Having a positive attitude makes a difference

 

When there are difficulties in our life and we feel down, this is the time to reflect, think and expect the positive. Our Heavenly Father sent us to earth to learn, grow, experience, succeed and not to fail. We must always remember that God will never give us a burden that we cannot bear. Each and everyone of us have different challenges in life and it is up to us if we face it in a positive or negative way.

When we choose to have a positive attitude, we usually perform our work better and faster, and we usually enjoy it more. Filling our life with happy thoughts will help us overcome the negative feelings we feel inside. Some challenges might be easier for us to face if we will develop a positive attitude. We must learn to trust our self and God then do our best in our life no matter how many difficulties we may face.

President Spencer W. Kimball said:

“I remind you … that regardless of your present age, you are building your life; … it can be full of joy and happiness, or it can be full of misery. It all depends upon you and your attitudes, for your altitude, or the height you climb, is dependent upon your attitude or your response to situations” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1974, 112–13; or Ensign, Nov. 1974, 80).

We must always remember not to let circumstances influence our thoughts and moods. By rising over them mentally, we will eventually rise over them materially. By trusting in the Lord, praying and reading the scriptures we will develop a positive attitude and personal growth.

May the Lord bless us all! Keep smiling!

Be of Good Cheer

Photo by Garry – http://www.visionandimagination.com/

The Lord has taught us to be of good cheer. When we are in our premortal life we shouted for joy because of the opportunity to progress to our second estate (Job 38:4, 8) We were aware that during mortality we would experience pain, sorrow, disappointment, afflictions, problems as well as joy and happiness. With all this knowledge we felt peace and security because we knew that our Heavenly Father would always be mindful of us and that He will always be there to help and comfort us.

Trials are part of the Lord’s plan for us

In life, we will have:

• disappointments, trials, and problems
• experience joy
• Satan will tempt us – because he wants us to be miserable like him

The Lord wants us to succeed and be happy in our life. Eventhough we have so many challenges in our life and sometimes we feel down and miserable, remember always that there is someone who can help us rise above our blues and that is the Lord.

We can be of good cheer even in difficult times

In John 16:33 it says and I quote “These hings I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

In Matthew 14:27 it says and I quote “But straightway Jesus spake unto them saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

The Lord will always be there for us no matter what. He knows what we feel and what we want. He is there to strengthen us whenever we feel lonely and down. We are given trials to gain experience, to shape our character and to learn and progress in this life. Whenever we feel discourage, remember to count the blessings we receive each day and we will be surprised on what the Lord has done to us.

Remember that we shall find rest in the Lord and He will lift us at the last day if we will remain faithful and righteous unto the end.

 

When Things Go Wrong

We often ask ourselves, why our lives take a turn for the worse even if we were trying to live the gospel. We keep on doing the things according to God, but still, we find ourselves in deep water sometimes.

I too, have felt the same feeling of being alone and empty in my life and keep on asking myself the same question during the time of deepest trials my family has faced. But, I’ve never losed my faith, trust and hope to the Lord. I’ve continued to do what is right having a positive attitude that someday my family will overcome the trials given by God.

I know that if we continue to obey the Lord’s commandments, our lives will be blessed. The Lord will always be there to help us in times of our deepest trials and afflictions. He has carried me and made my burden light.

The scriptures says, “Nevertheless the Lord seeth fit to chasten his people; yea, he trieth their patience and their faith” (Mosiah 23:22). Let us put our trust in the Lord for He will deliver us out of our trials, our troubles and our afflictions, and we shall be lifted up in the last day (Ether 6:5, 11-12)

Let us always have patience in facing our afflictions, having a firm hope that one day we shall rest from all our afflictions.

