Trials

I have a quote on my shower that I think I got at church one day, so I'm not sure where it's from.  But it's by Elder Uchtdorf and it's about trials and perspective.  I just love it.

"Often the deep valleys of our present will be understood only by looking back on them from the mountains of our future experience.  Often we can't see the Lord's hand in our lives until long after trials have passed.  Often the most difficult times of our lives are essential building blocks that form the foundation of our character and pave the way to future opportunity, understanding, and happiness."
    - Elder Uchtdorf -


So true.
-Jessica

Relief Society - what it stands for

I love what the Relief Society of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints stands for.  I think the motto is Charity Never Faileth, but I also love the statement below:


The Relief Society of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

"We are beloved spirit daughters of God and our lives have meaning, purpose, and direction.
As a worldwide sisterhood, we are united in our devotion to Jesus Christ, our Savior and Exemplar.
We are women of faith, virtue, vision, and charity who:

Increase our testimonies of  Jesus Christ through prayer and scripture study.
Seek spiritual strength by following the promptings of the Holy Ghost.
Dedicate ourselves to strengthening marriages, families, and homes.
Find nobility in motherhood and joy in womanhood.
Delight in service and good works.
Love life and learning.
Stand for truth and righteousness.
Sustain the priesthood as the authority of God on earth.
Rejoice in the blessings of the temple, understand our divine destiny, and strive for exaltation."


I have it on a bookmark that I read almost daily because it's in my shower where I can read it everyday. I know I'm a dork, but my shower is glass, so I just stick it on the outside of the glass where I can see it.  And for me - I had a bad of habit of thinking negative thoughts while showering, so I decided to change the habit and put up positive and uplifting thoughts so that I wouldn't fall into that trap.  Anyway, I love reading this everyday.  It reminds me of my worth, and what I can accomplish if I want to.  Thank you to whoever was inspired to write it and make it a part of relief society.  I am so grateful for the reminder in my life of who I am.

-Jessica

I'm Thankful For

Today I'm thankful for my family - my beautiful daughter and my wonderful husband.  I'm thankful for my brother and all he does while he is living here with us.  I'm so grateful for skype and facetime and cell phones that let us talk to family who is far away today.  I'm also thankful for good books and for learning from our weaknesses.  I was reading "Entreleadership" by Dave Ramsey last night in chapter 11 called "People Matter Most" and it was talking about how gossip can destroy a company and that in their company if people have a problem they are only allowed to talk to someone who can do something about it - not just talk bad to someone who can't help them with their problem.  I realized that so often we do that without even thinking and that it's not helpful but rather straight up hurtful.  I thought that if someone were mad at me, I would want someone to come to me and we could fix the problem - the Golden Rule.  I decided that I would either choose to let the issue go - or handle it how I would like it to be handled if someone were mad at me.  So - thank yo Dave Ramsey, for making me realize my imperfections and give me ways to fix them.  I always knew that, but sometimes I forget to apply those principles.  I don't gossip very often, but sometimes I do complain and am rather negative and it needs to stop.  I'm always grateful for a reminder.

Thanks
-Jessica

"Bonds That Make Us Free"

A while ago, I was going through a rough time and a friend of mine told me about a book called "Bonds That Make Us Free, Healing Our Relationships, Coming To Ourselves" by C. Terry Warner.  So I decided to read it - and realized that it is definitely one of the best books I have ever read.  We all get angry and go through rough spots in our relationships and our lives.  This book helped me realize where I was going wrong and how I should fix it.  It talks about how we are responsible for our emotions and how we react to others.  If we are having a problem with someone or something - it has to do with the way we are viewing it.  I can't do this book justice by trying to explain it - but if you read it and apply what is in it - you will gain a whole new prospective on life.  I hope you read it and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.  I just might read it again in the near future :) Let me know what you think if you read it.  And if you like it as much as I do.

Jessica

My Motto - I Choose This Day to Serve The Lord

I wrote a motto for myself quite a few years ago.  I forgot about it for a while, but now it's something I read everyday.  I believe we each have a purpose here on earth.  I don't know what mine is for sure, but I'm trying to do my best everyday to accomplish what God would have me do.  I wrote my motto to help me remember who I want to become.  You can write your own, or you are welcome to use mine - but only if it is the same thing that you want too.  If you don't want to do these things - write your own.  It can be however long or short you want it to be.  Mine is rather long - but there was a lot of things I wanted to remember.  haha.  I'm sure I could probably cut it down shorter - but now I'm too attached to the words and I like it the way it is :)

I Choose This Day To Serve The Lord

I choose this day to serve the Lord. 

As I strive to be an instrument in His hands, I will:

Put aside my own desires as I prepare myself each day mentally, emotionally, and spiritually to do the will and the work of the Lord.

Keep all of His commandments and follow the counsel of His prophets and apostles.

Live a worthy life so that the Holy Ghost can abide in me constantly.

Stay out of the devil's territory at all costs.

Not compromise my eternal salvation, nor procrastinate the day of my repentance.

