GOD PREPARES A WAY!!

So this is nothing new... but can I just tell you how amazing Heavenly Father is?!?!

I have a sweet sister that I visit. And in all honesty, I was shocked with how the Lord opened up doors for me to even have contact with this girl. The first time I visited her with my companion, her boyfriend was there and although he was kind, he made it clear that the gospel was not for him. Last month we set up an appointment to go see her and she asked for me to text her the day of so that she wouldn't forget. I sent a text, called a handful of times, and sent more texts in the course of two days prior to the appointment. Nothing. (You may think a little compulsive, but no-- not true. For I felt okayed from up above, and with the responsibility of caring over those given me in a visiting teaching charge--I knew that God would prepare a way... and He surely did!!!)

My companion and I had pressing schedules the day of the appointment and both needed to be somewhere near 7pm. I told my comp that I had not been able to get a hold of our sister to remind her, but that if she was up for it we would just go by and see if she would keep the appointment that we had set up the week prior. As we drove, I felt impressed that I needed to go over what the bible dictionary talks about with prayer. It was my companion's turn to share the lesson, so I just made a mental note/plea that God would make a way to share what needed to be shared.

We pulled up and knocked on the door and the thought came to my mind that there was movement inside, but no one came to the door. We knocked a few times and then on the way back out to my car, I asked my companion if she would mind us sticking around a little bit. (My thoughts to sticking around was about 10 mins max, but thought if she was to come home we could see her then.)

We had a great time chatting and after finding out my companion has a tender heart for those with physical disabilities we watched a movie I put together a while ago on a little girl in a wheel chair. Our eyes were both wet as we sat in the car and watched the youtube clip off my iphone.

All during our discussion I kept glancing for a sign of a car. Well wouldn't you know it--we sat outside for nearly 30 mins. This is really not a normal practice for me, or for my companion. And just as the movie was finishing--the front door to the gal's house threw open and there her boyfriend stomped out across the grass. I called out his name and he was startled to see me. He gave me a fake smile, lessened his grumpy movements because, I believe, he knew that someone else now was seeing his huffy actions.

Our gal came to the door and was calling him back. It was obvious a disagreement had just taken place. I rolled down my window and called to our girl asking her if we could come in. She had no choice really, because was she really going to say "no"!! NO she was not. She kept calling to her boyfriend as we walked to the door and then made an excuse of how she had been in the back yard which I knew was not truthful, but I was so overwhelmed with gratitude to God for "making" a way that I just smiled at her as she let us in.

We stepped inside and it was apparent they had just been in the front living room. Our sweet sister then confessed that they had been in there and after receiving my text (about 20 mins after we had already come by) that we were just waiting for her outside, her boyfriend became upset and after a battle of words not wanting us there, stormed out of the house--thus HIS STORM--caused a wake for us to ride back into the house! See--! God is truly brilliant! :D

This sweet girl opened up and shared with us her past and about how she just gotten out of Jail for the last time and her experience with the Book of Mormon while she was there. She even showed us her notes she and one of her cell mates had taken on the Book of Mormon. Everything came together as God had me share with her about prayer as written in the bible dictionary. The spirit was present and we know our sister's heart had not only been lifted but she had been given some moments to reflect on things God has already done for her.

My companion and I both left her house rejoicing in God and the miraculous power He had in making a way. And the boyfriend?? He threatened to leave her, but as we were teaching, our sister's little sister came in the house and said that the boyfriend was in the garage sleeping in the car. Ahh, the power of manipulation thankfully did not win out that day!!

Well this journey does not end there and is still continuing.

Our sister texted us and thanked us for stopping by. My companion and I made conference journals for all of our girls with their favorite colors/treats and quotes. I went be the friday before conference and to my surprise this sister came to the door. I was able to give her her journal in person and mentioned I had not heard back from my texts in a few weeks. She told me she had changed cell number and was willing to text me the new number. I left her door step praising god for making a way for me to get her new number.

Well--that was three weeks ago, and since that time I have tried every which way to get a hold of this sister. After I gave her her journal, with her new number she text my companion and I both deep gratitude of thanks... So I knew she didn't hate me for stopping by.

All month she has been on my mind and her lack of not responding to anything. How can I see her? How can I help her feel God's love. I have been given the charge to watch over her, to serve her and to love her--so surely the Lord would make a way yet again!

I decided to up my prayers with love and concern for her. Since Oct first I have stopped by her house several times with no success of having anyone come to the door. All texts, un answered. (I sound like a stocker right?!!--Ha, maybe in the world's eyes I am, but we must do all that lays in our power and then stand still to watch God's miracles unfold D&C123:17.)

Wed- Andrea and I went to stop by what I felt was a prompted visit and found my gal's sister there. She came and talked to us and the visit was completely inspired and both Andrea and I left the house praising God for the chance to talk to the teenage sister.

Yesterday as I was praying how I was going to see my sister, the impression came that I needed to go to her home. I have had this thought several times this month and besides wed night, found no success in reaching her. But the impression came. I text a sister in my ward and asked if she would like to be my companion for the visit, for my actual companion already had family plans. The "substitute" companion invitation was turned down--but I have never been bound to only visiting IF I have a companion. God can still use us if we have the guts.

I pulled outside and was stopped by my neighbor and when she asked where I was going, I sheepishly replied that I was trying a "surprise" attack on trying to catch my sister home. After admitting that and seeing my neighbor's face I felt a ting of guilt and questioned whether the whole thing was a prompting or just me grasping at any way to care for my sister.

I drove to her house. AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MONTHS--actually found the house without driving through a lot of different roads first! (Miracle because she lives in a weird area that I always go in and out of neighborhoods to find.) As I pulled up I saw the garage door open and joyed seeing a car inside! And even more joy when the back up lights came on. I got out of my car and ran over as the car pulled into the street... AND THERE WAS MY SISTER and her boyfriend! She had the look of "caught" and "I was just leaving". My look was one of pure joy, "God, you are sooo good! You got me here with only a 20 sec window of opportunity!"

We chatted in the street. Them in the car and me outside the window. It was no more than 5 mins of talking when another car pulled up and the man asked my sister about her mom. I could tell from her expression she was less thrilled to see that man/"Caught again" and when he left I asked who he was and she said he was a man from her mom's ward. I smiled internally for surely that man must have been seeking a way to check in on the family too! And surely the sister was just thinking she had bad luck--but I praised God at all His magnificent ways to send in the troops and open steel bolted doors!

My gal committed to a visit wed night and the better news is that her boyfriend will be in Wy and won't be a powerful physical reason of why not to let us in.

Seriously, amazing!!

Now has she wanted to come to God or give up all the things keeping her from God--! The answer is a resounding "not yet"! HOWEVER--God has given me stewardship to love and care for this sister, regardless of the choices she makes. And HE MAKES A WAY for us to love/care for His sheep!! He knows this girl, and loves her more than my imperfect love even knows how.

...this I know, that God has and will continue to prepare a way!! And some of my sweetest recent experience have been when God has told me to do something that my natural man quicker than snot answer was, "NO WAY"! But a WAY is what God will prepare if I am just willing to move my feet/open my mouth and act immediately on the promptings of the Holy Ghost.

And do I have all the free time in the world?! I have just committed to getting up an hour earlier each day because I need MORE time. But if I am for God, and am sincere about wanting to be on His errand--then even in the business and craziness of life and all it throws at us-- God WILL make a way for us! He has been for me!

TO THE RESCUE!!!!

So yes I am a bit slow in my challange to finish the Book of Mormon in a few weeks, but I will get there! Early, early to rise it has been! :)

Mosiah 21:5 was very touching to me tonight.

And now the afflictions of the Nephites were great, and there was no way that they could deliver themselves out of their hands, for the Lamanites had surrounded them on every side.

Their afflictions were brought on because of their iniquities. King Noah setting a bad example, killed the prophet Abinadi, and allowed his people (with great encouragement by his own example) to have/live iniquities. Later when King Noah is killed in fulfillment of Abinadi's words... the people start to repent. But their prior choices have led them to be surrounded on every side,.

