I am not going to lie. I am a Sunday School teacher to the 12 year olds in our LDS Ward. For the month of March, we have been asked to teach the youth on the Atonement. In the LDS faith, we believe that Christ suffered every infirmity in the Garden of Gethsemane that we could ever bear. He did this because of his love for us. He knew what his sacrifice would mean, and he suffered, he bled in that Garden, and he died, for our sins. The perfect Savior, did this, to Save us, so that we may live with our Heavenly Father again, and that thru him, after we pass thru this life, we can become "perfected" in him. This could only happen, thru the Atonement. Now, for my honesty, I struggle with mortal perfection. It is a little OCD for me, and I am working hard to overcome this struggle. It truly is a "daily" struggle for me, as I learn to let go and realize that nothing, is perfect. Again, this is so hard for me. I have struggled with perfection, most of my life, which I am finding out is not working for me. I long for a perfect world, unfortunately, that is not happening, this world is actually becoming less and less perfect as the Savior's time is drawing closer. So, as I reflect on this topic, what is it that I want these kids to learn about the most important aspect of the Gospel.
I think that is what I want them to know-the Atonement, albeit, is sometimes so hard for us as 'mortals' to understand, it is the most important aspect of the Gospel. The reason I feel it is the most important is because without it, every mistake I make would doom me to outer darkness because that is how imperfect I am. Without the Atonement, on the days where I feel like I can't go on, that no one understands, I can turn to the One, the only One that has felt every pain in my heart, and "with his stripes" I can be healed.
I truly do love the Savior. Every day is a journey that I embark on getting to know him, a little bit better. As I work with my children, in trying to teach my little ones all about choices, and consequences, as I learn to let go, and let the Lord actually guide my life, without trying to control it by myself, my load can be lightened because of his perfect sacrifice for me.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Saturday, February 16, 2013
I have been loving my calling. I thought that I would struggle with my class because when they were in Primary I saw so many different personalities but I have to admit, I love each one of them. It is awesome how the Lord does that, he opens your heart and helps you learn to love the little flaws of those you serve.
The new Sunday School curriculum is amazing. It truly is divine inspiration, and honestly, I am so grateful for the divine inspiration that he has given me as I prepare each lesson because, I on my own cannot teach these lessons.
This week, I chose to teach these kids about Music. I love Music and I know that it brings my heart closer to the Savior. It changes my outlook on a daily basis. It blesses me on some of my darkest days. I LOVE MUSIC. I play the piano, and honestly, I do want to become better at playing the piano. Maybe another day, but for now, I can hold my own. I also think it could become addictive to me and I would lose a lot of time at the piano.
As I thought about my lesson, I remember the first hymn that I memorized on my own. It is one of my favorites. There is a green hill far away, without a city wall, where the Dear Lord was crucified, who died to save us all. I can reflect on those words anywhere. I am grateful for his sacrifice for me. Another hymn that is one of my favorites. I know that my Redeemer lives, what comfort this sweet sentence give, he lives, he lives who once was dead, he lives my ever living head. Such a testimony in a song. That when I have those times, where I just don't know where my testimony is, I can sing that song in my head and feel it in my heart and know that I do know that My Savior, Jesus Christ lives!
There are so many ways in our lives that we can come to know the Savior. He is there for us to know of, if we want to.
The new Sunday School curriculum is amazing. It truly is divine inspiration, and honestly, I am so grateful for the divine inspiration that he has given me as I prepare each lesson because, I on my own cannot teach these lessons.
This week, I chose to teach these kids about Music. I love Music and I know that it brings my heart closer to the Savior. It changes my outlook on a daily basis. It blesses me on some of my darkest days. I LOVE MUSIC. I play the piano, and honestly, I do want to become better at playing the piano. Maybe another day, but for now, I can hold my own. I also think it could become addictive to me and I would lose a lot of time at the piano.
As I thought about my lesson, I remember the first hymn that I memorized on my own. It is one of my favorites. There is a green hill far away, without a city wall, where the Dear Lord was crucified, who died to save us all. I can reflect on those words anywhere. I am grateful for his sacrifice for me. Another hymn that is one of my favorites. I know that my Redeemer lives, what comfort this sweet sentence give, he lives, he lives who once was dead, he lives my ever living head. Such a testimony in a song. That when I have those times, where I just don't know where my testimony is, I can sing that song in my head and feel it in my heart and know that I do know that My Savior, Jesus Christ lives!
