Recently Orey and I had the great and wonderful opportunity to be personally counseled by a general authority. He happens to be our friend and lawyer too. We have known him for years and have had nothing but the highest regard and respect for him. Ever since he was our Stake President. It was strange and uplifting to have him personally know our family and to counsel with us. The neat thing is he touched on some things that we were "struggling" with and didn't even know it until he talked about it.
At first I enjoyed what he said and for a minute forgot to put it in its place. I took it as one friend to another and only thought about what he said. Then Orey and I talked and was amazed to realize we were just counseled. Then I knew to apply it to my life! The Lord gave me comfort through the words that were spoken to us that day. As things progress forward in the challenge our family is going through right now, how sweet it is to know I can reflect upon that conversation and know peace.
I think the thing to remember is that even if he did not know our family personally, he would still have counseled us for the same things. The reason is because Heavenly Father personally knows our family and what we are going through. The counsel comes from Him and the man was his messenger to us. How wonderful is that?!!!
Friday, August 19, 2011
Monday, July 4, 2011
Turn off the Television
We got rid of the television a while back. Okay, we didn't get rid of whole tv but we did get rid of the cable/dish we had hooked up. So, essentially, we have a big screen that we occasionally watch movies on and also the kids play Wii on.
At first I thought I would really hate it. Even though we did not watch as much as the average household seemed to, we still did our fair share. Sometimes I would have it on as a filler. However, we turned it off and I have hardly missed it at all. The kids do not ask for it. We cut down on the amount of garbage filtered in to our home. I know the old saying that if you don't like what is on tv then don't watch the show. We tried that but even the commercials seemed to bring random foul words and sexual inuendo into our environment for 30 to 60 seconds at a time. Just long enough for us not to have time to change the channel. I am not a huge prude, but I think my kids get enough of that in their school and outside environment. I know I do working at the prison. It is nice to come home and not have that influence.
The other thing that I REALLY noticed is that I read..and enjoy..my scriptures more. Who knew?! A simple matter of turning off the tv could make such a big difference.
Try it, you might like it :)
At first I thought I would really hate it. Even though we did not watch as much as the average household seemed to, we still did our fair share. Sometimes I would have it on as a filler. However, we turned it off and I have hardly missed it at all. The kids do not ask for it. We cut down on the amount of garbage filtered in to our home. I know the old saying that if you don't like what is on tv then don't watch the show. We tried that but even the commercials seemed to bring random foul words and sexual inuendo into our environment for 30 to 60 seconds at a time. Just long enough for us not to have time to change the channel. I am not a huge prude, but I think my kids get enough of that in their school and outside environment. I know I do working at the prison. It is nice to come home and not have that influence.
The other thing that I REALLY noticed is that I read..and enjoy..my scriptures more. Who knew?! A simple matter of turning off the tv could make such a big difference.
Try it, you might like it :)
Monday, May 30, 2011
I Forgot, and I Faltered
I forgot a fundamental truth that none of us can afford to forget. I forgot that the adversary knows me well. Because I had a lapse in memory, I have allowed him entrance into my life. I have allowed bitterness, unkind thoughts and so forth to take up residence in my being. It was subtle to be sure. Little things here and little things there. I truly became aware of it only minutes ago so you are the first to know my state of being right now. It is not pretty.
I have so very much on my emotional plate right now that I am being attacked by many fronts right now. Sometimes I feel like I am standing in a small pond of muck up to my knees and there are people throwing rocks and sticks and debris and me trying to bring me down. I feel like I have allowed them to get the upper hand.
I sat here a few minutes ago having my little pity party and wondering how Jesus managed to deal with it. The first and foremost thing that came to my head was that he cried out mightily to his Father. I have not cried out mightily to my Father. I have been busy crying out mightily to my frustration and anger. That needs to change. Jesus knew that Heavenly Father was always with him and he could count on him at any time. His faith did not falter.
I remember when I was a young teenager and I went to tell my mom that I loved her. Truly, the only reason I was saying it to her that time is because I really meant it. However, she looked and me and asked me what I wanted. I replied that I did not want anything. She said she did not believe me because the only reason I ever told her lately that I loved her was because I wanted something. I was really hurt by that. But then I realized that I did not have a right to be hurt.....she did. She was right. I was so busy living my life that the only time I took the time to remember that I really did love my mother is when I wanted something. It wasn't that I didn't love her at all times. I just forgot to confess it to her unless there was a reminder such as something I needed.
I believe that I have "forgotten" to express my love for Heavenly Father as I should be doing instead of just when I cry out to him in want. I think once I get back on the right track, I will feel much better and will be able to slog out of the muck and vanquish all my percieved foes.
Thank you to my children for being some of the best friends ever. You have given me more joy in my life than a woman has a right to :) You are my reason and I love you for it. More than you will EVER know!!!!!
