God is Happy.

He wants us to be happy, too.

God is Tender.

In the scriptures we find many stories of our Savior. We see the way He interacted with others, the way He loved and cared for those around Him and the way He blessed, served and gave to all. The more I read of Him the more I feel His love. I can just see Him in my mind... walking throughout the land. He is strong, fearless, clean, smart, kind, loving and ever so tender in every move He makes and every word He speaks. He lived His mortal life serving, giving, loving and praying for others. He lives His eternal life doing the exact same things. I have no doubt He still serves, gives, loves and prays for each and every one of us. He knows the heavy burdens we are carrying. He knows how to lift them off our shoulders. He knows how to comfort our souls and heal our hearts. He lived and died and lives again for one simple reason... To lift us up.

God is Potential.
Being a mom is teaching me a lot. But one of the greatest things it has helped me understand is God's role as our Father. I have always known He is my father, but my understanding of what it really means grows each day. As a mom I know my daughter better than anyone else in the world. I know her strengths, her weaknesses, her loves and hates. When there is something she thinks she can't do, I can see the big picture and help her know she can do it. Or, when there is something she can't do or shouldn't do, I can see the big picture and help her know her limits. I am here to encourage her and love her and help her understand her potential. But God is the Creator of that potential. He is the Father of us all and HE is our greatest potential. There are many different things we can teach our children, but the one that matters most is their potential to become like God. Because He is their potential for good, for growth and for happiness. He is the potential within us all and no matter how many times we fall or how insignificant we may feel, He is our Father. 
He loves us. And that will never change.

Yesterday I mowed my lawn. I even broke a small sweat. It's mid December. How weird.

I LOVE warm weather.

As for most everyone, life is busy and crazy this wonderful time of year. There are so many festivities and projects and things to accomplish. Hence the lack of posting. But God is still on my mind and I love thinking of Him each day and reminding myself what truly matters. Here are some of my thoughts.

God is Light.

 I have never liked the dark. I remember once hiking in a cave and the guide shutting of the power once we were at the deepest point... it was pitch black. Blacker than any black I have ever experienced. I held my hand in front of my face and couldn't see it. It was absolutely creepy. I couldn't help but think of the scriptures that share what it was like at the time of Christ's death. 3 days of darkness. Complete darkness. What a perfect symbol. Then looking back at His birth, the sign of the star. The Light of this world had been born. Another perfect symbol. Christ truly is our Light. Not only physically and mortally did he shine the way, but spiritually and emotionally He shines into the dark corners of our hearts and minds and lights the path of all who follow Him. He is the way, the truth and the light. (John 14:6)

God is Power. 

Lightning and thunder always bring a reminder that I am just so small. 

As I sat in my driveway and watched the light streak across the sky and the thunder rumble through the air, fear of being so small crept into my thoughts. There are storms that take lives, damage homes and cities and leave people hopeless and alone. Then there are storms of hate and anger, sickness and death, loneliness and fear, sin and temptation, instability and loss, broken homes and broken hearts. There are storms raging all throughout the world. But God is above it all. He is the Creator of this earth and all the elements are under His care. Whatever storms may rage, He has the power to calm.

God is Peace.

A lot of people I love have been facing a lot of things. Sometimes I wish I could just grab all their problems and throw them out the door. Sometimes I wish we didn't need to experience trials and pain. And though I know it's for our own good...I sure don't like seeing people I love hurt. But I am grateful for a God who offers peace to all. He came into this world to bring us peace. A peace that only He can give and a peace that covers all. All pain, all sorrow, all heartache, all sin.

God is Forgiveness.

I once heard a story that changed my life. I have always known that God is forgiving and as I follow Him He will forgive my sins. But the longer I live the more I want to become like Him. The more I want to be forgiving. I think forgiving is one of the hardest things to do. Not just saying sorry or that it's okay, but actually forgiving. Letting go. Not holding against. Not hurting or taking offense to what someone has done. God is the only way we can achieve this. He can change our hearts. He can help us let go. He can help us forgive.

The Story that changed my life:
excerpted from “I’m Still Learning to Forgive” by Corrie ten Boom.

