Peace in Chaos

Peace, Joy, Love,

Aren't these the things you want when things all around the world are so chaotic?

Scriptures give us hope, that even when things get so crazy, and there is no way things will work out.

There is a path of peace. Tranquility, and serenity can enter your life, no matter what your situation is.

Peace, I leave with you. My peace, I give unto you...Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

John 14:27

I have felt this peace in my life. It has healed wounds in my heart, helped me grow, and overcome a lot.

It has given me great hope in great things to come. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior.

I know he suffered and died to bring all of us these wonderful gifts.

Peace, Joy, Love,

United we Stand, Divided we Fall

What happens when faiths fight?

Why do people belittle others' beliefs?

When did God command us to hate our enemies, and do evil to those that hate us, and spitefully use us?

Giving up things we like, for those we love.

Think of things that you do that entertain you, that you fill your free time with. Whether it be reading extremely well written blog posts...or ones like these. Listening to well written ballads, or free-style rapping with a couple of other white guys... Or reading well written political biographies, or Calvin and Hobbes" comic books. Whatever it is, just think about it...

Rock, Paper, Scissors

Does anyone like this game?

I know that no matter what I choose I always lose.

Gifts to Christ

I sent out a facebook invitation to all of my facebook friends inviting them as I invite you to "Strengthen your faith, commit to yourself, what you are going to do to become a better disciple of Jesus Christ. I know you will find more peace and happiness as you strive to do this. And that is what Christ wants for all of us. That is his "work and his glory". That is what he died on the cross for. So let us this day make that step of faith. When you do something, or if you are planning to do something, post it under "[this blog]" Let us see how we can change our worlds, as we bring us and our friends closer to God, and closer to our Savior."

So my friends...The comments are now yours.

Rain on my soul!

Come from heaven, Cleanse this earth.

Dampen Fires, Clean the air.

Pour out unceasingly your blessed touch!

Give nourishment to those who thirst.

Heal the broken crags of new life.

Pour relief to the burdened ones.

Feed the mouths of those that cry out!

Save those that cannot save themselves!

Help them receive thee!

Father, Rain on my soul!

Why do we forget God?

I find it so amazing the things that cause us to lose faith in our creator, and why we lose such faith.--If you are one of those who has lost their faith, don't stop reading. This isn't going to throw punches at you. Just read with an open mind.--When we are children, we believe in the

miraculous. People can tell us anything, and we are drawn to the things

that sound exciting and fantastical. We believe the things our parents, our teachers, and others tell us. Our knowledge is basic.                                                                                     

As we grow older, we seem to grow wiser, putting away childish beliefs, and try to find truth. But, some seem to set aside God and his miracles, as a part of that childishness.

If you have met me, I am a doubter. I have the reasoning behind things, or I won't accept it. I need several references for me to even accept your point. There needs to be more evidence supporting you, than that which is supporting me. Plain and simple, that's how I like it.

So maybe, if you have given up on God, you might be asking, "Why then does this kid believe in God? He sounds intelligent (you can tell I wrote this), Why would he believe such a fairy tale?" Without the intelligent part, many people actually have asked me this. There is nothing harder to explain, than how you know God exists. But, luckily there are wise men who have given it a shot.

In the Epistle to the Hebrews Paul Talks about the evidenciary support God gives of his own existence. Hebrews 11:1 "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

"What? That proves nothing, you just tricked yourself into believing, with this stupid term Faith." Whoa! Hey now... There's no need to get upset, let me explain. I was born in to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  All my family for generations back are LDS, and we are termed "pioneer stock". So I have quite a tradition of Mormonism in my family. But, is that why I believe the way I do? Would I simply accept a way of life, because that is how my family has lived?

The simple answer is No.  I didn't.  I didn't hold true to what my family had taught me. I was prodigal, as the scriptures refer to those wayward sons. I left what my family taught, and I didn't have a testimony. Even after all those years of attending church, Sunday school, seminary, young men's, scouting, firesides and every other organization that the church offers. I attended them regularly. But, I didn't have a testimony. My testimony of the truth of this church, and the reality of our Savior Jesus Christ, and God the Father of our spirits, came when I started to live the way that all of these organizations were teaching.

I knew when I exercised faith. I started to live the standards, which was not easy. When I did so, Joy entered my heart. I felt of the power of the atonement of Jesus Christ, and I knew that what I have been taught was all true. Since then, I have strengthened my testimony in every area. It has not been easy. I think that's why it is called a Testimony, those are the things that we know, through the Tests we put it through.

So, what is my concluding remark that ties this all back to the title? Don't forget God. If something tragic happens in your life, it is not because there is no God. Start doing the things that the scriptures teach to do, and you will have peace enter your heart. You will learn of the great mercy God truly has for each and every one of us. I love my Heavenly Father, and I pray that you too will get that way. Pray to him, act on the things he tells you, and Grow your Faith.

Pray for Peace, Pray for Strength.

