Eternal Perspective

   Last night Institute started up again and the class of choice is/was Preparing for an Eternal Marriage. The subject alone makes one feel slightly desperate, ;) ha ha, however, I felt impressed to take that class over the other ones offered. I had a few choice thoughts--one on gift giving. My teacher, Brother Stokes, opened the conversation about Santa and what is the eternal perspective of believing in "Christmas". The whole evening was on this Eternal Perspective, and how by having such a perspective... "If we live in such a way that the considerations of eternity press upon us, we will make better decisions."--Spencer W. Kimball
   Bro. Stokes shared about how gift giving (for little children, Christmas is somewhat around gift getting) but the idea of serving others/showing love through an act and gift. He talked about how we could choose to have Christmas every day by serving others with gifts of kindness, love, thoughtfulness. He then shared that he has boxes full of shoe polish, and sewing kits, and 100 other little things from the dollar store from his grandchildren who went shopping with the intent of getting their grandpa a gift. He laughed because in a life time he could never consume all the "same old" items that he constantly is getting, but each item is precious to him BECAUSE of the intent and gesture of the gift. The whole conversation reminded me of Eying's talk, Gifts of Love. Click here. 
   How I choose to receive a gift is as important as how I choose to give one. How many times are we given things that instead of thanking, our first comments are, that won't fit, I already have one, or the look of why did you get me this. And yes we may have to return it or add it to the collection of the near 100--but like a child in a dollar store searching for "grandpa's perfect gift", at least for me, I put quite a bit of stress/thought into the gifts I give. At times I have even prayed to be guided to the "perfect gift".
   I know it is not Christmas, but I was touched by the reminder that I want to be more like the Savior in receiving the "love" offered by others when they give a gift. Whether physical or a gift of time, patience, kindness, etc.
   My other aw-ha from last night is found in Mosiah chapter 26 in The Book of Mormon. The first verses talk over and over about unbelief. Not believing in the traditions of your fathers, in the resurrection of the dead, or the coming of Jesus Christ...

"And now because of their unbelief they could not understand the word of God; and their hearts were hardened."

A KEY to understanding the scriptures [the word of God] or any source that speaks the word of God, IS belief! Unbelief=cannot understand the Word. Well that is a simple insight/beautiful truth to apply to my personal study!
    I do not plan on daily blogging, however, these things impressed me.

I am grateful for compassionate, kind, loving people.

Start Today!

Do you recall the 3 part challenge?

 Click Here

1.) Read all the conference talks from April 2012 General Conference.

2.) Every day after those talks, read a General Conference talk of any year/your choosing.

3.) 38 days before Oct's Conference, RE-READ April 2012 talks again. Click Here for the online version.

I have finished 1 and 2... and I can testify it was very edifying. Now today starts challenge 3! Even if you didn't do challenge 1 and/or 2, you are welcome to join me in part 3! A General Conference a day may not keep the Doctors away--but it surely keeps the angels closer! 

Happy Starting Challenge Day!

I am grateful for non-mosquito evenings.

NOTHING WAS GETTING THROUGH

It is a little embarrassing to say, but I have been a victim to my own stupidity! Yes, this can be the story of my life more often then I would like.

Here is a list of my electricity bill over the last past months.

Feb: 85
March: 80
April: 85
May: 91
June: 101
July: 175

I had visitors for a while so I expected/anticipated the climb in the bills. Not so much my July bill, (yes I about croaked when I saw it) but some little facts that make this info harder to swallow. Beside having family stay with me here and there, I live for the most part relatively alone. With work and other things, I live in my place to sleep, eat, and occasionally clean. ;) My AC is really never set for anything lower then 77-78 when I am at home. (Don't worry, if I expect company I crank the puppy down.) However, for the last month or so, my unit has read that the house was at 80 or 82-sometimes clear up to 89. The AC showed that it was on, I could hear it working, but there was nothing cool about the interior of my house! The July bill is misleading, because you would think with that payment I was living in the bliss land of what my sister would say is 64 degrees.

