I cannot believe it is Monday again. Time goes by very quickly here. The
work is going well. We have struggles with getting a hold of people because
of the business of life, but we continue forward and pray that they will
realize the importance that the gospel will have on their lives if they will
take a few minutes out of the day to seek the Lord. Everything does fit
together and works out if we first spend our day showing our willingness to
pray, read the scriptures, and continue in spiritual learning and growth.
A lot of my tender mercies that are recorded in my journal this week are the
blessings of being able to meet with our investigators. That they are at
home and able to wecome us in and to hear the message of the gospel.
Reflecting back on my life, I never realized how many times I may "push
aside" moments when I could be having spiritual learning but I just say I'm
too busy or I'll do it later. While tracting I think, "We are wanting to
share a message about Jesus Christ, to discuss about our love for our
Heavenly Father." If we are truly Christians, why would we say no to that?
Maybe we do not have the same beliefs, but if one truly loves Christ, why
not talk about it, and find joy in discussing with others about that love
(even if it is at the front door or on a street corner). It is a fast-paced
world. We do put our spirituality on the back burner. First, we must have
money, education, work, family ... and then we'll take time out to worship.
That's not our purpose here. We are here on the earth to gain knowledge.
Not knowledge of worldly/earthly matters; but knowledge that will improve
ourselves, help us gain our potential, and remember that we are becoming
like our Heavenly Father. Christ should be first in our life, then
everything else will fall into place. Just take time out to talk about our
love for our Savior, our knowledge of our beliefs. Don't let the idols of
the world keep us too busy to take out those small moments of joyful
celebration of why we are really here, what we truly believe, and who we are
able to become.
This past week, all the sisters of the Florida Ft Lauderdale mission were
able to gather together for a bi-annual Sisters Conference that the Mission
President has so generously given us the opportunity to have. We gather at
the mission home to feel that joy of sisterhood and create that greater
unity that we have as being women of Christ. The theme was "Walk Tall -
You're a Daughter of God." First, I ask everyone to read and meditate on
the lyrics of that song. My favorite verse is the second verse where it
says:
"Long before the time you can remember
Our Father held you in His arms so tender.
Those loving arms released you as He sent you down to earth
He said, "My child, I love you, don't forget your great worth."
As I envision that, I see how hard it must be to say goodbye to us as
spirits, to know He will have to watch as we struggle through this life and
strive to remember Him. But after He gives us that last hug, He willingly
allows us this opportunity to come down to earth, to have experiences of our
own, and find out who we are. We just must be willing to look for Him and
always remember "He's closer than you know, reach up; He'll take your
hand."
It was a truly amazing experience to be together as Sisters. To have Shawn
and Annette Bradley speak to us. I couldn't believe how strong Sis. Bradley
is. She is the role model for how we should share the gospel with others and
teach our children the same. She would always have a Book of Mormon ready
in her car - two stacks actually (of English and Spanish) that had a family
picture and their testimony already written within the cover. No matter who
it was, whether it be a friend, co-worker, grocery boy, post office
assistant, she and her children had the desire to share that special gift we
have. We know the gospel blesses lives. Why not have that eagerness to
share it. To show our greatest love for others by giving them our dearest
possession - knowledge of the true Church of Jesus Christ.
TENDER MERCY: MY TENDER MERCIES ARE EACH TIME WE ARE ABLE TO TEACH A LESSON TO OUR INVESTIGATORS. IT IS DIFFICULT TO GET A HOLD OF THEM. FOR MANY, SETTING UP AN APPOINTMENT DOESN'T MEAN WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET A HOLD OF THEM. LIFE GETS BUSY, PEOPLE FORGET, BUT WHEN THE LORD GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO RUN INTO THEM, TO VISIT THEM WHEN WE STOP BY WHILE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, IT'S A REMINDER TO THEM HOW MUCH THE LORD LOVES THEM AND A REMINDER TO US THAT AS LONG AS WE ARE WILLING TO WORK HARD IN HIS WORK, HE WILL GIVE US SUCCESS. THIS IS NOT ABOUT US. IT IS ABOUT HIS CHILDREN. ABOUT EVERYONE REMEMBERING WHO THEY ARE AND BEING WILLING AND EAGER TO TAKE THOSE STEPS TO RETURN BACK TO OUR HEAVENLY FATHER AGAIN.
work is going well. We have struggles with getting a hold of people because
of the business of life, but we continue forward and pray that they will
realize the importance that the gospel will have on their lives if they will
take a few minutes out of the day to seek the Lord. Everything does fit
together and works out if we first spend our day showing our willingness to
pray, read the scriptures, and continue in spiritual learning and growth.
