Beautiful and Simple is the Way of the Lord

The way The Lord works is BEAUTIFUL! I don't know how He does it. I don't know how He turns every possible thing to our good. I don't know how He has the ability to love us in spite of the inadequacies we have on a daily basis. I just don't understand...and yet He does. 

God is good.
God is merciful.
God is so loving.
God is forgiving.
God is one of hope.

I often overthink and overcomplicate things. I don't know why...it sure makes my life HARD! And yet He makes incredible things come together. He testifies of truth when I finally settle my racing thoughts and He reminds me to look in the simple things, for His ways may be MIGHTY but they are simple. They are beautiful. Sometimes I struggle to just let go and to trust. (Funny story for another time, remind me.) But seriously, every time I forget or struggle to trust Heavenly Father, He is oh so very patient with me and then it works out so perfectly. Better than I could have ever hoped for or planned on my own. 

I'm so blessed to serve in the calling that I do. This week I have had three beautiful experiences that show me I am meant to be where I am at this moment...proving God is involved in all the details. Tonight I had the beautiful opportunity to sit down with my presidency and we had some great gospel focused real conversations. We were talking about the empathy we gain through the experience we go through. We discussed the perfect timing of God and the way He prepares us perfectly, we may not be perfect when we arrive but God's timing is one we can't understand but it surpasses anything we could have the ability to plan. We talked about the lessons we need to learn and we are all learning the same things, just on different roads to get to the same destination. 

These ladies are a huge blessing in my life, more than I give them credit for. This presidency is a team and not one of us runs the show above the other...we are all in this together and it's a beautiful journey. We help, we lift, we support, we encourage, and we celebrate with one another. 

I'm so blessed that God puts people in our lives at the times that He does. I'm so thankful that those that open their hearts to the Spirit can often say the things that are so needed at the times they are said. I'm incredibly impressed by the compassion of the Lord to give us second chances to learn lessons we have learned once before but possibly forget to apply.

I don't have too many answers right now, but what's beautiful is I have every single answer I need at this moment. Heavenly Father will guide me to more and more as the moment's press on. 

I know this post was random, just so many thoughts have been on my mind today and I wanted to testify of the beautiful spirit that's been with me today because I was willing to put my life in a greater balance He could be pleased with. Obey the Lord. Trust Him. Be accountable. Blessings will flood in your life, this I testify of. 

Overwhelmed in the Grace of Christ

The thirteen-year-old in me decided this was the picture that was going to pull me through the rough times in life. Life is beautiful in so many incredible ways, but sometimes it gets hard. I don't want to focus on the hard today, I want to focus on the grace; the grace of Christ. Lately, I have felt a little overwhelmed. 

Overwhelmed with time. 

Overwhelmed with planning.

Overwhelmed with mind games.

Overwhelmed with chasing perfection.

Overwhelmed with cooking and eating healthy.

Overwhelmed with a lack of balance.

Overwhelmed with inadequacies. 

In life, as seasons start to change and new chapters begin to unfold it can be hard. Even if they are the very seasons we have been pleading Heavenly Father for, they still take a time to adjust. I've been stretching myself so thin lately that my life has been missing a little balance...or maybe a lot. My Savior has given me everything and I mean EVERYTHING. I wouldn't be the girl I am today without him and his atonement. 

For some reason, I keep stressing and problem-solving as if I have to do every little thing on my own. Why would I take my problems on myself when I've not once been able to overcome them on my own? My Savior has always helped Him when I let Him. When I don't let him, I sure make a mess of things. And it's not like worrying solves my problems for me. It adds more stress, more chaos, and subtracts balance out of my life. 

I may be imperfect as I desire perfection. I may lack faith at times I need it the most. I may let inadequacies in myself get the best of me and at times stop me right in my tracks from even trying. I may not have every single thing in life figured out quite yet. But it doesn't matter because I know my Savior. I know He walks this path with me. I know as I turn to Him, the powers of Heaven are opened and prayers are answered. I know every single answer I need is found in the scars of His hands. He paid the price for me to have hope and every single day He will without a doubt bring me that hope if only I ask and then allow Him to do so.  

Why fear? I don't have to do this on my own. Christ is on my team!!

The scripture doesn't say I or Him - it says WE!!! How exciting is it to have Christ on your team and on mine? The only perfect person to ever walk on this earth. The only one with complete faith to always have the ability to draw down the powers of Heaven. The only one with perfect patience in spite of my countless imperfections. I have CHRIST ON MY TEAM! And so do YOU!! 

