Showing posts with label love. Show all posts
Showing posts with label love. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 8, 2020

Camouflage

As I sat down to write today, I wondered, what could I possibly have to teach to such a strong and righteous group of people that they don't already know, or that they don't already do. And I answered myself saying nothing. There is nothing I could possibly teach them, for they have taught me.

Then I wondered what I could possibly share with them that could strengthen them or help them through the trying times that we now face. And again, I answered myself saying, nothing, for if ever a people so valiantly have endured it is for sure them.

So I said to myself, what I would like to do is to convince them of their strength, and righteousness; that they may see how the trial of their faith has brought them forward, for they are a humble people and boast not in their hearts but approach their days in a spirit of learning and love; yet, how could I do something like that? Just about everything that I could say to them I have learned because of them. So at a loss as to where to start, I began a study, in hopes that my goal would be met, and you the reader, the listener, would see the impact of the endurance of the trial of your faith, not just upon yourselves, but upon all those whom you come in contact; personally, through social media, in your work and family lives, in the many ways you live your days coming in contact with the children of God.

In my study, I read a passage from Elder Neil L. Andersen Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles stating:  "Fiery trials are designed to make you stronger, but they have the potential to diminish or even destroy your trust in the Son of God and to weaken your resolve to keep your promises to Him. These trials are often camouflaged, making them difficult to identify. They take root in our weaknesses, our vulnerabilities, our sensitivities, or in those things that matter most to us." 

I like the way Elder Andersen stated that trials are often camouflaged making them difficult to identify and that the root in our weaknesses and vulnerabilities, sensitivities, or in those things that matter most to us because I think that is the most qualifying trail. We expect to have hard times when we are facing pandemics, facing protests, and the falling apart of our country.  We know these things are to come, and we face these trials with great strength and resolve we are valiant in remembering our God, for these trials are prophesied trials, and though, they do take us off guard, we come back and face them knowing that He has our back and come what may, in the end, it will work out for it is in His plan.

But what about those things that are not prophesied, that are not public but personal and hit us below the belt when we least expect it.   What about those things that are camouflaged that we don't recognize right away and hit us in the most sensitive spots? How do we endure then?  And how do we endure not only then but then during pandemics and war?  How do we remain “steadfast and immovable” (Alma 1:25) during a trial of faith when everything hits us all at once, public and private?

As you know, I have spent the past five and a half months living in Iowa to help the family.  I left for Iowa with a glad heart and full of my strength ready to face new challenges and serve in whatever way the Lord would desire of me.  Little did I know what he desired of me would be a very real and intense trial of my faith. 

I found that not only Satan, but personal feelings, things that seem normal and just part of life; can combine against us during tough times, and we may find ourselves in a place of depression, embarrassment, or sorrow; coupled with a feeling of neediness, aloneness, and even despair.  These are all the things I felt at one point or another during my time away, and it was a struggle at times to keep my head above water and my heart correctly in the game.  I know that we have all been in this place at one time or another, or maybe you are here now, so the question again is, how do we survive. 

Elder Anderson also taught that: "When faced with a trial of faith—whatever you do, you don’t step away from the Church! Distancing yourself from the kingdom of God during a trial of faith is like leaving the safety of a secure storm cellar just as the tornado comes into view.  It is within the sanctuary of the Church that we protect our faith. Meeting together with others who believe, we pray and find answers to our prayers; we worship through music, share testimony of the Savior, serve one another, and feel the Spirit of the Lord. We partake of the sacrament, receive the blessings of the priesthood, and attend the temple. The Lord declared, “In the ordinances … , the power of godliness is manifest” (D&C 84:20). When you are faced with a test of faith, stay within the safety and security of the household of God. There is always a place for you here. No trial is so large we can’t overcome it together (see Mosiah 18:8–10).  

But what if the tornado that hits is a quarantine? How can we face our trials together and not step away from the church when there is no church? 

In my time in Iowa, I was a member of a lovely tiny little branch.  I had barely gotten started with membership and serving in a new calling when pandemic and quarantine hit and I quickly found myself alone, in the gospel, as my family are not active members.  The branch tried but it was small and I didn't hear from anyone aside from email messages from the stake.  I had no priesthood in the home to help with sacrament, blessings or other needs and at this time none could be offered as church members were not allowed in the home where I was staying, and as an essential worker my ministering priesthood holder's family was not comfortable with me in their home so, I struggled.  Even to keep the Sabbath was a great task as I was caught in the middle of family and faith and I found myself having to make tough choices which at times were very painful and I was filled with all the emotions of despair. 

I felt bad because I couldn't partake of the sacrament.  And Satan used this to try and make me disappointed with my branch for not being more proactive.  But instead of letting that fester, I kicked it out by reading the sacrament prayer to Heavenly Father each week, personally, as if I was participating and praying to Him in a spirit of repentance and gratitude dedicating myself weekly to Him and praying for strength. I also prayed for my little branch, the leadership, and priesthood that they may be strengthened and have the help they need to help others. 

I was then hit with aloneness as my little branch didn't really have a social media gathering, a very small number of us posted to the branch page, but there was not "gathering" on zoom, or even through apps.  We didn't really communicate other than like buttons and a comment here and there.  I tried a couple of times to get something going but it didn't work and so Satan came to tell me I should feel sorry for myself because I was alone and be upset because I had no phone calls to check on me.  But it just wasn't right and I couldn't allow myself to feel that way and instead of letting it fester I quickly extinguished the fire by praying for those who would have served me if they could for they too were in a terrible state.  I chose to pray mightily making it not about me, but about we, and other than small disappointment I was okay and I felt strengthened and even happy.  I found that as I daily immersed myself in scripture study, church history study, and family history I was filled with companionship and I was not alone. 

