First Goal of the Year

"Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake."

- Psalms 115:1 - KJV

"Don't give glory to us, O LORD. Don't give glory to us. Instead, give glory to your name because of your mercy and faithfulness."

- Psalms 115:1 - God's Word Translation

"Not to us, LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness."

-Psalms 115:1 NIV Translation

This is such an awesome scripture!  I love this verse in all the versions of the Bible.  Can you imagine how different the world would look if we could only remember where all the credit and glory really belongs?  Can you imagine how much we would stop worrying about the opinions of others, for good or for ill... and focused on the One opinion that really matters most?

Even Christ--who deserves all the glory--said during His ministry,  " Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God." - Mark 10:18

Elder Neal A. Maxwell observed,

Is there not deep humility in the omnicompetent Christ, the majestic Miracle Worker, who acknowledged, “I can of mine own self do nothing” (John 5:30)? Jesus neither misused nor doubted his power, but he was never confused about its source, either. Instead, we mortals—perhaps even when otherwise modest—are sometimes quite willing to display our accumulated accomplishments, as if we had done it all by ourselves. Hence this sobering reminder:

“And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.

But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.[Deuteronomy 8:17–18]"

On another occasion Neal A. Maxwell recognized,

“Something I have heard President Hinckley do many times publicly is to give all the glory, the praise, and the honor to God. This is something I am going to do more often, including today, incorporating my appreciation for God’s tutoring and blessings.”

I think this is a fantastic place to start with a New Year’s resolution…  to always give credit where credit is due.  To be watchful and careful everyday that my motives are pure and not self-centered or self-aggrandizing. And when there is any praise given to me, I pray that I will be quick to acknowledge from Whom all blessings flow.

-Alicia

"Let not any passion be for kingdoms we have fashioned in our own name For our own fame... Let us not be fooled And let us not be disillusioned Let our eyes see You clearly... Anything that’s true Anything that’s good Let it point to You... Not to us" -Nichole Nordeman

So long 2016!

Wow, what a year! 

1. The City Center Temple dedication and cultural celebration. 

2. Alexa's High School Graduation. 

3. Stake boundary changes and the formation of our new Stake. 

4. Kaylee's Baptism.

5. Saying farewell to the ward family we love so much.

6. Saying farewell to my dear sweet friend, Lou (1929-2016).

7. Alexa's Baptism.

8. Moving into a new place, a new home, a new ward.

9. Changes to our family boundaries and becoming foster parents.

When this year started off, I had no idea how completely different our lives would look at the end.   It has been beautiful, painful, eye-opening, heartbreaking, exhausting, and glorious!

I take comfort in knowing that God is with me, fighting my battles. Who knows what this next year will bring? So long, farewell, 2016.

-Alicia

Grace for Grace

"Dear Lord,

So far today, am I doing alright.

I have not gossiped, lost my temper, been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish, or self-indulgent. I have not whined or complained.

But I will be getting out of bed in a minute, and I think that I will really need your help then."

- unknown

Many of life's solutions seem so much easier in words than the actual application.  I can start my day off with prayer and scriptures.  I can study the life of Christ and His teachings.  I can make resolutions for the day. And then some drama will unfold with the children, some conflict arises, or something won't work how it's expected too... and the real test of my character begins.    

You know those uncomfortable moments at the end of the day, where you review how you handled each situation and realize that you could have done better?  I consider those reflective moments to be a blessing, an opportunity to learn and try again.

I read in the New Testament this morning, "My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him: For whom the Lord loveth, He chasteneth..." (Hebrews 12: 5,6)

The Lord knows we are going to stumble and fall, that we won't be the ideal father, the ideal mother, or the ideal anything.  He knows we won't be perfect.  And when we offend, when we mess up... we must be quick to apologize and set it right. It's the repentant soul who displays real faith and real courage.

Popular BYU Professor and LDS speaker--Brad Wilcox--said,

There should never be just two options: perfection or giving up. When learning the piano, are the only options performing at Carnegie Hall or quitting? No. Growth and development take time. Learning takes time. When we understand grace, we understand that God is long-suffering, that change is a process, and that repentance is a pattern in our lives. When we understand grace, we understand that the blessings of Christ’s Atonement are continuous and His strength is perfect in our weakness (see 2 Corinthians 12:9). When we understand grace, we can, as it says in the Doctrine and Covenants, “continue in patience until [we] are perfected” (D&C 67:13).

