Perfectly Patti: Recent Episodes
Perfectly Patti
Hi, I'm Perfectly Patti. Not 'Perfect' Patti, but 'perfectly' Patti. In other words I'm perfectly me, and you're perfectly you! Let's laugh, cry, and ponder together.
Sometimes it's hard to know what is true and what isn't.There is so much misinformation out there that it's easy to get confused.So where do we go to find spiritual truth?How do we discern truth from error?Let's talk about it today and see if God has given us a way to know.
Sometimes it's hard to know what is true and what isn't.There is so much misinformation out there that it's easy to get confused.So where do we go to find spiritual truth?How do we discern truth from error?Let's talk about it today and see if God has given us a way to know.
What things in our lives separate us from Christ?Is it pain, sorrow, disappointment?It's important for us to recognize these triggers.What can we do to keep ourselves focused on Eternity instead of our passing problems?Let's take a look and find out together!
There's an old saying that God laughs as we make plans. I'm not sure if that's exactly accurate, but I do know our plans for the future are never certain. We make our plans, but God makes plans for us as well. Sometimes the two conflict. So, what do we do? Let's talk about it and see if we can come to a clearer understanding...
Christ said we should be 'One.'Does that mean in order to be unified we all have to be the same?Of course not.His Apostles weren't the same.They had different strengths and weaknesses just like all of us.So how can we be united while still being individuals and seeing the world differently?I found a couple of excellent ideas...
I'm not going to lie.It's been a hard week.I've had worse for sure, but when you're having a difficult time, it doesn't really matter that it isn't the MOST difficult you've ever faced.It's still really hard!So I wanted to talk about it a bit.Let's go into my difficult week and see if we can find some light and understanding.
Sometimes we do things for the wrong reasons.Even so, have you ever received blessings for doing something good for the wrong reason?I have.I think it's the Lord's way of nudging us along so we understand what doing good does for us.I've been talking to a friend about all of this and I wanted to share my thoughts a bit.Feel free to comment with your own experience.
It's the most wonderful time of the year, and I'm NOT talking about Christmas!Back to School!!!!!!Now, I love my kids, but it's always nice when they head back to class.Also, (and what I wanted to talk about today) is it gives us all a little more structure, which I think makes a huge difference in our lives.Let's take a closer look!
Families are being torn apart!Civilization is about to collapse!The fight isn't worth it!Just pick a cellphone plan and be done with it!
I used to love working out.Okay, I still like working out...just not like I used to.I realized sometimes that pattern follows me into spiritual matters too.What does that look like?Let's see if we can figure it out.
Oh my gosh!Sometimes I think I know what something means, and then suddenly I realize I don't.'Meek' is one of those words.Do you really understand the true meaning of the word 'Meek?'I didn't.Let's talk about it!
Over the past few years I've gotten the chance to work with some great people who are every bit as weird as I am.One of those is Crystal, who helped my write my book.Recently we sat down together to talk about that process, and I thought you guys might find it entertaining.Enjoy!
I'm an extrovert.A shocker, I know.But I've been thinking about how I get energy from social situations and how other people don't.I've also been paying attention to how I have a weakness when it comes to being quiet and listening.Can I become a better listener while still being extroverted?I guess I'm going to find out!
Pain is a part of life.It sucks.But when friends are involved, the pain doesn't seem so crushing.That's what I discovered when I went through the most difficult and damaging part of my life.Without my besties I don't think I would have made it.
Kindness is the key to any good relationship.Here's the thing though:If we're judging people in our lives, that means we think we're better than them.This may be friends, our spouse, people we disagree with.That isn't the Gospel of Christ though.So, what do we do about it?Let's see if we can figure something out!
My son has been going through a difficult time as he tries to serve the Lord.In a recent letter he talked about how as he was feeling low, he felt the love of our Savior in a key moment.It didn't solve his problems, but it reminded him that he could hold on as long as he knew God had his back.That feeling of strength in the moment we need it is such an important aspect of spiritual endurance.Let's look more closely at this gift, and how we can embrace it in our lives.
God uses imperfect people.I've been reading in the Book of Acts lately, and I see Peter and how much he grew from being a simple fisherman into a warrior for Christ.He was flawed and imperfect just like all of us.It is incredibly inspiring!It shows us that despite our sins and mistakes, our limited vision and skewed perspectives, that we can still serve God.Like Peter, we can perform miracles.Never doubt yourself when you're in the service of God!
