Showing posts with label Prayer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Prayer. Show all posts

Monday, April 29, 2013

On Yesterday Was An Awesome Sunday!

I forgot that there were five of us sisters.  Sister Leishman, Sister Henderson, Sister Fusi, Sister Wagstaff and me.  I don't know where we all slept.

***June 18, 2004 JOURNAL: Mochiko Powder Pancakes
          If I stay here any longer I'm going to get fat!  Sister Henderson is such a good cook.
          Training was really good this morning.  I really feel blessed to be assigned to this mission.  President Pulsipher is such a good motivational speaker.  I enjoy listening to him speak.
          Tomorrow is our last day together.  The elders all leave to their respective areas tomorrow night.  I'm here until Monday.  Our "district family" will really be separated.  Kind of sad, but it's a good thing.  I know I'm going to miss them. HAWAII PARTY JUNE 2006!
          Time is flying by so very fast.  I can hardly believe it.

29 April 2013 A Sunday Review

Yesterday was a good day.  Last week we attended Nanakuli ward and this week we were back in our home ward.  Both weeks we sang Hark All Ye Nations.  And I thought I better get back on my blog!

In Sacrament Meeting, the primary Presidency spoke on the topic of prayer and revelation.  Sister Laura shared about her daughter Victoria, who went to an activity with her soccer team.  Sister Laura shared that she was worried about this particular activity and didn't get a chance to talk to Victoria's coach about what they were going to do.  Sister Laura prayed for help.  Later that night Victoria called home to be picked up early because the team was going to watch an inappropriate movie.

Sister Fernandez shared part of Elder Bednar's talk, "The Spirit of Revelation."  She shared that less often revelation comes to us like a light switch being turned on.  Instant knowledge and understanding for what we had been seeking.  More often we receive revelation like a sun rise.  Slow and steady, line upon line and precept upon precept.  She talked about how she and her husband would always receive revelation and help with raising one of their sons whenever he was in trouble.

Sister Johnston said the more she aligns her life with the will of God, the more she is able to receive revelation.  She invited us all (not all at once) to come to primary and feel of the spirit there.  She shared her testimony about how living the gospel is improving her life.

The gospel doctrine lesson was "Thou Shalt  ... Offer Up Thy Sacraments Upon My Holy Day." Sister Porter taught us that our Sunday worship is defined by us, individually and the way we observe the Sabbath day is individual and personal.  It was shared that Sunday worship is a process of being sanctified and that we are all in different places in that process.  My favorite part was shared by Sister Porter when she explained that Sunday's activities should make Sunday feel different from every other day of the week.  I sometimes struggle with knowing what is okay or not to do on Sundays.  But that explanation shed some light for me.

In Relief Society Sister Lewis taught from "Being a True Disciple" a talk from the October 2012 general conference given by Elder Daniel L. Johnson.
Discipleship is all about doing and becoming. As we obey His commandments and serve our fellowmen, we become better disciples of Jesus Christ. Obedience and submission to His will bring the companionship of the Holy Ghost, along with those blessings of peace, joy, and security that always accompany this third member of the Godhead. And they can come in no other way. Ultimately, it is total submission to His will that helps us become as our Savior is. Again, becoming like Him and being one with Him is the ultimate goal and objective—and essentially the very definition of true discipleship.
Sister Kalama shared that she learned a more effective way to talk with her adult children about ways to improve and keep the gospel in their lives.  When she normally would address her children about keeping commandments and attending church they would end up fighting about it.  Then she started saying a prayer with them individually, then talking about what they should be doing to keep the gospel in their lives.  Sister Kalama said it is much more successful with less fighting.  I am trying to do this, this week.  I told Nakeu that Pwopwo and I are going to be praying all week!  Yesterday, in the few hours we were home after church we had three prayers then discussed her behavior.  Lloyd and I had one prayer and discussed his behavior.  It's not an instant fix, but at least I don't feel as upset at the babies when we are talking about not listening or hitting or other inappropriate behaviors.

Next Post: President Pulsiphers Message from the June 2004 Messenger, Elder Ballard's talk and pictures from the weekend!

Friday, April 19, 2013

The Parable of the Bean Bag Frog

I know I said that today's post would cover the Parable of the Bean Bag Frog, Cornelius and Elder Holland's Talk.  There is, however too much that goes with the Cornelius story so it will have to wait for the next post.  Elder Hollands talk will also have to be in another post on account of how long this post is.  Kapwuramahk!  (sorry!)

***06/17/04 Orientation Notes: Day One, Part Two
          1. Principles of the Bean Bag Frog
               a. problem/need
               b. do your part: ask
               c. listen/act

CONFESSION: I don't have my copy of the Parable of the Bean Bag Frog.  I have used it's principles and am still working on trying to find it.  Although, I think I gave it away (my copy of the story, not my frog).  So, I'm also trying to get a new copy from the source, along with permission to use it here.  I have added a page (/\)with an edited version of a one I found on someone else's blog.

          Here's the basic run-down of "The Parable of the Bean Bag Frog"
A true story about our mission president, President Pulsipher, his wife, Sister Pulsipher, and their daughter Kristen.

  • Kristen lost her bean bag frog that she loved.
  • Kristen's dad asked her if God knew everything, and therefore knew where her frog was.
  • Kristen and her dad prayed and asked God to help them find her frog
  • Kristen's dad told Kristen they needed to wait and pictures would come to their heads of where to look
  • Whenever a picture came to mind they went to look
  • They prayed as a family that night for more help
  • Kristen's mom woke up, in the middle of the night and found Kristen's frog
Here are some of the things we can learn from "The Parable of the Bean Bag Frog"
  • God knows all things
  • God can help us with everything and anything that is good
  • We need to ask God for the help that we need
  • God communicates with us, through the Holy Ghost,by sending us thoughts and ideas or pictures to our minds and feelings to our hearts
  • We need to wait quietly, ponder and study in order to receive answers to our prayers
  • God sometimes answers our prayers through others
President Pulsipher used to share a story about how he would get help at work. He worked for an engineering company in computer software production.  Sometimes he would reach a point where the software wouldn't do what it was supposed to do.  He would ask Heavenly Father for help in the following format, "Heavenly Father, I have a problem and I need your help.  Will you please help to me ..."  Then he would wait for the answer to come.  And the answer would come to his mind as pictures and thoughts and he would be able to work out his problem.

The interesting ending to the story is that Sister Pulsipher is the one who found the frog up high on a shelf, in a place no one considered.  She was able to receive the answer to the prayer when her mind was quiet and open.  Sometimes we pray and ask God for help and go on expecting an answer, which is good.  But the noise of being busy during the day, and focusing on other things doesn't leave our minds open to hearing the quiet promptings that God is sending to us.   When we especially need answers from God, it does well for us to find a quiet place to think, ponder and listen for God's answers.  Then when we receive an answer we must act on it.  Even if we don't understand how it will work out in the end.  We need to trust that God knows all things and can help us with all things.  I know that God will always answer us, because God loves us and wants us to be happy.

Next Post: Cornelius (for reals!)

Now onto the literal mountain of dishes that need to be done ... :) Happy Friday.