Ask, it will be given
I find myself with an hour of time, but with much on my mind. I hope that you don't mind spending it with me. Also, I know that some are reporting that you are or were not getting these posts over the past few weeks. If you are getting them now, please let me know.
I received a message from an inspired man this week. It opened my eyes to something that I had never really thought about. If you are beyond me in this thought process, then ignore my lack of understanding. If you have not, I hope that it will be something you think of on a daily basis from here on out.
The message came in the form of a Mormon Message. Elder Christofferson shared an experience that happened in his life when he was a younger man. He found himself in a position that was dark and fearsome. He did not know how to remove himself from the place. As his world got darker, he became for fearful and eventually turned to the Lord. He, like most of us, asked the Lord to just take the darkness away. He wanted the problem/situation he was in to just be gone. He prayed fervently for days that this would happen. At times he wondered if the Lord was really listening to him and questioned why he was not just freeing him from this burden.
Then he began to realize that little things were happening. Some days he would pray and receive the feeling of peace. "It was going to be OK". There were days that he prayed and his mind was filled with ideas of change that he could implement in his life to make the situation brighter. The Lord was listening, he just not answering the plea the way Elder Christofferson wanted him to answer.
Over time, Elder Christofferson's prayers changed. He realized that the Lord was providing for him each day. He was giving him just enough to make it until tomorrow. He did not need to worry about what was going to happen next week, next month, a year from now or even 10 years from now. As long as he partook of each days gift and applied the basic principles of the gospel to his life, he would be fine. He referred to these offerings as his Daily Bread.
As I pondered this message, I turned to Matthew 6:9-13. It took on new meaning to me as I found myself kneeling in prayer this week.
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. (We are asking Him to bring His will upon us. Do I do this? Am I willing to conform my will to His? Am I doing as He would have me do on a daily basis? Am I bringing His Kingdom into my life here on earth?) Give us this day our daily bread. (or Give us this day our portion of the Atonement. Feed me, strengthen me, provide me the energy, strength, power, will, desire, and ability to change.) And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. (again, we ask for the power of the Atonement. I am weak. I make mistakes. Please forgive me. Help me to forgive myself. Help me forgive others who are struggling themselves.) And suffer us not to be led into temptation, but deliver us from evil: (With this bread, this forgiveness, your loving mercy, help me to overcome the weakness that beset me. Help me be stronger that I may do hard things. As I develop and grow, that I may be able to do harder things. But today, please give me my daily dose of bread) For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
My mind turned to the children of Israel wandering in the desert. On a daily basis they were provide with Manna, daily bread, that would help them along the way. For 40 years, they were given. For 40 years, they strive to make change. It did not happen overnight, but the Lord never gave up on them. He continued to provide. He continued to give as long as they were willing to receive. How about you? Are you willing to make the changes? Are you willing to do His will? The promise land will be your reward. I know it will be worth it.
Now on to the week. What a crazy, crazy week. I am still doing my best to hold on to this emotional roller coaster called work. Each day I put on my happy face, know where the all quiet empty rooms in the building are that I can fall to my knees, and spend a great deal of time spinning. It helps when the emotion starts to overflow. Then I come home, curl up in a ball, and pray for bread. It is not happening the way I envisioned, but we will figure it out.
The Queen had a better week. She did have to drive into the office this week while they worked on the phone lines. It seems to have helped. Now we just need to figure out how to translate Microsoft Office product to English from Spanish. We can get through most of them, but not all. There is always something to add variety to life.
The Professor did her best to enjoy the last week before returning to boot camp. Tomorrow she goes full force again. She made it through several stories, novels, and books. It looks like her calendar is also going to be filled with several new items as she works in her new calling. It will be good for her to counsel and lead in the ward.
Tall Man does live. I have seen evidence of his body imprinted on his bed. However, that is about all I have seen. Or at least it feels like it anyway. He is really enjoying his new employment. I am not sure how many more weeks of training he has, but he did get his first check, so we know he is working.
Puddin continues to make the drive into town. It appears to be a slow season in the center right now. Not many jobs are coming through. He is doing he best to keep himself up and productive during the down time. Down time is the biggest challenge. He does the same thing a home. He and I have been trying to find time to do stuff in the evenings, but I get caught up in meetings he does not want to go to. He has become very familiar with Gotham and Warfare.
SnackPack has been battling the crud that Puddin suffered from last weekend. We see bits and pieces of him long enough to know he is alive as well, but just keeps going. Practice, school, work, homework, hang time, and more. He needs to slow down a little, but not while giving up school or work to do it. He will find the balance.
That is about it for the week. Change and development continue to happen around the little village we call home. The 201 is open in both directions, but with limited space. There are new edifices going up all the time. It will be interesting to see what the new structures grow up to be. I know what SnackPack is hoping they will become....Quiero...?