However, the trial was to continue and even grow in intensity as I felt ostracized by my family members who are no longer of my faith.  It was a most difficult and trying time as it wasn't expected and took me quite off guard.  Sometimes I was picked on with jokes concerning my principles, other times if I mentioned an event or thought I was questioned fiercely concerning church history or doctrine; and at other times I felt raked over the coals for participating or standing for what I believed was true or for what I needed to do.  Satan surely came then blasting my thoughts and feelings of defensiveness, despair, pain, and sorrow.  However, I just couldn't let him have this one, I had to fight and find a way to blend and love my family without leaving behind the principles I hold dear.  After a couple of particularly heated discussions and events, I found myself on my knees praying desperately for help for I was at a complete loss.  I was lead to approach my family asking for forgiveness for my defensiveness, and seclusion and I began to serve them, even on the sabbath, in the best way that I could without disrespecting my principles or theirs.  Things immediately got better and there began mutual respect that allowed us each to continue to worship at home in our different ways without feeling bad.  

But then I felt embarrassed and ashamed.  And believe it or not, it was because of the blog that I write for Come Follow Me.  After leaving and having my church records transferred and accepting a new calling, I was released by default from the position of Gospel Doctrine Teacher and I struggled greatly with feeling as if I had no right to post a blog when it wasn't my assigned task to do so.  Satan came then, in a camouflage, telling me that I might be overstepping my bounds, that I might appear as boasting in myself, or that I might be pushing myself and writings on others when it wasn't my place to do so.  This was a great struggle for me and I wrestled with it for many weeks.  But Heavenly Father reminded me through my heartfelt prayers that I wasn't writing for fame or blog hits, I was writing for Him and it mattered not whether one person read or many read, that preparing the lesson each week, was like going to church.  So each Sunday morning, I prayerfully went to church and wrote the blog, and learned many things and cried, and my heart was filled, and then....I posted it...and prayed that it would help someone else as it had helped me and that I would not be seen as boasting but as a humble student sharing what I had learned so we could all "go to Church" and be connected with the spirit. After this, Many blog hits came, many read and some even commented, liked, and shared and I was greatly humbled for even in quarantine I was able to serve. Then interestingly enough, some weeks later, I had a dream, and in the dream, I was being asked to teach again.  The following week, just as I was preparing to come home, I had a phone call and was asked to teach the zoom Gospel Doctrine Class for my homeward; and I cried....

Though I experienced many things in my stay away from home I must say the grand finale was fear.  COVID 19 is most definitely a scare tactic and a good one, however, at first I was not fearful for I followed the admonition the Prophet and I was careful with masks and distance and cleaning.  I was even blessed with a job where I had little one to one contact with others but for my daughter, it was not so and she and I worried daily of exposure, and then... it came.  I had been in direct contact on more than one occasion and my daughter had indirect contact and suddenly, I was terrified, for both of us.  What if we were positive, what if we had taken this home to our family, and the what if's kept coming and coming and I began to panic.  We started our self-quarantine and qualified for testing and talk about terrifying and traumatic and I am a healthcare worker.  Yet I've never experienced anything like what I did with testing and waiting.  This one really hit me hard, and the fear was almost overwhelming,  with the potential to take me down. I fasted and prayed in a way that I never have before and asked others to pray for us.  Overtime my prayers developed into not just a fasting and prayer to be negative and get results quickly but it was for His will.  I found that He had given me the strength to accept whatever should come, even though I was scared.  I knew he would help me do whatever I had to do and my prayers and fasting grew into not so much for myself but for my daughter and her family that they would be spared.  When our test results came in and read negative I cried like I've never cried before for both of us and I was immensely grateful for such a great blessing. 

These are just a few of the things I experienced in my time away,  they are not grand stories, but they are I think, typical stories of how we are tested and tried in ways that are camouflaged and have the ability to weaken us. 

While away I learned how to rely solely on the Lord, for there was no one else.  I could not receive a blessing or even treatment for my severe recurrent migraines, yet seeking the priesthood from the Lord through fasting and prayer I was healed.  I was spared from sickness, I was spared from harm's way, I was blessed immensely with the things that I needed and even wanted such as acceptance into a nursing program and a huge scholarship to be able to accept.  I found that my sole and complete reliance on Christ himself through the father was a game-changer.  I found strength, I found joy, I found the ability to not panic, to not be needy, to not have to seek the approval of others, but to live solely through and for Him.  I say this because I don't think I had ever solely relied on him in this way for I've always had access to others to lift me up, to care for me, to bless me, to see that my tender feelings were not hurt, to walk me through the many trials of my faith.  But this time, it was just me and Him.

So how do we overcome the trial of our faith in troubled times, what do you do when it's just you and the Lord, and all things are hitting us at once.  We go to church, even when we can't.  We humble ourselves in heartfelt, meaningful prayer, and/or fasting.  We communicate with others of our faith, of our wards and branches, and participate in zoom meetings or other activities given to us for our benefit in survival.  We find a base to hold onto by having meaningful scripture study, and not just a read through, for we are in the times where one cannot stand on the testimony of others, we must have our own to survive particularly in a new world of social distancing and war.

During this time I prayed to Father in Heaven to overcome my feelings of low self-worth and self-esteem, I prayed to overcome the neediness I felt and to be strong in service to others, I had to remember that the Lord wants us to be happy. He doesn’t “play tricks” on us to get us to doubt the gospel.  Choosing to choose the right in a time of turmoil and adversity will make us happy, It made me happy.  It made me humble, it made me grateful, it made me stronger.  It renewed in me the spirit of the Holy Ghost that I had a baptism and I became again even a new woman. 

