Broken Pieces

Here is my scripture thought this week from studying. 

This part in Acts kept reminding me of a talk I thought I had heard somewhere, but I couldn't find a reference anywhere. So, I made up my own.

Acts 27:43-44

43 But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land:
44 And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all asafe to land.

The Lord had promised that they all would live.

Some were strong enough to swim to shore.

But some had to use boards or broken pieces to make it.


I imagine using a board to get to land would not be as fast as swimming.

And I'm sure I would not feel in control of the situation.



There are sometimes, in life, when I feel strong enough to accomplish what is needed.

I can "swim and get to land".

But there are lots of other times when I feel that the only way I can make it is by clinging to broken pieces or boards; barely surviving.

I just have to hold on and hope I make it.


Either way, the Lord will fulfill His promises.

He will help me get "asafe to land".

I know He will.


Another thought:

Even if I'm a "broken piece", I can still help others around me.

This accomplishes the Lord's promises, too.

Answers are Blessings

There are a lot of things I can do in the gospel that build my faith.

Steps that make sense and are kind of easy to fulfill.

Reading scriptures, saying prayers, going to church, etc.  

They get me where I need to be.

And then come the times when it feels like I can't move forward anymore.

I get stuck and don't know what's next or what more I can do.

That's when I have to make my prayers more sincere.

I need to really ASK the Lord and SEEK His help.

I have to admit to the Lord that I don't have all the answers.

His answers may come as instructions on what I need to do better.

Or something I need to change.

Maybe a different direction I need to take.

What I need to remember is that His answer will always be a blessing.

Even if it's hard to do.

Especially, if it's hard to do.

Be Fruitful

In the Old Testament, there are several times when the Lord tells someone,

 "...be fruitful and multiply..."

I have always just equated this phrase to having a family. 

But, in the New Testament it says,

"...the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Meekness, temperance."

Now, being fruitful to me means to seek for these things of the Spirit and spread them throughout the world.

Seek

The word I'm focusing on this year is Seek.

I want to make sure that I am seeking the Lord and His will at all times.

Lately, I've realized that God has always answered my prayers when I have been seeking something.

About 15 years ago, I realized there was a need for piano players in my ward. 

I decided I should relearn how to play.

I prayed and asked for help from the Lord.

And I practiced like crazy.

Yesterday, I played for the stake baptisms.

About 5 years ago, I really wanted to figure out how to become more involved in family history.

I prayed that the Lord would help me find a way.

And I started adding sources to my ancestors' records each morning from my phone.

This last week, there were 15 ordinances done for people I've been finding on family search.

 "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you" Matt 7:7

I know the Lord hears my prayers and will give me answers if I ask.

I know that as I seek to serve others, the Lord will help me find the way.

I know that as I work hard (knock), the Lord opens the way for me. 

Which Way Do I Want To Face?

There's a saying during Spring in the Mountain West:

"If you don't like the weather....wait 5 minutes."

This morning on my drive to work, there were some serious dark clouds.

You could see the rain falling.

But, then I parked my car and got out facing the other way.

Blue skies, puffy white clouds, a beautiful day.

Turn 180 degrees - stormy.

Turn again - blue skies.


Which way do I want to face?


The dark clouds and what may be coming or just left.

Or the beauty of the blue skies that may be coming or just left.

Ultimate Intimate

I went to girls camp for the first time more than 35 years ago.

I made some really good friends.

There were three of us that called ourselves, "Ultimate Intimates".

We weren't even in the same ward or in the same school.

We saw each other at stake activities.

I'm not sure how it happened, but we stayed close.

At least two of us did.

We grew up together going to youth conference and stake dances.

I think we even dated the same boy once. :-)


Then it was off to college.

We went to the same one, but hung out with different crowds.

We worked together in the summer.

And after that "last single summer" we went our separate ways.

Not by choice; just by life.

She got married the summer I left on a mission.

We didn't keep in touch.

But, luckily, our parents did.


One summer, about eight years ago, my kids and I lived in Virginia with my parents.

My friend was also living there with her husband and three daughters.

We went over and had dinner with them.

It was a little chaotic with my gaggle of children.

But, we laughed and visited and got reacquainted (somewhat).

Then we moved on with life again.


Last week, my friend brought her daughter to college here.

Her mom told her I lived in the area and so she reached out.

We decided to meet up for brunch.

I can't explain the feeling I had as I saw her walking towards me.

She looked exactly the same as I remember.

I had all kinds of emotions come up.

We hugged each other for a long time and had to wipe some tears.

And then went to eat, but mostly visit.

It wasn't one of those awkward visits either.

It was real.

We talked about real stuff.

It was just the two of us this time and it was perfect.


Why is it that I would feel so close to someone and share so much with this person that I haven't talked to in eight years?

There was a real comfortableness for me.

Maybe from knowing that she knew the real me from a long time ago?

I'm sure I could get more philosophical about it.

But, really, my heart is telling it's because we truly are ultimate intimates.

Being Perfect

I was reading, Luke 1:37 in my gospel study this morning, "With God, nothing shall be impossible"

So, I asked myself the question, "What seems impossible to me?"

Getting everything done that I need to.

Staying focused on what needs to be done.

Basically, being perfect!


Then I remembered an experience I had the other Sunday while taking the sacrament.

My mind was going over all the things I needed to do better in the up-coming week.

And I heard a whispering in my mind that said, "You don't need to be perfect".

It was then that I realized that I was thinking about all the things I was not doing perfectly.


But, what about the scripture (Matt. 5:48) that says, "Be ye therefore perfect..."?


I have heard that one translation of perfect, actually means "complete".

Be ye therefore complete.


The only way I can be complete is with Jesus Christ.

When I take the sacrament I am renewing my covenant to take His name upon me.

As long as I am remembering Christ and trying to become who He wants me to be, I am complete.


My focus needs to be on Jesus Christ.

Not just "what am I not doing right?'


I remember Jesus by repenting and choosing to do God's will.

I remember Jesus when I pray and study my scriptures daily.

Jesus will perfect (complete) me. 

Because with God, nothing shall be impossible .