Coincidence?

There are days where I am a stubborn grump. (Hard to believe right? Well believe it,  I could give you specific examples but I won't.) Well today is one of those days, and yesterday, and the day before! So I asked myself (read in British accent), "What the heck is wrong with you??" And then I realized, I have not read my scriptures nor prayed since I have been home. Coincidence with my grumpy attitude? I think not! 

It is amazing to me how the gospel can make that much of a difference in my life. One day without scriptures and I already have a bad attitude, two days and it gets worse, three days and I'm the worst daughter ever.

So I decided to read my scriptures; I opened randomly to D&C 30. Read the first 3 verses.... ha ha coincidence? I don't think there are any coincidences in life. 

The gospel is SO amazing. It is amazing how the Spirit can influence my life so greatly; without it I would be a miserable grump who no one would want to be around; I can't even stand myself. Sometimes I get caught up thinking about only me when I need to open up and remember everyone around me. Everyday I pass tons of people, some of them I know, some of them are strangers; yet each and everyone of those people are going through something different. Each person may need someone to uplift them and how can I be that person if I'm too caught up in myself? If I focus on the Lord and others, the Lord will bless me, but the more I focus on myself the worse it's going to get. 

This gospel is so great! I need to always remember it and remember the days when my life is filled with the spirit and the churchy things because those days are always the greatest; even if they seem long and slow, by the end of the day I am so filled and so happy.

Families

Ah home.... first things first, my Mom must download me with all the new family gossip. My family can be a bit crazy at times, but I have realized that I would be nowhere without them. My Dad's family has shown me exactly what not to do. They have shown me why I want the gospel in my life and how much it affects life and families. I think deep down they know it's important but they have chosen different lifestyles. I can only hope that I can be an example for them and my cousins; I hope that I can show them how much the gospel can bless them and how amazing it truly is. For my Mom's family. They have shown me that love lasts through the good and the bad times. They have made me realize how I need to be there for others, to support them and love them no matter what decisions they have made. My grandparents who have served missions and shown me how great and hard missions are; yet how important they are. My aunt and her family who got sealed in the Temple. Families are forever. My parents who have always encouraged me to pray and receive answers for myself, who taught me the importance of serving others, fulfilling all types of callings, and loving everyone. My sister who has always been the perfect example to me. I wouldn't be the person I am today if I hadn't learned from their examples and sometimes from their mistakes.

Love them anyway.

  My whole entire family is gone and I even did homework so to occupy my time I'm blogging. I thought that I would help Sam and post a churchy thought. Recently I have been thinking about some things. Have you ever been hurt by someone close to you? It might not even have been a big deal, but it killed you inside because you thought they would be the last person to do something like that to you? I think that this is how our Savior feels this way all the time. He made us, He loves us, He died for us, yet we are constantly letting him down and hurting Him in a way that He would never do. No matter what we do to Him He is still there. His arms are open wide and He offers us nothing, but love and mercy. Shouldn't we do the same? No matter what someone may do to you love them anyway. I'm not saying you have to continue to let them break you, but you should love them. You can remove yourself from a hurtful situation without being bitter and letting it ruin everything. Move on and get over it, but if that person ever needs anything or sincerely apologizes and is working on changing love them. Let them feel that you love them and your life might just be a little bit better.

I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go

Sometimes I'm the only person who writes on here... but I don't even care!!! Whenever I tell someone that my plans are to now go on a mission the FIRST question always is. Where do you want to go? Honestly... I have no idea!!! Everyone then says, "Oh come on, everyone as at least one place they would love to go." Again.... there are so many fantastic places in this world that I can't even begin to pick one. D&C 39: 14 says, " Behold, verily, verily I say unto thee, thou art not called to go into the eastern countries, but thou art called to go into Ohio." Everyone is called somewhere different for a different reason. Some go near and some go far. D&C 39: 16 then says, "Behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, that the people in Ohio call upon me in much faith, thinking I will stay my hand in judgment upon the nations, but I cannot deny my word."  Somewhere out there people are waiting for missionaries, and maybe I am that missionary who can finally reach out to them. The Lord will send me exactly where he needs me to be and I will go exactly where he needs me to go. I will try my best to just sing this song no matter where I am called and remember that there may be one person there who needs me! http://www.lds.org/churchmusic/detailmusicPlayer/index.html?searchlanguage=1&searchcollection=1&searchseqstart=270&searchsubseqstart=%20&searchseqend=270&searchsubseqend=ZZZ

D&C 60: 2, 13

2 But with some I am not well pleased, for they will not open their mouths, but they hide the talent which I have given unto them, because of the fear of man. Wo unto such, for mine anger is kindled against them.

13 Behold, they have been sent to preach my gospel among the congregations of the wicked: wherefore, I give unto them a commandment thus: Thou shalt not idle away thy time, neither shalt though bury the talent that it may not be known.

    We are all headed off onto our own journeys but no matter what we are doing or where we are going we should never "hide our talents" whatever our talent may be. We should never let others discourage us from using the gifts which God has given us. We should be grateful for those gifts and be willing and open to share them with others.

     We should also pay attention to the things we fill our time with. No, I'm not trying to be a hypocrite here! I know I am one of the biggest time wasters out there. So that is something that I really really need to work on and I hope that I can do that and that you can help me to do that. As Gandalf would say, " All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us." God has given us all this time and all these things. We should fill our time with good things; we just have to choose what those things are.