How do you remain “steadfast and immovable” during a trial of faith? You immerse yourself in the very things that helped build your core of faith: you exercise faith in Christ, you pray, you ponder the scriptures, you repent, you attend church, even in quarantine and take the sacrament even if/when you can't.  You keep the commandments, and you serve others to the best of your ability.  This is what we need to focus on today, this is our future, for the trials will surely keep coming, and we must overcome that we may be perfected and stand strong. 

I testify to you that God is real, Jesus Christ is His Son, and they love you.  If we remain steadfast in following the admonition of His prophet and remain true to the gospel principles we will have safety, peace, and even joy, regardless of our circumstances. 

Resources
 How to Face Trials 

www.ChurchofJesusChrist.org

Sunday, March 29, 2015

Do I Really?

We are challenged to daily evolve and become more Christ like in our natures, our decisions, our life.  I use the word evolve because the change that takes place in us as we choose to become Christlike is a growth.  It is a time-consuming event that does not happen in one day but over time as we strengthen our testimonies and desires to life the Gospel.

As I sat in preparation for this weeks blog I thought to my self, what can I say to those who read that will make an impact that may help them in their lives, and what can I study for myself that I too will grow and be better and strengthen.  I watched last night an episode on CNN called finding Christ.  This episode discussed Judas and his betrayal to the Lord, but it also brought note of the great love Christ had for Judas even in knowing that he was betrayed.  It made me think of when Christ was on the cross.  There were many who treated him so badly, and his heart and mind as well as his body must have surely been hurt to the point of unbearable grief, yet his prayer was forgive them father for they know not what they do.  Is it not also true in our everyday lives, that there are many who know not what they do, for one can hardly know without a true testimony.  Even those among us including ourselves, most likely know not what we do until a lesson is taught to us and we then gain a missing perspective.  This thinking led me to  View Matthew 5:

"But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitfully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect"

So I asked myself, "who are mine enemies?"  and I knew immediately who they were for I have struggled with them greatly.

I don't hate my enemies on the contrary I love them, very much so, yet I am afraid of them for the pain they cause me is unbearable.  My enemies are someone I gave my heart to and trusted and accepted as my family, they are someone whom I loved and would do anything for; yet they curse me, and hate me, they lie about me and to me, they hurt my children and family, they make me feel like trash, and when they are near I am lowly to the point of physically keeping my head bowed while sitting in a corner, and I, I am afraid of them. Even at my age of 49 I feel as if I am being bullied and backed into a corner.  Yet my prayers are for them, they are for us both.  I wish them no harm and truly pray for their needs yet I can't talk to them and be around them so I asked myself, " am I truly loving my enemies?"

I read in 1 Samuel 25,  where David demonstrated that he would be kind to Saul, who had tried to kill him then later David and his men asked for some supplies from a man named Nabal; Nabal treated them rudely. In response, David and his men prepared to attack. Nabal’s wife, Abigail, heard about what was happening and acted wisely to keep David from attacking and killing her husband. In the process, David realized his revengeful actions were not right. A short time later, Nabal died and the problem was solved anyway. After Nabal’s death, David married Abigail as one of his wives.

Then I was listening to a conference talk by Howard W Hunter where he said: “How are we supposed to act when we are offended, misunderstood, unfairly or unkindly treated, or sinned against? What are we supposed to do if we are hurt by those we love, or are passed over for promotion, or are falsely accused, or have our motives unfairly assailed?“Do we fight back? Do we send an ever-larger battalion? Do we revert to an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, or … do we come to the realization that this finally leaves us blind and toothless?” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1992, 23; or Ensign, Nov. 1992, 18).

After reading these I realized that I was not so bad, I wished them no harm, I do them no wrong, If they call or need me I am there, and I say nothing about the hurt, pan and anguish.  When I have to see them or they are in need of my help, I always hope that this is the time when things shall pass and we can once again be family.  So yes I say that I do love my enemies but am I wrong because I can't be around them, because I don't call them or visit them, as when I do things go south in a hurry; so I further studied. 
I decided to visit the church website lds.org, and I put in the search engine Bullying.  I did this because I do feel, even at my age, that I have been bullied and it does continue on certain levels.  I have been a victim of bullying since grade school so I am no newcomer to it and the feelings are the same, so I thought there might be some insight with this search.  What I found made me know that the spirit does work and talk to us in all answers we desire. 

The article I read had advice on what to do if your being bullied, and though geared for youth I felt it was most important in adult life too.  It says, "if your being bullied to try to appear calm and confident. Try not to react, because a reaction is what most bullies are hoping for. First try to simply walk away.  To walk away from trouble is not a sign of weakness."  By this I felt that I am not wrong in staying away, I am simply avoiding explosive, hurtful situations that can cause more trouble.  When needed I am there and act in a loving Christlike manner to the best of my ability, but I try to avoid all situations that have the potential to be bad.  So in this sense I feel that yes I do love my enemies but can I do better?  The next section I read answered my question. 

Forgiving a bully does not mean thinking that what he or she did was okay. Nor does it mean you shouldn’t stick up for yourself or that you should pretend the bullying never happened. Forgiving does mean letting go of feelings of bitterness and anger—feelings that will damage you far more than they will affect the bully. The Lord said, “I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men” (D&C 64:10).

And so I had my answer.  I need to let go of the hurt and pain, that's where my fault lies.  The bitterness at what was done to me and still continues to be done to me is so hurtful and I've held onto that hurt for far too long.  If I am truly going to follow Christ as I wish to do, then I must let it go and Let God.......

I must rely on the Savior. His love, and the knowledge that I am a child of Heavenly Father, is my greatest source of self-worth. The Savior knows what it’s like to be beaten and spit upon, but He never forgot who He is—the Son of God. Because of the Atonement, He understands perfectly the hurt I feel, and He can heal me. And now my prayers will indeed be for that healing. 