July tends to be a month where we think more about our nation.That makes since with Independence Day.I wanted to look at that today and see how we can love our country AND love each other, instead of constantly judging each other based off our beliefs, both religious and political.I love this nation, but I think I personally can do better loving the people who make up this nation.
The social media landscape is peppered with influencers. These are people we like who influence our decisions on what to buy, what's popular, and what the next trend will be. These influencers have power. And yet, we can have a greater influence on the people in our lives. The influence we have on our friends is huge! Let's talk about that today, and figure out how we can use our influence to make our friends' lives better.
Life doesn't go according to plan. As kids and teenagers we look forward to everything happening exactly the way we want. What do we do when those grand designs crash and burn? What do we do when our life doesn't end up anywhere near where we thought it would? I'd like you to meet my Aunt Karen. She is a wonderful woman, but will be the first to admit that her life has taken detours she never expected, and has ended up quite different than she would have wanted. What has that meant for her? Well, I'll ask!
We're often taught not to trust anyone.We hear that all the time.We develop a habit of guarding ourselves.What does that do to our relationship with our Father in Heaven though?How does that impact our trust in Him?Let's take a closer look and talk a bit about it.Join me!
I'm not going to sugarcoat it.I hate making dinner.I hate it.I get anxious about it every day.And yet, I understand the importance of families eating together and forging bonds.So what do I do?Let's talk about it and see if we can figure anything out.Or maybe I'll still just hate it everyday...
Big families aren't as common as they used to be. Sometimes you'll come across families with five kids. Sometimes six. But EIGHT? That's a lot! I should know, because I have eight kids. So for today's podcast I decided to do something a bit different. I sat down individually with my youngest three kids and talked to each of them about what it's like to grow up in a very large family. The good, the bad, all of it. Enjoy!
We have our choices.Sometimes those choices place us at odds with God.That's just how it goes.So, how do we put God's will before our own?It isn't a simple question with a simple answer.Let's talk about it and see what we can figure out!
It's so easy to focus on what I'm doing wrong!!!!! Why do we do that? I've been thinking about it a lot, and I know I need to focus on the positive. How do we do that? Let's figure it out together.
I'm an oddity.I really don't like summer.There are a lot of reasons for this, the primary one being my kid's constant desire to have me entertain them.So, how do I go about learning to love summer and those extra days with my kids?Let's figure it out together!
When we are baptized, we take upon ourselves the name of Christ.We ally ourselves with him.Now, from a worldly perspective, we make alliances with partners that will help us in some way.Are we relying on these earthly alliances more than our alliance to God?that's what I've been thinking about the last few days, and what I wanted to talk about as we start the week.
I love hats. One of the reasons is that they remind me of my son. A silly reason, but it made me think about the importance of remembering, particularly remembering the miracles God has shown in our lives. How do we remember and share our experiences? How do we remember God's miracles?
I don't have to tell all of you that I didn't come to parenting naturally. I wasn't born to be a mom, and my kids will agree. Even so, I was surprised how my children's emotions affect me. It's got me thinking this week about our Heavenly Father and how he feels when we're in pain. How he teaches us with patience. Let's take a minute and talk about it!
First off, don't be distracted by the big blister on my lip.I burned myself.It's no fun.Anyway, I wanted to talk about questions today.Questions of faith.Questions of the gospel.Is having questions okay?Is it a good thing to no know all the answers?Let's find out!
Why do we compare ourselves to others?It does no good.This has become a curse of social media.I heard some amazing speakers discuss this recently and I wanted to share some thoughts.Let's take a closer look, shall we?
Say it out loud: "I am a child of God." How did you feel? This statement is true. If you doubt it, let's have a little conversation right now...
Friendship is one of the most important things in our lives. Without friends it's too easy to slip into despair and grief. I know this first hand. Let me introduce you to one of my favorite people; a friend who helped me through the most difficult time of my life.
Apparently I'm a difficult person to buy gifts for. Everybody in my family tells me that. Well, my youngest bought me something that has inspired me. I want to share it with you!
Alright, normally I focus on the spiritual, but today I want to talk about the physical. Our spirits and our bodies are connected after all. I've had a few experiences over the past couple weeks that I want to talk about. So get ready, because we're diving into colonoscopy territory, and it's going to be awesome!
Near the end of my last video I went off on a tangent about Christ and mothers. I didn't know where I was going, so I stopped and took some time to think and study about what I wanted to say. Now I'm ready to dive in a bit. This is an emotional subject, so I hope you enjoy and feel good. As mothers, we may not have the world's eye on us as if every action we took was important, but that doesn't mean every action we take isn't important.
