Once upon a time and happily ever afters

 

Heavenly Father loves ALL his children. 

 We all have a once upon a time, a dream, and goals we hope to reach in our life. To each and every story there are trials, there is joy, there is sorrow, there is peace, and there is heart ache. All a necessity to appreciate the good and to teach us to run from the bad.

To every fairytale there is a source of evil, and a source of rescue. The villain vs. the hero Batman has the Joker, Cinderella has her evil step mother, Thor has his brother Loki, Mufasa has Scar, and it’s just the way the movie world goes. To every character they have to make choices. To stick true to what they know or stray from the path that they know to be correct. We all have our Scar, Loki, and Jokers in our life. We all have the temptations, distractions, and discouragements from Satan. However, to each story there is also a hero, a batman, a prince, or in our case a SAVIOR. He knew we wouldn't make it out of this life un scraped.

 We were put here on earth to make a choice. Through the whirlwinds and storms of life a choice to return to our Heavenly Father or a choice to wander a stray

We enter life full of expectations, ambition and desire. Through what we think is failure, lack of support from loved ones, or poor actions from others the flame is dimmed and the dreams seem more and more impossible to reach... In a world that is darkening WE MUST BE THE LIGHT. In a world of no hope we must be the ones to lend our arms to hold those up who can't stand on their own.

 In between our once upon a time and our happily ever after things don't always go as planned. Life is hard. However it is possible. Not just possible, it too can be enjoyable. You might think who is this goofy 22 year old missionary to tell me my life can be enjoyable, she probably hasn't experienced a trial in her life. Let me tell ya something, my life hasn't been easy, nor has yours or anyone around you. None of us pass through life without scraping a knee or and elbow. HOWEVER I am finding joy in the journey.

How is it possible to find joy? Let me share some scriptures with you.

(Mosiah 24 Book of Mormon)

"12 And Alma and his people did not raise their voices to the Lord their God, but did pour out their hearts to him; and he did know the thoughts of their hearts.

13 And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage.

14 And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.

15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.

16 And it came to pass that so great was their faith and their patience that the voice of the Lord came unto them again, saying: Be of good comfort, for on the morrow I will deliver you out of bondage.

 17 And he said unto Alma: Thou shalt go before this people, and I will go with thee and deliver this people out of bondage."

 God knows your heart, he hears your prayers. Poor it out to Him, tell Him everything, have you thought to thank Him for the little things each day? Tell Him what’s good and what is bad, ask him for help. He is your best friend. The one person that will listen to you through it all. The one person that won’t hurt you or let you down.

 The Lord came to these people He spoke to them don't worry my children, I am here. I am always here. ESPECIALLY in your trials. I promise you I WILL NOT LEAVE YOU ALONE. In fact I am going to come to you and rescue you from these bonds whether you might be bound from sin, abuse from others, heart ache, debt, other peoples choices, or your own, I am here. I will come to you.

 He will speak to you. The Lord isn't going to just be like alright Hermana Carlson, you prayed so now I am going to lift this trial. He wants us to learn. Thank Him for the opportunity to pass through the storms and ask him which direction to steer the ship, ask him how to strengthen the sail. Your life guard can walk on water. Don't panic, take Christ by the hand and walk to him. Peter didn't sink until he glanced around to see the storm. The burdens for these people were made light because they became stronger. They had trust so deep in Christ that they knew it would be possible. Once they recognized God was there they relaxed and became cheerful. Have you found Christ in your life? 

There is a grand sense of peace that comes from building a personal relationship with our Savior Jesus Christ.

Next these people had faith, faith and patience, working together to build their strength. Once the Lord sees that these people have grown as much as possible from this trial He comes and he sets them free.

 We can be freed from the spiritual bondage that comes as we go through life. We have the greatest Hero of all time and this isn't a made up story. This is real life. Christ lives. He loves, and He saves.

 While you are in between once upon a time and happily ever after don't lose hope, don't give up. The only way to fail is by never trying. Let Christ be your strength. He will deliver you from the forest filled with wolves. He will light the way when the path becomes dark. Smile and know you are beautiful because you are a child of God. Of a God, who loves so deeply that He weeps when you weep, He rejoices when you draw near to Him and his arms of love are always extended, reaching for you, grab a hold and let Him walk with you through life. He will get you to your happily ever after, back home with Him safe in His arms.

