God Hath Not Given Us the Spirit of Fear} Part One

Good Morning, or Good Afternoon, or Good Evening,
this post would take approximately three to five minutes to read from start to finish.

This post is based on an article from Ensign; October 1984 and it is called, “God Hath Not Given Us the Spirit of Fear" by President Gordon B. Hinckley. This post is part one. I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the article and I hope you will learn something new.

President Hinckley mentioned, .. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Tim. 1:6–7.) Who among us can say that he or she has not felt fear? I know of no one who has been entirely spared. Some, of course, experience fear to a greater degree than do others. 

Some are able to rise above it quickly, but others are trapped and pulled down by it and even driven to defeat. We suffer from the fear of ridicule, the fear of failure, the fear of loneliness, the fear of ignorance. Some fear the present, some the future. Some carry the burden of sin and would give almost anything to unshackle themselves from those burdens but fear to change their lives. Let us recognize that fear comes not of God, but rather that this gnawing, destructive element comes from the adversary of truth and righteousness. Fear is the antithesis of faith. It is corrosive in its effects, even deadly.

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” .. They give us power. What power? The power of the gospel, the power of truth, the power of faith, the power of the priesthood.

There is a mighty strength that comes of the knowledge that you and I are sons and daughters of God. Within us is something of divinity. .. Let us encourage the divinity within us to come to the surface. For example, we need not fear ridicule because of our faith. We all occasionally have felt a little of such ridicule. But there is a power within us that can rise above ridicule, that can, in fact, even turn it to good.

FEAR

... God has given us the power of the gospel to lift us above our fears. God has given us the power of truth. President Joseph F. Smith once declared: “We believe in all truth, no matter to what subject it may refer. No sect or religious denomination [or, I may say, no searcher of truth] in the world possesses a single principle of truth that we do not accept or that we will reject. We are willing to receive all truth, from whatever source it may come; for truth will stand, truth will endure.” (Gospel Doctrine, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1939, p. 1.)

We have nothing to fear when we walk by the light of eternal truth. But we had better be discerning. ... We need not fear as long as we have in our lives the power that comes from righteously living by the truth which is from God our Eternal Father.

Nor need we fear as long as we have the power of faith. ... We are pained by the desecration of that which to us is holy. But we need not fear. This cause is greater than any man. It will outlast all its enemies. We need only go forward by the power of faith without fear. ... 

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love. …”

Love of what? Love for the Lord, love for his work, his cause, and his kingdom; love for people, love for one another.

I have seen time and again that love of God can bridge the chasm of fear. Love for the Church can also lift one above doubt. ... It was easy to wonder about many things, to question things in life, in the world, in the Church, in aspects of the gospel. But it was also a season of gladness and a season of love. Behind such thoughts, there was for me an underlying foundation of love that came from great parents and a good family, a wonderful bishop, devoted and faithful teachers, and the scriptures to read and ponder."

You may or may not would like to read the whole article in your own time. Here is the link below.
www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1984/10/god-hath-not-given-us-the-spirit-of-fear

Stay Tuned until next time.

How Are Prayers Answered?

Good Morning, Good Afternoon, or Good Evening,
this post should take approximately three minutes to read from start to finish.

This post is based on April 2007 General Conference talk, and it is called "Using the Supernal Gift of Prayer" by Richard G. Scott. This post is part two. I would love to share with you some highlights while I was reading the talk and I hope you will learn something new.

How Are Prayers Answered?
Some truths regarding how prayers are answered may help you.

Often when we pray for help with a significant matter, Heavenly Father will give us gentle promptings that require us to think, exercise faith, work, at times struggle, then act. It is a step-by-step process that enables us to discern inspired answers.

President David O. McKay testified, “It is true that the answers to our prayers may not always come as direct and at the time, nor in the manner, we anticipate; but they do come, and at a time and in a manner best for the interests of him who offers the supplication.”

"Our Heavenly Father does answer prayers in his own time and in his own way/"
- President Thomas S. Monson.

Be thankful that sometimes God lets you struggle for a long time before that answer comes. Your character will grow; your faith will increase. There is a relationship between those two: the greater your faith, the stronger your character; and increased character enhances your ability to exercise even greater faith.

On occasion, the Lord will give you an answer before you ask. This can occur when you are unaware of a danger or may be doing the wrong thing, mistakenly trusting that it is correct.

It is so hard when sincere prayer about something you desire very much is not answered the way you want. It is difficult to understand why your exercise of deep and sincere faith from an obedient life does not grant the desired result. The Savior taught, “Whatsoever ye ask the Father in my name it shall be given unto you, that is expedient for you.” At times it is difficult to recognize what is best or expedient for you over time. Your life will be easier when you accept that what God does in your life is for your eternal good.

In your own time, you may would like to read the whole talk. If you do choose to read in your own time, I hope you will enjoy reading the talk. Here is the link below.
www.lds.org/general-conference/2007/04/using-the-supernal-gift-of-prayer

Stay Tuned until next time.

Do you pray for courage?

Good morning, or Good afternoon, or Good afternoon;
this post would take approximately three minutes to read from start to finish. 

What is your definition and understanding for the word "courage"? 

I know at times throughout our lives, we would pray for courage. I am sure that there are many situations of our lives and other people's lives to experience opportunities when it is the right timing for us and them to pray for courage.

We can pray for courage at times when we feel we need to have courage to help us to become better individuals than we were yesterday. We can pray for courage at times when we feel we need to have courage for us to share exciting news with a relative or a close friend, we can pray for courage at times what we can do to get out of our comfort zones - that even includes making new friendships, we can pray for courage when we feel we need to have courage for us to overcome our fears, we can pray for courage at times when we feel we need to speak up and ask for some help, and so forth.

"A Prayer for COURAGE"

I know at times, it can be difficult to overcome of the feeling discouraged, not feeling motivated to complete the list of tasks that we hoped to fulfill and accomplish at the end of the day, and feeling low self-esteem. Remember, it is okay to have those kind of moments throughout our lives. It can take quite some time to overcome the feeling discouraged. I know it can be no fun at times.