Not only though, will my prayers be for my own healing but they will be also for my enemies healing and for me to be a better Christian.  It will be my prayer that I will hopefully never hurt anyone as I have been hurt and that I will be more mindful of myself while working and living in the world in terms of how I act, what I say and what I do.  We are in the last days after all, and satan is at his best; it is my prayer that we lean not to his cunning ways. 

“It should come as no surprise that one of the adversary’s tactics in the latter days is stirring up hatred among the children of men. He loves to see us criticize each other, make fun or take advantage of our neighbor’s known flaws, and generally pick on each other. …

“When we truly become converted to Jesus Christ, committed to Him, an interesting thing happens: our attention turns to the welfare of our fellow-man, and the way we treat others becomes increasingly filled with patience, kindness, a gentle acceptance, and a desire to play a positive role in their lives.” —Elder Marvin J. Ashton (1915–94), of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “The Tongue Can Be a Sharp Sword,” Ensign , May 1992, 19, 20.

Today my new leaf turns and my prayers being for healing, and as I heal I hope they too will heal.  For you my friends that are reading, I wish you the same, rely on the savior for all your needs.  Let us strive daily to become more like our Savior.  Just imagine what the world will be like when we all do.....

With Love,
Dixie Dawn


Sunday, March 8, 2015

I Was Just Thinking.....

I was thinking last week that I needed to write a blog entitled "Mormon Dictionary" Because although we as Mormons share with other Christian faiths a vocabulary of biblical terms, we also have a diverse language of our own and sometimes even those who are members don't fully understand some meanings.   I would include those words and phrases that are very and most times uniquely Latter-Day Saint that sometimes have a more in-depth meaning such as free agency, foreordination, plan of salvation, patriarchal blessing, and my personal favorite eternal perspective.

I chose eternal perspective as my favorite "Mormon word" because even the flow of it from the mouth seems to ring out a sound of hope and escape from a world of death and pain.  We are taught, as we come to baptism and membership in the church to think not worldly, or presently, but eternally; that we might develop an eternal perspective to comfort and strengthen us in our daily living until our work upon this earth is done.  How peaceful the thought.... life is not just today or tomorrow, it is, forever....

After thinking about that, and how those two words seem to flow into one, I googled the word perspective just to see what came up and this is what particularly struck me of the several definitions:  "Perspective, a true understanding of the relative importance of things..."  Then I googled the word eternal and got " valid for all time; essentially unchanging..." If we put the two meanings together to fit our word we have, "eternal perspective: a true understanding of the relative importance of things that are unchanging, and valid for all time."  Next I "Mormoniszed it and this is what wI came up with: "eternal perspective: a true understanding and knowledge of the relative importance of the gospel of Jesus Christ which is unchanging and valid for all time."  I say then that this is not only a beautiful Mormon word, but indeed a very important one, one that stems from our core.

As Latter-day saints we belive in forever, and as we grow in our knowledge of the gospel,  it should be our goal to conduct our lives on earth in a forever manner.  Eternal life, when considering an eternal perspective is the greatest of all gifts from God.  It is reserved for those who believe and obey.  It is our hope of a better life to come that enables us to stand against the trials and temptations of the world.  When we gain an eternal perspective of where we come from, why we are here and what lies ahead, we are able to better govern our choices while here on earth.

After pondering these things and this word I'd chosen as my favorite, I thought about myself.  When Sunday comes I am in that thinking mode.  Its time to keep the day holy, to make good choices, to ready myself for spiritual enlightenment.  I gear up for a day of service and love and make my choices based on the eternal principles that I know to be true.  But, what about the rest of the week.  What is it like when I walk out of this building following the meetings and go out into the world to make preparing ourselves to return to Heavenly Father.  What are my thoughts like when faced with decision-making throughout the work week. When faced with big challenges and choices I always remember what I've learned.  I  call upon the Lord and fast and pray and find a way with the help of the Savior to make the right decision, one that will have a positive impact not only in this life but the life to come.   My question for myself then was what about the other choices, how do I react in my day-to-day interactions, are the choices I make, even the little ones,  in keeping with that eternal perspective?  It as while thinking about this and searching and studying that I found a story.....

A certain man, having lived a long and productive life, was getting ready to meet his Maker. One night he had a dream during which he was told that because he had been generous with his considerable worldly wealth he would be permitted to take his most valued possession with him when he passed on to the other world. The next morning, the old man set out to put his affairs in order. He liquidated his assets and gave half of all he had to charities and other good purposes. The other half he had converted into gold bars. Upon his death, Saint Peter met him and welcomed him to his new home. But when he noticed the large and heavy bag that the man was carrying, Saint Peter reminded him that no one could bring any earthly goods with them to this place. The old man described his dream and indicated that he had been given special permission to bring this treasure with him.  “Okay,” said Saint Peter, “if you have permission. But may I see what you chose as your greatest treasure?” When Saint Peter looked into the bag, he stepped back in amazement and questioned, “For your treasure you brought pavement?”

This story is all about how things can be seen while here on earth.  And when thinking about it are we at many times not unlike this man waiting at the pearly gates with his bags of gold.  As humans, we tend sometimes, to cling to things and ideas that seem so valuable and important, yet in the end, may really be quite worthless.  It is very important that we not assume the perspectives of mortality in making decisions that bear our eternity. We need to understand that we cannot do the Lord's work in the worlds way.  If we really believe that God is real, it should begin to change, or determine all of our thinking, and even the small choices can begin to be made with an eternal perspective.

