I've been made aware that my email never got posted last week, so I don't feel bad at all for not writing very much! Now you get two at once, you luckies!
Honestly anything that I type today is going to come out too... well, it will come out exactly how I want it to. I'm afraid that no one will be on the same page as me. Blogs are fun because they are full of uplifting messages and fun pictures! They're easy to jump over to in the middle of doing homework or on your lunch break at work. It's comforting to hear of someone else's experiences and you find yourself tagging along as if they were your own. I used to read Stephanie Nielson's blog every day and was an avid fan of her lifestyle and her cute children!I would go to her page to find something encouraging during the toughest part of my day. I thought that I truly understood the things that she was going through because I felt strong emotion as I read... but looking back I question the extent of my understanding and I wonder if I'll ever really comprehend what she experienced. I fear that I'm unable to write in a way that can really relate my feelings. Truthfully it shouldn't matter. I always came away from Nie Nie Dialogues feeling strong and ready to face the day!
How much can I share in order for you to receive that same level of encouragement? If you are here for a simple, fun read then I would hope that you'll enjoy what's here. However if you are here looking for something that will change you, and if you are willing to test your faith a little and tag along with me for awhile, then I can guarantee you'll find what you're looking for.
CHANGE
"Throughout our lives, we must deal with change. Some changes are welcome; some are not. There are changes in our lives which are sudden, such as the unexpected passing of a loved one, an unforeseen illness, the loss of a possession we treasure . But most of the changes take place subtly and slowly.
-President Thomas S. Monson
I came on a mission with a very strong desire to change. Let's not be ridiculous; I knew I was awesome. I loved joking and laughing and I already felt pretty successful in comforting others and doing good in the world. I didn't feel like a bad person. Although times had passed where I couldn't deny that I was a complete idiot. But when I came on this mission I had it in my mind, "I never want to be the person that I was yesterday." I want to change. I want to identify the many weaknesses that I have and completely obliterate them! This isn't a task for this 18 months alone, but a life-long journey that I've signed up for.
In order to change we must accept that it is through change, that we are transformed. It is not in the happiest phases of our lives that we learn life's lessons, but rather in the weakest moments that we find out what will bring us true happiness. Though it's not always welcomed, change is what we are all asking for.
GRACE
This is a story from a BYU Professor:
A BYU student once came to me and asked if we could talk. I said, “Of course. How can I help you?”
She said, “I just don’t get grace.”
I responded, “What is it that you don’t understand?”
She said, “I know I need to do my best and then Jesus does the rest, but I can’t even do my best.”
She then went on to tell me all the things she should be doing because she’s a Mormon that she wasn’t doing.
She continued, “I know that I have to do my part and then Jesus makes up the difference and fills the gap that stands between [what I'm capable of] and perfection. But who fills the gap that stands between where I am now and my true capability?”
She then went on to tell me all the things that she shouldn't be doing because she’s a Mormon, but she was doing them anyway.
Finally I said, “Jesus doesn't make up the difference. Jesus makes all the difference. Grace is not about filling gaps. It is about filling us.”
We can't do it on our own. As many times as we write down a goal, or tell someone our opinion, or tell ourselves, "Just do it!" we will never reach our true potential until we ask for help. And we have to ask the only person who can actually understand and support us in our trials. Our Savior. He's the only person who understands 100% what you're thinking. He's the only person who felt exactly how you've felt. You'll never have to explain yourself to him or hesitate telling the whole story in fear of embarrassment or shame because he already knows and he will never stop loving you. Although we can find help and answers and solutions from the resources around us, the only way out of our trouble and on our way to reaching our true potential is through Christ. He knows the way, and he's been there before. Did he not reach his true potential? Why, then, couldn't we if we just follow his example?
WHY NOT?
People have a lot of dirt against God, religion, faith, belief, scripture, prophecy, the power of God, visions, and miracles. It's easy to get online and read a bunch of negative opinions but I don't understand how people can actually believe those opinions.
"Why not?". If God helped Moses split the Red Sea and had bread literally rain from the Heaven's, if Christ multiplied a few loaves and fishes, and healed the sick, and raised the dead, and if Peter walked on water.... then why couldn't he be capable of similar things now? Why not?
Wouldn't it be better if all of this was possible? Life would be easier, happier, fulfilling, exciting, and the options would be endless. We could ask questions and actually find answers! We could see miracles and even better, we could be a participant in miracles!
Why not?
Every day is an opportunity to change. I never want to be the person that I was yesterday. I know that I am not perfect. Any accusation thrown my way is openly accepted because there's a 95% chance that I'm wrong. I'll never know until I ask the Lord about it. So I dare you to go ask him. What do you need to change? Whatever it is you're thinking of right now, take it to God and then HAZLO! :)
Be the best you can be this week.
I love you,
Hermana Hileman
She said, “I just don’t get grace.”
I responded, “What is it that you don’t understand?”
She said, “I know I need to do my best and then Jesus does the rest, but I can’t even do my best.”
She then went on to tell me all the things she should be doing because she’s a Mormon that she wasn’t doing.
She continued, “I know that I have to do my part and then Jesus makes up the difference and fills the gap that stands between [what I'm capable of] and perfection. But who fills the gap that stands between where I am now and my true capability?”
She then went on to tell me all the things that she shouldn't be doing because she’s a Mormon, but she was doing them anyway.
Finally I said, “Jesus doesn't make up the difference. Jesus makes all the difference. Grace is not about filling gaps. It is about filling us.”
We can't do it on our own. As many times as we write down a goal, or tell someone our opinion, or tell ourselves, "Just do it!" we will never reach our true potential until we ask for help. And we have to ask the only person who can actually understand and support us in our trials. Our Savior. He's the only person who understands 100% what you're thinking. He's the only person who felt exactly how you've felt. You'll never have to explain yourself to him or hesitate telling the whole story in fear of embarrassment or shame because he already knows and he will never stop loving you. Although we can find help and answers and solutions from the resources around us, the only way out of our trouble and on our way to reaching our true potential is through Christ. He knows the way, and he's been there before. Did he not reach his true potential? Why, then, couldn't we if we just follow his example?
WHY NOT?
People have a lot of dirt against God, religion, faith, belief, scripture, prophecy, the power of God, visions, and miracles. It's easy to get online and read a bunch of negative opinions but I don't understand how people can actually believe those opinions.
"Why not?". If God helped Moses split the Red Sea and had bread literally rain from the Heaven's, if Christ multiplied a few loaves and fishes, and healed the sick, and raised the dead, and if Peter walked on water.... then why couldn't he be capable of similar things now? Why not?
Wouldn't it be better if all of this was possible? Life would be easier, happier, fulfilling, exciting, and the options would be endless. We could ask questions and actually find answers! We could see miracles and even better, we could be a participant in miracles!
Why not?
Every day is an opportunity to change. I never want to be the person that I was yesterday. I know that I am not perfect. Any accusation thrown my way is openly accepted because there's a 95% chance that I'm wrong. I'll never know until I ask the Lord about it. So I dare you to go ask him. What do you need to change? Whatever it is you're thinking of right now, take it to God and then HAZLO! :)
Be the best you can be this week.
I love you,
Hermana Hileman
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