You can always do your very best to fulfill and accomplish as much as you are to do. Don't force yourself into doing something that you don't feel up to doing it. I am sure you were able to found opportunities when it was best timing to pray for courage.

Do you remember the last time when you have prayed for courage? Was it today or yesterday? Was it a month or a year ago? Was it a few years ago or was it too long ago that you can't remember when?

Do you keep track of how often do you pray for courage? Is it often, regularly or rarely?

It is completely okay if you don't keep track of how often you pray for courage. I know that I'm not very good at keeping track of how often do I pray for courage. I encourage you to pray courage whenever you can. It can bring blessings into your life when you do. For praying courage for your morning prayer, might be able help you to have a better day. Keep being positive whenever you can.

Stay Tuned until next time.

The Gift of Prayer

Good Morning, Good Afternoon, or Good Evening,
this post should take approximately five minutes to read from start to finish.

This post is based on April 2007 General Conference talk, and it is called "Using the Supernal Gift of Prayer" by Richard G. Scott. This post is part one. I would love to share with you some highlights while I was reading the talk and I hope you will learn something new.

He mentioned,

"The Gift of Prayer
Prayer is a supernal gift of our Father in Heaven to every soul. Think of it: the absolute Supreme Being, the most all-knowing, all-seeing, all-powerful personage, encourages you and me, as insignificant as we are, to converse with Him as our Father. Actually, because He knows how desperately we need His guidance, He commands, “Thou shalt pray vocally as well as in thy heart; yea, before the world as well as in secret, in public as well as in private.”

It matters not our circumstance, be we humble or arrogant, poor or rich, free or enslaved, learned or ignorant, loved or forsaken, we can address Him. We need no appointment. Our supplication can be brief or can occupy all the time needed. It can be an extended expression of love and gratitude or an urgent plea for help. He has created numberless cosmos and populated them with worlds, yet you and I can talk with Him personally, and He will ever answer.

How Should You Pray?
We pray to our Heavenly Father in the sacred name of His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ. Prayer is most effective when we strive to be clean and obedient, with worthy motives, and are willing to do what He asks. Humble, trusting prayer brings direction and peace.

Don’t worry about your clumsily expressed feelings. Just talk to your compassionate, understanding Father. You are His precious child whom He loves perfectly and wants to help. As you pray, recognize that Father in Heaven is near and He is listening.

"A key to improved prayer is to learn to ask
the right questions." - Richard G. Scott.

A key to improved prayer is to learn to ask the right questions. Consider changing from asking for the things you want to honestly seeking what He wants for you. Then as you learn His will, pray that you will be led to have the strength to fulfill it.

Should you ever feel distanced from our Father, it could be for many reasons. Whatever the cause, as you continue to plead for help, He will guide you to do that which will restore your confidence that He is near. Pray even when you have no desire to pray. Sometimes, like a child, you may misbehave and feel you cannot approach your Father with a problem. That is when you most need to pray. Never feel you are too unworthy to pray.

In your own time, you may would like to read the whole talk. If you do choose to read in your own time, I hope you will enjoy reading the talk. Here is the link below.
www.lds.org/general-conference/2007/04/using-the-supernal-gift-of-prayer

Stay Tuned until next time.

The Privilege of Prayer

Good Morning, Good Afternoon, or Good Evening, 

this post should take approximately five to eight minutes to read from start to finish.

This post is based on a October 2011 General Conference and it is called, "The Privilege of Prayer" by J Devan. Cornish. I would like to share with you some highlights that I loved when I was reading the talk. I hope you will learn something new.

"In His mercy, the God of heaven, the Creator and Ruler of all things everywhere, had heard a prayer about a very minor thing. One might well ask why He would concern Himself with something so small. I am led to believe that our Heavenly Father loves us so much that the things that are important to us become important to Him, just because He loves us. 

We must not imagine that any kind of prayer, no matter how sincere, will be very effective if all we do is to say the prayer. We must not only say our prayers; we must also live them. The Lord is much more pleased with the person who prays and then goes to work than with the person who only prays. Much like medicine, prayer works only when we use it as directed.

When I say that prayer is a sweet privilege, it is not just because I am grateful to be able to talk to Heavenly Father and to feel His Spirit when I pray. It is also because He actually answers and speaks to us. Of course, the way He speaks to us is usually not with a voice we hear. President Boyd K. Packer explained: “That sweet, quiet voice of inspiration comes more as a feeling than it does as a sound. Pure intelligence can be spoken into the mind. This guidance comes as thoughts, as feelings through promptings and impressions”
(“Prayer and Promptings,” Ensign, Nov. 2009).

Prayer is one of the most precious gifts of God to man.

Sometimes we seem to get no answer to our sincere and striving prayers. It takes faith to remember that the Lord answers in His time and in His way so as to best bless us. Or, on further reflection, we will often realize that we already know full well what we should do. Please do not be discouraged if this does not work for you all at once. Like learning a foreign language, it takes practice and effort. Please know, though, that you can learn the language of the Spirit, and when you do, it will give you great faith and power in righteousness.

I cherish the counsel of our beloved prophet, President Thomas S. Monson, who said: “To those within the sound of my voice who are struggling with challenges and difficulties large and small, prayer is the provider of spiritual strength; it is the passport to peace. Prayer is the means by which we approach our Father in Heaven, who loves us. Speak to Him in prayer and then listen for the answer. Miracles are wrought through prayer” (“Be Your Best Self,” Ensign, May 2009).

In your own time, you may would like to read the whole talk. If you do choose to read in your own time, I hope you will enjoy reading the talk. Here is the link. www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/10/the-privilege-of-prayer

Stay Tuned until next time.

Be Joyful, Pray Always and Give Thanks

Good morning, or Good afternoon, or Good afternoon;

this post would take roughly three to five minutes to read from start to finish.

This post is mostly questions. You may would like to prepare to ask yourself to ask yourself those questions either now or in your own time. If you do ask yourself with those questions, feel free to answer those questions. If you don't feel like asking yourself that many questions, feel free to read towards the end of this post.

