fertilizer

ok, fertilizer? a lesson? a thought of any kind? i know this seems like i'm stretching, but actually today while i was fertilizing my lawn i was thinking of the word pre-emergent (which is what i was applying.) it's for taking care of the 'bad stuff' before it comes up...before it really starts to form. i also bought the 5 step program to apply at different times of the summer to help my lawn look and stay nice.

so to get my lawn nice takes more than 'just planting the seeds.' alma talks about faith and planting the seed and then nourishing it. there's a little more to it. nourishing faith may also be a 5 step program. i need to read my scriptures to prevent the bad stuff from growing or taking root in my mind. prayer daily helps strengthens my resolve to keep the commandments and the Son gives light. church attendance gives me weekly ingredients to make me strong and the sacrament is that cleansing dose that makes it possible to renew. they all take effort, they all are needed but the results are well worth it. 

what you sow you reap.  

my garage

i finally got home early enough to do somethings at home. i put up this saying in the garage...i know...odd place to put it, but that way i'll get to see it everyday. shelley and i saw this saying in a little gazebo at BYU-idaho while we were education week. each time we saw it we would pause a moment and smile. just a reminder that life is good and i should relish each daily gift.

but i kind of think i do. 

which makes me happy even more.

making a difference

last night i was reading in the book of Jude and this touched me:

"and of some have compassion making a difference."

earlier in the passage it was talking about the ungodly who "are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words"

whoa...i have to admit that passage sounded more like me than the first. yep...wake up call right there. i have done my share of murmuring and complaining and it's not something i would feel comfortable standing before the Lord and confessing. i feel a great need to repent and once again pray earnestly to change my course of behavior...change my heart. 

because i love the idea that compassion...the compassion i could give could make a difference. that it could lift, and build someone. just the opposite of what the murmuring and complaining words do.

then the end of the chapter says this wonderful thought:

"now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever." 

his compassion makes a difference. because of him I can be kept from falling, i can come before my Heavenly Father faultless...and for this i will endlessly thank him, and praise him.

light

while waiting  for a friend to take these flowers to a sick friend i got to sit in my nice warm car and just feel the sunshine. light is healing ... warmth is healing. i was so happy to just have time to sit in the sunshine waiting.

with daylight savings time just starting i realize how we all love the light and seek the light.

we are made to need the light. We are told to seek His light. why wouldn't we if we really thought about it. 

all things good happen in the light.

taking time

the other day i was reading about noah and it mentioned that he spent 120 years building the ark...120 years... with no rain, to speak of. 

it has made me think.     

a lot. 

i know you can say, well noah lived to be over 900 years old. but he didn't know he'd live that long. he probably never realized ahead of time that he would be the 'second adam'. 

what dedication, what commitment. what faith. what unwavering diligence.

i'm in awe of working on something that long without any...validation that what i'm doing has meaning. i tend to want some kind of feedback fairly soon. (in two weeks at least.) maybe noah got it, but it seems to me he basically heard from a lot of disgruntled and even angry neighbors. the lord's time frame is different. He really doesn't care how long something takes, He cares that we listen and follow. He's in it for the long haul. i sometimes start thinking it's a race. i need to get things done fast, rather than focus on what's important

what's lasting. 

family, testimony, my relationship with Him. good lesson for me. 

i better take time to learn it. 

the gift

the other day val was wearing this pretty coralish pinkish scarf...just the color i had been looking for. i happened to mention i really liked her scarf. her immediate response was, "i'll give it to you," at which i them immediately responded, "no you can't do that or i can never tell you i like something." 

but that is her heart. pure, completely charitable and giving. she's one of those people who doesn't need to preach...her life says it all. 

and because her heart was so open, i wanted mine to be more so too. good lessons do that. 

so it's no surprise that after they left i later walked into my bedroom and saw the scarf draped over my bed. 

blessed am i to know such a Christ like woman. i can only pray i can follow her example.

thanks val, for a gift far greater than the scarf.  

end of a busy week

Josh and fam left yesterday so the house is quiet again...kind of bitter sweet. I love my space but I are have loved having a full house. The good news is jares and tonya will be here in three weeks.

Tonight I spent dinner with Jeff, Jana, Jen and Dave and family. I realized being around good righteous people is so good for my spirit and I was definitely well fed today.