***6/2/2004 MEETING NOTES: The Atonement of Jesus Christ - Bro. Dollar
1. 2Nephi4:15 - The atonement: So sacred and special, it is spiritual learning
2. Why should we focus on the atonement? Elder Holland:
A. The atonement was/is a voluntary sacrifice for all pain, sickness, affliction, and sin because Christ loves us.
B. The atonement is the compassionate foundation
C. Every truth a missionary teaches is an appendage to the central message that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Holy Messiah, the promised one, the Saviour and the Redeemer
1) The point of the restoration is so we can have access to the atonement again
2) Sacrifice, for us, is necessary to understand Christ's sacrifice
3. What does it mean to have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ?
A. To believe the He is
B. To live by His teachings
C. Understanding that it is only possible through Christ's grace
D. The first act of faith is not waiting for Him, but asking Him
4. The importance of the atonement:
A. It is the repeating message of the Book of Mormon: Have faith, repent, be baptized, the Holy Ghost
B. It is the ever present power to call upon in everyday life. Whenever we are racked or harrowed up or tormented by guilt or burden, He can heal us. Pres. Packer.
***June 2, 2004 JOURNAL: One Week In
So it's been a week. It's true that the days seem like weeks and the weeks seem like days.
Got to teach the 1st discussion today. Such an awesome experience. The spirit was so strong. We started by singing a song. <GOOD IDEA: SIS. WAGSTAFF> That was good for us. We were a little discouraged after trying to teach Bro. Robinson.
Feeling kind of down today. I don't know why. Homesick again, I guess.
GOOD: Sang songs, taught 1st discussion
COMPANION: got stitches twice, dad flies an airplane
GOALS: Smile, have a good day
28 November 2012
The babies woke up and decided they wanted to wear jackets today. 60 degree weather in Hawaii = jackets for babies.
We are still waiting patiently for our pictures to come in from Olan Mills. I am still convinced that our pictures were involved in the unfortunate 140 car crash that happened in Texas over the Thanksgiving holiday. It is still early. The projected arrival date for our pictures is 10 Dec 2012. But the lady at the picture place got my hopes up and excited because she mentioned they've been experiencing quicker turn around times, like under a week. Uh. Patience.
Cleaning up the house this week. Thankfully, Nake'u was home all of the Thanksgiving Holiday. That really helped to keep the house clean. Now I'm focused on upstairs. ... uh. No one likes cleaning upstairs. Probably because it's more utility than anything else. We are the only ones that come upstairs. So if it's a little more lived-in than downstairs, no one really knows. But, I still have this obsession with an entirely clean home. Most likely a result of too much tv. Because you could never predict when a random television (or feevee if you are Pwopwo) crew will show up at your home, welcome themselves in and tell you, your house is a mess or that you are a hoarder.
It is not even December yet and we may well be the last ones to put up our outdoor Christmas decorations. We got our tree on Black Friday, as usual and used the first Family Home Evening night there after to decorate our tree. But of the seven visible homes in our cul-de-sac, we are one of two that haven't put up our outdoor decorations yet! It's not even DECEMBER! We'll catch up. Probably in December, when outdoor decorations should be put up.
Lloyd already asks me if it's Christmas every morning when he wakes up. I have decided against doing an Advent count-down for the babies. It was a ton of work last year and we didn't make it out of the first week. This year we'll plan daily activities. One thing I want to do and have been working on is making coloring pages of Christmas songs, so we can learn and sing together. That will be fun.
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
28 Days
***6/1/2004 MEETING NOTES: Teaching and Finding by the Spirit - Bro. Nelson
1. Without the spirit you will never succeed regardless of your talent and ability
A. You are not the teacher
B. The spirit is the teacher, the Lord is preparing people
2. How do I prepare to teach by the spirit? Become the Lord's favorite pen
A. Not my message, the Lord's message
B. the Lords work, in His way, on His timetable, without back talk
C. Always full of ink (scriptural knowledge, doctrine ...)
D. Be who I am and grow into what He wants me to become
E. If I am prepared, it will happen
3. Finding
A. Work with members, teach in member's homes
B. Missionaries "fishing lines" should be in the water the moment they leave the house
***6/1/2004 DEVOTIONAL NOTES OF NOTE: Elder Merril J. Oakes
1. Don't under estimate what the spirit can do.
2. Spencer W. Kimball: “If you could only see the vision I have. I wish I had your bodies to do this work. I would run from house to house telling everyone of the gospel, and after I lost strength to run I would begin to walk, and after I collapsed from walking, I would begin to crawl, and after my knees were so bloody that I could not use them I would use my arms to drag myself, and once my muscle in my body was gone I would begin to yell…oh, only if you could see the vision as I have.”
