Forgiveness

Because of my insecurities, I make a lot of mistakes
and use poor judgment, and make poor choices.

Just know that I am truly sorry.

Because I admire or care too much it
ends up looking like something else.

My need to be liked ends up ruining things.

I want to keep trying to do better.

I know God forgives me,
but do I forgive myself?

I beat myself up so badly.

I hope one day
I will like myself enough
to not seek other's approval.

I know deep down inside
I have a good heart and God knows my heart.

But, I still struggle with insecurities
that end up making things much worse.

I hope you can forgive me.
I hope I can make better choices.
I hope I can forgive myself.

Trent Dabbs - Stay By Me

Nobody Cares

but nobody cares
nobody cares
if they hurt you

they just keep going
as if it didn't matter

round and round
into oblivion

nobody cares
nobody cares

hurt
hurt
ignore
just keep on

hurting
hurting
hurting

because
nobody cares
anymore

people don't care
who they hurt
it's all a game

People's feelings are not a joke
or a game to me.

They are real
They are important

Care

Here's the problem I have with today's society:

It goes something like this:

You can't take my being sarcastic.
You get all hurt and what not.
I'm just being real and honest.
If you can't take it, that's your problem.
I don't care what you think
I don't like fake people.
I like to be real and tell it like it is.
You need to toughen up.
It's a bad world out there.
and what we want to say
we need to say
because we can
and we will
regardless of how it affects someone, right?


But here's what I have to say about all that:

maybe it would be nice if people did care?
about hurting other people's feelings?
how about holding back?
and not blurting out?
how about refraining?
because you care about other people's feelings
for a change.
It takes more strength to care about others.
doesn't it?

It takes more strength to not blurt out the first
thing that comes to mind and to stop and think
how it might affect someone else, doesn't it?

Maybe it's time to start caring about
other people's feelings?

cause we're only human

I wonder when people
will start to care enough
about each other

to "not say".

When you care about others
it sometimes means "pausing".

I believe that
"freedom of speech"
should include
"freedom of thought".

Cause words can tear apart
what took a lifetime to build
and sometimes words can tear apart
someone who does not want to live

Hate never brings about love
Hate never inspires anyone
Hate never encourages anyone

The purpose of life
is to love, inspire and encourage
each of us to be the best we can be.

Caring is priceless.

Good Deeds

Excerpt from "Keeping it to Ourselves" by Kiwa L. Jefferson.

 

Over a Thousand People Came Together To Break a Record-The Largest Nativity

David Archuleta in Bordeaux, France - Christmas Conference

Excerpt from  Soeur Bolaños :

We are so blessed! :)

The France Lyon Mission is truly so blessed everyday!  This week has been a miraculous one, a memorable one!  

On Friday, we got up at 5 am to travel to Bordeaux for our Christmas conference!  The moment  every single one of us was anxiously waiting for!  The ride there was long but so worth it!  When we got there, were were assigned to sit in the chapel and spiritually prepare by reading our scriptures, pondering upon the meaning of Christmas, and so on.  Then, President came in with his wife Sister Rooney, and so did David Archuleta, his beautiful pianist, his manager, and the assistant director to the tabernacle choir!  They all had made the effort to come all the way from Utah to visit us and share something very special with us!  The feeling of joy I had is inexplicable!  Later president allowed each and everyone of us to individually to go up to them and shake their hand and tell them where we were from!  It was truly a blessing.  Then David shared some beautiful hymns such as "Oh Holy Night" and "Glorious," and even sang "Le Divine enfant" in french for us, which he hadn't practiced at all, but wanted to give it a try just for the France Lyon Mission.  How blessed!  I mention "Oh Holy Night" and "Glorious" because both are songs that really touch me.  First, "Glorious," is from the movie "Meet the Mormons" which is a movie I haven't seen yet, but I hear is so great and is helping missionary work in the church go forward!  You should all go see it! :)  Before he sang, he explained to us how on his mission he got a call from his mission president weeks before going home.  His mission president explained to him how the Church wanted him to record this song for this special movie "Meet the Mormons."  He was so confused and did not know what decision to make since he wanted to be 100 percent obedient as a missionary.  His mission president told him it would be a great opportunity for the church and that he needed to decide yes or no right at that moment.  Yikes!  Can you imagine being in David's position?  Well, he was obedient, and he went and recorded this beautiful song :)  

"Oh Holy Night" really touched me because it brings back great memories of when I had the chance to sing it with Orosco, our Toms River branch opera singer, for the Stake Christmas Devotional one year.  Not only is it delightful to sing, but also as we listen to the words and ponder upon them.  My favorite part is when it says "Fall on your knees, oh hear the angels' voices".  Yes, we should all fall on our knees, humble ourselves before the Lord by telling him our weaknesses, our difficulties, our joys, because we trust Him, we love Him, and we truly seek for His help.  Because it is through Him that we can overcome it all; through Him and His Son Jesus Christ. 

Excerpt from Soeur Larsen:  First things first. David Archuleta Christmas Conference. MIND BLOWING. It was FULL of the spirit and the love of Christ. Not only did David Archuleta sing, which was inspiring, but he shared his testimony of the Saviour, which was truly powerful. It was incredible to hear someone who is so well known in the world simply bear his testimony and share stories from his mission. He told us that he was asked to record 'Glorious' while he was still on his mission so when you hear it, you're hearing it straight from 'a missionary with his nametag on.' So cool! President and Sister Roney also inspired us with their words (as per usual) and helped me to understand the magic of music and Christmas and how it all ties into the love of the Saviour. The stake president of Lyon spoke and said something I'll never forget, 'Give something away and see how long it takes the Lord to give it back to you tenfold.'

Not only did he sing flawlessly but he is a great example to us as missionaries and he definitely taught us what the most important things are. Namely serving our Heavenly Father. He even sang us a song completely in French that he had just learned like the day before. And I have never heard a better rendition of "We Three Kings."