I'm also learning that the specific things we pray for can make a huge difference in how we handle each situation:

• I am discovering that it's better for me to seek for understanding rather than pray for patience.  When I understand the situation more or the intent of another, patience follows more naturally.

• I am discovering that it's better for me to offer prayers of gratitude rather than pray to have love for others.  When I'm filled with gratitude, love follows more naturally.

I'm grateful to know the Lord is all about second chances and new beginnings.  He delights to untangle the messes we find ourselves in and fill our souls with peace.  "Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby." - Hebrews 12:11

I pray your day is blessed with the unfailing grace and love extended to us through our Savior, that you feel peace... even in the middle of a storm, especially in the middle of a storm. Sail on.

-Alicia

Don't Look Back

New Year's Eve preparations were fun yesterday.  The kids and I dug through old party stuff to find some things to hang around the house.  Miriam hung streamers everywhere.  Kaylee helped blow up balloons and cut out hearts for daddy.  I gave Micah a stack of construction paper and he went giddy over making a "New Year's Party Hat." (Isn't it lovely? Here I am modeling below.)  

Chandler wasn't "in" on making the decorations.  He found this website where he can design his own football jersey's and it's been his "new obsession."  He fantasizes about initiating a Stake football team since we have church basketball.  If his wish ever comes true, he's the man for the jersey design.  Apparently, we will be called "The Provo East Stake Tigers" and will sport some stylish crimson and gold uniforms.

 Anyway, most of us continued to decorate.  I jammed out to "Don't Look Back" by, Boston a couple of times until my kids began to complain about stupid "old" music.  I informed them that it was called "classic" not old... "classic rock!!"  (Secretly, I know they loved it.  And I'm pretty sure they were awed by my air guitar solo.)  Regardless of their opinion, I still think the song was perfect for the day.  

Speaking of "Don't Look Back".... Do you remember Lot's wife?  She looked back.  

Remembering this caused me to remember "Remember Lot's Wife," a talk by Elder Holland about not looking back.  So I went back and found the talk to listen to.  It was great to remember.  ;) 

(Whew, That was fun!) 

"As a new year starts and we try to benefit from a proper view of what has gone before, I plead with you not to dwell on days now gone, nor to yearn vainly for yesterdays, however good those yesterdays may have been. The past is to be learned from but not lived in. We look back to claim the embers from glowing experiences but not the ashes. And when we have learned what we need to learn and have brought with us the best that we have experienced, then we look ahead, we remember that faith is always pointed toward the future. Faith always has to do with blessings and truths and events that will yet be efficacious in our lives."

"Perhaps at this beginning of a new year there is no greater requirement for us than to do as the Lord Himself said He does: “Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more” (D&C 58:42).

"The proviso, of course, is that repentance has to be sincere, but when it is and when honest effort is being made to progress, we are guilty of the greater sin if we keep remembering and recalling and rebashing someone with their earlier mistakes—and that “someone” might be ourselves. We can be so hard on ourselves, often much more so than with others! - Elder Jeffrey R. Holland "Remember Lot's Wife"

I gleaned two messages from this talk:

1. Live in the present with hope for the future.  Don't long to re-live the glory days of the past thus wishing away the here and now.  Count your blessings. Shape and build your life with gratitude.

2. Don't look back at other's mistakes or your own.  Let them go, let people repent.  Forgive and forget as if it never happened.  Allow Christ's atonement to work in your life. Give others and give yourself the gift of a brand new day.

Elder Holland describes such forward thinking as faith!

"Let people repent. Let people grow. Believe that people can change and improve. Is that faith? Yes! Is that hope? Yes! Is it charity? Yes! Above all, it is charity, the pure love of Christ." 

The mutual theme for this new year is "Press Forward with a Steadfastness in Christ."

"Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life." - 2 Nephi 31:20

I love that!  It reminds me of Joseph Smith's call for faith:

 "Shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward not backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to the victory." - Joseph Smith

Let's strive for greater faith, hope, and charity this year as we keep putting one foot in front of the other, practicing each day sincere genuine gratitude and show forth an increase of love.  We have so much to be hopeful for. Don't look back.  

Good things come to those who press forward.

Happy New Year!

-Alicia