circumstance vs truth

hi.

it's me.  kjarinda

miss you.

Today I've already thought a lot, learned a lot, regretted a lot, smiled a lot, felt the spirit...a lot. 

I've been thinking about how we make decisions in life.  They are every where and not making a decision sometimes seems like the easiest thing to do even though that alone is still really hard.

We make decisions two ways:

-decisions based upon circumstance

-decisions based upon eternal truth

Satan is very circumstance driven.  He wants you to believe that you should "be good" for an instance, and if something doesn't go the way you think it should that you should fall and crumble.  That if your plans didn't make it to the end, that it wasn't worth it at all.  He tries to get you to doubt God.  Which, sometimes happens without me thinking.

But I've realized when I've based my situations on eternal truths, regardless of how they end, it makes it easier for me to stay happy.  To stay close to The Lord.
Because you see, I believe God is a fair God.
He is loving and considerate
He knows what's best for us and always has our best interest in mind.
The problem is we think we know everything.  We forget how all knowing He is.  We forget our relationship with Him, and we forget how to trust.

I feel like I am tested on if I live my life by circumstance or by eternal truth all. the. time.
and honestly, sometime's it's exhausting. completely.

Then I think of one simple word that I've been learning all my life,
and more abundantly in the last few years.....

Patience--the ability to put our desires on hold for a time, it is a precious and rare virtue.  Without patience we cannot please God; we cannot become perfect. Each of us is called to wait in our own way.  We wait for answers to prayers.  We wait for things which at the time may appear so right and so good to us that we can't possibly imagine why Heavenly Father would delay the answer. 

woof, right?  But needless to say, I trust God.  I trust His Son.  I know that as I live my life by eternal truths and principle I am happier.  I see the bigger picture more than I would by circumstance.  God is not a one shot God.  He will provide ways we would never even imagine possible to help build us His kingdom.  That's why we are here.  To build up His kingdom, not to please ourselves.

I love Him.  and most importantly, I know Him.  And that has made all the difference.

sunday thoughts

Forgiveness is one of those things that must be learned time and time again.  Sometimes it comes easy and other times seems nearly impossible.  If there's one thing I've learned through these past few years of my life is that forgiveness is a constant action.  Sometimes I forget the action part and just do the simple, I forgive, but then unwantingly hold a grudge. I have the hardest time with this when taking in account myself.  Forgiving myself for my wrong doings, my mishaps, my mistakes, my shortcomings, people I've hurt is what seems nearly impossible. Me me me me me.
I've thought about this for weeks now.  And the only thing I can really say is how grateful I am for The Son of God, Jesus Christ, who teaches me to forgive.  He teaches me love, compassion, concern..not just for others, but also for myself.  That when I make mistakes, when I act out of anger, disappointment or pain, that there is someone I can turn to who can help me make things right.  Even if it takes a whole year.  It takes time.  It takes pain, to be truly sorry.
How grateful I am for Jesus Christ.  Giving me a second, third, and sometimes even a tenth chance to get things right.  May we all be more like The Savoir in this aspect.  People DO in fact change.  Never stop loving them or being kind to them.  Give people a chance.  And give them more than one chance.  Could you imagine if we only had ONE chance to prove ourselves?  We must start acting as Christ, in every thing we do.

Charity is forgiving someone who has wronged you.
      I hope we can all work harder on this.

I am grateful today, and every single day, for The Atonement of Jesus Christ.  For forgiving me, and helping me to forgiving others.

a shared secret

I hope you're ready for this. 

Remember that one time I went to Hawaii for Spring Break?

Well, I fell in love.  Completely.

Smitten really.

Leaving to come back to utah was heartbreaking. 

I said, self, I want to come back to this beautiful place one day.

And that's just what I'm doing, all thanks to best friend who decided to serve a mission instead of going to Kenya for the summer.  Thus having to use her Delta money before she leaves.  

She was kind enough to invite me.

Plane ticket is purchased.

May 26

I may already be thinking of what I need to pack.