It is almost Easter! The older I have gotten, the more I realize how thankful I am for Easter. I am so thankful for the supreme sacrifice that my Savior made for me and all my earthly brothers and sisters. I am reminded on an hourly basis how short I fall on my own, but with the Savior's Atonement, he sincerely makes up the difference for me. It is so humbling to realize that someone could hold so much unconditional love for me.
Because Easter is coming, I wanted to make anyone who follows this blog aware that the annual "Jesus the Christ" Easter pageant is going to be held at the Mesa AZ LDS Temple located at 525 East Main Street in Mesa. The play will take place on April 1-2, and the 7-11 at 8:00 p.m. It is free and open to the public. If you decide to go, you may want to get there early because it gets packed! My husband and I went last year with JP and Carrie. It was my first time in 10 years in seeing it and I was so touched by the peace and spirit that accompanied the production. I hope you can enjoy it!
One last comment, this coming weekend is one of my favorite weekends a year because it is when my church holds a special conference. I look forward to it for months. The conference gives inspiration and direction from several speakers on very diverse topics. (Several comments I have made on this blog have come directly from the talks given at past conferences.) You do not have to be a Mormon to watch it, so if you are looking for a spiritual boost, I recommend checking it out. There are several sessions to choose from, or feel free to watch them all. They will be shown on the CW6 (not sure what channel on cable) and the times are: Saturday and Sunday, April 4-5 from 9 a.m.-11 a.m.; and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Being a Biblical "Super Hero"?
Matthew Chapter 6
3. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth :
4. That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly .
I love these two verses. I liken it to being a REAL masked Super Hero. In this case the mask is not letting your left hand know what your right is doing. The Super Hero is letting God work through you with no materialistic reward in sight.
3. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth :
4. That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly .
I love these two verses. I liken it to being a REAL masked Super Hero. In this case the mask is not letting your left hand know what your right is doing. The Super Hero is letting God work through you with no materialistic reward in sight.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
A brief glimpse...
In light of my previous post today, I thought I would share a story about my life.
Not so many years ago, I was lost. My days were filled with work and my nights were filled with drugs, alcohol and loneliness. I pursued many sins of the flesh; I chased after the "things" of this world that I had been told would make me happy. But the reality was that I was at the lowest point in my life. For so many years, every night I would plan my last letter to my dad and to my friends. I would reflect on a "perfect song" that I would have on repeat so when I was found, it might help explain why I would have ended my life. On can remember on one particular night, I laid in bed crying out to God asking for help, but with no apparent answer, I screamed "F@#! YOU GOD!!!!" The only reason I never went through with the whole ordeal, was because I was so far in debt that I could not afford the gun that would take my life from this world. To my friends, family and co-workers, I was the most upbeat and friendly person who was well on his way to a successful career. If they only knew.
After I met Carrie and I began going back to church, I broke. My whole being was shattered, my old life was about ready to crumble. I found God again, who by such amazing grace, took me back into his arms and began to reshape me into the person He knew I could be. Almost overnight, my loneliness and suicidal thoughts had vanished. Fast forward a couple of years and at a Bible study group, I said this:
"...when I was pursuing all of the things I wanted and living the life I wanted, I was the most unhappy person. But when I came to Christ, I began to do what He wanted and now I am VERY happy..."
I believe that non-Christians fear the Christian life because they have to give up all of the "great stuff" in the world. But the truth is, all of that doesn't matter. God says, He will give us everything we need! As our lives are re-shaped by God, what we want and what we need become two very different things. We find happiness in what we need. We truly do find out that less is more...
More God = More Happiness
Not so many years ago, I was lost. My days were filled with work and my nights were filled with drugs, alcohol and loneliness. I pursued many sins of the flesh; I chased after the "things" of this world that I had been told would make me happy. But the reality was that I was at the lowest point in my life. For so many years, every night I would plan my last letter to my dad and to my friends. I would reflect on a "perfect song" that I would have on repeat so when I was found, it might help explain why I would have ended my life. On can remember on one particular night, I laid in bed crying out to God asking for help, but with no apparent answer, I screamed "F@#! YOU GOD!!!!" The only reason I never went through with the whole ordeal, was because I was so far in debt that I could not afford the gun that would take my life from this world. To my friends, family and co-workers, I was the most upbeat and friendly person who was well on his way to a successful career. If they only knew.
After I met Carrie and I began going back to church, I broke. My whole being was shattered, my old life was about ready to crumble. I found God again, who by such amazing grace, took me back into his arms and began to reshape me into the person He knew I could be. Almost overnight, my loneliness and suicidal thoughts had vanished. Fast forward a couple of years and at a Bible study group, I said this:
"...when I was pursuing all of the things I wanted and living the life I wanted, I was the most unhappy person. But when I came to Christ, I began to do what He wanted and now I am VERY happy..."
I believe that non-Christians fear the Christian life because they have to give up all of the "great stuff" in the world. But the truth is, all of that doesn't matter. God says, He will give us everything we need! As our lives are re-shaped by God, what we want and what we need become two very different things. We find happiness in what we need. We truly do find out that less is more...
More God = More Happiness
This is a great one!!!
