Sunday, May 20th

Today was filled with a lot of precious gems. My natural self wants me to postpone writing this and take a lovely nap, but, I will not have time the rest of the day to do so, and it probably won't get done this week if I neglect it, so here goes. I probably will try not to expound too much, on my notes, and just give you the gems...even if they don't make sense in this context. Though, I'll put them in complete-ish sentences.

Life is a trial, it follows similar paths for everyone, and others have come before and show the way to go in order to find joy.
There is always something to learn, which doesn't mean that I am ignorant, foolish, or weak now, it just means there is more to see.
The Lord comforts us. Be patient, success is on its way.
Simplicity. Beautiful. Complexity has its place, but it is built upon a foundation of simplicity.
Your foundation is in place. You are able to move forward, so do so. You may not have the "answer" to your earnest prayer, but there are many ways to move forward regardless.
We need to be proactively worthy. Be doing things to keep yourself worthy, don't just go through the motions, but choose to be worthy, omitting the wrong and acting righteously.
Be prepared to receive blessing sthat were promised, and search for opportinities to serve.
Put your total fath in Christ. Press forward, Saints, be steadfast. You'll get there.
Act. Choose. Live. You can become like God if you choose and follow through.
This is the way, you are in the right place. Keep going. Live like His Son.
Always listen to the Spirit, and strive to truly listen to each other. You'll find ways to serve and to find joy.
Keep doing the little things, they will be magnified because of Christ, seek to bless the lives of others.
Be united in faith and direction. We are people of God. Find the power to look beyond yourself to see the needs of those around you, through the Atonement, through the Spiritual Gift of Charity.
Recognize that we are all, including you, children of the Most High God.
How do you react to hard times?
God softens hearts, keep praying for the hearts in your life to be softened. Yes, it is their choice, their agency, but God can help, have faith.
It is ok that you are experiencing 'great afflictions' (at least according to you in the moment of trial--looking back they never seem as hard, which is also ok). Cry unto the Lord. That means actual tears are ok. It is ok to hurt, it doesn't necessarily mean a lack of faith. I definitely struggle, I have hard days, I hurt, and I need to cry sometimes. Yet, I am a person of more faith than I realize, and you are too. Christ will help your unbelief as you come to Him with as much faith as you can muster. He strengthens us, and delivers us, even if we experience hardship along the way, we are still delivered, we are still saved and protected. For instance, yesterday, I was in a really awful parking lot, and I am currently borrowing a car from my boss. I was really nervous to get out ok, it was really tight, there were bunch of people and cars trying to move all at the same time in a limited space. I kept praying, and I felt as I got into my car that I would be taken care of. So, I moved forward. Couldn't get out. Kept feeling like it would be ok, but confusion and I don't really know what it was called, were clouding me, yet, I kept going. I decided to go a way that embarrassed me, putting me in front of these people, who looked {though probably weren't} laughing at me. I don't like to be the center of attention, and for a little bit I was, and I was doing what I feared, showing my inadequacies--this time as a driver. I was kind of hurt as I finally made it through that the Lord hadn't made my exit a graceful, perfect event, as He has done in the past. Instead, there was a lot of little adjustments, but thankfully, I recognized quickly that the Lord was still there. I didn't scrape the car on the neighboring vehicles though they were extremely close, I didn't run over anyone, though for a time it looked like I would since they just felt like sitting in the parking lot right where I wanted to go {seriously, just sitting in the middle of the parking lot}. He was with me. I was still driving, but He was there guiding and protecting me, comforting me when I allowed Him in.
Rely on God when you are in trouble. Don't limit your resources by only relying on your wisdom, your strength, He is infinitely wise, powerful, and loving. Trust Him, you are not "weak" or "worthless" if you ask for help. You are truly wise, not yet as He is, but you're on track.
Choose vs. compel to ____ for instance, humble. When we choose, it always is better than having to be compelled to be. It has more meaning because it is who we are, not just acted upon by an outside force.
Find joy in the journey based on where your focus is. If we don't choose to be humble, our trials will humble us.
Magnify your calling. Be unified. Feel your divine worth. These things provide eternal guidance along our mortal path. More meaning and depth than what meets the eye. Take a minute and apply it to yourself.
We all have our "Gethsemane-s" turn to the Savior for healing. Life can continue, you can keep progressing, even without an answer, yet as we keep going in faith, we find strength in Christ and healing through the Infinite Atonement.

I have a work cut out for me, and guidance along the way. We'll all get there if we keep moving forward with whatever level of faith we can manage.