Category: Personal Improvemant

DRIFTING

Jeanne Leave a comment 
Drifting on the Sea of Life is such a risky thing.
Without a  chart & compass, the rocks & reefs of life can sting.
The treacherous waves await us, with every wind that blows.
The sirens of lies & deceit can blind our troubled souls,

Confusing truths direction, depending on our goal.
Without a map & compass to God's light, how can we know
A safe & clear, proven coarse, upon life's troubled sea,
Unto that safe, sure harbor, awaiting you and me?

There is a perfect captain, who calls to every soul,
Across the endless waves of time & space to help us grow.
His motive is our welfare.  He guides us from on high
To bring us safely home to Christ's harbor, if we will serve and try.

He gives us charts and maps to guide post rocks and hidden reefs.
His compass is the scriptures;  prayer calls Him to our relief
Past rocks of sorrow & tears, and reefs of hidden deceit,
Unto the peaceful harbor, where life becomes more pure and sweet.

I've done my share of drifting, with no set place to go.
I've sailed through deep depression of body, mind and soul.
I've wrecked upon the rocks & reefs of pride's dark vanity.
I felt the emptiness, as my sins washed over me.

I called unto my Master:  "Please help my sin-torn life!"
He reached his hand beneath life's waves, as I drowned in my strife.
He guided me to others, who understood life's maze.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints teaches of His ways.

Past all the rocks & hidden reefs, as we follow the Holy Son
Through storms of all our trials, Christ helps us work as one.




2012-04-3001-jesus-savior-pilot-me-360p-engDownload

The above link will open a file to hear the song “Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me.”

Don’t Go Faster

Jeanne Leave a comment 
Don't go faster than we have the strength to go.
Don't feel guilty for needing to go slow.
We need to be wise about what we can do.
Don't be afraid to ask the Lord to help us make it through.

When someone asks us for help along their way,
Weigh each circumstance with what we do today.
It's better to do one thing well, than two things badly.
Time is a precious gift.  Spend it gladly. *

We each have things we care about.  Dreams we want to do.
Only those who watch their time, will make good dreams come true.
When someone asks for a dime, let us give them two.
A generous soul receives again; good deeds bring God's love through.

Remember, be slow to say, "I will." So we won't break our word.
Only when the spirit calls can we truly serve.
Don't run faster than we have strength,
Or life can get absurd!

*D&C 123:17--Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all 
things that lie in our power; and then my we stand still, with the utmost
assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.




Early settlers to the Bear Lake Valley built this old cabin in Fish Lake, Utah. Pioneers have always been fascinating to me. The ones who came to Bear Lake Valley in 1863 were sent by Brigham Young from the Salt Lake area. Just think. The Salt Lake Valley wast first settled in 1847 at great sacrifice to build homes, plant gardens, and to just try to stay alive. I’m thinking that those early settlers would have thought they were running faster than they had strength, but perhaps it was a matter of survival. Then, after having been there for only a few years, perhaps just enough to build that home and clear land for a farm, they were asked to move again to a colder, less hospitable place. And they went. They were asked to do something that I believe may have seemed too hard, too much.

I think that we, as mothers, are sometimes asked to go too fast; to do too much; to spread ourselves way too thin. But we do it. Why? Because we love. Is that bad? You tell me. Should the pioneers have said, “No.”? When are we really justified to say no? Think about it, and let’s come back an finish this. PLEASE COMMENT!

The link below is entitled “Just a Mom” Click on the ‘red’ to view..It’s only a couple of minutes.

2018-01-0020-just-a-mom-360p-engDownload

Saving Grace

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Last month we took our van to Jiffy Lube for an oil change, and other minor details. In the business of the day, I sent Bob alone this time, with instructions to please not let them talk us into a big bill, since the Christmas budget was tight. All in all, it still added up to a little over $200, a painful amount, BUT, while he was sitting in the lobby, waiting for the work to be done, he finished writing a poem (quoted below) and shared it with an individual who was also waiting.

When the work was done and the time came to pay , he was informed that the bill had already been paid by the other gentleman in the lobby! What a generous gift, and what a surprise! Perhaps sharing poetry is not as unwelcome as I had come to wonder.

So we went out to I-Hop to celebrate this tender mercy shown to us. As we entered the cafe, Bob, in his usual exhuberant voice declared, “Merry Christmas! I don’t care if that offends anybody.” I sheepishly and quickly ducked into our booth and counseled him to simplify and just keep it to “Merry Christmas”!

After the meal, the server came to our booth and informed us that another customer had paid for our meal. What a day of tender mercies! I don’t suppose this story has much to do with the poem below, except that it was the one he quoted to the Jiffy Lube angel, and, perhaps to realize that God often sends blessings in the form of strangers, or friends, or whatever.

