you know what you know.

We, as humans, long for acceptance.

I think it's just in the nature of the natural man.


We know what we know. The wildebeest in the above video knew the whole time that it was a crocodile that he was looking at in the water. But he just had to prove his point. He wanted to make sure that the other wildebeest knew who was right.

And he paid for it.


Do we find ourselves doing this?

I certainly have a tendency to do this sometimes... I want people to see things how I see them.


You know?


But here's the thing... you don't have to prove things to others. Even things you know are true.

If you know it's bad, stay away.
If you know it's good, cleave to it.

Of course I am not suggesting that you shouldn't share knowledge and try to enlighten your friends.

Let me try to illustrate this thought...


I love the gospel.

It's everything to me.

It makes me so happy.

The knowledge it brings...

The peace it brings...

The joy it brings...

It's unexplainable.


My ward family is everything to me.

My neighbors - my friends in my ward - are truly my family.

They mean the world to me and have helped to raise me. I don't think many outside the church truly realize what an amazing thing a ward is.


And the gratitude that enters into my heart whenever I think of my Savior...

The gospel is a miracle.

And I love it.


But the thing is... just because I know the church is true doesn't mean everyone I talk to will believe the church is true.

That would be awesome, but it just isn't like that.


Sharing the gospel is so important. You can bless the lives of those around you for eternity.

But I've been trying to remember that I can't convert anyone.

The Spirit can convert people. And I can try to make people sensitive to feeling the Spirit, but I can't just have a nice chat with someone and make them love the gospel. I will never be able to.

The Spirit changes hearts, not me.

So I guess if I want to help change hearts, I need to make sure I am sensitive to feeling the Spirit myself.

So that others can feel it through me.


Something that breaks my heart is when you see people who have had the gospel their whole lives and still they don't truly appreciate it. They have been surrounded by truth, and maybe at one time had a testimony. Maybe they still do have a testimony, they just don't have the conviction and motivation to become fully converted.

And it makes me so, so sad. Like, so sad.

And sometimes I just want to annoyingly yell at them... don't you know what people have sacrificed for you to have this gospel? Don't you know exactly who you are? Who you can become? How much God loves it when you are faithful to Him?

Don't you realize how happy you will be when you become fully devoted to your Creator?


But I don't say these things to them... (At least I don't yell these things to them... haha)



I do what I can. But they have truth right under their noses. And sometimes nothing I say or do will make them see it.


I just pray for them. That their hearts will be softened and changed. And that it won't take some drastic, life-shattering experience for them to become converted.

Alma 30:44 - But Alma said unto him: Thou hast had signs enough; will ye tempt your God? Will ye say, Show unto me a sign, when ye have the testimony of all these thy brethren, and also all the holy prophets? The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator.

What an amazing scripture, right?


All things denote there is a God.



Look at all the tiny details that work together perfectly... The earth is like one big, perfectly engineered machine.

When you look at the beauty of nature... the beauty of humanity... the beauty of love and forgiveness...

There is no way it all just created itself.

It wouldn't make sense.

I always think of Elder Nelson's talk from last April...
"Anyone who studies the workings of the human body has surely 'seen God moving in his majesty and power'..."


And still, so many people believe that all of this just happened. That a Big Bang could create intelligent, loving, and truly beautiful people.

You guys, there are an infinite number of signs - an infinite number of evidences - of a God.

And people praying for some big sign... they just don't get it. 


There are signs everywhere. 

You are a living, breathing, evidence of a God. 


No matter what anyone else believes... You know what you know. Nothing could ever change that.

And if you feel you need to prove a point... stop. Remember to be patient with people. 

We're all just living life the best we can.

Remember who converts people... who changes hearts.


Do what you can, and pray that the Lord will make up the difference. 

Because, in the end, He always does.

An Easter Message

     I decided one Easter, while swinging on the swings, that it was officially going to be my favorite holiday.
     It's perfect. Great weather, the Easter Bunny comes, new church dresses, egg hunts, yummy food, and last but not least, jello eggs.
     I love me some jello eggs.

     Of course, once the 4th of July rolled around, I decided that it would be my favorite holiday. After that, Halloween.

     I like holidays. All of them.

     Easter and Christmas however, hold their own special and sacred meanings to members of our Church as well as people all around the world.
     And as fun as Halloween is, it could never come close to Christmas or Easter.

