I've Messed Up, Does God Love Me???



Obedience Helps us Become Who We Want To Be.
















     God has a perfect love for each and every one of us. In the scriptures we read over and over again how god becomes angry with the wicked, so how is this showing that god loves us? Well we know his love is perfect, that he requires us to obey his commandments because he knows that only though obedience to his laws can we become perfected. Just as he is perfect. Its like how a parent has complete love for their children and still becomes angry or disappointed in the choices that they know will only bring them down. He has provided us with great council such as the commandments, word of wisdom and much more. He gives us this for our own happiness because he knows that not living by his council will only bring us misery. We must always turn to Christ and listen to the Holy Ghost; then we can feel his love for us, even when we are being disobedient. Christ can always change us. Christ also taught "Not everyone one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." Our Father in heaven loves us as does our savior Jesus Christ who made it possible to return and live in heaven forever but we are saved by his mercy after all we can do. God is perfectly just and through Christ we can be made perfect. May we strive to always chose righteously and receive blessings from our Heavenly Father who truly loves each and every one of us. 

Delete Keys In Our Lives

     I’ve thought a lot about the importance of staying busy, when we are working our minds are focused on productive things that build us up. Work keeps us busy and away from temptation, but thoughts might come in our mind that can distract us from our true goals, we are blessed to have "delete keys" in our lives to reinvite wholesome thoughts by inviting the spirit in our lives by saying a prayer, read the scriptures or thinking of a favorite hymn. Your mind is in charge, when some unworthy thought pushes its way into your mind; replace it with your "delete key". Worthy music is powerful and can help you control your thoughts. I’ve noticed it a lot when I choose uplifting music such as hymns; I feel a warm, comforting spirit that helps me truly want to be better. We can feel the spirit at church, but we need to take on the challenge in providing an environment that spirit can be felt daily. In D&C 88:63 the lord gives us hope saying Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. If we draw near unto the lord the blessings will pour upon us, we just need to invite him in our lives by surrounding ourselves in a spiritual environment. this does not however eliminate trials, but helps us get though them President Dieter F. Uchtdorf explains it perfectly, along the way we experience more bitter trials but also more sweet spiritual growth until, ultimately, those who endured to the end will be “received into … a state of never-ending happiness. May we always have that be our goal to endure to the end, get over these earthly hardships, being faithful to the end to enjoy the many blessings of heaven.  

Honesty Is Who We Want To Be

     Honesty has always been important but I’ve noticed it alot more these past few months and have really though about the great feeling it brings. As a missionary its easier for us to be honest when talking with people because we know who we represent (Christ and his church) and we want to bring them closer unto Christ by doing whatever we can to help and being honest is a big part in that. There is an importance to always be honest even in the hardest times. For me when were driving around out in the country or where no one is around its really easy to not stop at stop signs, to go over the speed limit or to disregard other traffic laws. I’ve come to realize the importance of following all the traffic laws because I don’t want to lose that dignity that I have in myself. We pray for safety when driving on the roads and if we drive over the speed limit does our Father in Heaven have the right to give us that safety to protect us? We need to do all we can and he will provide the rest. It really can get hard to be honest at times to others and yourself but we can overcome the temptation, having the Holy Ghost with us at all times helps us make righteous decisions, when we fall in to temptation and become dishonest we lose our self-respect and lose the guidance of the Holy Ghost. We must always stand up for what is right to become who we want to be. Alma 5:16, 19 says can you imagine yourself coming to the lord at the last day and say "yes, my works on earth have been the works of righteousness". Could you look up to god at that day with a pure heart and clean hands having the image of god engraven upon your countenances?

Go Out Having Faith

Moving Forward In The Hardest Of Times

The cold is rough, but being up here in Wolf Point is insane because it can get down to -50 degrees which is just suffering. Every day I try to do what I can when I go out and work. Today is -24 (without wind chill) and I am doing what I can to stay warm, by wearing thermals, double socks, hat, scarf and a heavy Jacket. I have a task to accomplish being out serving a mission to bring others unto Christ. My father in heaven has given me an assignment to work here in freezing Montana, he never said it would be easy so I put my faith in him knowing I can complete the task given; faith does not make the task easier, just possible. The lord has asked me to serve a mission so like Nephi said "I will go and do the things, which the lord has commanded" for the lord will protect us as we have faith in him, believing that he can provide. The lord tries us (like sending us to Montana) so we will turn to him, putting forth that faith in the hardest of times. He gives us many miracles in our lives, for miracles do not produce faith but strong faith is developed by obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ, may we always continually be blessed as we put forth true faith in our father in heaven.

                                

The Greatest Hope

     As a missionary we teach many important principles, but a lot of what we teach ultimately comes back to the importance of the atonement, that Christ preformed which payed the price for all of our sins making it possible for all his children to return and live with our father in heaven again. Many people we come in contact with say they are lost and think that there is no hope to over come mistakes they have made.  

President Boyd K. Packer taught "There is no habit, no addiction, no rebellion, no transgression, no apostasy, no crime exempted for the promise of complete forgiveness. That is promise of the atonement of Christ." 

     We are all precious,each one of us. Every soul can again be pure as we have faith in Christ, repent for our sins, going to him in prayer with a broken heart and contrite spirit truly wanting to be better. We come to feel him in our hearts, feeling his love for us and once that connection happens our lives change. This knowledge of the atonement brings comfort and peace as we use it in our daily lives, the atonement is infinite and eternal, yet it is applied to us individually, one person at a time. I know that the atonement is real and that Christ will always be there lifting us up. He lived a perfect life here on the earth, he atoned for our sins and he does live, now and forever.

Gotta Be Different To Make A Difference

 
As a missionary I'm different, I dress different and act different. People notice who were are, because of the different way missionaries carry themselves. People often ask us why we are always so happy walking walking around town, being far from home,  and giving up so much of our time. We tell them that Jesus is the Christ, he is a real being who loves us and pleads for us to follow him. When you choose to follow Christ, you choose to be different, you come to know of him and his love for you, your heart changes and your love for others grow. Every heart can change, I see it everyday as people keep our commitments to read the scriptures and pray to our father in heaven. They come to change their way of life to draw closer to our savior Jesus Christ. We find true happiness in this life as we go through our trials, having someone always there by our side every step of the way. As we follow Christ we choose the path of everlasting light that leads to eternal life. The lord changes us from the inside out, we then can the world. May we always know that Jesus is the Christ, always follow him, and truly be willing to change for him. 

Good News

     I have always loved watching the news in the morning to see all the current events going on in the world and around me. It is always interesting every time i watch it, I feel so involved in the things going on. I was always able to watch a lot, growing up with three sisters we had to fight for the bathroom and for some reason I always lost. So I watched the news, It became beneficial to me later in the day because it was something exciting my family and friends were all interested in and wanted to talk about, because we all like good news. That is why I am out here on a mission to share the good news of the gospel about Jesus Christ and his perfect atonement for all mankind that though him we can all come to live with our Heavenly Father again. By using the atonement daily in our lives and doing good works. It is exciting to know that we can live with god again, that this life here on earth is not the end. Our Father in heaven truly loves us and has created a perfect plan for us and our families to return home to him again. Its such a blessing to come to know our fathers love for us. This is the best news I know of, to share with the world.