I love to see the Temple

The day that I’ve been waiting for has finally come. Today is the day all Latter-Day Saints in the Philippines have been anticipating for to witness the Cebu Philippines Temple Dedication. Excitement, joy and anticipation were felt as we all gather in our chapel to participate in the dedication of the house of the Lord. I’ve felt very happy and comfortable when I saw the newly built temple’s images flashing on the big screen with a very beautiful background music of the choir. The temple was very beautiful inside and out. It is the house of the Lord. It is a place where we can perform all the ordinances of the Lord. President Thomas S. Monson, President Henry B. Eyring and President Dallin H. Oaks were present in this wonderful occasion and Pres. Monson led the dedicatory prayer. I have mixed emotions in this spectacular event, I can’t stop my tears from pouring because I’ve felt the holy spirit and the love of our dear Heavenly Father and savior Jesus Christ. I will never forget the emotions we’ve felt as we wave our white handkerchief saying, “Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna to God and the Lamb” and sang the song “The Spirit of God”. I am so glad that I’ve participated in this wonderful occasion. This day will be one of the most memorable day of my life.

Personal Prayer

In Psalms 46:1 it says and I quote, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

Prayer is the only way we can communicate to our Heavenly Father. Heavenly Father loves to hear our prayers. When we pray, we must first give thanks to our father in heaven for all the blessings he has given us, then we ask for guidance, help and forgiveness. We must also pray for our family, relatives, friends, neighbors, the sick & the needy and everyone else. Praying with faith, hope and real intent of the heart is what we should do.

God Hears Our Prayers

Heavenly Father hears and understand our prayers. He knows what we want and what we need. Sometimes we stop praying, thinking that Heavenly Father is not answering our prayers. When we ask for something to Him in our prayers, we should also remember that we in our own way should also work for it in order to achieve it, for faith also w/out work is dead.

God Answers Our Prayers

Heavenly Father answers our prayers. Only one of these can be the answer of our prayers – YES, NO or WAIT. We must always have a firm faith and hope to our Father in Heaven and to our savior Jesus Christ. Whenever we need help or in trouble, remember that they are always there to guide, comfort and protect us. Let us always come unto Christ for He will never leave us comfortless!

“Standing steady and sure being a virtuous woman”

Virtuous means righteous; worthy; morally clean; honest and good. Virtue was officially added to the Young Women Values in November 2008. It is defined in the Personal Progress as a “patter on thought and behavior based on high moral standards”.

Sis. Ann M. Dibb of the Young Women General Presidency emphasized that both men and women should focus on virtue to obtain great blessings. She said, “Men have no power or strength to exercise the priesthood that they receive if they are not morally pure. And women receive that power and strength to fulfill their divine callings as wives, mothers, and as women as they practice virtue.

We must always remember that we are daughters of our Heavenly Father who loves us so much. He’s always there to guide, help and protect us. Because of his love, He has sent his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ to help and redeem us. The commitment to remain virtuous and pure is possible through the enabling and redeeming power of our Savior Jesus Christ’s atonement.

We can all be a virtuous woman. The Young Women General Presidency shares with them this formula: Pray night and morning. Read in the Book of Mormon five minutes or more each day. And smile. Sis. Dalton of the Young Women General Presidency said, ” If all women in the church and the world did this, think what the world would be like in five years. Virtuous young women led by the Spirit cab change the world.

Let us always stand as witnesses of God at all time, in all things and in all places. Continuing to live the young women values, understanding and applying the gospel in our lives, keeping the commandments of God and living the standards of the Church will help us stand steady and sure being a virtuous young women. Let us always stand for truth and righteousness. Let us hold our torch and be a light to everyone like our Savior Jesus Christ.

I know that if we continue to be a virtuous like Ruth, Hannah and Esther, our lives will be blessed continually by God. Let us always be in tune with the spirit and continue to follow the Lord.

I am happy that me and my family are members of the Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I am happy because I have been honed and taught by our leaders when I was still in the young women organization. I am thankful for my callings in the Church and that I can serve the Lord through magnifying my callings. I am thankful for all the blessings my family continually receive. I love my family, my pet, my calling, the Church that I belong to, my friends and fellow LDS saints , and most of all our dear Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

A very important lesson…

Just wan to share a very important lesson that I’ve learned last Sunday in our RS Class.

