I Am A Mormon Monday: Meet Sarah

 

About Me

Hey readers!! I am a blogger over at mrsdrapersstories.blogspot.ca.  I have been blogging for almost two years now and I love it! I just blog about whatever I feel like. Whether thats about my day, my opinion on something, or just blog some cool pictures. Blogs shouldn't have rules! Blogs are meant to be a reflection of you! And I am random!

What Is Hope and What Do I Hope For?

I feel that hope ties with faith quite well. I know I hope for things all the time. I hope to be better tomorrow, I hope one day that I will be a mother, I hope that I am a good wife, I hope for exaltation. I guess you could compare hope to wishing, but I feel like hope is more realistic, when wishes sometimes aren't as serious. If that makes sense! This is a hard question! Hope is the feeling of something better to come.

How Do I Live My Faith?

I am no perfect Mormon by any means, but I try really hard to be good. I think the most important thing you can do to live your faith is to just be a good example to those around you. When you are a good person, and have the spirit of Christ with you always people will notice the difference in you, and they will want to know what makes you special. I try and do that. I try and be compassionate, and a good friend to those around me. I also live my faith by fulfilling my callings. Right now my husband and  I are primary teachers, and my faith gets stronger when I teach these children of God the gospel. Also most importantly I try and pray to Heavenly Father often, and thank him always for the life I have been given.

I have a strong  testimony of this gospel. I believe it 120%. It is the most real, true thing in this world. I know God lives, and loves me, I know we have a prophet on the earth today. I believe the Bible to be the word of God. I also believe the Book of Mormon to be a true book. I am grateful I have the gospel in my life, for without it, I would not be as happy, as I am today.

 Thank you so much for having me Kimberly! It was so much fun! ...............................................................................................................
If you are interested in being featured on Diary of a Brown Eyed Girl for I Am a Mormon Monday, please contact me and I will send you all the details.  Email: bostonksox@gmail.com    

Got 5 minutes? 3 Bible Stories on Strong Mother Figures

The Bible contains great examples for people from all walks of life. Here are three Bible stories that illustrate the power of faithful women and mothers.

Ruth - An Example of Faith

After the death of her husband, Ruth chose to continue living with her mother-in-law, Naomi. This decision meant she would not be returning live with her biological family in Moab, an area that revered traditions that did not align with the truths of the God of Israel. Naomi encouraged Ruth to return to her own mother, but Ruth demonstrated great faith, hope, and love for Naomi when she said: “. . . whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God” (Ruth 1:16). Ruth chose to forsake family, friends and other familiarities to stay with Naomi so she could continue to live in righteousness. Ruth was willing to sacrifice much to do what was right and exercised great faith to embrace truth. Ruth was blessed; she eventually married again, and through her lineage, the Savior was born.

Hannah - An Example of Prayer

Hannah is another woman in the Bible who demonstrates sacrifice and faith. Hannah was unable to have children, leaving her in bitterness of soul. In faith, Hannah turned to the Lord in prayer and “poured out [her] soul before” Him (1 Sam. 1:15). Hannah vowed that if the Lord would grant to her a child, she would give him to the Lord, or raise him to follow the teachings of the Lord all the days of his life. Hannah’s prayers were answered and her son, Samuel, was born. Hannah kept her promise and sent Samuel to be raised in the Temple of the Lord. Samuel later became a great prophet. Hannah’s love for the Lord, her faith and her sacrifice are great examples to us of how to pattern our own lives.

Eve - An Example of Motherhood

Eve was a great mother. She was the first of all women and a great example of how to live and raise children in righteousness.

In “Lessons from Eve,” a talk given by Russell M. Nelson, he highlights five things Eve accomplished during her life which we can also emulate:

1. She labored beside her companion (see Moses 5:1).

2. She and Adam bore the responsibilities of parenthood (see Moses 5:2).

3. She and her partner worshipped the Lord in prayer (see Moses 5:4).

4. She and Adam heeded divine commandments of obedience and sacrifice (see Moses 5:5, 6).

5. She and her husband taught the gospel to their children (see Moses 5:12).

As a mother, you have the power to make a difference. Read tips on giving your children what matters most here.

**Stories taken from here

Did You Think To Pray?

Prayer. It's such a simple principle right? But sometimes its so difficult. Sometimes we may forget to pray, we get "too busy" to pray, we don't feel worthy enough to pray, we don't know what to pray about. I have dealt with all of these reasons at some point in my life or another. Whatever the reason might be, we should "pray always" no matter what the circumstances may be. The words Did You Think To Pray come from a beautiful Hymn that I love so much.