 I love my Savior Jesus Christ. He gives me a great sense of peace and belonging in a world that is hard to fit in. He gives me a sense of worth that can't come through money. He is my brother; He rescues me each and every day. He lives and He loves. Now run to Him, take His hand and find your way to your happily ever after and have joy along the way :)

LINKS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MORMONS :)

here are some great links :)

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Let thy heart be full of thanks unto God

“Gratitude is one of the most important human virtues and one of the most common human deficiencies. Gratitude does not develop without effort.”

 -President Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the First Presidency

"On this Sabbath day our thoughts turn to Him who atoned for our sins, who showed us the way to live and how to pray, and who demonstrated by His own actions the blessings of service. Born in a stable, cradled in a manger, this Son of God, even Jesus Christ the Lord, yet beckons to each of us to follow Him."
-President Thomas S Monson

What does it mean to be grateful? To be grateful is having or showing the desire or reason to thank somebody. It is to be thankful, appreciative, and indebted.

There is a story from the Bible that I would like to share. :)  Luke 17

11 And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.

 12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:

 13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.

 14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.

 15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,

 16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.

 17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?

 18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.

 19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.

On this thanks giving and each day of my life I wish to be as the leper who came back, who thanked Christ for all that He did. Have you ever given someone a gift that you thought they would love and in return they didn't seem too thrilled or you never really saw them use it? The greatest gift ever given to mankind was Gods Son Jesus Christ; His atonement was made so that we could make it through life, a life that could be so challenging, and a life where we would make mistakes, or be hurt at the lack of others regard. How often do we see people push Him aside or we personally don't center our life on Him? Jesus Christ is the reason we are here and able to progress, the reason we are able to become pure again. Jesus Christ is the reason, and the way.

Have you ever thought to pray and thank heavenly father for the gift of his son? Or to thank Him for the times he made your trials possible? Have you ever stopped to find the times you assumed you were alone but Christ was there all along? I know it took me a while to realize I have a lot to be grateful for, and it is a constant journey to be grateful for ALL things, it is hard at times to see that the Lords hand has been in my life and at times I didn't recognize it. I have been so consumed with what is in the world that I missed the bigger picture.

I feel as though I should stop to thank Heavenly Father for my trials, a trial is gift it just takes a while to unwrap. Once we pass through the storm we become stronger and if we will allow it we can grow closer to Christ. Be thankful in all things. Life isn't about if I only had this I would be happier or if this would happen things would get better. Be thankful that our Father in Heaven gave you another day to live, learn, laugh and grow. I know it is hard, and I often find myself thinking "Once this trials ends I will be happy" or "When I graduate from college life will be better" I always find myself looking for a time marker rather than living in the here and now and enjoying each day at a time. Today I am grateful for time. Whether it is moves quickly or slowly. I am grateful to be a missionary, the time is slipping away quickly and I am just now realizing I shouldn't have thought to myself, it will be easier when I have been out six months or nine months. Now that I have hit those markers I see how quickly time moves and to enjoy EVERY MOMENT. "Life is meant to be enjoyed not just endured." I am thankful for my Savior Jesus Christ, and I am thankful for my eternal family and the incredible role my mommy and poppi play in my life, the examples they are to me of service and charity. I am grateful for the ability to love and to forgive, I am grateful for the Atonement and I am thankful for all of my friends from home and the ones I have made here on my mission.

It is my goal to do my best to have my heart always drawn to God and Jesus Christ giving thanks in all things

To not be as this scripture is describing but to see all things comes from God.  I want to do my best to not fall into the cycle of pride and shut gratitude out.

"Ye do not remember the Lord your God in the things with which he hath blessed you, but ye do always remember your riches, not to thank the Lord your God for them; yea, your hearts are not drawn out unto the Lord, but they do swell with great pride, unto boasting, and unto great swelling, envyings, strifes, malice, persecutions, and murders, and all manner of iniquities."

Heleman 13:22(The Book of Mormon)
  
"36 Yea, and cry unto God for all thy support; yea, let all thy doings be unto the Lord, and whithersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord; yea, let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever.
37 Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day."

Alma 37

If you believe in God.. Show Him.

 

  I know it is not even thanks giving yet! This is not my Christmas post, but I AM SO EXCITED FOR CHRISTMAS... Not because of gifts or fancy things, but to celebrate the birth of my best friend. Jesus Christ, the GREATEST gift the world could ever receive. It is my hope that as you watch this video you can feel the love of our savior. That you can recognize the sacrifices He made so that you could be.

