Guilty As Charged

A very quick thought.

Be patient in your trials, God may decide to bless you and then when He does you'll feel guilty for not being patient. (Happens to me a lot.)

Endurance and Trusting in God

These are two things that I've been learning about lately. I've been trying to find a better job to support my family and haven't found anything in 7 months of looking. I've been trying to trust in God, but until this past little while, I don't think I really have.

I think I've just been hoping in God.

Also, the hard part about enduring this is that I don't see the end. I can endure anything if I can see when it's going to be over, but when I can't, it makes it so much harder. God probably wants it that way so we rely on Him more.

I am grateful for this opportunity to grow. I think I've learned a lot, especially about myself and my faith level. But I just hope I can learn what I'm supposed to.

God really is there. I know He is. And I know in those dark times of despair, He is there. He will put His arms around you and say "You will make it, just a little longer, I love you".

Faith

I think it is really hard to have faith. Yeah I have faith that everything will work out, but exercising faith, a lot harder.

I feel that I try to take things into my own hands and unfortunately leave God out. I know that I'm supposed to do my part, but I think I could trust in God a ton more than I do. So, I'm going to try to trust in God.

Father's Day

Today I was home alone for Father's Day. I missed my kids and wife immensely.

But you know what, it was a grate day. I got a call from my kids at 9:15 am. I got to talk to my wife for a while.

I think the one thing that made it even better is that I was able to go visit different people. I visited with a really nice man at the local retirement home. We talked about the area, he's selling his house, he sees his son, and other things. It was a blast talking to him.

I also went and visited with one of our neighbors. We also talked about lots of things.

I learned that it makes me so happy to help others. Right now, all I can do is offer a listening ear. But it sure was fun.

Do we treat our family better than we treat others?

A good book, or at least the first chapter

Trusting Jesus by Jeffrey R. Holland

The first chapter gives me hope that I can do it.

How do you trust in Jesus?

Kids

The small things. I love coming home from work and seeing my two kids standing in the doorway, looking out the screen door. When they see me, they start laughing and jumping up and down.

It's moments like that in which I really love being a dad, husband, and having wonderful children. Sometimes it is hard. Like when they both want me to hold them and when I try to set them down because my arms are getting tired, they start crying.

Lose Thyself? What?

"For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it."
- Mark 8:35

Okay, so I have read this scripture and heard it a thousand times, but am now just barely starting to understand what it means. (this scripture must be important because there are at least 3 other scriptures that say the same thing)

I have been thinking lately a lot about myself. What am I going to do, what job am I going to get, what my future is going to be like, me, me, me. Honestly, I am being selfish, (I still am, I'm just working on it now).

If we try to find ways to think about others, to help others, to serve others, to bring a smile to other people's faces, then God will help us discover ourselves. We will discover who we are and find a place in this world. We all desire to have a purpose, and we can't have a purpose if we are only thinking about numero uno. This life is very, very, very short. Think about the limited number of years and days we have here. God didn't let us come down here to only think about ourselves, He sent us here to learn, grow, and trust Him. We can't do that if we don't think of what others need.

It may be hard, but sometimes that people that we serve live in the same house that we do. (spouse, children, parents, siblings)

Life is full of struggles and things that we could always do better at. Think about others and see what happens.

Dori Said It All

One of the best movies ever, "Finding Nemo," says it all.

'Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming."

When life is hard, confusing, or just is, sometimes the only thing we can do is 'Just keep swimming.'

Kids

Kids are so wonderful, love-able, and kissable.

Yes, they give us some many things to choose to be upset about, but they are a true gift from God.

Choose to say I love you three times today to each child. Even if they may not understand, at least we will be in the habit of sharing our feelings with them when they do. I don't ever want my children to doubt that I love them.

God loves us so much that He gave us Jesus Christ. So we know He loves us.

Don't Delay

The reason I say don't delay is because I had a really good idea, that I think I felt guided to write about, but didn't. So now I can't remember what it was.

If you think God tells you to do something and it is something that is going to uplift you or others, don't delay. (If it is something that will not help others, take a moment to make sure it is from God.)

I think I was going to write about something cute that my daughter did. Oh yeah, I love coming home from work because I get this great big hug from my 2 year old daughter. She sees me, yells Daddy, and then comes running to give me a hug.

Kids are a blessing that we are never worthy of.

Yep, Life

Yes, that's what happens when you let it.

That is why I haven't written in a while. I think when I do write, I look for God more in the little things.

