Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Book of Happiness

Many years ago, I decided to make myself a Book of Happiness, a book I could look at when I was down that would remind me that there is hope in this world and that there's a reason to live. Scriptures and words of living prophets are great for my usual scripture study, but I wanted something that would speak immediately to my personal needs and challenges. I needed words which had been proven, in times past, to lift my spirits.

My Book of Happiness is complete now, or at least I haven't really changed anything in it for years. I pulled it out again this morning, and it still works. Here's what's in it:

What would you put in your Book of Happiness? What makes you happy?


Monday, November 5, 2012

Memorizing My Blessing

I love my patriarchal blessing. I always have. It has comforted me in moments of great distress, and provided direction when I was lost.

Recently, I decided to commit my patriarchal blessing to memory. I knew I already had portions of it memorized just from reading it so frequently, so I figured it would be pretty easy. I've been committing one sentence to memory each day.

It is not difficult to memorize my blessing, but I am amazed at the difference it makes to me, personally, to hear this blessing as I read it aloud, and as I internalize every single word. Even just noticing that one phrase says "of your life" instead of "in your life" holds meaning.

This memorization has helped in my everyday life, too: on those days when I get discouraged, these new phrases that I've memorized come into my mind and give me hope. They are a powerful combat to those negative voices in my head which whisper discouragement and failure.

Maybe after this I'll keep memorizing scriptures. Like my blessing, there are several scriptures which I already know, simply because I have read them and heard them so frequently. But memorizing will still be beneficial: there's a certain layer of understanding that you can only obtain when you learn things by heart.

Saturday, June 16, 2012

T-Mobile and Tithing

One thing I have noticed in my life is that if I pay my tithing, I always have enough money for my bills and other necessities. At times I do not know where my needed money will come from, but it always comes. These are some of the blessings I have received in the past, which have also helped me financially:
  • I won a ward cooking contest. The prize was actually money and a gift certificate to the mall, which allowed me to make some needed purchases.
  • Sometimes, someone pays me back, either in money or kind acts, for something I've done or given them earlier.
  • I often find that many of my meals are provided by others, such as friends, family, church members, church functions, co-workers, or even by my work itself. I do not ask for these meals, but I am very grateful for them.
  • I am given clothing from friends or family members, and I also find nice clothing at D.I. Sometimes I find brand new clothing at D.I., and the clothes are actually cute too, not from the 80's. I consider this a blessing.
  • I receive a rebate or reward or gift card in the mail or from a friend or family member.
  • My friends or family generously help me to accomplish tasks that otherwise would cost more money (or sometimes time), such as allowing me to use their washer and dryer, or mending my pants and shirts.
And so forth.

Most recently, I accidentally answered a phone call from T-Mobile (my phone was in a sandwich bag, so I guess I hit the wrong button when I pulled it out of my pocket). I don't normally care to talk to solicitors, but I went ahead with it this time (I am a T-Mobile customer).

The man was calling to follow up on a text survey I had responded to earlier this year. He asked me about my answers, and I told him why I'd chosen them, and the whole call lasted maybe three or four minutes. At the end of the call, he informed me that he would be placing a $25 credit on my account to thank me for my time.

This is interesting to me. I know there are people out there who would say, "Oh, that's only $25, it doesn't really matter," but my finances are always tighter in the summer--there's less work (and thus less money), plus I have to register my car, plus I still have everything else I normally pay for. Even $25 is incredibly helpful, and I never would have foreseen that source of income. I count it as a blessing.

It makes sense to me that God would provide for those who pay their tithing. Even if I can't see how I can possibly make it through certain months or certain weeks, He has the wealth of the whole earth and universe at His disposal. I've proved this principle over and over again, and it works every time, sometimes to the penny: if I pay my tithing, He will take care of me.

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Back From the Dead

Speaking of family history, I decided yesterday that a good place to start might be simply to familiarize myself with what's already been done.

I sometimes think of Family History, and I think that I should be doing something, but I don't actually know what I am supposed to be doing. It will probably be easier to figure out what needs doing once I've figured out what's already been done.

Astounding logic, I know.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Alma 51: "A few particular points of the law"

Alma 51 always cracks me up. It's not so much what happens, because the subject matter is not all that hilarious, but how it is written is rather funny. In verse 2 we learn that:

...there began to be a contention among the people concerning the chief judge Pahoran; for behold, there were a part of the people who desired that a few particular points of the law should be altered.

Ok, there are some people who want to change a few things about the law. That's normal, right? But then you get down to verse 5 and discover:

...they were desirous that the law should be altered in a manner to overthrow the free government and to establish a king over the land.

Just a few particular points, eh? Like the chief judge? And freedom? And the government?

Just a few particular points of the law...

Sunday, November 15, 2009

The Spirit Speaks...

I once had a stake choir director who said, "The Spirit speaks through good intonation." I heartily believe that statement. I think the Spirit also speaks through not running over time in meetings (particularly the last meeting) and not cutting verses from hymns.

Friday, October 30, 2009

The Bug

Today I killed a box elder bug... in the temple.

Is that bad?