REFLECTION!

I was thinking the other day about our reflections. We see our reflections all the time as we pass a mirror, a car window, off some glass, all over the place! Sometimes we like what we see, other times maybe we don't like what we see. One thing for sure though is that others see us no matter what! Others see how we feel, if we're motivated, what we look like, whether we're happy or not, excited, tired, busy, hurt and everything else. So how can we make sure that we have a good reflection all the time?

 "..watch yourselves, and your thoughts, and your words, and your deeds, and observe the commandments of God, and continue in the faith of what ye have heard concerning the coming of our Lord, even unto the end of your lives.."

-Mosiah 4:30

Let's make sure all we do reflects our faith in Jesus Christ and love for him! Take that leap of faith each day to do what is right! May the Lord be our guide in all that we do and may we reach great heights with His assistance :)

And for those of us who don't like what we're doing right now, let's wash our face and change our attitude and our actions to inspire, lift and encourage ourselves and those around us! Let others see how our lives reflect our love for the Lord!

Have a lot on your mind?

In today's society we have more than enough to think about and do. We have so many activities, meetings, and appointments to make. Work to be done, kids to take care of, parties to attend and decisions to make. You may wonder at the end of the day, "WOW! Where did the day go?"  

So what do we do when are schedules are hectic and we have too much to do? We cannot confuse ourselves and think that merely being busy means being productive. We need to take a step back and review what we are doing and what's most important.

"We have to forego some good things in order to choose others that are better or best because they develop faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and strengthen our families."

-Dallin H. Oaks

"Time marches swiftly forward to the tick of the clock. Today would be a good day, while the clock of mortality ticks, to review what we are doing to prepare to meet God."

-Ian S. Ardern

Let us each make the commitment today to do those things that will strengthen our relationship with God and our families. The things that are MOST important in our lives!

Feel Out Of Place?

Have you ever been lost and you didn't know where you were going?

Involved in something and felt that you weren't important or appreciated?

How about not understanding something and feeling like you're the ONLY one who doesn't get it?

Maybe you want to know why you're here and what you're supposed to be doing?

Well I think we've ALL been in a situation similiar to this one! If you haven't I give it up to you!

We get ourselves so worked up sometimes about things, that sometimes are not that important. This scripture came to mind as I was thinking about times I was in some of these situations...

"Be still and know that I am God."

Psalms 46:10

When life gets crazy and we feel alone, remember that God is in control. That he is mindful of our lives. He knows us personally. I have felt his love and presence in my life and as a representative of Jesus Christ, I KNOW he can help you as well. Count your blessings today and look to Him for help :)

Remember,
Jesus Loves You
SMILE :D

Did you get a boo boo?

I was pondering back on the days when I had my knee surgery almost 3 years ago now. It left scars for sure, and I look at these scars often. I thought about what my scars mean to me. They mean very many different things to me. They remind me of the effort and hard work I had to put in to become fully healed. They remind me of the love and service that was provided to me. They remind me of the determintaion to change my circumstances. They remind me to remain positive. They remind me that God answers my prayers at all times. They remind me that I'm in constant need of help from the Lord!

I'm sure each of us have been scraped, cut or bruised, whether visible or internal, that have turned into scars. Each represent and remind us of different things. May I remind you of someone who is greater than each of us who has scars as well. That person is Jesus Christ. I wondered what his scars remind him of and ran across this scripture....

"Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me."

    - Isaiah 49:16

May we remember that Christ is aware of each of our lives! That he loves and cares about us! He is mindful of each of lives and the struggles we are enduring. Remember to look for the tender mercies of the Lord in every thing we do. May God bless each of you :)

Bacon Anyone?

So I was told from this young boy the other day,

"No bacon is bad for you when the healthier choice is a donut!"

Take a look at these 2 pictures and decide for yourself which you think is better?!

What did you decide? Is bacon really healthier than a donut? I'm not here to tell you because I'm no health nutritionist, but I do KNOW that bacon has some protein in it! It has GOT to be healthier than a donut for you! Right?

Well sometimes our decisions are between many good things, that either decision could be good for us! If that's the case, I believe Elder Dallin H. Oaks says it best!

"We have to forego some good things in order to choose others that are better or best because they develop faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and strengthen our families."

So back to the decision between bacon or a donut. Maybe the BEST choice would be neither. The better choice could be a whole grain waffle with fruit and a nice glass of orange juice! :)

The choice is up to you to choose in your own life. Our decisions are often more meaningful than our breakfast meal, but may I encourage each of you to make the BEST decisions and always choose the right!

Box of chocolates anyone?

I was reading in the Bible the other morning and came across this scripture and it caught me by surprise!

"And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us."

Romans 5:3-5

Well I compared this to the famous quote, "Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get!"

I think life is truly that way. We really never know what life holds for our future. Sometimes we have it all figured out, other times we have no idea. Maybe we think we have it figured out and then the tables turn, like thinking you have the caramel filled chocolate and biting into it and realizing you just ate your least favorite, cherry filled :/ So what do we do when we eat a chocolate that maybe we didn't like or was too bitter or caused us to not want any more?

Well we keep going! Not necessarily to keep eating chocolates, but we move on with faith and hope for something better! We press forward and know that whatever lies in store for us will be better. That you will enjoy and learn something from it. So be sure you eat all the chocolates and know if you don't really like one, that there is always a better one waiting for you! :)

Hole in One

Well I received an email from my dad this week and I've been thinking alot about what he said,

 "I was thinking the other day when I was playing golf that what seems to bring back most amateurs is that one shot out of 100 that looked and felt perfect!"

I believe he is right, because I know that's the reason I continue to play golf is because of that one shot, one putt or one par for the hole! I think we can apply this in each of our lives. Sometimes there are things that we do where we feel the same way! Maybe it's that one act of service we did that drives us to continue to serve others. Maybe it's that one time we worked hard for something and achieved it! Maybe that one recipe that turned out perfect. The one answered phone call you made. Maybe a decision you felt was perfect!

There are many things that keep us going, and sometimes we only have to feel or experience it once to have a desire to continue feel that same way again! I've had many instances of this relating it to the gospel. The one prayer that God answered that keeps me praying. The one time I read the scriptures and felt is was written just for me. The one time someone taught me something about the gospel I did not know and many many more!

If you're discouraged or disappointed, remember that one time when you felt what you were doing was right and press forward with faith :)