How often do the choices I make (if following my own carnal desires/natural man) lead me to a place where I can not deliver myself, there is no possible way and that the temptation/burden/enemy/has surrounded me on all sides?? This is a plead for VISITING/HOME Teachers if I have ever heard one!

Limhi's people, who were now striving to be a God fearing/loving people, because of past choices could not deliver themselves. But how sweet and kind our loving Heavenly Father has set up a trumpet and perches faithful home and visiting teachers who can sound a warning/guidance through an ensign message, who can be on the look out for danger to come, or perhaps are sent at the time that someone is in need of delivering, who cannot deliver themselves!! What a beautiful/profound, true scripture.

Now lest someone read this and think I am an AMAZING visiting teacher, I tell you I have had my fair share of sleeping on the trumpet of that duty. But I do believe in what home and visiting teaching can do.

Along with being delivered the other reminder came to my mind--is that we ALL are in need of the Savior. For we all at times are surrounded every side, no way to deliver ourselves. How we may try, if we do it alone--and that's just it--we can't do it alone. As hard as we try we can never do this life alone. We can't be delivered from our appetites and passions, we can't be delivered from death, from hell, from temptations without the Savior! And sometimes he sends us our deliverers in the form of a home teacher and visiting teacher. May we be so blessed to be on that errand.

There is NO WAY without Jesus Christ. (Thank goodness he has provided a Way through the atonement. We can be released from the jaws of hell and the awful monsters that threaten to destroy. A little mellow dramatic? To anyone who has ever felt there is no way out, no way for deliverance because one is surrounded on every side--any form of the Savior whether through a scripture, a song, a home/visiting teacher, a kind act...someone doing something for you that you can not do--is truly a tender mercy from God.

To the Rescue my God will come! And may I be worthy to be sent to the rescue if he so would have me.

WHAT IF JESUS SAT IN THE FRONT ROW

There is much to write about, but I will try to keep it brief -- ! :)

We had a RS retreat up at my folks place and in the morning we went out and had a devotional upon the rocks. It was amazing, and I will share why the title of this blog is what it is in a moment.

The presidency gave us little journals and asked us to go take some time to ponder and pray -- and to ask God what our worth is/what he thinks of us.

I walked off some distance, wanting to be more alone so I could pray out loud. I know there is no rule on praying out loud, but for whatever reason it sure helps me focus. I did what was asked and the words that I felt were "Daughter of God". I thought that was interesting. I already know I am a daughter of God---I wrote down the following in my journal that morning,

"I can become like Him and who He is--is in me. I am made up of Him. I am His daughter."

Forgive me for being a little more personal with this post. This is not what I had planned to do with my evening.

The wind was blowing, the awesome big black ants were crawling (yes on me) and I could hear the birds chirping. I climbed off my rock and headed back to the cabin. I still was pondering over "daughter of God". What did God want me to know about that?

As I walked through the sage brush, I noticed two white flowers. Beautiful in contrast to the dusty brush and dry clay ground. There were several hundred little blue flowers and splashes of little yellow flowers, but these two nickle size white flowers were the only ones of their kind. I have roamed that mountain hill for years now, and they were new. I felt that God was telling me that "being" a daughter of God was like those two flowers. I picked one (I know, gasp all you who love the environment--I love it too, but I had to pick one! :) Too symbolic not to.)

I drove home from an inspired activity, still with the thought of "daughter of God" heavy on my heart and head. As Kristi and I drove past a group of weeds I commented to her how the pioneers brought the "flower" as a decorative plant/and for bottling (I know this from a walk with dad... and yes he made me eat a weed to see how it tasted to the pioneers-thanks dad! ha ha) and now what they brought for beauty is one of the most overgrown/over takes anything in its path weed. I mentioned to Kristi that I need to be careful of the habits I am sowing right now that I think are good and worthy--but really for future generations to come are noxious weeds. Kristi in the middle of our conversation blurted out, "Bryndi, I just love that everything you look at ties to some principle." She said it in sincerity, but she could have never known that I had been struggling with some insecurities about that very trait. ANd here Kristi was thanking my brain for thinking that way. -- Needless to say her complement was a tender mercy from God.

Well later, maybe it was that day/week it is funny how I can't recall how it happened, but I heard the words from Julie B. Becks conference talk,

"There has grown in me an overwhelming testimony of the value of daughters of God. So much depends on them."

God was talking to me!

It is one thing to have the title of "daughter of God" because we all are that--we are literally His spirit children entrusted to mortal parents. But the status of "being" a daughter of God-- so so much more. On the rocks, God was wanting me to know and whispering what I could be.
A just studied about the difference between a son of man and a son of God. What is the difference? Moroni 7:47-48 There are so many good things in the whole chapter, but those last few verses are intense. I want to be (current condition)a daughter of God.

Sister Murray shared this incredible experience with visiting teaching at the Relief Society retreat.


She said that she was to visit teach a particular sister that would not let she or her companion come into the house because the sister didn't want them to know that she had smoking issues. Sister Murray and her companion would visit this sweet sister on the porch or take her out for french fries. I am not sure what the sister's name is, but for the sake of this post, I will call her Ann.

Ann, was a musician--singer and writer of her own music. Sister Murray and her companion decided one night that they would go to this place where Ann would be preforming a few of her numbers. (It was an event where lots of different composers could share their compositions.)

Sister Murray sat on the front row. And through the night Ann would come out and sit with them. A few different times, Sister Murray could smell the alcohol on her Ann's breath. When Ann came out, she sang her composition. It was on Hell and Vampires.

The next time Sister Murray and her companion went over to visit Ann, Ann told them that she had written the two of them a song. She said that she had been so touched by them coming to see her preform. She then sang for them her song, "What if Jesus sat in the front row". Sister Murray and her companion where completely over come that Ann would compare them with Christ. But Ann said that she was so touched that they would come--and there she was singing about hell and vampires. She said from that day forward she would never write another dark song. And she completely changed her life style--to a more pure and holy one.

What if Jesus sat in the front row... I can't wait to hear the song! I cried when I heard the story and shared it later that morning with Dad. His eyes were wet too.

Will I "sit" for Jesus? Will I go where he would have me go. Will I be a daughter of God--pleading and cleaving to charity? Let Charity govern my thoughts and actions in private (my mind, my heart) and in public? Something to strive for, for sure.

Well, to finish this post, I need to share just bullets of the last few days.

*Sam got back! Even though he was exhausted he could have not been any greater!! We went shooting (with the camera :)) at a little water front near his sister's house. We shot for over an hour! Okay, honestly, who can not love UTAH!!! Look at God's handy work!





Thanks for the shoot Sam!

 Now for all of those who know nature=camera freak for me, don't be thinking "poor Sam, had to get drug into one of Bryndi's picture sprees..!" As you can tell... Sam was quite enjoying himself too! :)

*I received a call from Davey during work yesterday--it went something like this,
Bryndi: Hi Davey, you okay? I usually don't answer my phone at work but thought to.
Davey: I was hoping you would. Question, would you mind giving a talk at my baptism?
Bryndi: (Silent scream) Yes, sure, what on?
Davey: Baptism
Bryndi: Davey what are you doing?
Davey: I am at work, it is slow and I am kind of bored. I am just putting together my program.

I ended the conversation and had a good cry on my knees in gratitude. Davey is a son of God. He has changed his whole life around, and you can't but help feel his love for God. I had to thank God for letting me be around such choice people. Davey's desire to do the right thing, caused me to look at my own life and analyze the areas that I have awesome flaws in. I want to be better because of how Davey is.

*Text from David in which he shared with me some scriptures that God had led him to read. I am still not sure what brought him to read those scriptures, but seeing God support David in his deep time of need, was overwhelming, it was beautiful. God is good!

