This Ottoman is 10 times better than you!

Because it's been too long...


enjoy!

Boldness

I wrote this in February, but just found it. I've been thinking a lot about Visiting Teaching lately - well, for years now - I love it!

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I was talking with a very dear friend of mine about what I've learned through visiting teaching in 2006/2007 - how while we sometimes make being "buddy buddy" our primary goal with those who we are trying to encourage, it is in fact the doctrine and the witness of the Holy Ghost which will really change hearts. There was a specific quote in the VTing message in February 2007 about the difference between being "convinced" and being "converted" - so it all reminded me of this.

We discussed that when we are fellowshipping, YES we need to build friendships, but MOST importantly we have a responsibility to testify boldly and to teach/discuss doctrine. I think sometimes we are self-conscious or think that boldness would be inappropriate or overbearing, but I know that we can be bold and sensitive at the same time - and in fact boldness is EVERYWHERE in the New Testament.

Below are some examples. I did a search on boldness and these were the results that stood out to me:

http://scriptures.lds.org/en/acts/4/13#13
I think sometimes we feel inadequate to testify, so this is comforting.

http://scriptures.lds.org/en/eph/6/19#19

http://scriptures.lds.org/en/philip/1/20#20
I REALLY LOVE this scripture, and I don't remember having noticed it before.

http://scriptures.lds.org/en/moro/8/16#16
It occurred to me, as I read this, that if we have perfect love for those we are testifying to, then we shouldn't be self-conscious / fear having boldness.

http://scriptures.lds.org/en/alma/38/12#12
The same idea, about not being bold, yet not overbearing.

Link to the search: http://scriptures.lds.org/en/search?search=boldness&do=Search

Truth Restored

mormon.org

what you will find...

Press Release: kt quits facebook

"I feel good about it," commented kt.

2 Samuel 22: 36

Thy gentleness hath made me great.

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This reminds me of one of my favorite quotes from Les Miserables and something else I've been thinking a lot about.

That to be gentle is to be godly - and how Jesus Christ really is the perfect example of love and gentleness. When he said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do," he really understood that they in fact didn't know what they were doing. And that none of us really know. We're clumsy and negligent and simply do our "sawdust best."

And the opposite of clumsiness - that is to be gentle, to be kind, loving, and careful. And that is godliness, that is greatness.

1 Kings 3:5-14

5 In ^aGibeon the LORD ^bappeared to Solomon in a ^cdream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.

6 And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.

7 And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a ^alittle child: I know not how to go out or come in.

8 And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a ^agreat people, that cannot be ^bnumbered nor counted for multitude.

9 Give therefore thy servant an ^aunderstanding ^bheart to judge thy people, that I may ^cdiscern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?

10 And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.

11 And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked ^ariches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine ^benemies; but hast asked for thyself ^cunderstanding to discern judgment;

12 Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have ^agiven thee a ^bwise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.

13 And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both ^ariches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.

14 And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my ^acommandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.

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I love this passage because again and again I see in the scriptures how much the Lord values a pure heart and humility. He is so pleased that Solomon is humbly asking for discernment and wisdom that he may judge righteously. The Lord is anxious to bless us and pour His Spirit upon our heads: he looks only to see if we will turn our hearts to Him and if we will come be His people. He gives every good gift that we seek.

Quote of the Day

Perfection is achieved not when there is nothing more to add, but rather when there is nothing more to take away.

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

I love this quote because it makes me think of purification - goodness is not so much a matter of "collecting" good qualities, so much as purifying what we are. I think many of our strengths are also our weaknesses simply because they are not pure. For example, someone may be outgoing and friendly with some self-centeredness. It's not a matter of changing one's personality, but perhaps simply purifying it. I want to do this!

Quote of the Day

Let's face it a good heart burst is nice.
RM

iTunes Playlist

October, First Account (Be Your Own Pet)
No I in Threesome (Interpol)
If You're Wondering (Eisley)
Give a Little Love (Rilo Kiley)
The Heart's a Lonely Hunter (Thievery Corporation)
Little Flowers (Denison Witmer)

Quote of the Day

It's not enough that we do our best; sometimes we have to do what's required.
Winston Churchill

Quote of the Day

We see ourselves in terms of yesterday and today, our Heavenly Father sees us in terms of forever.
Joseph B. Wirthlin

Quote of the Day

The reward of one duty is the power to fulfill another.
George Eliot

Quote of the Day

Men are all worms. But I do believe that I am a glow-worm.
Winston Churchill

Galatians 6:7-8

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Just so you know

I am already booked for weddings on these dates in 2008:
August 29
August 30

So don't even think about getting married on either of those dates if you want me to be there.

I'm just saying.

i am a little church(no great cathedral) by E. E. Cummings

i am a little church(no great cathedral)
far from the splendor and squalor of hurrying cities
-i do not worry if briefer days grow briefest,
i am not sorry when sun and rain make april

my life is the life of the reaper and the sower;
my prayers are prayers of earth's own clumsily striving
(finding and losing and laughing and crying)children
whose any sadness or joy is my grief or my gladness

around me surges a miracle of unceasing
birth and glory and death and resurrection:
over my sleeping self float flaming symbols
of hope,and i wake to a perfect patience of mountains

i am a little church(far from the frantic
world with its rapture and anguish)at peace with nature
-i do not worry if longer nights grow longest;
i am not sorry when silence becomes singing

winter by spring,i lift my diminutive spire to
merciful Him Whose only now is forever:
standing erect in the deathless truth of His presence
(welcoming humbly His light and proudly His darkness)

Quote of the Day

Daily hope is vital, since the 'Winter Quarters' of our lives are not immediately adjacent to our promised land. ...An arduous trek still awaits, but hope spurs weary disciples on. Those with true hope often see their personal circumstances shaken, like kaleidoscopes, again and again. Yet with the 'eye of faith,' they still see divine pattern and purpose.
Neal A. Maxwell

LOLCAT of the day

Press Release: kt's new church calling -or- life's tender mercies (or jokes)

...as discussed via email

Subject: Fascinating
So, I just realized, you are RSP and B [ex-boyfriend] is EQP... how do you feel about that? Is everyone asking you that question?
M

my reply:

hahaha. well, I have gotten some funny smiles :)

First of all, I'm delighted that the Lord has such a great sense of humor. And as I think about it, I think I would have done the same thing in His position. I feel like the tender mercies in my life are often little "jokes" and ironies - the Lord must know that I dearly love to laugh and that I love to have stories to share... so from that perspective, I'm delighted.

Secondly, I mean, we've talked a bit about my experience with getting called - sometime we should talk more about that, because this actually makes it even more miraculous - the context, I mean.

Thirdly, I think B is fabulous and so I'm way excited that I get to be real friends with him again. Whereas we often "archive" our past relationships, I look at this one as simply "overwriting" what was before into something different.

And so, I say,
life unfolds
the Lord is wise
and hooray for good stories!

K

Doctrine & Covenants 42:61

If thou shalt ask, thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge, that thou mayest know the mysteries and peaceable things—that which bringeth joy, that which bringeth life eternal.

This, then, is happiness