     Tomorrow... Easter... is a day that we should spend feeling grateful. Grateful for all that Christ did for us, and grateful that we can repent and overcome hard things because of Him. No matter how hard things get - and things could get really hard - just remember the following:

To every thing there is a season.
A time to every purpose.
A time to be born - a time to die...
A time to break down - a time to build up.
A time to weep, and a time to laugh...
A time to mourn, and a time to dance.
A time to get... a time to lose.
A time to keep - a time to cast away...
[See Ecclesiastes 3: 1-6]


AND... remember that trials aren't permanent. If you are faithful and trusting, they will go away eventually... even if it isn't until your earthly life is over. Always remember that "This too, shall pass."
(Phrase stolen from following poem!)

When some great sorrow, like a mighty river,
Flows through your life with peace-destroying power
And dearest things are swept from sight forever,
Say to your heart each trying hour:
"This, too, shall pass away."

When ceaseless toil has hushed your song of gladness,
And you have grown almost too tired to pray,
Let this truth banish from your heat its sadness,
And ease the burdens of each trying day:
"This, too, shall pass away."

When fortune smiles, and, full of mirth and pleasure,
The days are flitting by without a care,
Lest you should rest with only earthly treasure,
Let these few words their fullest import bear:
"This, too, shall pass away."

When earnest labor brings you fame and glory,
And all earth's noblest ones upon you smile,
Remember that life's longest, grandest story
Fills but a moment in earth's little while:
"This, too, shall pass away."

(This, Too, Shall Pass Away - Lanta Wilson Smith)

    And that leads us into the following quote:


Joseph B. Wirthlin, speaking of Christ's crucifixion and resurrection, said in a talk once,
     "I think of all the days since the beginning of this world's history, that Friday was the darkest. But the doom of that day did not endure because on Sunday the resurrected Lord burst the bonds of death, ascended from the grave, and appeared gloriously triumphant as the Savior of all mankind."

He later went on to say,
     "Each of us will have our own Fridays -- those days when the universe itself seems shattered and the shards of our worldly life littered upon us in pieces. We will all experience those broken times when it seems we can never be put together again. But I testify in the name of the One who conquered death -- Sunday will come.

(See a video about that talk here.)








Isaiah 53
3- He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4- Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5- But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Christ suffered more terrible pains than we could ever imagine. He did it for me. And you. He gave us the atonement, so that if we did our part and repented, we would never feel of those pains.

And then, on the third day, He rose again. He conquered death.
He rose above death... so that we could too.
And He succeeded... even though He went through great adversity. Following His example, WE can succeed amid great adversity too.

AND, perhaps the most significant knowledge that we gain from Easter... is that we can and will be resurrected someday... with a perfect body. Families... are FOREVER. 
That means so much to me... and I'm sure it does to you if you have lost loved ones.



Matthew 28
6- He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.


"Our Savior lived again. The most glorious, comforting, and reassuring of all events of human history had taken place—the victory over death. The pain and agony of Gethsemane and Calvary had been wiped away. The salvation of mankind had been secured. The Fall of Adam had been reclaimed. The empty tomb that first Easter morning was the answer to Job’s question, 'If a man die, shall he live again?' To all within the sound of my voice, I declare, If a man die, he shall live again. We know, for we have the light of revealed truth."
- Thomas S. Monson

And with that, Happy Easter!

182 Years...

Just if you were wondering... the Church was organized on Apr. 6, 1830. 182 years ago today.

It Passes All My Understanding...

Man... I love Soft Sunday Sounds...
     I should just post my favorite new songs at the beginning of each week... Oh wait... I pretty much already do! :)



It Passes All My Understanding - Cherie Call

Now you scroll through the lyrics... and pictures. :)

-----

I was sitting on a southbound plane, 

I was buried in a magazine

When the man in the next seat over 

Wanted to talk to me

He talked about the universe, 

He talked about Saturn's rings

He said, "I might be an atheist, 

Except for just one thing:

It passes all my understanding 

How it all worked out just right,

The distance that we live from the sun, 

The stars that shine at night.

We may prove that it was just an accident

But how did it begin?

It passes all my understanding"

I told him, "You are a scholar; 

You know things that I don't know

But I believe a God in heaven 

Made everything below

And I know we are his children; 

I've known it since I was two

But when it comes to being struck with awe,

I'm just like you.