“Our lives will depend upon the decisions which we make for decisions determine destiny”

Our decisions and choices in life can determine not just our destiny but also our happiness. We are given freedom to choose between right or wrong but we are not free to choose the consequences of our choices in our life. If we want to be happy let us do things in the right way and let the Lord be the center of our lives for He will always be there to guide and help us.

We have the ability and power to choose. We have to know, to choose and to determine what we should do to make our lives meaningful and happy. Let us continue to be good and be strong as we continue to live and fight all the battles in our lives…..GOD BLESS US!

Footprints in the sand

I would like to share a very common yet inspirational story that we can apply to our daily lives specially now that the world is suffering in sickness, tribulation, chaos, economic crisis and calamities.

“Footprints in the sand”

One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand; one belonging to him, and the other to the Lord.

When the last scene of his life flashed before him he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life.

This really bothered him and he questioned the Lord about it. “Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you’d walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don’t understand why when I needed you most you would leave me.”

The Lord replied, “My precious, precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.”

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I really love this story because it inspires me more to get closer to God. Whenever we feel down and hurt always remember that there is someone who is willing to help us and that is GOD. God will never leave us. When we have problems or sufferings in our lives and we feel that there is no one there to help, remember that  God is there to carry us and give us a hand. He knows how to help us because he has suffered all the infirmities in this world. Let us continue to live our life well in the eyes of the Lord. Seek the Lord always and continue to be righteous, patient and faithful unto him for in the end we will be together w/ him in his kingdom.

Have a blessed lenten season to all!

“Life is a constant battle”

What is life all about? This quesion is often asked by many. Life here on earth is not easy. We are here on earth to be tried and tested by God. In our life we experience feelings of joy, excitement, sadness and pain. We receive different trials and much tribulation in our life that sometimes we begin to wonder and ask God on why we are having so much trials to deal with in our life. But we shoud not give up from all of these things because we gain experiences and at the same time learn a lot of lessons. Remember that amidst all trials that we are facing, there is someone who cares for us and love us so much and that is God. God will not give us burdens that we cannot bear. He is always there to comfort and help us and we just need to come closer and hold unto him. He will give us strength to move on and more blessings as we endure the pains and sufferings in our life. Let us continue to keep his commandments, do what is right and be faithful and blessings will be poured down to us. Keep walking uprightly before God, press forward with steadfastness and continue to fight life’s continues battles for in the end we will received eternal life and happiness and be crowned with glory by our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

If Only There Is Love

What is Love? If you’re going to look in the dictionary the definition for love is a strong feeling of affection especially to one of the opposite sex. But what is the real meaning  of love? Love is a feeling. Everyone can feel love. It is a feeling of a deep devotion, care, concern and affection.

Now the question would be, is there love around us? Does everyone show and feel their love towards us? Love for God and fellow men is a characteristic of disciples/followers of Jesus Christ. We show our love to God by obeying his commandments and serving our fellowmen. Love can be expressed through sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ to others, helping those who are in need, serving others, being kind to everyone, comforting those who needs comfort, praying for the sick and the needy, mourning with those who mourn and being a good friend to everyone.

When there is love among us we can feel it. Peace follows love. Love can heal the wounds and pain of the people and the world. If only there is love to all mankind then the whole world will be peaceful. Love should dwell in our hearts in order to obtain peace. When there is love the envying, pride, strife, oppression, tumults, whoredoms, lyings, murders and any manner of lasciviousness will cease then surely the world would be a better place to live in. There could not be a happier people among all the people created by God if our world will live in peace.

Our love for those around us will increase more when we remember that we are all children of our Heavenly Father. We are his sons and daughters and he loves us so much. Let us all come unto Jesus Christ together! Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ’s love for us will never cease. Let the love of the Lord dwell in our hearts. Remember that we can find peace in the Lord. Let love revolve around us! Cease from sin then all will live in love and peace!