Praying is Magical

Sorry for having skipped last week and then being a day late this week. My missionary had his farewell last week so I was consumed with that.

Life has gotten tough. I will not lie to you. It's hard having someone you love leave. Granted he is out doing the Lord's work and I know he'll be safe, but it's still hard. So I decided that I would not be one of those missionary girlfriend's that mopes around.

I turned all of my efforts into bettering myself spiritually, as well as praying for my missionary and others. I've noticed that my heart has become softened to those all around me. I have also noticed that at night when I say my prayers, they have become more focused on others and less asking and more thanking.

I love this quote. It is so true. No matter what you're going through you can pray to your Heavenly Father and He will listen to you. He is like any other parent in the way that He is eager to hear from you and is excited about what's going on in your life. As you turn to Him for help, He will hear you and help you, whether it be through the Spirit or through His other children.

That is also why we need to have a strong relationship with our Heavenly Father. We are instruments in His hands! If we ask sincerely to help His children, He will present opportunities to help them. We must have willing hearts and open minds. Most people think of helping His children of missionary work, which isn't wrong! But we as normal members can help all, member and nonmember, man and woman.

I know that as you turn towards your Heavenly Father with open arms, He will be there to receive you into His own. I also know that you can make a big impact on this world. There are many souls who need your loving influence. Reach out to your Father to help you to reach out to them.

Love,
 Janae

Forgiveness

Forgiveness

I feel like this is a topic everyone talks about but is seldom truly understands. Forgiveness is simply 3 parts: forgiving others, asking God to forgive us, and forgiving ourselves. 

We all know that we have to forgive others, which that alone can be hard. But I want to focus on the last two parts of forgiveness. Forgiving ourselves and asking God to forgive us. 

After we sin, we go through the repentance process and part of that is forgiveness. 

I love this picture. It's name is very fitting. Forgive by Greg Olsen. Imagine yourself in the girl's spot, approaching Christ to ask for forgiveness. It takes a lot to humble ourselves enough to ask for forgiveness. However, God will always forgive us. That's why we have the Atonement. It is our way to repent and be forgiven. 

If we feel godly sorrow and approach Christ humbled and truly desiring to change, we will feel ourselves being forgiven and we will receive a conformation from the Spirit that we have indeed, been forgiven. 

This picture goes in hand with the one above. White as Snow by Greg Olsen. Once again, imagine yourself in the girl's spot. You have been forgiven. And now you have to forgive yourself. I'll admit it's not easy. I struggle with this concept also. Satan tries to use guilt on us even though we have been fully forgiven. 

Once we have forgiven ourselves, we can move on. We can forget about the past. If you struggle, you can ALWAYS pray for help. Your loving Heavenly Father doesn't want you to be miserable. Surprise! Your life is going to be hard, but it's not supposed to be hard forever. If you think it is, you might want to go consult your Father in Heaven. 

I know once we've been forgiven and have forgiven ourselves, then we can move forward with "one eye single to the glory of God." 

Love,

  Janae

A Year Ago Today

A Year Ago Today...

 A year ago today my life was changed forever. I was in the cultural celebration for the Gilbert, Arizona Temple. 

It was such a spiritual experience, dancing in the pouring rain. I loved the theme, Live True to the Faith. I will admit that I was one who grumbled and complained during the process but by the end of the night, I had tears streaming down my face. I mean how often do you get to sing and dance in front of the Prophet?

I think that there was a reason for the rain that night. I think that it wouldn't have been as spiritual as it was without it. I think that people would have forgotten it. I know I'll never forget it.

I saw that and it made me laugh good and hard. I think it's funny how people I may not have normally talked to or been with, became my close friends that night. 

Dancing was fun. Minus the part where I almost lost my shoe in mud that was at least a foot deep. That darn horse from earlier torn up the whole field. However my partner Matt, was great and we managed to get through. (P.S. you can totally dance while shivering to death and sing while your teeth are chattering) 

A year ago, my testimony was strengthened. A year ago, I made a lifetime of memories within 12 hours. A year ago, I realized that this Church is so true and that everything I believed and did is worth it. I will never forget the experience of a lifetime. 

Here's the link to the cultural celebration in case you didn't get to see it (I was a gold/yellow shirt). It still makes me cry every time: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PSS24K9zB0

Love, Janae