I was interested in this quote from Elder Bednar’s most recent talk:
“We more readily receive and recognize the Spirit of the Lord as we appropriately invite Him into our lives. We cannot compel, coerce, or command the Holy Ghost. Rather, we should invite Him into our lives with the same gentleness and tenderness by which He entreats us (see D&C 42:14).
Our invitations for the companionship of the Holy Ghost occur in many ways: through the making and keeping of covenants; by praying sincerely as individuals and families; by searching the scriptures diligently; through strengthening appropriate relationships with family members and friends; by seeking after virtuous thoughts, actions, and language; and by worshipping in our homes, in the holy temple, and at church. Conversely, casualness about or the breaking of covenants and commitments, failing to pray and study the scriptures, and inappropriate thoughts, actions, and language cause the Spirit to withdraw from or to avoid us altogether.”
I was struck by the idea that casualness in prayer and scripture study—or, in other words, when you know you should do something and you don’t—could cause the spirit to withdraw. I also liked that we should quietly and carefully invite the spirit into our life or our day.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
The Votes are In
News from the Junior High: Amy has been voted the "Nicest Girl" by all the 9th graders. 
What a well-deserved tribute. (Speaking as a totally unbiased mother).
In the hall at the school with friends, Kymbelle and Keshelle.
Amy at school with her cousin-friend, Krysta.
Laughing it up with next-door-neighbor friend, Emily.
What a well-deserved tribute. (Speaking as a totally unbiased mother). 
In the hall at the school with friends, Kymbelle and Keshelle.
Amy at school with her cousin-friend, Krysta.
Laughing it up with next-door-neighbor friend, Emily.
New Organizing Rule
"If it's not 1)a decoration or 2)something that's used more than once a day, it shouldn't be out in the open where I can see it."--me
"It's a good rule..."--A prize for the first person to name that movie and the character who says it.
"It's a good rule..."--A prize for the first person to name that movie and the character who says it.
Bulwarking from the Book of Mormon (and going to church)
Scriptural insight of the week: Alma Chapter 60. Moroni is a gung-ho for the Lord, righteous kind of guy. He’s standing up for what he believes in, doing his best in very trying circumstances to survive and to protect everybody around him. He's a role model.
Then he gets pretty indignant with somebody that’s on his team. (Because of the circumstances, he can’t see his teammates’ side of things.) He’s actually quite abrasive.
But I know what happens next. (I read it before. :) )
His teammate is able to reach deep into the wells of Christ’s charity and continue to hold out his hand in genuine respect and cooperation. They remain brothers and are able to work together and accomplish great good.
What a fortifying story for marriages and mission companionships and siblings and all the relationships we have. On this day, I hope to be Pahoran. I feel very touched by the whole thing.
Another thing that’s helping me this week, is a talk from Sacrament Meeting on Sunday. The speaker was talking about family scripture study. She said it’s like brushing your teeth. If you’re tired one night, so you go to bed without brushing your teeth, do you just throw in the towel and give up? Let your teeth rot in your head because you missed once? Of course not.
So. Just because we had pizza and cherry pie on Saturday for Michael’s birthday... and then on Sunday, somebody (who shall remain nameless :)) brought over several dozen delicious cookies left over from a Stake Employment Fireside...then the neighbors brought over leftover cake from a birthday party and it had a layer of pudding in it and thick wonderful frosting and I indulged in way too much of all that stuff, doesn’t mean I should not get up to go exercise.
NO. I will continue to brush my teeth. I will start again writing down what I eat and keeping the calories under 2000 a day. Sigh.
I guess the moral of these stories is that there really is a benefit to belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ—there is strength to be found in supping from modern-day (and ancient) scripture and hearing talks in the church meetings. He knew what kind of help we’d need to make it happily through this life and He planned for it. I’ll keep taking advantage of it.
(I liked what Paul (Elder Soderquist in the Philippines, not Paul the apostle in Philippi) said in one of his letters about him, as a missionary, just being there to “invite”. It’s what Christ does—loves and invites. It’s up to us (and investigators) to accept and act and take advantage of the resources He offers.)
Then he gets pretty indignant with somebody that’s on his team. (Because of the circumstances, he can’t see his teammates’ side of things.) He’s actually quite abrasive.
But I know what happens next. (I read it before. :) )
His teammate is able to reach deep into the wells of Christ’s charity and continue to hold out his hand in genuine respect and cooperation. They remain brothers and are able to work together and accomplish great good.
What a fortifying story for marriages and mission companionships and siblings and all the relationships we have. On this day, I hope to be Pahoran. I feel very touched by the whole thing.
Another thing that’s helping me this week, is a talk from Sacrament Meeting on Sunday. The speaker was talking about family scripture study. She said it’s like brushing your teeth. If you’re tired one night, so you go to bed without brushing your teeth, do you just throw in the towel and give up? Let your teeth rot in your head because you missed once? Of course not.
So. Just because we had pizza and cherry pie on Saturday for Michael’s birthday... and then on Sunday, somebody (who shall remain nameless :)) brought over several dozen delicious cookies left over from a Stake Employment Fireside...then the neighbors brought over leftover cake from a birthday party and it had a layer of pudding in it and thick wonderful frosting and I indulged in way too much of all that stuff, doesn’t mean I should not get up to go exercise.
NO. I will continue to brush my teeth. I will start again writing down what I eat and keeping the calories under 2000 a day. Sigh.
I guess the moral of these stories is that there really is a benefit to belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ—there is strength to be found in supping from modern-day (and ancient) scripture and hearing talks in the church meetings. He knew what kind of help we’d need to make it happily through this life and He planned for it. I’ll keep taking advantage of it.
(I liked what Paul (Elder Soderquist in the Philippines, not Paul the apostle in Philippi) said in one of his letters about him, as a missionary, just being there to “invite”. It’s what Christ does—loves and invites. It’s up to us (and investigators) to accept and act and take advantage of the resources He offers.)
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