Whenever you are overthinking things, do you remember to pray for comfort and seek guidance?

Whenever you are feeling disappointed, do you remember to pray to help you to cheer up?

Whenever you are feeling worried, do you remember to pray about your worries?

Whenever you are going through difficulties, do you remember to pray and seek guidance of how to overcome those difficulties? Whenever you are going through unexpected challenges, do you remember to pray and seek guidance of how to overcome those unexpected challenges? Whenever you are going through a tough bad day, do you remember to pray and seek effective ways of how to turn those tough bad days into happy and cheerful days?

Whenever you are feeling grateful, do you remember to pray and express what you're grateful for?

Whenever you are feeling happy, do you remember to pray with your gratitude heart?

Whenever you are feeling hopeful, do you remember to pray about hopes? 

Be joyful, pray always, give thanks.

Whenever you are feeling peace, do you remember to pray and express you are feeling peace?

Whenever you are feeling comfort, do you remember to pray and still experiencing comfort?

Whenever you are feeling joy, do you remember to pray and express you are feeling joy?

Are you being joyful, praying always and giving thanks?

I know at times in my life that I have been able to experience to feel joy, it is such a wonderful feeling to be joyful. I know that I always do my very best to pray always despite on whatever I am feeling, it mostly helps me to get through the day and night. Giving thanks is such a wonderful privilege, because I love having a gratitude heart and being appreciative of my past. My past has always taught me multiple lessons, helps me to prepare to what to look forward in future years to come and so forth. I know that I always constantly doing my best to look forward to whatever the next day has in store for me. 

Remember you can do you best to feel joy to be joyful in life, you can always do your best to remember to pray always despite whatever you are feeling, and it's such a wonderful feeling to have a gratitude heart for giving thanks whenever you have the opportunity to do so. 

Stay Tuned until next time.

Does Employment Comes with Expectations?

Good Morning, Good Afternoon, or Good Evening,

this post should take approximately three to five minutes to read from start to finish.

I don't know how I managed to miss posting on Monday, oops my bad. If you're currently hired, I think this post would be great to read. No matter where you are currently hired for an employment or multiple employment whether it is casual, or part-time, or full-time employment, there are always going to be expectations to follow.

Management team either post an advertisement for job openings with listed skills for expected potential employees to fulfill online or a flyer on the opening door that states now hiring, they always make it known to potential employees to know that the business is seeking for new employees.

All places, management team would consider to hire potential employees who has previous experience in the industry and potential employees who's seeking for a job and new into the industry. Once hired, it takes some time to learn new and better skills as time goes by. Sometimes depending on the length of period that the management team whether they are satisfied with your work ethic or not, they can make the decision to either keep you employed and no promotion for an higher position or keep you employed and promoted you for an higher position.

"Employees tend to live up to their managers expectations of them.
If a managers expectations are high, productivity is likely to be excellent."

Do you remember how you felt when you have started a new employment to work into a new industry?

During my past employment at Domino's industry in Australia, I remembered being hired total of many stores, as a delivery driver and not all at once. I always wanted to do my best to be successful, I always have a strong work ethic, trustworthy, being honest with customers, being honest with work colleagues, being honest with the managers, being reliable, being constantly available throughout the weeks from Mondays to Saturdays, etc.

I remembered while I was working within a few months of being hired at the first domino's store that I ever worked at, I got promoted and got asked how I felt to feel to be a manager. I thought about it for a moment and mentioned that I think I can do it and feel good about it. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get the position because shortly after, the management team got changed. I was disappointed.

Fast forward to another domino's store that I worked at, I was working there for a short time as a delivery driver and I remembered getting messages from the manager for me to come into store the next day for a surprise. I didn't know what to expected and he gave me a higher position. I was able to be still hired as a delivery driver and the new position. I was able to be a marketing manager.

Depending on what type of industry that you're currently hired at; always remember to be watchful and careful with your decisions while working because sometimes you never know that the management team is watching you by your actions of how well you work with other employees and you're sharing the right information to other employees and customers of your best ability. You can always keep trying your best to be successful and hope to be promoted to a higher position.

Stay Tuned until next time. 

Does Being Self-Employed Comes with Expectations?

Good Morning, Good Afternoon, or Good Evening,

this post should take approximately three to five minutes to read from start to finish.

There are many variety of businesses around the world that you can choose from to be self-employed.

Have you ever considered to be self-employed of a business or multiple businesses?

What are some expectations that you may have to face while being self-employed?
What are some risks that you may have to take while being self-employed?

All businesses for being self-employed starts from somewhere even from scratch. I hope self-employed individuals are being able to be self-reliant with their business/businesses as best as they can. It is okay to get a loan to help cover costs of helping the business or multiples businesses to get started and some supplies for early stages of running the business or multiple businesses.

Running a business or multiple businesses does comes with some expectations, some risks, some difficulties, some unexpected costs, long hours to make the business to be successful, some major paperwork to fill out including declaring federal taxes form for tax season, etc.

Self-employed.

Imagine for a moment if you were self-employed and running a photography business. 

Two difficulties examples that you may face is angry customers who aren't satisfied with the quality of the photos that you have taken, and you didn't reach the customer's expectations.

Two risks examples that you may face is traveling via flying to other states of your own country and don't have travel insurance - it would suck to not being covered with your checked in luggage and the moment when you landed into a new state and the checked in luggage gets lost through baggage claim. Another example; getting impatient and decided not wait for a approved permit to take photos at a certain location and you went ahead to take photos there - the risk is getting in trouble.

Two unexpected costs examples that you may face is laptop is slowing down therefore the workload of editing photos hasn't been as fast as you would like it to - it's time to upgrade for a new laptop. Another example; the camera has ended its life and it's time to upgrade for a new camera.

Stay Tuned until next time.

Does Friendships Comes with Expectations?

Good Morning, Good Afternoon, or Good Evening,

this post should take approximately three to five minutes to read from start to finish.

I would like to let you know that whenever I do mentioned YSA throughout this post, I do refer to Young Single Adults. I have two quick easy questions and you may or may not ask yourself and answer the following questions either now or in your own time.