I've been pondering lately on how to access the atonement. We hear all the time that the enabling power of the atonement is for us to use, but how do we access it?

Here is what works for me:

1 - PRAYER! 

Pray morning & night every single day without fail! Tell Heavenly Father EVERYTHING...seriously, don't leave anything out! 

Sometimes if you need more divine help or to develop a stronger relationship with Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father it's going to take a TON more prayer. I have had days where it feels like I'm not doing anything but prayer. Praying in my car, while I'm exercising, praying with my scriptures open, praying through the tears. Embrace the moments that call you to your knees. These are the moments that build your faith, that shape you, that help take you from a piece of coal to a diamond.

2 - SCRIPTURE STUDY

You can't know Christ without studying the words of Christ and His stories. To access the atonement, you must invite the word of God into your heart and mind and allow it to be written on your heart. This is one of the basics which means EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.

3 - OBEDIENCE

Striving for exact obedience and honesty in all things is what helps me to access the atonement and invites the Spirit into my heart. Even if you come up short a time or two, trying counts. 

4 - SERVICE

Accessing the atonement is really hard when your heart isn't focused on giving love. It's hard for love and forgiveness to warm your heart if you're not seeking opportunities to extend it to others.

5 - FAITH

"After all that Christ and you" do together, as a team, do you believe? Do you believe that the atonement and it's enabling power will be used in your life? FAITH is the answer to just about everything you hope and seek for in this life. Without faith, nothing matters. Faith drives us to action. It drives us to beliving in possiblities and things we never thought were possible. Believe, and if you don't believe just yet ask for help in your beliefs. 

I Survived Week 1 of Whole 30

Well, I survived Week 1 of the whole 30. Whole 30 is an eating whole program for 30 days being very cautious of every single label. I'm not doing this program to lose weight, I am doing this program to take charge of my health and power over my life. A symptom isn't just a symptom; a headache isn't there just because, every single symptom we experience is a signal trying to tell us that something is out of order. Since I have been facing a lot of bloating for over a year and acne for over two years on top of a few other things like emotional distress, eczema, low circulation, etc. - I decided I was  ready to take power over my health before these minor symptoms turned into bigger problems down the road. Prevention is KEY in health.

I feel SO STRONGLY that Heavenly Father wants us to take care of our bodies, he's given us very specific instructions on how to feed them and stay healthy (see word of wisdom) and he wants us to be healthy if we are willing to care for them. He desires healing, health, and happiness in our lives and I'm so grateful I've found resources that give me power to take action.

So here's what week 1 has looked like for me:

Day 1: I did not feel like eating healthy or doing this program. I was so tempted to give up before even starting. It was a long day and I just wasn't in the mood to jump in and take on this challenge. Thank goodness McKay was doing it with me, he sure kept me motivated and disciplined. That's how I know Satan cares so much when we choose to take power over our physical health and eat healthy; from May until now I have been studying health and nutrition like nobody's business. I've spent so much time learning about the benefits of the food Heavenly Father has blessed us with, and I was SO excited about it; but when it came down to me really taking action to do something about it, all my motivation was lost. Satan truly desires to stop me, and that is so motivating for me to push harder.

Day 2: Overall it was a pretty good day but I had such a headache. I went to a kickboxing class that night and I couldn't give it my all because I didn't have all the energy I needed.

Day 3: I made McKay and I lunch and then we were about to head out to the store and I suddenly got so dizzy which turned into nausea. It lasted the rest of the day. I was weak and I couldn't really move. I hate feeling icky but I got excited when I googled to see if this was normal and boy was it ever. These icky feelings were coming from the bad toxins rising up and wanting to be released. My body had been storing these ugly guys for who knows how long. It was exciting to me that the pain meant I was healing.

Day 4: I felt so much better this day. I had a lot more energy and overall I seemed happy. My emotions did feel a little off, like I couldn't experience emotion as much as I wanted to but it wasn't too big of a deal.

Day 5: I started to feel a little bit nauseous again but nothing quite like day 3. By the end of the day I was just exhausted, all I wanted in life was to sleep, sleep, sleep.

Day 6: Emotionally I felt fine. I couldn't take normal medication for some pain I was experiencing which sure made things worse, but overall the day wasn't horrible.

