mini post: flowers and prayer

I took these pictures of the flowers on a recent walk during one of the very few times within the last couple of weeks that it hasn't been raining.  Its been raining and raining and raining!


I hope you don't mind if I share a few brief thoughts with you.  Its usually something that I would write in my personal journal, but I feel like I should share it here.

An excerpt from Sister Beck's most recent talk:

“And upon the Handmaids in Those Days Will I Pour Out My Spirit”

"...Many answers to difficult questions are found by reading the scriptures because the scriptures are an aid to revelation. Insight found in scripture accumulates over time, so it is important to spend some time in the scriptures every day. Daily prayer is also essential to having the Lord’s Spirit with us. Those who earnestly seek help through prayer and scripture study often have a paper and pencil nearby to write questions and record impressions and ideas. 

**my thoughts:  I love how she emphasizes spending time in the scriptures every day.  It seems that the areas I need to work on come alive for me when I am pondering them on and off for days, rather than just moments.  Also, about writing spiritual experiences down...I always think of Elder Scott.**

 

Revelation can come hour by hour and moment by moment as we do the right things. When women nurture as Christ nurtured, a power and peace can descend to guide when help is needed. For instance, mothers can feel help from the Spirit even when tired, noisy children are clamoring for attention, but they can be distanced from the Spirit if they lose their temper with children. 
 Being in the right places allows us to receive guidance. It requires a conscious effort to diminish distractions, but having the Spirit of revelation makes it possible to prevail over opposition and persist in faith through difficult days and essential routine tasks. 

Personal revelation gives us the understanding of what to do every day to increase faith and personal righteousness, strengthen families and homes, and seek those who need our help. Because personal revelation is a constantly renewable source of strength, it is possible to feel bathed in help even during turbulent times."

This is such timely and beautiful counsel for me. There are so many powerful principles in this talk for me to ponder and set goals to improve.  This idea that personal revelation can break through and help us overcome the challenges in our lives when we are willing to ask for it, receive it and follow it is such an exciting one to me!!

I can never do enough to acknowledge the Lord's goodness and kindness towards me.  I never deserve it and I'm always so grateful for His long suffering towards me.  I struggle with things that others might consider pretty silly.  I'm can't express my gratitude enough for a loving Heavenly Father who seems to love me despite all my many weaknesses and listens intently to my prayers.  I know that personal revelation is real and when I'm humble enough to ask for it, that the Lord answers those prayers.  Its happened time and time again.  My own pride holds me back from enjoying it more.

There are so many talks from this last General Conference that enrich and strengthen my resolve to be a better wife and mother.  I'm so grateful for living prophets and inspired leaders that are fearless when it comes to sharing their testimonies and wisdom with us.

Thank you for being such faithful and wonderful friends and family. Your examples of striving to do what's right in your life, even when its difficult is a real strength to me.  I love and miss you.  I really mean it, I do.

I also wanted to share that Adelaide is walking!  She is so cute totting around!  I'll try to snap some pictures of her this weekend so you can see her cute little form.

Hope everyone has great weekend plans!  Thanks for checking in! :)