Sundays Food For Thought

"When I was a young man in high school, one of my passions was American football. I played middle linebacker. The coach worked the team hard, teaching us the basics. We practiced until the skills became natural and automatic. During one play against our biggest rival, I had an experience that has helped me over the years. We were on defense. I knew my assigned opponent, and as the play unfolded, he moved to my right into the line of scrimmage. There was a lot of noise from players and fans. I reacted as the coach had taught us and followed my man into the line, not knowing if he had the ball. To my surprise, I felt the ball partially in my hands. I gave it a tug, but my opponent didn’t let go. As we tugged back and forth, amid all the noise I heard a voice yelling, “Packer, tackle him!” That was enough to bring me to my senses, so I dropped him on the spot. I have wondered how I heard that voice above all the other noise. I had become acquainted with the voice of the coach during the practices, and I had learned to trust it. I knew that what he taught worked."

-Elder Allan F. Packer-

I have been thinking a lot about prayer lately and how I can make my prayers more sincere. I love this story and how much it symbolizes prayer and our relationship with our Heavenly Father. Our Heavenly Father has worked us hard and has taught us the basics. Our rival is Satan, and we know how to beat him. Even with all the noise of the world. We need to remember what we have been taught. I love how Packer was acquainted to the voice of the coach and he heard him above all the noise of the crowd and he trusted it. I have been working on my relationship with my Father in Heaven and have started to begin seeing his hand in my life, and hearing his promptings. It is because I have practiced with him, and now recognize and trust what he tells me or asks me to do. I am so grateful for prayer and for the promptings I get and continue to progress and get better at my personal prayers.

Sundays Food For Thought

As I was reading and looking through one of my journals I found this quote and it really stood out to me. It is exactly what I needed to hear as a young single adult woman.

"I testify that no one of us is less treasured or cherished of God than another. I testify that he loves each of us-- insecurities, anxieties, self-image, and all. He doesn't measure our talents or our looks;... He cheers on every runner, calling out that the race is against sin, not against each other. "

- Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

So, thought I would just share a little blip of what I have been thinking about. :)

oh and HAPPY FATHERS DAY!!!!

Cute Moment

Okay, So yesterday at work a little 3 year old made my day. After this one moment, I couldn't stop smiling. So here is what happened. I was over by the bathroom at Macey's sweeping up a little mess when a little girl came up to me. She said, " hey, hey. I am going in the bathroom, when you hear the potty flush can you open the door, it is too heavy for me and I don't want to get stucked in the bathroom." I thought it was so cute how she put it. But that isn't the end of my story. After I was done sweeping, my hands were a little dirty, so I decided to go into the bathroom to wash my hands, when I heard this same little girl singing. She was in the stall just singing. I couldn't make out any words, but it was just a bunch of la la's and ba ba's. Even though I was in the bathroom, she didn't even mind. She was going to sing her little heart out while going to the bathroom. It kind of reminded me of Monster's Inc. when Boo is singing in the bathroom. Well, she was done going to the bathroom, I heard the toilet flush, she came out, washed her hands and then I let her out of the bathroom. She went out the door said "thank you miss" and skipped off to her mom. That little moment made my day and I am still smiling about it.

I love the littlem moments that happen everyday that just make life so much better!

Sundays Food For Thought

Be Still My Soul

Be still, my soul: The Lord is on thy side;
With patience bear thy cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In ev'ry change he faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: Thy best, thy heav'nly Friend
Thru thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul: Thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as he has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: The waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while he dwelt below.

Be still, my soul: The hour is hast'ning on
When we shall be forever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: When change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

I haven't written anything about my Grandma since before she died. Lately I have heard this song everywhere and I am not sure why. Last sunday we sang it in church every meeting, Then someone did a special musical number at ward prayer and sang this song. This sunday we sang it again in sacrament meeting, and then Brianna did it as her musical moment in Relief Society.

I miss my Grandma a lot and it is hard for me to express how much I miss her. I love this song. It is one of my favorites because of the message it tells us. Brianna, Shelby, and I sang this song at my Grandma's Funeral. It was one thing that reminded me that I am not the only one feeling the way I was during that time. Even though I knew my family was sad, it also reminded me that the Lord has felt this way too, and that I could turn to the Lord and he would be by my side during this trial.

I am grateful I have heard this song so many times in the past week because I have been struggling a little bit lately with a lot of things. It is hard. Life is hard. I love the last line of the first verse " Through thorny ways, leads to a joyful end." All of our trials will end for our better. Our end of our trials will be joyful, and we will be so much stronger. I have seen it in my life and in the life of others. I am so grateful to know that during my trials, I just need to remember this simple truth and they will be so much easier. This line also reminds me of a rose or the beautiful rainbow I saw the other day after the huge rainstorm. Roses and Thorns grow together. Hard times will only make us better and stronger people.

This song is just full of Hope. The line in the second verse also catches my attention. " Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake; all now mysterious shall be bright at last." and then finally, the last line of the last verse. "Be still my soul, when change and tears are past, all safe and blessed we shall meet at last." If I remain faithful and remember God in my life, If I remember the Lord atoned for my sins, and for my pains and sorrows, I will be able to live with the Lord Forever, and I will be able to see my Grandma again and live with my family forever! I look forward to the day when I will be reunited with the Lord and with my family. Because I know that families are forever, I strive even more to do the things the Lord would have me do, and to fill my life with the things that are good. I will endure to the end, because I know that life can only get better.

Sunday's food for thought

Never alone

By: Hilary Weeks

Why did this happen

Do you know what’s happened to me

And heaven were you watching

Were you watching over me

Cause the way I’ve been feeling

Well I’m feeling so alone

So if you hear this prayer

And if I’m not alone

I need to know

I need to know you’re there

I need something to hold on to

I need someone who will care

Carry me home

And Carry me through somehow

Make sense of this pain

And show me the way

Cause when the darkness comes I’m a prisoner to my fears

Although I’m listening, the doubt is all I hear

But then I reach for your hand

And feel you reaching back

And the light returns

And I begin

I begin to understand

My soul can feel the mercy

And the love in your flesh

And when I let go

And turn all the hurt and sorrow over to you

The burden is light

And trusting I find

Though the storms roll in and the winds of change may blow

I know you let them come so that I can learn and grow

And when I reach for your hand,

I feel you reaching back

And that’s how I know

I am never alone