“It was in a church in Munich that I saw him—a balding, heavyset man in a gray overcoat, a brown felt hat clutched between his hands. People were filing out of the basement room where I had just spoken, moving along the rows of wooden chairs to the door at the rear. It was 1947 and I had come from Holland to defeated Germany with the message that God forgives.

“It was the truth they needed most to hear in that bitter, bombed-out land, and I gave them my favorite mental picture. Maybe because the sea is never far from a Hollander’s mind, I liked to think that that’s where forgiven sins were thrown. ‘When we confess our sins,’ I said, ‘God casts them into the deepest ocean, gone forever. …’

“The solemn faces stared back at me, not quite daring to believe. There were never questions after a talk in Germany in 1947. People stood up in silence, in silence collected their wraps, in silence left the room.

“And that’s when I saw him, working his way forward against the others. One moment I saw the overcoat and the brown hat; the next, a blue uniform and a visored cap with its skull and crossbones. It came back with a rush: the huge room with its harsh overhead lights; the pathetic pile of dresses and shoes in the center of the floor; the shame of walking naked past this man. I could see my sister’s frail form ahead of me, ribs sharp beneath the parchment skin. Betsie, how thin you were!

[Betsie and I had been arrested for concealing Jews in our home during the Nazi occupation of Holland; this man had been a guard at Ravensbruck concentration camp where we were sent.]

“Now he was in front of me, hand thrust out: ‘A fine message, Fräulein! How good it is to know that, as you say, all our sins are at the bottom of the sea!’

“And I, who had spoken so glibly of forgiveness, fumbled in my pocketbook rather than take that hand. He would not remember me, of course—how could he remember one prisoner among those thousands of women?

“But I remembered him and the leather crop swinging from his belt. I was face-to-face with one of my captors and my blood seemed to freeze.

“‘You mentioned Ravensbruck in your talk,’ he was saying, ‘I was a guard there.’ No, he did not remember me.

“‘But since that time,’ he went on, ‘I have become a Christian. I know that God has forgiven me for the cruel things I did there, but I would like to hear it from your lips as well. Fräulein,’ again the hand came out—’will you forgive me?’

“And I stood there—I whose sins had again and again to be forgiven—and could not forgive. Betsie had died in that place—could he erase her slow terrible death simply for the asking?

“It could not have been many seconds that he stood there—hand held out—but to me it seemed hours as I wrestled with the most difficult thing I had ever had to do.

“For I had to do it—I knew that. The message that God forgives has a prior condition: that we forgive those who have injured us. ‘If you do not forgive men their trespasses,’ Jesus says, ‘neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.’

“I knew it not only as a commandment of God, but as a daily experience. Since the end of the war I had had a home in Holland for victims of Nazi brutality. Those who were able to forgive their former enemies were able also to return to the outside world and rebuild their lives, no matter what the physical scars. Those who nursed their bitterness remained invalids. It was as simple and as horrible as that.

“And still I stood there with the coldness clutching my heart. But forgiveness is not an emotion—I knew that too. Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart. ‘… Help!’ I prayed silently. ‘I can lift my hand. I can do that much. You supply the feeling.’

“And so woodenly, mechanically, I thrust my hand into the one stretched out to me. And as I did, an incredible thing took place. The current started in my shoulder, raced down my arm, sprang into our joined hands. And then this healing warmth seemed to flood my whole being, bringing tears to my eyes.

“‘I forgive you, brother!’ I cried. ‘With all my heart!’

“For a long moment we grasped each other’s hands, the former guard and the former prisoner. I had never known God’s love so intensely, as I did then” 

God is Strength.

Not only does God give us reasons to keep going, 

He also gives us the strength to do so.

December 6th, 2012

God is Love. Perfect Love.

Today they played a song on the radio that I had never heard before. It was absolutely beautiful. I got to my destination and actually waited in the car until the song finished. Then I just sat quietly. Pondering that precious, little baby that came into this world over 2,000 years ago. That baby was our God. Our King. Our Savior. And yet, He was a baby. A precious, innocent, perfect baby born into this imperfect, cold and often dark world. And He was here for one reason... US. He was here because He loves us perfectly, completely and eternally. He was here to save us. He came to teach us, bless us, atone for us, die for us and rise again... all for us. Not one moment of His life was for Him. Not one moment of His sufferings or death was for His own sake. It was ALL for us. Can we even begin to fathom that kind of love? 

