Waiting

I just wanted to leave these scriptures that I have found this week.  

Isaiah 40:31

"But they that 

wait upon the Lord  

shall renew their strength; 

they shall mount up with wings as eagles; 

they shall run, and not be weary; 

and they shall walk, and not faint."

D&C 98:1-3

"Verily I say unto you my friends, 

fear not, 

let your hearts be comforted; 

rejoice evermore, 

and in everything give thanks;  

Waiting patiently on the Lord, 

for your prayers have entered 

into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth, 

and are recorded with this seal and testament

-the Lord hath sworn and decreed 

that they shall be granted. 

 Therefore, he giveth this promise unto you, 

with an immutable covenant that they shall be fulfilled; 

and all things wherewith you have been afflicted 

shall work together for your good, 

and to my name's glory, 

saith the Lord."

"Be still and know that I am God."  D&C 101:16

The Potential!

I want you to think of this question.  "How many times do we pass by someone, something, or ourselves because we don't see value in it?"

Look at this picture.  It is just 2 rolls of duct tape.  Now, most people would see those and not think that much more than tape.  But I see those and think, "There are so many possibilities!"

Now just with a simple roll of duct tape, I was able to increase it's potential.  I didn't look at the tape and see where it was, I looked at it and saw where it could go!  To take it from being a normal piece of tape and used it to create something more, something better.  It took some time and some effort to make it something more, but in the end it was worth it.  Because now I have things that I can use. 

Slippers 







Bag       

 Scripture cases








 Wallet






Now everyday we pass by people.  We look in the mirrors and see ourselves.  Do we look at ourselves and think "EW!  What is that?"  or do we look and see how good we are?  How much progress we have made?  Do we see how great we are to God? 

"Remember the 
worth of souls 
is great in the 
sight of God."  D&C 18:10

Everyday we have the potential to become better, to improve.  We can become who God wants us to be.  We cannot afford to look at someone, something or ourselves and not see the value!  Because as we see value in others we will begin to see the value we have in ourselves. 

Our VALUE is GREAT in the sight of God!  Pray to recognize it!  It will bless your life to see yourself, and other's, through God's eyes. 

FORTUNE COOKIES!

So I got this fortune cookie today at lunch.  I had been debating right before if I should get some ice cream to celebrate my 8 month mark of being out on my mission.  I opened the cookie and read this:

Now I don't know how this one was so accurate, but I learned something.  God knows what I am thinking.  He can answer our prayers and our THOUGHTS in the simplest way.  God knows each and every one of us.  He wants to help us.  But we have to decide if we want to follow His advice?  He is an all knowing God, so I decided I better listen to Him, for He knows what is best for me.  Do you listen to God's advice?

Getting an answer

Recieving answers to questions we have on what direction our life should take is a hard thing to understand sometimes.  The answers to prayers can come from friends or aquaintances.  Sometimes it is through a warm feeling or a thought that comes to mind.  But sometimes it can feel like God is not answering our prayers.  That we can't get a "yes" or a "no" on a question.
God is hearing and listening to your prayers.  He hears everyone of them.  But in the course of our lives, he gives us oppurtunity to use our agency.  He wants us to develop our faith and to decide on an answer and then move forward with faith.  He would never allow us to do anything that would harm us or not allow us to return to him from a mistake we made without first warning us. 
"For behold, it is not meet
that I should command
in ALL things..."  D&C 58:2
When we are not getting an answer, God sometimes wants us to take a step of faith.  Decide what we want to do and see which is the best solution.  Then we step forward.  If we are getting a feeling of peace and joy with the decision, than it was right.  But if we get the feeling that something is wrong or discomfort with the choice, than we need to re-evaluate. 
Here is a clip of how some people feel they have gotten answers to their prayers.  Get out a piece of paper and listen to their answers.  Write down ideas that stand out to you and look for those feelings when you are seeking direction.




Move forward with faith.

Standing alone

Sometimes in life, we may feel a lot like this flower.  Being bright and cheery in a dark and bland world.  God has asked us that we let our light so shine, that we may be a beaken to the world.  That we can bring joy and light back into this world that is dark and grey.

"Behold, do men light a candle and put it under a bushel? Nay, but on a candlestick, and it giveth light to all that are in the house; Therefore let your light so shine before this people that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven."

3 Nephi 12:14-16

We show our faith by the way we live.  If we are willing to rise above our situations and strive to come closer to Christ, others are going to see that.  We can be a light to others through our examples.  We can show to them how the gospel makes us happy.

A prophet of God said,

"If the gospel of Jesus Christ does not make me a better man, then I have not developed as I should, and if our neighbors not in this Church can live among us from year to year and see no evidence of the benefits that come from keeping the commandments of God in our lives, then there is need for reform in Israel."

People should look at us and see the blessings of being an obedient son or daughter of God.  We can stand out like this flower.  Others will look at us and see that we are brighter, happier, and are standing a little taller than the rest of the world, and that is a GOOD thing. 

If you desire to have this joy and happiness, I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE you to read the Book of Mormon and pray, and that happiness will begin to fill your life, I promise!