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!" :)

You live & learn...

Have you ever had a bad day.. your power goes out, the car won't start, your boss is in a bad mood, dinner burns.. you catch my drift! :) I want you to try something; the next time you run into any of these things... Simply tell yourself, "Come what may, and love it." I've figured out that in this crazy world, it's really all that we can do to stay happy. I've found things don't work out, people let us down, trials never end, and things bring heartache. I often ask myself though, what is to be done, how can I fix these things.. Well for me the way I over come those things is to simply focus on "The Things that Matter Most", and not the little things that bring me down.. My mom once told me, "When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change." Think of how this applies to your life, because it applies over and over again to mine. All of the sudden my outlook changes I begin to focus on "The Things that matter Most", and the little things that bother me suddenly turn into stepping stones instead of stumbling blocks and growth begins. In our moments of anguish remember, "Come what may, and Love it!" Another one of my favorite quotes reads, "Happiness is not getting what you want-it's wanting what you have." This is definitely easier said then done, as I strive to turn my attitude from a - "Glass half empty" to a "Glass half full" look on things. It seems life becomes more meaningful....

"I am still learning." -Michelangelo

1. Let the Holy Spirit guide;
Let him teach us what is true.
He will testify of Christ,
Light our minds with heaven's view.

2. Let the Holy Spirit guard;
Let his whisper govern choice.
He will lead us safely home
If we listen to his voice.

3. Let the Spirit heal our hearts
Thru his quiet, gentle pow'r.
May we purify our lives
To receive him hour by hour.

The reason I post these lyrics, is because I need to do a better job at letting the "Holy Spirit Guide" me. This morning I lost something because I didn't head the promptings that I recieved. I had the thought, "I should leave this in the car", but instead of going with it, I thought, "It will be much safer in my pocket".  I'm pretty upset with myself, that I didn't pay more attention, and that I relied on my own knowledge.. I was totally wrong, and now I'm paying for it. During the course of my morning I realized that it had fallen out. I have no clue where it's at... I hope the Lord will give me another chance, and guide me this evening as I go in search of finding my lost item! One thing that I do want to say is that, "The Lord is in the Details of Our Lives." No matter how big or how small, he's aware of everything, and anything. As we rely on him, and follow him, we'll be so blessed. He really does know it all, and I myself, need to do better at following his council.

"Whatever you are, be a good one."

I've been thinking about this the last few days... I think that this quote really rings true to a lot of people (including myself) at times, because of the world and it's spotlight on fame, we have everyone thinking that they need to become something other then what they are. Maybe a sports star, or the most popular head cheerleader.. Have you ever thought of you needing to be on student council, the most muscular guy, or the smartest girl in the class? What about becoming the President of the U.S.A, or the girl on the cover of some magazine..? The list goes on and on..

The first thing that came to mind was- if you really want something, you have to work for it. Richard G. Scott said this, "We become what we want to be by consistently being what we want to become each day." Also I found this quote that applies, "We tend to live up to our expectations".

I want to say this as well, the world constantly tries to make us into something we're not, and it's all part of Satan's plan to get us unfocused on the things that matter most. The question is then, what does it take to make it big in the world and to fill that sense of accomplishment? Well I know that the greatest example that we have to look toward is our Savior. President Hinckley gave us some awesome attributes to focus on that will help us to be great people, and indeed more like Jesus Christ.  

 "It takes courage to grow up and be who you really are"... and the greatest person you can become is that like Christ.. :)

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.

-Today-

Today... I wanted to take a break from the "30 Days of Me", and just really express how I feel. So as a missionary at times things get tough, stuff goes wrong, you miss your family and friends, or maybe a few teaching appointments drop. Sometimes things are amazing though, and you think, "Could I be any happier?".  Really one day is never like the next.  Today has been one of those days for me that I just have had to sit, and think about all that I really have been blessed with. My mom sent me a vinyl saying that sits on my desk, which reads, "Be Still & Know that I am God". It seems like whenever things are going great, we seem to fail at showing our love to God; and at times of heartache is when we really pray and search for him in our lives. So whether your having a great or rough day... I would encourage you to do just do as I did, and "Be Still" and feel the presence of God in your life. :)

I love my Father in Heaven so much. I know he is there like a best friend; through thick or thin, at all times, in all things, and in all places.

I will forever be thankful for him.