*Set up a temple trip this morning with some friends. I missed the session and my friends, but found myself being assisted by my mom before going into the celestial room. That was tender. (Just as sacred as the time I got to preform part of the inititory ordiance with Nyk.) Then seeing an old bishop at the front desk as I was leaving and to top it off, Kayla Rainy (back when I taught yw's in the deaf ward) was waiting to get names to go do baptisms with all my old girls in Manti. I have not seen Kayla in almost a year. And to see her, IN THE TEMPLE, could there not be a sweeter gift than this?!

*Then an inspired scripture sent via email
"2 Ne 3:19, "And it shall be as if the fruit of thy loins had cried unto them from the dust; for I know their faith." Bryndi, God knows us perfectly, and I love this scripture because it is a testimony that he has sent us at this time because he knows our faith, even before we were sent to the earth. I learned from this scripture that this is a way heavenly Father knows the future, because he knows us perfectly so he knows our faith to do works."

God knows who I am and what I need.

I want to BE His daughter. I want to be sitting in someone's front row when the need arises.

Moroni 7:48 -- I want to "...be like him".

To quote Sam, "Wonderful Day!"

INVEST

It was been a week of great reflection.

I have had many many thoughts. I hope to do the subject matter justice here.

Mom and Dad went to Lake Powell this week to fish. I was very excited to have a chance to be with them and my Nephews. They have been preparing the boat for a week now, getting everything in order. As I planned on going, I felt I should pray about going--and the answer was to stay home. Now someone may just say that it is just fishing, and I get that, but I haven't had the chance to do a family outing in a while. However, I have recommitted to God that whatever he needs me to do in this life, I will do it. Even if that means sacrificing time I would have loved to be with my family. (This all of course is worth sacrificing outings with my family IF I can live worthy to have them in the eternities.)

I know why I was to stay home.

Wed brought a lunch date with a friend that has decided to go back to the temple for the fist time in a year and 1/2! Oh I can't wait for our temple trip next week!

Wed night came with some inspired visiting teaching and hanging out with a dear friend. This friend and I laughed over our situation of being single. For we want to both hold out for a guy, that although he doesn't necessarily have to be "in" busy callings--but just the fact that he is worthy TO have a busy/away from the home calling--we laughed that although we long to be married, if we marry a man that the God uses in a busy calling, we will just be "single" (at home by ourselves) when we are married. But she and I both agreed, that that "single" life is worth holding out for. :)

Thursday brought someone who has not been praying to pray and kneel down for the first time in a long time. And then someone I love and have not seen for nearly 2 months opened her door and let me come in.

Today brought a shopping trip to DI for 3 hours with a mom to find church clothes for she and her sons. She has never owned a dress in her adult year life--and although I HATE shopping, I could have not been more pleased to search through clothes and shoes appropriate for church with her. My heart swelled at God's plan for his children. I smiled as I watched her squint because of bad eye sight, and knowing God has a plan to take care of her "glasses" needs too!

We called the bishop as she humbly asked if it was possible to get a TV stand so her old school big TV so it didn't have to balance on a 3 legged stool. The Bishop's immediate reply was, "sure no problem".

I have learned so much from this man of God. Just 2 weeks ago I was on an errand at Kmart for some markers for work and bumped into him. He testified to me about how we need to meet peoples needs and wants and by doing so through welfare, they will come to know /want to know their savior. This good Bishop was passionate with his desire to serve. He made the comment to me that he wished they would just release him from being the Bishop. Although it has been a 5 year calling, he just wants to be released so that he can do missionary work all the time.

I smiled at his passion and enthusiasm. It was completely contagious! And it is only now, 2 weeks later after being with this sweet single mom, that I am more fully realizing the truth of his statement. I loved my calling in RS--and surely did not think there could be a better calling. I was wrong! Although I loved my calling, and the women I had the opportunity to pray over and the priesthood men I was able to work with--I now have a calling that allows me to do the very thing that moves my soul. I love seeing Christ enter into people's lives! I love seeing someone build up faith enough to pray, or to go to church. Oh the wisdom of this Bishop who wishes he could be released just so he could work with the people/missionary work full time. I am living his dream right now. And this has become a more choice dream then I ever expected it to be!

My friend today asked me why there was so much confusion. Why there was so much oppression with different religions. She could not recall hearing the plan of happiness before... We had a discussion about prophets and how God does not leave us alone. Her desire to know what is right, were sincere. It was beautiful. I asked her if she knew about temples to which she replied she did not. I asked her if she had ever noticed the Provo temple or any temple before to which she replied she had not. I showed her a picture of the Provo temple, but she still could not recall ever seeing it before. I had taken a picture of the Florida Orlando Temple on my phone... Her eyes lit up as I told her about how there was a way for her to have her children forever. As she looked at the picture of the temple, I felt the spirit and I knew she felt it too. There was a hope that filled her eyes that I have not seen there before. It was the look of someone who registers truth for the first time. It was beautiful!

How choice that god gives us choice! We get to choose to live the gospel or not to. We get to choose the level we allow God to bless our life. We get to choose whether to follow commandments or not to. He will never force us. That was Satan's plan.

I have been listening to Pres. Erying's, "Because He First Loved Us". Amazing. It is very good! He talks about "time". What we do with our time is huge. The fact that God has given us "time" in the last time. Why is that? We must figure out what to do with our time. He then talked about investing our time. So instead of just going to church because that is what we are suppose to do, we need to "invest" when we are there. To invest means to:

1.to put (money)[time] to use, by purchase or expenditure, in something offering potential profitable returns, as interest, income, or appreciation in value.
2.to use (money)[time], as in accumulating something: to invest large sums in books.
3.to use, give, or devote (time, talent, etc.), as for a purpose or to achieve something: He invested a lot of time in helping retarded children.

Stay home was the answer I got, so surely God had something for me to "invest" into. Whether I am investing in someone's potential, worth, my own salvation, mental-physical-spiritual health, friendships, hearts, homes--what am I investing my time in/with?! The question has stirred my soul all week. Staying late, or making a phone call that may take up more time, didn't feel so daunting. The lack of sleep or non time for myself seemed to melt away at the fact that I was investing my time into something or someone! The investment and hope of the results of that invenstment seemed to smooth away any selfish desires on my part. Even Brytt came over to my desk and made the comment about how when you are a young monther, you have about 5-7 years (depending on the age of your children) where you invest all your time, energy, resorses into your childs growth and development, because eventually one day that child will start school and will be off and not with you for the full day.

Again, the investment of a mother into her children!! Into her marriage, into her calling--into her relationship with God. Surely the time we invest in the scriptures, in personal prayer, in FHE, in serving those whom we love--! The Savior invested a lot of time into us! Real drops of blood for the investment payment.

I surely don't want his investment in me to be in vain.

I have committed to be better at investing my time. When I partake of the sacrament, I am going to invest in remembering HIM while the sacrament is going on.

INVEST - !

I will!

The church is true! God's plan becomes grater and grater! How merciful He is.

PS. If you are investing time to prayer today--you can add my home computer to your prayers! When I turn it on it stays at a grey screen. I did all the trouble shooting I could find to do--nothing. I should be freaking out because my whole life/pictures/projects are stored on that machine for the last 3 1/2 years. But strangely I am not freaked yet. But a prayer for Bryndi's home computer would not be rejected by me! ;)

THE CHURCH IS TRUE! :D

I just found this article from JOHN H. GROBERG--amazing! It is about investing!

HOW TO DISCERN THE INFLUENCE OF THE SPIRIT

When You Have the Spirit When You Do Not Have the Spirit, or When Satan is Prompting You:

1. You feel happy and calm. You feel unhappy, depressed, confused, frustrated.

2. You feel full of light. You feel heavy, full of darkness.

3. Your mind is clear. Your mind is muddled.

4. Your bosom burns with love for the Lord and for others. You feel empty, hollow, cold inside.

5. You feel generous. You feel selfish, possessive, self-centered.

6. Nobody can offend you. Everything anyone does bothers you.

7. You are very forgiving and kind. You are always on the defensive.

8. You feel confident in what you do. You become discouraged easily.

9. You don't mind anyone seeing what you are doing. You become secretive, evasive.

10. You feel outgoing, anxious to be with others -- You want to be alone. You avoid others -- especially family members.especially family members.

