Beautiful to Him

I haven't been very good at keeping up with my blog and its not because I don't have anything to write. I've just gotten really busy when I'm on line! I will be better...I only have 6 weeks left in my mission and I'm going to post be sure to post 3 more times before I go home! 

As I've been reflecting back on my mission and all the things I've learned and done I've been thinking a lot about how important every person I meet is to God. We often get frustrated and discouraged in this harsh world we live in but as we turn to our loving Heavenly Father in prayer he will show us our worth. Jesus Christ tells us throughout the scriptures that "the worth of souls in great in the sight of God." God knows and loves us all individually. I was reading a talk by President Uchtdorf entitled 'You Matter to Him' and I loved this quote from it;

"And while we may look at the vast expanse of the universe and say, “What is man in comparison to the glory of creation?” God Himself said we are the reason He created the universe! His work and glory—the purpose for this magnificent universe—is to save and exalt mankind. In other words, the vast expanse of eternity, the glories and mysteries of infinite space and time are all built for the benefit of ordinary mortals like you and me. Our Heavenly Father created the universe that we might reach our potential as His sons and daughters."

I'd like to end with this beautiful song that I was introduced to on my mission by an amazing woman.  She had this song sung at her baptism and the spirit was so strong in the room.  Its called 'Beautiful to Him' by Rachel Thibodeau. 

"I'm not going to buy the world's little lies. 

I define myself and find my beauty in the light he gives.

I'm refined by his divine intentions everyday I live.

It does matter what the world believes

or what they say that beauty means.

It comes from within I want to be beautiful to him."

God loves you!

I've been thinking a lot lately about our Heavenly Father and his infinite love for us.  There are many people that don't know that they have a Father in Heaven who loves them.  My testimony started with knowing that I have a Father in Heaven who truly knows and loves me.  I have had many experiences in my life where I have seen God manifest his love to me.  As I pray I feel his love for me and as I study the many books of scripture he has provided us with I receive answers to my prayers.  I don's understand all the mysteries of the world but one thing I do know is that my Father in Heaven loves me. There is a scripture I love in the The Book of Mormon is says:

"And I said unto him: I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things." 1 Nephi 11:17

There are so many things that happen in this world that are hard to explain and just like Nephi I do not know the meaning of all things but I do know that my Heavenly Father loves me.  I also love the words of Job in chapter 19.  He tells us of the afflictions that he has in his life for 22 verses but then he bears his testimony to us.  Despite all the afflictions that came upon him he says;

"For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another." (Job 19:25-27)

When ever I study about Job I am immediately humbled.  He had this amazing attitude throughout all of his trials.  He took comfort in his knowledge that his "redeemer liveth".  He had this great eternal perspective that even though life is hard and he had many hardships he was still focused on returning to his Heavenly Father.  I challenge you all to take a step back and look at your life from an eternal perspective.  

For the Beauty of the Earth

Today as I was pondering the gospel it brought me to think about times in my life where I've felt the most happiness and felt the most peace.  As I thought back in my life so many of those times were when I was outside appreciating this beautiful earth that Jesus Christ created through the direction of our Heavenly Father.

I remember on day while I was on a vacation in Las Vegas with my friends and one of the moments I remember the most was when we stopped in the Valley of Fire on our drive back home.  As I look out over that beautiful sandy canyon I felt to incredibly happy.  It was early in January and I could take my shoes off and run through the sand!  I could look out over this beautiful canyon and see these amazing red rock formations.

I remember one day stepping out of my from door and looking at the clouds in the sky and how the sun coming through them reflected off the street after the rain.  It was such a beautiful moment in the middle of a busy day where I had the opportunity to stop and see the beauty of this world.

I remember just before I left to come out here on my mission my friends and I went to Waterton National Park in Southern Alberta.  As we hiked the mountains and spent time in nature I remember stopping and pondering on this beautiful earth and the majesty of it all.  We climbed to the top of Bears Hump Mountain and as I sat there at the top looking down over the little town and the lake and surrounding mountains I remember feeling so peaceful.  I took some time to pray and thank God for this world we have and for the many blessings he has given me.  As I prayed I felt God's love and knew without a shadow of a doubt that he personally knows me and loves me.  He loves us all so much that he sent his son Jesus Christ to this earth to suffer for the sins of all the world and to die on the cross so that we to can return to our father in heaven.  So amazing!

I'm reminded of a scripture in Alma 30:44

“Yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it … do witness that there is a Supreme Creator”

That scripture sums up my thoughts on this subject.  Those words speak peace to my heart as I drive through the country roads here in Tennessee and Kentucky.  As I look at the beauty of the earth I know that "all things denote there is a God." As I look at the leaves falling and the sun setting I find peace and comfort in knowing that our Heavenly Father and his Son Jesus Christ love us!