The scriptures can teach us so much about keeping an eternal perspective in our day-to-day interactions and one story that sticks out in my mind is that of Esau in Genesis Chapter 25.  When reading about him, we learn that arriving home one day from a hunting expedition, a famished Esau longed for his brother’s food. “Feed me, I pray thee,” Esau pled (Gen. 25:30). Jacob agreed, but for a price: his brother’s birthright. The scripture says, “Esau despised his birthright” (Gen. 25:34).  and he says, upon request to sell it, "Behold I am at the point to die, what profit shall this birthright do to me?"  If by this Esau saw his birth right as pertaining only to this life, he did not have an eternal perspective which then influenced his choice most negatively.  So let us then ask ourselves daily, are we too selling our birthright with our choices?  Do we have an eternal perspective and does it influence all of our choices, or do we fall for the things of the world forgetting the Lord?

When we remember the Lord and keep the end goal im mind we gain great blessings, gifts and strength.  Daily as we choose with an eternal perspective, we will be blessed and comforted.  We will gain respect for the integrity of our steadfastness in gospel center choices such as not cursing, choosing our activities with care, and watching our temper.  We will have better health in living the word of wisdom, we will gain a personal peace in making and keeping sacred covenants with temple attendance,  Our homes will be a haven as we make them a place where the Lord can dwell.  The service we give to others through magnifying our church callings or otherwise will bring us knowledge and healing.  And Temporal trials, set backs or struggles become an opportunity to develop soul power.  In keeping an eternal perspective with our choices we gain great strength and forge through adversity developing faith that is life changing, that is strong and forever.
As most of you know I have identified myself as a connoisseur of trials.  I have personally lived through struggles that I belive no one should have to go through,  and that I thought I would never survive but when keeping my thoughts upon eternity my choices through these times became different from that of the world and I did survive, in fact I am a new person today because of them.  I really don't want to live through those trials again, but I am truly grateful for the teaching they gave me on keeping my eyes upon eternity always.  Now, my goal is to make my everyday choices even better and to treat them as I do the big things and make a choice based upon eternalness.  When I get cut off in Dallas traffic, when I work with someone who is difficult, when I am aggravated with things at home, when I am faced with temptations of being lax or lazy, when I am depressed and broken-hearted over the challenges of life, It will be my goal to remember to make the choices for the day, for the moment, with an eternal perspective; to choose the right, to choose for eternity and not the world.

It is my desire today, that your favorite Mormon word might to become eternal perspective.  That we may all become more determined to live by Heavenly Father's plan using our moral agency to make decisions based on truth and not on worldly standards.  That as we all draw farther from worldliness we will feel closer to Father in Heaven and more able to be guided by his spirit.

President Spencer W Kimball said, : If we live in such a way that the considerations of eternity press upon us, we will make better decisions."

My prayer is that not one of us will show up with pavement....

With Love, Dixie


Wednesday, February 11, 2015

The Solution

How appropriate for Valentines week :)  I pray your hearts are touched and that love, will grow…..

This is a continuation of The Invitation, a  previously posted blog challenge.  We are now on Day 10.  Please feel free to read the other days and start at anytime! Incorporate this challenge to fit you!  Weekly, monthly, daily however it will work for you!   All material is original blog material written by Dixie. ( I just borrowed the idea ;)   Scripture suggestions are from my personal study, all thoughts and challenges are from my personal history and my future as I too continue to strive for more closeness to Christ. 

Thought for the day:  if we do not love God and neighbor, whatever else we do will be of little eternal consequence.  Every one on the earth, regardless of who they are and what their choices are, is a child of God; and God loves his children unconditionally, it’s just that simple.  But, how do we love? Do we love in return, are we generally accepting of others, regardless of their choices or circumstances?  Or do we find ourselves with resentment, anger, hatred, judgments and the like…..We profess to love God, that is true, however, the real problem lies in loving others, even our enemies.  In order to walk with Jesus, in order to be like him, we must learn to be unconditional, we must learn to love…..

Love is not just an attribute, it is a direct commandment.  “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  “This is the first and great commandment.  “And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.  “On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matt. 22:37–40; see also Gal. 5:14).

Penny in the shoe:  as you feel the penny in your shoe today, let it help you to remember to speak, act and think as Christ, in all your dealings, at work, at home, in traffic, for all things and all the time.

Challenge for the day:  Hold your tongue, change your thoughts, stop being selfish, don’t judge, think before you act, say or do anything that does not promote postiveness, not just with our neighbors and friends but let us practice at home as well, for sometimes, it is harder at home than anywhere…..WALK in the shoes of Christ……

“Hatred is the antithesis of love and Lucifer is its chief perpetrator.  It is he, the enemy of all righteousness and the father of contention, who, “as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour”  Don’t let him win, let us open our hearts and love.  Early one morning in Bucharest, as I jogged through Cismigiu Park, I observed an old tree which was struggling to give new branches—to give new life. The symbol of life is to give. We give so much to family and friends and to community and Church that at times we, as the old tree, may think that life is too difficult—that constantly giving is a burden too heavy to bear. We may think that it would be easier to give up and to do only that which the natural man does. But we should not and will not quit. Why? Because we must continue to give, just like Christ and the old tree gave. As we give just a little bit, let us think of Him who gave His life that we might live.” Elder Robert F. Orton

suggested Scripture study:  ( reading-made easy, just click )   1 Jn. 4:21, 20 

Jornaling Thought:  Do I have a predetermined attitude toward certain people?   Do I have the ability to show ALL my fellow-men unconditional love?

 “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13.)
“If a single man achieves the highest kind of love,” wrote Mahatma Gandhi, “it will be sufficient to neutralize the hate of millions.” (Hermann Hagedorn, Prophet in the Wilderness: The Story of Albert Schweitzer, New York: MacMillan Co., 1948, title page.)