It passes all my understanding, 

All the beauty we have here

From the majesty of the canyons 

To a tiny baby's ear

And even when I can't believe it, 

He still believes in me

It passes all my understanding"

We watched the sun set through the clouds

In a tiny little airplane window 

With people sleeping all around

And I thought of how we just expect this world to be

And when the flight attendant passed me by

I threw away my magazine

It passes all my understanding, 

That the Lord knows both our names

And that He made this world for everyone

That was sitting on that plane

And in spite of all of man's distractions

He offers us His peace

That passes all my understanding

-----

     You know... we often see the parts of the world that aren't as pleasant... parts that people have abused so much that it's hard to look at... We hear about how we aren't taking care of the earth (which really is true), and how it is getting harder and harder to find beautiful things... 

     Well that last statement isn't true. It's not hard to find beautiful things.

You guys... what a beautiful world we live in!

Be grateful for it!

Did one of my posts leave a lasting impression on you? I'd love to hear about it! Comment below!

 Want to read about the layout of my blog? Click here.

An Introduction to Missionaries

Why do we have missionaries? What do they do?



     Unfortunately, many people think that our missionaries are out to advertise our church... that we just want to increase our numbers. I hope that they come to realize that this is not so. 
     The people in this video... they have the light of Christ in their eyes. You can see it, and it is almost tangible.
     The young people in this video - and missionaries all over the world - they have seen and experienced the pure happiness that the gospel brings... it doesn't make your life perfect, but it makes it meaningful, and it makes it easier to deal with everyday things.
     The gospel gives you a new perspective and helps you know what you need to do to live with God again, to obtain eternal life.

     We just want to spread that happiness. It changes lives. When you have experienced such joy and comfort from this gospel, it's hard to not shout it to the world... I know Christ lives! I know the Church is true!  Sharing the gospel is a pleasure. You bless the people that you teach, and you find great joy in the process. 


D&C 18:15 - And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father! 

16 - And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!

     Not only do missionaries change people's lives for the better... they really do change their own. They change their own lives in a delightfully wonderful way.

     Some missionaries are converts to the Church themselves, and just want to pay it forward.

     Others were born into the Church, and can't imagine living life without the gospel... so they feel the need to share it. 

     All missionaries have one thing in common. They have the desire to serve their King.

And it creates a ripple effect...

   


 Jeremiah 16:16 Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the Lord, and they shall fish them; and after will I send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks.


To request a visit from the missionaries, or to learn what to expect when missionaries come to visit you, click here.
And never forget... every member a missionary.


Also... are you interested in a video about temples tomorrow?

Did one of my posts leave a lasting impression on you? I'd love to hear about it! Comment below! 

Want to read about the layout of my blog? Click here.

I Hope You Like Music, Because I Sure Do!

     I know that I have been sharing tons of songs on here recently (Or maybe it just seems like it to me), but Soft Sunday Songs never disappoints. I found two more today.

Names by Cherie Call

He's been known throughout time by so many names,

Creator of Worlds and Ruler of All

And I do not disagree with the ones I have heard

Like The First and The Last, and Wonderful

Eternal and Endless, Provider and King,

And His Majesty

But when I think of the hundreds of prayers that I've prayed

There are so many more that I'd add to these, like

Mathematician, Concert Musician, Master Physician

and Listening Friend

Who knows all about cars, and my fragile heart

So the best name would still have to be

Heavenly Father

When I'm helping a friend He has sharpened my mind

When I've asked that my lips could say all the right things

He can part the Red Sea and still keep me from shaking

When I've prayed that my hands could hit all the right strings

He has always been there to handle the big things

But He can still find a way

To help me with tricky equations and dark twisty highways

And children with fevers

I know I can pray to the

Mathematician, Concert Musician, Master Physician

and Listening Friend

Who knows all about cars, and my fragile heart

So the best name would still have to be

Heavenly Father

And isn't it just what a father would do

Helping His children with all that He knew

And then using His wisdom to step back sometimes

On some of the answers we're just meant to find for ourselves

So we can be mathematicians, concert musicians,

Mothers, physicians, and listening friends

And we can learn about cars, and we can heal broken hearts

With the love that we've learned first hand

From a Heavenly Father

----------

     We often think and talk about all of the big things that Christ has done - and can always do - for us. He can perform mighty miracles for everyday people if we exercise enough faith and trust in Him... Like the song says, "He has always been there to handle the big things."
     What I like about the song is that it points out that He helps with all of the little things too. Whenever we need help with homework, parenting, cars, or when we just need to know what to say... He helps with those things too.
Always.

----------

Okay... on to number two.

Blessings by Laura Story (Probably a little bit more well-known... I've heard it before today...)

