What I Learned - Be Not Troubled

This was a great conference talk from the last general conference and we talked about it a few Sunday's ago in Relief Society.  I loved this talk.  We live in a crazy, mixed up world.  It seems to get worse every single day, and as much as I love it, I am sometimes very afraid for what the future might hold.  Especially for the children and youth of the world. 
We have so many technological advances available to us.  Things that can bring us great joy, or great sorrow depending on how they are used.  This talk was comforting to me because he reminded me that fear is a choice we each make.  If we are living righteous lives, we do not need to fear the eternal outcome of life.  It won't matter what the world does, it matters what we do and what we choose to follow. 

"Since ancient times, fear has limited the perspective of God’s children. I have always loved the account of Elisha in 2 Kings. The king of Syria had sent a legion that “came by night, and compassed the city about.”² Their intent was to capture and kill the prophet Elisha. We read:

“And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?”³

That was fear speaking.

“And [Elisha] answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.”⁴

But he didn’t stop there.

“Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.”⁵

We may or may not have chariots of fire sent to dispel our fears and conquer our demons, but the lesson is clear. The Lord is with us, mindful of us and blessing us in ways only He can do. Prayer can call down the strength and the revelation that we need to center our thoughts on Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice. The Lord knew that at times we would feel fear. I have been there and so have you, which is why the scriptures are replete with the Lord’s counsel:

“Be of good cheer, and do not fear.”

“Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.”"

 

Do not fear has ever been the message of a loving Heavenly Father to us, His children.  I think it is important to not only remember who we are as we struggle through this life, but to also remember and acknowledge "whose" we are. 

May we ever be without fear. 

Perfectly Put Together

I think this is easy to forget.  Sometimes we feel so bad about ourselves and our prior choices, that we think we are unworthy to go to church, or to worship God, or even to pray.  We forget that not a single person in this world is perfect.  We have all made mistakes.  We might assume that some are worse than others, but that judgment should be entirely left to our loving Heavenly Father. 
Church is not just for those perfectly seeming people that we might know and think about.  You know the ones I mean!  The ones who are always there, always serving, always involved.  The ones who outwardly seem to be practically perfect in every way. 
Sometimes, it takes everything we have to roll out of bed, grab the first thing we find in the closet and manage to drive to church. 
Sometimes it is all we can do to face other people in our own brokenness. 
Sometimes we feel like we wear a very large tattoo that says SIN across our forehead. 
But church and worship are very much for each one of us.  It doesn't matter what place we are at in our lives.  It doesn't matter what we have done in the past, or even what mistakes we are making now.  What matters the most, is that we want to change our heart and nourish our spirits.  We want to become.
When you see someone who looks differently than you do, someone who is all alone or separated from the group, someone who is quite and not participating.  Someone who is hurting, someone who is scared, someone who is crying, someone who is struggling, someone who is not you. 
Welcome them in with open arms and open hearts. 
We should be a sanctuary for any and all who are seeking the Saviors love.  We should be a healing shoulder and a loving arm.  We should be truly Christian in our actions and not just in our professed beliefs.
We need to be a resting place for the weary and a sanctuary for the broken.
Remember that we are all Children of God and he loves each and every one of us.
He knows you.
He loves you.
He wants you to return to him.

He didn't bring you this far

 

This is a good one for me to remember.  I battle with both anxiety and depression on a daily basis.  One of the things that causes me to do, is to worry about everything and everyone.  I can end up feeling so alone, so lost and so very broken.  I worry about things that have happened, are happening and even might or might not come to pass.  I constantly battle to silence my mind and my thoughts.  It helps me if I can focus on the Love of a Heavenly Father and remember that He has never left me.  I might turn my back, but His back never turns away and His arms are always reaching out.  Today, I hope you remember how very valuable you are!  He loves each and every one of us and wants us to return to live with Him again. 

Compassion for Sinners

Every single one of us have made mistakes.  Things we wish had never happened.  Things we wish we could change.  Things we are ashamed of.  For some, the sins are visible, for others they fester deep inside.  One thing that is most important is that we realize that we can not sin so far that the love and mercy of God cannot reach us. 
Our Heavenly Father loves us.  Today, tomorrow and always.  We are His Children, no matter out past.  He wants us to return home and partake of His love. 
He is full of compassion and love for each one of us.  Remember that you are worth all that love. 
Remember Him.