Mother's Day can be stressful. For moms and dads. Why is it that there seem to be so many difficulties when it comes to creating that perfect Mother's Day for the moms in our lives? I have a couple ideas. Let's talk about it!
Sometimes I feel like I didn't learn much in college.It was great, but I didn't pay as much attention in class as I should have.When it comes to life's classroom though, I hope I'm studying a bit harder.What does that look like?Let's talk about it!
Have you ever found yourself in a place where you were afraid to hope for a positive outcome?I have.What makes us fear to hope?Let's talk about it and see if we can figure it out.
I did something I'm not happy about.I was pushed into it.Bullied.Now I don't know what to do...
There are two Easters. One with bunnies and baskets, the other with Christ's Resurrection. I've been having a hard time lately helping my children appreciate the more important of the two. What should I do to help them? I hope your Easter weekend is full of love and appreciation for our Savior.
Just in case you didn't know, I have a crap-ton of children.I didn't set out for this to happen.In truth...I never super liked kids in the first place.So how did I end up with so many and grow to love them each for their own individual qualities?Let's find out!
Teenagers know everything.Those of us who are parents of these creatures know this all too well.It's infuriating!But...it got me thinking about our relationship with God and how we all tend to think we know better.Let's talk about it a bit...
Sometimes I just can't.
I have nothing left to give.
I'm realizing that's okay!
Let's talk about it...
While we were on vacation we decided to attend church, and since we didn't have Sunday dress, we went in shorts and t-shirts. I wanted to talk about this a bit, and why we dress up for church...and why our presence is more important than our clothing...
I've been thinking a lot about friendship over the past few days.I have some amazing friendships!It got me thinking about my friendship with Christ.What does that friendship look like?I wanted to talk about it today and see what we're all doing to strengthen our friendship with our Savior.
When someone you know passes away suddenly, it can feel like a gut punch.The pain lingers.I'm feeling that right now, and wanted to talk about it with all of you.Join me for some tears.
Have you ever had a crisis of faith?I got a text this weekend that was quite wonderful.I wanted to talk about it, and discover what it means to have a faith crisis and how we get through it.
Yesterday my youngest daughter made a mistake with a school project that paralyzed her with fear. The world was coming to an end! She couldn't accept any solution we thought of. Fear had taken over. I wanted to talk about this today. We all go through moments like this. How often do we let fear keep us from finding the answers we're seeking?
Last week I told all of you about my need to eat a hamburger despite my health goals. Yes, I am now regretting that decision (with help from my gurgling stomach). It got me thinking about a lot of things, and I want to share.
As you know, I've been trying to eat healthy and lose weight. Yeah...that crap's not working.
'Sacrifice' is a word we sometimes would rather avoid. We see sacrifice as a negative. But I've been thinking about that, and how the people for whom I sacrifice most, I tend to love the most. So, do we sacrifice for God? What does that sacrifice look like? These are questions we have to ask ourselves, and only we can answer. Let's talk about it!
Do you ever feel guilty after church? You compare yourself to everyone else in your congregation? They're all perfect and doing everything right. You're just you; flawed and forgettable. I've been feeling this way a bit lately, and I don;t think it's helpful. I wanted to talk about it and see if we can help each other through our guilt at not being as great as we think other people are.
We're all broken.THAT'S NOT A BAD THING!I wanted to share some thoughts today about our perception of being 'broken.'We think that once your broken you're worthless.Nothing is further from the truth!Let's dig in and change how we look at ourselves and the shattered pieces we carry around...
How do we know the Bible is the Word of God? Is it because we went to school and studied a lot? Is it because we know the lineage of everyone back to Adam? Is it because our parents and grandparents told us it was true? I want to talk about this today, and how we can gain a spiritual confirmation of the truth. For me, this is the most important thing in my life. Let's talk about truth, and how God confirms that truth in our hearts.
I found my teenage journal this week and I started reading through it. If any of you have journals from that age, you need to read them because mine was painfully hilarious! I had no idea how boy-crazy I was! It got me thinking though about how I looked at the world at that age. My own kids are eerily similar to me, and now I've gained a few insights I'd like to share.
I have a goal to drink more water. Yes, I know that's a lame goal, but it beats drinking soda and helps me lose weight! Anyway, I've found myself...cheating on that goal. How do you cheat drinking water?!? I could write a book at this point! So, how do I not cheat on my water goal? Well, I've learned a few things this week that I think could help all of us with stuff like this. What are they? Let me tell you!
