My New Life

Day of Prayer

What a disappointment. I haven't expected much to begin with of our new President of the United States. So you'd think it wouldn't be such a big deal. But for some reason it is. Prayer is huge with me personally and we do it a few times a day together as a family. Obama has his reasons for changing Day of Prayer, but I find the changes disappointing.

"Obama's position has disappointed Christian conservatives, who want the president to do more to mark the day, and an atheist group that wants him to end the tradition.

"Congress established the day in 1952 and in 1988 set the first Thursday in May as the day for presidents to issue proclamations asking Americans to pray.

"White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said Tuesday that Obama would issue such a proclamation Thursday but not hold any public events with religious leaders as President George W. Bush did.

"Gibbs said Obama prays privately and his plan for the day was in line with those of past presidents. Still, Obama drew a rebuke from the National Day of Prayer Task Force, a private group that promotes prayer events around the country.

"We are disappointed in the lack of participation by the Obama Administration," said task force chairwoman Shirley Dobson, wife of Focus on the Family founder James Dobson. "At this time in our country's history, we would hope our President would recognize more fully the importance of prayer."

"The task force estimates 2 million Americans attended more than 40,000 events marking the day last year.

Click here to read more on this article.

Surely I'm not the only American who feels let down already?

Inspire

At the beginnng, my heart broke, and at the end it rejoiced!

Lost Generation

Interesting the way you phrase things and the meaning it gives.

Hope

After reading this article, "5 Ways to Get the Job You Want -- in Any Economy", I found myself feeling more hopeful. Knowing that the national economy is bleak and unemployment keeps rising, it is easy to feel hopeless for the future, the unexpected, the unknown. Here's what some of the article said:

"With all the bleak economic news and reports of massive layoffs, it's easy to lose sight of an exciting fact of work: There have never been more opportunities and possibilities for talented people than exist today. The rate of new business formation in the United States has passed more than 1 million new companies per year. Employers everywhere are looking for bright, resourceful and committed people to help their businesses grow. The best way to help the best companies find you is to become a self-directed job searcher.
Regardless of your employment experience, your target industry or the economic climate, you can get a job -- a great job -- if you are willing to work hard and know how to work smart. Here are some of the very best ideas, strategies and methods for putting your career back on the fast track."

1. Take control of your career The average person starting work today will have 11 full-time jobs and as many as five different careers over the course of his or her lifetime. To weather the storms of lifelong career change, you must be proactive, not reactive.

2. Take stock of yourself Before you go out and look for a job, do some self-reflection. Make a list of all the things you can do for which someone would be willing to pay.

3. Understand the job market All labor, including your own, is subject to the economic law of supply and demand. The only way to ensure you get a rewarding job is by doing something important for which there is a demand in the marketplace and in which you are difficult to replace.

4. Don't mistake unemployment for a vacation Look at your job search as a full-time job, taking 40 to 50 hours a week. Get up and get dressed each weekday morning as if you were going to work, eat a light, high-energy breakfast and then get going.

5. Sow seeds everywhere Most of the jobs available are not advertised. They are hidden and waiting for you to discover them. Along with regularly surfing Internet job sites, be sure to list your qualifications and interests on every site that might attract employers seeking someone like you."

It is ridiculous for anyone to think unemployment could not happen to them. Just like thinking you are the unsinkable ship. But just like the article said, it is even more important to put your best foot forward, and try all possibilities if you happen to lose your job.

I have seen a few families in my neighborhood who have lost their jobs, and see the struggles first hand. It is not pretty, but at the same time, I can't help but feel that some of these trying times happen for a reason. If anything, it is a time of humility that goes with the Pride Cycle.
I hope and pray unemployment will not plague my family, I would like to say it won't or couldn't happen. Hope is like an unseen medicine. It can get anybody through anything. I love the saying, "Work like it is all up to you, and pray like it is all up to the Lord." I know when I pray, the Lord is listening. My prayers aren't always answered immediately, but with the pure intent of my heart and a desire to do good, the Lord does bless me and He hears me.

