So it has been a long long time since I wrote... almost a year. Sad! Not that anyone reads these but in the past it has really helped me. Well I guess I should mention that I journal almost daily so I have not completely fallen off the wagon. I think I should figure out how to make my blog cute with photos, videos, ect. but that's not my talent, probably never will be. Maybe I could hire someone... Chelsey? haha.
Okay so I guess I will slowly write about the things I have been learning the last 10 months
About a month ago I learned a very important lesson about the role of Jesus Christ in my life. I was upset because of some choices of family and friends. When I turned my thoughts toward my Father in heaven, my heart was full! I had never felt so loved or so peaceful in my life. There is not a person on the planet who can love me in that way. I was so grateful. We can not count on our best friends, our family members or anyone to always be there for us and never hurt us. We are all human. We all make mistakes. The Savior does not. He is ALWAYS there for us. To love us and comfort us. He will never leave us. Not for anything. I could have felt upset at my friends and family many times but I do not need those feelings because they can be filled with the love of Christ. and really that is all I need. I am grateful for the love of family and friends. I am grateful for the gift of forgiveness.
Speaking of forgiveness. I recently had a light bulb or what I like to call "no duh" moment. I realized how beautiful the gift of forgiveness is. This is a form of trusting in the Lord that helps us forgive and love those around us. When we are upset at someone or unforgiving, really we hold malice towards the Savior. The perfect sinless one. The man who has suffered that we might live. Because he has taken upon him the sins of every man he has taken upon him the suffering and punishment that come from those sins. He takes the persecution, hurt feelings, and anger of those who will not forgive. He knows and understands the sinner. And because he does you and I do not have to. All we have to do is love and trust in the role of Jesus Christ. What a gift! What a blessing to have such a heavy burden lifted if we choose. I do not think I am able to express how I feel or the things I was blessed to understand. It is difficult to put in words. I guess I will share a personal example.
Paul (my husband) will be the example because he is awesome :). He loves me and forgives me almost automatically. He understands the role of the Savior and trusts in him. Paul does not feel the need to reprimand me or be upset with me when I do dumb things(break his laptop, lose his things, be impatient, bossy, prideful and the list could go on and on) . This I believe is because he trusts that the Savior is teaching me what I need to know at the times I most need to learn them. He is humble and patient as he waits for me to learn and grow. He knows that his struggles are hard for him and imagines that mine are as hard on me as his are for himself and he has no desire to make my struggles more difficult. He trusts the Savior understands and that is enough for him to be patient, kind and loving. He seeks and recognizes the good. I am so grateful for Paul and all that he teaches me, mostly through his unconditional love and example. He gives me the love, support and encouragement I need to be the best possible me. His love is giving me the confidence to move forward each day in faith, improving, and moving closer and closer to my Heavenly Father. Just the way he lives helps me recognize where I need to improve and desire to do it and his unconditional love provides me with the hope I need to act. Thank you Paul Richard Garn!
This leads me to something else important I have realized about Paul. As I look back on where I was a year ago just before we began dating to where I am now I see the role Paul has played in my relationship with Jesus Christ. Paul has loved me in a way I never thought possible. Selflessly. As I have realized this I have learned about the way the Savior loves me. Paul I feel has been a stepping stone for me(and probably many others) to the Savior. And now the Savior is acting as my stepping stone to Heavenly Father. By the way he loves I am beginning to grasp a smalllllll particle of how much love God has for me. AH! there is just so much love going on around here. It's really crazy. But what I have learned from all this is what I want to be. What role I want to play. I want to be a part of all this love. I want to love everyone in a way that points them to Jesus Christ and then from there he will point them to Heavenly Father. This is how I can serve Him who loves and blesses me so much. I want everyone to feel what I have been blessed to feel and I want to glorify my Father in Heaven. I got a lot of work to do and I am grateful for it. And for all the Lord is teaching me. :)
I love the picture in my mind of all of us walking towards Heavenly Father together. We need each other. We can not do this alone. Lets LOVE and get on home! :)
Monday, January 28, 2013
S.T.O.P.!.
Okay I made this post quite a while ago... like last summer but I never posted it, not sure why but here it is.
Well been a while since I last posted.... Lots of great things have happened in my life the last two months. I am so blessed and my heart is full of gratitude.
I have a little acronym that I have wanted to post. I'm grateful Heavenly Father blessed me with these thoughts. The acronym is S.T.O.P.!
S ervice
T ime
O ptimism
P rayer
! ntegrity
This is something to remember anytime there is temptation, negative thoughts or feelings, sin or just a check to be sure I'm moving forward and keeping my will in line with my Father in Heaven's will.
