Needle Through a Balloon

Today we had our family home afternoon. We call it actually Family Home Evening.  In our church we are encouraged to do this as a family every Monday night. But since we're doing it in the afternoon, we just used  afternoon.

Some of our friends came over. Meryl gave the lesson. It is called needle through a balloon. I have actually made this during my freshmen year in college where we did some science magic.

First, you blow the balloon. Put some tape on any side you want. Stick through the tape with a needle. The balloon won't pop. That's because the tape holds the rubber in the balloon and prevent it to break. The rubber is composed of molecules which are linked together. Cross linking means that those molecules are attached together.  But pricking can cause the molecules to break apart.

Application in real life? At times we are vulnerable to challenges which can break apart. Satan's cunning plan can ruin our lives. However, if we have shields of faith, love, hope and other Christ-like attributes we can be protected.

Stones in the River

One of my favorite EFY songs is Stones in the River. It goes this way

♬♪ like stones in the river
we are tossed and turned
when the current moves so strong
stones in living waters over time
are shaped until the edges are gone
polished and smooth, that’s what we will be
if we put ourselves in god’s hands
each day of our lives is a gift from the giver
to smooth all the edges
like stones in the river ♬♪

It speaks that stones are affected by the current of the water. The verbs used are TOSSED and TURNED. Stones are of different shapes. Some are rounded already while some have rough edges. The tumbling effect of running water causes the edges to be smooth overtime.
At some points in in our lives we feel like being tossed and turned especially when trials come. Can you imagine if we don’t have challenges? Life will just be too carefree, your mind not exercised to think of potential solutions, heavenly virtues especially hope and patience cannot be appreciated and the list goes on.
We progressed with trials if we rely on the Lord. He knows our capacities and he trusts us as well that we can go through each single challenge.

Money Management 101

We come to a point that we earn for ourselves. If we follow all our eyes’ desire, money can vanish at a time especially when we go to the malls and like a lot of stuffs even we still have enough. I can be impulsive when it comes to shoes. I have several pairs and I am not even using some since I just work at home. There was a time that I even rationalized that I have to reward myself because I am working hard.

Managing your money is a skill and requires discipline. Here’s my personal ways of managing my money.

1. Tithing first!
In our church, we have this Law of Tithing where we contribute 10% of our income. This is not just a protocol but a commandment from the Lord. The Old Testament prophet Malachi speaks that windows of heaven will be opened once we pay our tithes. I attest to it! My mind is more open on how I can manage the remaining 90%.

2. Determine how much you will save monthly.
I believe this really matters. If you have set to save 40% of your income, be firm!  Count up how much you can save annually if you do so.

3. Create a budget plan
I allot my salary to different expenses like food, house rent and groceries.  Make a plan how much you will spend for certain areas.

4. Monitor your expenses
I find it helpful to list down in a notebook and document in a spreadsheet all my expenses. You can easily see if you really followed your budget plan.

5. Wants vs Needs
Just learn to differentiate what you want and what you need. If you want to buy stuffs, just make sure you have enough cash on hand. If you need to work hard to earn for the things you want, then do it. For me it is fine to buy stuffs I can afford as long that I don't borrow money just to buy it.

6. Cook instead of buying in fast food chains
My husband and I still have our dates every week. We eat out once or twice a week. The rest, we just cook at home. He is a great cook and I’m learning.

7. Avoid debt of any form
I find it disturbing to think that you owe someone an amount. There are some products that you can purchase on a month period. If you can pay in full, why pay in installments.

8. Healthcare and Insurance
This can be neglected at times. I make it a habit to really pay my dues once I got my pay.

Something to think of

I was cleaning up my mail when I found this.  Worth sharing!

There was a blind girl who hated herself because she was blind.
She hated everyone, except her loving boyfriend. He was always there for her. She told her boyfriend, ‘If I could only see the world, I will marry you.’

One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her. When the bandages came off, she was able to see everything, including her boyfriend.

He asked her ,’Now that you can see the world, will you marry me?’ The girl looked at her boyfriend and saw that he was blind. The sight of his closed eyelids shocked her. She hadn’t expected that. The thought of looking at them the rest of her life led her to refuse to marry him.

Her boyfriend left her in tears and days later wrote a note to her saying: ‘Take good care of your eyes, my dear, for before they were yours, they were mine.’