20 year old Harvard Student speaks at religious symposium

Day of Faith: Personal Quests for a Purpose - 3. Rachel Esplin from Harvard Hillel on Vimeo.

I found this very interesting, in that, she was asked questions in a room filled with others who are of several different faiths, and she answered so clearly and gave wonderful explanations. I especially felt the spirit so strong when she was speaking about Joseph Smith and how instrumental he was to God in restoring the church. What an amazing young girl she is and also what a great advocate of the church she was. Truly impressive.

"The Book of Norman" (mormon)

you should definitely push pause on my playlist so you can hear Bryanna tell us about the Book of Norman (Mormon)!!

Insights

I love reading inspring, religious notes. Especially when it is how we can worship better. Here are some great notes by author, Rick Warren, who wrote, "Purpose Driven Life":

"Life is a series of problems: Either you are in one now, you're just coming out of one, or you're getting ready to go into another one. The reason for this is that God is more interested in your character than your comfort; God is more interested in making your life holy than He is in making your life happy.

We can be reasonably happy here on earth, but that's not the goal of life. The goal is to grow in character, in Christ likeness.

I used to think that life was hills and valleys - you go through a dark time, then you go to the mountaintop, back and forth. I don't believe that anymore. Rather than life being hills and valleys, I believe that it's kind of like two rails on a railroad track, and at all times you have something good and something bad in your life. No matter how good things are in your life, there is always something bad that needs to be worked on. And no matter how bad things are in your life, there is always something good you can thank God for.

You can focus on your purposes, or you can focus on your problems: If you focus on your problems, you're going into self-centeredness, which is 'my problem, my issues, my pain.' But one of the easiest ways to get rid of pain is to get your focus off yourself and onto God and others.

We need to ask ourselves: Am I going to live for possessions? Popularity? Am I going to be driven by pressures? Guilt? Bitterness? Materialism? Or am I going to be driven by God's purposes (for my life)?

When I get up in the morning, I sit on the side of my bed and say, God, if I don't get anything else done today, I want to know You more and love You better. God didn't put me on earth just to fulfill a to-do list. He's more interested in what I am than what I do. That's why we're called human beings, not human doings.



Happy moments, PRAISE GOD.

Difficult moments, SEEK GOD.

Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD.

Painful moments, TRUST GOD.

Every moment, THANK GOD."


When I came across this, I loved it and had to share it. This reminded me so much of what I learned as a missionary. Family wasn't there to confide in, only in letter form, which took a couple of weeks. But immediate counsel usually came from prayer. I have grown to love prayer. All forms of it, as said above, "happy, difficult, quiet, painful and all moments, turn to God." I remember never praying so much than in the mission field. We are always saying some form of prayer, and I felt wierd not saying them all the time after I got home.

Another thought that comes to mind, since I'm on the subject, that I still think about periodically is "What was my motivation to serve a mission?" my mission president would ask at zone conferences.

I liked how he answered: "Maybe you decided to come on a mission because you didn't want to dissapoint your parents, or maybe it was because your girlfriend said she wouldn't marry you unless you served a mission (to the elders)." The funny thing was, those answers applied to many, but ultimatley our reason should have been for the purpose of serving the Lord. I remember Larkins Dendobucho at the pulpit, feeling the spirit so strong, and hoping that my motivation could be just that, solely serving the Lord.

I think I went partly to serve the Lord, but also partly because I wanted to learn, on so many different levels. There was the language to learn, the gospel to learn well enough to teach, and I knew I would be eternally blessed for serving. Sometimes I think I'm so selfish for that reason...always wanting more blessings! Out of fear of doing wrong, I tried to do what was right, and I knew the blessings would come from the Lord...in all different ways. But that was my motivation.

The missionaries are coming over for dinner tonight. I love their presence in my home, for my children to see and feel. And I just can't help but reflect on my time in the mission field as I prepare dinner and straighten the house just so. Bryanna loves the missionaries and she talks their ear off every time they eat with us. It's quite hysterical about how she goes about conversing with them. I will have to write down the funny things she will say tonight.