The Solution was Love- Thomas S Monson.
One winter day as Christmas approached, I thought back to an experience from my boyhood. I was just 11. Our Primary president, Melissa, was an older and loving gray-haired lady. One day at Primary, Melissa asked me to stay behind and visit with her. There the two of us sat in the otherwise empty chapel. She placed her arm about my shoulder and began to cry. Surprised, I asked her why she was crying. She replied: “I don’t seem to be able to encourage the Trail Builder boys to be reverent during the opening exercises of Primary. Would you be willing to help me, Tommy?” I promised her I would. Strangely to me, but not to Melissa, that ended any problem of reverence in that Primary. She had gone to the source of the problem—me. The solution was love.
The years flew by. Marvelous Melissa, now in her nineties, lived in a nursing facility in the northwest part of Salt Lake City. Just before Christmas I determined to visit my beloved Primary president. Over the car radio, I heard the song “Hark! the Herald Angels Sing.” I reflected on the visit made by wise men those long years ago. They brought gifts of gold, of frankincense, and of myrrh. I brought only the gift of love and a desire to say “Thank you.”
I found Melissa in the lunchroom. She stared at her plate of food, teasing it with the fork she held in her aged hand. Not a bite did she eat. As I spoke to her, my words were met with a benign but blank stare. I took the fork in hand and began to feed Melissa, talking all the time I did so about her service to boys and girls as a Primary worker. There wasn’t so much as a glimmer of recognition, far less a spoken word. Two other residents of the nursing home gazed at me with puzzled expressions. At last they spoke, saying: “She doesn’t know anyone, even her own family. She hasn’t said a word in all the years she’s been here.”
Lunch ended. My one-sided conversation wound down. I stood to leave. I held her frail hand in mine, gazed into her wrinkled but beautiful countenance, and said: “God bless you, Melissa. Merry Christmas.” Without warning, she spoke the words: “I know you. You’re Tommy Monson, my Primary boy. How I love you.” She pressed my hand to her lips and bestowed on it the kiss of love. Tears coursed down her cheeks and bathed our clasped hands. Those hands, that day, were hallowed by heaven and graced by God. The herald angels did sing. Outside the sky was blue—azure blue. The air was cool—crispy cool. The snow was white—crystal white. The words of the Master seemed to have a personal meaning never before fully felt: “Woman, behold thy son!” And to His disciple, “Behold thy mother!” (John 19:26–27).

With Sincere Love,

Dixie…..

Monday, February 9, 2015

Be not afraid, Only believe......

This is a continuation of The Invitation, a  previously posted blog challenge.  We are now on Day 8.  Please feel free to read the other days and start at anytime! Incorporate this challenge to fit you!  Weekly, monthly, daily however it will work for you!   All material is original blog material written by Dixie. ( I just borrowed the idea ;)   Scripture suggestions are from my personal study, all thoughts and challenges are from my personal history and my future as I too continue to strive for more closeness to Christ.

Thought for the day:  In order to walk with Christ, we must not only appreciate what he has done for us, but also to understand it.  The Atonement, the greatest gift to mankind, its what we need to believe in.  Yet, beliving in and then accepting the Atonment requres a special effort, but it is something we must do, we must not be afraid to believe.  The Atonement is the sacrifice Jesus Christ made to help us overcome sin, adversity, and death. Jesus’s atoning sacrifice took place in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross at Calvary. He paid the price for our sins, took upon Himself death, and was resurrected. The Atonement is the supreme expression of the love of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.  We refer to Christ as our great Redeemer.  In the Guide to the scriptures this is the definition of redeem:  To deliver, to purchase, or to ransom, such as to free a person from bondage by payment. Redemption refers to the atonement of Jesus Christ and to deliverance from sin. Jesus’ atonement redeems all mankind from physical death. Through his atonement, those who have faith in him and who repent are also redeemed from spiritual death.  Atonement in the Bible Dictionary means To reconcile man to God.  As you study and ponder today think about these key principles of the Atonment:

All that is unfair about life can be made right through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

 The Atonment helps us to overcome the “natural man” and become true diciples of Christ.

The Atonment is evidence of the love Heavely Father has for us.

Penny in the shoe: everytime you feel the penny in your shoe today, think about the Atonment, in a real literal sense, think about it as if it actually happened, because it did…..

Challenge for the day:  Prayer.  Humbly pray to Father in Heaven and ask him for a wittness of the truth of the Atonement of his son Jesus Christ, ask him for guidence in understanding.  Think about what the attonment has done for you in your life, or what it can do for you in your life, think about its inclusiveness for loss, disappointment, discouragment, forgiveness, pain, heartache and so on…….

Suggessted Scripture Reading (reading made easy just click to view) :Romans 5:8, 10–11   View Matthew 4   View John 13

Journaling Thought:   Some feel weighed down with discouragement about the circumstances of their personal lives, even when they are making sustained and admirable efforts. Frequently, these feelings of self-disappointment come not from wrongdoing, but from stresses and troubles for which we may not be fully to blame. The Atonement of Jesus Christ applies to these experiences because it applies to all of life. The Savior can wipe away all of our tears, after all we can do.- Bruce C. Hafen

