SIMPLE ABUNDANCE

• Health enough to make work a pleasure
• Wealth enough to support your needs
• Strength enough to battle difficulties and overcome them
• Grace enough to confess your sins and forsake them
• Patience enough to toil until some good is accomplished
• Clarity enough to see some good in your neighbor
• Love enough to move you to be useful and helpful to others
• Faith enough to make real the things of God
• Hope enough to remove all anxious fears confronting the future

-- GOETHE Poet, playwright, and novelist

TEN RULES TO LIVE BY

1. Count your blessings.
2. Today, and every day, deliver more than you are getting paid to do.
3. Whenever you make a mistake or get knocked down by life, don't look back at it too long.
4. Always reward your long hours of labor and toil in the very best way, surrounded by your family.
5. Build this day on a foundation of pleasant thoughts.
6. Live this day as if it will be your last.
7. Laugh at yourself and at life.
8. Never neglect the little things.
9. Welcome every morning with a smile.
10. Search for the seed of good in every adversity.

- OG MANDINO
From A Better Way to Live

TRANQUILITY

Unto the Hills - Billy Graham

You can have peace in your heart with little if you are in the will of God, but you can be miserable with much if you are out of His will.

You can have joy in obscurity if you are in the will of God, but you can be wretched with wealth and fame out of His will.

You can be happy in the midst of sufferings if you are in God's will, but you can have agony in good health out of His will.

You can be contented in poverty if you are in the will of God, but you can be wretched in riches out of His will.

You can be calm and at peace in the midst of persecution as long as you are in the will of God, but you can be miserable and defeated in the midst of acclaim if you are out of His will.

THE GREATEST THINGS

The best day, today;
The greatest puzzle, life;
The greatest thought, God;
The greatest mystery, death;
The best work, work you like;
The most ridiculous asset, pride;
The greatest need, common sense;
The most expensive indulgence, hate;
The most disagreeable person, the complainer;
The best teacher, the one who make you want to learn;
The greatest deceiver, the one who deceives himself;
The worst bankruptcy, the soul who has lost enthusiasm;
The cheapest, easiest, and most stupid thing to do, finding fault;
The greatest comfort, the knowledge that you have done your work well;
The most agreeable companion, the one who would not have you any different than you are;
The meanest feeling, being envious of another's success;
The greatest thing in the world, love -- for family, home friends, neighbors.
- Author Unknown

A PSALM IN MY HEART

Leroy Brownlow wrote:  A Psalm in My Heart

here is a portion of what he wrote:

One is Poor If He...

Is not content.

Is short on good works.

Has no self-respect.

Has no real friends.

Has lost the zest for living.

Has little joy.

Has lost his health.

Has no eternal hope.

AVOID GETTING AND DOING TOO MUCH

In my family there are many of us who often partake in everything that is out there.  We never say no.  We think we have to do it all or we have to have it all.

As an end result we end up overwhelmed; frustrated; our house is a mess; and we don't have time to do the things that are the most important or the most valuable.

Robert and Debra Bruce along with Ellen Oldacre collaborated in writing:  "Standing Up against the Odds".

The following is a list of questions to ask yourself to help you stay on track to keep your life simple; uncluttered and at peace:

• Is this really important to me?
• Do I truly enjoy this?
• Do I really need this?
• Does this cause stress and drain my energy?
• Does this cause me to hurry to much?
• What are healthier alternatives?
• How did I manage without this?

THE OPTIMIST CREED

Dad has often been discribed as the "Eternal Optimist" and I believe his children are the same way.  I know I am...

There is an organization that dad and all other optimists should apply:  Optimist International

http://www.optimist.org/

This organization is a volunteer organization that is focused on helping others.

The members of this organization live by the following creed:

• To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
• To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet.
• To make all your friends feel that there is something special in them.
• To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.
• To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best.
• To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.
• To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
• To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.
• To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have not time to criticize others.
• To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

How can you be bothered with the turmoils of life and struggles if you are always thinking positive?

Try smiling all day long today and say only positive things.  It will make you feel so much better and you will bring peace and happiness to those around you.

THINGS TO FEEL NOSTALGIC ABOUT

A barefoot walk along a sandy beach.

A quiet visit to the place where you were raised.

Listening to a rippling brook running over the rocks through a forest of autumn leaves.

Singing the song of your alma mater.

Looking over childhood photos in a the family album.