That sacred night God gave us the greatest give He could have ever given. 

His Son. Years later came another most sacred night. Christ gave us the greatest gift He could have ever given. His Perfect Life.

These 2 scriptures come to mind.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

John 3:16

"Greater love hath no man than this, 

that a man lay down his life for his friends." 

John 15:13

There is NO greater love than the perfect love God offers to us. He already loves us. He always has. He always will. And if we accept that love, our hearts and lives will be changed forever. We will experience all the joy and beauty this life and eternity have to offer. 

To you who read this post, I pray this night for you. I pray you will feel His Perfect Love. I pray you will know He came here just for you. I pray your heart will be healed, your faith will be strengthened and your love for life and God will increase. Please let go of any fear or frustration or pain you have ever felt. Let God take the load. That is why He came. Because He loves you so and wants to give you hope. All that is good, all that is right and true and real... 

it all comes from Him. And that is the gift He came here to offer you. 

Please... feel His Love. His Perfect Love for you.

Here With Us - Joy Williams

(When I searched for the song I found this video on You Tube.)

I always like to do something special for the month of December. Now that I have a child, it is all the more fun and exciting. This month we have decided to start something called "Jesus Is..." My daughter is still very young, but I wanted to find ways to teach her about Christmas, our Savior and what is so special about this time of year. So each night after scripture study we take just a few minutes to teach her one thing about Jesus. One night we showed her a picture of Mary holding baby Jesus and taught her that Jesus was a baby and He came here because He loves us. One night we showed her cut outs of the Nativity and taught her that the wisemen and shepherds came to see Him and that the animals were there, too. Through the month we plan to pick one attribute of our Savior each day and teach her who Jesus Is. For example, Jesus is Love. Jesus is Happy. Jesus is Kind. A simple and fun way to help her know who He is. Though this activity was intended to help and teach my daughter, I'm not surprised at how much it is affecting me. As I take time each day to think of all the wonderful things our Savior is, I find myself gaining a stronger testimony of His goodness and love and the blessings He brings to my life. So I decided to start my own little journal of what He is to me. I call this one "God Is..." Though I know that my Father in Heaven and Savior Jesus Christ are 2 separate beings, what they stand for is the same. I'm excited for this wonderful time of year and the opportunity I have to refocus and dig deeper and recognize their Power and Love and Blessings in my life. I plan to document some of my thoughts here, 

so follow along if you wish!

Merry Christmas Season to You All!

  Here are my entries from the past few days.

God Is...

December 1st, 2012

God is Personal

Today I had a special experience that reminded me just how personal God is with each and every one of us. How deeply He knows and understands us. He doesn't just know me, but He knows EVERYONE in this world. He is completely aware of what we need, what we want and how we need His help. He truly is our friend and lives to lift us up.

December 2nd, 2012

God is Answers to our Prayers

I believe we often don't see or even recognize the answers to our prayers. Most times the answers don't come in ways that we expect. But sometimes the answers are very clear to see. Today I'm grateful for the answer I received to a very simple prayer.

We had some friends over to watch the 1st Presidency Christmas Devotional. One of our friends is a newly baptized member of our church and this was a wonderful chance for her to get to hear from our Prophet and learn more about what we believe. I really wanted it to be a good experience for her. She arrived at our home and brought with her a very cute, but unhappy little baby (that she was babysitting for the evening.) I was excited to have another little one join us. I LOVE babies. As the devotional started the baby was having a hard time calming down. I was hopeful I could help and asked if I could hold him. As she handed him off I said a silent prayer that he would relax and stay calm for the rest of the evening. After a few minutes he calmed down, but I could tell he wasn't relaxed. Then my little girl started pulling on my skirt and I became worried that she would be jealous and want me to hold her (which normally is the case). So I said another prayer that she would be happy and not cause any distractions. The devotional continued and the Spirit could be felt. Then came time for our Prophet to speak. My daughter was tired and I was worried she would start fussing and the baby became more restless. I said another little prayer that they would both stay calm and handed my daughter her blanket and repositioned the baby. As our prophet started to speak, my daughter laid on the floor and silently listened. The baby relaxed on my shoulder and seemed to be asleep. There was absolutely no distractions as we listened to Him speak and sang the closing song. I was shocked. My heart was touched and I had NO DOUBT that my prayers had been heard and God had blessed us. I was overwhelmed with a feeling of love and the watchful care that came from my Father above. I know He is watching over us and in the big things and the small things, He always hears our prayers.