11. You are glad when others succeed. You are envious of what others do and what they have.

12. You want to make others happy, even those opposed to you. You want to get even and show others up.

13. You bring out the best and say the best about others. You are critical of others, especially family members and those in authority.

14. You gladly and willingly perform Church work. You feel hesitant, unworthy, and unwilling to perform Church ordinances.

15. You feel like praying and reading the scriptures. You don't want to pray or read scriptures.

16. You wish you could keep all the Lord's commandments. You find the commandments of God and rules of the family bothersome, restricting, or senseless.

17. You feel you have control of your appetites and emotions: food and sleep in moderation, sexual restraint, recreation that is wholesome and moderate; you are calm and control your speech; you feel no anger.
You become a slave to your appetites; your emotions become passionate; over indulgence in food, sleep, sex, stimulating entertainment, loud music, strong anger, outspokenness all become part of your character.

18. You feel a deep desire to help others--usually in a way no one else will know about. You want to make sure all the help you give others is duly noted by them and the world.

19. You speak and think only good about others. You look for and find evil in others and broadcast it.

20. You feel sorrow when others have problems and sincerely desire to help them. You question others' motives and secretly delight in their problems, and say, "I'm glad I'm not that way."

You realize that your thoughts and your actions are open to God. You feel that what you do and think is only your business and no one else knows or cares.

I think that if we will listen to those types of spirits, we will have a clear understanding of when we're being guided by the Spirit of the Lord, by the Spirit of light and of truth, and when we're being guided by the spirit of the world. Investing in things that the spirit of the world guides us in creates uncertainty and will not pay off well. But investing in things that the Lord guides us in creates certainty and assurance and will pay off handsomely.

I plead with all of us, then, to invest our time in those things, in those areas, with those people, that the Spirit of the Lord prompts us to do.

AMEN!

MIGHT HAVE AN EQUAL CHANCE...

HA, NOT A CHANCE!!!

Alma 49 is all about visiting and home teaching! I will be emailing my sisters tonight the great insights of what diligent faithful/consistent visiting teachers can do--given in this chapter!

But as a taste of how great God is--verse 22 makes me smile. The Lamanites, having an amazingly wicked used to be member of the church at their head--they, the Lamanites came to destroy their brethern the Nephites. There are so many great insights in this chapter! But I have to smile over the following verse.

Now when they found that they could not obtain power over the Nephites by the pass, they began to dig down their banks of earth that they might obtain a pass to their armies, that they might have an equal chance to fight; but behold, in these attempts they were swept off by the stones and arrows which were thrown at them; and instead of filling up their ditches by pulling down the banks of earth, they were filled up in a measure with their dead and wounded bodies.

The Lamanites just wanted "an equal chance to fight". HA, NOT A CHANCE! I had to smile because when we live the principles of the gospel and strive to keep God's commandments daily- WE HAVE THE ADVANTAGE OVER THE ADVISORY! There is no "equal" chance for Satan to get at us, because living the Gospel of Jesus Christ daily/consistently gives us power and strength, and Satan and his influences in the world just have no chance with us!

I know--you are thinking if it could only be that easy. A wise Sheri Dew said, "If life were easy, it wouldn't be hard". The fortifications on those weak cities I am sure were a lot of work. No slacking in their stride and efforts in order to be prepared. Living the gospel of Jesus Christ helps fortify you when the devil and all his temptations come to wipe you off. Home teachers and visiting teachers are the shovels of the Lord! We can help build up our brothers and sisters' cities.

And then when Satan rages--because he will and does, he too, like the Lamanites wish and long for an "equal chance to fight us". BUT FAT CHANCE and NO CHANCE! Small and simple things. The wall of dirt and the deep ditch found in Alma 49 was not built over night. But small and simple, consistent and resilient, faithful and faith filled, fixed and determined brought about a protection that made the enemy wish they could have an equal chance because they were on lower ground!

Living the gospel and all it's beautiful standards gives one GREAT advantage and protection over the father of all contention.

Pretty cool to know you are on the undefeated team A.K.A the Lord's side of the line.

To catch the whole vision of what the power of faithful leaders, home teachers and visiting teachers can do, read and be filled from Alma 49. Click Here To Read (Wow! What a moment of this blog's history! After a year of having it, this is the first time I figured out how to embed a link! See!!! MIRACLES DO HAPPEN! ha ha)

The Church is TRUE!

There is no middle ground for Satan.

BACK TO THE WATER HOLE

Today is the day!

My uncle Paul knows how much I love photography and nature--so for quite some time he has been forwarding me one of his co-work's brother's photography emails. It has been such a treat to look at all the amazing shots of Kent Keller, the photographer. It has been even more fun to know that he is shooting these pictures close to home! Last week he just sent in shots of some of Utah's mountain goats!

Well back in July, my uncle Paul forwarded me one of Kent's latest adventures with some wild horses. This email was a little different in that Kent wrote about his experience. I read his email a handful of times, for so deep was the application. I contacted Kent to make sure it was okay if I shared his email and pictures here on my blog. He graciously said yes. So with his permission, I share his email.

>>> Kent Keller 7/12/2009 7:29 AM >>>
Spent a hot and dusty July 7th with wild horses. I got shots of a normally very shy, beautiful palomino stud, a horse splashing water on a nasty bite wound, a swimming colt in over his head and rescued a little buckskin filly that got caught on the wrong side of a fence from her mom and band. By the time I found her she was so stressed she was trembling uncontrollably and kept falling down. When I got her back with her mom the band ran a mile to the water hole. It took the filly 30 minutes to reach the water. She fell down and laid still for almost three hours. She seemed fine after that.

When I read in his email that he caught a picture of a horse splashing water on the nasty bite--did you notice how big the wound was?! (You can click on the picture for a bigger view. I would love for my pictures to upload bigger on the blog, but I am kind of blog illiterate, so if anyone knows how to make these pictures upload big on the blog, I would love to know!) Did you see how big the wound was?!

I immediately thought to how the Savior is living water. If you come to Him you can be healed! The horse's instinct was to splash water on the wound. Or perhaps he just thought it might feel better. BOTH are true for the Savior! I forgot to ask Kent if the 3rd photograph down is the same horse. If it is, from that angle, you can't see the wound on the horse.

So many times, many of us have wounds that are sometimes hidden from others views, some wounds are deep, some are old but are still festering, some wounds seem insignificant compared to others--but all wounds whether the wound of not forgiving, holding a grudge, pride, envy, jealousy, the wound of hate, lack of faith, bitterness, resentment, blame, abuse, criticism--all these wounds, insignificant or not, if not cleansed with LIVING WATER, our Savior, they can become festering sores. Sores that take away our peace, destroy our hope, and most times influence/set a bad example/attitude for those around us.

The horse splashed water upon a nasty bite. The Savior is the living water. He is the healer of all wounds. Back to the thought of the pools of Bethesda when the water moved, the first person in it was made whole of whatever infirmity they had. The Savior's water is always moving.

Am I willing to let Him take a look at my wounds?

When you first clean out a wound, it can be quite painful. Sheri Dew says, the Savior heals without a scar. Will I let Him heal me? Do I immerse myself and my wounds in/with His love and His mercy and His wisdom? He can heal-- will I allow Him to heal me?

I loved the picture of the swimming colt who was way in over his head. Sometimes the choices I make put me way in over my head. Oh how many times has the Savior come to rescue me?! How many times have my visiting teachers come and shared a message with me that I needed. A coworker, a boss, a father or a mother, how many times has the Lord sent them to aid me in my swimming mess?!

Kent's last story left me filled with the spirit. His story about the Filly on the other side of the fence. I asked Kent how he had gotten the Filly back to her mom and band. He said he cut a whole in the fence and coaxed her towards her mom.

