Selfishness

In the last few days I've really come to realise that I have not been the Christian I should be. I haven't been seeking God and his advice. I haven't supported my friends the best that I could. The other day, someone said, "She is the most selfish person you will ever meet." And as much as I wish I could blow it off, I can't. Do I really care only about myself? Is it really that bad that people point it out? I wish I could have rebuked them, but I couldn't. It made me look at myself, and my actions towards others. Am I the friend that I should be? Have I been there for them? Or have I only been concerned with myself? In all honesty, I can't help but believe them. I haven't been the friend that I should, or really the Christian that I should. As much as it hurts to be called out like that, I'm thankful. I don't want to be selfish. It's sad that it took them calling me out for me to realise it, but now I can fix it. The second commandment that Jesus gives us is to love our neighbor as ourselves. It's not always easy, but I need to really work on that. I know who I want to be, the kind of friend I want to be. Now, I just have to be it.

Dream BIG

In those hard times...

          Whenever school got really tough this semester, especially at the last couple weeks before finals, I felt like I could never get to where I wanted to be. I was so discouraged because of the intensity of my classes and everything else I needed to accomplish. I made this sign and posted on my wall, so whenever I got distracted from my books and studying I would see it. It helped me to keep going, that as long as I try my best, everything will work out. There's a plan for me, for my life. It's going to be an adventure trying to find it and stay with it, but it will all be worth it. God has plans to give me hope and a future. Knowing that, how can I stress so much? It's like a huge weight has been taken off my shoulders, and it feels wonderful!

Strength

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." ~ Phillippians 4:13

Laziness

"And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promise."

Hebrews 6:11-12

This was an important verse for me to hear today. As pageant nears, and times become more busy and chaotic, it is important that I follow the example of the faithful before me. They were not idle, and they did not procrastinate, and how successful they were. And should I follow that example, perhaps I will be blessed in the same manner. Time management is tough and hard for me to carry through, but I know that it's good. When we manage our time correctly, we have time to do other things and accomplish more than we ever expected. This week I will work on my time management, and I will remember the words of Paul when he says that it is not good to be lazy, but that we should be wise with our time in order to accomplish all that Heavenly Father has called us to do.

Comfort

"And now I say unto you the good shepherd doth call after you; and if you will hearken unto his voice he will bring you into his fold, and ye are his sheep; and he commandeth you that ye suffer no ravenous wolf to enter among you, that ye may not be destroyed."

Alma 5:60

"For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise." Hebrews 10:36

Judgment

Mosiah 29:12 says "Now it is better that a man should be judged of God than of man, for the judgments of God are always just, but the judgments of man are not always just."

I saw something on facebook the other day that made me think of this, it said,

"The girl you just called fat? She's overdosing on diet pills. The girl you just called ugly? She spends hours putting makeup on hoping people will like her. The boy you just tripped? He is abused enough at home. See that man with the ugly scars? He fought for his country. That guy you just made fun of for crying? His mother is dying."

Now this is more bullying and it is a more obvious form of judgment. However, when i look at myself and the thoughts I have about people, I realise that I make judgments all the time, and I shouldn't. We make judgments about a person's character based on their clothing, or what car they drive. But how superficial is that? When you first meet someone you take them to be rude because they snapped at you for no reason, but maybe they've had some hard times in the past and they were overwhelmed with emotion. They couldn't take it out on anyone else, so they snapped at you.

Instead of snapping back or turning your head, maybe those are the times that people need you most. They need someone to take a moment to understand the shoes they walk in, and you can be that person. Non-judgmental and caring. Fill yourself with the Holy Spirit and love of Christ and being non-judgmental will be a much easier trait to aquire.