I have so very much on my emotional plate right now that I am being attacked by many fronts right now. Sometimes I feel like I am standing in a small pond of muck up to my knees and there are people throwing rocks and sticks and debris and me trying to bring me down. I feel like I have allowed them to get the upper hand.
I sat here a few minutes ago having my little pity party and wondering how Jesus managed to deal with it. The first and foremost thing that came to my head was that he cried out mightily to his Father. I have not cried out mightily to my Father. I have been busy crying out mightily to my frustration and anger. That needs to change. Jesus knew that Heavenly Father was always with him and he could count on him at any time. His faith did not falter.
I remember when I was a young teenager and I went to tell my mom that I loved her. Truly, the only reason I was saying it to her that time is because I really meant it. However, she looked and me and asked me what I wanted. I replied that I did not want anything. She said she did not believe me because the only reason I ever told her lately that I loved her was because I wanted something. I was really hurt by that. But then I realized that I did not have a right to be hurt.....she did. She was right. I was so busy living my life that the only time I took the time to remember that I really did love my mother is when I wanted something. It wasn't that I didn't love her at all times. I just forgot to confess it to her unless there was a reminder such as something I needed.
I believe that I have "forgotten" to express my love for Heavenly Father as I should be doing instead of just when I cry out to him in want. I think once I get back on the right track, I will feel much better and will be able to slog out of the muck and vanquish all my percieved foes.
Thank you to my children for being some of the best friends ever. You have given me more joy in my life than a woman has a right to :) You are my reason and I love you for it. More than you will EVER know!!!!!
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Riding the Spankin' train
Have you ever seen a child throw a tantrum? Sometimes for half a second you might think to yourself "boy, someone is riding the spankin' train and it is getting ready to come into the station".
Have you ever seen an adult throw a tantrum? Really?! Because I don't think Heavenly Father has. I know I threw a tantrum the other day (yesterday) and thought to myself "really? really you think you need to be doing this? You are acting like a child", then it hit me, I AM a child! I am His child and he loves me even when I throw a tantrum. I am sure I sounded just as petulant about things as my 3 year old does when he goes into a fit. I have to remember that. That doesn't mean it is okay that I pitch a fit, however, it does help to know that He loves me always....even when I am ridin the spankin' train.
Have you ever seen an adult throw a tantrum? Really?! Because I don't think Heavenly Father has. I know I threw a tantrum the other day (yesterday) and thought to myself "really? really you think you need to be doing this? You are acting like a child", then it hit me, I AM a child! I am His child and he loves me even when I throw a tantrum. I am sure I sounded just as petulant about things as my 3 year old does when he goes into a fit. I have to remember that. That doesn't mean it is okay that I pitch a fit, however, it does help to know that He loves me always....even when I am ridin the spankin' train.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
You Value What?! Why?
You value What?
I was reading the Yahoo news today and saw an article about a purse selling for a ridiculous amount of money! The purse originally cost $345 which seems a ridiculous amount in the first place. However, this particular purse sold on e-bay for $13,100 and will be matched for a total of $26,200. Wow! 26,200! Let’s see what we could do with that money. We could:
Buy a van for a family in need
Buy 131 weeks of groceries ($200 per week)
Buy 524 $50 coats for someone who is without
Pay 2 years worth of rent or mortgage payments around $1000 per month
In some places buy a foreclosed property to live in
Support someone for about a year or more who has lost their job
Pay about 175 months worth of gas or electric for the house
Purchase about 874 gallons of gasoline
Pay for all or part of a surgery someone needs
Provide 17 overnight stays in the hospital (amount varies)
Purchase 875 or more pairs of shoes or pants for those in need
Provide 1018 sleeping bags to the homeless
And the list could go on and on.
Now, the reason this purse all of a sudden became a “celebrity” is because recently a man took a school board hostage. A woman made an unsuccessful bid at hitting the gunman with her purse to try to disarm the gunman. The attempt did not work and the gunman wound up killing himself. Viola! All of a sudden a not attractive, basic bland, too expensive in the first place purse is a sought after commodity! Furthermore, why is this so newsworthy, other than the obvious absurdity of it?
This man had a family and such. That in no way excuses his behavior. However, I have noticed that this type of thing has become soooo common place that we have put value on objects involved with these episodes rather than value and concern on the people who are affected by this type of incident. When did “things” start to out-value people?
Don’t get me wrong, I believe it is the person’s (who has the money) right to use it any way he or she feels is in their best interest. I just find it disturbing that there is soooooo much that could be done with that money rather than buy a used purse. I would love for someone to give me even $100 for my used purse, let alone $26,200.
What a crazy, mixed up world we live in. Sometimes it makes me embarrassed and a bit ashamed to claim a fair amount of the human inhabitants as my “siblings” here on earth.
Oh well, I know Heavenly Father knows my heart and what I hold as valuable.
