Beautiful Inspiration

I have been inspired by Nick Vujicic over the last year and would absolutely love to meet him someday. I place him #1 at the top of my list of most admired people. If you haven't seen his latest work; Butterfly Circus - then you must watch!

If you've read my recent posts, I've talked about how I have been striving for and praying to to be able to see all of God's children the way He does and to love them the way He does. This has transformed my life in ways I couldn't have imagined. Every stranger I bump into, I feel this deep love and happiness for them. I want to know if they are happy, if there is anything I can help them with or if I can somehow let them know that I care about them by a kind gesture. It's been amazing!

Nick is one of the best examples of Christlike love towards all of God's children that I have ever seen. With the challenges he has been given it's beautiful to see that he is happy, happily married and soon to be a father. I hope this video inspires you!

How the Holy Spirit Needs Us

This month for visiting teaching I chose the conference talk Anxiously Engaged by Elder M. Russell Ballard to share with my ladies. As I reflected on it's message I realized my visiting teachers had also shared this same talk with me earlier in the month. It must be a message that the Lord wants to press on my mind.

Elder Ballard talks about natural disasters and many and instances where church members around the world provide humanitarian service and share the love of Christ. He says, "But what about our everyday lives? What would be the cumulative effect of millions of small, compassionate acts performed daily by us because of our heartfelt Christian love for others? Our troubled world needs this love of Christ today more than ever, and it will need it even more in the years ahead."

He brings up the point that we don't always have to wait for a disaster to happen to give this love. Instead we should be praying each morning for the Lord to guide us to those people who are in need of it, whom we can personally help.

He quotes President Spencer W. Kimball: “God does notice us, and he watches over us. But it is usually through another person that he meets our needs. Therefore, it is vital that we serve each other” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Spencer W. Kimball [2006], 82).

Upon reading this I was reminded of a time about 7 months ago when we had just moved into our new home. My realtor had delivered a vase of flowers as a house warming gift. I had set it out on the patio to get some sunlight and  had forgotten all about it. Five days later, I saw it out there and thought how sad it was that no one had been enjoying these flowers but amazed at how great they still looked. Just then a friend from my old neighborhood came to mind and I thought that she might enjoy these flowers.

On my way to run errands that morning I stopped by her home and rang her doorbell. There was no answer so I left them on the porch with a note. An hour later she called me and apologized for not coming to the door. She said she was in the middle of praying to the Lord that somehow He would extend His love to her because she needed it more than ever that day. Just then she heard the doorbell ring but because she had been crying she was afraid to answer it.  Later when she came down she found the flowers and knew that the Lord was showing His love.

I had no idea that this simple act of kindness was the Lord using me to answer one of His children's prayers. It was profound and I was so humbled. Since that day I often ask the Lord to direct me to people whom I can help or to guide them to me. It's amazing how He utilizes me when I ask.

Whether or not we remember to pray for this in our morning prayers, it's important that we always be in a position where we can feel the promptings of the Spirit and recognize them so that we can be prepared for the Lord to use us when others need to feel His love.

I say this in the name of Jesus Christ amen.

The Third of Heaven vs. The "47%"

I had an interesting thought today. As I was reflecting on the way America is going and the many Americans who have the attitude that they don't need to work hard, don't mind being told what to do by the government in exchange for being taken care of - and not wanting to glorify the Lord in any way, I couldn't help but notice how much it parallels Lucifer's plan in the great counsel in heaven. 

Moses 41:1-2

And I, the Lord God, spake unto Moses, saying: That Satan, whom thou hast commanded in the name of mine Only Begotten, is the same which was from the beginning, and he came before me, saying—Behold, here am I, send me, I will be thy son, and I will redeem all mankind, that one soul shall not be lost, and surely I will do it; wherefore give me thine honor.

But, behold, my Beloved Son, which was my Beloved and Chosen from the beginning, said unto me Father, thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever.

A third of the entire hosts of heaven followed him and rebelled against God. They were cast out of heaven. 

It's clear how Satan is very much a part of the attitudes and philosophies we see going on today. Looking for the easy way though life. Not having to work or achieve but being guaranteed stability and security. The one providing the stability (the government) and security requires that those dependent on him (it), should give him all praise and credit him as the only source of their salvation. Thus, not giving glory to God for all they have.