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My Lesson on the Atonement

I had been praying over a period of several weeks to better understand the Atonement of our Savior, Jesus Christ. One morning while helping my young son Kyle get ready for school, I found myself growing impatient as time drew near to catch the school bus and he wasn’t ready. A neighbor girl stopped by to walk with Kyle to the bus stop. Worried she might miss the bus, I sent her ahead. This meant Kyle would also have to walk alone, and he complained bitterly to me.
I knelt down and looked him in the eye and roughly scolded him for taking so long to get ready and then complaining to me about walking alone. As I looked at him, I saw his eyes fill with tears, and he pulled his hat down over his eyes so he wouldn’t have to look at my angry face. I realized how vulnerable and tender children are and how loud and reproving I had been. I stopped and tried to apologize, helped him get his boots on, and sent him off to school.
As I watched this discouraged little person run for the bus stop, I thought of my inappropriate actions. Of all places and all people in this world, home and mother should be a refuge—a place to find peace and love. I berated myself for my carelessness and failings as a mother and felt absolutely terrible.
Suddenly a gentle and loving thought came into my mind: this is what the Atonement is for. Tears came, and I prayed for forgiveness. I pleaded with Heavenly Father to bless my son so he would not suffer for my mistakes. I still felt sad, but I knew that through the Atonement things could be made right again.
Weeks later I shared this insight with a friend. As I talked, I pondered why I had been blessed with such a powerful testimony of the Atonement. Again, a gentle thought came into my mind that this had been in answer to my prayers. “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find” (Matt. 7:7). Even though I had been praying for more understanding of the Atonement, I had failed to see a direct answer to my prayer until that reminder came to me.
I know Heavenly Father loves each of us and wants us to repent of our shortcomings and also to rid ourselves of feelings of discouragement. How grateful I am for the Atonement, which brings healing and forgiveness into our lives


Love From Dixie

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Servant for a Day

This is a continuation of The Invitation, a  previously posted blog challenge.  We are now on Day 3.  Please feel free to read the other days and start at anytime!

 All material is original blog material written by Dixie.  Scripture suggestions are from my personal study, all thoughts and challenges are from my personal history and my future as I too continue to strive for more closeness to Christ.

Thought for the day:  Throughout his life, Jesus was of service.  All he said and did was for others, and he radiated compassionate goodness as He ministered among men.  Among so many things, He brought strength to the limbs of the cripple, sight to the eyes of the blind, hearing to the ears of the deaf, and life to the body of the dead.  His kindness and understanding to the woman taken in adultery taught compassionate understanding.  He spent his time preparing those he ministered to for their journey, and he continues today in are ever needful circumstances to heal, show compassion, and minister to us.  Indeed He is truly of service.  Thus, in striving for perfection, in our need to become more like him, we must gain an understanding and practice the principle of service.  True disciples of Christ do likewise as he does.  It not only will heal our hearts, make us strong, fill us with love and compassion, but it will bring us to our Lord. The Savior said, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35)

Remember:  Keep a penny in your shoe this is for the entire 14 days.  And don't forget to read your scriptures :) you can click the link below on a scripture suggestion to read!

Scripture Reading Suggestions:   Matthew 14:13–2 Matthew 20:27  Matthew 25:31–46 John 9:1–7; 13:4–5, 12–17  Luke 10:25–37  John 13:34–35  Mosiah 2:17  1 Nephi 11:31

Challenge for the day:  Every time you feel the penny in your shoe, look for the chance to do likewise as Christ.  Help someone, give a sincere smile or hello to anyone, sincerely tell the grumply checkout lady to have a good day, visist a nursing home, make a call to someone you know might need it, write a letter to somone in need, open the door for the little lady in front of you, just anything, there are a million tiny little things that are of service and fill our hearts with the spririt of Christ.  It doesn't have to be a big production, for in many cases its the letter recieved or the simple call that lifted someone and even saved them.

Journaling Thoughts:  What would I do today if Jesus were at my side.....

A story of hands:
During the second World War, a quaint littel French Village was bombed by mistake.  The villagers were forewarned by the air raid sirens and cleared out of the village before the bombing started.  Through tears of sadness they sat on a nearby hill all that night and watched the flashes and fires as the bombs leveled their town.
They returned to their village the next day and began digging in the rubble for anything salvageable.  There wasn't much.  But, all the villagers joined together in the effort to rebuild their home, from the bottom up.
As the rubble was cleared from the village square, several pieces of white marble were found; the remains of a statue that stood in the square.  It was precious to them, so the villagers called on the best sculptor to rebuild the old statue and it would serve as a remembrance of the rebuilding of the village.  The sculptor worked for years as they town was rebuilt,  on this great and important challenge.
Finally, as the remaining bit of paint was put on the last building and the streets were washed out for the last time, a veiled figure stood in the sqaure awaiting unveiling.  The villagers held a great three day celebration to commemorate the rebuilding of the village; and the last of the feature in the celebration, would  be for all to meet together at the town square for the unveiling.
At last the veil was removed.  There had before, in this spot, stood a statue of Christ with his hands stretched out for all,  and as the veil was  removed the Christ was renewed by the scupltor, yet, this statue had no hands, because the bombs blast hit too close and pulverized them beyond repair.  So in sculpting and renewing the prescious statue the hands could not be replaced therefore an inscription replaced them.  Where previously it read "Come unto Christ, now it read, "I have no hands but yours...."

In the service of others I know we will feel love today!  We will be the hands of Christ....

With Love from Dixie....

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

A Day of Prayer

A continuation of the Invitation, a 14 day challenge to walk with Christ. This is Day two.

 All material is original blog material written by Dixie.  Scripture suggestions are from my personal study, all thoughts and challenges are from my personal history and my future as I too continue to strive for more closeness to Christ.
 
Don’t forget to keep the penny in your shoe! And to Read!  Here are the goals for the day:

Challenge :  Fill your day with prayer.  Each time you feel the penny in your shoe, take a minute to have  sincere prayer in your heart.  Spend a little more time in the morning and in the evening talking to AND listening, sincerely, as you develop more deeply your relationship with our Father and his Son.

Suggested Scripture Reading:  Mathew 6: 6-7, Mathew 7: 7-8, Romans 8:26, Psalm 46: 1, Alma 13: 28-29, Alma 37: 36-37, D&C 9: 7-8

Journaling Prompts:  Do I place the affection of my heart upon the Lord?  Do I Pray with integrity? Do I stop and listen, do I listen and do?