This Filly found herself separated from the ones she loved the most. And because she had been separated so long/distressed for so long when Kent found her she was trembling uncontrollably. Our choices can separate us from God and can cause us great distress. So much distress that our agency can be taken away and we are left to tremble uncontrollably in our consequences.

I wonder if she was even more freaked out when Kent, a human (and she a wild little filly) tried to get close enough to help her.

Do I freak out when someone I love is trying to help me get back on the right side of the fence?

God gives us "Kents" all along our fences to help us back to the path. These Kents are our priesthood leaders, the church, faithful-sincere-mighty prayer, scriptures, our living prophet, home teachers/visiting teaching, temple covenants, paying a faithful tithe--all of these are tools to help us get back to our "Heavenly" band. All of these are to help us have/enjoy true happiness.

Many times when we fall on the side of the fence we should not be on, it is sometimes hard to do the things/take the actions to come back. But it is so worth it.

I was intrigued by the fact that when this filly was back with her mother - it still took her 30 mins to travel a mile to the water whole. And when she got there she collapsed for several hours. Sometimes our journey back to the Savior, our living water, may take a little longer...and that's okay! Our weaknesses and our areas for improvement don't fix over night. But He can start to soften our heart immediately! We need to be patient with our one step at a time. We need the Savior and the atonement to become whole. We need the water hole!

So if you know of someone who is stuck on the other side of the fence don't give up on them!

I want to be a Kent! I want to be the one helping cut the hole and coasting someone back on the path remembering that they might be slow at first.

I was touched by the filly's determination to get to the water hole. And when she got there, so long had her journey of hardships that it just took her a little longer recovery to jump back into the full swing of the band.

So it is for me! When I have been walking a road that is not in harmony with the spirit, it may take me a little longer to get back into the full swing of the gospel. But thank goodness Heavenly Father will send me Kents along my way! Thank goodness for good friends, loving parents/family, an amazing boss, and a great bishop who are like Kent cutting a whole in the fence. I am still the one that must chose whether I am going to walk through the opening.

All of this from Kent's photography eye! And today was finally the day I was able to share it with you!

I know that the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is Christ's true church on the earth. I know the Savior lives and loves us. He and our Heavenly Father will never give up on us. An though we may be trembling on the other side of the fence, they will make a way for us to escape and/or conquer whatever is not in harmony with the gospel in our lives. It is ours to endure to the end... In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

STANDING STILL

Meet Lee and Gerry Shepherd--My adopted grandparents!
For the 4th of July weekend we happened to run into each other at the Scofield fair. It is always quite emotional for me to be around these wonderful, faithful folks, for they mean so much to me.

Gerry has been fighting Thyroid and Lymphoma Cancer for some time now. Food has not been her best friend lately.

Thursday I felt impressed that I needed to go to their house the next day. So strong was the impression that I planned my whole morning around the visit.

As I drove to their house, I noticed that Lee's car was gone. As I went and knocked on the door, I was a little quizzical as to why the Lord would send me to an empty house...but I have a testimony of spending a whole night driving around to see different girls (following promptings as to what house to go to) none of which were home--just so that someone in the stake would drive by at the exact time I was getting in my car from the last empty house visit. She call me up because she saw me going to my car and a needed conversation was given in depth for 20 mins. Why all the empty home visits with promptings? Just for the one Stake gal who needed a friend. God does care about the one!

Gerry finally came to the side door. She didn't open the door but just started signing to me. She had medical gloves on her hands.

I stood on my tippy toes and pressed my face against the top of the glass to make out what she was trying to tell me:.

I was not to come in. She was to be in her house by herself for over a week to try and get her body to respond/become more healthy. I could feel her frustration and sorrow as I watched her sign.

I felt helpless. I couldn't give her a hug, I couldn't wipe away her tears. All I could do was sign through the glass and press an "I Love You" hand to the window.

What a brave, strong woman of God.

I walked back to my car as my cheeks glistening in the sun. I knew only the Savior knew of her loneliness and her struggle to fight the cancer, her fears for the future, and her faith for the present. I know that although her husband and daughter had to leave her house and she was physically alone--I know she was not "alone". I pulled away weeping while I prayed aloud...

What a strength to me! Endurance and long suffering in all things. Thanks Grandma Shepherd for the example you have set up. I know you love God. I know He loves you!

GRATITUDE

These last few days have been a whirl win of emotions. Seemed like Satan was out for blood.

Sunday, I felt I had every reason in the world to pray and plead for help but during church, Yazmin reminded everyone that we need to be filled with gratitude. I had the distinct impression while sitting in sacrament that for the rest of the day I was only to speak gratitude in my prayers. A few situations came up that I was floored with what to do and my natural reaction is to pray for help--but I was reminded again by the spirit that I was only to pray words of gratitude and thanks.

It was a very interesting, but extremely rewarding day of prayer. At times I felt frustrated and like a ship without a rudder, however the Lord did not forsake me! He taught me some important lessons, for which I am grateful for. Sometimes we are to just count our many blessings- naming them one by one- and then we ARE surprised by what the Lord done.

How is it possible for me to forget all the Lord has done?! For he spoils me every day. And yet in the middle of my beautiful garden, I sometimes only focus not on all the flowers and wonderful fruit trees, but rather the mosquitoes and black biting ants. When I focus on those "little" guys, I miss all the amazing things that make up the whole garden!

Count your many blessings was my theme song for Sunday, and it helped me get through some very trying moments.

TEMPLE

Today brought the temple! I haven't gone to the 5:40 AM session in a long time. Usually I make the 6 AM session, but the 20 mins earlier seems to be a natural killer at times! :) But this morning I went, and the place was packed. I was filled with love and admiration for those who seemed so perky and happy to be in the temple that early.

I was able to spend 15 mins alone in the celestial room. Oh how I want my house to be like His house!

VISITING TEACHING

Tonight I went VTing and was touched by my wonderful companion Katie. The lesson was on Temples and having the girls prepare to go to them. Katie found a book from Dessert Book for each of the girls to help them prepare for the temple. She was so excited to give them the book. I watched as her eyes twinkled and she lit up like a Christmas tree as she gave them out.

Oh it was a beautiful thing to see people do the things they are good at. Serving, listening, giving, hugging, talking, singing--whatever their element is that they like to use to share with/bless others--it is a beautiful thing to watch!

STOP, AND STAND STILL

Tonight I finished D&C 5 at the church. Four times it talks about being humble. There are great blessings for being humble and some pretty harsh consequences when we are not. That was for me. And even more, verse 34 seemed to leap into my heart and in a quite way, that only the spirit can do, I felt the words of the verse were written just for me.
God spoke to my heart: Stop worrying, stop stressing and stand still Bryn. I will prepare away for things I have promised you.

I apologized for how I had been and begged for help to be better and to some how get past all the feelings I had been feeling....and for the first time in 4 days, I was filled with great peace. I was filled with a resolve to trust Him more fully and to not worry. He IS in control and that is okay.

So for this random post that I totally broke my bed curfew to type :)--know that I am a counter of my blessings! One by one and am/do ENJOY all the things God has done! I am confident in/with the Gardner of my garden, and I have full faith in His plans to help me grow and become as beautiful inside and out as I promised Him I would be. I have STOPPED my worrying and am standing still.

Daughter of God--in the making.

DECLARING HIS DOINGS!

For what ever reason Satan has been out to destroy lately! Ha, I know, what an understatement.

Yesterday I was not particularly down--I like to count myself as an optimist. I am convinced there is a silver lining in any situation, problem, struggle, and consequence. But for whatever reason, my emotions have been close to the surface these past few weeks.

My sweet visiting teacher texted me that she would like to stop by and that she was embarrassed for stopping by on the last day of the month. I don't think anyone should beat themselves up for visiting teaching--especially if it is the last day of the month! The Lord gives us deadlines for a reason! Recommends have expiration dates, callings in the church are for periods of times, and home teaching/visiting teaching are asked to be accomplished before the end of the month! The deadline is there to give us a goal point. My dad says "If you don't have goal posts [declared/written down], you will end up running in circles."

