The Power of the Spirit
My mind is full again, but am not quite sure how to share it all and give and update at the same time. Maybe I will share my thoughts and then do a separate update.
I have had a couple wonderful experiences this week that I am impressed to share/talk about. Maybe the thoughts and feelings I had were personal for me, but I still feel that they might be of benefit for others. Let me start with the most recent.
This morning, I was invited to share special experience with Puddin. He has prepared himself to receive a Patriarchal Blessing. Let me say that going to the Patriarch's home is always a blessing in and of itself, but today was special. We had the opportunity to visit for a few minutes and talk about what vision or expectations we have of such blessings. It was a wonderful conversation. Then he invited Puddin into a chair closer to his recorder, placed his hand upon his head and proceeded to bestow upon him a wonderful blessing. It was a roller coaster of emotion and revelation all at the same time. One would say, "The Spirit was strong." (remember that, it is important) After the blessing, we talked about some of the key points, received a warm hug, and went on with our day.
I am hope I am not sharing anything to personal. If I am, you can tell me and I will remove the post.
Now on to the next event. The Queen spent the last several days of the week with her Young Women at camp. As a member of the Bishopric, I was invited to join them on Friday evening. It was fun. We were chased by smoke, filled with excellent food, and blessed with wonderful companionship.
I have always enjoyed attending these evenings over the years. Each is unique in it's own right, yet they all have the same feel and comfort when you walk a way. As is tradition, we had the opportunity to be instructed, share testimonies, and hear the words of our Bishop. I was impressed. Not everyone was willing or brave enough to stand and share. Some stood boldly and shared their love of getting together with their sisters in the gospel and being fed by each others strengths and talents. Then there was some that stood and fumbled through a series of rambled thoughts, feelings, and witnesses they had received. As the share came to an end, we built banana boats, roasted them in the fire, and parted ways for the evening. One would say, "I felt the Spirit of your testimony." (again, another important point to remember)
Both were wonderful experiences. As I have had the opportunity to ponder them, my mind had been filled with question, wonder, and instruction. Like I said, it may be something that was intended for me, but I am sharing, so just consider it rambling of nothing else.
What I found to be similar from both events was the comments about the Spirit being felt. But if you were to have asked me, I would have probably said the same thing. However, I don't think my experience was the same as others. So I would like to share my learning.
In both meetings, I recognized the presence of the Spirit, but the intensity was not always the same. I took the opportunity to speak to one of the young women who stood and shared a series of rambling thoughts and feelings, nothing really seemed to be all related. But she bore witness of what she knew to be true of the gospel, her Saviour Jesus Christ, and the witnesses she had received. I asked her if she what her impressions were of the Spirit. She said she felt awkward. She said that as she was sitting there, all these thoughts and feelings were filling her mind and heart. She just wanted to get up and share what she knew, felt, and was learning, but when she tried to put it to words, it came out different than what was in her heart and she felt as if maybe she did not have the Spirit with her.
I compared her feelings to those that I experiences with Puddin today. As the blessing was bring pronounced, there were times that I was overwhelmed with emotion and the power of the Spirit, then it seemed to go away. But I did not have the impression that the Spirit had gone. I asked myself what was different? It took me a while but I think I finally started listening to help me understand.
Like this young sister who felt she was just spitting out a random block of words and would say she did not feel the Spirit, she was sharing what she already knew. At those times in the blessing that our Patriarch shared things I already knew about Puddin, the power of the Spirit was not as strong or burning to my spirit, because I had already received that witness.
On the other hand, for those who had not received that witness the power of the Spirit was strong. As I received insight to things I was aware of, but had my eye opened to better, truthful, revelation about Puddin, the Spirit burned inside of me.
Sometimes I think we get the feelings and purposes of the Spirit mixed up in our minds. We see other around us have what appears to be a very spiritual personal experience, yet we don't feel the same. Why? Maybe it is because we already know. We have already had the experience/witness. It was just at different time or different place.
When we stand to share all amazing things we have learned and received, we may see others receiving the same, or maybe not, but we wonder why we are not having the same experience. Is it because we have already received and now we are sharing, as moved upon by the Spirit, and our words are coming out in a way that is meant to reach those who have not yet received.