3. Never be afraid to share the gospel
4. Live so that the spirit of the Lord can be with you
***June 1, 2004 JOURNAL: So Good or No Good? Sooo-- Good!
Good day!
We went to the referral center again. I really appreciate that place and the opportunity it provides. I got to talk to two people today, would've been more but my phone was being funny :(.
One lady wanted a Finding Faith in Christ video, and she would allow missionaries to deliver it. She just recently had a hear attack, in addition to being diabetic. She is home on disability and wanted to know more about Christ. I felt prompted to do two things 1) teach her about asking for a priesthood blessing and 2) have her read 3Nephi11.
The second caller was a man and he also wanted a Finding Faith in Christ video. I was so impressed that he would call because he wanted his kids to know about Jesus Christ. I really wanted to lay out the families can be together forever plan for him, but, I felt like I shouldn't. But, I know that he is going to check out the website, so hopefully he'll get something out if it.
We heart attacked two doors tonight - the sisters in our branch. It was really funny because the other sisters had the same idea at the same time.
GOOD: Outlined Disc. 2, Service this morning
COMPANION: helpful, fun
GOALS: help new missionaries (especially sisters) feel welcome tomorrow.
27 November 2012
According to my count down there are 28 days left until Christmas! Our house is just busting with excitement. Last night we decorated the Christmas tree. In the very true words of Nake'u, it looks like Christmas exploded all over the tree. The babies had real fun getting ornaments and putting them up on the tree.
1. Without the spirit you will never succeed regardless of your talent and ability
A. You are not the teacher
B. The spirit is the teacher, the Lord is preparing people
2. How do I prepare to teach by the spirit? Become the Lord's favorite pen
A. Not my message, the Lord's message
B. the Lords work, in His way, on His timetable, without back talk
C. Always full of ink (scriptural knowledge, doctrine ...)
D. Be who I am and grow into what He wants me to become
E. If I am prepared, it will happen
3. Finding
A. Work with members, teach in member's homes
B. Missionaries "fishing lines" should be in the water the moment they leave the house
***6/1/2004 DEVOTIONAL NOTES OF NOTE: Elder Merril J. Oakes
1. Don't under estimate what the spirit can do.
2. Spencer W. Kimball: “If you could only see the vision I have. I wish I had your bodies to do this work. I would run from house to house telling everyone of the gospel, and after I lost strength to run I would begin to walk, and after I collapsed from walking, I would begin to crawl, and after my knees were so bloody that I could not use them I would use my arms to drag myself, and once my muscle in my body was gone I would begin to yell…oh, only if you could see the vision as I have.”
3. Never be afraid to share the gospel
4. Live so that the spirit of the Lord can be with you
***June 1, 2004 JOURNAL: So Good or No Good? Sooo-- Good!
Good day!
We went to the referral center again. I really appreciate that place and the opportunity it provides. I got to talk to two people today, would've been more but my phone was being funny :(.
One lady wanted a Finding Faith in Christ video, and she would allow missionaries to deliver it. She just recently had a hear attack, in addition to being diabetic. She is home on disability and wanted to know more about Christ. I felt prompted to do two things 1) teach her about asking for a priesthood blessing and 2) have her read 3Nephi11.
The second caller was a man and he also wanted a Finding Faith in Christ video. I was so impressed that he would call because he wanted his kids to know about Jesus Christ. I really wanted to lay out the families can be together forever plan for him, but, I felt like I shouldn't. But, I know that he is going to check out the website, so hopefully he'll get something out if it.
We heart attacked two doors tonight - the sisters in our branch. It was really funny because the other sisters had the same idea at the same time.
GOOD: Outlined Disc. 2, Service this morning
COMPANION: helpful, fun
GOALS: help new missionaries (especially sisters) feel welcome tomorrow.
27 November 2012
According to my count down there are 28 days left until Christmas! Our house is just busting with excitement. Last night we decorated the Christmas tree. In the very true words of Nake'u, it looks like Christmas exploded all over the tree. The babies had real fun getting ornaments and putting them up on the tree.