With visiting teaching, the goal post is before the month is over. Now, by choosing to accomplish the goal before the end of the month, usually is a great stress reliever. The pressure is off. Same with my weekly temple trips. My goal is to go to the temple before the end of the week. Same blessings for going on Tuesday as there are on Friday or Saturday--the difference is the pressure that happens at the end of the week and the stress of trying to actually get to the temple weighs heavily if I wait until the end of the week to go.

Oh what a tangent for just wanting to say, that I was very proud of this sweet sister for coming even the last day! She hit the goal with flying colors in my book.

When my visiting teacher sent me a text to make a visit, I literally had a window of 30 mins in which she could come. Knowing that she lives nearly 30 mins away from me, I just didn't think it was going to come to pass. But sure enough she text me and said she would be to my place by 6. After weeping a little I smiled and looked up towards the ceiling. I knew that God was sending me this sister...

6 came and she was at my place. We sat and chatted about the exciting things happening in her life. She told me of the Lord telling her to not give up on a particular kid. And then she was told through personal revelation that she needed to tell the kid that she liked him. WOW, I love following promptings, but that would have been a hard one to follow--especially when she thought the kid had no interest in her, they had never dated, in fact she has never had a boyfriend/relationship before! What a trust!

She followed the prompting and told the kid she liked him and much to her surprise he said he had been dropping hints of liking her for months--she was completely clueless to them! :) Bishop just gave a few girls some counsel that when we think that we are dropping obvious hints to the boys--we are not, they are clueless! We need to be bold and blunt with how we feel about them. Obviously this goes a little on both sides! ;) ha ha.

She then told me that on the way to my house, she was listening to her ipod and she received the impression that she needed to start praying. So this faithful sister, being obedient to the revelation given to her, immediately turned off her ipod and started to say a prayer while she drove. She didn't know what to pray for, but just started to pray over her family, her boyfriend etc. All of a sudden she found everyone on the freeway coming to a halt. She slammed on her brakes and those in front of her and back of her did the same. To try to avoid hitting the car in front of her, she pulled out into the side lane. (I am not sure if it was the carpool lane or the right shoulder area??) but at that very moment of pulling out of her lane she was told by the spirit to go back to the lane she was in. As she swerved back--still trying to bring her car to a halt without hitting the car in front of her, a truck that was somewhere behind her pulled violently (from trying to stop) into the lane she had just been in-- he was also trying to avoid hitting everyone. She said he almost side swiped her car anyway, but had she been in the lane, she would have been hit by him for sure. It could have been fatal.

We both wept with gratitude. Gratitude that the spirit prompted and even more that she was willing to immediately follow.

I am convinced that rule, rather then the exception, is that miracles happen over the times when we are tending to His flock! Whether it be VT or HT or just doing our callings. God opens doors, sends angles, and often gives us wings to fly through impossible flaming hoops and invisible passageways! So was it yesterday for my sweet friend.

So was she just doing her visiting teaching?! Regardless of what you thing, can I take a little bit of a snotty approach and tell you what I know?!

I know that God sent my visiting teacher yesterday to remind me of how I used to pray! I have become more casual in my praying habits. I still kneel Morning, noon, and night, and try always to have a prayer in my heart, but the faith in my prayers has dropped a few notches. I have not been praying of the smallest of things, and leaving my mouth service for those that seem to be big and pressing. But this sweet sister, I KNOW the Lord sent to remind me, "Bryn, you are to pray over everything. Council with me in all your doings. You used to, remember? Even over little things. Remember what prayers I answered, small, big, insignificant to the natural man... REMEMBER!" Okay- so I didn't hear these words, but I felt them. I felt them in my heart and my mind. My sweet visiting teacher, though she isn't aware of her visits impact on me, was His tool in reminding me tenderly and kindly that there are power in prayers. And I need to go back to how I used to pray. Praying with great power and faith. I felt no reprimand, just a simple assurance and a tender reminder that how I used to do things was good, and okay and that I could go back to that way of praying.

After my sweet sister's visit in my only 30 min window for the day, last day of the month-just a girl wanting to show God that she would do what he asked her to do, blessed me deeply/significantly. I was filled with a resloution that I had habits that I need to cling back to. And all of this came, not in condemnation, or reprimanding--it all came in love and peace. A quietness... to stand a little taller, be a little more faith filled, to pray over and for anything/anyone! To adopt back into my life the things that I know work for me regardless of how others view them.

So with this thought... At the end of my scripture study today, I was thumbing through my Book of Mormon and opened to the 2 Nephi 22. Such a good chapter--compare to Isaiah 12:

And in that day thou shalt say: O Lord, I will praise thee; though thou wast angry with me thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedest me.
Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid; for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also has become my salvation.
Therefore, with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.
And in that day shall ye say: Praise the Lord, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted.
Sing unto the Lord; for he hath done excellent things; this is known in all the earth.
Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion; for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.

In my scriptures, when the Lord answers something in my life with a verse or I feel the spirit confirming what I read was true--I put a spiral swirl over the verse and write out to the side what revelation I received or I state what the answer was to me.
...This is very personal to me and I do not share it for me but for the praise of God and for the fact I just feel I should. My swirl is over vs 4. In my scriptures I wrote this last year:

"And in that day shall ye say: Praise the Lord, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted."

"2.22.08 - I have been struggling with the idea of sharing all the miracles I see with others. I have not wanted the praise of men- and I don't want them to think for one moment that it is because of how I prayed or anything to do with me. This past week I have pondered over stop telling people of His goodness--this scripture came with the feeling and words that I do need to share and I will continue to pray to the Lord and ask that he allow me to give Him all praise and all glory. This scripture gave me much comfort."

So may it be known to anyone God has read this blog--I DECLARE HIS DOINGS!! I speak of things I know for myself. God is a God of miracles. He does answer prayers! Small ones, big ones... ALL SINCERE ones! The smallest sparrow falls and he knows it. We are much greater then a sparrow (although I think they are pretty great.) We must follow our impressions and promptings! They can be felt more when we sincerely, pray and study the scriptures daily. God will give us missionary opportunities! We just have to ask! He does open doors, and amazingly enough he allows us/gives us the ability to A.S.K.! Thanks for dad reminding me, A=Ask S=Seek K=Knock and in return of using our agency to A.S.K we will receive R.F.O. R=Receive F=Find O=Open.

How does one receive things from the Holy Ghost, one might ask?! It all starts from the fruit of Repentance!!! Moroni 8:25-26
Repentance=
Baptism=by faith=
fulfilling commandments=
brings a remission of sins=
which brings meekness/lowliness of heart=
with those in place
COMETH the VISITATION of the Holy Ghost=
which fills us with hope and PERFECT love=
which love endures by diligence=
unto prayer=
until the end shall come=
DWELLING WITH GOD!!

All those things are the fruits of repentance. What a powerful tool I need in my life every day!!

I love that it says that the end "shall" come. There IS hope smiling brightly before us! It's not if the end will come, or when, IT SHALL COME!! That means an end to our suffering, or woes, or our sorrows, our strugglings.

I am declaring that I know that God lives. I know that Jesus is the Christ. I know that God hears our prayers and answers them. Big ones, small ones! I know we can become better. I know we can have hope and should have faith in the things God has told us will happen.

Oh to be born in a day when there is so much truth on the earth! Oh to my wonderful parents who had the courage to have this number 5--to put aside their desires/dreams so that I could fulfill/have mine. My soul rejoices and I am consumed with gratitude, wonder and awh.

Joseph Smith is a true prophet. I know he did see God the Father and Jesus Christ. Through him, the gospel was restored to the earth.

The atonement is for all of us to partake of daily. Christ is the author and finisher of my faith!

I testify that He lives!
-In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Declaring his Doings!!!