Life is full of all sorts of challenges. Sometimes we face things that are as smooth as the glassy surface of an untouched lake, while others, toss us like the broken crags of a lifeless desert.
Recently my life has looked more like the desert from the outside. I had a loved one, who recently went through some trauma. Being hundreds of miles away, I felt helpless.  Like I was unable to do a thing to calm the storms in those I love's lives.
Work out here in the "field", also has it's ups and downs as well. During that time I also had many trials with the ones I have grown to love here, where I was here and able to help, but rejected in the ways I tried.
My instant reaction, is "Why?" "Why could I not have been there to help her?" "Why could I not be there to comfort my family?" "Why won't these people accept my help?" "Why do I try so hard if I am just going to fail?" "What purpose could God have in making my family and my investigators go through this?" "Why could he not just protect them?"
As I was thinking, that I had done everything I could have on my mission to have my family blessed, and have the Lords blessings poured upon my family, and as I was struggling to have a positive attitude towards my struggling work.  I was having a rough time, and as I teach many people every day.
I turned to God in prayer. And as I prayed to my Father, he poured his peace/love down upon me. I knew that he held my family in his protective arms and that there was no reason that I should continue to worry about them.  As well as peace, that as I continued to work diligently with my people, he will bless them.

As I went from one mindset to another, I was able to recieve the peace promised in the words of prophets, and from our Lord Himself. "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you." I am so grateful for the peaceful knowlege, that I have, that the Lord has everything in his hands. And that as we "Cheerfully do all things that lie in our power...then we [can] stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed."

What do you do in your hardest times?

Who do you turn to, when everyone turns on you?
Where can you go, when you're going nowhere?
What is the point, if everything's pointless?
How can you find something, if you are lost yourself?
When do I just give up?

Desperation, that is one of the most tragic feelings all of us can succumb to. I know I have had questions like these, maybe not written as well, probably a couple "Umm"s, "Uhh"s and other useless "words" thrown in there. But I have felt useless, hopeless, worthless and alone. It is hard to pull yourself out of your own selfish stupor, when you feel that it is pointless. You don't want to put in the effort, and you don't think it will help.

How can we change the way we feel when we are down like this? What can we do to help us out, no matter what our circumstances are?

Let me locate a time in my life where I really felt hopelessness. Alright, Got one. It was actually only a couple of weeks before my mission. I personally, was very stressed, and right before you take a big step to progress in your relationship with our Heavenly Father, you experience harsh opposition. So this is a great example, because whether you are doing everything right in your life or not, this is applicable. Anyway, so I think it was about a month before I left.

I have had my call, for a couple of weeks, and I get in a big fight with my best friend. It was over something really stupid, It was definitely my fault, but I hurt her feelings, and I was mad, and frustrated. To add on top of that, family relationships were getting harder too, my fuse had lost what little length it had, and I was being set off by anything and everything. Finally one of my best friends, who was dating my sister, does something stupid, and that was it, I was done. (Mind you, I was overreacting in all of this, but when you're emotions are just crazy, so are you.) So I took off running (and I don't like to run), I wanted to get alone where I could just be, and not worry about anyone or anything. But, escaping people and getting out of situations, doesn't get completely rid of the chaos from inside your head. So finally in pure frustration, I knelt down, not caring about the cold hard rocks I was kneeling on, and pled for peace from my chaos...That changed things. In my heart I immediately felt peace. I can recall times before feeling that same feeling, but never such a direct answer to a prayer, and never such a contrast. From that moment on, I was able to make amends with those who I'd wronged, I was able to rebuild relationships with my loved ones, and I was able to find peace, and strengthen my relationship with my Heavenly Father.

I am so grateful for the power of prayer. I am grateful Heavenly Father allowed me to continue to build up my chaos, until I came to him. It taught me an important lesson about prayer, that now I am able to share with others. But, you don't need to be on the brink of insanity to call upon our Heavenly Father, if I would have done so earlier, and asked for peace, I probably would have been in a better situation. So pray for peace in your life and in others, and this week, bear your testimony about prayer to a friend or a family member. If you do so I know you will be blessed, and the lives of the people you testify to will be blessed.

Man's greatest power, lies in the power of prayer. -Napoleon Hill-

A Screw Up

What can I do?
I've messed up bad?
How could I ever make things right?
I'm just a Screw Up.

Have you ever thought these thoughts? I know I have...several times. What is your answer to that? How do you help people in this situation? Please feel free to comment.

Paul writes an epistle to the church in Macedonia, and he causes a lot of these feelings in the bold words that he uses, but this is what he says 2 Corinthians 7:9 He says "I rejoice not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage in us nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death."

Basically, if you are feeling these feelings, Paul is happy for you, because now you can change.  Now is where you can make the steps and stretch yourself. I know that when I have been the lowest, that is when God has reached down and picked me up and put me higher. But you have to choose, because the other choice, is the sorrow of the world. Sorrow because you looked stupid. Sorry because things didn't work out the way you planned. This sorrow works death. I have felt this heart wrenching sorrow as well. It takes you away from the things that make you happy, the things you love, and it puts a heavy weight on you. So when you find yourself in the fortunate position of sorrowful humility, choose to repent/change and grow the way our Heavenly Father wants us to.

I know that if you do that you will be able to find the peace, comfort, wholeness, and love that He desperately wants us to have. I love my Savior and I am grateful for his redeeming sacrifice.

For a great talk on repentance, Henry B. Eyring "Do Not Delay" .