Day 7: I was so happy, it was like I could think clearly while experiencing so much happiness. We made Sheperd's pie, it was good but I've been in the kitchen more this week than I have been in my life, I'm kind of over cooking right now haha.

I'm so grateful I've made it through seven days! Bring on the next week. 

A Balanced Life is a Powerful Life

You were BORN to take power over your life. You are a Daughter of God and in that you hold His Character or at least the potential to resemble His character as you progress in this mortal journey.

Moses 2:26-28 "And I, God, said unto mine Only Begotten, which was with me from the beginning: Let us make man in our own image, after our likeness; and it was so. And I, God, said: Let them have dominion over the fishes of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth."

"And I, God, created man in mine own image, in the image of mine Only Begotten created I him; male and female created I them."

"And I, God, blessed them, and said unto them: Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth."

Heavenly Father gave dominion over "all the earth." You are a Child of God, and with that you are part of "all the earth." You have dominion over every living thing, that means YOU! You have the ability and control to TAKE POWER OVER YOUR OWN LIFE!! You were born to improve, to learn, to grow, and to become like Him.

Parley P. Pratt has said:
"An intelligent being, in the image of God, possess every organ, attribute, sense, sympathy, affection, that is possessed by God himself. But these are possessed by man, in his rudimental state,... these attributes are in embryo; and are to be gradually developed. They resemble a bud, a germ, which gradually develops into bloom, and then, by progress, produces the mature fruit, after its own kind."

You were born to be AMAZING! You are a CHILD OF GOD and because of that YOU ARE AMAZING!!

Here are some tips to help you create more balance giving you a greater sense of power over your own life: 

1. Clean your room and your car AND KEEP IT CLEAN!!
Whenever your space is in a state of chaos, you will find your life and your spirit will be too. Make it a goal to always make your space cleaner than it is. This means spending a few minutes putting away your make-up in the morning, or making your bed, or picking up clothes off the floor. It means using extra minutes when you have them to put away papers, sort socks, hang up clothes.

Never leave food, water bottles, or any papers in your car unless they serve a purpose. If you brought it to your car, take it out of your car with you. This will help your mind to be clear, you to feel confident at ease, and for you to never run into a panic of "Where did that go?" or "I don't have time for this mess."

2. Prayer, Journal, Scriptures 
I feel these all go hand in hand. Don't try and separate them! In Young Women's we used to call them putting on your PJ'S, you know kind of like putting on the Armor of God. Your spirit needs each one of these daily and you find out that life is so much better and more beautiful when you giving your heart to God through each one of these spiritual building blocks.

3. Well Groomed
You always feel better when you've showered, done your hair, shaved, and your just clean, right? Showering always makes me feel simply renewed and in power of my life. You will feel so much better when you put effort into getting ready. Don't do it for the world, do it for YOU! You decide what well grooming means for you and then always take the time needed to make it happen.

4. Eat Healthy 
Your body needs nutrients to function well. It needs many vitamins and minerals to help you function strong mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually, and socially. Yes they all go hand in hand and yes a huge part of your life comes down to the foods you are eating and the vitamins you are getting. If you aren't eating every color of the rainbow daily, then you are missing out on many functional vitamins your body is craving and in need of so you can thrive. 

5. Get LOTS of sleep 
Your body needs SO much sleep and it's so easy to not get it when you're going going going. But take a minute to rest. Every week, go to bed early at least one night if not two so you can be sure you are catching you're quality Z's. For optimal mental function and a healthy body you need about 8 hours a night. Don't skimp.

6. Serve Others 
It's so easy to get focused on a way street, trying to constantly solve your own problems and never leaving enough time to save the worlds as well. While it isn't your obligation to fix all the chaos that is happening in our own backyard, you sure have the ability to do something. We were born with talents and skills and we keep on improving these gifts because God created us to DO SOMETHING! The more you focus on the lives of others and start bringing joy to those who may be struggling with loss of hope, the more you will find joy and self-esteem entering your own life. Just like it says in Alma 41:15 "For that which ye do send out shall return unto you again." Give more to find more balance. 

Joy Always Comes After Opposition

I'm so very grateful there is opposition in all things. Happiness is on my mind a lot, I would dare to assume it's on everyone's mind a lot. We all desire happiness, in fact Joseph Smith taught "Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof..."

