Fighting

I have been having some interesting experiences lately. Nothing that could be video recorded or documented. They have been mostly in my head or in my spirit. I’ve been fighting a lot of things. Have you ever felt like that? That you’re doing spiritual kung fu in your mind? That dark and dire enemies have crept into your thoughts and tried to take control?

At these times where I’m wrestling with very real foes I remember that I and all of us are in a war, an unseen war which makes it all the more dangerous. Most people don’t know that we are in a war where heavenly and hellish forces are clashing to win their souls.

Does that change your perspective of who you are? Do you understand how important you are? Don’t worry if it doesn't. It didn't for me for the longest time and I have to remind myself all the time. It’s a continual journey for all of us. Finding out who we are and getting through this life of inner battles and outer conflicts.

The thing that always keeps me going through the difficult times is the knowledge that God loves me and knows my potential; who I can become. And that I have promised Him to do anything He asks and to trust Him. I know that those promises keep me close to Him and Him close to me; through good times, bad times and the worse times. Through this battle of mortality I have the One that created it all by my side and He has given me the armor I need (the Atonement of Jesus Christ, The gospel, covenants, scriptures, prayer, The Plan of Salvation, commandments, etc) to survive this war and get through to the great times. 

When life gets away from you, pray to the One that gave it to you.

     Life tends to get away from most of us. Whenever I hear people say a phrase like this one I tend to picture someone buying a huge Mastiff dog and trying to take this big pooch on a walk. I can just see in my head this poor someone being dragged by the horse-sized dog until they finally let go: hence life has "gotten away". Its a really comical and sad picture to me. Comical because when I was little that always happened to me with my sister's dog; a Great Pyrenees, and sad because I believe they (and me) could have had some help if they had asked for it. In my opinion we can all choose to have some help with our life. In the King James version of The Bible, Jesus Christ tells us this: "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." -Matthew 11:28-30.
     Well I think almost everyone falls under the category of "heavy laden". We all have worries, concerns, troubles, trails: its a part of the "life" that sometimes gets away. But for me and for anyone who wants Him to, Jesus Christ can help us. He has already helped us through The Atonement He can strengthen us to get through all the burdens of life.
      If you need help ask God. Simple as that! James 1:5. "If any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God that giveth to men liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." God loves us and wants to help us. So don't let life get away or get in the way of His pure love. Seek after it, and He will be there for you.
                                                              WE ARE NOT ALONE!!!
                                                                        D&C 88:63

Proverb #1

Repentance (changing to come closer to Christ) is like brushing you teeth. You should do it daily.

The Agreeable Four

These four agreements helped me a lot when I went into the Missionary Training Center, leaving behind everything; my family, animals, and putting my schooling on hold to serve My Savior and help people come closer to him. I had a hard time at the beginning but some one shared these with me and I hope it helps you as much as its helped me:(italicized words are my commentary)

The Four Agreements

by: Don Miguel Ruiz

Be Impeccable With your Word

Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.As a missionary we continually strive for this. We share the truth and love in every word we speak.

Don't Take Anything Personally

Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won't be the victim of needless suffering. I have a super hard time with this one. But if we apply #3 it becomes easier.

Don't Make Assumptions

Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life. When you "think" someone is upset or mad at you ask them! When I've just asked 9 out of 10 they aren't mad at me at all.

Always Do Your Best

Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgement, self-abuse and regret. Again a tough one for me to follow. But this is one is definitely a reality check for me whenever I'm sick or in pain. Doing my best is all the Savior asks of me.

Love is the motive

Love is pretty basic, right? This world tends to make love complicated and I know that there's a lot of different definitions but to me, love is simple.

Learn from everybody. Its amazing what people know and the experiences they've had.

Observe who they are, what they need and what you can give them.

View their lives. Whether is be only a few seconds or all their lives, be witnesses to their lives.

Eternally care about them.

I try to love every person I see. The people I've known all my life as well as the people that I take on tours at the LDS historical sites here in New York. I may have only known them for maybe just an hour or so and I may never see them again but I know all of them are children of God. They have concerns, questions, problems, trials, joys, and lives. Love needs to be the motive for all of us to rid ourselves of the darkness and anger that seems to be raging and bring the light of Christ to this world that truly needs it. Love is simple but it will help so many people.              

Simply spread love.

Remember that I love you

       
    Home. Its totally different than a house. A home can be a house but not all houses are homes. home is where you are always welcome. you feel at peace and that you are loved and it always has the spirit of. . . homey-ness. When you move out of the home and into the world you suddenly realize how precious home is. Every time you return you always remember the memories you created there and the feeling of love and peace.
      That is what the temple is for me. It is the House of the Lord but it always has that feeling of returning home. Right now I am far away from my earthly home where my family is and my Heavenly one. I know I lived with God before this earthly home and the House of the Lord, the temple, gives me those feelings of love and peace that always remind me that my Father in Heaven loves me. He has given me so much to remember His love; this beautiful earth, the scriptures, modern-day prophets, prayer, my family, and the temple; all seem to whisper the message from my God and Father: “Remember that I love you.”
        We should always remember His love for us and show that we love Him by using the things He gives us to come closer to Him and His Son, Jesus Christ and help others do the same. He will always love us and give us those things we need to return to Him. Always remember His love and the home that was yours before you came to this world.

Opposition in all moments

laugh, cry.

frown, smile.

happy, sad.

failure, success.

life, death.

darkness, light.

In one moment

out the other.

Dreams, hopes, wishes collide with Doubt, fear, confusion.

all in the same moment.

Life ends

Death begins

something more than this mortal earth.

In all these moments of opposition I see the reason for it all.

This life is here for me to become all He sees in me.

The plan, the opposition, the suffering, the rising.

All in the moment of His life He did the impossible 

to make it possible for the return of the river.

My moment of life so important 

to the Father of the Son

that died for me

that rouse for me.

Light of Life

"The light of Christ is just what the words imply: enlightenment, knowledge, and an uplifting, ennobling, persevering influence that comes upon mankind because of Jesus Christ. The light of Christ fills the "immensity of space" and is the means by which Christ is able to be "in all things, and is through all things, and is round about all things." It "giveth life to all things" and is "the law by which all things are governed." It is also "the light that quickeneth" man's understanding (Doctrine and Covenants 88:6-13, 41) The light of Christ will lead the honest soul to find the true gospel and thereby receive the Holy Ghost. "and by the power of the Holy Ghost you may know the truth of all things"(Moroni 10:5)
    -Bible Dictionary page 725

 Light in the darkness

Hope in the night

walking to the understanding

of the faithful and the right

Darkened by confusion

wondering what to choose

walking to the revolution

in the horizon.

Follow that light

of Christ.

He will guide you to your future

Follow the light.

of Christ.

Find the hope of inspiration

Don't give up when you fill lost.

He will find you by the light of life.

Follow the light

of Christ.