We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
It's not our home

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise

----------

     Just something to remember... trials are blessings. NEVER forget that hard things now will give us perspective later.


My favorite line of this song...
"We know that pain reminds this heart 
That this is not, this is not our home."


     Our home is with God. And if it takes hard things to get us back there... then so be it.
  
     This song also reminds me that I need to recognize small things as blessings. We are blessed everyday with tender mercies. When you try to focus on all of the positive things, it makes you a more optimistic person that will live happier. When you focus on the good, you forget about the bad.


Psalms 25:2 - O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.


     Just trust in God always. I can promise you that everything will work out for your good if you just trust in God. 


-----------


Okay. I promise. The next post will not be about music. 








P.S. If you missed how to use the new layout... click here.

P.P.S. Do you hate the new layout? I want to make it how I want it, but I don't want everything to be confusing and a hassle for you readers...

Why I'm a Mormon Part 2/4: Stephanie Nielson

 Remember the Beautiful Heartbreak video from this post? Well... the reason that I decided to do Stephanie Nielson as part two... is because you all saw her in it. She also has a really great blog... nieniedialogues.blogspot.com. In it, she always refers to her husband as "Mr. Nielson." Cute.

-------------------------------------

     Stephanie Nielson was born, raised, and married in Provo, Utah. She is the eighth of nine children born to Stephen and Cynthia Clark. She is a popular blogger and author of nieniedialogues.com. She began blogging in 2005 while living in New Jersey as a way to keep her and her husband's family informed about their life in the East.
     From 2005 to 2008, her blog steadily grew in popularity and readership. Her blog entries are a naturally portrayal of life as a wife, mother, Mormon, daughter, sister, and citizen. They are filled with pictures and images that represent the common joys in the roles of her life.
     In the summer of 2008 she and her husband, Christian, were involved in a serious airplane accident. A close friend perished from his injuries and Christian and Stephanie survived the crash with burns covering Stephanie's arms, legs, face, and hands.
     She has been featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Today Show with Matt Lauer, and the Glenn Beck program. Recently 20/20 did a one-hour special highlighting her story and recovery process. In these interviews she explains why she believes she beat the odds of surviving their tragic accident and what life is like with her new appearance and physical limitations.
     Stephanie, age twenty-nine, lives in the "tree street" area in Provo, Utah, with her four beautiful children -- Claire, nine; Jane, eight; Oliver, five; and Nicholas, four -- and her handsome husband, Christian, with whom she is madly and relentlessly in love.
     Before the accident, Stephanie was a yoga instructor in Arizona and an avid runner. Stephanie also loves to ski and has been a ski instructor at Sundance Resort in Utah. Last winter, Stephanie began skiing for the first time since her accident. Skiing came back to her with triumphant ease!
     She and her family are frequently seen on Utah Lake on their sailboat, the AuroraMark (the name came from Stephanie's and Christian's middle names).
     Stephanie is healthier and happier than ever. She has begun doing yoga again and plans to run in races next year if all goes well. She will have frequent surgeries to release and rebuild areas on her burned skin for most of her life. She is upbeat and is thrilled to be expecting another child.
     Although reconstructive surgery is an ongoing requirement, Stephanie maintains a joyful attitude for life and living the roles she loves.

* * * * *

     

     I have always felt close to the Spirit. Ever since I was young, I remember feeling the Spirit. I felt it in my heart, which is why I cried a lot when I was young, especially when I was at church, singing hymns or listening to beautiful music. It moved me even though it was unexplainable. After my baptism I felt the Spirit in my life more than ever, and I was finally able to identify what it was. I enjoyed its constant companionship and the positive effects I felt and loved. 

     I am so happy to have felt that early in my life. It has blessed me throughout my hardships.

     When I had three small children under five years old and was pregnant with my fourth, my father called me his "pioneer girl." I have always loved that. My heritage and ancestry is enormously rich in pioneer history. It was a real honor to be likened to those pioneer ancestors, and I live each day to be just that.

     When times are tough, I think about my pioneer forebears, and that gives me immeasurable strength that keeps me moving through the hard times. I think, "If they did it, I can certainly overcome these challenges." That helps me face trial with heart and with a clear mind as to why the Lord has placed them in front of me. 

     I am who I am because of the women in my life. They have given me great strength and courage and shaped my perspective of what motherhood is all about. 

     When I received my patriarchal blessing at age sixteen, I was promised that if I learned from my mother and the women of the scriptures, motherhood for me would be a blessing. I will never forget that. It has always stuck with me. I believe it is true, and I hold those women high and would never want to do anything to disappoint them.

