I love Fall, it is beautiful and somehow feels so forgiving. It reminds me of peace and joy. It is as if nature is shedding the things that it doesn't need anymore and preparing for a new beginning, it prepares to be cleansed by the white snow of winter, then to come back clean and refreshed in the Spring.
Life is like that. Our life is full of different seasons, and we are given the opportunity through the Atonement to shed the bad and be healed through the journey of repentance and forgiveness and become clean and renewed in our heart, mind and spirit. Sometimes the journey may be hard, like a hard winter. But the journey is worth it, if we are righteously engaged in it.
Remember that we are never alone. We are loved and known by a loving Heavenly Father and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Today after I dropped my daughter off to school I decided I was going to go get myself something at McDonalds. It was pretty busy and taking some time, so I could tell that the woman behind me was very annoyed. So I decided I wanted to help brighten her day. When it was finally my turn to pay for my order I instructed the cashier that I also wanted to pay for the person behind me. So, I did. I love doing things like that, it is always so fun. I do not know if it brightened her day, from what it looked like she was confused and argued with the cashier for a minute. But none the less her meal was paid for. And it is little things like that, that I think help people have a better attitude, not only the one serving, but the one being served.
I wish this was something I could do all the time, but I can't always pay for others food or other things. But there are so many other ways to give service. Such as rake your neighbors leaves, offer to watch your friends kids if they are having a rough day. And the list goes on and on. So today I ask you to please, find someone to serve. Even giving someone a hug, smile or a hello can change someones day for the better.
Do unto others, as you would have done unto yourself.
After this woman suffered for years, she had faith that if she even just touched The Master's clothes that she would be whole.
Brothers and Sisters, though we cannot physically touch The Master's clothes, we can be touched by his love, light, compassion and forgiveness. All we need do, is ask.
This is one of my favorite videos. I refer to it often, as I sometimes feel like my prayers are repetitive. I feel as if I need to make my prayers more personal. I sometimes try to hurry through it because I am tired, or am in a hurry. But even my short prayers can be more personal if I just think more from my heart, rather than about just getting through it quickly. Do you remember that it is our Father we are speaking to in our prayers? He is listening, and when are pray sincerely, our prayers are answered. Though sometimes the answers do not come when, or how we want them, they do come. This I know for certain. And I will tell you a little of why I know this.
When I was a lot younger, and in a much darker time in my life, I often forgot to pray. I sometimes felt unworthy to pray. Though I know that is when I needed to pray the hardest and most deeply. One day as I was driving home from work, I started praying. Of course since I was driving I could not kneel and close my eyes. But I sincerely spoke to my Heavenly Father, I asked him to help me. I prayed to him in such a way, that I left it all to him. I was in a place that I needed so much strength to leave from and I knew that I could not just leave on my own. I said to my Father, "If this choice that I have made is the wrong choice, then Father PLEASE make something big happen that makes me leave, because I cannot just leave on my own. I need help." As I closed my prayer and went home, nothing happened immediately, but a couple weeks later........something big did happen. And with help from my Heavenly Father and my loving Mother, I left the dark place I was in. Now maybe that seems to you like I got what I wanted.....but at the time it was not. I did not want to leave, I wanted to be better and more worthy, but there was someone I did not want to leave. But the darkness was not just the place, but it was the person. Leaving was one of the hardest things I have ever done. And it also left me more broken than I had ever been. But as I followed the guidance of my Heavenly Father, his promises of joy and happiness followed. It was hard....but oh has it ever been worth it.
When I look back and think about the choice I made to leave, I am so thankful for that moment I prayed in my car. I am so thankful I was taught how to truly speak to my Father in Heaven. He lead me out of the darkness and into the light. I was not alone at any moment. He was with me.
I know that life is not always easy, but if we pray with true intent and love, we can find joy, love, peace and happiness. This I truly know.
I love this song. Because at times I do feel like the journey is very long. And I have had to learn patience, and continue to do so. This song is just so beautiful. And for me music is comforting and uplifting. I pray that for those who are struggling today that you know that you can turn your troubles over to the Lord, he will lead you and comfort you. Though you may still feel pain you can find comfort in knowing you are NEVER alone. You are loved and wonderful. Find peace today.
I am a Daughter of God! How wonderful it is to know this! Women today make such a difference in this world. And with the knowledge we are given through the gospel only gives us more strength and ability to make a difference in the world. We are strong, we are nurturing, we are intelligent and so many more things. This video made me feel empowered today. I hope it does the same for you!
I know that I am a Daughter of God! I know that my Savior lives and loves me. I know that I have responsibilities on this earth to serve, love, teach and help others in ways that only women can. I am a Mormon Woman. And I love and know who I am.
This video can teach us so much. I have had moments when I have asked "why!?" We all have. We have all had moments of despair, whether great or small. But we need to remember that God knows what is best, and sometimes the path is hard, but God will not leave us. We must always remember to get on bended knee, and thank our Heavenly Father for his love and gifts that he gives us daily. Accept the guidance we are given, even when it means we need to change, and need to be corrected. I love my Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ. I know they love me, and all of us. Let us look up today and be thankful.
So my initial post was to get at least 50 likes on my page, but I almost have 300 now! I am so thankful and excited about this! So I knew that this giveaway had to be special! I hope you all are just as excited as I am to Lift Souls! This blog has been wonderful for me. And it is my prayer that it will be wonderful for so many more. So are you ready to see what I am giving?!
I have always loved this scripture! It is so true and should always be remembered! To enter you must do 2 things.
1- You must follow this blog.
2- You must leave a comment under the post on www.facebook.com/liftingthesoul telling me that you are now following the blog.
I have been thinking a lot lately about the kind of example I am setting for my children. I am on my knees often, praying that I can be a good mother and teach my children to know and love Heavenly Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. I pray that they will be kind and loving. I pray that they will gain a strong testimony of the Gospel and know it is true. I fear because this world is an evil place with many things to distract us from truth. But there is beauty, love and truth in it as well. It is just harder to see sometimes, so we must be willing and want to see it. We must have faith that it is there. We must remember that man makes mistakes, but God does not. We must remember what Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and the Prophets have taught us and never give up.
I have recently heard of mother who vocally has given up on her young child, because this child has friends who tell them they are stupid to believe in the church as well as Jesus Christ. So should this mother just give up now, just because her child has made opinions based on what their friends say? NO! You continue to guide them and help them. Sit them down and talk to them about their feelings and why they feel the way they do. Offer examples of things that have happened in their life and yours, that could not happen were it not for faith and the love of Jesus Christ. And continue to teach by example. NEVER GIVE UP ON YOUR CHILDREN!
Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
I only have young children, I do not understand how to raise a teenager, and I know I have many lessons to learn. But I was a teenager, and I had and still have goodly parents who know and love the Lord. They taught by example, they taught us to trust and have faith in our Savior Jesus Christ. They gave us the guidance and expectations for us to learn to follow Jesus Christ and strive to live by his teachings and desire to be like him.
I pray and bear witness that as long as we continue to strive to be like our Savior, and lead by example, our children will follow, maybe not in this life, but in the next. Of this I know. I know that Jesus Christ is the living Son of God. I know that my Father in Heaven knows me and all my circumstances. Ask for guidance in raising our children, for they and we are ALL CHILDREN OF GOD!
It has been to long since I have posted. And for the few that read, I am sorry for that. My computer has been out of commission. But I am back.
As LDS General Conference occurs this weekend, I would like you all to think about a question, write it down, pray before conference, and listen to the speakers intently. I know that our prayers and questions are answered. And conference is a great opportunity to seek for those answers. The words spoken are inspired and come from courageous men of God.