Service:
If you are serving others your focus turns outward. Sin is inward and selfish. When we serve our fellow brothers and sisters we serve God. When we serve God he will give us the strength we need to bear our trials and burdens.
Time:
The times is NOW! Focus on the present. What are you doing right this moment that is bringing you closer to your Heavenly Father? Satan often gets our thoughts lost in the past- the bad memories and the good memories. He can also distract us with the future. Either by encouraging us to fear the future or getting caught up in making goals and plans. Yes, goals and plans are important, reflecting and learning from our past is vital to our progression.... but if we aren't careful we can allow these thoughts to keep us from action. and action is now, in the present. The present is the only thing we can control. Do not let Satan distract you from progression. Learn from the past. Be excited and make your goals for the future. But LIVE in the present and ACT!
Optimism:
hope and faith in the Atonement. Believe through Christ sins can become strengths. This does not mean the trial or temptation will be taken, only the power to act the way Christ would in the situation is increased. It increases as faith is practiced and hope through Christ is cultured in the heart. How EXCITING the opportunity is to face hard things... this is an opportunity to work with Jesus Christ and come closer to Him.
I am grateful that God allows me to recognize where repentance is needed in my life and the opportunity to access the atonement.
Prayer:
Gratitude. Gratitude toward God. If we are being truly grateful we cannot hold within our hearts the desire to sin. Being able to express gratitude to the Lord, especially during times of temptation takes much humility and faith. Pray for gratitude. Pray in thanks. Pray to recognize blessings in life. Pray to recognize God's hand working in our lives and in the lives of those around us each day.
!ntegrity:
So I know the upside down exclamation point is a stretch but it was an afterthought... a very important after thought. Integrity is everything. It is who and what we are, do and say when no one is around, or so we think, Santa Clause... okay I mean Heavenly Father is always watching :). If we can remember that we want to be honest people full of integrity then this thought can help us in times of temptation.
I am not sure if this will mean anything to anyone else but it was a pretty neat learning thing for me :)
When you are struggling or being tempted just S.T.O.P.!.
Well been a while since I last posted.... Lots of great things have happened in my life the last two months. I am so blessed and my heart is full of gratitude.
I have a little acronym that I have wanted to post. I'm grateful Heavenly Father blessed me with these thoughts. The acronym is S.T.O.P.!
S ervice
T ime
O ptimism
P rayer
! ntegrity
This is something to remember anytime there is temptation, negative thoughts or feelings, sin or just a check to be sure I'm moving forward and keeping my will in line with my Father in Heaven's will.
Service:
If you are serving others your focus turns outward. Sin is inward and selfish. When we serve our fellow brothers and sisters we serve God. When we serve God he will give us the strength we need to bear our trials and burdens.
Time:
The times is NOW! Focus on the present. What are you doing right this moment that is bringing you closer to your Heavenly Father? Satan often gets our thoughts lost in the past- the bad memories and the good memories. He can also distract us with the future. Either by encouraging us to fear the future or getting caught up in making goals and plans. Yes, goals and plans are important, reflecting and learning from our past is vital to our progression.... but if we aren't careful we can allow these thoughts to keep us from action. and action is now, in the present. The present is the only thing we can control. Do not let Satan distract you from progression. Learn from the past. Be excited and make your goals for the future. But LIVE in the present and ACT!
Optimism:
hope and faith in the Atonement. Believe through Christ sins can become strengths. This does not mean the trial or temptation will be taken, only the power to act the way Christ would in the situation is increased. It increases as faith is practiced and hope through Christ is cultured in the heart. How EXCITING the opportunity is to face hard things... this is an opportunity to work with Jesus Christ and come closer to Him.
I am grateful that God allows me to recognize where repentance is needed in my life and the opportunity to access the atonement.
Prayer:
Gratitude. Gratitude toward God. If we are being truly grateful we cannot hold within our hearts the desire to sin. Being able to express gratitude to the Lord, especially during times of temptation takes much humility and faith. Pray for gratitude. Pray in thanks. Pray to recognize blessings in life. Pray to recognize God's hand working in our lives and in the lives of those around us each day.
!ntegrity:
So I know the upside down exclamation point is a stretch but it was an afterthought... a very important after thought. Integrity is everything. It is who and what we are, do and say when no one is around, or so we think, Santa Clause... okay I mean Heavenly Father is always watching :). If we can remember that we want to be honest people full of integrity then this thought can help us in times of temptation.
I am not sure if this will mean anything to anyone else but it was a pretty neat learning thing for me :)
When you are struggling or being tempted just S.T.O.P.!.
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