Being Chosen vs. Being a Chooser
I am going to put this together a little bit earlier in the day today. It has been crazy all ready and if we are going to get ready for Christmas, I am sure it will get more chaotic before the day ends. That and I want to share some of my thoughts while they are still fresh on my mind.
I love personal revelation, can I just say that? And after some that I have had this week, I am starting to take a different approach to it. Or I am going to try to take a different approach, mentally, spiritually, and temporally. I hope that some of my rambling may give you food for thought as well.
I started the week with John 15:16. This is a generally looked at as a calling/message to missionaries, apostles, and such, but what if it isn't? What if we look it as a message to all of us? We have not chosen Him, but he has chosen us. This message/thought is shared in Abraham 3:21-26. We are here on earth, we have kept our first estate. We are in the second phase of that choosing. Are we living as a chosen one?
As my week progressed, I read an article from the New ERA, "Giver or Getter". The questions asked in this article have me thinking a great deal about the attitude in which I approach the Lord, my callings, and more importantly personal revelation/experiences. In the verses in Abraham, we are told that part of this second estate is to be tested and tried to see whether we will be obedient.
This thought has hung with me until this morning in Ward Council. A brother shared a message that had recently come to him. He was taught about the individual limitations we put upon ourselves because of the approach we take with some of our personal tests and trails. He shared a story about how his son, serving a mission, was a little bit confused and started doubting his spiritual in tune ability due to limitations or expectations he had recently had. He said that he and his companion were out and about when he turned and saw a family walking down a side road. He suddenly had the impression that he needed to go and talk to this family. But they were pretty far down the street and by the time they caught up to them, they would either be at their house, in their car, or something or another. The young elder blew it off.
They continued riding to their destination, but he could not shake the impression. Finally, he stopped, shared with is companion, and they decided to go back. Believe it or not, they caught up to the family. When they approached them with their message, the were verbally accosted. The man of the family was down right rude. The elders went a way scratching their heads and questioning. They truly felt their were getting spiritual impression to talk to this family, but it did not go any where near how they expected it to go. So, why? Was it really a moment of guidance or revelation? They questioned it. They did not view it as a success.
Now I go back to the article of "Giver or Getter", I like to say "Chooser or Chosen". Did they limit themselves with the wrong vision of success? What were they expecting? Did they ever think that this might have just been one of those tests to see if they would listen and act upon a prompting of the spirit? This they did. Why wasn't it viewed as a personal success?
This thought goes down so many other scenarios. How many of us have been in similar situations? We have been impressed to say something, do something, be some where, go some where, and when we follow, it all comes out jumbled, falls a part, doesn't go as planned, or ends up being a dead end. By what standards are we judging the success?
How about personal repentance? Does it apply here? How many of us, or those you know, have made mistakes through out the week or in our lives and suddenly we don't think we/they are worthy to receive blessings from God. So we just give up, stop moving forward, stop striving, and become damned. Why aren't we viewing the success in obedience, basking in the power of the Atonement, or truly seeking assistance from those who have been chosen as common judges? Do we have the keys to determine if we are worthy or not worthy? If we have question, shouldn't we go to those who do have the keys?
An analogy was shared about a sister who was asked to clean the temple. She arranged her schedule and sacrificed time to be there. While she was cleaning, she noticed that the clothes she was using did not seem to be an dirtier than when she started. She set limits/expectations and started questioning. Why am I here? What is the point? Why am I wasting time? Then a temple worker pointed out that the reason we have cleaning assignments at the temple is not to remove the dirt, but to prevent it from accumulating dirt.
Isn't that what partaking of the Sacrament does for us each week? Are we limiting our experience by approaching it with wrong questions/expectations?
I encourage each of you to join me in changing the approach. Start living as a Giver/Chosen not a Getter/Chooser. Where we are, what we are doing, and the successes we have all depend upon the approach and expectation. Strive to see each as the Lord would see it.
We have not chosen Him, but He has chosen us.
Ok, moving on.
This week has been kind of crazy.
The Queen continues to run circles around me. She was on vacation this week, but still got up each morning before the sun rose and took off in a sprint. There were several nights this week that I was dragging myself to bed and she was still running. She is amazing.
I thought I would be able to take a couple days off at the end of the week to at least spend time with her, but she just kept on running. Then my schedule was changed and I ended up in Chicago instead of hanging out. We will see if I can make any of it productive in the week to come.
The Professor had her own little personal party after completing a term of class. I mentioned last week that she turned everything in, but that did not stop her. She spent every possible moment trying to keep up with the Queen in getting ready for the Holiday.
Tall Man landed a job up north. He starts in a couple weeks. This will be more convenient for school. Now it is on to registration and fun. He spends every waking moment on the phone and preparing for the Holiday. His virtual side kick came home from school yesterday, so I am sure this week will be spent with her in person instead of on the phone.
SnackPack just keeps on surfing. I try to keep up with him most of the time. Regions were this weekend, but I was in Chicago. At one point, I was very sad to learn that the Holiday Performances were going to be on Thursday, but then he got excused to attend a premier event of the "Force". I was glad I was home to see him perform in Sacrament Meeting today.
There you go, week in a shell. Hope none of you have nut allergies.