Have wonderful week.
I received a message from an inspired man this week. It opened my eyes to something that I had never really thought about. If you are beyond me in this thought process, then ignore my lack of understanding. If you have not, I hope that it will be something you think of on a daily basis from here on out.
The message came in the form of a Mormon Message. Elder Christofferson shared an experience that happened in his life when he was a younger man. He found himself in a position that was dark and fearsome. He did not know how to remove himself from the place. As his world got darker, he became for fearful and eventually turned to the Lord. He, like most of us, asked the Lord to just take the darkness away. He wanted the problem/situation he was in to just be gone. He prayed fervently for days that this would happen. At times he wondered if the Lord was really listening to him and questioned why he was not just freeing him from this burden.
Then he began to realize that little things were happening. Some days he would pray and receive the feeling of peace. "It was going to be OK". There were days that he prayed and his mind was filled with ideas of change that he could implement in his life to make the situation brighter. The Lord was listening, he just not answering the plea the way Elder Christofferson wanted him to answer.
Over time, Elder Christofferson's prayers changed. He realized that the Lord was providing for him each day. He was giving him just enough to make it until tomorrow. He did not need to worry about what was going to happen next week, next month, a year from now or even 10 years from now. As long as he partook of each days gift and applied the basic principles of the gospel to his life, he would be fine. He referred to these offerings as his Daily Bread.
As I pondered this message, I turned to Matthew 6:9-13. It took on new meaning to me as I found myself kneeling in prayer this week.
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. (We are asking Him to bring His will upon us. Do I do this? Am I willing to conform my will to His? Am I doing as He would have me do on a daily basis? Am I bringing His Kingdom into my life here on earth?) Give us this day our daily bread. (or Give us this day our portion of the Atonement. Feed me, strengthen me, provide me the energy, strength, power, will, desire, and ability to change.) And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. (again, we ask for the power of the Atonement. I am weak. I make mistakes. Please forgive me. Help me to forgive myself. Help me forgive others who are struggling themselves.) And suffer us not to be led into temptation, but deliver us from evil: (With this bread, this forgiveness, your loving mercy, help me to overcome the weakness that beset me. Help me be stronger that I may do hard things. As I develop and grow, that I may be able to do harder things. But today, please give me my daily dose of bread) For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
My mind turned to the children of Israel wandering in the desert. On a daily basis they were provide with Manna, daily bread, that would help them along the way. For 40 years, they were given. For 40 years, they strive to make change. It did not happen overnight, but the Lord never gave up on them. He continued to provide. He continued to give as long as they were willing to receive. How about you? Are you willing to make the changes? Are you willing to do His will? The promise land will be your reward. I know it will be worth it.
Now on to the week. What a crazy, crazy week. I am still doing my best to hold on to this emotional roller coaster called work. Each day I put on my happy face, know where the all quiet empty rooms in the building are that I can fall to my knees, and spend a great deal of time spinning. It helps when the emotion starts to overflow. Then I come home, curl up in a ball, and pray for bread. It is not happening the way I envisioned, but we will figure it out.
The Queen had a better week. She did have to drive into the office this week while they worked on the phone lines. It seems to have helped. Now we just need to figure out how to translate Microsoft Office product to English from Spanish. We can get through most of them, but not all. There is always something to add variety to life.
The Professor did her best to enjoy the last week before returning to boot camp. Tomorrow she goes full force again. She made it through several stories, novels, and books. It looks like her calendar is also going to be filled with several new items as she works in her new calling. It will be good for her to counsel and lead in the ward.
Tall Man does live. I have seen evidence of his body imprinted on his bed. However, that is about all I have seen. Or at least it feels like it anyway. He is really enjoying his new employment. I am not sure how many more weeks of training he has, but he did get his first check, so we know he is working.
Puddin continues to make the drive into town. It appears to be a slow season in the center right now. Not many jobs are coming through. He is doing he best to keep himself up and productive during the down time. Down time is the biggest challenge. He does the same thing a home. He and I have been trying to find time to do stuff in the evenings, but I get caught up in meetings he does not want to go to. He has become very familiar with Gotham and Warfare.
SnackPack has been battling the crud that Puddin suffered from last weekend. We see bits and pieces of him long enough to know he is alive as well, but just keeps going. Practice, school, work, homework, hang time, and more. He needs to slow down a little, but not while giving up school or work to do it. He will find the balance.
That is about it for the week. Change and development continue to happen around the little village we call home. The 201 is open in both directions, but with limited space. There are new edifices going up all the time. It will be interesting to see what the new structures grow up to be. I know what SnackPack is hoping they will become....Quiero...?
Have wonderful week.
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