Our saving Grace is here for every single soul,

Who strives to understand the Son, as our own spirit’s grow.

We can’t serve two masters. We can’t serve hate and love.

If we are filled with anger, we can’t feel the peaceful dove.

If we are by the fire, but lay down in the snow,

One act can cancel the other as our heat and warmth does go.

If we go to church on Sunday, but sin throughout the week,

We stagnate like a desert pond and dry up beneath sin’s heat.

The saving Grace of Christ lifts us when we are weak,

If we humbly pray and ask for help, our Lord comforts us, as we seek.

We can feel His wondrous love, in our darkest hour

If we pray with body, soul and mind; we can feel Christ’s wondrous power.

We have found the saving Grace of Christ is a never-ending song.

It sings to us when we are weak, and helps us grow more strong.

And when we fear, from earthly woes, it whispers to our soul–

Keep striving for the Holy Ghost, then we will forever grow.

2019-01-1111-faith-crisis-what-do-we-do-when-we-feel-nothing-360p-engDownload
All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen. -Ralph Waldo Emerson-

The Advent Calendar

Jeanne 1 Comment

When I was a child, I first discovered the holiday advent calendars: a pleasant picture with small ‘doors’ to open, labeled 1-24, referring to the days in December. I remember how excited I was to open each one. One of my favorites displayed various woodland creatures behind each door. For some reason, those images absolutely delighted me. Now, most of them have a small chocolate behind the door, which could also be delightful.

I’m thinking that life is like an advent calendar. Each day, there is a door labeled with that date. I imagine–behind each door is a delight. I think of it as a message from God that He loves me and is caring for me, and is there to help me. If I open the door, I feel that same warm joy that I felt seeing those woodland creatures so long ago.

Life really is like that. If we but look for manifestations of God’s love for us, we will see them, feel them, and recognize them every day. It’s such a simple effort with such monumental payoff.

Grand kids…Now that’s a manifestation of God’s love!

2016-11-0002-start-small-start-today-360p-engDownload

PEARLS

Jeanne 2 Comments

Pearls start as a grain of sand,

Withing the oyster shell.

The oyster slowly smooths the grain,

From this a pearl grows well.

We each have irritations

That grind upon our soul.

If we pray and strive to understand,

Pearls of wisdom grow.

A few days ago my daughter presented us with this glittering oyster shell ornament for our tree.  It is a good reminder of the value of irritations, troubles, frustrations, etc.

video about trials

This world is full of Problems

Jeanne 1 Comment

This world is full of problems;
On that, we can agree.
The answer’s very plain to me.
I have a remedy:
Be generous with a kind word.
Let compliments be heard.
A hug can say, “You’re thought of!”
And patience speaks of love.
Do try to go the extra mile.
Show kindness with a smile.
Let someone talk and really hear,
Just give a listening ear.

The thing that I am thinking of–
is CHANGE THE WORLD WITH LOVE.

http://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2012-06-2150-love-your-neighbor?category=topics/criticism&lang=eng

Icebergs

Jeanne Leave a comment

How much do we really know about anyone else? We just see what that person allows us to see, or feel comfortable revealing. There is so much beneath the surface.

Each soul is like an iceberg that flows upon life’s sea.
We see the tip and think we know just who that might be.
But like earth’s flowing icebergs, the part we see is small,
Compared to the immensity that’s hidden beneath us all.

Within every person are parts we do not see.
They hold uncounted feelings within both you and me.
Few ever see these hidden things of each soul,
But they are real within us, and determine how we grow.

Each soul needs a true friend to know how they really feel;
To have someone who really cares is something that can heal.
An ear to hear, an eye to see, a heart to understand,
Can melt the coldest heartaches within each woman or man.

We each need loving friends to help us through our day,
To try to understand us and our deeper ways,
To care enough to listen to all our troubled thoughts,
We all need the warmth of God’s pure Son within God’s melting pot.


http:///www.lds.org/media-library/video/2015-06-015-dominoes?category=social-media-shareable-videos&lang=eng

Stopped in Time

Jeanne Leave a comment

Here’s another poem about time and nature, and is appropriate right now because we’ve been spending time in our tent trailer in Wyoming, drinking in the scenery, the quiet, the wildlife, and especially the lack of schedule.

Whenever life stops us in our flow,
Or we chance to travel slow,
As we’re given time to look and be,
We strive to understand God’s wondrous eternity.