Elder Faust taught, "Happiness is not given to us in a package that we can just open up and consume. Nobody is ever happy 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Rather than thinking in terms of a day, we perhaps need to snatch happiness in little pieces, learning to recognize the elements of happiness and then treasuring them while they last."

I just love how he puts it, we have to treasure it while it lasts. I know in my life the times I am my absolute happiest is after coming out of a big storm or trial that life seems to pour over me, because then my mind is familiar with the pain and opposition found in life and it's so much easier to appreciate the smallest and simplest things in the day to day life. 

We were designed to have joy, it says so in 2 Nephi 2:25 "Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy." I just love that! Of course we have to have opposition, of course life has to be hard at times, of course we have to know sadness to know happiness. Without it we would never grow and we would never appreciate the beauty this world is SO full of! 

This actually leads to the truth that trials are often our greatest blessings. The opposition and adversity in life teaches us more than any other experience can, in addition to leading us to a humility we may know no other way as we are able to find gratitude and happiness in the beautiful journey we call life once we know life without those things we so deeply treasure. Those who know extreme sadness, loss, hurt, betrayal, loneliness, and pain have the opportunity to know the greatest happiness. While in these moments of pain and agony it can be one of the hardest things to face and you have no idea how you will ever come out of it and know happiness again, the sun always rises and some sunrises are prettier than others. 

There is a simple but beautiful scripture found in Psalms 118:24 "This is the day which the Lord hath made, rejoice and be glad in it."

Talk about POWERFUL! What a beautiful blessing it is to be alive, to have this day, to experience this journey that Heavenly Father gave us because He had our best interest at heart. The Lord gave us this day and every single day before this one and after this one. He knew adversity and trials would come our way, but he is still asking us to REJOICE! Isn't that so beautiful???!!! Seriously though, I would scream this on top of a mountain if I was on one right now! He has made it possible for us to find joy in the journey every single day of our lives if we would but just try. 

Rejoice means to be thankful and happy, the word rejoice is found in Alma 26 seven times, and the word joy is found in this chapter seven times as well. I know we wouldn't be asked to rejoice if it was something impossible for us to do. I've found it's harder to practice gratitude when I get out of habit with gratitude. I have a small "tender mercy" journal I write in every night before bed of the three ways I saw the Lord blessing me or allowing me to experience happiness in my life that day. This has really helped me to see that Heavenly Father sends me happiness every single day, even if it is a really hard day and I'm facing a huge trial, there is always something to write.

"Behold, who can glory too much in the Lord?" (Alma 26:16) - I just love this!! Happiness comes from God! God WANTS us to be happy and happiness is possible through Him and our loving Savior Jesus Christ. We have the opportunity to be thankful whether or not we are loving every single thing about our life. We have the opportunity to glory (aka honor and praise) the Lord every single day because He gave us this great gift to just be here!

Opposition has a way of making us appreciate the small things in life and shows us they are the ones that matter. I know in my life after experiencing extreme bouts of anxiety and depression, moments where I was mentally and physically paralyzed by fear and emotions feeling as if chains had tied me up and I was in a dark room with no hope to ever been seen again, it did get better. Oh did it ever get better and it sure made me appreciate the ability to see the sun, to feel the wind on my hand, to have a moment of motivation of a dream placed in my heart once again. It made me appreciate deeper the hand holding, the hugging, the cooking and chores, the moments where I could be with friends, and the moments where their wasn't tears streaming down my face.

You deserve to be happy! God wants you to be happy! I promise you that, because even President Uchtdorf has said  "God didn't design us to be sad. He created us to have joy." You are in control of your happiness, even when there will be sadness along the way...it's about rejoicing and being thankful even through the toughest moments. 

Yes, let yourself feel! Let yourself be okay that every single moment won't be perfect! Let yourself learn patience through the trial, let yourself cry it out and get out the emotions, but then get up and rejoice! Rejoice to the Lord in all the days of your life and you will be so familiar with happiness when the Savior comes again. 

I'll leave you with a beautiful quote from President Monson:

"This is our one and only chance at mortal life—here and now. The longer we live, the greater is our realization that it is brief. Opportunities come, and then they are gone. I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn in this short sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not. I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by as you plan for that illusive and nonexistent future when you will have time to do all that you want to do. Instead, find joy in the journey—now." President Thomas S. Monson, Nov. 2008

Looking for more ways to be happy? Go here! 

