My Gifts to God: Standing as a Witness in 2010

 

The Book of Mormon and the TV Guide

On the table, side by side
The Book of Mormon and the TV Guide
One is well worn and cherished with pride;
Not the Book of Mormon, but the TV guide,
One is used daily to help folks decide,
No, not the Book of Mormon, but the TV Guide.
As the pages are turned, what shall they see?
Oh, what does it matter, turn on the TV!
So they opened the book from which they confide,
No, not the Book of Mormon, but the TV guide.
The word of God is seldom read
Maybe a verse or two before they fall to bed,
Exhausted and sleepy and tired as can be,
Not from reading the scriptures, but from watching TV.
So back to the table, side by side
The Book of Mormon, and the TV Guide
The Plan of Salvation is full and free
But is found in the Book of Mormon, not on the TV.

   I have had an interesting and tiring week. I have probably felt the least in-tuned with the spirit lately... It is like I have been trying to tune in the rado, but I keep getting static or I am in between stations. I can hear my favorite song, but can't get the white noise to fade out. I had let life become so busy and hectic that I was no longer making time for my Savior that is why I couldn't tune in completely. This struck me on Sunday night. I had to give a lesson in church and felt that the spirit just wasn't with me. I was tired and stressed... I had a little lady crying in nursery (miss Priss) and I couldn't focus and in that time of need I didn't ask for the help that I should have. My Heavenly Father was there waiting, but I didn't call. Then later that week  our home teachers in our ward came over to visit and they gave some amazing advice. 
    They probably didn't know at the time how appropriate and needed their words were. They talked about how our testimonies of our Savior, of the Gospel can be likened unto lamps. Just like a flashlight that runs on batteries our tesimonies are the same. When those batteries are winding down we need to recharge them so the light will stay strong. Sometimes for me it can become very easy to do what I am suppose to be doing without thinking of why I do what I do. Why do I choose not to watch rater R movies?Well I don't think about it anymore because I don't battle with the temptation anymore. I don't watch them because those types of movies do not bring me closer to my Savior....When I remember the why than my testimony grows. Just like when I ponder on my Savior. When I think about his life and the love he had for me...enough love to willingly die for me, my heart wants to burst ebcause it is so overwhleming the emotions that flow. 
   I realized that apart of my problem of becoming complacent with each day was my lack of scripture study. I would read my chapter, a few verses, or sometimes be to tired to even open the smooth cover of my Book of Mormon. I wasn't really taking in the words and thinking about how those words were meant just for me.I have not been doing my journal writing. Writing in my Thankful Journal was almost a way for me to organize my thoughts before I knelt to pray and without this time my prayers have also left much to be desired. 

  I have realized so much this week. The fact that I am only one perosn and I have been spreading myself so thin. Because of this, I was leaving out the most important part of my life and that is my Savior, Jesus Christ.. I want to grow closer to him each day. To feel his love guiding me through everything. It is amazing the change I felt inside once I really thought about what was missing in my life, in my day. Today was so much better because I took time to sit back and think of my day...I took time to see the Lord's hand in my day...in my children's laughs and my husbands eyes. I am thankful for these moments. I am thankful for the fact that although we stray, how ever slight that might be, we can still return to our Heavenly Fatehr, with a repented heart, and he is there waiting with outstretched hands. What a glorious feeling it is to know I am a Daughter of a King, a child of God who loves me and knows me. I pray that I can continue to grow into what he has prepared me to be. I want to Stand as a Witness in 2010 and by doing little things each week I will grow closer to my Heavenly Father and that is one of the greatest gifts I can give...and that is myself, my time, my talents.

For this upcoming week I want to work to eliminate one behavior that keeps my apart from my Savior. This means no more late nights for me because when I have a late night, I am tired in the morning. This effects my morning with my littles. Staying up late prevents me from getting up early for my morning prayer and study time. When I am good about getting up and doing my morning routine my day is better because I start with prayer, but when I am trying to sleep in as long as my littles allow, I get behind and I know that efeects me and the running of my household.


I pray Heavenly Father that I may be able to start each day with a private word. That I may be able to renew my strength for each day. I know everything is possible through thee. That thou gives me the strength I need in order to accomplish today's task. In the name of Jesus Christ Amen.