You Have Christ. (Feb. 20)

7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

- 2 Corinthians 5: 7, 17, 20

10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

-2 Corinthians 6:10

This week has been quite a rollercoaster!!! But I know, despite the downs, that there will always be ups. And the downs are what make us appreciate those ups. And I know that even though things are not are way, we can be happy because they are God's way snd when we are being righteous we can enjoy the blessings he gives us for following him. And he has a much more beautiful imagination than any of us. So I know he makes the outcome of all things more beautiful than we could have ever believed them to be. 

I think that it is important to remember that if we expect God to forget us not, we need to remember to forget Him not, to remember that in times of trial or disappointment or hard times in general, if we choose to exclude him from the equation he will be excluded. But if we ask for his help he will gladly give it. I have witnessed that this week and it has been much more peaceful when I have asked him to take the things I cannot carry. 

We got a miracle referral named Georgia from a member and she is pregnant and awesome and I hope more comes soon with her! 

Miracles happen, even when we forget that they do. We must always remind ourselves that life is divine, God always has a way of helping us remember that we aren't just people. But we are his sons and daughters. And things are of great importance here on earth to help us prepare for the next. And I know as we are faithful and as we give him our hearts and forget and forgive the things and people we cannot change, Including ourselves, we can truly live. 

I was studying a little about mercy the other day. And it was from a. Discorso by President Uchtdorf that talks about the merciful receive mercy. So if we expect mercy for ourselves we must be ready to give mercy to others. We have to remember we are all on different planes and we are all not meant to live the exact same life. We have different strengths and weaknesses and it is beautiful that way. But we also need to be patient with ourselves. 

A sorella a few weeks ago asked me what I had learned the most on my mission so far, and immediately the response that came out of my mouth was " I expect a lot more out of myself than what God expects out of me". And it is true. Our own expectations for ourselves can be our downfall. All God asks is that we keep the commandments and continue to do our best to try to keep being perfected. Perfection isn't a one time deal. It is something we will try and fail at time and again in this life, until finally we will have reached that level of completeness AFTER this life. What we can do now is cherish the imperfections. In ourselves, in others, in everything. We can love even though we are not completed yet. We can embrace the in-between. We can remember that God loves us and all he asks is that we keep trying. Trying to be His. Trying to love better, trying to be better, trying to forgive more and let go. I think it is in the phase of trying that we then somehow find ourselves with success. Because you cannot obtain success just from one try. That was then just a lucky shot. But really. No one has ever found success without failure except the Savior. And because of Him, no failure we have ever has to be forever! We can wake up the next day and fix it and be better. Just because we messed up before doesn't mean we have to mess up again! 

Sometimes it feels like we have nothing. But really, we have all things, because we have the knowledge of the love of our Savior and our infinitely kind Heavenly Father. And there love makes up for whatever else we are lacking in our lives. 

And oh, how that love has changed my life. I would be lying if I ever said it was easy, even if a single day was easy. But it is so much more worth it because it is difficult. Because then that means it matters. Because we can hold it precious to us, the thing that was so difficult and strenuous to acquire. And that is my testimony of my Savior's love for me. It almost seems incredulous to think that he could love me when I am not at my happiest, my fullest capacity, or finding a ton of worldly success and pleasing everyone around me. But luckily all of that is what Satan wants us to think is happiness. No success in the world can ever compete with spiritual failure. And no failure in the world can compete with any spiritual success. :) just remember there is always hope. And always a father who is so eager to listen to us, help us, bless us, and smile down at us with tiny beautiful precious miracles. Life is truly about the small things! So embrace them and keep going and remember that whatever way you think you have failed is not the end. Through Christ we can find new life. We never have to thirst for that belonging again after we have truly found him and realized that it is impossible without him. We must keep him present during our trials and never stop seeking him. Learning of him. Acting like him. And loving Him. 

Well that was long. But just remember you have Christ. And that is what matters, above all. You may not have it all together but you have Christ, and he is enough. 

Bridge of angels in case you forgot.