Watching your now-grown child leave home.

Standing silently beside the grave of a close personal friend or relative.

The smell and sounds of a warm fire.

 - Charles R Swindoll

From Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life

When Dara comes to visit one of her favorite things she likes to do is walk barefoot in the sand at the beach.  I really enjoy it too.  It is pretty fun to have sister time talking about life while walking along the beach.  I also enjoy the sound of the waves late at night and the smell of the ocean air.  There have been times where Victor and I have sat on a bench and listened.

When we lived in Indiana one of my favorite sounds was the rustling of the leaves from the large black walunt tree (which no longer exists) and the babbling of the creek during Spring and Summer.  I would leave my window open to hear both and often fell asleep to the steady sounds of both.  To this day I still fall asleep to subtle white noise.  Some evenings a red squirrel would come to visit at my window; chattering and nibbling.  We would sit there observing each other.  Those memories come back each time I hear the leaves rustling in my back yard today.

Just the other day we were in Lompoc and I left flowers on Grandma Mead's grave stone.  When I stood there flashes of memories, conversations and quiet moments with her ran through my mind.  It has been many years and I still can see her face and hear her voice.

Memories of peaceful moments can often bring us moments of peace today as we reflect on them.  The memories fade but the feelings and emotions stay forever.

SIMPLE LIVING

In this crazy world we often feel like we are going 100 miles an hour.  Our mind screams out:  "Stop the world!  I want to get off!!"

Alice Gray is an inspirational conference speak and the compiler of the bestselling Stories for the Heart book series.  Working with Steven Stephens (license psychologist) and John Van Diest they put together the book:  "Lists to Live By for Simple Living"

On the cover:

"Simplicity is a gift of peace,

harmony, and delight!

But is simplicity possible today?

The wonderful answer is, "Yes!"

Discover the gateway to simple living in these uplifting lists

that will uncomplicate your life and enrich your spirit.

Enjoy. Treasure. Share. It's really very simple!"

I love this book.  It has helped me to slow down; be at peace and appreciate the many blessings in my life.  I hope to share with you some of the amazing things that I have discovered while reading this book.

A TENDER HEART

"And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you."

Ephesians 4:32

"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;"

1 Timothy 4:1-2

Having a tender heart is equivalent to having a tender conscience, and tenderness of conscience is vital in our relationship with God.  It is dangerous to become hard-hearted and to develop a seared conscience so that we can't really tell if we are doing anything wrong or not.  The key is to learn to quickly repent whenever Heavenly Father convicts us of something, not make excuses.

When Heavenly Father shows you that you have done something wrong, just say:  "You're right, I'm wrong.  I have no excuse, so please forgive me and help me not to do it again."

It is amazing how much that will help us have a tender conscience toward our Father in Heaven and a positive mind.  But as soon as we try to reason things out and make excuses for our wrongs, we start getting a little callou on our conscience.  It becomes just a little bit harder for us to feel than the time before.

A PERFECT HEART

"For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars."

2 Chronicles 16:9

What does it mean to have a perfect heart?  It means to have a heartfelt desire to do right and to please God.  A person who has a perfect heart truly loves God, though he himself may not be perfect.  He may still have things in the flesh to deal with.  His mouth may still get him into trouble.  He may make mistakes or lose his temper.  But when he does, he is quick to repent and make it right with God again.  If he has offended someone else, he will humble himself and apologize.

When God looks into our lives, He doesn't look for somebody with a perfect performance but a terrible heart attitude.  He looks for someone who may not have a perfect performance but who has a right attitude toward Him.  If we have a perfect heart toward God, He counts us as perfect and works with us while we are trying to manifest that perfection.

A WISE HEART

"And thou shalt speak unto all that are ^awise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of ^bwisdom, that they may make Aaron’s garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office." 

-  Exodus 28:3

I am absolutely amazed by some of the stupid things we do.  We wonder why we don't have the things in life we want, when all we have to do is watch how we act.

In the bokk of Haggai we see a group of people who did not like their circumstances at all.  Jevovah's response to them was:

"Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; ^aConsider your ways."  -  Haggai 1:5

For eighteen years they had put off something God had shown them to do, and yet they could not understand why they were not prospering.

We must use wisdom in anything we do in life.  It shows up in the way we talk, act, handle our money, meet our responsibilities, treat other people, keep our word, and in a thousand other ways.  There are all kinds of ways we have to walk in wisdoem, yet so many of Heavenly Father's children are totally stressed out because they are going in ninety-five different directions at once.