Monday, November 19, 2012
Ahhhh, homesickness
While in the MTC we were required to write a 5 minute talk in preparation for Sacrament Meetings on Sunday. The topic was assigned by our branch president the previous Sunday, and members of the branch were chosen to share their talks during sacrament meeting.
***5/30/2004 Talk on Repentance written for (but not shared in) Branch Sacrament Meeting
The bible dictionary tells us that repentance is, "a turning of the heart and will to God, and a renunciation of sin. ...Without this there can be no progress in the things of Salvation. Repentance is not optional it is a commandment."
Because God loves us and wants us to be able to be more like him, He sent us to Earth to be tested. But He knew that we would not be able to return to Him on our own. It is through Jesus Christ that we are able to return to our Heavenly Father. Christ made it possible for us to repent of our sins - otherwise we would not be able to return to our Father in Heaven.
We are not forced to repent. In Ether 12:27 it reads, "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." The Lord knew that we would have difficult times. This is the way we are able to learn and grow.
I know that if we will humble ourselves, the Lord will help us, not only in our times of weakness, but whenever we need him. And if we will humble ourselves before the Lord and seek repentance, make proper confessions, restitution and forsake our sins, I know the Lord will make our weaknesses into strengths.
There is no better time than the present. Isaiah tells us that we should repent now - to call upon the Lord while he is near. Amulek tells us, in the book of Alma that this life is the time for us to prepare to meet God and that we should repent now. The reason for this, is because we don't know how much longer we have before we will be called back home to our father in Heaven. We need to be prepared now so that when that day comes we can report to our Father, just as the apostle Paul did, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith."
***May 30, 2004 JOURNAL: Sunday
Kind of junkie. This is going to sound like a lot of complaining, which really shouldn't happen because I know I have so much to be grateful for.
I was really looking forward to today because Sundays are my most favorite day of the week. Plus we get a lot of personal study time. But it wasn't the uplift I was expecting. I was expecting to feel the way I do in the branch and that, of course, didn't happen.
I was already feeling homesick because I knew it was Sunday. District Meeting was good. Elder Duthrie and Elder Kuhle were assigned to be Assistants to the President. Elder Wright was assigned to be district leader and Elder Morris the assistant district leader.
Then I really started to miss home The spirit in the branch is special to me. I was expecting that here. I was really trying to get my mind off of home. So I get to work. Which worked until this evening - I really wasn't feeling it. So I set my sights on tomorrow - on the temple. But since it's Memorial Day, the temple is closed. After I found that out I really had to take some time to calm myself down. I really wanted to be in a place where I can feel at home, feel the love of my Heavenly Father. That opportunity will have to wait until next week. But, I miss it. The peace and understanding,t he opportunities to learn ...
GOOD: memorized scriptures
COMPANION: compassionate
GOAL: Smile
19 November 2012
Hopefully I'm finally getting over this cold! Kick it in the butt and out of my body. I think the clogging in my ears may have cleared up, but I still hear some ringing so it's probably not back to equilibrium yet.
Last night I went to orchestra rehearsal. Each year our stake produces a Christmas devotional. This will be my seventh devotional participating in the orchestra. Each year I reach a point where my stress level produced by whatever that year, lack of personal practice or players participating, or whatever, really starts to get me down. This year our violin section is particularly small. This I feel was Heavenly Father saying it's time to push me off a cliff (a President Pulsipher-ism and philosophy on receiving inspiration at transfer time). I hate being pushed off of cliffs because it leaves me feeling exposed and uncomfortable more times than not. No one likes that feeling. This year is leaves me being the lone first violinist in an orchestra of about 12 people which is much smaller than I've experienced in years past. Here's the reason this is a problem for me. I don't like the way I sound when I play by myself. I haven't yet needed to stand on my own to get comfortable with the way I sound. The other reason this is a problem is because I need to learn how to emote feeling into my playing. When you're playing with a large group of people this is not necessary. It is easy to lean on the emotions, swellings and recessions of others to add emotion to the song. Here are all the opportunities Heavenly Father is helping me to have this Christmas. Gifts yes. Uncomfortable, still yes. But I remember a training we received either in a zone conference or a district meeting. I'm sure I'll write about it later. But it was about having an I Can attitude. We developed an I Can and I Will mantra. I can and I will. I can and I will. I can and I will. Because what could I attempt to accomplish if I knew I could not fail? All things!