There are so many ways in our lives that we can come to know the Savior. He is there for us to know of, if we want to.
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Ward Family
I have been handed a trial that sometimes feels like I am drowning. I will admit! This week my dear friend found out she had breast cancer. She will be having surgery tomorrow. I have been blessed to have an AMAZING Ward Family! When I tell you, she is my Sister, she really is! We have been to girls camp, I have seen her crazy hat, we have laughed and we have cried together. This woman is one of the most amazing women I know. I have thought of her a lot this week. Her strength radiates from her. Now, I know she is strong today, there may be some days in the next year where she won't feel that strong. That is when her Ward Family can step in. When I tell you that there is not one person in our ward that will not step up to the challenge to help another, I am not lying. That is the kind of neighborhood we live in.
As I have been going thru my trial, I have learned a lot about taking care of myself. One way that I love to take care of myself is treating myself to a pedicure. So, I was blessed to take this dear friend to get her toes done before her surgery. (OK, I was a little selfish because I haven't had my toes done for a little bit, and I saved my Christmas bonus). There is not a better way that I could have spent my Christmas bonus than to go with my sweet friend and take an hour out of my time to get our toes done. It was an honor to sit with this woman and visit with her, and soak in her strength. I think of my Ward Family, and I am SO BLESSED! In our religion we believe that Families are Forever, well, I hope that goes for my Ward Family too because there is not one that I would not want to spend eternities without.
As I have been going thru my trial, I have learned a lot about taking care of myself. One way that I love to take care of myself is treating myself to a pedicure. So, I was blessed to take this dear friend to get her toes done before her surgery. (OK, I was a little selfish because I haven't had my toes done for a little bit, and I saved my Christmas bonus). There is not a better way that I could have spent my Christmas bonus than to go with my sweet friend and take an hour out of my time to get our toes done. It was an honor to sit with this woman and visit with her, and soak in her strength. I think of my Ward Family, and I am SO BLESSED! In our religion we believe that Families are Forever, well, I hope that goes for my Ward Family too because there is not one that I would not want to spend eternities without.
Friday, January 18, 2013
Little things!
I am still working on this Journey. I have been called to serve in the Sunday School of my LDS Ward. I am teaching the 12 year olds which is a new experience for me, because my prior class was 18. I do wonder ALL the time what I am supposed to be learning with each new experience I am given. I scratch my head all the time because this one I am dumb founded. The 18 year olds were so in to my lessons, and they participated and truly wanted to understand the scriptures. This last week was my first lesson, I put the only boy in the class of girls TO SLEEP! He even had the red mark on his forhead.
The Church has changed the way we teach the youth. I love the program, I just have to figure out how it is going to work with these "babes" in the program.
So, this last week as I have thought about the service and truly learning more about my Savior, it has been rough! Our Bishop, whom I love, is being released. This man has served me with so much love and compassion. My life will never be the same. It is easy, when we are emotionally overwhelmed, to lose ourselves in ourselves.
Our dear neighbor moved out of the ward and had some canned food (A LOT) that she did not want to put in her pantry because the expiration date was coming soon so she brought it up to me. I had looked at the food for well over a week. I needed to sort thru it. I finally couldn't stand it and sorted thru it. My pantry was pretty full and I gave food to 2 other families before I sorted. I just decided, I was going to box it up and take it around to the neighbors until it was gone! Guess what! I did it. The 2nd home I went to is a young family. They are not members of our church. I don't even know their names, we have just stopped and talked on the sidewalk. They were so grateful for the food that guess what? I went back home and grabbed more from my own pantry. I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I have been blessed BEYOND MEASURE. We live in an awesome ward and people have been so generous to us. I have been blessed to be able to go to the Bishop's Storehouse. It is truly a humbling experience. Because I have the Bishop's Storehouse, my family will not go hungry.
Another experience that has touched my heart- I am a Visiting Teacher to a single Mom. She moved in to the ward and told the Relief Society President that she didn't want a Visiting Teacher because she did not want an "assigned friend". Well, she is right down my alley because neither do I, so my sweet Relief Society President asked me to watch over her. I love this woman. I don't take an Ensign to her home and teach her, I sit with her, I text her, I help her when she needs help (and even when she doesn't) . That really is Visting Teaching, but don't tell her :) ! She is having some legal issues with her ex husband. This sweet woman texted me telling me she needed help from 2 men. Well, that's not difficult, so I found her the 2 men that she needed for protection. You would have thought I handed her a million dollars. She was so grateful for my help, and I didn't need to do anything but find the 2 men! That is what the Savior meant when he said "inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my bretheren, ye have done it unto me!". See how much I have been blessed?
