Which came first: the Chicken, or the Egg?

We've all heard this question. 

So, which one came first, the chicken or the egg? 

I have no idea. 

In fact, this post has nothing to do with which came first.

But it has a lot to do with chickens and eggs.  Stick with me.  I'm going to compare us to chickens, and then to eggs.  If we are a chicken, then that means we have survived the hatching process, the trial of taking our first steps, the amusement of falling down a few times, and the reward of becoming independent through our choices.

However, if we are an agg, we have very little choice in what we do.  We cannot learn or grow if we are stuck in a shell.  Withough agency, we are unable to progress.

"O ye house of Israel whom I have spared, how oft will I gather you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, if ye will repent and return unto me with full purpose of heart."
-3 Nephi 10

We are given a choice to be gathered.  Some may choose to stray, but the Father will always be there with open arms, to gather us in. Satans however, wants to keep us from being gathered, from learning of God's love-from making any kind of choice.

"I... have robbed their treasures... and my hand hath found as a nest the riches of the people: and as one gathereth eggs that are left, have I gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped."

-Isaiah 10

Satan does not want us to progress.  His goal is to rob us of our agency and happiness.  And of course none opened the mouth or peeped! How could they?  If Satan takes us forcefully down the path of life, then we are not able to progress, or in the case of an egg, even hatch!  We would never learn of our potential to become like the Father, because we would never be given the chance. 

I thought of the many differences between our Heavenly Father's plan of love and redemption, and Lucifer's plan of captivity and damnation.  Our Father's plan for us is so perfect.  He allows us to make our own choices.  He provides a way for us to be safetly gathered home under His loving wing.

Even the Flamingos

I had a chance to go to the Zoo with some friends a few weeks ago on our P-day.  While there, we saw a  flamingo who had wandered from the rest of the flamingo clan, just chillin in the pond.  He continued to stretch his neck down into the water, drinking and splashing himself over and over and over and over and over. 

Get the picture? 

  I thought to myself, "how could he be so thirsty when the water is right in front of him?"

As I thought of this thirsty flamingo, it reminded me of some past experiences. 

I grew up a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  Also known as the Mormons.  During my early college years, I did not know I was thirsty for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I thought I could easily find happiness through friends, a good job, and a good education.  I searched and searched but still felt that there was something missing in my life.

Soon I found myself wandering from my daily habits of scripture study and prayer.  I also distanced myself from family members who I had been so close to for so long.  Most importantly, I distanced myself from my Savior, Jesus Christ and my Father in Heaven.

I was thirsty for spiritual water, but couldn't find the pond.

I started a new job, and made an incredible new friend.  Her name is Jenn.  She was actually my boss at work.  She began to invite me to events, and pretty soon we had grown close.  She set a great example for me.  I saw that she still had fun while living standards the Lord had set.  She was happy and thrived on teaching others about the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ in her Sunday School class.

She told me that she had a desire to serve a mission, had prayed about it, and received the answer that now was not the time for her to serve a full time mission.  But she was a missionary to me.

She led me back to the water that had been sitting in front of my face!  She helped me regain my testimony through her example and friendship.

Jenn put her whole heart into our friendship and showed me where to find the living water of the gospel.  She taught me the importance of daily conversion and daily study.  Those habits are now ingrained in me and I will never again stray from the arms of my loving Heavenly Father.

I'm grateful for my dear Jenn!  I miss her and am so proud of all the wonderful things she has accomplished in her life. 

I hope you read this, and think of someone that you can help lead back to the water that "springs up unto everlasting life."  Even if that person is yourself!

Every Knee Shall Bow

A few months ago I went hiking around Radnor Lake with some of the missionaries on our Preparation Day.  As we paused to look at the lake, I snapped this picture.  The day was beautiful and clear.  The colors of the trees were just starting to change.

