(written on the 11th)
Did some dailies this morning and headed out to the creek to take a bath a little bit early.
Ended up playing in my little soaking pool a little long, so I was scrambling a bit by the end to make sure I got to church in time to be sustained as the new Just Serve coordinator for our branch to the stake.
When they first announced that as a new calling a few weeks back, it seemed like I would end up being the most likely choice. Felt like kind of the perfect fit, so I wasn’t surprised last Sunday when they asked me to serve in that capacity. 🙃
Gratefully, I was able to get to church in time to be present for the sustaining vote. 🙏
The first speaker in sacrament meeting, I forget her name, the missionary from the stake, was really meaningful for me.
Just put everything in the Lord’s hands and let go of outcomes. Give your all, but let go of outcomes. They will be what they will be, and God will make everything perfect for what I need and want most, which may have little to nothing to do with what I want now.
So, I will work to look forward to New Zealand, despite my strugglings, as Lehi in the Book of Mormon looked forward to the fulfillment of the promise he’d received from God that he would be led to a promised land.
Though he was still 8 years away from receiving that particular blessing, he said, “But behold I have obtained a land of promise, in the which things I do rejoice.” (1 Nephi 5:5)
Finding joy not just in what is but also in what will be.
That’s some pretty incredible faith.
So, I say to myself, in my currently-feeble expression of faith, “But behold, a great gift hath God given me in New Zealand, which I look forward to receiving, and in which I rejoice.”
Even if it’s an uncomfortable blessing.
😅
And, when I’m strong… because it’s an uncomfortable blessing–that I might receive the experience necessary to be stretched in the ways I need to be stretched to become the person I want to become.
Bring it on.
[gulp 😅]
After church, I hung out at the trailer for a bit, and then I headed off back to my little secret soaking pool.
I’ve hit bedrock, so the majority of my excavation now is cutting my way through bedrock 🪨, which, believe it or not, is more productive than trying to scrape the hard-packed clay rock mix that had been crazy slow going. At least each chunk of bedrock comes away and feels like it’s making a difference.
It was a lot of effort to get to this point, so it’s nice to have it easing up a bit.
So I spent the day playing in the pool while listening to gospel-centered talks and speeches and whatnot.
Good stuff.
I ended up staying until after the sun went down, but with some light still in the sky. On the way home, I saw a forest fire on the horizon, so after calling Heather and Hans to ask about it and having Heather find that it wasn’t listed on the forest fire map, I went ahead and called 911 and got it reported. Fortunately, they already had crews out there.
Chatted with Heather for a little bit, made some dinner, said good night to Heather, as she was heading off to bed, and I headed out to Rover to eat dinner and crash.
Gratitude:
- I’m grateful I was able to make it to church on time to be present for my sustaining.
- I’m grateful for fire crews, people risking their lives to save others property, possessions, and lives.
- I’m grateful I was willing to call 911. I felt a little awkward about it, so it was a good opportunity to overcome a small manifestation of pride.
- I’m grateful for tasty little condiments like banana peppers and pickled jalapenos that I can just dump in my hot chili beans to make a rather tasty dinner. I missed a bet, though, as I could have heated up my chili in my microwave for the first time. I didn’t really think about it because I don’t worry about having my chili hot. I’m fine with it out of the can without heating it up, but it still would have been a good opportunity to make sure my microwave works. 🙃 I’ll probably use my microwave most for cooking vegetables in the future.
- I’m grateful for the lady’s message during sacrament meeting today. It was a blessing to me.
Success:
- Choosing to focus in and let go and let God. That was big today.
Improvement:
- The little bit of embarrassment that I felt calling 911… pride to root out.
Thought of the Day:
They sustain us in our hour of need—and always will, even if we cannot recognize that intervention.
Some blessings come soon, some come late, and some don’t come until heaven; but for those who embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, they come.
~ Jeffrey R. Holland
Hand of God In My Life Today:
The gift of hope and courage today to recenter, regroup, and step forward.
Love and hugs, my friends. ❤️
Lift the world.
Bring it on.
~ stephen
Lift the World 