Choices We Make

My posts have indicated that I have had a few challenges I have gone through in the last couple of years.  I know that choices that we make bring on life's challenges and opportunities. 

Fixing broken things in our lives is not always easy. Sometimes the hardest part about the whole thing is me.  Me, believing in myself, getting past things that have happened. Me, accepting myself no matter what I’ve done and realizing that I can jump the hurdles but that some of them take more times than others.

In the book, Broken Things To Mend, Orson F. Whitney, who served in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints tells the following.  This is an experience from his mission that he served as a young man.

“One night I dreamed . . . that I was in the Garden of Gethsemane, a witness of the Savior’s agony . . . . I stood behind a tree in the foreground. . . . Jesus, with Peter, James, and John, came through a little wicket gate at my right. Leaving the three Apostles there, after telling them to kneel and pray, He passed over to the right side, where He also knelt and prayed. . . : ‘Oh my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless not as I will but as Thou wilt.’

“As He prayed the tears streamed down His face, which was [turned] toward me. I was so moved at the sight that I wept also, out of pure sympathy with His great sorrow.  My whole heart went out to Him.  I loved Him with all my soul and longed to be with Him as I longed for nothing else.

“Presently He arose and walked to where those Apostles were kneeling—fast asleep! He shook them gently, awoke them and in a tone of tender reproach, untinctured by the least show of anger or scolding, asked them if they could not watch with Him one hour. . . .”

I love the Savior with all my heart.  I need to learn to mirror his example. If I can do that I will have a chance of overcoming my weaknesses and kick Satan out of my life.

My life is blessed beyond my capability to understand. I am so grateful for my life and my family. It is so fun to get together with my children and grandchildren. They are so full of life and so much fun. And yet Satan still works hard on discouraging me.  That is when I count the many blessings I have.  Yes life is full of challenges for us all.  But we must learn to handle these challenges and view them for what they are. I am convinced that Satan’s biggest and most successful tool is discouragement.

I found the following from a Pastor Rick Warren online and felt it was one of the greatest things I’ve read regarding discouragement.  I hope you get something from this.

"There's a fascinating story in the Bible about how a guy named Nehemiah mobilized the residents of Jerusalem to build a wall around the entire city. Half way through the project, the citizens became discouraged and wanted to give up . . .

Here's what Nehemiah taught about defeating discouragement (Nehemiah 4):

REST YOUR BODY

If you need a break -- take one! You'll be more effective when you return to work. If you're burning the candle at both ends, you're not as bright as you think!

REORGANIZE YOUR LIFE

Discouragement doesn't necessarily mean you are doing the wrong thing. It may just be that you are doing the right thing in the wrong way. Try a new approach. Shake things up a little.

REMEMBER GOD WILL HELP YOU

Just ask Him. He can give you new energy. There’s incredible motivating power in faith.

RESIST THE DISCOURAGEMENT

Fight back! Discouragement is a choice. If you feel discouraged, it's because youve chosen to feel that way. No one is forcing you to feel bad. Hang on! Do what's right in spite of your feelings. No feeling lasts forever."