 

  On the day the Savior was born the world was given a new brightness of hope. The world could now be redeemed from the stains of sin. I am currently studying the life of Jesus Christ in the bible, the more i study His teachings while He was here on the earth the more my love for Him and those around me deepens. The more I realize I must change my ways and come to Christ.

 

  One of my favorite scriptures right now is Luke 11:28 "But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it."

 

  To keep the word of God. Not just partly but fully. To become fully converted to the Lord is to read His words and apply them. Live the Saviors teachings to the best of our human ability and strive each day to be a little better than the day before.

 

  I am so thankful that God loved us enough to send us His precious Son. His only Son. To a world that would treat him un fairly and judge Him with out righteous judgement. He was sent here to be our perfect example, our teacher and friend. To rescue us from the world to over come the world and to pay a debt we could not pay.

 

  We show our love for Him by keeping His commandments and by being in the service of our fellow men. It is so important as we study the word of God to apply the teachings into our day so that we can become converted. If you believe in God SHOW HIM. Don't just talk about it! DO IT. Show Him you love by respecting Him, repenting, serving others, forgiving others, and asking for forgiveness of others. There are so many other ways but these are the few I wish to write about today.

 

  First I want to talk about conversion.  Conversion is a process and the more converted we become the more we strive to keep the words of God. How do we become a converted son or daughter of God? READ THE SCRIPTURES DAILY. Even if you can only read a verse a day. As you read that verse, page or chapter find ways that you can apply it. Then apply it, liken it to your daily life, if you like the love Christ shows to some one in need find a way to show love for a stranger or a family member, recognize the Christ like attributes and strive to obtain them in your own character. As you apply the teachings of the scriptures to your life you can begin to see the blessings, more happiness, more patience with others, more fear to do bad, and more peace. so many great blessings come. The wounded soul can be healed, the broken spirit can be lifted and the weight of sin can become lighter.

 

  One Christ like attribute I wish to be filled with is Charity. before my mission I didn't understand charity when I thought of charity I thought of going over seas and giving aid to people in need, although this is a grand act of charity there is more to it than that. I know I have written post about charity before.. However tonight I want to add a little spin to it.

 

 "8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins."

 

I like the Joseph Smith translation of this scripture it says:

 

"8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity preventeth the multitude of sins."

 

  My desire is to be a doer and a keeper. to keep Gods words. Charity is the pure love of Christ, The love we are commanded to be filled with, the love all mankind needs strive to be filled with. If we all were full of this love none would be hurt, used, or falsely accused. There would be no lying, or betrayal.

 

  I know that if I had this perfect Charity journey figured out 22 years ago there would have been a lot less people who were hurt by me, a lot of people that I would have been more open with, and people that wouldn't have been hurt by my acts of self centered-ness. I still have a long ways to go... As we all do. Life is like a giant school, a school where we are being tested daily to see if we learned from yesterdays mistakes. The only way we can fail is by not trying, and when we do wrong we can repent and become clean through Christ.

 

   My desire is to shake at the appearance of mistreating another, to shake at the sight of sin and to cling to Christ. To be converted so deeply that even the greatest storms of life will never shake me.  

 

 I would like to take a moment to say how the Book of Mormon and Bible have changed me. I know my life is a journey, mistakes to be learned from and righteous actions that will be rewarded. I realize that I am not the only person in the world, the things we say and do can affect others so deeply and that the worth of a soul is great in the eyes of our Father in Heaven. The damage we cause to another is something the Savior once had to feel.

 

  I used to hold a grudge.. I once was a woman of silent treatments and deep frustrations. My temper was quick to be triggered and my patience were slim. As I have read the words of Christ my weaknesses are being formed into a new Me. I have become quick to forgive, and slow to be angry. Through different trials my patience are coming and my heart is changing.

 

"Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be
loved. .."

 

 I would like to say I am sorry to anyone I have hurt or locked out of my life. It is my wish to speak kind words, always. To serve those in need. To help my mom when she asks for help no more "I will do it later"s To be the friend who is their no matter the convenience, to lift the hearts of those who feel hopeless and to forgive those who wrong me and to love those whom do wrong and to give of my time to Christ. To let go of who I was and let who I am becoming step in.

 

"And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."

Luke 9:62

 Christ gave his life for us to live. No more looking to the past wishing for a do over. The future is as bright as your faith.

"28 ¶Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

Matthew 11

 

Come unto Christ and be healed. feast on the words of Christ and become new.

 

 8 And it supposeth me that they have come up hither to hear the pleasing word of God, yea, the word which healeth the wounded soul.

 

 

 

 

 

The Parable of the lost sheep: Mormon message.