I was reading the Yahoo news today and saw an article about a purse selling for a ridiculous amount of money! The purse originally cost $345 which seems a ridiculous amount in the first place. However, this particular purse sold on e-bay for $13,100 and will be matched for a total of $26,200. Wow! 26,200! Let’s see what we could do with that money. We could:
Buy a van for a family in need
Buy 131 weeks of groceries ($200 per week)
Buy 524 $50 coats for someone who is without
Pay 2 years worth of rent or mortgage payments around $1000 per month
In some places buy a foreclosed property to live in
Support someone for about a year or more who has lost their job
Pay about 175 months worth of gas or electric for the house
Purchase about 874 gallons of gasoline
Pay for all or part of a surgery someone needs
Provide 17 overnight stays in the hospital (amount varies)
Purchase 875 or more pairs of shoes or pants for those in need
Provide 1018 sleeping bags to the homeless
And the list could go on and on.
Now, the reason this purse all of a sudden became a “celebrity” is because recently a man took a school board hostage. A woman made an unsuccessful bid at hitting the gunman with her purse to try to disarm the gunman. The attempt did not work and the gunman wound up killing himself. Viola! All of a sudden a not attractive, basic bland, too expensive in the first place purse is a sought after commodity! Furthermore, why is this so newsworthy, other than the obvious absurdity of it?
This man had a family and such. That in no way excuses his behavior. However, I have noticed that this type of thing has become soooo common place that we have put value on objects involved with these episodes rather than value and concern on the people who are affected by this type of incident. When did “things” start to out-value people?
Don’t get me wrong, I believe it is the person’s (who has the money) right to use it any way he or she feels is in their best interest. I just find it disturbing that there is soooooo much that could be done with that money rather than buy a used purse. I would love for someone to give me even $100 for my used purse, let alone $26,200.
What a crazy, mixed up world we live in. Sometimes it makes me embarrassed and a bit ashamed to claim a fair amount of the human inhabitants as my “siblings” here on earth.
Oh well, I know Heavenly Father knows my heart and what I hold as valuable.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
It works both ways
I was thinking the other day about the scripture Matthew 25:40 which says: "And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me". This in response to the Lord saying that when he was hungered, thirsty, a stranger, naked, or in prison; that someone took care of him. Then the "Blessed of the Father" answers that they don't know what he is talking about because they do not remember ministering to the Lord. The Lord responds with the above passage.
I love that passage because it reminds us that we are all brothers and sisters and should not pick and choose who we minister to based on our own perseptions, we should minister to all those who have need.
More (and most importantly to me) is that when people read this I think they, myself included, think it is just the good things we do for our fellow man that He counts as having it done to Him. However, upon further reflection, I need to remember that when I have harsh words for someone; or am zealous in my nasty, self-righteous attitude; or I cheat someone; or gossip about them; or any number of unrighteous acts, then I have also done these things to the Lord. It works both ways. Just something to think about.
I love that passage because it reminds us that we are all brothers and sisters and should not pick and choose who we minister to based on our own perseptions, we should minister to all those who have need.
More (and most importantly to me) is that when people read this I think they, myself included, think it is just the good things we do for our fellow man that He counts as having it done to Him. However, upon further reflection, I need to remember that when I have harsh words for someone; or am zealous in my nasty, self-righteous attitude; or I cheat someone; or gossip about them; or any number of unrighteous acts, then I have also done these things to the Lord. It works both ways. Just something to think about.
Monday, December 13, 2010
To the Death
The new Narnia movie just came out so we watched the first....and second film in anticipation of the third (which I have yet to see). In the first film my absolute favorite part is when King Peter looks to the Centaur next to him and says "Are you with me?". The Centaurian looks at him and simply states "To the Death" without any hesitation and as if King Peter should even have to ask such an absurd question. Well, that got me to thinking. If the Lord stood next to me and asked me "Are you with me?", could I answer "To the Death" as quickly, honestly, without fear and hesitation? I honestly don't know. My first reaction would be to deny that I would hesitate. However, I vowed to be honest in my blog so I must answer honestly. I think I would hesitate. I would be afraid for at least half a second or more. Then I would try to remember who it is that is asking me this question.
On the other hand, if I asked the same question of the Lord, I know how He would answer. Just as he did when in the Great Council. Without fear of man. With conviction of what is right. I would like to think I answered in the affirmative during the war in the Heavens, or else I would not be here. I just need to shrug off the natural man, remember my divine nature and purpose, and be willing to shout out "to the Death!" if the Lord asks if I am with him.
On the other hand, if I asked the same question of the Lord, I know how He would answer. Just as he did when in the Great Council. Without fear of man. With conviction of what is right. I would like to think I answered in the affirmative during the war in the Heavens, or else I would not be here. I just need to shrug off the natural man, remember my divine nature and purpose, and be willing to shout out "to the Death!" if the Lord asks if I am with him.
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