I have had some really amazing spiritual well-filling opportunities and experiences of late and my heart feels full. To be completely honest it's been a while since that has happened. And it's wonderful. I can "feel to sing the song of redeeming love". What has helped? I think it has been to make the choice to surround myself with Holy Ghost opportunities. Please understand that I am not professing to be perfect, in any way. All I can do is just testify of what I have experienced and know to be true about our Savior, our Heavenly Father, the Plan of Redemption and the Atonement.
So here's the story. I'll start with the General Relief Society Broadcast - it was really wonderful. Right from the start with Sister Burton's talk about the condition of our hearts the Holy Ghost was whispering to my soul. Sister Burton asked some great questions - is the law or doctrine of the gospel written in your heart? Is the gospel in your soul? That was a great place for me to start: where do I stand with God the Father and His Son? Where can I be better? Am I really converted to the gospel I profess to believe in? Do my beliefs show in my words and actions and thoughts? I have a testimony that has carried my through trials, but I will confess that I let the worldly influences around me, around all of us, get in the way of letting me continue in my spiritual growth. Thank the Heavens Sister Burton has a solution for this.
The first thing Sister Burton suggests is to have an understanding of the Atonement, then to strengthen our families, keep our covenants and serve others. I have found that in reality I am always doing these things in little ways. (Side note: a while ago my mom told me to start looking for my successes, that has made such a big difference!) I bet you are too. Through my little actions my children are starting to have testimonies of their own. I am striving to keep all of my covenants, which I'm trying to see and understand as committing to live a life of which He approves. And I'm trying to serve others. Sometimes I really want to just curl up with a blanket and read a book or throw myself into my crafting addiction, but I'm so much happier when I am out serving others, even if all I can do is something so so small. Trying to remember and apply these teachings in my life is helping me to feel closer to the Spirit of God.
A few weekends ago I went to Time Out For Women in Salt Lake City. I really needed that weekend! There were amazing speakers - Virginia H. Pearce, Sheri Dew, Chris Williams (author of Let it Go), the authors of the cookbook Our Best Bites, Brad Wilcox, John Bytheway, Emily Freeman, and the musical talent Mercy River. Okay I'm gonna sound super cheesy here but I laughed, I cried, and I felt the Spirit. I received answers to prayers and guidance and direction for my life. Some really specific direction, some really direct answers. This is what I've learned: Heavenly Father loves each and every one of us. He knows us personally and deeply. Jesus Christ knows me and knows every time I've cried to the Father for forgiveness, or mercy, or help, or guidance, or relief from burden or pain. As I seek the Father and the Son and seek to know them, or seek answers or guidance, They are there to answer the call. Every time.
Thinking of these things and trying to help one of my daughters, I asked her, what do you envision your life to be like in 10 years? Where do you see yourself, what have you accomplished? She said, I want my life to be easy. So many things came to my mind, but one thought stands out to me now. Do I want my life to be easy? Is that why I kick and fight the trials that come my way? Is that why I give in to temptation? Is that why I can't seem to be more diligent in scripture study and prayer? So what do I envision my life to be like in 10 years, what have I accomplished?
How about you? Where do you see yourself in 10 years? What has helped you feel to sing the song of redeeming love?
Hope to hear from you soon!
Sarah
Sunday, November 4, 2012
“Here then is a great truth. In the pain, the agony, and the heroic endeavors of life, we pass through a refiner's fire, and the insignificant and the unimportant in our lives can melt away like dross and make our faith bright, intact, and strong.” —James E. Faust, "The Refiner's Fire," Ensign, May 1979, 53
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Enjoy the Journey... stop to smell the wild flowers and pick up rocks.
My family and I recently hiked up to Doughnut Falls in Big Cottonwood Canyon. It's about a mile hike (according to my husband's memory :} ) My two year old daughter Lucy hiked the whole way there; which if your two year old is like mine, we stop to look at rocks and find ones to throw into the river, we look at plants and bugs, and more rocks and write in the dirt, and more rocks, throw rocks into the river and do it all over again. Halfway there my exasperated sigh must've been a little loud because my hubbie gently and teasingly responded with, "it's about the journey, not the destination." True, true, true! Why do I hurry things along? Hurry up and get there, hurry up and finish, hurry and grow up.... I can't wonder out loud any more where the time goes if I'm wishing it away. So while the rest of my family walked ahead of us, Lucy and I continued our little journey picking up rocks for her to throw in the river. I enjoyed the time exploring the world around us, encouraging Lucy's curiosity. Watching my daughter enjoy the journey was better than the destination. It bonded us together a little bit more, helping me to remember that time flies even when we're not having fun, and I really need to enjoy the mothering moments that come along.
