Be.....Alright.

If you don't know this by now, you probably should- One of my favorite quotes ever is, "Come What May and Love it." Elder Joseph B. Worthlin said this a few years ago, and for the course of most of my mission it has became a motto for me. 

I have found though that it's really easier said then done. I find it's really easy to spout it off when others are having a hard time, or if I am just jokingly saying it when something small happens... But when the time comes to really put this phrase into place... That's when I find myself struggling with the application. 

So the real question is... Why I am I telling you all this.... Well for one, I am needing some creative ideas for my blog, this one not being one of them, and second of all.... I felt like someone out there needs to hear this today. Today there is someone that needs to know that everything will be alright, today there is someone whose heart is saddened, and who feels broken, and to you... Whoever you are... "Come What May, and Love it." It might sound harsh at first, but it seems like for every good day there is a bad, for everyday of sunshine there is a period of night, for every Friday of Crucifixion there is a Sunday of Resurrection, and for every valley there is a mountain. Somedays this motto of "Come What May" is the only hope of getting through the hardships..

So how do we find this attitude??.... Well in on of my favorite hymns (I Believe in Christ, 134), it reads- I Believe in Christ, So Come What May. That's how we find it, through faith in Jesus Christ. . . Life somehow becomes so much easier as we put our faith and trust in the Lord, and Savior. Its as if these troubles MELT from us, and we feel the warmth of the light, and Spirit again. 

So for you, whoever you are... Take your time to read the scriptures, and to pray. These are two ways of developing this attitude of conversion. I know that you can make it through, and that everything will Be Alright.

Be Prayerful!!!

Let me ask you this, Have you ever felt that no one is around that really wants to listen?? Or maybe, You feel that the pain of things is about to break you... I have learned that we just have to surrender, and fall to our knees. My sister recently sent me an amazing plaque that says, "When Life Knocks you to your Knees, You're in the perfect position to Pray." This is true. I have been knocked to my knees many times, and the only way that I have been able to find the strength to get up is to pray for help... "Prayer is the Passport to Peace." Life is hard, and when we turn our hearts and mind to our Father in Heaven, He will give us the strength to overcome that trial that lies before us. I had been praying for some help in different areas, and I felt that God hadn't been hearing my prayers, then one day I was searching for something to blog on and I found this....

This was sent as an answer to that prayer.. I know that if our Heavenly Father could speak to us face to face during our trials, he would most definitely tell us something like this! :) He is always trying to make us into something better then what we are, and that is what I learned that day. What a blessing it was for me that day, and I hope that someone out there will find the same answer and peace this brought to me. I love prayer, and I know that, "When life gets to hard to stand, (We must) Kneel!" :)

Blessed...

To start off, the most important thing I can say is this... I have the greatest friends in the world. The last few days I've realized how important it is to be close to people who have strong faith in The Gospel. I've learned life lessons through their testimonies and have found a greater love for my Savior by their doings. The quote, "People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care" really rings true for me this week. I have so much to say, and really don't know how to say everything at this time. I guess I can do this, and bear you my testimony. I don't know that I've yet done this on my blog, but here it is-

I have testimony of this Restored Gospel. I have the strongest love for my Savior, Jesus Christ, and for all that He has done for me. The perfect example He has set for me is something that I reflect on time and time again. I know that the only real way to find happiness in life is to follow Him and to strive to become as He is. I know and understand that it's our choice to do so, all He can do is simple invite. I have a testimony of the Atonement. It's not until you're at the lowest points in your life that you begin to understand the great love that the Lord has for you. I would not be able to go throughout my day without the knowledge and understanding of Chirst's sacrifice. It brings me comfort to know that He suffered all things that I go through. He lives and He knows and loves all of us individually. I'm forever thankful.

I have a testimony of Eternal Families. I love my family so much. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of them and what they have done for me. My testimony was first planted by my wonderful parents, who love the Lord and have devoted their lives to the Gospel. It's because of them and the things that they taught me in my youth, that I have had the opportunity to become the man I am today. I love them so much, and I'm so grateful to be able to live with them forever. The blessing of my family is something that will never end. The rest of my family is much the same as my parents, they are wonderful people who strive to live more like our Savior. I know that because of the sealing power of the Priesthood we can all live together in the eternities.

I too have a testimony of friends, Good and Bad. I know that as we surround ourselves with people who strive to live the Gospel, we can find in our own testimonies growth. The things that I've learned from my friends' examples and knowledge has been life changing in my life and will never be forgotten. I have some of the greatest friends. I've been blessed. I know that those people we surround ourselves with, are who we become like. It's happened to me in both scenarios, good and bad.

I have a testimony of the power of The Book of Mormon, the reality of The Restoration, and  magnificent calling of The Prophet, Joseph Smith. I know that The Book of Mormon is scripture, and that it can change your life, like mine, if you but let it. The power and goodness of this book is something that I have recently been touched by, and that has changed my life forever. I know that its true, and will forever defend my love for it. I am grateful for the Restoration of the Gospel and Joseph Smith's hand in so doing. I know that many scriptures were fulfilled because of his heroic courage. I know that because of him we are able to again be blessed by the fullness of The Gospel in which Jesus Christ taught.

