Invitations

Invitations. These are a daily part of my life. I invite people to do things all the time. Will you come to church? Will you live the Word of Wisdom? Will you pray daily? Lately though I have been getting a few invitations myself. Except they come from my Heavenly Father. Will you be patient? Will you have hope in my Son? Will you be obedient? As I accept these invitations I realize how hard they can be to keep. I come to see how hard it is to repent, how hard it is to change. I keep trying and recommitting. And I have more compassion for those I teach. It is hard to change your life. It is hard to become like Christ. Yet through perseverance and a lot of help from above I slowly change. I start keeping my commitments. I actually change. And then I am filled with gratitude for those simple invitations from the One who loves me most. Will you accept His invitations and see how much He loves you?

You Mustn't Quit

I had a good friend give me a sign with a poem on it and I wanted to share it.

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will, 

When the road you're trudging seems all uphill.

Keep your spirits high for through thick and thin, 

You must carry on if you are to win. 

Life is strange with its twists and turns 

As everyone of us sometimes learns. 

It challenges us to often give up 

When we could have captured the victor's cup. 

So turn your failures inside out, 

Press them on past fear and doubt. 

Never mind if things hold up back a bit. 

You'll come out on top- but you mustn't quit. 

I love this poem because this is exactly how life is. We just can't quit. Because our "victor's cup" is living with God forever. And that is the best prize ever! We just have to endure to the end.  

Happiness

Happiness is contagious. Happiness makes life wonderful. Happiness is something I love. Sadly, I haven't been the happiest person recently. So.... life has been a little rough. All I wanted was the happiness I normally had. I wanted to laugh and smile but it just wasn't coming. I prayed and pondered and searched for the answer as to why I wasn't happy. God let me know. And He also helped me see what I could do to change my frown upside down. It worked perfectly. My happiness is back. It took some effort and me choosing to be happy but it worked. God wanted me to be happy. He wants all of His children to be happy. All it takes is asking Him for help and doing what He requires. That simple. So go find your happiness today. 

 “Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it.”  

                                                                                 -Joseph Smith

Small & Simple

Yesterday someone asked me how I felt about the Book of Mormon. My response? It is my best friend. Strange that a book can be my best friend but tis true. I can't even begin to count the number of times I have needed answers or comfort or help and the Book of Mormon has supplied. Page after page of inspiration and solutions just waiting. When I was young I heard the saying, "If you want to talk to God pray and if you want God to talk to you read the scriptures." I think from the moment I first heard that I believed it. If the Book of Mormon is the word of God of course it would be a way of Him communicating with me. Like letters and stories God wrote to me to help me along the way. I just love it.

But the Book of Mormon is my best friend for another reason. It is how I know that Christ's church on this earth is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The book comes with a promise. If you read it, ponder what it says, and sincerely ask God if it is His word then He will answer you. Well, I took the challenge and followed the instructions. And the Holy Ghost, as promised witnessed to me that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. That meant that Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon through the power of God, was called to be God's prophet, and restored Christ's church on this earth. Crazy that I can know all this because of one little book but hey "by small and simple things are great things brought to pass" (Alma 37:6). I got my answer and it carries me through all trials, tempests, and doubt. So here is my commitment to you: try it for yourself. Read the Book of Mormon (click here to get one for free), ponder what it says, and then get on your knees and through prayer ask God yourself. It is that simple. I promise that you will get an answer if you are sincere. God loves you and does answer prayers. And when He does you will have a new best friend.

Nightly Routine

A few months ago my mother sent me a picture of her sitting in her pj's at the end of my bed. As just a normal picture this would be kind of weird but it has meaning behind it. My mother is my best friend. She is the one person I will tell anything and everything to. Growing up (and even when I would come home from college) my mom would come to tuck me in and kiss me goodnight. It was a nightly routine and I loved it. Mostly because that is when we would talk. When my secrets, problems, stories, worries, and tears would come out. She would listen and care and love. Well when I received this picture it was a time when I was needing her and her love. Being hundreds of miles away she still knew I needed her love. So she sent me the picture to let me know she will always be there no matter how far apart we are. There isn't a day that goes by that my mother does not pray for me. And from those prayers I know that she receives inspiration from the Spirit, especially about her children. I am so grateful for a mother who lives worthy of God's guidance every day of her life. I love her so much.

 

(Isn't she beautiful? She is the best!)

Heavenly Guidance

Recently I was heard a talk from our prophet, Thomas S. Monson and I want to share a small part of it.


"I have spoken over the years with many individuals who have told me, “I have so many problems, such real concerns. I’m overwhelmed with the challenges of life. What can I do?” I have offered to them, and I now offer to you, this specific suggestion: seek heavenly guidance one day at a time. Life by the yard is hard; by the inch it’s a cinch. Each of us can be true for just one day—and then one more and then one more after that—until we’ve lived a lifetime guided by the Spirit, a lifetime close to the Lord, a lifetime of good deeds and righteousness."

Many times I have tried to take on everything all at once and all by myself. I usually end up frustrated and ready to give up. But slowly I have been learning what President Monson taught. We have to take life one day at a time and trust in the Lord. Then things get a little easier and life is enjoyable.