please check out that talk. " the purpose of our life on earth is to grow, develop, and be strengthened through our own experiences. How do we do this? The scriptures give us an answer in one simple phrase: we “wait upon the Lord.”12 Tests and trials are given to all of us. These mortal challenges allow us and our Heavenly Father to see whether we will exercise our agency to follow His Son. He already knows, and we have the opportunity to learn, that no matter how difficult our circumstances, “all these things shall [be for our] experience, and … [our] good.”13"
it gave me the outlook i needed this week as we faced some trials that all depended on our 'waiting upon the Lord'. I know that god speaks to us through His servants the prophets, Amos 3:7, there is NO DOUBT about that. He loves us, just read it dangit!!
But really as we were knocking on doors this week in the rain.. it was pretty epic and we were soaked and people were taking the mick left and right at the door, but there we are. Any ways, we were standing at this door waiting for this INCREDIBLE potential investigator to answer and suddenly the thought came to me- what we do, knocking on doors and such is a type of Christ knocking on the door for all of us. He knocks and waits, but it is our choice to open it up. We may open it a little and then shut before He can really say or do anything, we may open up and listen and feel and really have the experience we are looking for, but never open it again for one reason or another, we may just choose never to open it. But glory be to those who open and let open again and again. Oh how great is His joy... and our joy to be honest. It's all down to our agency and if you notice when Del Parson drew that painting of Christ waiting at the door with no handle He was allowing us to see that the only thing we have that he does not is our WILL. Christ does not have the handle, but it is only on our side. He may have everything else on loan to us, but that one thing is what is ours and we can use it as we choose... but we can also give it away. Let us not give it away... that would be sad, wouldn't it.
But really as we were knocking on doors this week in the rain.. it was pretty epic and we were soaked and people were taking the mick left and right at the door, but there we are. Any ways, we were standing at this door waiting for this INCREDIBLE potential investigator to answer and suddenly the thought came to me- what we do, knocking on doors and such is a type of Christ knocking on the door for all of us. He knocks and waits, but it is our choice to open it up. We may open it a little and then shut before He can really say or do anything, we may open up and listen and feel and really have the experience we are looking for, but never open it again for one reason or another, we may just choose never to open it. But glory be to those who open and let open again and again. Oh how great is His joy... and our joy to be honest. It's all down to our agency and if you notice when Del Parson drew that painting of Christ waiting at the door with no handle He was allowing us to see that the only thing we have that he does not is our WILL. Christ does not have the handle, but it is only on our side. He may have everything else on loan to us, but that one thing is what is ours and we can use it as we choose... but we can also give it away. Let us not give it away... that would be sad, wouldn't it.
Today we have been at our bishop's house taking a photo shoot with his wife... so Heather and Liz I will be eventually giving her your face book details so she can let you know my face will be on her book. ;) but she is super into crazy make up so don't be alarmed... it was well fun. I love things like this so much. We may or may not do more with her... why not, she's talented and it's fun. Then you can can do whatever you please with da tings.
I am proper bummed that the marcum's are peacing out of Mesa and that I won't get to say goodbye. So sad, please tell them I miss them, love them, and hope you see them soon. Heck maybe I'll get a cheap flight to Branson to go see some friends someday.. ;) (ya Kendra that's right, i'm talking about you lady!!)
So Yesterday at church I had a very cool experience I want to share with you. first I need to share the back up story- so last year on August 2nd Philippa Evans died in a car accident. (super similar situation, type of person all of it to Timmy... of course it was!) on that day that we found out Sis. Nadsady was going home and I was catching a Sis. Lauritzen who was coming from Philippa's home ward, Heads of the Valleys. So of course we were able to go to the funeral because of the short distance and close association of Sis. L with the Evan's. At the funeral I knew i would serve in their ward. I knew I would come to help them out in a year's time and I just let it be known as i knew i would serve in Heads of the Valleys someday.... well since I have been here I haven't hardly been able to see the family and the impression had worn off, it was in the back of my mind, but started becoming a I know I just made that up... didn't i. Well on Sunday Philippa's younger brother who is my similar age had read something I had written in my info for the ward newsletter his mum puts together and in it I had mentioned about Tim. So he came to me for help- I was overwhelmed and wasn't actually that great of help at the first... but on the way to the, well what Sis. lewis and I refer to as the twig (it's a little group set off of our ward... so not a branch from the stake a twig from the ward...... but the ward refers to it as the Beaufort group) I was thinking about what help or advice I could give him to help.... the first year is rough and bless the heart of wales it is not the same as Arizona or Utah.... ok America in the whole.... so then we go to Beaufort and out of the blue he walks in! He had to pass the sacrament, but as we sat during the meeting i wrote down all the things he had asked about and pondered about and we had a good chat afterword... what a testimony builder to me that God gives us impressions and I guess prophesies that He intends to keep. I know God loves us. I know He keeps his promises and that if we keep ours he is super stoked to do as He has promised. D&C 82:10.