It's Part Of Our Divine Nature To Desire Beauty

I've been thinking a lot about beauty and appearance lately. I guess you could say I've gone through some phases in life regarding thoughts and beliefs on beauty and whether or not it's okay to desire to be beautiful. At one point I thought it was wrong to desire beauty because we need to focus more on our spiritual development. I felt guilty for my desires to be beautiful and the time I spent getting ready and looking nice because I had a false belief that all that really matters is what's found within. What I didn't realize then that I do now is our spiritual and physical beings are completely inseparable. The Spirit can't shine out of a careless body. 

Beauty is much more than having flawless features, it's about taking power over our physical appearance through self-discipline. It's about eating healthy, taking care of our skin, enhancing our features, caring for our hair, exercising, and keeping a clean home that sends a message out into the world that we know we have power over our lives and the gifts (aka our body) Heavenly Father has blessed us with does matter. Desiring beauty shows that you care; care about yourself, about Heavenly Father's creations, about life, and about aspiring to become great. Looking our best at all times allows us to make greater connections and influences more people because showing you care develops trust, and you touch and influence lives when people feel as if they can trust you. 

President McKay is reported to have said, when asked by the Brethren if Mormon women should wear make-up, "well, even an old barn looks better when it's painted!"

By our divine nature as children of a loving Heavenly Father, we were made to strive to be beautiful, strong, confident, and poised daughters of God. Heavenly Father is perfect and our goal is to strive to be like Him, I can only imagine how beautiful and well poised our Heavenly Mother is. I can only imagine the self-discipline she has and the time she took to work on her beauty and grace.

Every single daughter of God holds within her a gift, a gift that is an Eternal burning and longing to be feminine, to be lovely, to be honored and cherished. It is part of our divine nature to rise to the election of Goddess. Every daughter of God would be more productive, motivated, and more enthusiastic towards life if they felt peace with their physical appearance and with their surroundings. 

It will take self-discipline, but we are here to learn how to take power over our physical bodies. It takes dedication and self-discipline to wash your face before going to bed, to brush your teeth, to put on make-up, to take the time to style your hair, to eat healthy and say no to treats when it matters, to getting enough sleep every night, and to work out. If you've already developed these habits, then you know it's something you don't even have to think about or make a decision about, you just do it because it's now ingrained in you. 

If you haven't already made it a habit for each of the following above, then start today! Self control and discipline comes with practice, and with increased practice comes mastery. Every time you do this, you will gain a little bit more self-respect (self-esteem) and it will motivate you to do it again and again creating a habit. Start now! Self-esteem shines when you feel good on both the inside and out. 

It starts with Christ, and Christ wants to help you feel beautiful, master self-discipline and follow the commandment found in D&C 88:119-120, 124:

"Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God;

That your incomings may be in the name of the Lord; that your outgoings may be in the name of the Lord;that all your salutations may be in the name of the Lord, with uplifted hands unto the Most high...

Cease to be idle; cease to be unclean; cease to find fault one with another; cease to sleep longer than is needful; retire to thy bed early, that ye may not be weary; arise early, taht your bodies and your minds may be invigorated."

SUNSHINE - It Lives Within Us ALL

Sunshine; that was the name I was given in my trek family ten years ago and the nickname a dear young women's leader gave me the first time she met me. I absolutely loved it! My ma and pa told me I was always looking on the bright side, I was always smiling, and I was always happy and it was contagious. Having this nickname inspired me to be even more happy. The first day of trek, we arrived on a beautiful sunny day. We started to walk on the long journey we had ahead of us when the rains started to pour down upon us. Every one was complaining and miserable and quite honestly I was SO HAPPY! I felt so close to Christ, I felt so much help and comfort from the peace only he could offer. I would sing songs in my heart as we walked along the muddy dirt path as it started to get dark and I just couldn't stop smiling. No storm was going to take away my sunshine.

Lately I've been thinking back to that girl. Happiness was second nature to me because I had practiced optimism over and over and over again. Somehow I have gotten out of that habit. I've realized that I got so used to the storms in my life that I forgot that's it's okay to be happy. I forgot that I deserve happiness and it's God that wants me to be happy. I've been so fearful that He's going to take away my happiness that I allowed that fear to bring even more storms into my life. 