December 3rd, 2012

God is Patient

Today was one of those days. Not a bad day, nothing went wrong. But something inside of me was just off. Call it hormones or lack of sleep or whatever...but I was not feeling at all good about myself. One of those feel ugly, stupid, pointless type of days. Most women know exactly what I mean. Anyways - point is, I didn't feel awesome. As the day came to a close I realized my daughter had been happy all day, which I'm assuming is rare for any 19 month old toddler. She hadn't thrown any fits or screamed at me or begged to watch movies or go 'bye bye'. She had laughed and played and given me loves and entertained herself a lot of the day. THIS IS NOT A USUAL OCCURRENCE. Actually, I'm not sure it has ever happened in her life! Because of my unhappy feelings inside, my initial reaction to this realization is that I am a terrible mom. I shouldn't have felt so down, I should have given her more attention and so on and so on and so on. But as I thought about it more, I knew it wasn't a coincidence that she had been so happy today. I felt a calm assurance inside that God was watching out for me and had blessed me through the goodness of my own little toddler. He knew how I felt. He knew what I needed and gave it to me in a way that I almost didn't see. I'm so grateful for His never ending patience and the many times He stands by me even when I'm down for no reason at all!

December 4th, 2012

God is Good

This Saturday we are having our church Christmas Party. It is going to be awesome. Anyone is invited, so let me know if you want to come and I can give you the info! Anyways - The Theme is "A Night in Bethlehem." We are creating the city of Bethlehem and eating food and playing games just like in the days of Christ. And there will be beautiful musical numbers and a reenaction of the Nativity. It has taken a lot of work from a lot of people and has been a neat experience just in the preparing. One thing we were concerned about is the food. Come Sunday we didn't have enough people signed up to help and we were concerned we may not have enough. So we sent out emails in hopes that people would reply and be able to help. I soon received emails from women in the ward asking what we needed and offering to help out. Some of them willing to bring way more than their fair share. I was really impressed. They didn't care what we asked them to bring or how much they needed to prepare, they were just happy to help. I felt the Spirit of Christmas in their willingness to serve. The Spirit of caring and giving and expecting nothing in return. I felt blessed to be surrounded by wonderful people. I felt blessed to be touched by the goodness of others. God is good. When we follow Him by loving and serving, His goodness not only fills our hearts, but it blesses the lives of all those around us.

December 5th, 2012

God is Change

Though God is unchanging Himself, He is the change we can find in ourselves. There are times in life when I've hit a wall. Or a pit. Or a hump. Or something that I feel is keeping me from progressing or being completely happy. No matter what I do to change or get around the wall or through the pit or over the hump, I cannot do it on my own. I find that through prayer and pleading and true desire and effort, God blesses me with the ability to change. HE changes my heart. HE changes my feelings. HE is 'the way, the truth and the life' as stated in John 14:6. He has helped me over the walls, through the pits and around the humps over and over again. I'm grateful He came into this world to show me the way, and more importantly, to provide a way for me to change.

Over the weekend we found another friend. Or should I say, enemy.

This is the 2nd time we have had a mouse in our house and I was MUCH more prepared to handle the situation. I had been gone for the evening and when I got home my husband told me he had seen another mouse. We knew where it was and I told him to stand guard while I created the trap. I laid out our sticky sheets and lined them up the wall (so he couldn't crawl on the molding like the last one). We were out of goldfish so I lined the trap with Frosted Flakes. That seemed enticing.

Then we watched and waited. 

Within 2 minutes he darted across the floor and

 BAM!

 He headed for the biggest pile of cereal and planted himself right on the trap. He wasn't near as smart as the last mouse.

 

 I was grateful my husband was home this time and my job ended here.

A fair warning to all gross creatures who enter my home:

You will not survive.