Adventure soon awaits

"It may not be on the mountain height Or over the stormy sea, It may not be at the battle’s front My Lord will have need of me. But if, by a still, small voice he calls To paths that I do not know, I’ll answer, dear Lord, with my hand in thine: I’ll go where you want me to go. I’ll go where you want me to go, dear Lord, Over mountain or plain or sea; I’ll say what you want me to say, dear Lord; I’ll be what you want me to be.

"Perhaps today there are loving words Which Jesus would have me speak; There may be now in the paths of sin Some wand’rer whom I should seek. O Savior, if thou wilt be my guide, Tho dark and rugged the way, My voice shall echo the message sweet: I’ll say what you want me to say. I’ll go where you want me to go, dear Lord, Over mountain or plain or sea; I’ll say what you want me to say, dear Lord; I’ll be what you want me to be.

"There’s surely somewhere a lowly place In earth’s harvest fields so wide Where I may labor through life’s short day For Jesus, the Crucified. So trusting my all to thy tender care, And knowing thou lovest me, I’ll do thy will with a heart sincere: I’ll be what you want me to be. I’ll go where you want me to go, dear Lord, Over mountain or plain or sea; I’ll say what you want me to say, dear Lord; I’ll be what you want me to be."

(I’ll Go Where You Want Me to Go, http://www.lds.org/manual/hymns/ill-go-where-you-want-me-to-go?lang=eng)

I remember when I first felt the call to serve a mission. It was almost three years ago. It was when the age change for missionaries was announced. I knew right then that I needed to serve a mission. The feeling grew as I pondered and prayed about it. 

Fast forward to now :). I have begun my mission papers, and less than two months from submitting them. The excitement and small amount of fear I feel is like nothing I've ever felt. I'll be going somewhere I've never been, thrown into something I've never done, with no contact with home except through email, letters, one phone call a year, and one Skype call a year, and an immense amount of walking. I won't even know where I'm going until after I submit all of my papers. Doesn't that just sound like an adventure?!

I know that my Redeemer lives and I know that I am meant to share that others. I bear to you my testimony that our missionaries are called of God to serve Him and His people. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen 

Never lost

A couple weeks ago I was doing some family history work on familysearch and ancestry when I came across a census record with one of my ancestors on it. I was doing research on the Shilling side of my family (one of these days y'all will get a image of my family tree). I was just doing research based on the records and stuff my grandma gave me for my birthday (best birthday present ever), and for the longest time I couldn't find John Shilling's parents. But I found them! I found his brothers and sisters too! These were not on the map my grandma gave me, so I did a little digging and I do believe that I've found his parents. What joy!

This reminds me that even when we think we are lost in a world of 7 billion people, God always has a hand in our lives. Even when we are long dead and buried, we can still be found and loved by someone. John Shillinger is not lost, but found. I look forward to doing his family's work and finding the rest of that branch of the family. I bear to you my testimony that I know that God lives, loves each one of us so much, and wants us to be together with our families forever. I say these things in the name of Jesus Chrsit, amen.   

To ad or not to ad?

So the other day I had this idea that I could make money off of my blog in addition to sharing my testimony (I blame Pinterest for half of these hair-brained ideas). At first I was absolutely horrified at the thought. My blog is for casual use and is in no way commercial. However, as I have thought about how I will help pay for my mission, the small amount of income that I could receive from my blog could be a blessing. But there are blogs that I very much enjoy because there aren't any ads. I don't know very much about Adsense and Google, but I think I should be able to control which ads can go on my blog if I do put them here.

The point of this post is to ask you guys, my wonderful readers, if you guys would care if I had ads on here. Please, comment, message, google hangout chat thingy, Pinterest message/comment, email, whatever. I want to know what you guys think. I'll put a survey on here, but you can still contact me with your vote. Thank you so much you guys :). I think I'll be happy either way, the extra income would be awesome but this blog is mostly for you people.

Update: I made the decision to put ads on my blog in March, but so far I have only earned about $0.25. Google only pays me once my revenue reaches $10. I would like to know what you (my lovely readers) think: should I keep the ads up since they don't get in the way, or should I take them off?

Not ashamed and not afraid

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." (Romans 1:16, http://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/rom/1?lang=eng)

I know that for a long time I just didn't talk about religion. People would ask me what I believed and I would say something and then quickly change the subject. I knew what I believed, I just didn't know how to talk about it. It is only in the past year and a half or so that I've really become comfortable talking about the gospel with everyone from friends to near strangers. I do think that God is preparing me for my mission, but we don't need to serve a mission to be a missionary per se. 

Full time missionaries have the name tags, the full power of the Spirit, a special focus because that is their job for eighteen months to two years, etc. But we can all be member missionaries. We can all share God's love and good news. Are we holding up our light when we brush off questions about what we believe? What if that friend or coworker needs the gospel? What if they want it but don't know where to find it? We need to be like the Savior, and the Savior was never afraid to share the good news about the plan of happiness. 

In seminary I remember the song for Romans 1:16 clear as day, if I see you in person I will sing it for you, guaranteed. It has stuck with me and it is one of the songs I sing to myself when I need the Spirit with me. 

I testify to you that the gospel of Christ is the work of salvation to everyone who believes. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen. 

