You Have to DO It

 



As we were driving to Indianapolis last week, Kyrie and Ella were sitting next to me and commenting on how unorganized my phone apps were.


Some were duplicated and they knew I sometimes had trouble finding things.  


I simply hadn't gotten around to, which means MADE TIME FOR, that organizational process.  


So I handed them my phone and let them get to work.  


They deleted apps I no longer used - like the MyVerizon app because we changed providers four years ago 😬- and renamed my groups.


This they did with a witty, humorous flair.


Health and Fitness became "At Least You Tried". 


Maps became "Probably Gonna Get Lost Anyway".  


I contributed the name for social media as "Fellowshipping".  


We laughed and I thanked them but then as I looked at the groups I paused and thought about how I use my time and specifically how I let my phone dictate my time use.


And I rearranged the groups.  


I moved  "Jesus Stuff" to the first priority.  


I want my life to reflect that He is first.  


I want my choices to show that He is first.


I know it's a change I need to work on. 


Downloading the apps isn't enough.  I have to actually open them and use them.  


James chapter 1:5-6 is a well-known scripture. It's the one in which Joseph Smith found his prompting to pray for answers. 


Verse 22 in the same chapter isn't as easily recognized but contains important truth.


"22 ​But be ye ​​​doers​ of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves."


When we hear the word but don't put it into action, we subconsciously teach ourselves that it didn't actually work.  We deceive  ourselves. 


Sister Rebecca L Craven further explained, "Being a disciple of Jesus Christ involves more than just hoping or believing. It calls for effort, movement, and commitment. It requires that we do something, being “doers of the word, and not hearers only.”"


As I have picked up my phone each day it has reminded me that Jesus comes first and I am more able to fit in what I need to and life feels and looks better.  


Just like us promised. 




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Never Fall Away

Image
  In Alma chapter 23, the sons of Mosiah preached to the Lamanites. The law was declared that the word of God could not be obstructed. Note that the law did NOT say that everyone had to embrace and follow it, but their synagogues and temples and homes should be open to them. And then in verse six, something stuck out to me. Something that applies to our day. “They were converted unto the Lord and never did fall away.” NEVER DID FALL AWAY?? That sounds  like an important need in our day.   My immediate question was HOW?  So I read more closely. Verse 7: “For they became a righteous people; they did lay down the weapons of their rebellion, that they did not fight against God any more, neither against any of their brethren.”  They became a righteous people. They did lay down the weapons of their rebellion. They did not fight against God. They did not fight against their brethren. So what does that mean for us?  BECOME a righteous people.  Be willi
Read more

Trust

Image
  As I was riding a bike down the former train route along the Idaho-Montana border, I had hours to quietly reflect and appreciate the lush mountain landscape extending around me as far as I could see.   I was in a prayerful state, open to the promptings of the Spirit.   At one point I came to the edge of a meadow and needed to sit and rest for a bit.   There I found a lovely rustic bench made from a tree right there in the forest.  And it occurred to me how often the things we need are right there in our lives around us. The people, the resources, our talents and gifts. Psalm 34:8 lovingly promises “O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him”. He will provide.   And as we learn to recognize that help, we will become more grateful and happy. 
Read more

Seeing

Image
  Even after a full semester, the young 7th grader, who I will call Anna, didn’t seem to have any friends. She said didn’t mind and felt anxious around people.   I rotated her through groups and she would participate as directed but rarely smiled, although she didn’t seem particularly sad or distraught either.   More of an acceptance that this was her life. She didn’t ever talk back or ask questions but she also didn’t complete assignments quite right.  Her other teachers also said that she didn’t follow directions well.   I was patient.  Building trust.  With her and within our classroom.  This had to be a safe place to share the hard parts. And two months ago she finally told me.  She couldn’t see the board.   As in she couldn’t read it without getting within 6 inches of the board! I immediately emailed our school nurse who gave her a screening.  When I asked Anna she said that the test was fine. But the troubles persisted and finally I reached out to her mom and expla
Read more