I got in the habit of finding something to worry about in every moment, I got in the moment of looking for the bad and seeking out the storms that I didn't even notice the sun when it was shining. I've realized the more time I spend feel sad or worried, the more selfish my heart becomes. And what makes this even worse is as a man thinketh, so is he (Provebs 23:7). If we think we are sad or are miserable, of course we become that way. We are here in this mortal world to learn how to take power over our thoughts and actions and the thoughts that we dwell upon become our reality. 

Also, if we are sending sunshine out into the world whether it be in our own friendships and relationships or even in our daily interactions with the mailman and grocer at the store, it comes back to us. If we are sending gloom and misery out into the world, that also comes back. It's this constant viscous cycle which is why we can easily start to believe that the sun will never shine. But I've found we each have a sunshine muscle within us. A muscle that can be built stronger and stronger through constant focus and dedication. If you believe there is sunshine in your heart, you will definitely find it there! 

USE your sunshine muscle, if it's hard to use it for yourself at the start, use it for others. Find someone you want to build, help, or inspire and be happy for them. Practice building that muscle through positive thinking, smiling, serving, laughing, complimenting, and thanking. What you send into the world will come back to you. And what you think about you bring about! 

Don't get discouraged by the habits you used to have that have fallen out of place. If you were that once, you most definitely can be that again. Especially when you have Christ on your team, he makes all weak things become strong. and you most definitely can be made perfect by coming unto Him. 

If you want hope and joy in your life - SCATTER SUNSHINE! Cheer, bless, and brighten everyone you come in contact with. (Alma 56:17)

The Parable of Exercise (Coming Unto Christ)

Our bodies need exercise, they are temples given to us by a loving Heavenly Father and He has asked us to take care of them. Latter day prophets and apostles have strongly encouraged us to exercise in these latter days. Just as we have been asked to care for our bodies, we must also care for our spirits by coming unto Christ. 

For the past two months I have been working out consistently more than I have in a long while. I had gotten out of the habit unintentionally as life starts to take over and pretty soon I realized that I was constantly missing my exercise routines and good habits that I had developed because one day of not going to the gym turned into two days and so on and so forth. Needless to say it's been a really hard journey to get back to where I was before, but nothing that has been impossible. 

It's not that I don't like taking care of my mind, body, and spirit through strength training and cardio. In fact I love it and now that I've renewed my habit, my body craves it and my mind thrives upon it but just as change always is, it's been a hard and painful process. My muscles were out of practice when I first started and every bit of exercise I was putting my body through seemed to be uncomfortable and more painful than those I would observe around me, those who had been working towards their fitness goals longer and more consistently than I had leaving them to have muscle that was in practice and endurance that had been built as a firm foundation.

That's the thing when you go to the gym, you don't get to see where they started or what their struggles were to get to that point. All I can guarantee is that it took them some hard work and uncomfortable journeys to get to where they are today. 

It wasn't until two months of consistently working out and putting my body through great pain and discomfort that I finally started to feel like progress was being made, muscle was being built, and I the pain I had endured was worth it because it wasn't going to be that extremely uncomfortable as it had in the past because I had created a foundation of strength and muscle for my body.

I started to ponder on those two hard months, months where I was excited to see the results and I would push through the very hard and uncomfortable pain my body was not used to yet because I had so much faith it would get easier. I believe that's how our journey is as we strive to come unto Christ. When we aren't in the light and giving our whole hearts to Christ, it becomes a very hard and uncomfortable journey. The whole point of this mortal life is to become as Christ is, to be perfect as we take His name upon us. When we are living in sin, disobedience, selfishness, and pride we start to turn our hearts away from Christ and it becomes an uncomfortable life because Christ has to be our foundation because no matter who you are, you have the light of Christ within you.

When we forget how much our happiness and salvation depends upon the Savior, our journey is one that takes a lot more work and faith before we can experience that peace and happiness that comes from progression. The more we strive to take upon us the name of Christ, the easier and more comfortable it becomes to feel of His love, His Spirit, and His healing powers. Just as starting or restarting a new work out journey can be trying and uncomfortable, so can taking change through repentance and coming unto Christ; but the more we practice it and have faith in the process, the more rewarding it becomes.

If your faith has been tested or if you have lost your way and you are in need of repentance Christ stands with open arms ready to lift you up. You have no reason to fear, come unto Him. Expect it to be a challenge because change isn't easy. Changing your heart, your habits, your desires, and your ways of thinking is going to take a lot of focus and may cause some moments where you will feel extremely uncomfortable and may even want to give up, but the view you will see and the peace in your heart you will feel will be a lasting reward that will make every single moment worth it. Don't give up! Start, and start today! 