I'm truly grateful for the time I have had to be a missionary. I love this Gospel so much and I would give anything to help someone receive these things that I hold so dear to my heart. I would be so selfish if I didn't share the things that I've been taught in my life. I'm forever grateful for my "Missionaries" (Mom & Dad, Family, and Friends) who taught me about the Gospel by their examples and through their testimonies.  I know that these things that I have written are in fact true. I hope that in someway your testimony of the Lord, Jesus Christ has been strengthened upon reading these words. I love him greatly, and I thank our Heavenly Father each day for the blessing of this Gospel.

Words... Of Wisdom :)

It was battered and scarred,
And the auctioneer thought it
Hardly worth his while
To waste his time on the old violin,
But he held it up with a smile.
"What am I bid, good people", he cried,
"Who starts the bidding for me?"
"One dollar, one dollar, Do I hear two?"
"Two dollars, who makes it three?"

"Three dollars once, three dollars twice,
Going for three". . . but no!
From the room far back a gray-haired man
Came forward and picked up the bow;
Then wiping the dust from the old violin,
And tightening up the strings,
He played a melody, pure and sweet,
As sweet as an angel sings.

The music ceased and the auctioneer
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said "What now am I bid for this old violin?"
As he held it aloft with its bow.
"One thousand, one thousand, Do I hear two?"
"Two thousand, Who makes it three?"
"Three thousand once, three thousand twice,
Going and gone", said he.

The people cheered, but some of them cried,
"We do not quite understand.
What changed its worth?" Swift came the reply:
"The touch of the Master's hand."
And many a man with life out of tune,
And battered and scarred with sin,
Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd
Much like the old violin.

A "mess of pottage," a glass of wine,
A game and he travels on,
He's going once, and going twice -
He's going - and almost gone!
But the MASTER comes, and the foolish crowd,
Never can quite understand,
The worth of a soul, and the change that's wrought
By the touch of the MASTER'S hand.

Day 09

- A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most -

All of the aspects of human existence, brought about by the fall, Jesus Christ absorbed into himself, and he experienced vicariously in Gethsemane all the private griefs, the heartaches, all the physical pains and handicaps. All the emotional burdens and depressions of the human family. He knows the loneliness of those who don't fit in, or who aren't handsome or pretty, he knows what it's like to choose up teams and be the last one chosen, he knows the anguish of parents whose children go wrong, he knows the heartache of the abused child or spouse, he knows their things personally and intimately because he lived them in that Gethsemane, experienced having personally lived a perfect life he then chose to live our imperfect lives in the meridian of time the center of eternity, he lived a billion, billion lifetimes of sin, disease, pain, and sorrow, God has no magic wand in which he waves bad things into non-existence the sins he remits he remits by making them his own.

"Never be afraid to sit awhile and think." ~Lorraine Hansberry

Today, I was looking through some art and found this beautiful and magnificent painting.

In this small, yet powerful piece of art, we find the light of hope in the darkest of our trials.

  

Through the Atonement, we are able to be free from not just our sins, but from our pains, afflictions, temptations, and sicknesses! We find this in Alma 7:11-12.

 "11-And he shall go forth, suffering pains and ^aafflictions and ^btemptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will ^ctake upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

 12-And he will take upon him ^adeath, that he may ^bloose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to ^csuccor his people according to their infirmities."

Click RIGHT HERE to find more info. about Christ!!

I find so much joy in thinking about this concept. Often times we, as Disciples of Christ (in our MANY denominations), lose sight of the main thing that binds us all together, and that is the LOVE that our Redeemer has for us. :) So right now, I ask that you stop and think of what Christ's suffering in the Garden means to you. I hope that it brings you the same JOY it did me!! :) I would love to hear your thoughts on this!! So leave some comments! :)

"What a MESS!!!"

As missionaries we get a day off from our usual routine of spreading The Gospel, this is called our preparation day! On one of our P-Days we decided that we wanted to make some sweet tie dye shirts. We went to the Wal-Mart there in Franklin, and got our supplies. Well if you know the process of making a tie-dye shirt, you know it’s VERY messy! So first of all you take your article of clothing and fold it. Next you have to soak the shirts (or whatever you’re dying) in a solution for 5-15 minutes. After you do this, then comes the fun! You’re instructed to “MAKE A MESS”! haha SO you pour on as much dye as you want. Usually the more dye, the cooler the shirt! After that you have to let it sit for a while, and then you wash it. (Washing it takes forever!! Thanks Sister Austin & Winder!!) :) The shirt is beautiful now and you get to enjoy!

So you’re probably wondering why I’m even bringing this up. I was thinking about it this morning and tie-dye is so much like life! How do you think it compares??? :) I need your response!