Take the scenic route and hang on for the ride

Tonight at institute we had the Dallas Temple President, President Gerrard, come speak to us. The things that stuck out to me was the need to slow down and enjoy the good moments in life. He told a story about his first assignment as a general authority traveling with Elder Oaks. He called Elder Oaks and offered to drive him to Afton, WY to the stake conference they were to attend. Elder Oaks said that he would drive himself, he planned to drive holding his wife's hand, listening to music and looking at the fall colors and suggested Pres. Gerrard do the same. When they met up at the hotel Elder Oaks and Pres. Gerrard went for a walk, Elder Oaks said all of 10 words in the two mile walk, just enjoyed the beauty around him.

The second thing that stuck out to me was that the Lord is in control of our lives and we need to allow Him the chance to lead and guide our lives and just hang on and enjoy the ride. We will be able to do all the Lord has planned for us as long as we trust in the Lord and obey the promptings of the Holy Ghost.

One more thing he said quoting a prophet I think, "a women's intuition is pure revelation" I think sometimes we just need to trust our gut reactions and not second guess things because sometimes it may just be the Lord trying to tell us something.

God is in the Details

So this weekend I've been thinking a lot about this Mis Van der Rohe quote: "God is in the details". How true this statement is. He has said that not even a hair on our heads shall be lost, and that not even a sparrow falls without His notice. How can we think that He is not intimately involved in every aspect of our lives. We just have to trust in Him and have the patience to trust in His timing. He knows us and will lead and guide us if we let Him.

This above all, to thine own self be true

I love the words of Shakespeare, he had such insight into human nature. Every time I here this line I think of the movie "Renaissance Man" and the rap the army class did with these words. Being true to yourself: your thoughts, your actions, your character, your beliefs. It sounds easy, but is it? How many times have we shrunk back from sticking up for our beliefs? Or have our actions not be in accordance to what, and who we are as Children of the Most High God? How many times have we had "untrue" thoughts about ourselves? I know I've stuggled with being ture to myself ... I am a people pleaser to the core and have caught myself on numerous occassions "becoming" what I thought other people wanted me to be. I've become better at staying true to me in the recent past and am striving to be better at it. My friends can now tell when I'm saying something I don't truly believe and call me out on it, so it helps. One instance was that night in institue I wrote about earlier... I said I was okay with what was said cause I didn't know how to articulate what I was thinking, and didn't want to cause an arguement and my friend called me out on it, but I couldn't put my thoughts together so I let it go.
I've come to realize there are really only two people you have to answer to in the end anyway, Yourself and the Lord. So what everyone else thinks really doesn't matter at all.

Anger, Fear and Depression

So Thursday in institute one of the guys made a comment that anger, fear and depression always come from the devil. I had to disagree but at the time could not articulate my thoughts so I thought I'd blog about it.
I believe the feelings of anger, fear and depression are God given ... it's how we act on those feelings that Satan tries to influence.
Christ himself felt Anger (and He's sinless so anger in itself can't be bad) What did He do with His anger? - He cleansed the temple of all that was impure i.e. the moneychangers. It's what we choose to do with the anger that can be unrighteous... do we forgive, or hold a grudge? do we make needed corrections (if we have that authority) or do we let it simmer?
Fear in itself is healthy ... it warns us of danger. I can see how he could think that maybe the fear of the unknown may come from Satan but again I think it's natural to fear that which we do not know, it's what we do with that fear (do we let it paralyze our actions or do we push past the fear) that can be influenced. Fear can also be a consequence of sin or lack of preparation i.e. doing the things we're suppose to... it says in the scripture if we are prepared we shall not fear, inversely if we are not prepared we shall fear ... fear what? the judgements of God, maybe? Again, we are suppose to be a God FEARING people, so fear in itself cannot be from Satan if to Fear God is a commandment.
Depression is one of two things: a chemical imbalance in the brain (which we have no control over so I will not discuss further except to say we can not judge a person because they're depressed) or the consequence of sin. So again it's what we choose to do with the feeling (to change wrong behavior or stay on the wrong path).
Satan has little influence on how and what we feel ... he does however have influence on how we act on our feelings if we let him. It's all about the power to choose.

And the Oscar goes to ... ME!

I'm sitting watching the acadamy awards, and I wonder during "dress rehersal" do they goof off? If I were a presenter (which I never will be but if) during the run through before the show I would definately give the award to myself ... then give a short acceptence speech, cause if you're presenting you most likely aren't getting to give an acceptence speech on Oscar Night but during rehearsal no one can stop you.

There is but One Light

Yesterday I was watching "The Forbidden Kingdom" as I was painting. I will confess I wasn't paying much attention, but a few things caught my attention, besides of course the beauty of the martial arts scenes. What caught my attention was how much this chinese "myth" reflected the gospel. That got me thinking: there is truly one light and one gospel, there is but one truth (each culture has their myths and their legends but they really are based upon the same basic truths). So I want to start researching the differnt myths and legends from different cultures throughout history and compare them to the gospel of Jesus Christ. It should be interesting.

Finding Neverland

I was watching "Finding Neverland" last night and it occured to me that we could all learn a lesson from that movie. J.M. Barrie lived a life full of imagination. Why is it that some of us lose our imaginations? His wife for example? She was a great stage actress before they married so she obviously had a great imagination at one point but lost enough of it that she could not imagine Neverland with him even after reading his journal. The first play portrayed in the movie was a flop. Why because it was not meant to be taken seriously and the audience did. Why? The critics "made it important." Only the Snow's (who never grew up either) understood the true intent of the play and enjoyed it. I believe many of us loose our imaginations and ability to play pretend because of pride. We put to much importance on our actions and what people might think of us. Who really cares if we pretend our dog is a bear or that we're pirates on the high seas? We could all stand to humble ourselves and go to our own Neverland - a place where we can be mature but never grow up. I know I sure need to. But there is hope for those of us that have lost our imagination: Peter had lost his through tragic circumstances but through the coaching of J.M. Barrie was able to overcome this and find to his imagination.

Del Parson's Lost Lamb

This is one of my favorite paintings of Christ. I feel a lot like the lamb sometimes. When I'm sad or lonely or am having a hard time, He finds me and lovingly cradles me in His arms until I feel better.

I Love Squirrels

I am an avid squirrel watcher, strange I know. Once you start watching them it is hard to stop, they are such funny creatures, especially the ones that are around humans a lot and aren't afraid. Like this squirrel, I got to within 2 feet of him while he was eating this peacan at Trinity Park in Fort Worth. He just kept sitting there, posing for the camera every once in a while. Others will run up almost to you to show you their "find" before scampering away. I've also watched as a squirrel, who is afraid of humans, has run up a tree limb and layed down flat as if he were trying to blend in with the tree, I can just image it thinking "Be one with the tree, she can't see me if I just lay still." If you ever get the chance I would highly suggest "Squirrel Watching" my favorite places are at the Fort Worth Botanical Gardens and Trinity Park also in Fort Worth.