They are stirred up in anger against those who glorify God and desire to work hard. They create wars and attempt to destroy those who follow the way of the Lord.

Satan is behind this idea. Continuously seeking revenge for being cast out. Full of anger and hatred he will do all he can to destroy the souls of men. Those who follow him will be led to captivity. His plan is to enslave and to destroy.

It's amazing to see this happening in our day.

Numbers Dream

I had a dream last week that was very interesting. I felt it was significant because there were so many numbers in it. It was as though someone was trying to deliver something to me through the numbers. As I tried my best to seek an interpretation I was stunned at what the numbers led me to and how quickly I was led there. I have been in awe all week. Whether I got it right or far from even close, it opened up a window of things to consider.

Dream: 

My husband and I were considering taking in an international student into our home. We would charge her $375 per month and feed and take care of her in exchange for her watching our kids and helping out around the house. I went outside and saw a woman with brown hair changing a baby’s diaper on the lawn.

It was a baby girl and I was aware that this lady was trying to find her a home for possible adoption. The baby was 12 months old. When I saw the baby’s head and face and brown eyes. I remember thinking how much she’d fit into our family as she looked like my kids. I liked that she was one and close to my youngest daughter's age and that she was at an age where she was fun and playful and slept through the night. I knew she was from Russia. I wanted to love and take care of her. 



I then was outside of a gold mine or a place where they would sift dirt from a stream to find nuggets. Also, people in the town would make payments to the mine and drop off gold and dirt from their own streams into the wooden troughs to be sifted. I asked the men working the mine if I could give it a try. I said if I was lucky enough to find something then they needed to take me out for a steak dinner because the odds were so slim. They agreed. I grabbed a handful of dirt and began to sift. Right away I found a chunk of gold. They were amazed and after examining it said it was 16 karat. I asked if I could try again and the second time I found bracelets that were 24 karat gold. They referred to the bracelets as Venetian crystal, gold bracelets or something like that. I asked if I could keep them and they were thinking about it and then I joked that we could all go enjoy a steak dinner together.



I then went into a math class in a computer room. The math teacher had just given the students a problem they were trying to solve and I had walked in late. They said we needed to find 13 numbers that when added together would equal a number like 64, 84, or 86. I couldn't remember the number but the emphasis was heavy on the number 13. No one could figure it out. I remember saying that one of the numbers was probably 13 and the teacher said no at first then thought about it and said it just might be. We had calculators. 

That was when I woke up. When I realized how many numbers were in my dream I ran to write them down and then went back to bed as it was early. I felt these numbers were significant and couldn't wait to sit down and look over them.

Symbols:

Later that morning I sat down to figure this dream out. I believe there were a lot of symbols in there. The baby represents new beginnings. The adopting meant taking on that new beginning or new idea and accepting it. Russia referred to cold, dark, hard times that lie ahead.  The diaper change meant the need for an attitude change towards a new idea or beginning. Feces is usually referred to pride, money, shame or aggressive acts (could be referring to the times we live in). In the dream I did see this and it was green. Apparently green signifies a positive change, good health, growth, fertility, healing, hope, vigor, vitality, peace, and serenity. The appearance of the color may also be a way of telling me to "go ahead" green means go. The mine represents getting to the core of an issue and seeing something surface. To see a gold nugget in your dream symbolizes a small piece of valuable information that you had overlooked or did not know about. It is the core to some idea or piece of knowledge. 

Sixteen symbolizes innocence, naivet, vulnerability, and tenderness.It also indicates some spiritual cleansing and destruction of the old and birth of the new. Alternatively, the dream may represent a coming of age.The crystal signifies wholeness, purity, healing, development and unity. It represents your higher self. It's also a metaphor for something in your life that is crystallizing or taking shape. 

The number twenty-four symbolizes rewards, happiness, love, money, success and creativity. Thirteen is a paradoxical number which means death and birth, end and beginning, and change and transition.

The baby was 12 months old. According to the dream dictionary, Twelve denotes spiritual strength and divine perfection. It also represents cycles and repetition. 