Diligently search and ponder on the scriptures that I might gain answers and spiritual knowledge.

Pray by the Spirit and quietly listen for His answers.

Act upon His promptings.

Seek for opportunities to serve my fellow men - not for the praise of men, but in secret.

Do all that I can to magnify my calling in HIs church and in life.

Never tire of doing good and going the extra mile.  

Always forgive others, never taking offense, having charity towards all mankind.

Not gossip, but seek to praise my fellow men.  

Overcome the natural man and I will become as a little child - "submissive, meek, humble, patient, and full of love." (Mosiah 3:16)

Replace all my fears with faith.

Use the talents that He has given me to further His Kingdom.

Trust in the Lord's plan for me and all mankind.

Be obedient, humble, and endure to the end.

Always pay my tithes and offerings.

Go to the temple often.

Be a woman of virtue and integrity in all things.

Strive to be the kind of wife and mother that will help lead her family into the Celestial Kindgom.

Always make time to laugh and time for the important things of life - God and Family.

Not fear man, God's opinion is more important. 

Faith, Hope and Charity will be my constant companions. 

Seek wisdom, righteousness and peace all the days of my life.

Not judge, nor be selfish, nor idle.

Strive each day to become more like Christ and to draw closer to the Lord.

I choose liberty and eternal life, not captivity and death.

I choose this day to serve the Lord,

For "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Phillipians 4:13)

- Jessica

If You Live Up to These Principles

"If you live up to these principles, how great and glorious will be your reward in the celestial kingdom! If you live up to your privileges, the angels cannot be restrained from being your associates."
      - Joseph Smith (Nov 2011 Ensign, Charity Never Faileth by Silvia H. Allred, page 116)

I love this quote - wouldn't it be awesome to have angels as our associates?

-Jessica

Strive with Faith

"When we strive with faith nothing wavering to fulfill the duties appointed to us, when we seek the inspiration of the Almighty in the performance of our responsibilities, we can achieve the miraculous."
      - President Thomas S. Monson (Nov. 2011 Ensign, page 113).

I love this quote.  It makes me want to be better everyday.  If we rely on the Lord and seek His inspiration, we can accomplish miraculous things.  I am just one small person, but I know that miracles do happen.  I have absolutely no doubt of that.  I know that if we want to serve the Lord and help Him however we can, He will increase our capacities and desires to do so.  I love it :)

-Jessica

Choose You This Day

"...choose you this day whom ye will serve...but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord"
       (Joshua 24:15, KJV)

I absolutely love this scripture.  We all have the right and freedom to choose who or what we want to serve - the kind of life we want to live.  It is our responsibility to remember not to judge others for their choice in their pursuits in life.  This scripture reminds me that others can do what they want with their lives because that is their right - but for myself - I choose to serve the Lord.  My experience has shown me that is what brings me the most happiness in my life.  I feel complete when I do so.  Others may choose a different path and that's fine, but this is mine.

-Jessica

Line of Demarcation

"There is a line of demarcation well defined between the Lord's territory and the devil's territory.  If you will stay on the Lord's side of the line you will be under his influence and will have no desire to do wrong; but if you cross to the devil's side of the that line one inch you are in the tempter's power and if he is successful, you will not be able to think or even reason properly because you will have lost the spirit of the Lord." 
           (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: George Albert Smith, Chapter 18 Stay on the Lord's Side of the Line)


I absolutely love this quote because the words are so exact - if we stay on the Lord's side of the line we are under his influence - The Lord never forces us to do anything, but He will give us His Spirit to guide us on the right path.  He will purify our hearts and desires to be in line with His - but only if we want Him to.  Whereas if we choose to follow the devil, it becomes harder and harder to feel the Spirit and eventually it can be come impossible.  The devil takes away our ability to reason correctly and does all that he can to keep us captive in his snares.  So, we have to choose which side of the line - the side of free will (God's side) or the side where we lose our ability to choose between right and wrong (the devil's).  I choose to do my best to stay on the Lord's side of the line.  I chose to do my best to serve Him and to be an instrument in His hands because I know that this is the only way that I can be truly happy.  

-Jessica

Alma 48:17

"Yea, verily, verily I say unto you, if all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto Moroni, behold, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men."  Alma 48:17

I have always loved this scripture.  It comes from The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ.  We have been counseled to seek learning from the best books.  I know that the Book of Mormon is one of the best books on this earth today.  I am grateful that the prophets of old took time to write about righteous examples for us to read about today.  Moroni was one of those men.  He fought for freedom and righteousness for all of his days and without wearying.  He never backed down from his faith or his desire to serve the Lord until the end of his days.  I hope that I can live like this great man of old.  I know I'm not perfect and that some days I will slip, but trying and enduring to the end are what counts.

- Jessica

Welcome to Songs by Jessica

Welcome to Songs by Jessica!  I love writing music, but I also love positive and uplifting ideas.  This is my blog to talk about my music, my feelings, and positive thoughts to help keep me - and hopefully you - motivated.  Motivated to be the best we can be.  To help others.  To love friend and foe.

- Jess