let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer... for the welfare of those around you

This morning I have taken time to refocus my efforts to fulfill my home teaching. It makes me sad that I have not done very well, especially during this holiday season. The thing that really hurt me is that I don't even know what my home teaching families need me to pray for.

let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your welfare, and also for the welfare of those who are around you. (Alma 34:27)

My heart reaches out to those I have been asked to support, but my hands have failed to open the door.

...and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people,and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;

Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life— 

Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him,that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you? (Mosiah 18: 8-10)

 Let us all open the door so the He may "pour out his Spirit more abundantly".  I know that He will.

I leave my testimony and repentance with you in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

August - The Savior's Call to Serve

In this months First Presidency Message President Monson shares some of his insights into church service.  He opens by suggesting that the one thing that we all have in common is the call to serve.  He  poses some questions to help us examine ourselves:

"Are you ever guilty of murmuring when a calling comes to you?  Or do you accept with thanksgiving each opportunity to serve your brothers and sisters, knowing that our Heavenly Father will bless those whom He calls?"

Throughout the rest of his message he shares examples of one who served the wrong master; he uses President John Taylor's words to show the danger of not serving, and ultimately reminding us of the Savior's many acts of service: 

"He brought strength to the limbs of the cripple, sight to the eyes of the blind, hearing to the ears of the deaf, and life to the body of the dead."

As I look back at my opportunities to serve I see some difficult or frustrating experiences and some times where the joy and growth has been immediate and exhilarating.  The one thing that I am certain of is that, if I allow myself to, I will be a better person and find new joys in those that I serve.

I leave you with my testimony that service is an opportunity to reap joy and President Monson's words:

"God bless us to find joy in serving our Father in Heaven as we serve His children on earth."

...in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

July 2012 - Always in the Middle

This month president Uchtdorf shares a perspective on beginnings, endings, and particularly what comes between.  He notes that: "...the beginnings and endings of things are celebrated and remembered..." and that, "... the middle of things often goes unnoticed.", but he asks us to focus on the stuff in the middle:

"...with the proper outlook, considering ourselves as in the middle of things can help us not only to understand life a little better but also to live it a little more meaningfully."

 President Uchtdorf notes that missionaries often loose perspective feeling "..too inexperienced to be effective...", or they dwell on the impending end of their missions.

He shares with us an experience the help him to see the value of the middle.

"Recently I felt impressed to redo the headstone on my parents’ grave.  Time had not been kind to the grave site, and I felt that a new headstone would be more fitting for their exemplary lives. When I looked at the birth dates and death dates on the headstone connected by the usual insignificant little dash, this small symbol of a lifespan suddenly filled my mind and heart with an abundance of rich memories. Each of these treasured memories reflects a moment in the middle of my parents’ lives and in the middle of my life."

Beginnings and endings represent important notations in my life, and I like to celebrate the good ones, but it truly is in the middle of such milestones that I have found the greatest joy.  And the Lord has often reminded us that this is true.

“This is the day which the Lord hath made; we [should] rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24). 

“..this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors” (Alma 34:32; emphasis added). 

“Forever—is composed of Nows.”

I would like to add my testimony to president Uchtdorf's that today is where our joy is created and treasured.  As we savor today we will have hope and joy in our lives.

"Being always in the middle means that the game is never over, hope is never lost, defeat is never final. For no matter where we are or what our circumstances, an eternity of beginnings and an eternity of endings stretch out before us." 

"We are always in the middle."