Category: Personal Improvemant

So, I chose to put problems, worries, negative thoughts, and all other things included in that group….to put them out at arm’s distance, where I can see them, but they can’t ‘get to me’. I thought of putting myself in a bubble. Within the bubble would be happy things, or the ability to see good in what is happening now. It’s a pleasant place because I choose to make it so. I smile. I breathe deeply, and I feel safe. I can build this bubble with prayer, music, service, thankfulness, scriptures, etc. Do you think it worked? Ya, it did. I was able to deal with problems and move on. I let only what I chose into my ‘bubble’.

Last night I was listening to an interview with the LDS songwriter/singer, Hilary Weeks. She said the same thing in her way. She said when she counted her negative thoughts she became depressed, but if she switched and counted the positive ones, she felt peaceful. So, there you go..just a little ‘tweak’ makes all the difference in the world.

So, I’m thinking, “Lord, I’ve learned a lesson. Could you just take away some of the problems in the first place?” Ha.

Do Our Best

Do our best in all we do; that is all our Father asks.
At work, at play, stay firm and true to all life’s varied tasks.
When we slip and sin, we cheat ourselves in many different ways.
Don’t build our house upon the sand. Repent and forgive each day.

God gives us weakness to humble us. This helps us turn to Him.
If we do, weakness fades, for with Christ we start to win.
If we learn and serve our Lord in truth, Christ lights our darkened way.
The more we search and understand our sweet Lord, the more we want to obey.

See 2 Corinthians chapter 4 about being troubled on every side, but not distressed.

Repentance was a topic discussed several times. For anyone who would like to read or hear these messages, log onto LDS.org and follow the links for general conference. In a few days I believe the recent messages will be available to print, read, or hear. For the topic of repentance, three speakers come to mind: Reeves, Bednar, and Renlund.

Elder Bednar spoke of repentance and how we need to have faith in Christ to repent. To have faith that Jesus says to us “Come now and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow…” Isaiah 1:18. Most of what he said was well-known doctrine, but at the end of his speech, he spoke of those who have a hard time ‘believing’ what they know. In other words, they have faith, but making it personal and applying it is a step more difficult to achieve. I guess that’s like getting knowledge from your head to your heart. Perhaps that’s why some of us sincerely repent, and yet, keep reminding ourselves of past sins and follies and don’t allow ourselves to shed the guilt that has already been swept away. We do not draw upon the real power of the Atonement. Perhaps it’s easy to tell someone else that they are forgiven and should forget, but, when it comes to ourselves, we struggle. We need to be like the father who came to Jesus and asked him to heal his son. Christ asked if he believed that it was possible, and the father replied, “Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.” Mark 9:24

Repentance and forgiveness are a two-edged sword.
Once we repent and are forgiven, we must believe the Lord.
For only by true faith in Christ can we receive his joy,
The pure grace that comes from Christ to every girl and boy.

And when we find ourselves caught in sin’s dark snare,
We must repent each day we live. Forgiveness lifts despair.
We each fall short in many ways. Pure light casts out all fear.
Through guidance from the Holy Ghost, we grow and see more clear.

Forgiveness is the healing balm, we feel when we obey,
Only when we humbly seek for forgiveness every day.
He helps us live more Christ-like, as repentance brings us joy.
As we repent, forgive and serve, Christ’s grace we do employ.