The Savior is always searching for us, calling us back to him. He loves us unconditionally, how much do we love him? He wants us all home with him some day. The Savior Jesus Christ redeemed us all. Salvation is free to all who come to Christ and follow him. He paid the debt we could not pay on our own. As we repent and follow Christ we can be made whole. His sheep are numbered and he knows us all individually.

Gethsemane moments

"And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt."

 I have what I call Gethsemane moments. Where once a trial comes I have a mini freak out and plead with Heavenly Father to take it away from me. If it be possible please take this away… I learn either quickly or VERY slowly that it’s not going to pass until the lesson is learned. 

I am not sure if you will remember the post or not, but at the first of my mission I had some really challenging health problems to do with my kidneys, I was producing kidney stones like an m&m factory produces chocolate candy. If you have experienced 1 stone try experiencing 13! It was terrible and each day was miserable, however I would just get up and get to the Lords work. It got to the point I had days where it hurt to move and we would have to come in early and I felt like I wasn’t fulfilling my purpose I was so discouraged, I changed my entire diet and was drinking 4 liters of water a day for no improvement, I finally prayed and pleaded with heavenly father and I asked him to take the pain, I told him “I have done my best and I know that it is only through the atonement of thy son that this can be possible, please take the pain if it be thy will” from that night on I felt no pain in my kidney’s it was indeed a miracle.

Now a little background on me, if you don’t know me, my tummy ALWAYS hurts. I am always nauseous and a lot of different foods make me sick. I paid no attention to which could be doing what until it was pointed out to me that I might not be able to eat gluten anymore. This means… NO MORE OREOS, POP-TARTS-CUPCAKES AND COOOKIES! I was advised to start cutting gluten out.

Day one. MISERABLE. We went to Wal-Mart for the first time since this new diet would be starting… and I had a meltdown. It was the end of my world as I knew it. My whole world had just been flipped upside down. Dramatic I’m sure this seems. But it was HARD. And it still is hard; however it is teaching me that when things are hard DON’T FREAK OUT. Don’t ask that the cup be passed, but ask for the strength to drink from the cup and not recoil. The point is to drink the bitter drink and be made stronger.

We all have a story, to what may seem like the end of my world, could be a small speed bump in another persons’ life journey.  What I do know is that we all have a breaking point and we all get pushed to that limit every once and a while and when we get there IT IS DIFFICULT to not become as a chicken with its head cut off running in circles flapping our wings and freaking out like a two year old toddler who doesn’t want to take a nap.

What I am learning from this new or rather old trial is that it makes life a lot easier when you don’t freak out. Take a moment to morn or feel self-pity and then pick up and move on with faith in Christ. Move forward with hope. My life isn’t over! So what I had to say good bye to cookies, kit kats and Twix… Life will go on with Reeses, corn chips and salsa! Life is a very precious gift from our heavenly father who wanted us to have all that He has. He gave us our bodies so that we could become as He is. That’s a pretty great gift, a gift that no one else could give, for me to complain or say that I hate the way my body is would be a very ungrateful expression, one that I am sure would be very displeasing to me heavenly father. It is a gift that I am indeed grateful for.  Some bodies will pass through sickness and others will be perfectly healthy. That is all part of the plan, to obtain a body, a body that isn’t perfect so that in the day that we are resurrected we can appreciate a resurrected perfect body, a perfect pain free body.

Christ suffered these things so that our life wouldn’t be a lonely walk; He walked the lonely path so that we would have to. He knows it is discouraging at times, but cheer up; he is there to hold your hand and guide you home. 

“18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”

John 14:18

He will not leave us alone, He will never forsake us. The only times we feel alone are the times that we forsake him. Remember him and He will be there... ALWAYS. Walk with him and he will guide you, Love him and receive love in return. Jesus Christ is my best friend, the man I know that no matter what I can count on him. He lives. He loves, and He gives all that he has freely. Walk to him.

“27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

 28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.

 29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

 31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

 32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.

33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

34 ¶And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gennesaret.

35 And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased;

 36 And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.”

Matthew 14

Peter didn’t sink until he became fearful of the storm around him, as he kept his eye focused on Christ he walked across the tempest sea. As he took a moment to recoil and think about what was around him he began to sink. Keep your eye single to Christ as you pass through various storms and He will keeps us a float, and for times we lose faith and let fear in he will be there to catch us and remind us what this journey is all about.Drink from the bitter cup and become better.

Be calm, don’t freak out, and keep your faith.