A Little Wednesday Wisdom

"If you are going through a tough time, it is okay to cut yourself some slack. There are times in life when simply surviving each day without a long breakdown is an amazing victory."
  ---Hank Smith

Just sayin' 😊

Whose voice are you listening to?

I think one of Satan's greatest tools is to get us to beat ourselves up over our mistakes, human follies, transgressions & sins; in order to make us define ourselves as "bad". His aim is to make it so we never feel "enough"... not good enough, not strong enough....not worthy enough.

The Savior DOES NOT do that. He teaches us through love and patience, tutors us on and brings us to repentance, and optimistically shows us how to be better.

Listen to the Savior's Voice - it always Encourages.

Listen to the Savior's Voice - it is One of Peace, Love, and Kindness.

Listen to the Savior's Voice - it is One of Light, Optimism, and Truth.

Listen to the Savior's Voice - it is One of Forgiveness.

Listen to the Savior's Voice.

I'm just sayin' 😇

Why we should do what we do

"Are we active in the Gospel, or are we merely busy in the Church?

The key is to follow the example of the Savior in all things. If we do that, we will naturally focus on saving individuals rather than performing tasks & implementing programs."

  ---- Bishop Caussé

I think this is a key for Ministering!! We have been asked to renew our efforts in friendship, seeking the one, truly blessing those around us. Gone are the set messages, the statistical reports - we are asked to treat others in ways the Savior Himself would.

I have to admit, there have been times in the past when I was so focused on "teaching the lesson" i had prepared that I didn't focus on those in front of me, who were there, possibly searching for peace, comfort, guidance....or just kindness and acceptance.

We are such a task-oriented society, some days we all forget the WHYs and WHOs....the whole reason we do it all anyway.

I'm just sayin' 😇

The Lord's Timing pt. 2

"Faith in God includes faith in His timing."  --- Neal A. Maxwell

When I read this saying, or others like it, I have always taken it as the Lord saying "Wait. Be patient. Slow down."

And, I know, I just did a post all about   being patient with His Timing.

But, what if there are times that God's timing means "Now. Hurry up. Do it."

Are there times when we have become so good at "Waiting on the Lord" that we miss the exact things He has prepared for us, prepared us for, blessings He wants to offer us NOW ?

This is why it's VITAL we have an open, good communication with the Lord. He WILL, through His Spirit, let us know the whens, wheres, hows, etc. BUT WE NEED TO PAY ATTENTION - DON'T BE COMPLACENT. DON'T IGNORE PROMPTINGS.

DON'T LIMIT THE LORD!!!

I'm just sayin' 😇

The Lord's Timing pt 1

When you are not patient, when you choose to not wait on the Lord, it can have long-reaching consequences.

Take the example of Sarah "giving" her servant Hagar to her husband, Abraham (and Abraham "taking" Hagar). 

They had waited SO LONG for the blessing of a child. They had waited SO LONG for the Blessing that Abraham would be the "Father of Nations", but, seemingly, Sarah was barren.....

So....they took things into their own hands. And along came Ishmael by way of Hagar. But that wasn't the way the Lord had planned this Blessing - a Blessing that would have great impact on ALL of His Children.

And, yes, the Lord forgave them and blessed them later with Isaac....

BUT...

Because of jealousy, Hagar & Ishmael were banished. Imagine that woman now having to raise her son without support. Imagine that boy, seemingly being rejected by his own father.

Because of this rejection, this rift, we today still have the Palastinian vs. Jewish conflict - so much hatred, so much hurt, so much harm.

So....when setbacks occur in your Promised Blessings and you are doing all that the Lord has asked of you....

WAIT ON THE LORD.  HE WILL NEVER DENY A PROMISED BLESSING WHEN YOU ARE GOING ABOUT LIVING THE BEST WAY YOU CAN - FIGHTING THROUGH ALL THE STOPS AND DETOURS ALONG THE WAY!!!

I'm just sayin' 😊

Just some thoughts....

I sit, trying to not let the tears come as I go over a "visit" by "friends" that has left me feeling - less & un.
It's not the 1st time....sadly, I'm pretty sure it won't be the last.

I came across a meme that said "Opposition in ALL things...remember that"

And the Spirit whispers "You are just who God needs you to be today...
Tomorrow you will be what He needs tomorrow.
Just be true to what the Lord has taught you through all the 'stuff' He has asked you to endure."

So....I will let the feelings come, and then I will choose to let them go. I will choose to give others the benefit of the doubt, even as they choose to be judging and harsh and flippant and unkind. Oh....and possibly clueless that they've caused harm.

I'm so thankful that I can feel Whole through the Spirit...just wish I could figure out how to feel that way when others' words and attitudes are less than kind.

I'm just sayin' 😢

A Little Wednesday Wisdom...

“Meekness is...

strong, not weak;

active, not passive;

courageous, not timid;

restrained, not excessive;

modest, not self-aggrandizing;

and gracious, not brash.”

  --- Elder David A. Bednar

So, in other words, being MEEK is a really good quality to have!! (one of those things I'm working on!!)

I'm just sayin' 😇

Maybe...

Maybe you felt rejection so you may not reject others at a vital time for them.

Maybe you felt loneliness so you can be the friend you needed then to others who need a friend now.