I'll be what you want me to be

Callings aren't going to be easy, not in any way, shape, or form. I got back from Utah after this summer, and I got a calling two weeks later. Activity Days leader. I admit, this calling is extraordinarily stressful, the girls are loud, they talk far too much, and the list could go on and on. BUT it's so worth it.

I pray about each activity, read through the booklet again (I should seriously be able to recite it by the time I'm released), look into some ideas, pray some more, pick an activity, and then set about gathering supplies and planning the entire activity. Sometimes I don't get the activity done within the given time period, and sometimes it's over too quickly. But I can tell you that I love those girls and I love my calling. It is such a blessing to my life. Haha it's definitely the perfect calling for someone with ADD, those girls always keep me on my toes and I love it.

This (the temple blocks) was our activity tonight. I felt prompted to do a lesson on temples but I had no idea how I would go about doing that. My sister (in my activity days group) is on Pinterest and she sent me a few ideas. I really loved the temple blocks. So looked into it and determined the supplies I would need. I went to Home Depot and after acting clueless (which I was) and asking questions I finally got to look at the wood I would need. I got the plank of wood cut up, bought the art supplies from Walmart, and went home to write up my lesson plan. This all took about a week to plan. The activity went very well tonight, if a little hectic (as always though). 

I bear to you my testimony that callings are always given for one reason or another, and that they will always bless your life when you put the proper work and faith into it. Just like the hymn, "I'll go where you want me to go, dear Lord, over mountain or plain or sea. I'll answer dear Lord, with my hand in thine, I'll be what you want me to be." Our callings are exactly that, what He wants us to be. I leave these things with you in the name of Jesus Christ, amen. 

Finding joy in repentance

"The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light." (Romans 13:12, http://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/rom/13?lang=eng)

In Relief Society we talked about repentance. One of the main things we talked about was that repentance is a joyful process. Yes, you are supposed to feel guilt, and yes, it is supposed to be painful. BUT repentance is a joyful process. Repenting is hard, but the more you learn from what you did wrong, correct yourself, try to make it right, try to never do it again, you find yourself becoming a different person. You find yourself able to cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. You feel different. You are able to feel the Spirit more fully than you ever have. It's almost like being baptized again, you feel clean and renewed. Knowing that you are forgiven gives you a spring in your step you never knew was possible. 

I bare to you my testimony that repentance and forgiveness is possible and absolutely wonderful. It is one of the best feelings. Jesus Chrsit suffered for our sins so that we don't have to. I say these things in the name of Jesus Chrsit, Amen. 

No ordinary people

"There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal." (C. S. Lewis). "For behold, it is my work and my glory -- to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." (Moses 1:39)

My favorite part of my western civilizations class (and ironically my world civilizations class, haha I have the same professor so it's like a rerun of last semester) is the part of the Greek section where we discuss humanism. Humanism is the idea that every person is capable of logic. It is the most hopeful view of the world up until that point in time. In psychology, humanism is the idea that everyone has potential to do good and make their own choices. It is the only hopeful psychology viewpoint in the main ones discussed.

Every individual is important. I believe that God lovingly created each an every one of us, and each of us has the potential to do great things, in this life and the next. When we meet someone we never meet just a "someone", we meet a spiritual brother or sister who God has a plan for. He knows, loves, and watches over all of us. When we remember this, it is always easier for us to love those around us. We are meant to become like Him, so we must love and be kind. 

I bare to you my testimony that I know that God loves me and that when we love others we feel closer to Him. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen. 

In love with Acts

The book of Acts (the acts of the apostles) is my favorite book so far in the Bible (I'm not kidding). I've read the whole Old Testament (it's really long....) and it was ok. I have officially finished the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Those were very good. But Acts is different. It combines the teachings with the journeys, miracles, and events of the early church. It is simple and straightforward. It very much reminds me of the book of Alma in the Book of Mormon.

I especially love chapter seven, where Stephen bears his testimony of Christ's plan and then see's Him and God the Father. It was one of my favorite scriptures in seminary, and it still is. Even when threatened with death, Stephen stood firm in his testimony of Christ. There are many instances where people are confronted with either deny our religion, or face death. From the prophets of the Old Testament to the early Latter Day Saints. There may come a day when you will have to choose between what you believe and what the law says. Would you stand up for what's right? I believe that I would, and I think you would too. I bear to you my testimony of Jesus Christ and that through Him we can do all things. I leave these things with you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 

Let your light so shine

"Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 5:14-16) "Therefore, hold up your light that it may shine unto the world. Behold I am the light which ye shall hold up--that which ye have seen me do. Behold ye see that I have prayed unto the Father, and ye all have witnessed." (3 Nephi 18:24). 

Sometimes bearing our testimony is hard. Sometimes we think we'll be judged for our simple testimonies. Sometimes we think our testimony isn't good enough to be shared. But what do you do with a lit candle? Do you hide it away? Do you put it in a closet so only you can see it? No! You put it somewhere it can be used. Same goes for our testimonies of the gospel. Share it as often as you can, and it will grow. Guaranteed. 

This Sunday one of my dear little activity day girls bore her testimony. I totally teared up. It was beautiful. Such a simple love for Christ. I was so proud. It just goes to show that these girls are the spiritual giants we need in this world. (I love my calling). 

I bear to you my testimony that Christ lives, and that sharing our testimonies of Him we will grow stronger.