     I also understand the value of children, who they are, and who I am to them. Being a mother is the greatest job of all. In fact, I wouldn't call it a job; it is an opportunity, an honor to be a mother, especially in this day and age.

     I also feel that following the whispering of the Spirit in my life as a mother has helped me enjoy and feel fulfilled being the one whom the children rely on. 

     Being a Mormon means that I know who I am, I know where I am going, and I know, understand, and love the plan that has been laid out for families, particularly mine.

     The Mormon church helps us understand that living as a family is God's plan, and we are taught how to rear our children in righteousness, following the Savior's example. This knowledge has changed the way I teach my children, how serious it it to me that they know and understand good choices versus bad ones and the consequences of each.

     I also want my children to understand that it takes hard work to keep going in life sometimes, but there are sweet rewards that we will enjoy -- not just in the end, but during the pain and suffering -- that will come and give us that extra push we need to keep going. 

     My husband and I have had so many amazing experiences together that all started in the temple when we were sealed. And they have never stopped. They have blessed our life beyond words and continue to do so.

     On August 16, 2008, my husband and I, along with a good friend, were in a Cessna four-seater aircraft to travel home from a trip to our family ranch in New Mexico. On takeoff, the plane crashed and burned. My husband had a broken back along with burn injuries to 30 percent of his body. I was trapped in the airplane and was burned over 80 percent of my body, and our friend and pilot, Doug, died. I was placed in a medically induced coma for more than three months to help me try to recover and heal. 

     From the moment the airplane went up in flames, I was praying. I knew God would never leave me. I knew it then and I still know it now.

     I never lost my faith in God or blamed Him, even through my struggles to heal, my multiple surgeries, my physical changes, and the role these all play in my children's lives (and mine). In fact, I am thanking Him every day for this trial. I feel honored to carry it, and I hope I am doing it in a way that is pleasing to Him.

     I know the plan. I know what we are doing, and I understand the seriousness of rearing my children in the way the Lord has set for His children. The end, the reward, is worth doing anything and everything I can to make sure my family gets there. Without this knowledge from the Church, it would be unreachable. That is why I'm a Mormon. 

---------------------------------------------------


Cannon, Joseph A. Why I'm a Mormon. Stevens Point, WI: Worzalla Publishing Co., 2012. 263-267. Print.






Oh... P.S..... Watch!!

Come Come Ye Saints

I love the movie 17 Miracles... it is a very inspirational movie that really strengthened my testimony and made me very, VERY grateful to the saints who sacrificed so much so that we can have the gospel today. So many people take the knowledge that the gospel brings us for granted...



 The Martin Willie Handcart Companies suffered the highest percentage of deaths of any emigrant parties to go west...

"Our pioneer ancestors sacrificed virtually all they had, including their lives in many cases, to follow a prophet of God."
-M. Russell Ballard

     It amazes and humbles me that these people were SO faithful- that they were willing to do whatever the prophet asked them to... no matter what. 
   
     They suffered SO much... there were deaths every day, people who became incredibly ill... they were also persecuted constantly... I have no doubt that all of those saints were changed forever from those experiences.

D&C 101:15- And all they who have given their lives for my name shall be crowned.

     I know that we question all the time why people doing good things- people following the prophet- suffer, and sometimes die... that last powerful scripture is why.

     Sometimes God also lets the righteous suffer and maybe die so that the wicked will be condemned. The terrible things that they did to the saints will be a witness against them at the last day.


     Another thing that always amazes me is how courageous and positive the pioneers always seemed to be. Of course they questioned, and were sometimes probably angry and frustrated and confused.

But they were also oh, so faithful and obedient. And they also turned to God in their trials.


-------
Come, come, ye Saints, no toil or labor fear;
But with joy wend your way.
Though hard to you this journey may appear,
Grace shall be as your day.
'Tis better far for us to strive
Our useless cares from us to drive;
Do this and joy your hearts will swell —
All is well! All is well!

Why should we mourn or think our lot is hard?
'Tis not so; all is right.
Why should we think to earn a great reward
If we now shun the fight?
Gird up your loins; fresh courage take.
Our God will never us forsake;
And soon we'll have this tale to tell —
All is well! All is well!

We'll find the place which God for us prepared,
Far away in the West.
Where none shall come to hurt or make afraid;
There the Saints will be blessed.
We'll make the air with music ring,
Shout praises to our God and King;
Above the rest these words we'll tell —
All is well! All is well!