1 Ye know that ye are in our hands, yet we do not desire to slay you.
2 Behold, we have not come out to battle against you that we might shed your blood for power;
3 But now, ye behold that the Lord is with us; and ye behold that he has delivered you into our hands. And now I would that ye should understand that this is done unto usabecause of our religion and our faith in Christ. And now ye see that ye cannot destroy this our faith.
4 Now ye see that this is the true faith of God; yea, ye see that God will support, and keep, and preserve us, so long as we are afaithful unto him, and unto our faith, and our religion; and never will the Lord suffer that we shall be destroyed except we should fall into transgression and deny our faith.
6 Yea, and this is not all; I command you by all the desires which ye have for life, that ye adeliver up your weapons of war unto us, and we will seek not your blood, but we will bspare your lives, if ye will go your way and come not again to war against us.
7 And now, if ye do not this, behold, ye are in our hands, and I will command my men that they shall fall upon you, and ainflict the wounds of death in your bodies, that ye may become extinct; and then we will see who shall have power over this people; yea, we will see who shall be brought into bondage.
8 And now it came to pass that when Zerahemnah had heard these sayings he came forth and delivered up his asword and his cimeter, and his bow into the hands of Moroni, and said unto him: Behold, here are our weapons of war; we will deliver them up unto you, but we will not suffer ourselves to take an boath unto you, which we know that we shall break, and also our children; but take our weapons of war, and suffer that we may depart into the wilderness; otherwise we will retain our swords, and we will perish or conquer.
10 And now when Zerahemnah had made an end of speaking these words, Moroni returned the sword and the weapons of war, which he had received, unto Zerahemnah, saying: Behold, we will end the conflict.
11 Now I cannot recall the words which I have spoken, therefore as the Lord liveth, ye shall not depart except ye depart with an oath that ye will not return again against us to war. Now as ye are in our hands we will spill your blood upon the ground, or ye shall submit to the conditions which I have proposed.
12 And now when Moroni had said these words, Zerahemnah retained his sword, and he was angry with Moroni, and he rushed forward that he might slay Moroni; but as he raised his sword, behold, one of Moroni’s soldiers smote it even to the earth, and it broke by the hilt; and he also smote Zerahemnah that he took off his scalp and it fell to the earth. And Zerahemnah withdrew from before them into the midst of his soldiers.
13 And it came to pass that the soldier who stood by, who smote off the scalp of Zerahemnah, took up the scalp from off the ground by the hair, and laid it upon the point of his sword, and stretched it forth unto them, saying unto them with a loud voice:
14 Even as this scalp has fallen to the earth, which is the scalp of your chief, so shall ye fall to the earth except ye will deliver up your weapons of war and depart with a covenant of peace.
15 Now there were many, when they heard these words and saw the scalp which was upon the sword, that were struck with fear; and many came forth and threw down their weapons of war at the feet of Moroni, and entered into a acovenant of peace. And as many as entered into a covenant they suffered to bdepart into the wilderness.
16 Now it came to pass that Zerahemnah was exceedingly wroth, and he did stir up the remainder of his soldiers to anger, to contend more powerfully against the Nephites.
17 And now Moroni was angry, because of the stubbornness of the Lamanites; therefore he commanded his people that they should fall upon them and slay them. And it came to pass that they began to slay them; yea, and the Lamanites did contend with their swords and their might.
19 Now Zerahemnah, when he saw that they were all about to be destroyed, cried mightily unto Moroni, promising that he would covenant and also his people with them, if they would spare the remainder of their lives, that they anever would come to war again against them.
20 And it came to pass that Moroni caused that the work of death should acease again among the people. And he took the weapons of war from the Lamanites; and after they had entered into a bcovenant with him of peace they were suffered to depart into the wilderness.
it's the same with us to God- He fixes the rules and as we choose Him he blesses us, but if we don't we have no promise. I love you all soooo much. I am grateful for each of you and for the love you share for me. I could not be here without you and your prayers. Hope this week is spectacular and full of jolly good gumm droppity drops!! tada mate!!
