lead me, guide me, walk beside me

We all have those 

 --situations that make us uncomfortable, 

 --thoughts we'd really prefer not to let into our minds,

 --and feelings we'd like to put an end to..

How do you do it?

I personally like to sing songs, generally in my head, and the ones that always seem to come to mind are songs I learned as a child. 

Most often it is, "I am a Child of God" written especially for children to learn but also for all members of the world to enjoy. 

The chorus at the end of each verse goes like this: 

"Lead me, guide me, walk beside me, help me find the way.

Teach me all that I must do, to live with Him some day"

I was singing this in my head the other day when I realized, possibly for the first time, what that was really saying. 

In order to return to live with my Father in Heaven after this Earth life I must be lead and guided by the spirit in all things. Even in the simplest little things we should be seeking God's council.

Here is how I found this works: 

When deciding

which restaurant to go to,

what outfit to wear,

which activity to participate in,

or what music to listen to,

do we need to kneel in prayer every single time?

 In general, I don't feel like that is essential. What I do consider to be critical is being aware of the way you feel, more specifically to listen to the spirit.

You may not know what that means. Maybe "listen to the spirit" is such an overused phrase in “Mormon culture” that it has become insignificant, meaningless in some way or maybe you've never heard it before! Let me try to explain it in fresh words. 

The Spirit of God is the Holy Ghost, a friend we can consistently have with us every minute of every day, once we are confirmed after baptism. You can't see Him, but He is a best friend that will NEVER give you bad advice. He is incapable of doing so. Heavenly Father won't allow it. Period. So when you feel that little nudge of, 

"Maybe I shouldn't be here," leave. 

"Maybe I shouldn't wear this…" don't. 

"Maybe I shouldn't listen to this…" change it.

So simple, and yet so safe!

There have been multiple cases in which I KNOW that the Holy Ghost has lead me out of a situation that could potentially have been quite harmful. Listen to the Holy Ghost, even when it is just a little thing, because then it becomes easier to listen when the big things come along.

The other day as I went to put on one of my favorite pair of shorts, I realized they felt a little tighter than I remembered and looked a little shorter. I considered for a few minutes whether or not I should wear them. It was going to be a hot day and I had no other clean shorts.

I took them off and put on a rolled up pair of pants instead. Not only did I get many compliments on my pants, I felt so much more confident with myself. I even ran into a family that I respect and love very much, and while sitting and talking with them, I realized how grateful I was I had listened to that prompting. If not my conversation would've been poor as my mind struggled to focus on anything but the length and size of my pants as I uncomfortably would've tugged and fidgeted with them. Even because of small things such as this I am grateful for the Holy Ghost's influence in my life.

So listen to that still, small, feeling inside of you. The suggestions you well receive from Him are priceless.

You Never Stand Alone, Ever.

As the lyrics to one of my choir's last songs so plainly says:

"I never stand alone, when I stand with God

and I stand with His prophets 

wherever I may go 

when I stand with God 

I never stand alone..

"I stand with Nephi and Moroni

With Abinadi who testified through flames

with Saints through the ages

stalwart and faithful

leading me, telling me

I never stand

I never stand alone.."

During our first and last choir-tour concerts the audience spontaneously stood with us. Tears flowing down our faces we more perfectly understand what that really meant, although you may feel like you are standing alone, never are you really. God's angels stand round about you and His spirit cheers up yours. 

She Will Find What Is Lost: Brian Kershisnik 

Kershisnik's Gallery

The Divine Gospel

I just returned home from CHOIR TOUR! Although I would love to, I won't bore you with all the little details. I will say, however, that it was an incredible, strengthening experience that I absolutely loved and wouldn't trade for anything. 

  

There are a few key ideas I've learned about life though that I would like to share. 

1. A positive attitude makes all the difference

2. Your happiness truly can be independent of life's circumstances

& 3. The Book of Mormon is Divine

1. I met a man on choir tour (my first host dad, actually) who really taught me a priceless life lesson. He said "There are two ways to look at life, you can look at it with a positive attitude or a negative attitude, and I find the positive attitude is a whole lot easier!" But beyond the phrase, what really impressed me about him and his wonderful Christ centered family was the way they lived, and the way he really did have a positive attitude, always. 

Whether it was telling his wife 25 times a meal that it was the "best meal ever!" (no exaggeration) or if it was showing his kids how much he loved them every minute of the day, or simply not complaining, he did it whole heartedly and positively. He was so kind, so joyful, and so astoundingly Christlike, that it was impossible not to be happy in his presence. 

For the remainder of tour I did my very best to have a good attitude, even when we were on a bus that straight up reeked, on a windy road with little air conditioning for hours at a time, we laughed. When we bought a dinner that ended up tasting ridiculously disgusting, we laughed. When we had to say goodbye and have our last concert ever, we cried and were thankful for the experience Heavenly Father blessed us with. 

It's easier, he was right. 

2. Number two really goes along quite nicely with number one. If you have a positive attitude and your focus in on Christ and service, things are happy. They are actually joyful, exhilaratingly joyful. Isn't that a delightful phrase to describe the gospel? (:

3. My testimony was really solidified this year. The Book of Mormon came alive through messages shared in song. (If you ever get the chance to see the program 'From Cumorah's Hill' DO IT). My testimony of the book of Mormon changed from, 

The Book of Mormon is true because I feel good when I read it and visa-versa, to ----------> the Book of Mormon is DIVINE inspiration from God, with real people --our ancestors-- who we will meet again someday, and it is 100% applicable to US, today.

Life is divine, lovely, joyful, & exhilarating. 

The gospel is the genuine reality of life.