And should we die before our journey's through,
Happy day! All is well!
We then are free from toil and sorrow, too;
With the just we shall dwell!
But if our lives are spared again
To see the Saints their rest obtain;
Oh, how we'll make this chorus swell —
All is well! All is well!

-------

“I will never get over being thankful to them; I hope you never get over being thankful to them. I hope that we will always remember them. . . . Let us read again and again, and read to our children or our children’s children, the accounts of those who suffered so much.”
- Gordon B. Hinckley  

America the Beautiful

2 Nephi 1:5,7- Notwithstanding our afflictions, we have obtained a land of promise, a land which is choice above all other lands…Wherefore, this land is consecrated unto him whom he shall bring. And if it so be that they shall serve him according to the commandments which he hath given, it shall be a land of liberty unto them; wherefore, they shall never be brought down into captivity; if so, it shall be because of iniquity; for if iniquity shall abound cursed shall be the land for their sakes, but unto the righteous it shall be blessed forever. 

      I don't know why I was given the privilege of living here in the United States, but I know that I am so blessed to live here. Guys, we are so lucky. 
   
     Alexis De Tocqueville wrote: "America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great."     


     It's true... there are a lot of things going on in our country right now that are not good. Our political system needs some work (lots), our economy is bad, people are lowering their standards and tempting us to lower ours... 
I think that sometimes people get caught up in all of the awful things happening in our country right now, and they forget that they are living in a choice and blessed land. If we keep striving, as individuals, to make our country and world a better place... to put God and country first... we will be able to make America great again. 


In the meantime, never forget how lucky you are. You are so lucky to live in the circumstances that you live in. And just to give you an idea...
(And I know that I listed the following things in this post... but I know a lot of you didn't read that, so here it is again...)

- If you woke up this morning with more health than illness... you are more blessed than the million who will not survive the week.

- If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation... you are ahead of 500 million people in the world.

- If you can attend a religious meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture or death... you are more blessed than 3 billion people in the world.

- If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep... you are richer than 75% of this world.

- If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace, you are among the top 8% of the world's wealth.

- If your parents are still alive and still married... you are very rare, even in the United States.

- If you can hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful... you are blessed because the majority can, but most do not.

- If you can hold someone's hand, hug them or even touch them on the shoulder... you are blessed because you can offer a healing touch.

- If you can read this message, you just received a double blessing in that someone was thinking of you, and furthermore, you are more blessed than over 2 billion people in the world who cannot read at all.

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God has performed many miracles for our nation. It is obvious that if we put our faith in Him and trust His judgement, things will work out for us.  

The following are excerpts from the book Seven Miracles That Saved America by Chris Stewart and Ted Stewart...


“At critical times in our nation’s history, God provided miracles to save us. And there are miracles yet to come,” according to the book. “This country was too important to the future of mankind to let it fail. Despite our weaknesses, which are many, and our failings, which have existed since our inception, God has been willing to intervene so that this nation might survive.”
No man is perfect. And neither is any nation. Yet, despite our weakness, we are still, as Abraham Lincoln said, “the last, best hope of earth.”


This is a fantastic book... and I looked up the seven miracles that they listed so that you could read them...


-Christopher Columbus’s “against all odds” discovery of the New World and the undeniable hand of God that led him here.
-  Jamestown – the English colonists’ survival of the “starving time,” which assured that America would be settled by a religiously oriented and religiously tolerant people.
-  A summer fog: How an unexplainable fog shrouded the East River on an August morning, allowing General George Washington and his army to escape annihilation at the hands of the British troops.
-  The epic events that led to the miraculous creation of the United States Constitution, forever establishing the United States as the “shining city on the hill.”
-  Abraham Lincoln and the Battle of Gettysburg: At a time when it looked like our fledgling democracy was actually going to fail, God answered Lincoln’s desperate prayer for a victory at Gettysburg – an event that literally changed the future of the world.
-  The Battle of Midway: The incredibly unlikely scenario that played out in this famous World War II battle, paving the way for the Allies to win the war.
-  Half an inch: How an assassin’s bullet barely missed President Ronald Reagan’s heart, sparing his life and allowing him to go on and play a key role in defeating communism, smashing the Iron Curtain, and “tear[ing] down this wall.” 




There have no doubt been many more miracles...

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And also... thank you to all of those valiant men and women who risk their lives to defend our freedom. I know that we sometimes take it for granted... I promise that I'm trying not to.

There She Stands - Michael W. Smith