When I see the stars

Last night, as we were out and about, I had a small moment to pause and look up into the deep blue sky and to see the sweet stars hanging in the crisp cool air. I've had many different opportunities and moments to look up and see just a few of the wondrous creations in the sky. I like to see them twinkle and shine and to look at each one and then to see the whole expanse; it's truly remarkable! Over Christmas, I thought more about the stars and the one star that meant so much and has remained a significant symbol of the Savior.

I was inspired by Elder Carl B Cook's Conference address this last October. He told a story about one day when he was feeling overwhelmed by his many responsibilties and as he was riding the elevator he stared at the floor reflecting on his difficulties, 'The door opened and someone entered, but I didn’t look up. As the door closed, I heard someone ask, “What are you looking at down there?” I recognized that voice—it was President Thomas S. Monson.

I quickly looked up and responded, “Oh, nothing.” (I’m sure that clever response inspired confidence in my abilities!)

But he had seen my subdued countenance and my heavy briefcase. He smiled and lovingly suggested, while pointing heavenward, “It is better to look up!”

For me, seeing the "big picture" is one of the most refreshing things in life. There are two options we have each day, to make it the best day ever! Or to get caught up in the routine, the motions and the seemingly mundane tasks we do over and over. But seeing the 'why' of what we do and seeking for the good in each moment can break us free and give life to the dark miserable chains that we place ourselves in.

When I look up, I feel free and light and there is excitement and meaning in each task. Whether literally or figuratively, when we see all that we have been given and all that is good in the world, there is little room for selfishness and pride. But when we are focused on ourselves, our burdens and our cares, our load is so heavy and weighs us down. There is then no time to help and love and give charity, not only to those that we want to serve, but to all who are in need.

President Uchtdorf said, "Never stop hoping for all of the righteous desires of your heart. But don’t close your eyes and hearts to the simple and elegant beauties of each day’s ordinary moments that make up a rich, well-lived life.

The happiest people I know are not those who find their golden ticket; they are those who, while in pursuit of worthy goals, discover and treasure the beauty and sweetness of the everyday moments. They are the ones who, thread by daily thread, weave a tapestry of gratitude and wonder throughout their lives. These are they who are truly happy."

I know that when we "look up", we find the guidance of a loving Heavenly Father; we find joy!

"Wherefore, men are ^afree according to the ^bflesh; and ^call things are ^dgiven them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to ^echoose ^fliberty and eternal ^glife, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be ^hmiserable like unto himself. (2 Nephi 2:27)." 

So if we are free to choose, choose to be happy! It sounds too simple, but I know from experience that it is true. Christ overcame all of our weaknesses to help us learn how we can overcome them. Be of good cheer; He is our guiding star!

Sweet!

I love these videos. I love when there are new ones! I love it when they are artists who live on a farm! That's my secret dream, shh, don't tell!

http://mormon.org/me/32CB/

Where am I going?

'In Lewis Carroll’s classic Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Alice finds herself coming to a crossroads with two paths before her, each stretching onward but in opposite directions. She is confronted by the Cheshire Cat, of whom she asks, “Which path shall I take?”

The cat answers: “That depends where you want to go. If you do not know where you want to go, it doesn’t really matter which path you take!”

Unlike Alice, each of you knows where you want to go. It does matter which way you go, for the path you follow in this life leads to the path you will follow in the next.' 

That's a quote from an address given by the Prophet, President Monson in 2002 at the General Young Women Conference.


In a world revolving more and more around tolerance than good will towards men and philosophies that focus on going with "the flow", there is more than a possibility that the views and ways of the world could take us any number of ways and the question is, where do you want to go?


Think about it.
I'll give you a second.
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Wait, did you really think about it?
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Ok, so where did you see yourself? Do want to be successful? What kind of success do you want to have? Do you want to have lots of money? Do you want to be kind and giving or selfish? Do you want to help others or do you want personal advancement and gain?

It's really our choice, but if we don't plan, we could end up somewhere we never intended to be. Life has twists and turns, and we must be actively involved in deciding what we want to do and more specifically where we want to go.


 Ok this quote is kind of long, but its so true, and I think it's entertaining so focus and see what you get out of it...

"I recently read in the Wall Street Journal an article by Jonathan Sacks, Britain’s chief rabbi. Among other things, he writes: “In virtually every Western society in the 1960s there was a moral revolution, an abandonment of its entire traditional ethic of self-restraint. All you need, sang the Beatles, is love. The Judeo-Christian moral code was jettisoned. In its place came [the adage]: [Do] whatever works for you. The Ten Commandments were rewritten as the Ten Creative Suggestions.”

Rabbi Sacks goes on to lament:

“We have been spending our moral capital with the same reckless abandon that we have been spending our financial capital. …

“There are large parts of [the world] where religion is a thing of the past and there is no counter-voice to the culture of buy it, spend it, wear it, flaunt it, because you’re worth it. The message is that morality is passé, conscience is for wimps, and the single overriding command is ‘Thou shalt not be found out.’”

That was President Monson again, can you tell that I'm a fan?

Well I guess what I'm trying to say is, we have a choice. Our future is what we make it to be with goals, planning and faith. Especially in terms of faith, if you want to know where you stand with God or if He is there, you can't wait for Him to show up at your doorstep and introduce Himself. That would be missing the point of our time here on earth to walk by faith and not by sight.

Heavenly Father tells us, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

For everyone that asketh recieveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened."

Heavenly Father promises us that. We have to seek first; not because Heavenly Father is cruel and doesn't care to give us the time of day, but because He loves us. He invites us to come to Him and never turns us away, but its up to us to make the choice if we want to follow Him, then He reveals truth to us one step at a time. 

Much like a child; set on one side of a room, the parents on the other side try to beckon the child to come to help them learn how to walk. They tell the child to walk to them, which may be difficult at first, but as we know from first hand experience, it works! Many of us can walk because our parents let us fall a few times, but just as our parents are always there to pick us up, Heavenly Father wants us to learn how to walk Spiritually, and He calls to us in many ways to walk to Him. He allows us to fall down sometimes, but if we want Him to be there, He is, always. He is there to pick us up through the love of His Son, Jesus Christ. I know from first hand experience that it works!

You are His child. He calls you to follow Him. He asks us to follow Him in a certain way, but I promise that if you trust Him, He will help you find your way to a place that it better than what we can even comprehend. It's not a fantasy. Is that what you want? Do you want to know if He is there? Then take your first baby step. Ask and ye shall recieve.

I say these things in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.



 http://lds.org/general-conference/2011/10/stand-in-holy-places?lang=eng&query=flaunt