My Thoughts This Week in Durham

Funny quote of the week:

A young boy in the ward understands the concept of resurrection in his own way: "I'm going to eat chicken nuggets until the day I die. And I'm gonna eat chicken nuggets when I live again."

Favorite missionary scripture of the week:

Alma 28:9- "I glory in that which the Lord hat commandeth me... that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance."

Thought about complaining:

This week I have complained a lot. I'm sure everyone around me hated it. Whoops. Here are some of the things I complained about: being tired, being sore, headache, heartburn, bruising my knee, bruising my shin (clumsy Krizzle), etc. Then, I read the good ole story of when Nephi and his brothers have to go get the plates of brass in Jerusalem. Yes, I had read it before. But... I was able to get something new out of it this week through the power of the Holy Ghost. One of my favorite verses in this story is found in 1 Nephi 2:12. What did I get out of that verse? That if we are complaining, we do not understand God's will for us. And so... every time we complain, we are showing the people we come in contact with, that we do not understand God's will for us. So... what is something we can do that is more productive than complaining? Anything. I think almost anything is more productive than complaining. In those times when you want to complain, instead, try to better your relationship with your Heavenly Father. Serve someone. Pray. Read your scriptures. Talk to someone. Sing. Laugh. 

Yes. I have been working on this. Am I perfect? NO WAY. But I am definitely working towards complaining less. Is it easy? No. Especially for me. Use your words in a more productive way and keep your thoughts more happy and pure by avoiding the thoughts of negativity as much as you can.

I have been praying and will continue to pray for more help with this. If you do the same, God will give you more chances to not complain. Which is basically every single day.

Be grateful for what you have. Being grateful is a higher level than being thankful. Do something about the way you feel. Reach out to a loved one. Reach out to someone you don't love. Just reach out to others around this holiday seasons. It will make you so much happier. I will try my best to do the same.

Ask God to help you. "The heavens are not sealed. God is not limited." Trust in Him. He can help you. He really can. If he couldn't, I wouldn't waste my time writing those words. 

I love you all!