Where do we turn for peace? Is it Netflix? The evening news? Facebook? I've been thinking about where I go for peace, and I realized that often times I'm looking in the wrong place. That had me reading in the New Testament and I found something I've heard hundreds of times, but it hit me differently today. Let me share it with you!
I hate cloudy weather!It really has an affect on me.Just this morning I woke up to more dark stormy weather and it put me in a mood.My husband definitely noticed!It got me thinking about choosing joy.Can we choose to look past the darkness and see something more?Let's talk about it!
This week I was reading in the Old Testament in the Book of Hosea.This is a really interesting book, as it talks about a woman who left her family, and how her husband takes her back.The entire thing is a parable of Christ's love for each of us and his infinite Atonement.It's got me thinking a lot, and I wanted to share with all of you.Let's talk and uplift each other!
It's hard for me to get motivated on Mondays a lot of the time.I know this is pretty common or a lot of us.Today I decided to try something different.Let's get motivated together by looking at some gospel quotes that will teach us how to overcome our daily struggles and focus on something a bit more eternal.Join me!
Life has a pattern where we go through trials and often times after that we enjoy a time of peace. The problem is that we can get very comfortable in that peaceful place. After a while it becomes easier and easier to snuggle back in the warm sand of that comfortable paradise and forget to call on the Lord or grow to our next challenge. That's what I want to talk about today. Sometimes we find ourselves on a beautiful beach. And sometimes we need to voluntarily get off that beach so we can progress to where the Lord would have us be. It's not easy, but let's talk about how we can do it...
Christ said, "Be of good cheer." Have we ever thought of that as a commandment before? It's hard to be of good cheer sometimes. I've been very open with my own battle with depression, but I've found some tools that help lighten my load and leave me in a better place? Will these things guarantee happiness? That's up to each of us. But at least we have the admonition of our Savior to be of good cheer, which means it is more than possible. Here are five things I've discovered that will go a long way to bringing each of us the happiness we seek...
Happy New Year everybody! I wanted to start out the years with an observation that hit me across the face this week. We all have thoughts that pop into our heads that aren't true. Generally thoughts about ourselves. My little 10-year-old daughter hit me with one this week. "I'm ugly." That's what she was thinking about herself. Let's talk about this. It's something will all deal with, and something we need to combat together.
I love musicals and I LOVE Les Mis!One of the things that always grabs me about that story is the mercy shown to Jena Val jean by the priest.Without that act of mercy, none of the rest of the story would take place.It was one man's mercy that changed everything.We have the chance to make that sort of difference too.Let's talk about it...
'Fear not' is spoken a lot in the Nativity writings of the New Testament. It's said to a lot of different people. 'Fear not.' The thing about fear is that it strangles our hope. So I wanted to talk a bit about that today and take a closer look. So let's listen to the Lords admonition: Fear Not!
Alright, we've come to it:The week of Christmas.And if you're like me, you're probably stressing out more than you should be.Let me put this into perspective:I just spend ten minutes crying in the closet because I was so stress.That is not an exaggeration!So what do we do about this?Let's talk about it and see if we can help each other out...
I know we put out memes that say 'Prayer Works!' and we smile and feel good. But are we praying in our own lives? Are we grateful? Are we seeking guidance and help? I've gone through times where prayer is something I just do without really thinking about it. I'm pretty sure that's incredibly common. So how do we get out of that cycle and make prayer the centerpiece of our lives? Let's talk about it!
During Christmas we talk a lot about Christ and Mary of course, but Joseph doesn't tend to get the same amount of attention. Joseph is just kind of there in a lot of our discussions. Well I want to change that today. Joseph was awesome! He was the step-father of the Savior of mankind. As a widow who's children now have a step-dad, I understand the importance of this roll all too well. Let's talk about it!
Last week we started our Compassion Challenge. First off, I hope it's been a good experience for you so far. I've loved it. But it's got me thinking about what happens when the outcome of our compassion isn't what we expect. Howe does that affect us? How does that lead to us judging others? This is definitely worth looking at closely, so let's talk about it!
The death of a spouse at a young age is one of the most difficult trials any of us can face. Trust me. As I've met and worked with other young widows I've seen the pain that comes with it, and new loves as time passes. These new loves bring with them their own pain and trials though. Family dynamics can be a blessing and a curse. What does this have to do with the rest of us? Let's talk about it!