Have a blessed week. Please remember the true reason for the season, #ASaviorIsBorn and share it.
Merry Christmas!
I love personal revelation, can I just say that? And after some that I have had this week, I am starting to take a different approach to it. Or I am going to try to take a different approach, mentally, spiritually, and temporally. I hope that some of my rambling may give you food for thought as well.
I started the week with John 15:16. This is a generally looked at as a calling/message to missionaries, apostles, and such, but what if it isn't? What if we look it as a message to all of us? We have not chosen Him, but he has chosen us. This message/thought is shared in Abraham 3:21-26. We are here on earth, we have kept our first estate. We are in the second phase of that choosing. Are we living as a chosen one?
As my week progressed, I read an article from the New ERA, "Giver or Getter". The questions asked in this article have me thinking a great deal about the attitude in which I approach the Lord, my callings, and more importantly personal revelation/experiences. In the verses in Abraham, we are told that part of this second estate is to be tested and tried to see whether we will be obedient.
This thought has hung with me until this morning in Ward Council. A brother shared a message that had recently come to him. He was taught about the individual limitations we put upon ourselves because of the approach we take with some of our personal tests and trails. He shared a story about how his son, serving a mission, was a little bit confused and started doubting his spiritual in tune ability due to limitations or expectations he had recently had. He said that he and his companion were out and about when he turned and saw a family walking down a side road. He suddenly had the impression that he needed to go and talk to this family. But they were pretty far down the street and by the time they caught up to them, they would either be at their house, in their car, or something or another. The young elder blew it off.
They continued riding to their destination, but he could not shake the impression. Finally, he stopped, shared with is companion, and they decided to go back. Believe it or not, they caught up to the family. When they approached them with their message, the were verbally accosted. The man of the family was down right rude. The elders went a way scratching their heads and questioning. They truly felt their were getting spiritual impression to talk to this family, but it did not go any where near how they expected it to go. So, why? Was it really a moment of guidance or revelation? They questioned it. They did not view it as a success.
Now I go back to the article of "Giver or Getter", I like to say "Chooser or Chosen". Did they limit themselves with the wrong vision of success? What were they expecting? Did they ever think that this might have just been one of those tests to see if they would listen and act upon a prompting of the spirit? This they did. Why wasn't it viewed as a personal success?
This thought goes down so many other scenarios. How many of us have been in similar situations? We have been impressed to say something, do something, be some where, go some where, and when we follow, it all comes out jumbled, falls a part, doesn't go as planned, or ends up being a dead end. By what standards are we judging the success?
How about personal repentance? Does it apply here? How many of us, or those you know, have made mistakes through out the week or in our lives and suddenly we don't think we/they are worthy to receive blessings from God. So we just give up, stop moving forward, stop striving, and become damned. Why aren't we viewing the success in obedience, basking in the power of the Atonement, or truly seeking assistance from those who have been chosen as common judges? Do we have the keys to determine if we are worthy or not worthy? If we have question, shouldn't we go to those who do have the keys?
An analogy was shared about a sister who was asked to clean the temple. She arranged her schedule and sacrificed time to be there. While she was cleaning, she noticed that the clothes she was using did not seem to be an dirtier than when she started. She set limits/expectations and started questioning. Why am I here? What is the point? Why am I wasting time? Then a temple worker pointed out that the reason we have cleaning assignments at the temple is not to remove the dirt, but to prevent it from accumulating dirt.
Isn't that what partaking of the Sacrament does for us each week? Are we limiting our experience by approaching it with wrong questions/expectations?
I encourage each of you to join me in changing the approach. Start living as a Giver/Chosen not a Getter/Chooser. Where we are, what we are doing, and the successes we have all depend upon the approach and expectation. Strive to see each as the Lord would see it.
We have not chosen Him, but He has chosen us.
Ok, moving on.
This week has been kind of crazy.
The Queen continues to run circles around me. She was on vacation this week, but still got up each morning before the sun rose and took off in a sprint. There were several nights this week that I was dragging myself to bed and she was still running. She is amazing.
I thought I would be able to take a couple days off at the end of the week to at least spend time with her, but she just kept on running. Then my schedule was changed and I ended up in Chicago instead of hanging out. We will see if I can make any of it productive in the week to come.
The Professor had her own little personal party after completing a term of class. I mentioned last week that she turned everything in, but that did not stop her. She spent every possible moment trying to keep up with the Queen in getting ready for the Holiday.
Tall Man landed a job up north. He starts in a couple weeks. This will be more convenient for school. Now it is on to registration and fun. He spends every waking moment on the phone and preparing for the Holiday. His virtual side kick came home from school yesterday, so I am sure this week will be spent with her in person instead of on the phone.
SnackPack just keeps on surfing. I try to keep up with him most of the time. Regions were this weekend, but I was in Chicago. At one point, I was very sad to learn that the Holiday Performances were going to be on Thursday, but then he got excused to attend a premier event of the "Force". I was glad I was home to see him perform in Sacrament Meeting today.
There you go, week in a shell. Hope none of you have nut allergies.
Have a blessed week. Please remember the true reason for the season, #ASaviorIsBorn and share it.
Merry Christmas!
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