A picture of your most treasured item

As soon as I read today's blog pic. I instantly thought of this scripture, "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

Before I came on my mission, things of the world were some of my greatest treasures. My car, clothes, sunglasses, watches, or my phone were way at the top of this list.

Since I've grown up and figured out what really matters in this life I have to say that my Family & Friends are my "Most Treasured Item" One of my Favorite quotes, hanging on my wall in my room at home, is this...

"The Best Things in Life.. Aren't Things."

I hope that I can, "But lay up for MYSELF treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal" so that I can be with them forever!!

Check out this talk by President Thomas S. Monson,  "In Search of Treasure"



WOW!! :)

I was always excited to go to the Holy Temple. When I was in my teenage years I was able to go the Manti Temple numerous times to do Baptisms for the Dead.  This had to be one of the greatest blessing. I have never in my life felt the Spirit of the Lord so strong, until I was within the temples walls.Then when I was a little older, I was able to go and recieve my Endowment in the Mt. Timpanogos Temple. It was a very awesome experience!  One day... (in the distant future :)) I look forward to going to the Temple with my wife, to be sealed for time and all eternity together. Temples bring us so much joy, becuase they enable us to feel the Spirit of the Lord in our lives, and to be with the ones we love forever and always. :)

The following lyrics are from a Primary song and goes as followed:

 

I love to see the temple.
I’m going there someday

To feel the Holy Spirit,
To listen and to pray.

For the temple is a house of God,
A place of love and beauty.
I’ll prepare myself while I am young;
This is my sacred duty.

 I love to see the temple.

I’ll go inside someday.

 I’ll cov’nant with my Father;

I’ll promise to obey

For the temple is a holy place

 

 Where we are sealed together.

As a child of God, I’ve learned this truth:

A fam’ly is forever.

President Thomas S. Monson said this in the latest General Conference, "Why are so many willing to give so much in order to receive the blessings of the temple? Those who understand the eternal blessings which come from the temple know that no sacrifice is too great, no price too heavy, no struggle too difficult in order to receive those blessings. There are never too many miles to travel, too many obstacles to overcome, or too much discomfort to endure. They understand that the saving ordinances received in the temple that permit us to someday return to our Heavenly Father in an eternal family relationship and to be endowed with blessings and power from on high are worth every sacrifice and every effort."

"Quotation, n.: The act of repeating erroneously the words of another."

I decided today to make a post with a lot of my favorite quotes. I would love for everyone to find their favorite quote and add it to the end!! This should be pretty cool if a lot of people participate!!! :)

“Light tomorrow with today.”

-Elizabeth Barrett Browning

“Make each day your masterpiece.”

-John Wooden

“Face your Future with Faith”

 “The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn”

– Ralph Waldo Emerson

 “It takes courage to grow up and turn out to be who you really are.”

–E.E. Cummings

"In the end, the number of prayers we say may contribute to our happiness, but the number of prayers we answer may be of even greater importance."

-Elder Uchtdorf

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”

–Eleanor Roosevelt

 “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do”

--Marianne Williamson, A Return To Love

“The greatest achievement was at first, and for a time, but a dream.”

-Napoleon Hill

The standard of truth has been erected. No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing. Persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame. But the truth of God will go forth, boldly, nobly and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the great Jehovah shall say, ”The work is done”.

-Joseph Smith

“The best dreams happen when you’re awake.”

-Cherie Gilderbloom

“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”

-Mahatma Gandhi

“Start living now. Stop saving the good china for that special occasion. Stop withholding your love until that special person materializes. Every day you are alive is a special occasion. Every minute, every breath, is a gift from God.”

-Mary Manin Morrissey

“The best is yet to be.”

-Robert Browning

“Never, never, never give up.”

-Winston Churchill

“Our greatest glory is not in never failing but in rising up every time we fail.”

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Realize that true happiness lies within you.”

-Lucian

“Don’t count the days, make the days count.”

-Muhammad Ali

“Love all. Serve all. Help ever. Hurt never.”

-Author Unknown

“Dance as though no one is watching you, Love as though you have never been hurt before, Sing as though no one can hear you, Live as though heaven is on earth.”

-Souza.

“You will find, as you look back upon your life, that the moments when you really lived are the moments when you have done things in the spirit of love.”

-Henry Drummond

“Success is going from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm.”

-Abraham Lincoln

“Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.”

-Robert F. Kennedy

“Fear Not. Be of Good Cheer. For your Future is as Bright as your Faith.”

                -President Thomas S. Monson