keeping up appearances. Sometimes I need to be REALLY real.
3. It helped me to feel that I can make this. I'm not perfect, far from it in fact. Actually, I found her story as I had just finished shoveling some candy in my mouth. Talk about a guilt trip, but it wasn't the bad kind where I berated myself. It was the kind where I openly realize that I made a choice, that I can correct it, I'm still loved, and though I slipped (again) I'm still trying.

Thank you Becca A., wherever you are, for taking the time to share your experience!