The Church has changed the way we teach the youth. I love the program, I just have to figure out how it is going to work with these "babes" in the program.
So, this last week as I have thought about the service and truly learning more about my Savior, it has been rough! Our Bishop, whom I love, is being released. This man has served me with so much love and compassion. My life will never be the same. It is easy, when we are emotionally overwhelmed, to lose ourselves in ourselves.
Our dear neighbor moved out of the ward and had some canned food (A LOT) that she did not want to put in her pantry because the expiration date was coming soon so she brought it up to me. I had looked at the food for well over a week. I needed to sort thru it. I finally couldn't stand it and sorted thru it. My pantry was pretty full and I gave food to 2 other families before I sorted. I just decided, I was going to box it up and take it around to the neighbors until it was gone! Guess what! I did it. The 2nd home I went to is a young family. They are not members of our church. I don't even know their names, we have just stopped and talked on the sidewalk. They were so grateful for the food that guess what? I went back home and grabbed more from my own pantry. I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I have been blessed BEYOND MEASURE. We live in an awesome ward and people have been so generous to us. I have been blessed to be able to go to the Bishop's Storehouse. It is truly a humbling experience. Because I have the Bishop's Storehouse, my family will not go hungry.
Another experience that has touched my heart- I am a Visiting Teacher to a single Mom. She moved in to the ward and told the Relief Society President that she didn't want a Visiting Teacher because she did not want an "assigned friend". Well, she is right down my alley because neither do I, so my sweet Relief Society President asked me to watch over her. I love this woman. I don't take an Ensign to her home and teach her, I sit with her, I text her, I help her when she needs help (and even when she doesn't) . That really is Visting Teaching, but don't tell her :) ! She is having some legal issues with her ex husband. This sweet woman texted me telling me she needed help from 2 men. Well, that's not difficult, so I found her the 2 men that she needed for protection. You would have thought I handed her a million dollars. She was so grateful for my help, and I didn't need to do anything but find the 2 men! That is what the Savior meant when he said "inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my bretheren, ye have done it unto me!". See how much I have been blessed?
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Not Forgotten
So, I know I had this resolution, and honestly, as I have said it is my personal goal. Hopefully, if you find this blog you will also feel of this goal inside yourself and want to know the Savior along with me.
I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, other wise known as "The Mormons". I put that in quotes because it is a nick name that we have been given because of our own scripture The Book of Mormon. I have personally read this book, over and over, I LOVE IT. I read it daily, and my life has been blessed. The Book never gets boring to me, and I learn something new from it, every time I read it.
One thing you will soon learn about me is I don't have a lot of patience. So, when I say I want to get to know the Savior, I wanted it YESTERDAY. And, yes, it is true, I would love this, but I will take it however it comes.
I have had this goal on my mind for a couple days, and I have been developing this process in my head for a while. Every day I get a quote in my emails. Yesterday, the quote I received is from Elder Bednar, an Apostle in our church. It reads "Line upon line and precept upon precept, gradually and almost imperceptibly, our motives, our thoughts, our words, and our deeds become aligned with the will of God. Conversion unto the Lord requires both persistence and patience." Oh, Crap! There is that WORD, did anyone else see it? That thing that I don't have "patience". It was like an instant message for me yesterday, a note from my Heavenly Father telling me that I need to keep going and do it in his time, and not mine! (Well, that sucks! One more thing I can't control!)
So, what have I done on this journey. I have made it a goal to read The Book of Mormon nightly. I do this with my children. They have loved this and honestly, they are amazed how fast we can read 1 chapter a day and still have time for a bed time story. So, I am very grateful for my kids to help me to do this!
But, as I said in my prior post, I need to serve more. I met this amazing woman at the grocery store on New Years Eve. She was determined that she knew me. I had never met her before, but as we talked we found connections, but I got to know this woman. I was so grateful to meet her and to hear her stories, all because she told me I looked familiar. I asked her name and we finished our conversation, but I could not forget her. Last night, I looked her up online and found her on Facebook. I sent her a message because I don't want her to think I am stalking her, but I thanked her for stopping me, for making my New Years Eve special, and reminded her how amazing she is.