Without wisdom, we will never experience the power of being positive.

A STIRRED HEART

"Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou ^astir up the ^bgift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my ^chands"  -  2 Timothy 1:6

Jesus Christ wants us to stay stirred up.  It doesn't do any good to say, "I wish I felt that way."  You have to decide to do something about the way you feel.  If you want to have victory over your feelings strongly enough, you will do whatever it takes to get it.

How do we stay on fire?  I have discovered that the bearing my testimony; kneeling in prayer; pondering on the words of hymns and truly reviewing my week when I partake of the sacrament stirs my soul and I find that the fire that burns within me fans to a bonfire.  These spiritual activities stir our hearts and keeps the fire aflame,  and prevents our spirits from sinking or shriveling into a lump of coal.

Passivity, procrastination, and laziness are the tools that the Adversary uses against Heavenly Father's children.  A passive person waits to be moved by an outside force before taking action.  We are to be motivated and led by the Holy Spirit; not by outside forces.  The best way to guard against passivity is to do it with all your might.

A WILLING HEART

"And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering."

Exodus 25:1-2

"Every man according as he ^apurposeth in his heart, so let him give; not ^bgrudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a ^ccheerful ^dgiver"

2 Corinthians 9:7

When we talk about a willing heart, we are basically talking about "want to."  If there is something we want to do strongly enough, somehow we will find a way to do it.  With it we can lose weight, keep our house clean, save money, get out of debt, or reach any other goal in life we may have set for ourselves.  Our victory or defeat has a lot to do with our "want to."

We are really good at laying the blame for our failures on the adversary, other people, the past, and on and on.  But the truth is that most of the time the bottom line is we just don't have enough of the right kind of "want to."

Heavenly Father examines our heart attitude, and whatever we do for Him must be done willingly.  God delights in those who give to Him willingly, joyfully, and cheerfully, but not those who give legalistically or under compulsion.  I don't believe we receive any reward for doing things with a bad attitude.

The passage in 2 Corinthians is easy for me to relate to.  When Allisa is helping around the house she does so with a huge smile and a great heart attitude.  She is a pleasure to be around.  She is always asking how she can help; if anyone would like something to eat or drink; she asks to walk the dogs and other acts of service and kindness.  She does everything willingly and without being compelled.

When I have had opportunity to teach in Relief Society or Sunday School I expressed the different heart attitudes that exist when we pay our tithing; when we accept callings; when we attend church; or when we participate in Service or Humanitarian Projects.  Do we do these things because we feel obligated; or it's a commandment; or because it is expected of us - or do we do them because we are grateful and we love to serve; or because we feel that it is a priviledge.

Remember, Heavenly Father loves a cheerful willing Son or Daughter.

TEACHING MOMENTS

Yesterday in Seminary Evan was learning about the "Worth of Souls" and his teach shared a scripture with the students found in the Doctrine and Covenants.  She also stated that there were other scriptures found in the other standard works.  She couldn't remember the reference and challenged the kids to locate the scripture.

The keys words she gave the students:  "engraven in his hands"

Evan and I were coming home from his school.  I stated that I couldn't remember the the scripture reference but I knew that Grandpa could tell us.

After calling mom and dad's I was given mom's new cell phone number!  Yeah!  Called and asked Grandma the question so that she could relay it to Grandpa since he was driving.  He gave us more key words and gave us additional information.  The scripture could be in Isaiah, Zechariah and there could be some reference in the Book of Mormon and in the Doctrine and Covenants.

Evan and I each got on our computers and started searching the scriptures on lds.org and found some scriptures but not the exact one.  Evan decided to use his favorite search tool:  Google.  He found the scripture reference.

We looked up the scripture on lds.org and talked about it and then proceeded to find 4 other references.

We then discussed what the scriptures were talking about.  I asked him what it meant to have us graven in his hands.  I explained that it was a mental picture.

We then talked about the Atonement and the crucifiction and resurrection.  I asked him who Jesus Christ did this for and he stated:  "For us."  I told him he was correct.

My challenge to you is to tell us what scriptures we found.  I will give you the following hints:

There are two references in the Old Testament; one reference in the Book of Mormon; one reference in the New Testament and one reference in the Doctrine and Covenants.

Thanks Dad!