I’m very excited today!! I’m on a new adventure! I have decided, that after working for over six decades, it’s time to do a few things on my bucket list. I will be away for the next two Sundays so I won’t be posting Sunday messages but when I get back I will tell you all about it! 🥰💖
Today’s message, though, has to do with finding balance. I have spoken before about the topic of balance and I know it can be very challenging for so many of us in today’s world. But I think it’s especially difficult when you’re trying to multitask, raise a family, and work at the same time. At this point in my life, though, I feel I can take a few more breaths and focus a bit more on ALL areas of my life. (You have to have goals, right!? 🤣😂🤣)
I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating, “Life is like a chair with four legs, and each one represents certain areas of our lives - For me, it’s social, physical, spiritual, and mental. Without one of these legs, the chair becomes unstable, and we fall over. My desire now is to give these areas equal time. Wish me luck! 😂 I know this is the balance Heavenly Father wants me and all of us to strive for. I believe it’s one of the most essential tools in finding peace and happiness in our lives.
The subject or topic this week touched my heart on many levels. It affects us mentally, physically, spiritually, and of course, socially.
The subject of peacemaking.
The Savior made its importance clear in His sermon on that mount - “Blessed are the peacemakers.”
“Whosoever shall smite on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.” Then it really gets tricky. “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them, which despitefully use you, and persecute you.”
We need to strive to be at peace within ourselves. We affect those around us. Lately, our planet has been off balance in finding peace. Not only is it difficult to watch all this going on but also observing the contention brings disharmony to our souls and can affect our attitudes. I believe in being positive and having hope or faith. I believe in goodness, and I know by striving for these qualities within ourselves, we can make the world a better place. I believe it’s best done not in masses but in person… one on one, being kind to those around us.
We can be that one person because being a peacemaker isn’t hard…it just takes a little bit of rethinking, rebooting if you will.🤗
I was talking to one of my dear friends two nights ago, as I was packing for my trip, about this topic. I love wonderful conversations that lead to discoveries about ourselves. We have both strived this year to be better listeners with no agendas, no judgments, just listen, and it’s been incredible. I always become a little wiser as I listen and become the “student” 🤗 . I asked her if I could write down our conversation and share it with you. She said yes, but not to use her name… She said I’m still figuring it out 😂. Well, I think she’s amazing and very wise. This is what she said: 🤗
“I used to struggle with God with religion in general. It felt controlling." (she came from a tough childhood). she said, "I didn’t understand why God allowed all these bad things to happen to me. Why didn’t he prevent it? He would have if he loved us. Well, I have finally put in the work, psychologically and spiritually, and started reading the scriptures. I’ve grown to understand that God really is about love. He doesn’t cause problems; other people's choices do. That’s why he provided the Savior so we can go to him and heal our broken hearts. Choosing God's way is choosing peace. It's submitting to God's will, not to my stubbornness which I understand now is caused by my issues from my past. Now, I let Him guide me--Allowing me to make my decisions; to have a happy, peaceful life. He has foreknowledge; I don’t. So when I try to make decisions with the future in mind, I’m making choices from a place that's unknown to me. But God does know the future and wants me to be happy. So by choosing to follow Him and allowing God to guide me, He knows what choices will best serve me, help me grow, and ultimately help me be happy and find peace even in a storm. I don’t have to stress about what is best if I pray, then follow His Spirit, and follow my feelings of peace. It's so simple! I love following the peace. Anxiety, depression, confusion..all of those ramifications caused by fear are NOT of God. It says in scripture that God is not the author of confusion, that’s the other dude, and his way only makes us miserable like he is in his eternal tournament. God is a God of love and peace, and that’s what I want for my life now. I seek for it every day.“
I believe finding peace is like rebooting ourselves from our past understanding. Maybe that’s what the Savior meant when He said, “We become a new person through His atonement.” Becoming a disciple of Christ is becoming a peacemaker. We understand contention only brings in an evil spirit of unrest, and that drives away the spirit. Remember, contention never persuades anyone, it's not a tool in life that should ever be used.... ever. I wish I could say I have never used it, but I can't. I guess that's why we're told to “put off the natural man, which is an enemy of God.” We can't feel His guiding spirit when we're angry or mad.
Russell M Nelson said it best, “A soft voice without judgment will be the best every time!”
What's really helped me is that I try every day now to strive to remember whose name I believe in and carry. As Christians, we strive to represent our Savior and His kindness, understanding, and love. When we get “triggered” (and we all do🤣) by an incendiary statement - I try to take a breath and walk away. By doing so, we don’t comment, make statements, or, as my Mom would say, “Add fuel to the fire.”🔥 The best thing to do is avoid them altogether. But if you can’t, what we can control is how we respond. I have, at times, written down a few things and then lit the papers on fire. Hey, I felt it was better than creating them. 😂😂😂
A much better life!
An old man said, “Erasers are made for those who make mistakes.”
A youth replied, “Erasers are made for those who are willing to correct their mistakes.”
Attitude matters.
To find peace, I believe, especially at this point in my life, we need to make peace. Make peace with ourselves, those around you, and now that we have the internet…even the world. 🤔😉
Following the prince of peace who saw and went through everything still wasn’t worried. His faith was in His Heavenly Father.
As is mine.
#SundayMessage
May 22-28: Matthew 24-25, Mark 12-13, Luke 21
May 29-June 4: Matthew 26, Mark 14, John 13
June 5-11: John 14-17
June 12-18: Luke 22, John 18