Do you have any expectations whenever you are making new friends with someone who just have met?
What are some expectations that people face whenever they are making new friends?

Throughout the past years while I was in youth and in YSA, I always seemed to be adding new friends a lot on Facebook. I often somehow always thought that I wouldn't have any expectations when it comes to whenever I meet new friends. I always seem to be meeting new friends at multiple events, multiple places, multiple sites, and multiple times.

In the past, I often meeting new friends by attending the same session in the Temple, attending a different ward on Sunday time to time, attending some past Church events such as attending EFY in 2012, attending multi-stake annual Priest and Laurels Ball in 2013, attending multi-stake YSA dances, attending multi-stake YSA devotional firesides, attending institute, and so forth.

Whenever I make new friends; I always expected to be their friends for a long time, spending some time with them, keeping in contact with each other, and check up on each other time to time. I don't think any of my expectations are high whenever it comes to making new friends.

"Sometimes we expect more from others because
we would be willing to do that much for them."

I know it can be difficult for me to live over here in Texas US and not being able to spend any time with any of my friends who lives in Australia. It has been almost seven months of me living over here and I already have reached out to a few friends who lives over in Australia that we can always do a video call whether it is via FaceTime or Skype or Facebook Messenger. I remembered that was one of the convenient and best ways of how my husband and I was able to see each other face to face often while we were in long distance relationship and long distance engagement.

I also already mentioned to them that the video calls can happen whenever it is convenient for both of us. It all comes to effective planning, and organizing the right timing. It can be difficult at times to forget about time zone difference. Trust me, it happens and I know how it feels to misjudge the timing.

I know that it can be fun at times when it comes to making new friends. Sometimes, I go through my friends list on Facebook and I often time to time to remove friends who I barely talk to these days. I know that we should determine ourselves who would be great friends to us. We should be able to adjustify for ourselves of what we can do to be able to be a great friend to our friends. Being a great friend can come with a lot of trusting, some challenges and trials. We may always meet new friends who we know that can make good influences and choices that you can look up to them as inspiration.

Stay Tuned until next time.

Does Families Comes with Expectations?

Good Morning, Good Afternoon, or Good Evening,

this post should take approximately three to five minutes to read from start to finish.

First and foremost, I would like to ask you the following questions and you may or may not ask yourself and answer the following questions either now or in your own time. 

Why is it so important for some families to have effective communication with each family member?

Why is it so important for some families to have regular family outings whenever they can?

Why is it so important for some families that have expectations to follow? 

What makes a family's home a safe place from the outside world?

Most families consist of having a couple and children even if the couple has one child. Each individual of the couple comes from having a different culture background, different upbringing, different house rules, different meal time schedules, different sleeping routines, and so forth. You may or may not get the idea, it's just simply that an individual may or may not have experienced expectations as growing up throughout his or her childhood and teen years.

A woman may have come from a family who has parents that encourages her and her siblings to do house chores, facing the consequences whenever she was and whenever her siblings was misbehaving, her parents may have done their best to enforce to maintain a regular routine of having family home evening, having a routine of doing family prayers when the family is all together, and so forth.

A man may have come from a family who has parents that encourage him to be successful in schooling, encourage him to be spiritually prepared and temple worthy to receive his endowments, encourage him to have a job to to save up a portion for his mission funds, encourage him to spiritually prepared to serve a mission, he may have an opportunity to learn a new language, and so forth.

"The secret of a happy home is that members of the family learn
ti give and receive love." - Billy Graham.

Moat times, children needs to reminded about that there is consequences after each choice that they make. Parents can be determine what the consequences would be like for the children when they misbehave. I know that it can be challenging for some parents, and that is okay. They are aiming to do what is best for their children to hopefully learn from what they were doing wrong and make better choices.

Sometimes children may not want to do everything what is expected for them to do straight away, that even includes doing chores. Who doesn't like doing chores when they have been told to do it? I know I didn't like doing chores as growing up, but eventually I knew it was something that needs to be done.

Families may have expectations that may go overboard at times and that's okay. Families have expectations because sometimes it does requires a lot to keep the parents and children happy.

Parents should be reminded about that they have some responsibilities while their children is still living with them. They should be able to provide clean clothing for their children to wear each day, having appropriate meal time schedules, having a regular bedtime routine, making sure that they would be able to be feed, having a shelter that they have a roof over their heads, and so forth.

Parents should also be reminded that the cost of raising and having children can be expensive, don't let that turn away from having children. Parents should also be reminded that one day, all children are going to grow up to move and live away from home. The children will be able to come and visit parents time to time.

Children should be reminded that they should be able to help their parents out whenever they can, even if it just simply looking after their younger siblings, doing washing up the dishes without being told and cooking dinner for their parents and siblings at least once a week.

Stay Tuned until next time.

Why Does Housing Arrangements Have Expectations?

Good Morning, Good Afternoon, or Good Evening,

this post should take approximately five to eight minutes to read from start to finish.

Throughout this post when I mention about housemates, I do refer to roommates.

In the past, I remembered several occasions when I was living away from my family's home, I was living with individuals who always have expectations. Most expectations that they had, was always different compared to my own expectations. They would have a few expectations that seemed to be stricter than it needs to be.

One of the most difficult housing situations that I was in, I was living with three other housemates. Three individuals who was younger than me, they didn't have the same belief as me, they constantly love having a great time, and they would get drank on some occasions. One of the individuals constantly smoked a lot. Each of us had different work schedules, and each of us had different things to do on our days off from work. I was working the furthest away, I was working over twenty-five hours a week, I was studying Pathways of BYU-Idaho online, I was doing my best to keep myself busy whenever I wasn't working, my husband and I was getting to know each other and just friends at the time.

I remembered two individuals always enjoyed doing grocery shopping, they always expected me to pay them so that they can do my grocery shopping while I was at work. I mostly came home from work, and checked what they have purchased during the grocery shopping. I remembered feeling disappointed that they didn't get everything not even half of the grocery list that I have written down. It just felt like they didn't care and think that I don't eat much at the time. It honestly didn't help when I was constantly away and rarely come home to be able to eat something.