Maybe you went through judgment to be able to reach out in love to people who are hurting from anothers' harshness.

Maybe you were ignored so you will always be there for others when they need a shoulder.

Maybe you were the fodder of gossip so you can be a voice for others.

Maybe you were misunderstood so you could shine a light on the beauty of others' differences.

MAYBE...you are the one who has had to endure the negative so you can be the one with the positive 💖

I'm just sayin' 😇

12 “Musts” to enjoy your day

1-Smile
2-Dont complain about your blessings
3-Tell people you appreciate them
4-Don't spend time talking about people...speak with them
5-Say please & thank you
6-Give more than what’s expected
7-Look for the positives
8- Cultivate an attitude of gratitude
9-Be creative
10-Take time to enjoy the creativity of others (especially God)
11-Read in the scriptures
12-PRAY - make the Lord an active part of your day

Working on it...some days are better than others.

I'm just sayin' 😇

He is the Potter...we are the clay

Romans 9:21
"Hath not the Potter power over the clay..."

Some interesting thoughts....

The pot does not tell the Potter "I'm finished, I'm complete, I'm whole" No...that is the job of the Potter.

The Potter takes raw, inexperienced material to make his pot.

He adds water, consistently, gently, to get the clay filled with what will help it be usable.

Then he kneeds it, sometimes roughly, to finish the process of preparation.

Lastly,  He molds & designs, using His Own Hands to shape the individual piece "just right".

He is the Potter...we are the clay.

There are times when each of us resist the water, the kneading, the molding. It can be inconvenient, uncomfortable, even harsh.

BUT...we can NEVER become the Child of God that only He Knows we can become if we do not allow the Potter to do His Work.

I'm just sayin' 😇

Perishable Promptings

Promptings are perishable!  If you don't act when the Spirit prompts, you very well may lose opportunities to serve, to ease a burden, to be the Lord's hands.

We sometimes talk ourselves out of listening and acting on promptings because we can't do something grand, something big, something perfect.

The thing is...the Spirit is not asking for grand, big, or perfect.

He is just asking you to ACT....a text, an email or snailmail, a note on the door, a couple cookies, a few moments to really listen...little things that can mean everything to a struggling Child of God.

I'm just sayin' 😇

A Little Wednesday Wisdom

"Happily, God in His omniscience can distinguish between our surface needs (over which we often pray most fervently) and our deep and eternal needs.  He can distinguish what we ask for today and place it in relationship to what need for all eternity.  He will bless us, according to our everlasting good."
Elder Neal A. Maxwell

We just need to remember...
His Timing
His Wisdom
His Insight
because....
We are His Children, and He LOVES us and Wants only our progression & our good! 😇

I'm just sayin' 😄

A thought...

My focus is on what I have now, in lieu of what I don’t have. This is my time and I — and only I — decide how to use my days and how to feel about it all.

I'm just sayin'

The One

There has been so much about "The One" that I have come across lately...

Elder Bednar's book,
FB & Twitter posts,
Scripture stories,
All the changes announced in the recent General Conference,
just to name a few. 😄

It all has me thinking...

It NEVER has been about the ninty and nine, about a group or a congregation...
It's never been about the statistics, although that was often how "success" was measured...
It was never about how wonderful a program was run, or a meeting was conducted, or a lesson was presented, or a talk was given...
It hasn't even been about who is "active" vs. "inactive"...

It’s ALWAYS been about The One. 

Who is The One needing a listening ear?

Who is The One needing love, acceptance, and understanding?

Who is The One who looks to you and needs your friendship?

Who is The One whose life choices, although different than yours, are good choices for them?

Who is The One who has life burdens that are just a bit too heavy for them to bear?

Who is The One who is really hurting?

Who is The One feeling lonely, or worthless, or like they don't fit?

Who is The One who just needs a touch of kindness?

Our world, our society, is full of many, individual "The One"; a person who is struggling, a person who feels less, a person who is doing it all the best they can. It's the "errand of angels" to do whatsoever "is gentle and human". We never know the heart or heartache of another, so, never hesitate to reach out to The One.

Oh, and it’s OK if, sometimes, you are The One ❤️

I'm just sayin'...

To Be...

What does it mean to become more Christlike?

More Loving
Caring
Selflessness

More Giving
Forgiving
Serving

More Praying
Meditating
Intervening

More Enthusiasm
Hard Working
Sharing

More Patience
Faith
Hope
Charity

More Doing Father’s Will
More Obedience
More Grace

More true to the real you...a Child of God 😇

I'm just sayin...

The Playground Pledge

As I was walking by the school yard, I witnessed something that not only made me smile, but has had my thoughts as I walked 😄

A class was coming out for recess...the children gathered around their teacher...the teacher said "Ok...what do we say?" (the wind was just right so I could hear)
The class responded by raising their hands and saying "I pledge as I go out today to be honest and kind; to help everyone around me to have a good day!" Then, off they all ran to play. 😄

I LOVE THAT!!! Wouldn't it be wonderful if, everyday, everyone made the same pledge?

This world we all share is our "school", our "playground". Wouldn't it be great if we could treat it the way these kids treat theirs!!

I'm just sayin...

#kindness
#weareallinthistogether