What I learned - Careful versus Casual

 

 

by Becky Craven

 

 

"We have a dear friend who was a train engineer. One day while he was driving a train on his route, he spotted a car stopped on the track ahead of him. He quickly realized that the car was stuck and unable to cross the track. He immediately put the train in emergency mode, which engaged the brakes on each boxcar that extended three-quarters of a mile (1.2 km) behind the engine, carrying a load of 6,500 tons (5,900 metric tons). There was no physical chance that the train would be able to stop before it hit the car, which it did. Fortunately for the people in the car, they heard the warning of the train whistle and escaped from the car before the impact. As the engineer spoke with the investigating police officer, an angry woman approached them. She shouted that she had seen the whole incident and then testified that the engineer did not even try to swerve out of the way to miss the car!

Obviously, if the engineer had been able to swerve and leave the tracks to avoid an accident, he and his entire train would have been lost in a derailment and the train’s forward progress would have come to an abrupt stop. Fortunately for him, the rails of the tracks on which his train ran kept the wheels of the train snugly moving toward its destination regardless of the obstacle in his way".

 

We have the same opportunity to keep moving forward toward our own eternal destination.  There is a careful way and a casual way to do everything.  Are we careful about the way we live the Gospel?  Or are we casual in our own beliefs.  This talk made me focus on perhaps changing some things in my own life that I have come to be a little bit casual about. 

 

John 14:15  “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

 

Perhaps we should be a little more careful about keeping His commandments and a little less casual about the process.  Am I careful about keeping the Sabbath day holy?

Am I careful about my tithing?

Am I careful about my words and deeds?

Am I careful about serving others?

Am I careful about reading the scriptures or saying my prayers?

In other words, am I careful about the more important things in life, or am I casual in those pursuits?

 

Deep and lasting happiness comes when we intentionally and carefully live the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Wordless Wednesday - Tender moments

 

A single photo 

– no words –

capturing a moment from our lives.

A simple, special, extraordinary moment.

A moment

I want to pause, savor and remember.

A moment

that brings a smile to my lips, 

and joy to my heart.

What I learned - How Can I understand?

 

 

"When we earnestly, heartily, firmly, and sincerely seek to learn the gospel of Jesus Christ and teach it to one another, these teachings may transform hearts".

 

Twice a year, we have a General Conference, for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  It is a time when we actually watch conference at home on the TV, or go to the church and watch it on the Satellite broadcast.  It is done over a two day period of time on Saturday and Sunday. 

The very first talk was titled, "How can I understand", and was given by Elder Ulisses S. Soares.

I loved this talk.  The takeaways for me, were pretty simple. 

 

"As recorded in the book of Acts, Philip the evangelist taught the gospel to a certain Ethiopian who was a eunuch in charge of all the treasures belonging to the queen of Ethiopia.¹ While returning from worshipping in Jerusalem, he read the book of Isaiah. Compelled by the Spirit, Philip came closer to him and said, “Understandest thou what thou readest?

“And [the eunuch] said, How can I, except some man should guide me? …

“Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.”

 

The talk was simply about teaching us to focus on Jesus.  To talk about Him, study Him and preach about Him.  To learn of Him and accept His invitation to us to "Come and See". 

I find that it can be so easy to get lost in the everyday problems of the world, that I don't take the time I should to study Jesus.  I want to become more like Him, but I need to find out more of what He is like to do that. 

May we all follow the council to Come and see!!

 

Wordless Wednesday - Grandkids

 

A single photo 

– no words –

capturing a moment from our lives.

A simple, special, extraordinary moment.

A moment

I want to pause, savor and remember.

A moment

that brings a smile to my lips, 

and joy to my heart.

Remember!

When I was younger, I used to wish that God would answer every prayer and guide my every step.  I really wanted to return back to Him, and thought the only way I could ever manage that is if He took control of my efforts.  Most of the time, He didn't seem to be listening.  Bad things continued to happen.  Worse things than I could ever imagine came my way.  So often, I could not feel Him in those dark places.  But you see, mixed in with all the darkness, were the few times full of light. 
There were times my fervent prayers were answered.  There were times the light broke through the darkness.  There were times of peace in the midst of sorrow.  There were friends found among the enemies.  So many little things that all bore testimony to me that He lives and that He loves me.  So many times where I felt His spirit there and when I was embraced in the arms of His love.  So many times, when I knew He was watching out for me. 
I learned, that He doesn't answer every prayer, but that He always listens.  I learned that He never gives us a trial, without a blessing.  I learned, that even in the hardest times of my life, at the very darkest moments, He was still there and I did not walk that way alone. 
An so, when life brings me even more darkness, as it is ever willing to do, I remember those feelings that I experienced and when I don't feel God right here in my life, I still know that He is there watching.  I remember the answers that have already come and am more willing to wait for the answers I want to come now.   Even if they are not here today, I know that they will eventually be there for me.  I remember the yesterday's of the past when my vision was blurred and the feelings of my heart that came with the answers to my prayers. 
He loves us.  He is there.  You are not alone. 

Hardest to love

 

This one is so true.  As a mom, I have come to understand it in a very personal way.  All children need love.  They need to know they are cared for and cared about.  They need to know that their voices matter and that their opinion counts.  I can be very hard to raise a seemingly rebellious soul. 

A very long time ago, I asked an apostle why Heavenly Father sent children that were difficult to us.  His words change my entire perception of those children.  He said, "Sister, Heavenly Father sends you those children because He knows that you will love them exactly like He does".  I have learned that those who seem hard to love are still loved by their Heavenly Father.  That He cares for them and wants them to return to Him as much as He wants the rest of His children to return to their Heavenly Home. 

Sometimes, we get so busy looking at the problems, that we forget to look at the person and love them through it anyway.  Life is hard enough without making someone else feel like they are unloved and unlovable. 

May we all reach out our arms and hearts to those that at hardest to love.