Think about it. Apply it to your own experience and build upon it. I hope my ramblings will come in handy.
I have had a couple wonderful experiences this week that I am impressed to share/talk about. Maybe the thoughts and feelings I had were personal for me, but I still feel that they might be of benefit for others. Let me start with the most recent.
This morning, I was invited to share special experience with Puddin. He has prepared himself to receive a Patriarchal Blessing. Let me say that going to the Patriarch's home is always a blessing in and of itself, but today was special. We had the opportunity to visit for a few minutes and talk about what vision or expectations we have of such blessings. It was a wonderful conversation. Then he invited Puddin into a chair closer to his recorder, placed his hand upon his head and proceeded to bestow upon him a wonderful blessing. It was a roller coaster of emotion and revelation all at the same time. One would say, "The Spirit was strong." (remember that, it is important) After the blessing, we talked about some of the key points, received a warm hug, and went on with our day.
I am hope I am not sharing anything to personal. If I am, you can tell me and I will remove the post.
Now on to the next event. The Queen spent the last several days of the week with her Young Women at camp. As a member of the Bishopric, I was invited to join them on Friday evening. It was fun. We were chased by smoke, filled with excellent food, and blessed with wonderful companionship.
I have always enjoyed attending these evenings over the years. Each is unique in it's own right, yet they all have the same feel and comfort when you walk a way. As is tradition, we had the opportunity to be instructed, share testimonies, and hear the words of our Bishop. I was impressed. Not everyone was willing or brave enough to stand and share. Some stood boldly and shared their love of getting together with their sisters in the gospel and being fed by each others strengths and talents. Then there was some that stood and fumbled through a series of rambled thoughts, feelings, and witnesses they had received. As the share came to an end, we built banana boats, roasted them in the fire, and parted ways for the evening. One would say, "I felt the Spirit of your testimony." (again, another important point to remember)
Both were wonderful experiences. As I have had the opportunity to ponder them, my mind had been filled with question, wonder, and instruction. Like I said, it may be something that was intended for me, but I am sharing, so just consider it rambling of nothing else.
What I found to be similar from both events was the comments about the Spirit being felt. But if you were to have asked me, I would have probably said the same thing. However, I don't think my experience was the same as others. So I would like to share my learning.
In both meetings, I recognized the presence of the Spirit, but the intensity was not always the same. I took the opportunity to speak to one of the young women who stood and shared a series of rambling thoughts and feelings, nothing really seemed to be all related. But she bore witness of what she knew to be true of the gospel, her Saviour Jesus Christ, and the witnesses she had received. I asked her if she what her impressions were of the Spirit. She said she felt awkward. She said that as she was sitting there, all these thoughts and feelings were filling her mind and heart. She just wanted to get up and share what she knew, felt, and was learning, but when she tried to put it to words, it came out different than what was in her heart and she felt as if maybe she did not have the Spirit with her.
I compared her feelings to those that I experiences with Puddin today. As the blessing was bring pronounced, there were times that I was overwhelmed with emotion and the power of the Spirit, then it seemed to go away. But I did not have the impression that the Spirit had gone. I asked myself what was different? It took me a while but I think I finally started listening to help me understand.
Like this young sister who felt she was just spitting out a random block of words and would say she did not feel the Spirit, she was sharing what she already knew. At those times in the blessing that our Patriarch shared things I already knew about Puddin, the power of the Spirit was not as strong or burning to my spirit, because I had already received that witness.
On the other hand, for those who had not received that witness the power of the Spirit was strong. As I received insight to things I was aware of, but had my eye opened to better, truthful, revelation about Puddin, the Spirit burned inside of me.
Sometimes I think we get the feelings and purposes of the Spirit mixed up in our minds. We see other around us have what appears to be a very spiritual personal experience, yet we don't feel the same. Why? Maybe it is because we already know. We have already had the experience/witness. It was just at different time or different place.
When we stand to share all amazing things we have learned and received, we may see others receiving the same, or maybe not, but we wonder why we are not having the same experience. Is it because we have already received and now we are sharing, as moved upon by the Spirit, and our words are coming out in a way that is meant to reach those who have not yet received.
Think about it. Apply it to your own experience and build upon it. I hope my ramblings will come in handy.
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