"Wake up with determination, go to bed with satisfaction."

Another most difficult housing situation that I was in, I was living with two other housemates. One housemate was a convert to the Church, and the other housemate has been starting to go back to church after being inactive or less active for awhile. They both were older than me. I remembered going to Costco for one time and I did a massive shop for the housemates and myself. Turns out that the individuals doesn't appreciate the grocery shop that I have done at Costco, and it has made me feel upset.

One individual wanted to go to the same endowment session when I went through. I wasn't a close friend with her, I just wanted only close family and friends to be there for me. She may have felt upset about after telling her that I would like her not go to the same session.

I constantly expected from the individuals to respect to allow me to sleep in from working the nights that I had work the previous nights. I remembered I was always feeling tired and upset whenever my sleep got disturbed. One time, I worked on my night off from work. I started working roughly 9pm ish, and I didn't finish work until 4am ish the next morning. I arrived back home at roughly 5am ish, I did the laundry so I have fresh clean work uniform, and I relaxed.

I eventually went to sleep by 6:30am ish or 7am ish. One individual had turned on the TV and it was loud. It disturbed my sleep. I was such a light sleeper at the time. I got upset and angry when I woke up. I did apologised to the individual and explained that I have worked until early houses of that morning and she didn't seemed to care.

I learned housing arrangements have expectations because the house always needs to be cleaned, dust free, having individuals to feel comfortable to sleep in their own bed.

Sometimes whenever living with other individuals does make challenging at times to adjust into reality. One individual may not able to have a driver's licence and may rely on someone constantly for transportation, one individual may not choose to show that he or she cares about the surroundings around them including who he or she is living with. Sometimes reaching other people's expectations can be easy to follow through, difficult to understand why there are expectations exist, etc.

Always do your best that you can play your part in the home whether it is to wash your own dishes or maintaining the yard, or cleaning the bathroom, whatever it is, remember that you're living a home that you do use the bathroom, you do use dishes, etc.

Stay Tuned until next time.

Happy Valentine's Day 2020

Good Morning, Good Afternoon, or Good Evening, 

this post should take approximately two to four minutes to read from start to finish. 

Isn't it a wonderful feeling to know it is Valentine's Day today? It might be a wonderful feeling to some people or not. What are you doing today to celebrate Valentine's Day? Do you have at least one most favourite memory of celebrating Valentine's Day in the past years?

My husband and I didn't do extra special for celebrating Valentine's Day this day. I gave him a small red teddy bear; and four packs of sour patch kids that shaped loved hearts and it has cute sayings on it. He's currently working and here I am at home. 

Over the past years since 2004, I've always reflected Valentine's Day as another year since I have been baptised into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Although I have learned to appreciate Valentine's Day a bit more since I've met and known my husband. 

In 2018; I was able to celebrate Valentine's Day early with my husband. We celebrate it on my birthday. We both were able to attend two sessions in Oquirrh Mountain Temple, followed by going to attend a session in Salt Lake City Temple, followed by going to a buffet for dinner and dessert, and he surprised me with roses after the buffet dinner. I remembered doing my best to keep the roses alive until it was approaching closer for me to leave Utah, and I remembered trying to dry the roses so I can take it back to Brisbane Australia with me for memories. 

When I got back to Brisbane, I had to claim the roses for customs. Otherwises if I didn't say anything, I would have gotten over $10,000 fine. I remembered going through customs and someone checked my luggage, and you could see how upset I was as the individual checking my luggage and the dried rose petals feel the ground.

Before my husband left Utah, I gave him a Valentine's card. In 2019; I got a Valentine's card from my husband. This year; my husband got me three roses on last Saturday, and he has been considering to get me a bike. It truly doesn't matter what I get for Valentine's Day, as long as my husband still loves me, cares about me, supports me and still appreciate everything that I do for him, I am totally okay with receiving nothing for Valentine's Day.

I'm truly grateful for having my husband as a Valentine and I'm grateful for being a Valentine for my husband for the past few years and I know that we both are keen and looking forward to even more years to come. He's my for all time and eternity Valentine, and I'm his all time and eternity Valentine. I wish you a Happy Valentine's Day.

Stay Tuned until next time.

Love Takes Time} Part Two

Good Morning, Good Afternoon, or Good Evening, 

this post should take approximately three to five minutes to read from start to finish.

This post is based on October 1975 General Conference talk and it is called, "Love Takes Time" by Marvin J. Ashton. This is part two. I have enjoyed reading the talk, I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the talk and I hope you will learn something new. 

Marvin mentioned, " .... When were you last fed by a family member or friend? When were you last given nourishment for growth and ideas, plans, sorting of the day, sharing of fun, recreation, sorrow, anxiety, concern, and meditation? These ingredients can only be shared by someone who loves and cares. Have you ever gone to extend sympathy and comfort in moments of death and trial, only to come away fed by the faith and trust of the loving bereaved?

Certainly the best way for us to show our love in keeping and feeding is by taking the time to prove it hour by hour and day by day. Our expressions of love and comfort are empty if our actions don’t match. God loves us to continue. Our neighbors and families love us if we will but follow through with sustaining support and self-sharing. True love is as eternal as life itself. Who is to say the joys of eternity are not wrapped up in continuous feeding, keeping, and caring? We need not weary in well-doing when we understand God’s purposes and his children.

"The world is filled with too many of us who are inclined
to indicate our love with an announcement or declaration. True
love is a process. True love requires personal action. Love must
be continuing to be real. Love takes time." - Marvin J. Ashton.

... The opportunities for showing love for God through the home, neighborhood, mission field, community, and family are never-ending. Some of us are inclined to terminate our love processes in the family when a member disappoints, rebels, or becomes lost. Sometimes when family members least deserve love, they need it most. Love is not appropriately expressed in threats, accusations, expressions of disappointment, or retaliation. Real love takes time, patience, help, and continuing performances.

