The wise men brought their gifts to the Savior, gold, frankincense and myrrh. Frankincense and myrrh are both resins (thick sappy liquid) that come from trees in the Arabian peninsula. The resins are harvested by lashing the trees so the healing resin will flow to the surface of the tree and dry into what is known as tears (the dried clumps of resin on the surface of the tree). Isn't that significant? Frankincense and myrrh hold symbolic meaning in their uses for healing and anointing. Significantly, even the harvesting process points to the Savior and His Atonement. It makes me think of the scripture in Isaiah 53:5 .."with his stripes we are healed."
The wise men brought gifts for the Savior. The shepherds brought the gift of their presence, just being there was enough. President Monson has taught us what we can give the Savior, “When we find him, will we be prepared as were the wise men of old to provide gifts from our many treasures? They presented gold, frankincense, and myrrh. These are not the gifts Jesus asks of us. From the treasure of our hearts Jesus asks that we give of ourselves: ‘Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind’ (D&C 64:34).” President Thomas S. Monson, “The Search for Jesus,” Ensign, Dec. 1990, 5.
Friday, December 19, 2014
Sunday, December 7, 2014
The Power of Failure
What if I wasn't afraid to fail? Would I be more willing to try something new, set a goal that seems unattainable, or reach out to someone new. In other words, would I be more likely to become the person God is trying to mold me to be?
I am learning that the greater the chance of me failing completely, the greater the potential blessings. For example, I was willing to be married, even though I knew we would have challenges and the chance we would fail. I took the chance to have children, be true to the gospel of Jesus Christ, make covenants, homeschool my children, move to a new place, start a new business, change careers, etc. With the chance of failure comes learning, growth, an increased reliance on the Lord, and the potential to succeed! Lehi put it this way in 2 Ne 2:11, "For it must needs be that there is an opposition in all things."
I am so grateful that Adam and Eve were willing to partake of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, knowing that they would then be able to die. They had such courage and faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement to be willing to fall, so that we could be here to learn from our failures.
Elder Richard G. Scott talked about this principle in his Oct 2014 conference talk. He said, "We were taught in the premortal world that our purpose in coming here is to be tested, tried, and stretched." (I love the way he said stretched, it sounded to me that he has some experience with that principle.)
Happy stretching!
I am learning that the greater the chance of me failing completely, the greater the potential blessings. For example, I was willing to be married, even though I knew we would have challenges and the chance we would fail. I took the chance to have children, be true to the gospel of Jesus Christ, make covenants, homeschool my children, move to a new place, start a new business, change careers, etc. With the chance of failure comes learning, growth, an increased reliance on the Lord, and the potential to succeed! Lehi put it this way in 2 Ne 2:11, "For it must needs be that there is an opposition in all things."
I am so grateful that Adam and Eve were willing to partake of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, knowing that they would then be able to die. They had such courage and faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement to be willing to fall, so that we could be here to learn from our failures.
Elder Richard G. Scott talked about this principle in his Oct 2014 conference talk. He said, "We were taught in the premortal world that our purpose in coming here is to be tested, tried, and stretched." (I love the way he said stretched, it sounded to me that he has some experience with that principle.)
Happy stretching!
Monday, December 1, 2014
Confessions of a recovering hair puller
*Disclaimer- To anyone struggling with serious addictions, I do not say anything here to be light-minded. This has been a serious struggle for me, even though it may seem really lame comparatively speaking.
Trichotillomania- An impulse disorder characterized by the compulsive urge to pull out one's hair.
I have been a hair puller as long as I can remember. I have also been trying to stop pulling my hair as long as I can remember. In my many failed attempts at breaking this horrible habit/addiction in my life I have learned a lot about myself along the way. I have learned that I pull my hair when I am insecure, stressed, overwhelmed, bored, breastfeeding, reading, taking tests, driving, when it is windy, when I have made poor eating choices, and when I feel down on myself. In other words, I am always pulling out my hair!
This issue has been a matter of prayer and fasting for me. I have been able to stop for a few days or weeks, but never much longer than that. Until now!! I haven't pulled my hair for almost two months. The Lord is teaching me how to stop with one word, insatiable.
Elder Robert D. Hales said "In seeking to overcome debt and addictive behaviors, we should remember that addiction is the craving of the natural man, and it can never be satisfied. It is an insatiable appetite. When we are addicted, we seek those worldly possessions or physical pleasures that seem to entice us. But as children of God, our deepest hunger and what we should be seeking is what the Lord alone can provide—His love, His sense of worth, His security, His confidence, His hope in the future, and assurance of His love, which brings us eternal joy."
He has taught me that even if I succeed at completely destroying myself, I will still want to do more damage. It is an insatiable appetite. Whenever I think of pulling my hair again, I just say the word insatiable to myself. Then I remember pulling it just once will never be enough.
The other thing that the Lord has taught me in this process is to take it one day at a time. I just have to get through today. Then I just get through another today, and so on. And suddenly it has been almost two months of todays! It is still a temptation every day, but I feel so great that it is starting to get easier.
I can't ever let down my guard, but I am on the road to recovery and it feels great!! I am even telling a bunch of people on the internet, that must say something about my willingness to be more accountable, right?!
Trichotillomania- An impulse disorder characterized by the compulsive urge to pull out one's hair.
I have been a hair puller as long as I can remember. I have also been trying to stop pulling my hair as long as I can remember. In my many failed attempts at breaking this horrible habit/addiction in my life I have learned a lot about myself along the way. I have learned that I pull my hair when I am insecure, stressed, overwhelmed, bored, breastfeeding, reading, taking tests, driving, when it is windy, when I have made poor eating choices, and when I feel down on myself. In other words, I am always pulling out my hair!
This issue has been a matter of prayer and fasting for me. I have been able to stop for a few days or weeks, but never much longer than that. Until now!! I haven't pulled my hair for almost two months. The Lord is teaching me how to stop with one word, insatiable.
Elder Robert D. Hales said "In seeking to overcome debt and addictive behaviors, we should remember that addiction is the craving of the natural man, and it can never be satisfied. It is an insatiable appetite. When we are addicted, we seek those worldly possessions or physical pleasures that seem to entice us. But as children of God, our deepest hunger and what we should be seeking is what the Lord alone can provide—His love, His sense of worth, His security, His confidence, His hope in the future, and assurance of His love, which brings us eternal joy."
He has taught me that even if I succeed at completely destroying myself, I will still want to do more damage. It is an insatiable appetite. Whenever I think of pulling my hair again, I just say the word insatiable to myself. Then I remember pulling it just once will never be enough.
The other thing that the Lord has taught me in this process is to take it one day at a time. I just have to get through today. Then I just get through another today, and so on. And suddenly it has been almost two months of todays! It is still a temptation every day, but I feel so great that it is starting to get easier.
I can't ever let down my guard, but I am on the road to recovery and it feels great!! I am even telling a bunch of people on the internet, that must say something about my willingness to be more accountable, right?!
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