When the Devil Can't Make You Bad, He Makes You Busy!

We all find times in our life, where we get so busy with the demands of life, that we start to get stressed out. If you stop to analyze all the things we are doing that are making us busy, we will usually find that they are all "good" things such as   school work, jobs, church callings, serving our family such as running our children to piano lessons, scouts, soccer practice, dance class seemingly all at the same time!

Satan loves for you to get so busy that you are too busy to listen to the promptings of the Holy Ghost. He doesn't particularly care if everything you are doing are good things, as long as you are so busy that you step out of tune with His Spirit.

In the October 2010 General Conference, Elder Dieter L. Uchtdorf gave a wonderful talk on slowing down and keeping life simple. He stated:

"Let’s be honest; it’s rather easy to be busy. We all can think up a list of tasks that will overwhelm our schedules. Some might even think that their self-worth depends on the length of their to-do list. They flood the open spaces in their time with lists of meetings and minutia—even during times of stress and fatigue. Because they unnecessarily complicate their lives, they often feel increased frustration, diminished joy, and too little sense of meaning in their lives.

It is said that any virtue when taken to an extreme can become a vice. Over scheduling our days would certainly qualify for this. There comes a point where milestones can become millstones and ambitions, albatrosses around our necks.

As we turn to our Heavenly Father and seek His wisdom regarding the things that matter most, we learn over and over again the importance of four key relationships: with our God, with our families, with our fellowman, and with ourselves. As we evaluate our own lives with a willing mind, we will see where we have drifted from the more excellent way. The eyes of our understanding will be opened, and we will recognize what needs to be done to purify our heart and refocus our life."

My dear family, I urge you that in the times of your life where you realize that things have gotten out of balance, take the time to  take care of all 4 of the relationships that Elder Uchtdorf mentioned.  Your relationship with God, through prayer, scripture study, temple attendance, among others.  Second, your relationship with your family.  Family prayer, scripture study, family home evening, and just plain time and fun with each other!  Third, your fellowman. Look around you and see what acts of kindness you can perform.  There is nothing like service to those who need it to put your own problems into perspective.  and lastly your relationship with yourself.  Have you gotten so busy serving others or doing life's necessities that you have neglected to nurture your individual worth? taking time to exercise and meditate and the occasional date with yourself can free your mind and heal the soul.

Let us simplify our lives a little. The simplicity of the gospel is always the true source for peace and happiness in our lives. 

Gift Cards from Christ.



Since we have just celebrated Easter, our thoughts are turned toward the atonement of Jesus Christ. The Atonement gives us the glorious gift of repentance. Repentance gives us the opportunity to clear ourselves from sin.  One of my favorite authors and someone whom I hope to meet "on the other side" is Corrie ten Boom. Besides her book "The Hiding Place" which I re-read every other year or so , she wrote many other books about Christianity as well.  In Don't Wrestle, Just Nestle she wrote about  the Atonement & repentance. I personally like to think of it like a Gift Card from Christ. We have to use it to obtain the gift. Here is what she said:

"God gave you a share in the very life of Christ, for he forgave all your sins, and blotted out the charges proved against you, the list of His commandments which you had not obeyed.  He took this list of sins & destroyed it by nailing it to Christ's cross. In this way God took away Satan's Power to accuse you of sins."
--Corrie ten Boom

What will it be like when we stand before God and Christ to report on the life that we have lived, how did we handle the gifts and blessings,and stewardships, and  assignments He has given to us? 
Satan most likely will be there to gleefully report on any of our unrepented sins.  The sad thing is he comes armed with ammunition we gave to him!

May we all be ever grateful for the gift of repentance. May we not let this gift card issued to us by Christ, go unredeemed! It does have an expiration date on it! It is good from the moment you were baptized and expires when your time in mortality has ended.

Love you all!
Mom/Jan/Whatever