(ps an English person told me my English accent is actually proper tidy... that is a pretty big deal... but who knows. maybe she was taking the mick and i am too daft to realize.)
Loves!!
sista Fili
2 Behold, we have not come out to battle against you that we might shed your blood for power;
3 But now, ye behold that the Lord is with us; and ye behold that he has delivered you into our hands. And now I would that ye should understand that this is done unto usabecause of our religion and our faith in Christ. And now ye see that ye cannot destroy this our faith.
4 Now ye see that this is the true faith of God; yea, ye see that God will support, and keep, and preserve us, so long as we are afaithful unto him, and unto our faith, and our religion; and never will the Lord suffer that we shall be destroyed except we should fall into transgression and deny our faith.
6 Yea, and this is not all; I command you by all the desires which ye have for life, that ye adeliver up your weapons of war unto us, and we will seek not your blood, but we will bspare your lives, if ye will go your way and come not again to war against us.
7 And now, if ye do not this, behold, ye are in our hands, and I will command my men that they shall fall upon you, and ainflict the wounds of death in your bodies, that ye may become extinct; and then we will see who shall have power over this people; yea, we will see who shall be brought into bondage.
8 And now it came to pass that when Zerahemnah had heard these sayings he came forth and delivered up his asword and his cimeter, and his bow into the hands of Moroni, and said unto him: Behold, here are our weapons of war; we will deliver them up unto you, but we will not suffer ourselves to take an boath unto you, which we know that we shall break, and also our children; but take our weapons of war, and suffer that we may depart into the wilderness; otherwise we will retain our swords, and we will perish or conquer.
10 And now when Zerahemnah had made an end of speaking these words, Moroni returned the sword and the weapons of war, which he had received, unto Zerahemnah, saying: Behold, we will end the conflict.
11 Now I cannot recall the words which I have spoken, therefore as the Lord liveth, ye shall not depart except ye depart with an oath that ye will not return again against us to war. Now as ye are in our hands we will spill your blood upon the ground, or ye shall submit to the conditions which I have proposed.
12 And now when Moroni had said these words, Zerahemnah retained his sword, and he was angry with Moroni, and he rushed forward that he might slay Moroni; but as he raised his sword, behold, one of Moroni’s soldiers smote it even to the earth, and it broke by the hilt; and he also smote Zerahemnah that he took off his scalp and it fell to the earth. And Zerahemnah withdrew from before them into the midst of his soldiers.
13 And it came to pass that the soldier who stood by, who smote off the scalp of Zerahemnah, took up the scalp from off the ground by the hair, and laid it upon the point of his sword, and stretched it forth unto them, saying unto them with a loud voice:
14 Even as this scalp has fallen to the earth, which is the scalp of your chief, so shall ye fall to the earth except ye will deliver up your weapons of war and depart with a covenant of peace.
15 Now there were many, when they heard these words and saw the scalp which was upon the sword, that were struck with fear; and many came forth and threw down their weapons of war at the feet of Moroni, and entered into a acovenant of peace. And as many as entered into a covenant they suffered to bdepart into the wilderness.
16 Now it came to pass that Zerahemnah was exceedingly wroth, and he did stir up the remainder of his soldiers to anger, to contend more powerfully against the Nephites.
17 And now Moroni was angry, because of the stubbornness of the Lamanites; therefore he commanded his people that they should fall upon them and slay them. And it came to pass that they began to slay them; yea, and the Lamanites did contend with their swords and their might.
19 Now Zerahemnah, when he saw that they were all about to be destroyed, cried mightily unto Moroni, promising that he would covenant and also his people with them, if they would spare the remainder of their lives, that they anever would come to war again against them.
20 And it came to pass that Moroni caused that the work of death should acease again among the people. And he took the weapons of war from the Lamanites; and after they had entered into a bcovenant with him of peace they were suffered to depart into the wilderness.
it's the same with us to God- He fixes the rules and as we choose Him he blesses us, but if we don't we have no promise. I love you all soooo much. I am grateful for each of you and for the love you share for me. I could not be here without you and your prayers. Hope this week is spectacular and full of jolly good gumm droppity drops!! tada mate!!
(ps an English person told me my English accent is actually proper tidy... that is a pretty big deal... but who knows. maybe she was taking the mick and i am too daft to realize.)
Loves!!
sista Fili
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