Peace Be Still

I haven't always been at peace with my self, soul, or life. I would say for most of my life I haven't felt that empowering peace. Until recently I have felt that peace that comes in the stillness of the quiet times in my life.

This world is not a peaceful place, It's never going to be, so Peace needs to start in your heart, and let it expand to your family, and then to the world, I think that is what Peace Be Still is all about, when your heart is healed, and ready to be at peace with your life, you can be still, and realize how amazing this world can be. Only then can you feel that joy that comes from living, only then you can start to share that peace with your family. Family First right?

I came to this conclusion by pondering about Christ's ministry, and example. He calmed and healed every one that he loved. Because Christ's disciples needed to be healed, or comforted because they believed in him. It sounds simple and it is simple, to have your heart healed, and comforted, to find that peace that we hear so often is to believe and come to our savior with a believing heart. 

That sound easy enough right? This is what I did/do to help me get the stillness part of peace in my life. For me it's internal and very much about my soul.

1. Never be too busy to read scriptures with real intent, or  meditation if you meditate. The point is to clear your mind and soul and not worry about a thing. Which then leads me too Morning Pages

2. Morning Pages, I started writing three pages a day of long hand, I call it my life saver. It's simple: you write three pages of what ever comes to mind, you don't read them after, you just write, if you can't think of anything to write, you start writing words to lyrics, or scriptures, or a poem, it helps get your brain to relax. If you do have things to ponder this is a great place for your thoughts to go. write it, don't let any one to read it, if you do want to go back and read it, let it sit for a couple days or weeks then go back and reread it, the whole point of this life changing experience, is that this is a place for your thoughts to go, your deepest desire's in life, a place you can vent about your family, when no one else wants to hear about it. Write till you get to the other side of the problem.

3. I am grateful for the blessings I have,  I write them out, I talk about it with me kids, it's not like a big thing, sometimes I will say I am so grateful that we have caramel apples to share with each other, or I am so grateful the sun is shining today because I need the sunshine today in my life. paying attention and having a grateful attitude towards life helps bring more peace into your life. 

4.Don't compare! We are all made differently, none is alike or should we be. So why is it that we compare? Looking around and realizing what our potential is, is more productive than looking at what other people can do. This will help you have peace in your heart. Once I stopped  comparing myself to others, my life has became a lot more peaceful. 

5. Music, when all else fails, listen to uplifting music, and sort our your thoughts and feelings. I love listening to the Piano Guys, classical music or hymns. I find that lyrics can really distract my thoughts. Listen to anything that can help you sort out your thoughts and feelings. I am a true believer that if you don't sort out your thoughts and feelings, those thoughts and feelings will rule you, if you don't like a thought or a feeling get to the root of it by pondering!

 Here's to having a peaceful time during the stressful holiday season! We are doing better than we think! 

Christ as the living water

Christ refers to him as the living water, those that drink of this water will never thirst. John 4:14 in the topical Guide of the scriptures that LDS Members use it says this: A symbol of the Lord Jesus Christ and his teachings. As water is essential to sustain physical life, the Savior and his teachings (living water) are essential for eternal life.

How can we make this symbolism part of who we are as spiritual beings? That is the question that every one seems to struggle with. I don't have all the answers but I do believe that this insight will help. 

Before I get to the Living Water part, I want to talk about what water is really good at. Water is really good at shaping the land, molding the land, we know that mountains, valleys and canyons are all formed by glaciers, rivers, oceans or Water.

Is it possible that what is really being said here, is that if we come unto Christ, our hearts will be shaped and molded to his will?

Let me explain further. I think that because we live in a wicked world, our hearts (our souls, emotions, call it what you will) are hardened because of the influence that the adversary has on this earth. Is it then possible that unless we start partaking of the living water (Christ) our hearts, emotions, our souls will never develop into our divine potential? I think so. 

I draw from the example of the grand canyon. it took millions of years to create this beautiful masterpiece that nature provided. How was this amazing natural wonder created? From the Colorado River over thousands of years, it carved this canyon. I think we can gloss over this eternal truth, and sugar coat that Christ is living water. When you look at the context of this wonderful scripture story about Christ being the living water we realize that it's more than just believing. We let Christ mold us into our divine potential, the potential that Christ see's us becoming. 

The next question to ponder is then, how can I let this living water of Christ penetrate my heart?  Just like it took thousands, or millions of years to create the grand canyon, so does our heart. It's not a one and done type of thing. We have to keep an eternal perspective of Christ's teachings and blessings to shape our hardened heart. I believe that our hearts are hardened so Christ's teachings can mold us to what we are to become. Knowing this helps us understand that we need nourishment daily, think of a river always flowing, giving life to all that it inhabits it. 

We can help this water (Christ's influence, teachings, and blessings from heaven) flow through us by: reading our scriptures, praying, or getting to know Christ, going to church and partaking of the sacrament, serving our family and friends, forgiving others, and living the standards that our Heavenly Father has set for us. 

For more talks about this from LDS general Authorities here, and here