Love of God takes time. Love of family takes time. Love of country takes time. Love of neighbor takes time. Love of companion takes time. Love in courtship takes time. Love of self takes time. .. Let us resolve to take the time to give of ourselves in putting love into appropriate action and performance. God, too, needs more than words. He is made happy by our feeding, keeping, and continuing.

... May we take the time to show our families, our friends, the stranger, our prophet, and our God that our declarations of love are backed up by performance by our daily lives, that we know for love to be acceptable

to God and man it must be continuing and originate from within. ... God help us to take the time to enjoy the blessings of feeding, keeping, and caring. ..."

If you would like to read the talk either now or in your own time, here's the link below. 

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1975/10/love-takes-time

Stay Tuned until next time.

How do we show our love towards our relationship?

Good Morning, Good Afternoon, or Good Evening, 

this post should take approximately four to seven minutes to read from start to finish.

Relationships that I would be referring throughout this post is same sex couples, boyfriend and girlfriend, engaged couples, and married couples. Throughout this post whenever I will be mentioning "loved one," I would be referring to those relationships that I have mentioned previously. 

I would like to ask the following questions and you may would like to ask yourself and answer those questions either now or in your own time. How committed are you to make your relationship to work out for the best? Do you enjoy spending some quality time with your loved one? How often do you spend some quality time with your loved one?

Do you mention "I love you" to your loved whenever you get the chance? How often do you say "I love you" to your loved one? Have you ever express concerns to your loved one? If so, how often do you express them?

How often do you compliment your loved one? Do you compliment him or her whenever you get the chance?

How often do your express your trust with your loved one? Are you being honest to him or her often? 

How often do you express to your loved one that you care about him or her? Does he or she knows that you care about him or her? Do you show support towards your loved one? If so, how often do you show that to your loved one?

Who is making the effort and time to make the relationship to work? How long have you been in the relationship for? What have you learned during the relationship so far? How often do you contact your loved one? How often do you listen to your loved one without interrupting what he or she is talking? 

"Some love lasts a lifetime."

Throughout our lives, we always do our best whatever we think is best for our relationship whether it is to making sure that your loved one is constantly feeling loved, feeling appreciated and so on. We can always show our loved one that we do care about him or her, finding ways to understand each other's needs, finding ways to understand each other's wants, finding ways to getting to know each other, showing ways of how we can support one another, loving each other, trusting each other, helping each other to achieve short-term goals, helping each other to achieve long-term goals, speaking kind words to each other, and so on. 

I hope you will always remember that relationships isn't suppose to be 100% easy. If you're very serious in your current relationship, make sure that you are able to prove it and show it.

All relationships should consist of sharing compliments to each other, instead of complaining to each other.

All relationships should consist of speaking kind words to each other, instead of saying hurtful words.

All relationships should consist of supporting each other, even when you disagree with their decision.

All relationships should consist of trusting each other, sometimes it can be difficult to believe in someone. 

All relationships should consist of setting realistic short-term and long-term goals, sky's the limit. Sometimes, we see relationships that has someone comes from a different culture background and the language barrier can be tricky and difficult to understand at times. 

Stay Tuned until next time.

Heavenly Father Loves You

Good Morning, Good Afternoon, or Good Evening, 

this post should take approximately three to five minutes to read from start to finish.

Have you ever experience doubts for Heavenly Father's love for you? Do you know that Heavenly Father loves you?

I know that Heavenly Father loves you and he truly does. Think about it. I know that he truly loves you even when you may or may not feel his love time to time, and even during difficult times, he still loves you. I know that he loves all of his children including you.

I know that Heavenly Father is constantly happy and cheering you for being happy and cheerful. Heavenly Father constantly loves everyone for doing their best to be successful in life.

I know that Heavenly Father loves seeing all of his children making progress at different stages throughout their daily lives. I know that he loves seeing all of his children using their agency to make their own choices. I know that when he sees his children down and upset, he always strives his best to insure them that he is there with them and allow them to feel peace, happiness and comfort again.

I love what the Image says and if you can not see the Image above, it says the following;
"Do you suppose it matters to our Heavenly Father whether your makeup, clothes, hair, and nails are perfect? Do you think he wants you to worry or get depressed if some un-friend or un-follow you on Facebook or Twitter? Do you think outward attractiveness, your dress size, or popularity make the slightest difference in your worth to the One who created the universe?

HE LOVES YOU not only for who you are this very day but also for the person of glory and light you have the potential & the desire to become. - Dieter F. Uchtdorf."

I would like to also encourage you to think about how you can apply what the Image says to your daily life.

Stay Tuned until next time.

Love Takes Time} Part One

Good Morning, Good Afternoon, or Good Evening, 

this post should take approximately four to seven minutes to read from start to finish.

I would like to ask you the following two questions, you may or may not ask yourself and answer the following questions either now or in your own time. What is your definition on true love? Do you believe that love takes time?

This post is based on October 1975 General Conference talk and it is called, "Love Takes Time" by Marvin J. Ashton. This is part one. I have enjoyed reading the talk, I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the talk and I hope you will learn something new. 

Marvin have mentioned the following; "True love is a process. True love requires personal action. Love must be continuing to be real. Love takes time. Too often expediency, infatuation, stimulation, persuasion, or lust are mistaken for love. How hollow, how empty if our love is no deeper than the arousal of momentary feeling or the expression in words of what is no more lasting than the time it takes to speak them.

A group of college students recently indicated to me their least favorite expression to come from us as the older set is, “If there is ever anything I can do to help you, please let me know.” They, as do others, much prefer actions over conversation. We must at regular and appropriate intervals speak and reassure others of our love and the long time it takes to prove it by our actions. Real love does take time.

"Love takes off masks that we fear we cannot live without and
know we cannot live within." - James Baldwin.

.. Love demands action if it is to be continuing. Love is a process. Love is not a declaration. Love is not an announcement. Love is not a passing fancy. Love is not an expediency. Love is not a convenience. From another boy a few years older, old enough to be confined in a state penitentiary a few hundred miles from here, we can learn more about the process of love. In his moving letter, just received within the past few days, he makes an effort to analyze what led to his present situation and all of the accompanying agonies.