Like in:
My daughter's smile
My wife's laugh
My son when he is crawling around
The blessed job I have
That the cars work
That I can walk, breath, see, hear, smell, talk, taste(oh I love to eat my wife's food)
When my daughter wants me to read stories to her
When my son cuddles with me
When I am holding both of them in my arms, at the same time
The kisses I get from all three of them

God is wonderful. I praise him that he has blessed my life so much. I am humbled by these blessings. Thank you Father, in Heaven.

Life

I think that life is very hard.

Kids can get to you sometimes. But it is not their fault that you got upset. It's your fault.

When my children are running around, screaming and I have patience, I love them more because I enjoy watching them run around. When I don't have patience...

God is there and blesses us every single minute of the day. We have so much, it's, wow. Count Your Many Blessings. I am grateful for everyone in my life that helps me be a better person, most especially my wife.

Christmas

I just wanted to say Merry Christmas!

I love Christmas time and love trying to find people to serve. I used to be better at finding people to help out, but I think it is harder now since most of the people around us seem to be doing good. One thing I always have to remember though, is that if you act as if everyone you meet has a problem, you are more than likely right. Everyone has something they are going through, even if it is just something very small.

Pray for friends and neighbors, they might need the help right now.

Have a Merry Christmas!

Alma 63:2 - Am I like this?

Budgeting - God told us to.

I know it sounds weird, but I think God told us (not just my wife and me, everyone) to budget. I've been listening to Dave Ramsey and had the thought about the parable of the talents.

I know that this parable has other meanings, such as talking about people's abilities. Like the ability to play the piano well, or sing, or comfort others.

But I feel that God isn't going to give us more money if we can't handle the money we have now. In the parable the person given one talent is told he should have at least given his talent to the exchangers. To me this always seemed like the master was saying, "You could have at least put it into a savings account, even though the interest is really low, you still could have increased the talent that much."

This parable can be applied to a lot of things. One thing I'm trying to better in is managing my time better.

The parable of the talents. - Matt. 25:14-30

Sometimes It's the Short Scriptures That Mean So Much

"I behold that ye are lowly in heart; and if so, blessed are ye."
- Alma 32:8

lowly in heart = humble (which I'm not, but should be)

Question of the day: What has God done for me today?

Turning to God

I have been trying to turn to God more, especially since work is hard. I say prayers that I can feel better about work and enjoy it more. He has blessed me to have a good job and I thank Him daily for it.

So we can turn to our Heavenly Father for even normal things like work or not getting upset while driving or with the kids. I know He is right there ready to lift us up. We just have to turn to Him.

Scriptures I read this morning that I felt I could relate.
Alma 26:19-20

General Conference

I love watching General Conference. It's when we get to listen to what the leaders of our church feel impressed that we need.

You can go and listen to them now at lds.org. I do sometimes when I'm at work and am doing something that doesn't require a lot of concentration.

One thing about this blog, is that it helps me return more to God, instead of the world. It's nice.

With God, All Things Are Possible

I read a verse in the scriptures that made me think.
"Therefore they did not fear Ammon, for they supposed that one of their men could slay him according to their pleasure, for they knew not that the Lord had promised Mosiah that he would deliver his sons out of their hands; neither did they know anything concerning the Lord; therefore they delighted in the destruction of their brethren; and for this cause they stood to scatter the flocks of the king."
- Alma 17:35 (emphasis added, by me!)

I forget that God will keep His promises and covenants. It's us that breaks our part. God must love us so much to constantly deal with us breaking our promises. I have a hard time trusting a person after they don't do something they said they were going to do. I say to God I'm going to do a lot, but fall short every time. He loves us so much. I know He does. I know He is there and that He cares.

Sidenote:
General Conference is coming up. This is when leaders of my church talk to us about what we need to do better. The Prophet, President Thomas S. Monson, and the other apostles all talk at least once. I love listening to Conference. It's this Saturday and Sunday.
Audio and Video Stream

One Person Can Make a Difference

A quote I got from someone, written by someone.

I AM ONLY ONE
I am only one,
But still I am one.
I cannot do everything,
But still I can do something;
And because I cannot do everything
I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.

Make Your Children Laugh Day

I'm going to only use 'Day __' for days or posts that are impressions from reading the scriptures.

I was thinking, it is Make Your Children Laugh Day today. I think God is happy when we are teaching, loving, and taking care of our children. But I also think He is most happy when they are laughing. I love seeing my children laugh.