UNDERSTANDING THE BLOSSOMS

What an amazing week from God! Honestly, there is just not room or time enough to describe the workings of His tender mercies!

This past week when the snow storm hit, I admit, I went through the emotions of bitter and sweet. Sweet because I love fresh snow. Bitter because I love (almost more than fresh snow), blossoms on the trees. The blossoms, in just one week have, awwed the streets of Springville and Provo. The blossoms only stay a few short weeks, but this storm surely cut the life span of all the blossoms.

As I got into work and shook off the snow from my coat, I over heard some girls talking. Vanessa was concerned about the 3 blossom trees we have in the parking lot. She said when she got in to work, some of the tree's branches were sagging to the ground. So in an effort to save the trees, she went out and shook the limbs she could reach on each tree. Her hope was to get enough snow off so the tree branches wouldn't touch the ground. She talked about finding a broom so she could reach the higher branches. I thought that was a little on the extreme side. After all it was still heavily snowing outside. (Oh how wrong was I!)

I didn't think any more of what I heard and went to start my work.

By the end of the day, the snow had already started to melt from the 24 hour dump that had just occurred. The sun was shining and the birds were singing. I pulled out of the parking lot and headed for my church building, when not even driving 30 secs, I started to realize the magnitude of the snow storm. I found several trees that had been badly broken. Whole massive branches had been broken in half. I started seeing so many that my heart became sick.

I pulled my car over (mind you there were no shoulders on the road I was driving and I made quite a few cars not so happy with me) but I just had to take pictures of the damage done by one snow storm.

Blossom trees, pretty developed, had significant gashes from where their branches had become too heavy from the snow.

My heart was sick. On this one particular tree, this huge branch, full branch, had broken off. As I drove down the road, I started seeing more and more trees like this. It was a common occurrence. By the end of the night without hesitation I can say I counted well over 50 blossom trees that had some type of crack/brake in their branches.

I started thinking of all those people I love. Friends, family and particularly the Sisters in my ward. I pondered how we can all relate to these trees.

In the dead of winter, the snow comes, then ice storms... trees all lay dormant. I don't think I have ever seen a tree in the winter that has cracked or had a branch broken off. How true that is to life. When we are in our winter, refusing to open up our testimony or show our light or "open to God" the storms come and go and we are just a cold/lifeless tree. But it is when have the courage to open up unto god... when we find life in the gospel and living the commandments. That is our time to blossom!

I will finish that thought, but let me jump to the rest of the story.

Because I had seen all these broken trees, I was really anxious to see the trees at my work. The ones Vanessa had lovingly--shook.

The next morning came and on my drive to work from the temple, I was again sickened like the day before to see all the cracks and brakes--this time I was looking at 900 E Trees and not East Bay Blvd Trees. As I pulled up to work, I turned to look at the three trees we have in our parking lot.

Whole! One tree had a tiny brake (this is in comparison to everything else I had seen) and the other two were completely whole! WHOLE!! And yet on the very same street, 30 secs away in a car bigger and smaller trees had big cracks/brakes in them. But the trees in my parking lot were just fine!

Okay, okay, so you totally know where I am going with this! But nonetheless I am still going there!

VISITING AND HOME TEACHING!!!

You have someone that you have been called to watch over. Maybe someone strong in their testimony of the Savior. Maybe someone not so strong. Maybe someone who is still dormant in their faith. Maybe they just don't know that they know. Regardless of what state they are in, we are all like the blossom trees. Do we know when there is a storm in their life? Are we apart of their life enough to know when their branches are hanging low. Are we in contact and intune with the spirit when it comes to caring/watching/tending to their needs?

While I was stopped at a stop light I marveled with how full a couple of the blossom trees were.
I thought that these trees were just fine. No need to worry. They looked like they had survived just fine. Well that is what I thought until I searched the tree for any signs of breakage. Sadly, though the tree did a good job of hiding among all the blossoms, I found it, a brake in the upper top of the branches. Can you see the brake below? (You can click on the picture for a better view)

Go do the center of the picture then slightly over just a little to the left. Do you see it? I hadn't noticed it at first. But how true is this for all of us! Everyone is always dealing with something. They put on a beautiful full mask, but everyone has struggles of their own or are worried over others. Everyone is, or knows someone. So when I visit teach, am I sensitive to the un spoken/or unseen wounds/struggles/temptations/addictions/pains? Do I even care enough to know if they have those area's in their life?!

At a stop light, I saw a white blossom tree limb just laying on the side walk, broken--alone--lifeless.
Do I notice/or am in touch enough to know when someone is struggling--feeling broken--alone--lifeless?

Everyone has burdens! Friday as I left work I pulled down a street and saw this massive blossom tree broken in three different places.
The brakes were pretty huge! Any of us can fall. None of us are numb to the temptations of life, although that would be an awesome goal!! But even the strongest member needs to be nourished and feed by the good word of god. By teachers who really care about what is going on in their lives.

Okay, so you can see the passion I had with this 48 hour adventure. So impressed was I by Vanessa at work. And her little act of shaking off the tree limbs.

1. She was aware enough of the three trees in the parking lot to have concern for them when a storm hit.

2. She was aware enough of the trees/seeing them daily (and I know for us, we usually don't do daily, but being in enough contact that we know) to tell a difference in the perkiness/droopiness of ones branches.

3. She had concern enough to shake the limbs. This took extra effort. Defiantly not convenient to go out during a snow storm, trace through the snow, stand under a tree and shake the snow off limbs, which would in return dumb their [the tree's snow] snow on you. But she did it! (Some times promptings come to make a surprise visit or a call... or to go visit/check in even after your monthly visit has already been completed. But are we sensitive to their needs and the daily/weekly/monthly/yearly storms they face?)

I don't know how fun it is to be shaken--perhaps the tree thought, "Vanessa, what are you doing to me?! Leave me alone. I don't want you to shake my limbs." Thank goodness she did!

What happens when we meet others that for whatever reasons, have pretty big wounds from whatever...? Well we surely just don't leave their broken limb hanging!
I was shocked to find on Friday that many of these trees had not been taken care of. And as you can tell from this picture, because the limb was not cut off (taken care of), any added pressure, you can see how much further down this limb might brake/tare!

Going back to the new blossoms, when we are sensitive to those around us and get to know them, we will be able to notice when they are taking hold of gospel truths for the first time, or are reestablishing their commitment level. We will know because they will start to bloom and open unto the lord. And it is in/with these tender moments when we need to be extra mindful/watchful over their conditions and what we can do for them.

Friday morning, before work, I drove to the temple and awwed over the fact that I could not find one broken blossom tree at the temple. --! We include the temple consistently/frequently in our life and help it be a goal in the lives of those we teach--we will find that we can withstand the storms of life. The temple shields us with power. When we are reminded of our covenants that we make there, we become filled with greater desire to keep blooming to him! The temple must be a focus.

I will never look at a Blossom Tree the same.

STAKE MEETINGS-TEACH?!

After getting home on Friday somewhat late, I was excited to have a moment to myself to clean. But so strong was the impression that I needed to make a movie of what God had just taught me through the Blossom trees. I start

ed on the movie, somewhat reluctant because I really wanted to clean my place. Carson stopped by unexpectedly and what a treat it was to have him over. We haven't hung out just the two of us since before he and Nyk got married. It was so good for me to be around/talk with him.

Before he and Nyk headed back to WY, I asked if they wouldn't mind having family prayer with me. (Ha, the family was me and them!) But I felt impressed that we needed to have prayer and that Carson should be the one to say it. It was beautiful/sincere and I felt the spirit strongly. I must admit I was a little hesitant to ask them to pray with me, but that thought only lasted for a sec! Prayer, I feel, is one of the most powerful tools one can have in their life. IF we can stay true to sincere communion with God then we will be open/worthy for the spirit to dwell with us, we will be able to be better at remembering Him and I believe we will have a desire to be and do good. Okay, little plug in for PRAYER IS AMAZING! DO IT!