I've taught a lot of courses over the last 25 years, both in church and in secular settings. I love teaching. I don't always love my students. But I've found that loving my students is probably the most important factor in their learning and accepting what I teach. Why is that, and how do we get to the point of loving our students? Let's talk about it.
I know the 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks was over two months ago, but this last weekend my family and I went to New York and toured the 9/11 Memorial. It was an amazing experience for my husband and I, but my teenage boys didn't feel the same. It's got me thinking about it and the importance of remembering, along with our personal connections to what happened. Let's take a bit and talk about it.
Teenagers are the worst! Except when they're not. What happens when we expect more from our teens and they rise to the challenge? Let's talk about it!
For most of us, Monday isn't our favorite day of the week. Thinking about this truth, I came across a story I wanted to share about gratitude and our mental state. Take a few minutes and let's talk about it together...
Do you feel like sometimes your waiting, and waiting, and waiting for a blessing from the Lord?I often do.This weekend I was reading in the Bible about Naaman, who was promised his leprosy would be healed if her bathed ion the Jordan River seven times.Things didn't change for him after the first time he went into the water.Nor the second.Or third.What does this have to do with us?Come with me and lets talk about it...
Our memories are not the most reliable things in the world.We forget important stuff constantly.It got me thinking about the scriptures and journal writing.The scriptures of course are records of God's dealings with his children.Journals are our own personal histories.Why should we take journal writing seriously?Let's talk about it!
It's easy to say we'd follow Christ on whatever road, until we see how difficult that road can be.I've been thinking about this a lot lately.Am I all in for Christ?I say I am, but what do I say when the weight of trials push me down?When I see the sacrifices I need to make?It's not as easy as we claim sometimes.Let's have a frank discussion about it...
I have weaknesses. I am very aware of them. I'm sure you're the same way. But if we really look at it, our weaknesses can be strengths as well. Let's take a look at one of mine, and you'll see what I mean...
I've been thinking about fairy tales over the past couple days. In fairy tales it doesn't matter where the main character starts. It matters where they finish. Cinderella doesn't start out as a princess, but that's where she ends up. We are the exact same. Where we are right now doesn't matter. Where we're going does. This moment right now doesn't define who we are. Let's talk about it!
I was talking to a friend going through some very tough times, and we started to discuss faith. A recent quote popped into my head and it kind of blew my mind: "We receive more faith by doing something that requires more faith." Crazy, right? To receive faith we have to show faith? My friend and I started talking about it and a few insights popped up that i wanted to share with all of you...
What does boxing have to do with service?Not much, in reality.But as I watched a documentary on Muhammad Ali, I discovered how the two were linked in his life.So how do we serve?Who do we serve?How do we find opportunities?Let's talk about it!
It's been promised that we can have peace in turbulent times.How do we find that peace though?When things are bad and our lives feel like they're falling apart, where do we turn?For me, I think back to the hardest time in my life.When my husband was dying.Where did my peace come from?Let me tell you about it...
When I was 19 years old I almost made the biggest mistake of my life. Not over-exaggerating. I wanted something. I wanted it pretty bad. When I prayed, I thought I knew the answer. Almost instantly though, as I got up off my knees, something happened. I want to share this with you, along with my own doubts about myself, so we can look at prayer and how the Lord makes sure that even if we're not looking in the right place, he will try to show us the way.
Ah pets... As you know, last month my 10-year-old daughter came into our bedroom just before my husband and I were going to bed and gave us a full Power Point presentation about why we should buy her a pet. It was adorable. It also put us on a path that has been unexpected and in some cases (I'd like to think, anyway) out of our control. Let me share this comedy of errors, and whether or not we now have a bird...
When it comes to social media, it's really easy to get pulled into someone else's agenda.Agendas of fear.Agendas of anger.Agendas of being the victim.But what is Christ's Agenda?Are we following that agenda?Are we loving God and our neighbor?Simple questions with massive consequences.Let's talk about it...
The #1 fear for a lot of people is public speaking. I don't suffer from that. And apparently neither does my ten-year-old daughter. She spoke in our church yesterday to the kids, and In learned a great lesson from her that I wanted to share. It's our personal trials and stories that have the greatest impact. What happened? What did she say? Let me tell you about it!
Tough Love. We let the consequences come when people make bad choices. It's an important aspect of life. But how far do we go down that path with judgment and anger? Do we refuse to help when someone around us does something we know will turn out bad, and that eventuality occurs? That's what I want to talk about today. It's a tough personal choice, but one we need to reevaluate. Let's talk!
