Sunday, July 25, 2010

Pioneers


I saw a play last night based on the journal entries of Patience Loader, an English pioneer who traveled with her family across the plains with the Willie Martin Handcart Company. She and her family were following the call to religious freedom. Unfortunately, they left too late in the year and became subject to a merciless Wyoming winter. Their struggles, suffering and faith are a strength to me.

My grandpa just had major surgery on Friday. At the moment he is not permitted to eat or drink anything. He is so thirsty and hungry. Granted, we are so thankful he made it through surgery, still I feel so bad for him! There is nothing worse to me than desert-mouth! It would be the ultimate hell. Having visited him in recovery an hour before going to the play, it caused the pioneers predicament to feel all the more real. I could envision in a personal way, what it would be like to harbor a gnawing want for sustenance.

The bishop of my homeward says there is a reason for trials- with special reference to the physical trials that come with old age/physical deterioration. He feels the reason must be to give us a greater appreciation for our resurrected bodies- when we have them...

I love the pioneer heritage of the Church of Jesus Christ. I loved the last scene of the play where an angel and father Loader's spirit appeared, heavenly helpers assisting the starving frozen family with their handcart which became entrenched in the frostbitten ground.

We are all pioneers in some way. May we forge good paths and keep the faith.

God bless those pioneers and my grandpa.

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Encircled by His Love


Each Saturday and Sunday morning, my family gathers for our weekend brand of family scripture study. We congregate round the T.V. and watch reruns of General Conference via DVD (one talk per diem). Today's talk was given by Cheryl Lant, an outgoing member of the Primary General Presidency.

Her talk revolved around the idea of seeking the Lord's face (living a life that will allow us to be with Him and thus, see Him, (His face), in the afterlife.) The comment that stood out the most was, "being filled with the Lords love requires selfless service." Being filled with His love is the ONLY way we are truly able to freely and fully love anyone outside of ourselves. Selfless service and loving others are departments that frankly, I have been slipping in. Sister Lant's words were like manna to my crumbling soul! Selfless service is the key to all woes!

Give selfless service = become encircled by God's love = encircle others with genuine love = love for self, the world, and God increase. This process is one eternal round. No beginning and no end.

Please post an act of selfless service you have enjoyed participating in or receiving. Myself and others would love to read about it!

This week's personal challenge is to give an act of selfless service each day- I will return and report next week.

Sidenote: I love the Claddagh ring~ I really want to travel to Ireland!

Tuesday, July 06, 2010

Us


They made a statue of us
And it put it on a mountain top
Now tourists come and stare at us
Blow bubbles with their gum
Take photographs have fun, have fun

Saturday, July 03, 2010

life & liberty


I was summonsed to jury duty this week. I made it through the first cut of juror selection, but was let go the second day. As I sat in the jury box the first day, I felt a sense of excitement to be involved in a legal undertaking and fulfilling my civic duty as an American citizen. I was equally grateful however for being let go as I have so many things to finish up this coming week. A tender mercy indeed.

As tomorrow is Independence Day, my mind turns back to one of the inscriptions on the Superior Court building in DC. "Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty." Isn't this the truth with so many areas of our lives! Watch and pray always that we may conquer temptation and any that would seek to destroy or weaken us in even the slightest way.

I am thankful for the freedoms I enjoy. I am thankful I can leave my home daily, going about my errands free of suicide bombings and the threat of rape and hunger. My heart goes out to those who live in the midst of oppression, fear and war.

May we live our lives in such a way that the Lord can continue to bless and protect our freedoms and our nation(s).