It was yet another witness to me of God's love.  The earth he has created is so beautiful.  I feel so blessed to be a part of it.  I think it is incredible that we are the only species in the world that has the capability to self evaluate.  We can look at past experiences in our lives and figure out what we need to do to become better. 

I know that this is a gift from God.  I know He loves me.  He has given me the ability to choose, evaluate, examine, learn, create, grow, and develop.  One day the entire world will know that He reigns as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

I want others to know and understand who God is, and that He loves them. 

I look forward to the day when I can kneel at the feet of my Heavenly Father. 

The Sun Will Always Come Up

I've been thinking a lot about having faith to get through trials.

I don't always know how to get through my trials, but somehow, with God on my side, I always do get through them.

#4: Yoke'd

Reason #4 that I know God loves me is because He lightens my load.  When I feel like I can't go any further, I trust that God is there. 

He always is.

An ox cannot pull a wagon or cart on it's own.  The creature is not strong enough.  When two animals are applied to pull, they tend to go at different speeds, making it difficult for either to pull the cart. 

But, when a yoke is applied to both animals, the weight is distributed, and they can pull the burden together.

We cannot pull the burden of life on our own.  We may make it a few feet, then fall exhausted.  If we yoke ourselves with the Savior, and work by His side, we can accomplish all that is asked of us.

As you allow Jesus Christ to help you pull life's many burdens, you will feel that your load is more bearable. 

So folks, consider yourself Yoke'd.

He is the Light

I know Jesus Christ is the Son of God.  I know that I am a daughter of Heavenly Father and that He loves me.  He is my King, my teacher, my Father.  He shows me the path each day. 

His way is the only way.  I am grateful for that.  I am grateful that I don't have to be confused about life.  I have God on my side and He shows me which way to go.

He is my light in the darkness.  He guides my path.

The Lord's Prayer

Christ always taught people to pray.  We read many accounts, both in the Bible as well as the Book of Mormon, where he teaches the people to pray, as well as how to pray.

"Behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, ye must watch and pray always lest ye enter into temptation; for Satan desireth to have you, that he may sift you as wheat.  Therefore ye must always pray unto the Father in my name." (3 Nephi 18:18-19)

Christ taught the ancient people of the Americas to pray to stay away from the dangers of temptation and the awful sin that Satan is constantly exerting upon us.  Prayer can also be a guide for our lives.  It can help us know what direction we should take.

I know in my life, I have turned to prayer often when trying to get answers to questions that I did not understand.  A warm feeling has come over me.  A feeling of peace, comfort, and love.  This feeling lets me know that my Heavenly Father is mindful of me, and it testifies to me every time that Christ is the Savior of the world, and that I am never left alone.  This feeling is ever so clear when I feel like a lost child, or when I need to be surrounded with the Love of my Heavenly Father.  I think often of Jesus Christ, when he was in the most bitter pains known to mankind-I think of his prayer to God.  I think about the sacrifice he made for each of us when he prayed ever so fervently in the Garden of Gethsemane. 

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, a disciple and modern apostle of Christ's Church bears a beautiful testimony of the night that Christ suffered and prayed to His Father for strength...

"In that most burdensome moment of all human history, with blood appearing at every pore and an anguished cry upon His lips, Christ sought Him whom He had always sought—His Father. 'Abba,' He cried, 'Papa,' or from the lips of a younger child, 'Daddy.^'

"This is such a personal moment it almost seems a sacrilege to cite it. A Son in unrelieved pain, a Father His only true source of strength, both of them staying the course, making it through the night—together."

I know that our Heavenly Father watches over us.  I know that comforts us and carries us when our burdens are too heavy to lift.

If you have ever felt lost, alone, hopeless, depressed-pray.  Pray to the Father in the name of his son.  Pray that your load may be lifted and that His Son, Jesus Christ will carry you through your trials.  I know he has carried me many times through mine.  I love my Heavenly Father more than I can express.  I love Christ-my brother, for his infinite love for me and my family.  I can't wait until I can see them both again, in all their glory.