After Chick and Carson left I felt I needed to head back to putting together the movie. Around 9:30 I noticed I missed a call from the Stake RS President, Sister Hutchison. I called her back and she asked if I would give the closing prayer in our stake meetings the next morning. After agreeing, I am not sure how we got talking, but I mentioned I went to the RS training up in SLC and how excited I was with the things Julie B. Beck had talked about. Sister Hutchison excitedly asked if I would speak at the end of the meetings and asked if I could type up my notes from the Salt Lake meeting. I agreed, hung up the phone and went back to putting together the movie. 1:30 AM came and I went to sleep happy that the Lord had put together what I felt was a significant clip.

6 AM came all too quick, but I was up and out on the track with Jinger. It was walk 6 mins and jog one min training. We are just at the start of training for a 10 K . Mind you I will not be running in a race, but I want so badly to learn how to jog and the Lord has provided Jinger as an answer to my prayer. When I got home, I had a little over an hour to shower/get ready and make the handout for the stake meeting.

As I jumped out of the shower I felt impressed that I needed to show the movie clip at the stake meeting. Mind you, this meeting was for training the RS presidencies about Visiting Teaching. And when the Stake President called me the night before she had no intentions of asking me to teach/share what I had learned from the Salt Lake training...How could I now call her and tell her I wanted to play a clip at her meeting. Talk about inviting yourself to take over! (So NO WAY, was my thought, but again, I know better then to go against an impression.)

I got the guts up (I admit I had to pray for the guts) and ask her if she wouldn't mind me sharing this little video clip. She said it was fine. (Few!) :) I know I am pathetic!

There was a knock at my door. I ran in my rob and hesitantly opened the door. It was Jinger with a little bag of banana bread slices. She had to run, but dropped them off and she asked/begged me to not back out on a commitment I had made. Her little service of bringing me 4 little slices of bread turned out to be a huge tender mercy of the Lord... I will finish this thought in a min.

So I am now 30 mins until the meeting started and I was just typing up my handout of notes. As I typed I kept stewing over the thought of how I didn't want to overstep my stewardship. Last min training at the stake meetings... showing a clip that they, the stake leaders, had not approved of first... I got a little sick at what others would think. And really more then that, I was worried if I was stepping over my bounds/stewardship.

As I was driving (3 mins to get to a a church 7 mins away) I pondered over if I could really do/should do this training. In my heart I just knew the meetings would go over and I would be asked to speak when everyone would be expecting to leave--oh I was completely un easy about the whole notion.

While I drove, I gratefully ate the two small slices of Jinger's banana bread. I thanked the Lord as I recognized his tender mercy. I was hungry from being up so early/exercising but had been too busy to grab a quick bite of anything. After the stake meetings, I knew there would be a little breakfast, but I was sure grateful for the slices of bread to give me something until then.

As I got on the freeway, the battle of what to do for the meeting still cankered my soul. And for whatever reason I leaned over the stirring wheel towards the windshield and looked up. And at that moment I saw what looked between a swan, crane, and pelican fly nearly on top of my car-on the freeway- and then fly away. There were no other birds to be found, and it was so quick and so different looking, that I still don't know what type of bird it was. But my heart immediately stopped it's battle. Here was my confirmation... I would follow through. I would show my clip and not worry about stepping on toes at the meeting.

The meeting went amazing! We watched the movie "Feed My Sheep" and I could not keep from weeping. Two little kids go to care for baby lambs all summer with their Dad. A storm had killed all the adult sheep. With the parents gone, and the little lambs not knowing how to eat in a trough because they had never been taught by their mothers, these little kids had to bottle feed every lamb. There was so many little lambs and only two doing the feedings. Many of the lambs were starving to death. Every morning they would find 6 or 7 dead little lambs.

The girl who was tending to the sheep happened to name of of the lambs. She loved the lamb and it followed her faithfully everywhere. One morning she wakes and finds the lamb gone. She goes searching for the lamb and finds it a far way off dead. She gently picks up the now cold lamb and takes it to her father crying. She asks if anything can be done. And as he patted her head and just let her do some needed crying she looked up at her dad and asked, "Isn't there anyone that will help feed our sheep?" To this, my cheeks became uncontrollably wet. I have prayed and cried almost those exact words to Heavenly Father on several occasions. To see sisters/brothers/loved ones fall away, or become spiritually dead--so many that I believe would not have fallen/drifted--had they been properly cared for/feed through the home teaching and visiting teaching programs. I have had some countless nights where I have knelt in anguish of the drop off of flock members. Ones that needed not drop off had they only had the support of loving visiting teachers. No one is a number, but a spiritual daughter/son of God! And just like the trees, there are so many that could be spared, or at least protected from the storms had they just been looked after/cared for by the people over them.

Well true enough to the impressions in the morning, the meeting was already 30 mins over the time limit by the time I was to get up. Even during the presentation the opposition threaten to destroy and make me shut my mouth and just sit down. I am sure to the reader of this, I sound so nuts, but this is how I felt. The meeting ended, and the Lord had gotten me through my moments. I felt heaven had engulfed the room.

Because the meeting had ended later then planned, I dashed out the door to help some girls with their visiting teaching. And as I drove to the appointment, knowing I would not be home for several more hours, I saw the last two slices of banana bread in the bag Jinger gave me. My eyes became wet as I pondered over how the Lord had provided for my needs. Would I have been okay not eating until after 2 when I got home... you bet! But my Father in heaven just proved yet again that he is into details. And he had detailed out for me (by having a wonderful sister in law who I had just been with that morning) run over before she rushed to Salt Lake, and drop off 4 slices of banana bread. Something she has never done before. And here I had breakfast and lunch!! And all because our God, is a God of details/love/kindness/miracles!

Now you may ask, why was it so important to give the lesson and show my little clip? Well I will never know. I have some hunches, for I was able to talk to someone after the meeting that I normally would not have talked to, but even if that was just a little test to see if I would follow through--don't follow my example. Do it, and don't worry/question. Sure I was willing to do it, but my weaknesses, doubts clouded my faith with "what will other stake members think of me if I take up this time/present?" Oh to be quick to obey, and not complain/question in the process, is a beautiful thing I need to work on.

MOSIAH 26:13-15,19

Tonight, I felt impressed I had to get this blog up. But I had not read the Book of Mormon for the day. I just opened to Mosiah 26 and just started to read starting in 13. I started to cry. The Lord knows what is in our hearts! He knows our desires. He knows when we are trying to be better. And he also knows how to comfort and bless us. Don't get me wrong, today was amazing! And there many choice moments basking in His spirit. But even with all that... He led me to read Alma's conflict which seemed completely identical to my feelings/heart this evening. I didn't mean to, but the likening unto ourselves, just came by the spirit as I read. The Lord was talking to me--I cried. And in gratitude thanked Him for allowing me to read such verses. God is, a God of love/compassion.

I know that God lives. I know that Jesus is the Christ, the Prince of peace, the Holy one. I know that they love us. I know that prayers are answered and can be guided/led daily. I am so thankful for repentance! It is real! We can be cleansed and made whole through Christ's atonement.

I hope to leave this life like President Henry B. Eyring quoted his dad while he was approaching his death (this month's Ensign article Teaching True Doctrine):

"My father...talked to me during the nights as he approached death. He spoke of joyous reunions that were coming soon in the spirit world...

At one point I asked him if he had some repenting to do. He smiled. He chuckled softly as he said, “No, Hal, I’ve been repenting as I went along.”"

Thank goodness Heavenly Father, through His Son's atonement has provided a way for me to repent each day and to renew my soul each week...

And may I clarify a bit on my feelings of Visiting/Home teaching. There are times when we will visit and limbs will still brake... and trees will still remain or even choose to go dormant. But we, the Lord's helpers in tending to needs in the field, can be assured that we will know what God would have us do for such trees. We must have the faith, that he will help us/guide us as we lovingly/willingly tend to the branches and our trees.

Oh it has been an amazing handful of days.

The church is true!