A lot of my tender mercies that are recorded in my journal this week are the
blessings of being able to meet with our investigators. That they are at
home and able to wecome us in and to hear the message of the gospel.
Reflecting back on my life, I never realized how many times I may "push
aside" moments when I could be having spiritual learning but I just say I'm
too busy or I'll do it later. While tracting I think, "We are wanting to
share a message about Jesus Christ, to discuss about our love for our
Heavenly Father." If we are truly Christians, why would we say no to that?
Maybe we do not have the same beliefs, but if one truly loves Christ, why
not talk about it, and find joy in discussing with others about that love
(even if it is at the front door or on a street corner). It is a fast-paced
world. We do put our spirituality on the back burner. First, we must have
money, education, work, family ... and then we'll take time out to worship.
That's not our purpose here. We are here on the earth to gain knowledge.
Not knowledge of worldly/earthly matters; but knowledge that will improve
ourselves, help us gain our potential, and remember that we are becoming
like our Heavenly Father. Christ should be first in our life, then
everything else will fall into place. Just take time out to talk about our
love for our Savior, our knowledge of our beliefs. Don't let the idols of
the world keep us too busy to take out those small moments of joyful
celebration of why we are really here, what we truly believe, and who we are
able to become.
This past week, all the sisters of the Florida Ft Lauderdale mission were
able to gather together for a bi-annual Sisters Conference that the Mission
President has so generously given us the opportunity to have. We gather at
the mission home to feel that joy of sisterhood and create that greater
unity that we have as being women of Christ. The theme was "Walk Tall -
You're a Daughter of God." First, I ask everyone to read and meditate on
the lyrics of that song. My favorite verse is the second verse where it
says:
"Long before the time you can remember
Our Father held you in His arms so tender.
Those loving arms released you as He sent you down to earth
He said, "My child, I love you, don't forget your great worth."
As I envision that, I see how hard it must be to say goodbye to us as
spirits, to know He will have to watch as we struggle through this life and
strive to remember Him. But after He gives us that last hug, He willingly
allows us this opportunity to come down to earth, to have experiences of our
own, and find out who we are. We just must be willing to look for Him and
always remember "He's closer than you know, reach up; He'll take your
hand."
It was a truly amazing experience to be together as Sisters. To have Shawn
and Annette Bradley speak to us. I couldn't believe how strong Sis. Bradley
is. She is the role model for how we should share the gospel with others and
teach our children the same. She would always have a Book of Mormon ready
in her car - two stacks actually (of English and Spanish) that had a family
picture and their testimony already written within the cover. No matter who
it was, whether it be a friend, co-worker, grocery boy, post office
assistant, she and her children had the desire to share that special gift we
have. We know the gospel blesses lives. Why not have that eagerness to
share it. To show our greatest love for others by giving them our dearest
possession - knowledge of the true Church of Jesus Christ.
TENDER MERCY: MY TENDER MERCIES ARE EACH TIME WE ARE ABLE TO TEACH A LESSON TO OUR INVESTIGATORS. IT IS DIFFICULT TO GET A HOLD OF THEM. FOR MANY, SETTING UP AN APPOINTMENT DOESN'T MEAN WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET A HOLD OF THEM. LIFE GETS BUSY, PEOPLE FORGET, BUT WHEN THE LORD GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO RUN INTO THEM, TO VISIT THEM WHEN WE STOP BY WHILE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, IT'S A REMINDER TO THEM HOW MUCH THE LORD LOVES THEM AND A REMINDER TO US THAT AS LONG AS WE ARE WILLING TO WORK HARD IN HIS WORK, HE WILL GIVE US SUCCESS. THIS IS NOT ABOUT US. IT IS ABOUT HIS CHILDREN. ABOUT EVERYONE REMEMBERING WHO THEY ARE AND BEING WILLING AND EAGER TO TAKE THOSE STEPS TO RETURN BACK TO OUR HEAVENLY FATHER AGAIN.