If you start to feel your heart hardening towards the light you have been in, maybe you need to make a small change. A weight lifter can't progress if he lifts the same size of weights every single time. Perhaps it's time you give a little bit more of your heart to Christ, up-ing your weight and celebrating your progress in becoming just a little bit more like Him. 

Christ loves you infinitely. If you don't know this life will never be as peaceful and satisfying until you do. Live as he would live, love as he would love, pray as he would pray, and serve as he would serve and then you will have the power to know for yourself is Christ lives and just what gifts and powers he has to offer you.

Christ's Love Passes My Understanding

(Art by: Robert Barrett)

The more I go through in this journey called life, the more compassion I have upon others. Pain is real, it can sometimes leave you shaken to your very core. Even when nothing in the world is wrong in front of you, and life appears to be blissfully perfect from the outside world, Christ knows the wounds and pains you hold within.

After many pleas of prayer asking for anxiety to removed from me, time after time again I feel even more indebted to my Savior. It's in the moments when He doesn't remove the pain, it's in the moments where I have to suffer some of the greatest pain I know that I realize just how much the Savior loves me. If He suffered and bled for me knowing beforehand just how many mistakes I would make and weaknesses would be found on my journey that bring me to my knees over and over again, the love He has for me is incomprehensible.

Those moments of panic and fear that make my heart tremble to it's very core are the greatest rocks I have to rely on my Savior and create that firm foundation that cannot fall. When the pain isn't removed, I realize just how much pain my Savior went through just for me; and yet I still can't fathom it all because I haven't passed through all the pain I will yet go through. What if the anxiety I face isn't about that fear coming true, but what if it is just the opposite, an opportunity to go through pain to better shape me for the happiness and journey that my heart so greatly desires? What if the pain is an answer to prayer? What if Heavenly Father may not be causing the greatest pain I know, but He is allowing me to go through it so I may have a greater compassion on others?

In this mortal life, I will never be able to fully comprehend just how much Christ loves me. The mistakes I have made and the imperfections I have break my heart, but that's not what changes me. What changes me is realizing I couldn't overcome any road block, any flaw, any iniquity, or any sorrow or emotion if it wasn't for the Savior. Satan blinds us constantly from all the work and love Christ is sprinkling along our path every moment, but if it wasn't for Christ, we would never move forward from one moment to the next. 

Because my Savior lives, I want to serve more hearts and love more people. I am completely indebted to Him. He has given me more than my eyes can recognize and more than my heart can feel at this time, but I know without a doubt He never stops giving. He goes before me to bring about good from the messes I have made. He allows me to experience peace, sometimes it isn't until weeks after all the pain, but that hope is forever along my path. It's the most painful paths that seem to be the most blinding to me. When hope doesn't seem to shine through among all the tears, I may for a moment or two forget that hope is even a thing; but I never stop fighting for it. In fact I believe I fight for it the most when it appears to be absent, and I believe that's how hope is developed; through the fighting and pleading. 

Christ never stops giving, to those who love Him, and to those who don't yet recognize just how much love they do have for Him. Christ never stops loving His brothers and sisters, and I never want to stop loving mine. I am so blessed by pain, it allows me to look deeper at a situation, without a desire to love or have compassion on others. I want to speak kinder, love deeper, and serve with my whole heart. Service is a part of me, it always has been. I am happier when I serve and it's the thing that Satan tries so very hard to stop me from doing. Ideas to serve others come to my mind quite a few times a day. I must confess that I am probably only acting on 5 - 10% of those service ideas because it's HARD. It's hard to get out of your own way, it's hard to put your thoughts and pain aside to focus on another instead. It's hard to do something you think may be so silly, but who I am to judge the impact it could have. Satan KNOWS the power that lives within us, oh does he ever. He knows exactly what will cause us to believe that serving others is hard. But the more love we draw down from the powers of Heaven, the more love and hope we will be able to feel in our own lives.

Christ's atonement is about giving and receiving. It's about receiving hope, charity, forgiveness, and change while offering up our hearts and our compassion. Christ offers me so much I have been overlooking, which gives me the deepest desire to GIVE and to become the absolute best version of me.