With this weekend being the 20th anniversary of the September 11th attacks, I found myself thinking a lot about miracles, and how sometimes they don't happen when or how we think they should.
I was reading in the first part of Luke when he writes, "with God, nothing shall be impossible."
That statement is true.
But that doesn't mean that everything we want is possible how and when we want it.
I've been thinking about this in my own life, and I wanted to share my thoughts with you.
Join me!
It took me awhile to understand just how much I needed a best friend.
It's easy to think we can go through everything alone and that we don't need anyone else's help.
Once we go through those times in our lives that beat us down though, we realize how much we need the support of others.
I wanted to introduce you to one of my best friends.
We're going to talk a bit about how that relationship has fostered our growth over the years and decades since we first met.
I don't know about you, but sometimes I feel like my brain finally understands something that I should have comprehended decades ago. These epiphanies normally have something to do with how I can be more aligned with my Father in Heaven. This week a friend of mine said something along the lines of how to we can draw our actions closer to those of our Savior...and my brain just clicked. Let's talk about it!
As many of you know, I wrote a book about my Spiritual journey during the months of my late husbands cancer struggle.
But I didn't do it alone.
I had Crystal.
I wanted to sit down with her to talk about what the experience was like, and how we were able to create something so special and personal...together.
I know that for a lot of people, organized religion is a turn-off. Going to church, hearing instructors and teachers, all of it seems disingenuous. I was thinking about this yesterday as I interacted with members of my congregations, and I came to a conclusion. If going to church were just about me, then I'd agree that it could be far less uplifting. But here's the thing: Going to church isn't just about us. It's about our neighbors and how we can serve and love and uplift. Let's talk about it!
This is my favorite time of year!
Yes, I love my kids, but once school is back, I feel a little more freedom.
And peace.
That's what I want to talk about today: Peace.
God is not a God of confusion, but peace, and as we seek it, we will find it.
For some reason it is SO much easier to give Grace to the people around us than it is to give it to ourselves. I'm this way too. I beat myself up over so many things that I would readily understand and forgive about anyone else. Well this week I am trying to give myself a bit of a break, and offer the same Grace I would give to other to myself. I invite you to do the same. Let's talk about it.
Sometimes things are simpler than we make them.
I was reading in the Bible about the time the Israelite camp in the wilderness was infested with serpents and people were dying from being bitten.
In order to heal them, Moses put a brass serpent on a pole, and all the people had to do was look to it and be healed.
Simple, right?
Yet many people didn't look, and chose to die because it was such a simple thing.
How is this reflected in our modern world today?
Let's talk about it.
There is a certain social standard to what we wear to church on Sunday.
Of course, we want to show respect and love for our Father in Heaven by wearing our best clothes.
However, that social standard can also make people who don't have 'Sunday Dress' clothes uncomfortable and judged because they don't have the finest apparel.
Let's talk about this, and how we can help those who feel unwelcome or unclean to want to join us in hearing the Good Word.
I don't usually care for religious movies, particularly ones that try to adapt the Bible.
I just really don't like them.
And I could say that up until I was introduced to The Chosen.
For those of you who have never heard of it, The Chosen is a show that focuses on Christ's mortal ministry.
And it is awesome.
Without caveat.
Let me tell you a bit about it, and why it has impacted my study of the scriptures.
I am an open book.
Some people think that is a bad thing, but I've been thinking about it and come to the conclusion that all of us need to be a little bit more open.
Why?
We can't serve each other unless we know what's going on in our lives.
If we're never open with each other we'll always end up shouldering our burdens alone, and that is not what the Lord wants.
So let's talk about it, and maybe see how we can be more open and accepting of the service of others.
'Despair binds hearts and minds in suffocating darkness.'
I heard that in a talk this week and it hit me pretty hard.
I'm always thinking about hope, and how hope lifts us up.
But sometimes when we find ourselves deep in despair, hope seems so far away that there is no end to our pain and loneliness.
This thought brought me back to my own times of crushing despair, and I wanted to talk a bit about it today.
Join me.
Hard times are a part of life, but that doesn't mean they have to define our lives.
We've all had spiritual experiences where the Lord has whispered peace to our hearts telling us everything would be alright.
Admittedly, it's hard to remember those moments when we feel crushed by our current circumstances.
Even so, we need to remember that he told us everything will be okay...and it will.
Let's talk more about it!