Happiness and Joy
Yep, it has been another week. I am back with more words of random rambling.
There are several thought running through my head right now, but will do my best to focus and channel them into something that makes sense. I am going to cheat a little and still some of the wonderful thoughts that were shared with me today in Sacrament Meeting. Now, I just need to figure out where to start.
This month's message from the First Presidency has been intertwined with my thoughts this week. It is all about Happiness, Joy, Being Positive, and such. I love the suggestions shared about how we can get there. I guess the reason I have been so focused on this line of thought is because of one of the scriptures that has been on my mind. 2 Nephi 31:16-17. Verse 16 can leave one feeling a little overwhelmed and sad if one focuses too much on the feelings Satan sends when we think about all that is required to "...endure to the end, in following the example of the Son of the living God..."
How many of you started thinking about all the things you are not doing in your lives that are not in accordance with His example verses thinking about the things you are doing? I know I am guilty. That is Satan and his minions. They are doing all they can to convince you that you are not worthy or able live this way. They repeatedly tell you that because of the things you are not doing, you are not loved.
I have been thinking about this all week. I love that it all came together in Sacrament Meeting today and the sweet reminders that were confirmed by the Spirit. We are loved. Unconditionally, we are loved by a just and merciful Father in Heaven. I truly loved the words and reminders share from Elder Uchtdorf's talk in General Women's conference from a couple years a go. Our Father knows us, is aware of us, is concerned for us, and always seeking ways to show us that loving care. It does not matter where we are in life, where we have been, or what we are doing. His love is always there. It does not change. He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. His love is as well.
However, when we succumb to the temptations, whispering, and wiles of Lucifer and those of our brothers and sisters who follow him, we tend to forget and/or not feel that love. It is when we start believing Satan verses the Lord that we start to lose the happiness and joy talked about in this month's message.
You see, the love is unconditional, but the happiness, joy, peace, and exaltation is not. There are conditions as mentioned in 2 Nephi. We have to Endure to the End. We have to follow/live as and like the Son. Continuing on to verse 17, we must do the things that He did and does. That is why we have been given the plan. If given the choice, we must choose to keep our second estate while in this mortal being. This is often the challenge.
I loved the suggestions given in the New ERA this month for Elder Cook.
There are several thought running through my head right now, but will do my best to focus and channel them into something that makes sense. I am going to cheat a little and still some of the wonderful thoughts that were shared with me today in Sacrament Meeting. Now, I just need to figure out where to start.
This month's message from the First Presidency has been intertwined with my thoughts this week. It is all about Happiness, Joy, Being Positive, and such. I love the suggestions shared about how we can get there. I guess the reason I have been so focused on this line of thought is because of one of the scriptures that has been on my mind. 2 Nephi 31:16-17. Verse 16 can leave one feeling a little overwhelmed and sad if one focuses too much on the feelings Satan sends when we think about all that is required to "...endure to the end, in following the example of the Son of the living God..."
How many of you started thinking about all the things you are not doing in your lives that are not in accordance with His example verses thinking about the things you are doing? I know I am guilty. That is Satan and his minions. They are doing all they can to convince you that you are not worthy or able live this way. They repeatedly tell you that because of the things you are not doing, you are not loved.
I have been thinking about this all week. I love that it all came together in Sacrament Meeting today and the sweet reminders that were confirmed by the Spirit. We are loved. Unconditionally, we are loved by a just and merciful Father in Heaven. I truly loved the words and reminders share from Elder Uchtdorf's talk in General Women's conference from a couple years a go. Our Father knows us, is aware of us, is concerned for us, and always seeking ways to show us that loving care. It does not matter where we are in life, where we have been, or what we are doing. His love is always there. It does not change. He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. His love is as well.
However, when we succumb to the temptations, whispering, and wiles of Lucifer and those of our brothers and sisters who follow him, we tend to forget and/or not feel that love. It is when we start believing Satan verses the Lord that we start to lose the happiness and joy talked about in this month's message.
You see, the love is unconditional, but the happiness, joy, peace, and exaltation is not. There are conditions as mentioned in 2 Nephi. We have to Endure to the End. We have to follow/live as and like the Son. Continuing on to verse 17, we must do the things that He did and does. That is why we have been given the plan. If given the choice, we must choose to keep our second estate while in this mortal being. This is often the challenge.
I loved the suggestions given in the New ERA this month for Elder Cook.
- Avoid Distractions - again another reminder today. Satan's greatest weapon is to convince us to put it off. i.e. read your scriptures, say your prayers, go to church/temple, do what is right...LATER. He is always whispering that you can put it off. You will be happier if you don't.
- Don't Focus on Your Imperfections - we all have them. We are here to learn to overcome them. It does not happen over night. It takes time, practice, and sometimes falling and getting back up. Just because we have them does not mean we are a lost cause.
- Don't Compare Yourselves - I was reading a thought from Larry H. Miller who was talking to his son on his death bed. He son was telling his father how much he respected and looked up to him. How he would do his best to make him proud, but mostly he would spend the rest of his life comparing himself to his father. Larry's response was "Don't! Don't measure yourself against me. I don't know if you are more than I am or less than I am - I really don't - but it is not important. Measure yourself against yourself. It is enough." WOW! That is all the Lord expects of us. That we are striving to be better today than we were yesterday. Not that we are better than someone else.
I hope these thoughts have helped you as much as they have helped me.
On with the week:
We celebrated Epiphany this week. How many of you remembered? I remembered, but did not do all that I could have. Some shared their traditions of the day with me. They were inspiring. I should be more willing to do the same.
It also snowed this week. I went out and shoveled the heavy snow. It was not fun. When I was done, I looked at the blower in my garage that was not working the last time I used it and decided to see what was wrong with it. Guess what, it started right up. I took it for a test run and plowed through the neighbors sidewalks, cleared a path for the disabled child's wheelchair across the street, and started on a driveway when it just stopped working again. I can't figure it out. Maybe it is old like me and has to take a nap more frequently.
The Queen took down Christmas, worked, ran our house hold, served in her calling, planned gifts for her girls, and managed to grab a few hours of sleep in the middle of it all. Someday I will be able to keep up with her. I just need to keep working on it.
The Professor jumped back into the kiddie pool with recess duty. It was eventful. She also managed to get a package in the mail everyday. It appears she is spending the funds given on gift cards.
Tall Man started his new job, spent oodles of money getting his car repaired, opened a show, and moved north. Wow, that was a busy week.
SnackPack swam a 23. I saw it. I believe he can do it again. I believe in him. He needs to continue believing in him. He also returned to a semi-regular routine. The term ends on Thursday. It will change things up a little next week, but for the most part he is rolling again and picking up speed.
So there you go. It has been a good week. I hope it has been for you as well. Until we do it again next week. Be Happy!
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