On Saturday and Sunday, I was really struggling with some internal "stuff." I had a long conversation with a Christian friend of mine and he prayed over me and talked with me. I'm still working through all of it, because I am asking God for clarity, advice, and direction. But my friend told me this verse and I thought I would pass it along to all of you.
Jeremiah 29:11-14
...For I know what I have planned for you, says the Lord. I have plans to prosper you, not to harm you. I have plans to give you a future filled with hope. When you call out to me and come to me in prayer, I will hear your prayers. When you seek me in prayer and worship, you will find me available to you. If you seek me with all your heart and soul, I will make myself available to you, says the Lord...
This was such a powerful verse at a most needed time. As I believe it, God does not want to see harm come upon us. He does not want to see us fail. He wants us to prosper (not just monetarily). He wants to rely on him and let Him take control of our lives. When we do this, we will become the most amazing servants of God and become the harvesters of souls that He intends us to be. When we lay aside our ideas, our plans and our goals for ourselves, and turn to God, He will move through us and work through us.
As one of my clients told me, "When we've been blessed by God, we can be a blessing to others."
Jeremiah 29:11-14
...For I know what I have planned for you, says the Lord. I have plans to prosper you, not to harm you. I have plans to give you a future filled with hope. When you call out to me and come to me in prayer, I will hear your prayers. When you seek me in prayer and worship, you will find me available to you. If you seek me with all your heart and soul, I will make myself available to you, says the Lord...
This was such a powerful verse at a most needed time. As I believe it, God does not want to see harm come upon us. He does not want to see us fail. He wants us to prosper (not just monetarily). He wants to rely on him and let Him take control of our lives. When we do this, we will become the most amazing servants of God and become the harvesters of souls that He intends us to be. When we lay aside our ideas, our plans and our goals for ourselves, and turn to God, He will move through us and work through us.
As one of my clients told me, "When we've been blessed by God, we can be a blessing to others."
Monday, March 23, 2009
Thought of the day!
"To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream, not only plan, but also believe."- Anatole France
The stronger I become in my walk with God I truly feel him giving me strength every day and giving me peace within that no matter what he is there and is holding me in his big strong hands and when I am scared I just keep reminding myself to tuck into him and he will hold me and keep me safe.
Jeremiah 29:11-12
11 For I know what I have planned for you, says the Lord. I have plans to prosper you, not to harm you. I have plans to give you a future filled with hope.
12 When you call out to me and come to me in prayer, I will hear your prayers.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
A Movie with a Good Message
My Mom gave all her kids a copy of this movie for Valentines Day and encouraged us to watch it because it has such a good message. It stars Kirt Cameron (remember him?) and is about a couple who's marriage is failing and how they find the only way to make it work is by turning to Christ. I procrastinated watching it because I'd heard the acting wasn't all that great. But yesterday, I needed to do laundry and can't handle the garbage that is constantly on the TV, so I pulled it out. The acting, as promised, wasn't great and won't be winning any Oscars any time soon, but it was worth watching for the message it gives about marriage. It was encouraging to me to see that people all over need Christ, no matter what their life is giving them. I recommend watching it.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Another Inspiring Thought
I love C.S. Lewis and all the wisdom he gave in his life. Here are some examples:
"Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither. "
"Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point. "
"God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing."
"The safest road to hell is the gradual one - the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts. "
"Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither. "
"Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point. "
"God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing."
"The safest road to hell is the gradual one - the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts. "
Monday, March 16, 2009
Inspiring Quote for Today
"Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time,and always start with the person nearest you." ~ Mother Teresa
* If you need suggestions on where you can help let me know there are lots of resources available and I can help you find what works best for you.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Verse of the Day (I Love this one)
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (Amplified Bible)
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud cry of summons, with the shout of an archangel, and with the blast of the trumpet of God. And those who have departed this life in Christ will rise first.
17 Then we, the living ones who remain [on the earth], shall simultaneously be caught up along with [the resurrected dead] in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so always (through the eternity of the eternities) we shall be with the Lord!
When I was a little girl I used to think that when you could see the rays of the sun coming out from behind the coulds that it was the angels gateway so the could fly down and take the people who have died to heaven. I still love to see this sight and pray that someday soon Jesus will come for us.
Inspiring Quote
"A joyful heart is the inevitable result of a heart burning with love."
~ Mother Teresa
~ Mother Teresa
Monday, March 9, 2009
Spring = Hope
I am LOVING the beautiful weather we have been having. It makes me feel such a desire to improve myself; to set goals and believe in myself that I can actually accomplish whatever I set my mind to. I know I CAN accomplish anything, if I do my absolute best, then trust in the Lord to make up the difference. It makes me feel an overwhelming sense of peace because for me spring-time equals hope. So, here are some hope filled verses and quotes to brighten your day!
Lamentations 3:26
26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.
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Jeremiah 17:7
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Psm. 43: 5
5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
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Psm. 146: 5
5 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God...
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Dieter F. Uchtdorf :
"Hope is not knowledge, but rather the abiding trust that the Lord will fulfill His promise to us. It is confidence that if we live according to God’s laws ... we will receive desired blessings in the future. It is believing and expecting that our prayers will be answered. It is manifest in confidence, optimism, enthusiasm, and patient perseverance..."
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