I had one of those mothering moments tonight - you know them. The fleeting moment when life is as it "should" be and you feel successful in parenting. I had most of my children surrounding me and playing together nicely. It was bliss and I enjoyed it; granted it was only about a minute long but it was great! I thought, "it's about the journey...and the destination" when it's applied to our lives in an eternal perspective. I read President Monson's 2008 Conference talk, "Finding Joy in the Journey". He counsels that one of life's important lessons is that we learn what is most important to us, and that often includes our loved ones. Doctrine and Covenants, section 88, verse 33 asks, “For what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift? Behold, he rejoices not in that which is given unto him, neither rejoices in him who is the giver of the gift.” I could apply this scripture to my relationship with my kids - they being the gift I'm not receiving. Sometimes I catch myself in the middle of casting them aside when I tell them, "in a minute" for "55 minutes" like my 7 year old told me today. So when I put doing chores as a higher priority over spending time with my children, I'm not being so grateful for the 5 beautiful blessings I've been given. I'm also not rejoicing in the great plan of happiness that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have given to me.
This reminds me of the New Testament story about Martha and Mary and the choices they made when the Savior dined with them one evening. Mary sat at the Savior's knee and listened to his words and Martha was busy serving the Savior. I can't imagine not trying to be the hostess with the mostest, but the one needful thing was to sit and listen and learn. If I apply this to my family, then the really good things, the best things, come to the foreground. Family prayer and scripture study not only become the best choice, but also show that I am grateful for my gifts. Family Home Evening becomes more important because I need to take care of my gifts. And in order for me to qualify for the Holy Ghost's companionship that I need to do those things I need to pray earnestly, everyday, multiple times and study the scriptures and the doctrine of the gospel.
Making this change will take some time and effort because I love my home to be a clean and organized haven. It helps me feel calm and peaceful, better able to feel/hear the Holy Ghost. It's part of my nature to desire to make things beautiful, and is my little bit of heaven on Earth. I need to learn to find the balance between the two. I wonder if I look at taking time for my children as the one needful thing in my life, that would help me do this new challenge?
What about you? What's keeping you from being like Mary and the one needful thing in your life? What can you do to change and find joy in your journey?
Signed,
Sarah
I had one of those mothering moments tonight - you know them. The fleeting moment when life is as it "should" be and you feel successful in parenting. I had most of my children surrounding me and playing together nicely. It was bliss and I enjoyed it; granted it was only about a minute long but it was great! I thought, "it's about the journey...and the destination" when it's applied to our lives in an eternal perspective. I read President Monson's 2008 Conference talk, "Finding Joy in the Journey". He counsels that one of life's important lessons is that we learn what is most important to us, and that often includes our loved ones. Doctrine and Covenants, section 88, verse 33 asks, “For what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift? Behold, he rejoices not in that which is given unto him, neither rejoices in him who is the giver of the gift.” I could apply this scripture to my relationship with my kids - they being the gift I'm not receiving. Sometimes I catch myself in the middle of casting them aside when I tell them, "in a minute" for "55 minutes" like my 7 year old told me today. So when I put doing chores as a higher priority over spending time with my children, I'm not being so grateful for the 5 beautiful blessings I've been given. I'm also not rejoicing in the great plan of happiness that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have given to me.
This reminds me of the New Testament story about Martha and Mary and the choices they made when the Savior dined with them one evening. Mary sat at the Savior's knee and listened to his words and Martha was busy serving the Savior. I can't imagine not trying to be the hostess with the mostest, but the one needful thing was to sit and listen and learn. If I apply this to my family, then the really good things, the best things, come to the foreground. Family prayer and scripture study not only become the best choice, but also show that I am grateful for my gifts. Family Home Evening becomes more important because I need to take care of my gifts. And in order for me to qualify for the Holy Ghost's companionship that I need to do those things I need to pray earnestly, everyday, multiple times and study the scriptures and the doctrine of the gospel.
Making this change will take some time and effort because I love my home to be a clean and organized haven. It helps me feel calm and peaceful, better able to feel/hear the Holy Ghost. It's part of my nature to desire to make things beautiful, and is my little bit of heaven on Earth. I need to learn to find the balance between the two. I wonder if I look at taking time for my children as the one needful thing in my life, that would help me do this new challenge?
What about you? What's keeping you from being like Mary and the one needful thing in your life? What can you do to change and find joy in your journey?