Keep in mind:  “Answers to prayer come in many ways. They often come through the still, small voice of the Holy Ghost. They may come in the circumstances of our lives or through the kind acts of those around us. As we continue to draw near to our Heavenly Father through prayer, we will recognize more readily His merciful and wise answers to our pleadings. We will find that He is our “refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
When I was a little child, my parents taught me by example to pray. I began with a picture in my mind of Heavenly Father being far away. As I have matured, my experience with prayer has changed. The picture in my mind has become one of a Heavenly Father who is close by, who is bathed in a bright light, and who knows me perfectly.”
—Henry B. Eyring
“Exhort Them to Pray,” Ensign, Feb. 2012, 4

Thoughts for the day:
A man died and was resurrected and waiting in a room to be interviewed.  Another man was ahead of him.  The door opened, the man entered, and the door closed.  The man on the outside could hear the conversation on the other side of the door as the interview began:  “I want you to tell me do you know Jesus Christ?” said the interviewer to the man.
“Well, said the man, ” he was born in Bethlehem and he lived 35 years, spending the last three organizing the church, choosing his Apostles, and teaching the gospel to direct our lives…..”  The interviewer stopped him and said, ” Yes yes, that’s all true, but I want you to tell me do you know Jesus Christ? ”
“Well”, said the man, “he suffered and died so that we could have eternal life.  Three days later he was resurrected so that we might return to Heavenly Father…..”
“Yes, yes that is true,” said the interviewer, “but I want you to tell me do you know him, do you know Jesus Christ.”
The man, a little perplexed began again, “well, he restored the gospel in its fullness to the earth through Joseph Smith, reorganized his church, gave us temples so we can do work to save our dead.  He gave us personal ordinances for our salvation and exaltation……”
The interviewer again stopped him and said, “All that you have told me is true, thank you.” The man was then invited to leave the room.
After he left, the door opened and the second man entered.  As he approached the interviewer, he looked upon him to see his face while feeling  his countenance; then he fell upon his knees, and he cried,  “My Lord, my God…”

This will be a great day!
Love from Dixie

Monday, February 2, 2015

The Invitation


The only way we can really know another person is to walk in his shoes, think what he thinks, learn what he knows, say what he would say and do what he would do.  Christ said "come follwe me".  And with that said I have an invitation for you.  One to walk with Christ.

This is a 14 day challenge which this blog marks day one. And for two weeks I invite you to follow our Savior in all that you do and say by tyring this challenge and reading the following instructions.

 All material is original blog material written by Dixie.  Scripture suggestions are from my personal study, all thoughts and challenges are from my personal history and my future as I too continue to strive for more closeness to Christ.

First: Each morning make time to read the scriptures even if you only have time for a line or two, a verse, anything, just start your day with the scriptures, I will list a scripture suggestion that goes along with the topic for the day, but of course you may choose to read anywhere you like, just read and also review the challenge posted in this blog for the day.  Then drop a penny in your shoe, (everyday) remembering that the penny says "In God We Trust".

Throughout the day the penny may bother you, but it is intended to be a constant reminder that you are trusting in God whatever the day may bring.  As you go about your day, reflect on the challenge given and the things you've read; at the end of the day jot a note in your journal or blog, or if you like leave a comment here; even just a few words somewhere on your feelings for that day.  At the end of the two weeks you can read those enteries and see your progress and see the diffrence and changes in your heart and mind.  Also , you can share with others your thoughts and this challenge,  that they too may feel a difference and support from the Savior in their lives.

I have faith that the next 14 days will bring us closer to Christ and help us to walk as he does, with confidence in teh future, with an abiding faith in our Heavenly Father, and with a genuine love for others. 

It is a great challenge indeed, and you might say you don't have time, we all have such busy lives, yet, our lives would not be our lives without the Savior, so let us just take a minute or two and try this and see how we get on.; I will be particpating as well and my journal entries will be in this blog and well as my personnal  journal. :)  I will begin tomorrow with day one and I hope you will too.  Again please feel free to leave comments on your thoughts and feelings as well, one never knows who is reading a blog, and it just might help someone in need.   Now on to Day one which you can start at anytime after reading this!

Day One:  An Invitation to Walk with Christ

Scripture suggestions:  John 8:12, John 10:27-28, Romans Chapter 5, 2 Nephi 31: 12-13

Challenge for Day One:  Concentrate on walking WITH Christ.  STrive to act as he would.  EAch time you feel the penny in your shoe, have a prayer in your heart.

Thought for the day:  From Thomas S Monson Ensign Magazine September 1992

 "One evening I happened to glance at a travel brrochure that had arrived at my home.  It was printed in breathtaking color and written with persuasive skill.  The reader was invited to visit the Fjords of Norway and the Alps of Switerland, all in one packaged tour.  Yet another offering beconed the reader to Bethelehem, even the Holy Land, cradle of Christianity.  The closing lines of the Brochure's message contained the simple yet powwerful appeal, "Come and walk where Jesus walked."  My thoughts turned to the counsel God's prophets provided:  "Follow the pathway of the Lord,  walk in His footsepts."  I reflected on the words penned by the poet:

 I walked today where Jesus walked.  In days of long ago
I wandered down each path he knew, with revrent step and slow
Those little lanes they have not changed, a sweet peace fills the air
I walked today where Jesus walked and felt His presence there
I knelt today where Jesus knelt where all alone he prayed
the Garden of Gethsemane my heart felt unafraid
I picked my heavy burden up and with Him by my side
 I climbed the Hill of Calvary where on the Cross he died
 I walked today where Jesus walked and felt him close to me

In a very real sense, all can walk where Jesus walked when, with His words on our lips, His spirit in our hearts, and His teachings in our lives, we journey through mortality.  I would hope that we would walk as He walked, with conficdense in the future, with an abiding faith in His Father and with a genuine love for others."


I hope you all enjoy this and in the end we all come closer to Christ

With Love from Dixie