In the lyrics of the Hymn, it follows a very simple pattern. It suggests situations in our daily lives, then asks the question that occurs in the second line "Did you think to pray?" We should engage in prayer every morning as the day begins. In Mark 1:35 we read of Jesus that, "Rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He departed and went out to a desolate place, and there He prayed." In this as in all other things He is our best example. We sometimes find ourselves too "busy" to pray, but who could have been more busy than Jesus in those three rushed years of ministry? On some occasions Jesus was too busy to even take time to eat!(Mark 6:31) But I seriously doubt that He neglected prayer. On the night before He called the apostles, He even spent the entire night in prayer.(Luke 6:12) If Jesus himself being perfect needed daily prayer, how much more do we need daily prayer? He set such a great example. I think about that all the time.

 Jeremiah told us that "The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning."(Lamentations 3:22-23) That "loving favor" is present every morning when we awaken, and is ready to meet whatever challenges the day may bring us. 

We need to take up the shield of prayer every day, and the sooner the better. The mind itself is a constant battlefield, and the sooner we take the offensive, the more likely we are to have the momentum of battle in our favor for the day. At the end of the great passage on the "Christian armor," Paul tells us that the first duty of the armed Christian soldier is, "praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance."(Ephesians6:18) Also in Colossians 4:2 it echoes the thought: "Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving." There is no better way to start the day, than by presenting ourselves for duty in the Lord's service and asking Him to bless our day that is before us!

Whatever you may be facing or going through, I simply ask you....

Did you think to pray???

Courage.

.

”Being brave does not mean I am not afraid.  Being brave means acting in faith.”  I know that many of you out there are struggling, including myself, having a really hard time dealing with all the trials and burdens that are placed upon your back.  I pray that you will each find the bravery you need to have the faith in the Lord to sustain you.

I repeatedly have been comforted and directed by many scriptures,  but there is one section of the Book of Mormon that absolutely has been my joy to refer to in time of need and to share with others who are hurting, weeping, distraught, bewildered, and weary. It is found in Mosiah 24 when the children of God cried out because their afflictions were so great and Amulon put guards over the people to watch them so that anyone found calling upon God to help them would be put to death. The account tells us that the people didn't raise their voices to the Lord their God. Instead they poured out their hearts to God, and he knew the thoughts of their hearts.

“And the voice of the Lord came to them in their terrible times, and they heard his voice, telling them to be of good comfort and to lift up their heads for he was mindful of them."

‘And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions. And…the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.’ (Mosiah 24:14-15)

Adversity? Who needs it? Everyone, because adversity well handled is really blessings in disguise

Read the book of Esther

Lovin' Yourself

I want you guys to take a minute to think about something. Do you love yourself?

What's your answer? Yes? No? Some days yes and some days no?

How much we love ourselves really determines how much love we are able to give towards others.

If we don’t love ourselves in a healthy, balanced way, then we won’t be able to spread the love of God to those all around us because we can’t give away something we don’t have already to begin with.

When I met Josh and we became friends, I really took the time to figure out ME first.

I knew I had to be secure and love myself and God first before I could love anyone else.

What a huge difference that made. Now I am not saying that I don't have bad days where

I struggle with who I am...because I do. All the time. I am imperfect. We are all imperfect.

But I know how my Heavenly Father sees me. I know that He has singled me out and chosen me to be His child. He is pleased with how He made me and His love surrounds me all the time.

 I am the apple of His eye. I take so much comfort in this.

Now when I talk about loving yourself I am not talking about a selfish, 
self-centered kind of love for that is arrogant and puffed up. 

There is a balanced way to develop a godly appreciation
 for who you are and the talents & abilities that God has given you.

I think one of the biggest problems we have today is how we feel about ourselves. It seems many people have a broken record playing in their head that keeps repeating, 
“What’s wrong with me? What’s wrong with me? What’s wrong with me?”

We compare ourselves to other people (totally guilty of this) 
and wonder why we can’t look or act like they do. 

Satan wants us to feel bad about ourselves. 
He tries to mess with our thinking so we are always wondering why something is wrong with us. 
And many times we make the mistake of getting mad at ourselves because of it.

The Bible says that those who are in Christ have been made righteous.  

 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; 

that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

-2 Corinthians 5:21

This means that in Christ, we are as we ought to be. 
God created us. He approves and accepts us by His love and goodness.

Gods love is one of the most important truths we need to know. Loving God and then yourself in a healthy, balanced way is the first step toward fulfilling our destiny and becoming a vessel of God’s love so we can spread His love to others. 

Lately I have been pondering these questions......

How much joy do you have? 

Do you enjoy spending time with yourself? 

Do you spend enough time with God?


Meditating on this scripture lately also:

"According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will"

-Ephesians 1:4-5

Remember that God loves you unconditionally. 
He created your temperament, your talents, and all your other traits.
You are beautifully and wonderfully made in the image of a loving Heavenly Father.

We all have specific areas we can grow in and things to 
work on and that is quite alright. We are imperfect but God is perfect.