Today, I chose to pay it forward to another woman that doesn't know me. I am grateful for the "cyber world" because it literally took me minutes to do. I have a daughter in Junior High, she is in Resource as she struggles with reading and math. When I see how far she has come since she was a preemie at birth, I am so grateful for her and for her determination, and I am so proud of her. She is a very giving child. For Christmas she wanted to give her teacher something. She picked something small and took it to her teacher. During Christmas break, this sweet teacher, "paid it forward" by sending my daughter a Thank You note, it was the sweetest thing, and my daughter will cherish that card forever. So, today, I sent an email to the teacher along with another of her teachers that she is impressed with and let them know how grateful I am for them. It doesn't take much!
I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, other wise known as "The Mormons". I put that in quotes because it is a nick name that we have been given because of our own scripture The Book of Mormon. I have personally read this book, over and over, I LOVE IT. I read it daily, and my life has been blessed. The Book never gets boring to me, and I learn something new from it, every time I read it.
One thing you will soon learn about me is I don't have a lot of patience. So, when I say I want to get to know the Savior, I wanted it YESTERDAY. And, yes, it is true, I would love this, but I will take it however it comes.
I have had this goal on my mind for a couple days, and I have been developing this process in my head for a while. Every day I get a quote in my emails. Yesterday, the quote I received is from Elder Bednar, an Apostle in our church. It reads "Line upon line and precept upon precept, gradually and almost imperceptibly, our motives, our thoughts, our words, and our deeds become aligned with the will of God. Conversion unto the Lord requires both persistence and patience." Oh, Crap! There is that WORD, did anyone else see it? That thing that I don't have "patience". It was like an instant message for me yesterday, a note from my Heavenly Father telling me that I need to keep going and do it in his time, and not mine! (Well, that sucks! One more thing I can't control!)
So, what have I done on this journey. I have made it a goal to read The Book of Mormon nightly. I do this with my children. They have loved this and honestly, they are amazed how fast we can read 1 chapter a day and still have time for a bed time story. So, I am very grateful for my kids to help me to do this!
But, as I said in my prior post, I need to serve more. I met this amazing woman at the grocery store on New Years Eve. She was determined that she knew me. I had never met her before, but as we talked we found connections, but I got to know this woman. I was so grateful to meet her and to hear her stories, all because she told me I looked familiar. I asked her name and we finished our conversation, but I could not forget her. Last night, I looked her up online and found her on Facebook. I sent her a message because I don't want her to think I am stalking her, but I thanked her for stopping me, for making my New Years Eve special, and reminded her how amazing she is.
Today, I chose to pay it forward to another woman that doesn't know me. I am grateful for the "cyber world" because it literally took me minutes to do. I have a daughter in Junior High, she is in Resource as she struggles with reading and math. When I see how far she has come since she was a preemie at birth, I am so grateful for her and for her determination, and I am so proud of her. She is a very giving child. For Christmas she wanted to give her teacher something. She picked something small and took it to her teacher. During Christmas break, this sweet teacher, "paid it forward" by sending my daughter a Thank You note, it was the sweetest thing, and my daughter will cherish that card forever. So, today, I sent an email to the teacher along with another of her teachers that she is impressed with and let them know how grateful I am for them. It doesn't take much!
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
If the Savior Stood Beside Me
I was told that I needed a project. I was then asked, what is my greatest desire? I knew without a doubt what my greatest desire was. I wanted to truly know my Savior. To some this may sound strange. I have wanted this from the time that I can remember.
The scripture that is the catalyst to this particular journey is found in Matthew 25:38-40-
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have adone it unto one of the bleast of these my cbrethren, ye have done it unto me.
This is a very personal journey for me, and it truly is my greatest desire. The song above is one of my daughter's favorite, she actually chose this version. I truly do want to live each day of my life as though the Savior is standing beside me, because I do believe, he is never very far.
As it says in verse 40, this project is going to have to entail some Service, some loving Service. Some days as a Mom we wonder if we have done any Service, and realistically, the only thing I did today was took care of sick kids, fed my family 3 meals (they were fabulous meals, I might add!), and folded laundry, that is the extent of my service for the day! But, if I do it out of love, then it works!
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