Numbers: 

Because there were so many numbers and some were large I began to think that the numbers weren't symbolic but rather literal numbers I needed to be aware of. The first number 375. First thing that came to mind was year,month,day. Three years, seven months and five days. I counted out what that would come to from the current month of November 2012. It came to 06/05/2016. June 5th 2016. I wrote this down and continued on.

The two nuggets were pointing to two numbers that were of great value. Because 24 was the greater value, if this were to be a date then 24 would clearly mean months - 24 months or 2 years. Sixteen was the lesser value which would be weeks - 16 weeks would easily be 4 months. This number comes to 2 years and 4 months. I began to count out what date it would be 2 years and four months from now and it was March 2015. I wrote this down.

Not knowing anything about these dates I decided to google them. I started with March 2015. Several links came up all referring to March 20th 2015. Apparently on this date, according to NASA.Later that morning I googled March 2015 and learned that there will be a total solar eclipse on that date. A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon's apparent diameter is larger than the Sun, blocking all direct sunlight, turning day into darkness. The sun literally looks black. 

I then saw that on September 13th 2015 a partial solar eclipse will occur.I read that a pattern of recent economic disasters based on the Hebrew calendar portends what some suspect we will be the biggest U.S. financial calamity yet, on Sept. 13, 2015. This was very interesting! If that's even the appropriate word.

 If 13 means the end of something and start of something could this day be ushering in the 7th seal or return of the Lord? Meaning Christ could return any day or moment afterward?

I then read that a total lunar eclipse will take place on September 28, 2015. The moon turns blood red in color.  

These dates that I searched pulled up this scripture:

Joel 2:31 says: “The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the LORD come.

Was I being guided to this for a reason? 

Finally, I googled June 5th 2016.  It's a date that some people theorize is the Day of the Lord (the rapture/translation) beginning with this scripture:

Ezekiel 8:1 - And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I sat in my house with the elders of Judah sitting before me, that the hand of the Lord GOD fell upon me there.

There is a theory that explains this scripture and how this date has been significant throughout the history of the Hebrew calendar.  You can Google it if you want to know more.

Conclusion 

I know that my dream came about as I have been worried about my business that I have put my heart and soul into over the last few years. It is finally at a place where it will exceed beyond my wildest dreams in the next 4-6 months. This would allow me to help our family in so many ways. As I watch the headlines and study my scriptures I can't help but wonder if all this work will lead to disappointment because of the economy and inflation. Yet at the same time, I am at peace with the troubling times because that means the Savior will be here soon. I'm anxious about the uncertainty yet excited for what is to come. It's a new beginning for my business yet also a soon to be new beginning for the world. 

I believe my dream is telling me that yes, there will be cold, dark times ahead in the world, but to go ahead and continue to live life as usual. It will all work out the way it is supposed to, according to the Lord. I need to shed the worried attitude and replace it with hope toward a bright new beginning.Things may never be as they used to but I need to have faith that all will work out. 

It's possible that that numbers were to give me some hope. There may be a very tiny window left for a small period of financial prosperity just enough so that we can take care of those last items that would allow us to help others. Or, it simply might be that there is no time left and I need my number one focus to be on staying spiritually ready. 

The Lord will work out the business however it needs to be, and that shouldn't be my focus. With faith in Him temporal and physical things won't matter because He provides all. I know this to be true.

I say this in the name of Jesus Christ amen.  

 

Separating the Wheat from the Tares

I thoroughly enjoy hearing perspectives of what's going on in the world from many different Christian faiths. I think it is very refreshing and comforting to see Christians of all walks of life come together during these hard times.

I believe we are all entitled to revelation and a higher knowledge when we ask for it with righteous intentions and exercising faith. It's been a blessing to hear about the many different spiritual experiences people are having from all over the world during these last days.

Here is a minister who has made a great effort to share his testimony about the Savior through online videos. I have really enjoyed his videos. He definitely has a strong passion to follow the Savior. This is his most recent video in which he offers great insight about the bigger picture and how we need to prepare. Some of the points he brings up were actually on my mind before watching this video.  It's an eye opener for every person who believes in and follows Christ. If you can hang in there to the very end of the video, it's worth it - he offers words of encouragement and peace.

Enjoy!