Signed,
Sarah
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Tonight I went to my Stake Conference Adult Session, it was awesome :) So many parts of the different talks stood out to me, but the one impression I had that was the strongest for me was when our Stake President said that Christ was the Great Healer. That is just one of His many titles; He is so many things to us. Some of the many titles He has been given are: Advocate, Alpha and Omega, The Annointed One, Bread of Life, Cornerstone of our religion, Creator, Deliverer, Exemplar, Firstborn Son, Good Shepherd, Holy One of Israel, Jehovah, King, Lamb of God, Light of the World, Lord, Mediator, Messiah, Only Begotten Son, Redeemer, Rock, Savior, and the Word. So what is He to you? What do you need Him to be today?
Tonight I need Jesus Christ to be my Mediator, my Rock and my Savior. I need His help coming back into alignment with my Heavenly Father, I need Him to guide me. I need His steadiness to build upon and rely upon when the winds and waves throw themselves upon me. I need His saving grace and redemption applied to my life.
Take a look at these different titles, He is so many things to us. Tomorrow I might need Him to be something else. I'm going to look at His names and see what they mean in the Bible Dictionary, or Index and Topical Guide at www.lds.org. Then I'm going to seek Him in the role I need. Will you try it too and post your thoughts?
Chat with you soon!
Signed,
Sarah
Tonight I need Jesus Christ to be my Mediator, my Rock and my Savior. I need His help coming back into alignment with my Heavenly Father, I need Him to guide me. I need His steadiness to build upon and rely upon when the winds and waves throw themselves upon me. I need His saving grace and redemption applied to my life.
Take a look at these different titles, He is so many things to us. Tomorrow I might need Him to be something else. I'm going to look at His names and see what they mean in the Bible Dictionary, or Index and Topical Guide at www.lds.org. Then I'm going to seek Him in the role I need. Will you try it too and post your thoughts?
Chat with you soon!
Signed,
Sarah
Okay, okay, I'll do it already!
A few months ago I really felt like I should start a blog...I was working on my major weakness of anger and thought journaling/chronicling(?) my journey and experiences would be helpful for me and maybe for someone else out there. But then fear set in and I kept thinking, who would want to listen to me? So then this "weird" journal would be out there for anyone to see! What was I thinking?!
I say it's funny, but I don't mean comical, when I say "it's funny how..." so here's the next part, it's funny how hindsight is 20/20 when we look back and see how the pieces all fell in the right place in the puzzle of our lives. A few months ago I came across an article about a book that talked about how Satan uses fear as a manipulative tool to keep us from doing something good in our lives; like starting a business or a blog - it's a good thing Heavenly Father wants us to do, but Satan uses doubt and fear to keep us from doing it. So in the past two weeks or so, I keep getting this prompting to write in this blog about the spiritual things in my life I'm noticing. Then two Sundays ago the Relief Society lesson was about keeping a journal. So, hence the title of this post, when I come home from the Adult Session of Stake Conference and I can't get this off my mind!
So An Earnest Endeavor has come to fruition. I don't know where this blog will lead me, but by small and simple things great things come to pass, right? Right. I really need the opportunity to talk about the lessons I'm learning in my life, the trials I have, and the wonderful blessings. I love gospel centered discussions, it helps me remember our Savior day by day, and helps me process and ponder the things I'm learning. So will you join me? We could have fun :) and learn something from each other.
Hope to chat with you soon!
Signed,
Sarah
I say it's funny, but I don't mean comical, when I say "it's funny how..." so here's the next part, it's funny how hindsight is 20/20 when we look back and see how the pieces all fell in the right place in the puzzle of our lives. A few months ago I came across an article about a book that talked about how Satan uses fear as a manipulative tool to keep us from doing something good in our lives; like starting a business or a blog - it's a good thing Heavenly Father wants us to do, but Satan uses doubt and fear to keep us from doing it. So in the past two weeks or so, I keep getting this prompting to write in this blog about the spiritual things in my life I'm noticing. Then two Sundays ago the Relief Society lesson was about keeping a journal. So, hence the title of this post, when I come home from the Adult Session of Stake Conference and I can't get this off my mind!
So An Earnest Endeavor has come to fruition. I don't know where this blog will lead me, but by small and simple things great things come to pass, right? Right. I really need the opportunity to talk about the lessons I'm learning in my life, the trials I have, and the wonderful blessings. I love gospel centered discussions, it helps me remember our Savior day by day, and helps me process and ponder the things I'm learning. So will you join me? We could have fun :) and learn something from each other.
Hope to chat with you soon!
Signed,
Sarah
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