He writes, “My dad never seemed to love me and yet he made big deals of saying ‘I love you’ and kissing and all, but I learned that ‘I love you’ meant you didn’t have to do anything. I mean we were never forced to do chores regularly, given no morals, spiritual training at all. To this very day I don’t know what principles my parents stand for.” From this friend, whom I have never met, may I share again the one phrase, “‘I love you’ meant you didn’t have to do anything.” I refer to him as a friend because he has given me his helpful thoughts and I share these comments with you on this occasion hoping they might be helpful to you too.

From the father’s viewpoint can’t he be credited with feeding and keeping?  Perhaps he had kept the family adequately stocked with food supplies. Also, hadn’t his son been the beneficiary of having a roof over his head, protected from the elements day and night over the years? In responding, I would point out to this mother and father and others that feeding is more than providing food. No man can effectively live by bread alone. Feeding is the providing by love adequate nourishment for the entire man, physically, mentally, morally, and spiritually. Keeping is a process of care, consideration, and kindness appropriately blended with discipline, example, and concern. Keeping is more than providing four walls and a roof. All of us need to be constantly reminded it takes a heap of living and loving to make a house a home."

Stay Tuned until next time.

Timing} Part Two

Good Morning, Good Afternoon, or Good Evening,

 this post should take approximately three to six minutes to read from start to finish.

This post is based on January 2002 Devotional called "Timing" by Dallin H. Oaks and this post is part two. I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the Devotional and I hope you will learn something new. 

Continue from the previous post, Dallin mentioned the following; "II. The Agency of Others

The achievement of some important goals in our lives is subject to more than the timing of the Lord. Some personal achievements are also subject to the agency of others. This is particularly evident in two matters of special importance to young people of college age—missionary baptisms and marriage.

III. Applications to Our Lives

Someone has said that life is what happens to us while we are making other plans. Because of things over which we have no control, we cannot plan and bring to pass everything we desire in our lives. Many important things will occur in our lives that we have not planned, and not all of them will be welcome. .. Even our most righteous desires may elude us, or come in different ways or at different times than we have sought to plan.

The timing of marriage is perhaps the best example of an extremely important event in our lives that is almost impossible to plan. Like other important mortal events that depend on the agency of others or the will and timing of the Lord, marriage cannot be anticipated or planned with certainty. We can and should work for and pray for our righteous desires, but, despite this, many will remain single well beyond their desired time for marriage.

God is good all the time.

So what should be done in the meantime? Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ prepares us for whatever life brings. .. Whatever the circumstances beyond our control, our commitments and standards can be constant.

Sometimes our commitments will surface at unexpected times and be applied in unexpected circumstances. Sometimes the principles we have taught to others come back to guide our own actions when we think we don’t need them anymore. ..

Life has some strange turns. .. Faith and trust in the Lord give us the strength to accept and persist, whatever happens in our lives. .. Do not rely on planning every event of your life even every important event. Stand ready to accept the Lord’s planning and the agency of others in matters that inevitably affect you. Plan, of course, but fix your planning on personal commitments that will carry you through no matter what happens. Anchor your life to eternal principles, and act upon those principles whatever the circumstances and whatever the actions of others. Then you can await the Lord’s timing and be sure of the outcome in eternity.

The most important principle of timing is to take the long view. Mortality is just a small slice of eternity, but how we conduct ourselves here—what we become by our actions and desires, confirmed by our covenants and the ordinances administered to us by proper authority—will shape our destiny for all eternity. As the prophet Amulek taught, “This life is the time for men to prepare to meet God” (Alma 34:32). That reality should help us take the long view—the timing of eternity."

If you would like to read or watch the devotional either now or in your free time, here's the link below.
https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/dallin-h-oaks/timing/

Stay Tuned until next time.

Timing} Part One

Good Morning, Good Afternoon, or Good Evening,

 this post should take approximately three to six minutes to read from start to finish.

This post is based on January 2002 Devotional called "Timing" by Dallin H. Oaks and this post is part one. I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the Devotional and I hope you will learn something new. 

Dallin mentioned the following; ".. timing is vital. We read in Ecclesiastes: 

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

“A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; …

“A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

“… A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; …

“… A time to keep silence, and a time to speak” (Ecclesiastes. 3:1–2, 4–5, 7).

In all the important decisions in our lives, what is most important is to do the right thing. Second, and only slightly behind the first, is to do the right thing at the right time. People who do the right thing at the wrong time can be frustrated and ineffective. They can even be confused about whether they made the right choice when what was wrong was not their choice but their timing.

"Faith in God includes faith in God's timing." - Neal A. Maxwell.

The Lord’s Timing

.. The first principle of the gospel is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Faith means trust—trust in God’s will, trust in His way of doing things, and trust in His timetable. We should not try to impose our timetable on His. As Elder Neal A. Maxwell of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles has said: “The issue for us is trusting God enough to trust also His timing. If we can truly believe He has our welfare at heart, may we not let His plans unfold as He thinks best? The same is true with the second coming and with all those matters wherein our faith needs to include faith in the Lord’s timing for us personally, not just in His overall plans and purposes.”

Indeed, we cannot have true faith in the Lord without also having complete trust in the Lord’s will and in the Lord’s timing. .. in this matter the timing is the Lord’s, not ours. .. the Lord will proceed in His own time and in His own way.

.. The Lord’s timing also applies to the important events of our personal lives. .. This principle applies to revelation and to all of the most important events in our lives: birth, marriage, death, and even our moves from place to place. It is not enough that we are going in the right direction. The timing must be right, and if the time is not right, our actions should be adjusted to the Lord’s timetable as revealed by His servants.

Proclaiming the gospel is His work, not ours, and therefore it must be done on His timing, not ours. There are nations in the world today that must hear the gospel before the Lord will come again. We know this, but we cannot force it. We must wait upon the Lord’s timing. He will tell us, and He will open the doors or bring down the walls when the time is right. We should pray for the Lord’s help and directions so that we can be instruments in His hands to proclaim the gospel to nations and persons who are now ready—persons He would have us help today. The Lord loves all of His children, and He desires that all have the fulness of His truth and the abundance of His blessings. He knows when groups or individuals are ready, and He wants us to hear and heed His timetable for sharing His gospel with them."