Yes.. you could say time to service the unit. This is where my own stupidity comes into play. I have not had the AC serviced since I lived here.... um that is going on past seven years! As long as the cold air was coming out, I was fine. Right?! Oh I am a smart one :D! For the last few weeks I have felt I needed to check out my filters. I didn't want to be bothered... surely a simple impression should be followed without all the additional red flags! (Well you would think anyway... I choose to not obey the smallest of impressions at times--don't ask me why for the only answer is I don't make the time, or brush thoughts off as not being significant.)

My dad came and helped me take out the three filters for my AC unit. I wish I had taken a picture--and perhaps it is better that I did not. My thin metal filter was CAKED! And when I mean caked, I mean CAKED! So much that when I first sprayed water on it... the water had no cracks to penetrate through, thus all the water bounced off the caked filler and splashed black debris all over me! (Thank goodness for bleach!) Who could have thought particles of dust could make such an impenetrable wall.

I soaked, rinsed, sprayed, and soaked again. My sink and tubs have black rings, which I have yet to take care of, of gross goop to prove the process. After much effort, a sink that overflowed spilling dirty water all over my floor, three towels later, scorching water, and lots of physical agitating over a period of 30 mins, I finally had all three filters cleaned off and set for drying.  Seriously, lets hope the professionals have a better system than the one I created! ;)

A few days went by and I finally assembled my filters back into my AC unit. And, then for the first time, I spent a good 20 mins setting/messing with my controls to make my AC do what I wanted it to do. Yes, I have always been the gal that when she wakes, leaves for work, comes home, and later crawls into bed adjusts her AC unit. Not by lots of degrees, but rather I have never spent the time figuring out how to make my unit fully automated at the temperatures I would like to wake, live, and sleep in. I know, I know, I am a smart wonder! :)

I now report after a few days of a unit cleaned and a properly set device--MY LIVING ENVIRONMENT HAS IMPROVED! Probably just how the engineer envisioned the wonder of such a convenience could/would be.

Have I learned my/some lessons?! You bet I have! I now have a testimony of:

• Filters--CLEAN ones. The next time I think the tire store is trying to just get more money out of me by suggesting my filter needs to be replaced, I will now probably say yes for replacement every time I am asked.
• Cooking aprons would be a BIG PLUS to wear when spraying off full filters.
• Taking the time to program something that is meant for programing... a MUST. 
• Following through with simple impressions really does bless your life. **I already knew this testimony, however amazingly how I sometimes fight God on following through on simple, seemingly insignificant impressions. He has ways to bless my life, great and small if I will but obey. Remember the Dryer?! (Click here).

My life is so much like the filter and the ac unit. What am I allowing to pass through my filter. A filter is meant to catch "dust"particles and to allow good wholesome things pass through and make my air "life" all the better. Whatever I am allowing to come to my filter and stick, without proper use of the atonement timely/daily cleaning, can over time, cause a wall of caked up gunk that will not allow anything good, namely the spirit/light/Christ "air" to penetrate, let alone get through. And if those things are not getting through, then my life isn't filled with the sweetness of what God would have my life consistently filled with. Interestingly, even with a "caked" life, the very thing to uncake it is the same thing that I want going through it. **What a win, win.

God, the master programmer and engineer of life, has given me programs of scripture, prayer, study, church, sacrament, fasting, tithing... that when properly set in order and applied, will help my unit of mortal life--run smoothly! With such things my life can be on "auto" run--constantly out-putting blessings to fill the spaces of all aspects of my being.

Who would have thought... all this from a plugged filter! :)

All things testify there is a God!

I am grateful for clean, working, programmed correctly AC units!  

WANT TO BE FOUND

...as a lover of LIFE!

 I am grateful for journaling.

HIGHER SPIRES

"I have spoken over the years with many individuals who have told me, “I have so many problems, such real concerns. I’m overwhelmed with the challenges of life. What can I do?” I have offered to them, and I now offer to you, this specific suggestion: seek heavenly guidance one day at a time. Life by the yard is hard; by the inch it’s a cinch. Each of us can be true for just one day—and then one more and then one more after that—until we’ve lived a lifetime guided by the Spirit, a lifetime close to the Lord, a lifetime of good deeds and righteousness."  --President Thomas S. Monson

Pie was married and sealed for time and all eternity last weekend. This was one of my favorite shots from the blissful occasion. Stairs, lined with rough stones, onward and upward the tower of greatness calls out.  Inside the temple walls, there is hope, peace, and pure love. It is not too far from anyone's grasp. Whether the journey is a new one, or one that we find ourselves needing to continue or even re-learn how to walk... "Each of us can be true for just one day..." (And I might add, true just a minute at a time, when a day or even an hour seems too daunting.)