Whenever we stand still among life’s hurried throng,
We watch all life about us, and listen to their song:
Now is the time to grow, here is the place.
Within this test of life, we all need some quiet space…within the human race.

Within each momentary pause, we find upon this planet,
We strive to warm our heart, from hardned icy granite.
There are deeper meanings, that feed our troubled soul,
With humble meditation on God’s truth, we can grow.

We can find peace in a mountain, or while driving down a road,
Or clouds can lift one’s eyes, worried by a heavy load,
Or what about a river’s song, as it goes flowing by,
Or in each young child’s freedom, as they play beneath the sky?

For speed and power are empty goals.
They leave a hole within our souls,
Where love, truth and gratitude
Can keep a soul from being rude

And set us truly free to forever grow.

The link below notices that the more we see things, the less we see them….

http://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2010-11-23-thanksgiving-daily?category=mormon-messages/mormon-messages-2010&lang=eng

Let Go

Jeanne 1 Comment

Several events over the last week have led me to the thought of “Letting go.” A friend of mine was blind-sided with the death of her husband, who is younger than me. As I put myself in her place, I realized how fortunate I am to have the companionship of a husband, even if it’s just sitting side by side watching tv. Think about it: How often during the day do you rely upon interaction with your spouse? Just knowing someone is there is priceless. It must be really difficult to let go of that season in your life.

On a note (not quite so somber as the last)…my grandchildren. Before they moved out of state, lived roughly a mile from our home. In 5 minutes, I could be there. In many ways, they depended on that. I drove them to school. They came by the house after school and I drove them home; sometimes stopping a McDonald’s if they hated school lunch that day. They were a big part of my time and life. And then they moved. 3 l/2 hours away. It left a hole that I still struggle to stop tripping over; and that hole was really big last week when they started school…a new school. I wanted so badly to be there and do whatever Grandmas do to make things better, or, at least to think you’ve made things better. It’s painful. I worried. I prayed. I fasted. I worried, and then I worried again. Then they got sick, and some had to miss school. I realized that I had to ‘let go’, just like I did before when they left.

I remember those days. I’d sit in the car and play the Mormon Tabernacle Choir verse of ‘How Firm a Foundation’…feeling the words: “Fear not, I am with thee, Oh, be not dismayed, for I am thy God and will still give thee aid. I’ll strengthen thee, help thee and cause thee to stand….” I’d play it loud and could almost imagine heavenly help descending upon me, not just from God, but from dear ones now departed who also cared deeply.

I have often confused control with security. Let go. Let go.

The frosty autumn nights
Bid the tree (glorious and alive)
Let go their precious golden leaves
That in days past, bid them survive.

In spring, the fledgling bird will grow
Now the mother tries her best
To prod it from the nest.
Let go.

We hold our babies close,
And treasure every show.
They now seek new horizons,
And we painfully,
Let go.

Our beloved ones, we cherish
And the winds of age do blow
Now they pass thru death’s door,
As our hearts are broken,
And we let go.

But hearts are healed
When we come to know,
A loving Father,
Will never
Let go.

This short video below helps me to let go. It helps me to trade fear for faith, and helps me remember that, even though I will be required to let go, I can be confident that God will never let go of me.

http://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2017-01-0004-live-by-faith-not-by-fear?category=social-media-shareable-videos&lang=eng


In The Quiet of the Night

Jeanne Leave a comment

In the quiet of the night, when most are asleep,
I wake from my slumber and rise to my feet.
I go to a place and listen to my soul,
And peace within me does slowly grow.

I pray in the silence for guidance from above,
For protection from Satan, by God’s wondrous love,
For protection from my own thoughts and all life’s vanity,
That I may hear the sweet spirit, that can set my soul free.

Then I end this humble prayer, in the name of God’s Son,
And pray for ears to hear and heart to feel, the Holy One.
Then my mind and my spirit are prepared to receive.
I write down the feelings that come to those who believe.

The message of Christ’s love, I’ve been given today,
Is to turn to the Father, and He will teach us to pray.
The Holy Ghost waits to guide us, who search for the light,
And faith, hope and charity come to all, who seek with heart, mind & might.

The following link is a 4-minute personal story of the power of prayer.
http://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2010-01-01-prayer?lang=eng

You may have noticed that some of the poems on this site have the words, “dictations of the spirit”. That’s what Bob calls his inspiration in the early morning hours, when most of the poems are written. As described above, he prays to have his mind cleared and then listens for words, and the poems flow with much more ease than when this inspiration is not sought for, or listened to.

We believe one of the greatest challenges is to be able to discern the answers to prayers. We would love to hear stories from you concerning this subject, and your successes and failures, and advice. Your appropriate comments are always welcome.