Dimming Lights, and Lost Ways!

When the lights seem to fade to the background and the way is no longer clear. Is all lost? Has the times of sadness finally overtaken us, has the last weight of the world finally pushed us to the edge? I can't speak for the world, but I can tell you that I have felt this way. I know that there is always someone who has gone through much worse then I, but perhaps a word of encouragement will help. There are days on a mission and not lots of days just a few that seem to tear you from limb to limb. Weather it be someone pulling a gun on you, or while you are walking down the street someone throwing a ham sandwich at you (Sadly it wasn’t turkey I might have enjoyed it a bit more). May it be physical, or just dealing with the stress of waking up only to feel overwhelmed by the responsibility to carry such a message to so many in such a short time. Whatever the reason, or circumstance there is always HOPE!!! What great power comes from just saying, and pondering upon the word Hope. Hope is trusting that things will work out for our good. "It is manifest in confidence, optimism, enthusiasm, and patient perseverance. It is believing and expecting that something will occur. When you have hope, you work through trials and difficulties with the confidence and assurance that all things will work together for your good. Hope helps you conquer discouragement." -Preach My Gospel pg. 117 (Preach My Gospel) But the question is what do we place our hope in? Some may place there hope in food (and to this I might agree to a certain extent), or they may put there trust in the things of the world. Luckily for us there is something, or rather someone that we can all put our trust in. That is the supreme creator of us all, our Father in Heaven. When we place our trust in the one who loves without reserve, and comes to our aid before we comprehend the need for aid. We will see our Confidence wax strong, we will see the world become a wonders, and joys place. Each day we will wake up and know who we are, and where we are going. This is the power of Hope, and the confidence in a Loving Father. But what about the pains and sorrows. Does Hope conquer the memories of a hopeless and darkened past? The answer is undoubtedly, and resoundingly YES. Because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ we can all become healed. We can have a hope that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ we can feel relief form pain, and the worry of the past. In the End hope will conquer all discouragement, and chase out the darkness to revel a new day."For God so Loved the World" John 3:16

What happens when all hope seems to fail? Or does it...

Mornings on a Mission

AWAKE!!!

       So I have come to find in my life that the more you do something the more it becomes part of your daily life, and easier to do. But I have also come to find that there is a glitch to this theory.  You might ask what is this glitch (or you might not ask, but I'm going to tell you) that disputes this theory, it is none other then SLEEP!!! Yes the one thing we can't get enough of, and the one thing we wish we didn't have to do is wake up from Sleep. Me and sleep have a love, hate relationship, and I  believe that it started the day I was born. I'm not one to complain, but when something causes such emotional, and mental pain it should be put to death. However on the other had there is nothing like doing a long hard days work, and at the end you get the reward of slipping into bed, and slowly falling into a world of carelessness. But then you have to waking up to the sound of an unnatural, and completely unnecessary noise called an alarm clock. While wishing you could slam someones head against the door, and tell them to keep it down for just five more minutes (and no you would never do that because your a God fearing person). So how do we solve this problem? Well there is no good answer, and I have no clear way to tell you what to do to get up in the morning. I do however know what the scriptures say on the matter. In the Doctrine and Covenants 88:124 Cease to be idle; cease to be unclean; cease to find fault one with another; cease to sleep longer than is needful; retire to thy bed early, that ye may not be weary; arise early, that your bodies and your minds may be invigorated. (See D&C 88:124) In this scripture the Lord is telling us that we should not be Idle or Lazy, but we need to rise early, and if we do that we will be invigorated both spirit and mind. I'm not sure about any of you, but I need that blessing. So for that reason alone that the Lord commanded that we arise early, and the fact that it is a mission rule that we arise at 6:30 "Every Day, Every Day, Every Day" I will go and do the things that the Lord requires. It is a great blessing to be able to obey the Lord. Let us all arise each day, and serve the Lord. Physically waking up is not the only thing that we need to do in this life. We also need to awake Spiritually!!! "O my brethren, hearken unto my words; arouse the faculties of your souls; shake yourselves that ye may awake from the slumber of death; and loose yourselves from the pains of hell that ye may not become angels to the devil, to be cast into that lake of fire and brimstone which is the second death." (see Jacob 3:11) As we wake up from the deep spiritual sleep that often befalls us we will feel a renewed since of purpose, and energy. The Lord will always allow us to awake and escape the grasps of everlasting sleep. Because no one likes to sleep all day you only get groggy, and ugly. Let us Awake!

Play the Game!

I'm not sure how many of you know, but I really don't, and can't play the wonderful game of Basketball. But however much I can't, or don't play this game that seems to change when you go on a mission. Every Monday of the week  missionaries have the great opportunity to have what we call Preparation Day or "P-Day" It is a day set apart to do all the tasks around the house such as cleaning, and more cleaning. We also are able to go and enjoy ourselves with activity such as the Museums, Zoos, Basketball, Frisbee, and other sports. It is a time to unwind and relax. However while I was having the great opportunity to play a game of Basketball (being humiliated as I attempted to shoot that ridiculous ball into a net above me) I noticed a key element to how I played the game. While I was enjoying myself and having a good time just playing, and not worrying about what others were thinking I started to enjoy myself and get lost in the game. (This however does not mean that I like Basketball in any way shape or form. Just so you know!) It just means that if we stop worrying about everything going on, and just enjoy the moment things seem lighter, more enjoyable. I have the same feelings when it comes to life. I don't always want to play the game of life, far to often I find myself looking to see what others think and worrying about everything going on around me. Its really shocking that when we take the time to step back from the busy world, and look at what the lord has truly given us things start to look up. We begin to see that we aren't worrying so much on what people think, but what our father in Heaven thinks. We begin to see that there is a much larger picture of why we are here, and what we can do to have more happiness. I know that in my life things started to look up when I start following the rules (Even with Basketball) it goes more smoothly when you follow the rules, and I felt more protected. I learned that the Rules and Commandments of God are there to protect us and give us safety for the soul. I believe that the commandments are like a fence on a mountain side. The fence is only there to protect us and keep us from danger, but most of us only think it is restraining us, and keeping us from doing what we want. I am grateful for the commandments which keep me from falling off the edge, and I know that I get so many blessings from following the Commandments. The Lord even promises us that as we keep his commandments he will prosper us, and bless us (Mosiah 2:22). How grateful I am for the blessings of the commandments, and the opportunity I have to live here on the earth at this time. We are truly blessed to have so many beautiful things that remind us that God lives and he loves us. I am so grateful for our Lord and our Savior and I know that he lives. So stop worrying and start looking! Life is far to short to play a game where your not having fun! God Loves us and he sent us here that we might have joy and not world joy, but eternal Joy! (2 Nephi 2:25) Just Play the Game!