Are there many challenges in life? Oh yes! At least for me. Some times I wait to put on my war-paint until after my morning prayers because I know that the tears are just going to come down bringing a blanket of cosmetic wonder. But God did not send me here to fail. But rather to progress in my faith, trust, and commitment to/in His plans, His ways, His will and His timings.

"When dark clouds of trouble hang o'er us and threaten our peace to destroy, there is hope smiling brightly before us, and we know that deliverance is nigh. ... sing of his goodness and mercy...praise him by day and by night, rejoice in his glorious gospel, and bask in its life-giving light. Thus on to eternal perfection the honest and faithful will go, [any] who reject[s] this glad message shall never such happiness know." --Hymn 19

 When I keep the Savior with me, the temple before me, and my covenants about me--there IS hope smiling brightly before me!

Taking life, by the inch.

I am grateful for friends who attend church.

It's True

Finished reading The Book of Mormon today. I came to Moroni's promise at the end of the book. I already know that the book is from God and is another testimony that Jesus is the Christ. ... so Moroni's challenge:

3 Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.

 4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

 5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.

I did yet again. I have taken the challenge every time I have read the book, which is many, and every time--I know that it is true! Life changing, empowering, divine guidence, peace in a storm, POWER, hope... are just a few words of how The Book of Mormon makes me feel/does for my life.

So tomorrow, will I open it's pages again? Yes, forever yes. I will re-read, study, ponder, pray over that book every day for the rest of my life. I would not miss a day! I dare not miss a day. I don't want to miss a day. God answers prayers.

I am grateful for a 14 year old who had courage to ask.

"Ed, my son, ..."

I have to say "YEA" for those choice moments of being in the right place at the right time.

I was privilege to attend a fireside a week ago with my folks. I admit, as I walked into the room, I felt a bit out of place---as there were very VERY few people with any color left in their heads of hair. This is not a bad thing! My own folks will tell you they have earned every grey hair they have. (I know, I am one of their six, and I can tell you I helped them earn them!) But with the chapel pretty full, I felt a bit out of place to be among the handful under 55/60+.

Amazing how our thoughts can change. No more than 10 mins into the meeting, I started contemplating all the wonderful truths I was hearing and how I wished all my friends could be with me in the meeting to hear what I was hearing and to feel what I was feeling. :) 

President Ed Pinegar and his lovely wife were the speakers at this fireside. He was just released as the Manti Temple President. And back in 1994, Sister Pinegar was the General Primary President.

There were so many choice insights from the evening, but I will just share few. Pres. Pinegar shared his thoughts on Charity. He made the comment that of the 13 traits listed in Morni 7:45-- seven of them had to deal with patience. He did not share which ones they were, but commented on the underline truth, that one who posses charity also has patience.

He then touched on the idea of having eyes to see and having ears to hear. He shared a sacred moment in the temple. He sat in the Celestial Room and the primary song of a "Child's Prayer" came to his mind. He thought for himself, "Heavenly Father, are you really there?" The answer came as he heard the words in his mind, "Ed, my son, I am always here." Pres. Pinegar then testified that he did not see, nor did he need to see... as he shared this sacred experience, the room was filled with the sweetest spirit.

I know that God, our Father lives. I know He answers prayers. Pres. Pinegar shared that all the knowledge of learning about Heavenly Father over his whole mortal life-- doesn't even equal a 10% of what he has learned and come to know of Him in the last four years. (!) I don't know how old he is, but he is older for sure. What a beauitful insight. His comments about our Heavenly Father were tender, and beautiful and I left the meeting with desires to strengthen my relationship and understanding of God, the Father.

Why did God allow me to enjoy such an evening? Good question. But I am not complaining!

I am grateful for Sunday moments to exercise agency of

where and what I spend my time and energy on.