Stay Tuned until next time.

How can we accept the Lord's Will and Timing?

Good Morning, Good Afternoon, or Good Evening,

 this post should take approximately four to seven minutes to read from start to finish. 

This post focuses on an article from Liahona in August 2016, and it is called "Accepting the Lord's Will and Timing" by Elder David A. Bednar. I would like to share with you some favourite parts that I loved while I was reading the article and I hope you will learn something new. 

Elder Bednar mentioned the following, "Scriptures concerning the Savior’s suffering as He offered the infinite and eternal atoning sacrifice became even more poignant and meaningful to me. I believe most of us likely would expect a man with the spiritual capacity, experience, and stature of Elder Maxwell to face serious illness and death with an understanding of God’s plan of happiness, with assurance and grace, and with dignity.

"Strong faith in the Savior is submissively accepting of
His will and timing in our lives even if the outcome is not
what we hoped for or wanted."

“Not My Will, but Thine, Be Done”
We recognized a principle that applies to every devoted disciple: strong faith in the Savior is submissively accepting of His will and timing in our lives even if the outcome is not what we hoped for or wanted. Righteousness and faith certainly are instrumental in moving mountains if moving mountains accomplishes God’s purposes and is in accordance with His will.

Righteousness and faith certainly are instrumental in healing the sick, deaf, and lame if such healing accomplishes God’s purposes and is in accordance with His will. Thus, even if we have strong faith, many mountains will not be moved. And not all of the sick and infirm will be healed. If all opposition were curtailed, if all maladies were removed, then the primary purposes of the Father’s plan would be frustrated.

Many of the lessons we are to learn in mortality can be received only through the things we experience and sometimes suffer. And God expects and trusts us to face temporary mortal adversity with His help so we can learn what we need to learn and ultimately become what we are to become in eternity.

The Meaning of All Things
You are facing, have faced, or will yet face equivalent challenges in your lives with the same courage and spiritual perspective ..

I do not know why some people learn the lessons of eternity through trial and suffering while others learn similar lessons through rescue and healing. I do not know all of the reasons, all of the purposes, and I do not know everything about the Lord’s timing. With Nephi, you and I can say that we “do not know the meaning of all things”  (1 Nephi 11:17).

But some things I absolutely do know. I know we are spirit sons and daughters of a loving Heavenly Father. I know the Eternal Father is the author of the plan of happiness. I know Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. I know Jesus enabled the Father’s plan through His infinite and eternal Atonement. I know the Lord, who was “bruised, broken, [and] torn for us,”2 can succor and strengthen “his people according to their infirmities” (Alma 7:12). And I know one of the greatest blessings of mortality is to not shrink and to allow our individual will to be “swallowed up in the will of the Father” (Mosiah 15:7).

Though I do not know everything about how and when and where and why these blessings occur, I do witness they are real. And I know that as you press forward in your lives with steadfast faith in Christ, you will have the capacity to not shrink." I encourage you to read the whole article in your own time.

Here's the link below. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/liahona/2016/08/accepting-the-lords-will-and-timing

Stay Tuned until next time.

Why his timing isn't our timing?

Good Morning, Good Afternoon, or Good Evening, 

this post should take approximately four to seven minutes to read from start to finish.

This post focuses on his timing, not our timing. I would like to ask some simple following questions. You may or may not want to ask yourself those questions either now or in your free time.

Why is the Lord's timing isn't our timing? Why does Heavenly Father gets us to wait for his timing at times? Do we ever feel getting impatient with the Lord's timing at times?

We may or may not think that the Lord's timing can be so confusing at times and we don't understand why we have to wait. We may or may not acknowledge the blessings that do come from waiting for the Lord's timing. It is a natural mankind for an individual to be caught up and feeling impatient with the Lord's timing at times.

"Although his time is not always our time. We can be sure that the Lord
keeps his promises." - Henry B. Eyring.

As growing up during my teen ages, I was definitely looking forward to serve a full-time mission. I even remembered how excited I was feeling and felt that I was doing the right thing to submit the full-time mission papers. I was looking forward to receive the letter in the mail from the Prophet in Salt Lake, Utah at the time to find out where I would be called to serve, where and when do I get to report to the Missionary Training  Center {MTC}.

Sadly; after years and years after submitting the full-time mission papers, I found out that the full-time mission papers has not been submitted. I was devastated, frustrated and instantly cried. I definitely was in a shock and wasn't prepared to resubmit the full-time mission papers because I was already dedicated to the next stage of my life to commit at the time.

Heavenly Father's timing often has been the bestest blessings that I have ever received. I seemed to look back at multiple occasions and be grateful that I was able to achieve as much as I can prior to meeting my husband. I would like to share some wonderful examples of the things that I am proud of and accomplished throughout the years prior to meeting my husband. Those examples are listed below.

I graduated high school successfully, I participated and graduated seminary successfully, I participated many institute classes and graduated institute successfully, I attended Temple preparations class, I received my endowments, I obtained my drivers' licence, I survived from my first car accident on my own, I became an independent and lived away from home, I relied on myself for making many righteous decisions, and the list goes on and on. 

Prior to meeting husband, I have been through moments that has taught me a lot of lessons focuses on the Lord's timing. I have felt impatient with the Lord's timing because I used to want things to happen the way that I wanted them to. For an example, I would like to be married either when I was twenty years or twenty-one years but I didn't ever expected that I would get married at twenty-three years. 

I have experienced of times when I wasn't kneeling down and saying meaningful personal prayers. I seemed to lost my trust with Heavenly Father. I often felt that I have given up a lot even at times when I seemed to be okay.   

I absolutely do know that I have been truly blessed and happy to be married to my husband. I do know that some things are worth waiting for especially in the Lord's timing. We can always find ways to show patience with the Lord's timing. 

Stay Tuned until next time.