Burdens. Whose Are They?

Life is full of many things that burden us down, and if we are not careful, we might just keep us down. Recently I've been feeling those burdens weighing me down, but it wasn't until after three full hours of church, and I was finishing up listening to a fireside that I realized what the Spirit was trying to help me realize for a while.

My burdens aren't my own, well, if I choose them to be that way. Christ has atoned for me. He can help me carry those burdens, I don't have to do it alone. I can't do it alone. In Matthew 11, verse 30, it says: "for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light". When we choose to take our burdens and given them to Christ, our burdens our shared. They become, in part, His burdens too and then we share that yoke with Christ, and oh is it so much better that way! =)

Sunday.

How come Sundays are so hard for me so much of the time? I don't know why for sure. But what I'm thinking is that it can be a day full of so much spiritual growing between going to church, visiting with friends and talking with my friends. So with so much potential to help us grow and become more who are supposed to, Sundays must be something the devil attacks very hard because of its potential. I feel like Sundays are always a roller coaster of emotions; joy, sadness, accomplished, incompetence, smiling, grumpiness. And this Sunday is no exception. But this blog post is already making me feel better.

I seem to always put on a happy face, but not let people into what is really going on in my heart. So I figured today I might as well just spill my guts. I have this habit of worrying too much about what is coming around the corner instead of enjoying the moment. What's up with that? I guess it is just one of those human tendencies that I get to improve on. Until then, I'll continually have to remind myself to give myself grace when I realize all the different places I am falling short.

In a conversation I had with my dad earlier this summer, he told me that God could tell us everything about the future of our life, but then that wouldn't allow us to trust in Him every step of the way as we continue to make our daily decisions. And it is so true. There is reasoning in as to why we don't know what exactly we are doing with our lives every step of the way.

You know what though? Some day I will serve a mission. Some day I will get married. Some day I will graduate from college Some day I will have children to call my own. It really will all happen, and God has it all figured out. All I have to worry about is today and the rest will take care of itself because that is just God works - He takes care of me, and He'll take care of you.

My Magnificent Heritage

The Browning girls saw the fresh remains of the martyred Mormon prophet Joseph and his brother Hyrum Smith, in the streets of Nauvoo, Illinois on 28 June 1844. Austin Hammer Sr. and Benjamin Franklin Lewis both lost their lives during the Haun's Mill Massacre in October 1838, while fighting for their wives and children; against the mob who sought their lives because of their religion. The stories of the Browning girls, Austin and Benjamin are all stories I claim as my own, because they are my ancestors.

Lives have been lost. Children's feet bloodied as they traveled to Zion. Baptisms in the middle of a freezing winter night to avoid persecuting neighbors. But then because of their sufferings, now families are united in the joy of learning that the Church which Christ established had returned to its fullness once again. There are 130+ Temples for us to worship the Lord more fully. Hearts have been healed through the Atonement. And The Book of Mormon stands as another witness of Jesus as the Christ and a daily necessity for me in the crazy world.

The horrid persecutions of the early LDS (Mormon) church members are not well known to others outside of the Church, but their history still stands as a testimony of what they believed, what they stood for. And what they stood for is what I stand for today. What is my LDS church membership? Everything to me. And especially on a day like yesterday, Mormon Pioneer Day, I remember what has been sacrificed by my forefathers, and grateful to put down my own kinds of sacrifices. But the question is - what am I sacrificing?

Instead of mourning over my family's losses, I rejoice in the wonderful gift they have passed on to me: my membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They have led my family to build our lives on the foundation that only Jesus Christ can provide, "which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall." (Helaman 5:12). I feel the best way I can live up to rich Pioneer heritage, is to strengthen my testimony each and every day. Strive to be Christ-like in all that I do. Love those around me. See the good in everything and everyone. Focus on the moments that matter. And most of all, enjoy the wonderful family that God has given me today.

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My Mormon Pioneer Ancestors:

Mary Heady Butler, Charles Franklin Middleton, Charles Franklin Butler, Martha Clarissa Browning, Jonathan Browning, Elizabeth Stalcup, Joseph Fife, Adam Fife, Ellen (Helen) Sharp, John Sharp, Sanford Bingham Sr., Erastus Bingham, Lucinda Gates, Martha Ann Lewis, Benjamin Franklin Lewis, Johannah Ryon, Edward Southwick, Mary Alexander, John Henry Spencer, Jerusha Kibbee Elmer, Richard Spencer, Mary Earnshaw, Seymour Brunson, Harriet Matilda Gardner, Thomas Poulson Cloward, Catherine Ann Pluck, Jacob Cloward Sr., Elias Gardner, Amy Pritchard, James Wiley Norton, Nancy Jane Hammer, David Jane Hammer, David Norton Jr., Elizabeth Benefield, Austin Hammer Sr., Nancy Jane Elson.

Life WILL Be Hard

This morning, I was thrown a curve ball that I didn't quite prefer. But then again, when are curve balls in our lives preferred?

Following the hit, the only next step that made sense in my heart was to get on my knees. So I did. After reconciliation with my Father in Heaven, I picked up myself and left for the day. As I approached my daily gospel study, President Uchtdorf's talk,"Waiting on the Road to Damascus" fell into my lap and leaped into my heart - "If we are thinking only of ourselves, we may miss some of the most powerful experiences and profound revelations of our lives."

As I went on with my day, it was no easy thing to recover from the bruises of my curve ball. But He, the Lord, gave me itty bitty blessings here and there to remind me of His love for me and to reclaim my clear view of the wonderful life He has given me.

Life has thrown me countless curve balls. I've tried many ways to fix my life, but I've realized I cannot do it on my own. Only through my Father in Heaven can I truly win the game of life.

"The years before you are glorious, marvelous years. Life will be hard but wonderful. You will be tested, but you will win. You will have sorrow but find peace. Enjoy the process of life. And in a lot of years you will look back and realize you have had a wonderful one." - Elder Vaughn J. Featherstone

So today I think I have a bit better understanding of what it means to me that my life is in the hands of the Lord. Completely unexpectedly, the restaurant I waitress for, closed down today. Now I am left speechless and jobless. Yet my heart is full of trust while I seek out my path for the rest of this summer Heavenly Father has planned out for me. Now the only thing I need to do is take that step of faith.

Time Just Flies By!

So I have had to put my blog on the back burner these last couple of months because life has just been plain crazy! It has been wonderful though! A day doesn't go by that I don't realize in at least some little way that Heavenly Father has helped me out and that is all that counts really! I hope I can start to blog with a little bit more frequency! :D

Starting Up!

Hello Everyone!
So I finally have done it! I've started my own blog. To me, it seems like a wonderful and interesting thing to do at this point, so here I am!! I hope you enjoy my "little rays of sunshine" from my life! May you find happiness in all seasons of life!
Courtney