***5/30/2004 Talk on Repentance written for (but not shared in) Branch Sacrament Meeting
The bible dictionary tells us that repentance is, "a turning of the heart and will to God, and a renunciation of sin. ...Without this there can be no progress in the things of Salvation. Repentance is not optional it is a commandment."
Because God loves us and wants us to be able to be more like him, He sent us to Earth to be tested. But He knew that we would not be able to return to Him on our own. It is through Jesus Christ that we are able to return to our Heavenly Father. Christ made it possible for us to repent of our sins - otherwise we would not be able to return to our Father in Heaven.
We are not forced to repent. In Ether 12:27 it reads, "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." The Lord knew that we would have difficult times. This is the way we are able to learn and grow.
I know that if we will humble ourselves, the Lord will help us, not only in our times of weakness, but whenever we need him. And if we will humble ourselves before the Lord and seek repentance, make proper confessions, restitution and forsake our sins, I know the Lord will make our weaknesses into strengths.
There is no better time than the present. Isaiah tells us that we should repent now - to call upon the Lord while he is near. Amulek tells us, in the book of Alma that this life is the time for us to prepare to meet God and that we should repent now. The reason for this, is because we don't know how much longer we have before we will be called back home to our father in Heaven. We need to be prepared now so that when that day comes we can report to our Father, just as the apostle Paul did, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith."
***May 30, 2004 JOURNAL: Sunday
Kind of junkie. This is going to sound like a lot of complaining, which really shouldn't happen because I know I have so much to be grateful for.
I was really looking forward to today because Sundays are my most favorite day of the week. Plus we get a lot of personal study time. But it wasn't the uplift I was expecting. I was expecting to feel the way I do in the branch and that, of course, didn't happen.
I was already feeling homesick because I knew it was Sunday. District Meeting was good. Elder Duthrie and Elder Kuhle were assigned to be Assistants to the President. Elder Wright was assigned to be district leader and Elder Morris the assistant district leader.
Then I really started to miss home The spirit in the branch is special to me. I was expecting that here. I was really trying to get my mind off of home. So I get to work. Which worked until this evening - I really wasn't feeling it. So I set my sights on tomorrow - on the temple. But since it's Memorial Day, the temple is closed. After I found that out I really had to take some time to calm myself down. I really wanted to be in a place where I can feel at home, feel the love of my Heavenly Father. That opportunity will have to wait until next week. But, I miss it. The peace and understanding,t he opportunities to learn ...
GOOD: memorized scriptures
COMPANION: compassionate
GOAL: Smile
19 November 2012
Hopefully I'm finally getting over this cold! Kick it in the butt and out of my body. I think the clogging in my ears may have cleared up, but I still hear some ringing so it's probably not back to equilibrium yet.
Last night I went to orchestra rehearsal. Each year our stake produces a Christmas devotional. This will be my seventh devotional participating in the orchestra. Each year I reach a point where my stress level produced by whatever that year, lack of personal practice or players participating, or whatever, really starts to get me down. This year our violin section is particularly small. This I feel was Heavenly Father saying it's time to push me off a cliff (a President Pulsipher-ism and philosophy on receiving inspiration at transfer time). I hate being pushed off of cliffs because it leaves me feeling exposed and uncomfortable more times than not. No one likes that feeling. This year is leaves me being the lone first violinist in an orchestra of about 12 people which is much smaller than I've experienced in years past. Here's the reason this is a problem for me. I don't like the way I sound when I play by myself. I haven't yet needed to stand on my own to get comfortable with the way I sound. The other reason this is a problem is because I need to learn how to emote feeling into my playing. When you're playing with a large group of people this is not necessary. It is easy to lean on the emotions, swellings and recessions of others to add emotion to the song. Here are all the opportunities Heavenly Father is helping me to have this Christmas. Gifts yes. Uncomfortable, still yes. But I remember a training we received either in a zone conference or a district meeting. I'm sure I'll write about it later. But it was about having an I Can attitude. We developed an I Can and I Will mantra. I can and I will. I can and I will. I can and I will. Because what could I attempt to accomplish if I knew I could not fail? All things!
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