Embrace the Moment You're In

Proverbs 23:7 // "As He thinketh in His heart, so is He."

Picture from our Snow Canyon Cave Hike

Have you ever heard the statement, "You are what you believe you are?" How true that is! If you believe you aren't loved, no amount of love either through words or actions will ever be enough to make you feel loved, it is your beliefs that will feed your soul. 

If you think about faith and happiness; you bring about faith and happiness. What a beautiful concept, am I right?!

Last week I went down to St. George; fear and anxiety kept creeping up on me in the worst ways. Some moments I wanted to wish away the vacation and the beautiful time to relax so the fear would leave me. What I didn't recognize in that moment was I was thinking about that fear. I was allowing it to build up and fester in my heart and mind which only created more fear and anxiety and eventually many other negative emotions that brought down opposition that threatened my happiness and even the happiness of those around me as well.

Life is to be enjoyed - Have a little fun! 

We are in control of our happiness, it's not about the circumstances that lie in front of us. We can be happy at any time, any where if we allow ourselves to be. It's about not fearing the future, but living in the moment. Every moment is so beautiful. Every moment there is so much joy that awaits us, will we choose it? Will we choose to soak up the moment, a gift so precious given to us by a loving Heavenly Father? 

After coming home from that vacation, thinking all fear would float away, it didn't. All I wanted was to go back on that vacation and have a do-over. I wanted to relive the moments that I had missed out on living in fear. What moments are you missing out on in your life? What opposition are you bringing upon yourself because of what your thoughts are creating you to be?


I love life! Life is hard, really hard! But it's beautiful and so worth it and I never want to waste a precious moment of it. I don't ever want to be found wishing a moment away again. Life is to be enjoyed. God created us to have joy! Let's make the most of it. I want to make sure I make life full of good and clean fun and stop worrying my life away. Today I choose to give up fear and sadness and look to God to live!

Here are three life motto's I want to leave you with today:

1. Make people feel loved!

You will NEVER regret making others feel loved, EVER! You know what you will regret? Criticism and tearing others down. Even if you don't mean to criticize, even if you think the words you are going to say will solve your problems; if it's not going to make others feel loved, refrain. You have so much power inside of you to make a difference and influence others for good. Make people feel loved, that's the way to true friendship and getting others to like you. 

You never forget those that make you feel loved. You never forget the people that make you feel loved, so be that person. To be a people builder is to accomplish the greatest thing. Don't underestimate the power your words and actions have. If it isn't nice and encouraging, then simply don't say it. Help others to feel valued and appreciated because you chose your words carefully. Criticism doesn't change people, love and acceptance does. The quickest way to inspire others is to love them unconditionally. 

2. Live in the Moment You're In!

Embrace this moment. It will never come again. Make happiness an option even if you find yourself drowning in anxiety. You can waste the moment living in fear, or you can let the fear go, look to God and LIVE! He gave you this moment for a reason. This moment is yours; it's yours to have joy in, it's yours to embrace it; it's yours to use to serve others! Don't let the moment pass you by because it will all too quickly. Just soak it up, live in it. 

Moments pass all too quickly, beauty and lessons are found in every single moment; focus on the moment until you find it. This present day was given to you for a reason. Life is short, don't let it pass you by.

3. Be Grateful

Be grateful to those around you, be thankful to Heavenly Father, and find gratitude in the good moments and the hard ones. So many people do so many incredible things for you, are you aware of all of them? Let people know that you notice the good others do for you. Thank people when you see them build you up, check on you, or show you charity and love. Everyone deserves a little gratitude for the good they do. Thank Heavenly Father for the blessings that feel your very life and soul. Thank Him for the blessings you just keep overlooking. Life is good! Did you hear me? LIFE IS GOOD! It's hard, I can't even explain how hard I think life, but man there is so much to be thankful for and ever good and bad moment you get through; that is something to be grateful about. Look for the beauty in every moment no matter what it offers you. You deserve to be happy and that comes from gratitude. 



Disclaimer: This little blog of mine, it's my space where I try to make something beautiful out of the little mess in my mind. I'm not perfect at what I say, in fact I think I learn more from my blog than any other person out there. I don't blog to try and tell others how I think they should be living their life, I blog because it's what I enjoy. It's what brings me peace in the hectic moments of life. These three motto's are three things that I am imperfect at, but things I believe with all my heart are important. I'm preaching to myself, but if you want to join along we can make it a party.