Knowing You Can......

I have this poster hanging in my laundry room which says... "Self Control is Knowing You Can....But Deciding You Won't.." 


Well, it is fairly obvious that I have this poster is hanging in the wrong place !  I need to relocate to the kitchen and/or the office.


Shane B. from our Weatherly Ward shared some thoughts regarding this recently, and was kind enough to allow me to share them now with this blog.


If there is something we are trying to control better in our lives...anything from our our health to our budget, there are two things we have in our favor.  First is the desire for change and Second is prayer for inspiration and strength.


Desire is the necessary spark for change.  Do not underestimate this...because if I don't really want it, it's not happening.
Prayer is critical because the ideas will flood into our minds as we make a plan of action.  
Prayer is also the component of strength to maintain the goal and remind us of the need to be humble while we turn our weakness to strength.


Regarding humility, Shane B. shared a wonderful account of Henry David Thoreau's desire to live a more simple life.  In the summer of 1845...back in the day...he built a small cabin on the land of Ralph Waldo Emerson and for 2 years made every effort to unburden himself with the trappings of daily social function. 
I had to chuckle a bit as I thought how much more complicated life and society has become since the times of Thoreau.  
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Replica_of_Thoreau%27s_cabin_near_Walden_Pond_and_his_statue.jpg 


In closing, Shane B reminds us that:

BEING THANKFUL for what we have will reign in our appetite for our many wants REMOVING CLUTTER helps us see what already do have and shows us what we can live without 
SERVICE FOR OTHERS takes our focus off ourselves 
SCRIPTURE STUDY will enlighten our minds and warn of the follies that can entrap us.


Thanks for sharing and thanks for reading...
Love ya, Sister McCormick

Prayer

Sunday was wonderful ... thanks to the Spirit for being with those who prepared and instructed us with what He would have us to learn for our happiness and strength.  

Rebekah H. shared this poem about prayer that Joy and I loved and she was gracious to give us this copy of it...

To say my prayer and not to pray
Unless I  mean the words I say
Unless I think to whom I speak
And with my heart His favor seek
Then let me, when I come to pray
Not only mean the words I say
But let me strive with earnest care
To have my heart go with my prayer. 

I am always looking for ways to improve my prayers, as we have been commanded to 'pray always' and I want the connection to be good and real. 
I often recall when Mike J. gave a talk about prayer and he said that the quality of the connection was much improved when he ended his prayers with "In the name of Jesus Christ"....and that at bedtime he would be talking with the Lord about the things on his mind and would sometimes drift into sleep before this important aspect of the Savior had been stated. 
I also do this ALL the time... and have since tried very much to always include Jesus in my prayers and have been pleased with the results.

Joy and I shared these thoughts with John when we got home yesterday... and everyone (well, not so much the 4 year old......) paused and gave a bit more thought to the prayer process last night as we blessed the dinner and had family prayer before bed. 
Thanks to Rebekah H. and Mike J. for sharing and teaching us.... hugs and a handshake..:)