This is how the human brain often works when our status changes.
Only a very few remember what life was like before, and who was always by their side in the most painful situations.

Today before you say an unkind word – Think of someone who can’t speak.
Before you complain about the taste of your food – Think of someone who has nothing to eat.
Before you complain about your husband or wife – Think of someone who’s crying out to GOD for a companion.
Today before you complain about life – Think of someone who went too early to heaven.
Before you complain about your children – Think of someone who desires children but they’re barren.
Before you argue about your dirty house someone didn’t clean or sweep – Think of the people who are living in the streets.
Before whining about the distance you drive – Think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet.
And when you are tired and complain about your job – Think of the unemployed, the disabled, and those who wish they had your job.
But before you think of pointing the finger or condemning another – Remember that not one of us is without sin and we all answer to one MAKER.
And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down – Put a smile on your face and thank GOD you’re alive and still around.

Power in Purity

When we receive a gift, there’s always excitement what’s inside that gift. Back in preexistence Heavenly Father gave us a gift and we promised to take care of it and guard it with care. We have been warned that Satan will try to deceive us to open the gift prematurely. This sacred gift is our sexual purity.

President Ezra Taft Benson referred to Sexual immorality as the playing sin of this generation. Sexual immorality is the source of more temptations , more buffetings, and more difficulties for the elders of Israel than any other. Joseph F Smith One of the three dangerous sins that would threaten the church within.
Chastity is defined not only as sexual purity but to be morally clean in our thoughts words and actions. The Lord has provided us with standards in the Strength of the youth to safeguard us from Satan’s deceptions as well in the scriptures.

Why is it important to live the Law of Chastity?
1. It is a commandment from the Lord
It has always been emphasized in the scriptures regarding the constant reminder from Heavenly Father through His prophets how important this law is. The Lord made it clear that it is wrong to be sexually immoral.

2. Our body is a temple from the Lord
It always excites us every time we go to the literal house of the Lord. We prepare ourselves to be worthy. Likewise our body is a temple as taught by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:16.

How can we safeguard ourselves?
1. Make a firm commitment to be chaste
If we decided that day to be chaste as well, no matter how deceiving the tactics of Satan are we will never be deceived.

2. Choose well the ones you date
We eventually marry whom we date. We must make sure we share the same standards. We couldn’t afford to fall in love with someone we couldn’t marry at the temple. As Spencer W. Kimball said, right marriage starts with right dating.

3. Guard your thoughts
Elder Ballard said that the devil is a dirty fighter and we must be aware of his tactics. All forms of entertainment and media can be used by Satan for his purposes.

4. Watch what you wear
We are not auctioned or on sale. We must not sell ourselves lower. Remember that we are children of a king. So modesty is indeed a call to be. President Faust reminds young women of a reason to be modest “When strong young priesthood holders see a girl immodestly dressed, most will not want to date her because her standards are not consistent with their eternal perspective. Immodesty in women cheapens their image. It causes embarrassment and loss of respect. It is not likely to win the hand of a worthy, honorable young man who desires to marry a righteous young woman in the temple”

5. Be prayerful
The Lord knows the desires of our hearts. As we seek help through prayer he will give us the strength to withstand temptation.

6. Have a clear picture of the future
All of us see ourselves being married in the temple. We want a happy family with children growing in the Gospel. Families are eternal. We can’t afford to gamble our future by settling for anything less than what Heavenly Father expects us to be.

Integrity

There’s a common saying which says: “You are what you are when no one is looking.” That’s the true measure of a man.

Integrity is moral courage to make my actions consistent with my knowledge of right and wrong. We have been given correct principles so we will be able to discern which is right and which is wrong.

Many times in our lives we are tested whether we will hold on to our integrity or go with the flow of the world. When I was in college, cheating is still going on. I thought it’s just high school stuff. I made it a rule to establish a study habit so I will always be prepared. Before going on a mission, I work in a company where I most of my colleagues have vices. I have to stand out for what I believe. In my work now as a community support manager in a UK company, I just work at home. But I must prove to my boss that I am dependable and accomplish projects on time.

President Hinckley has said: “In all this world there is no substitute for personal integrity. It includes honor. It includes performance. It includes keeping one’s word. It includes doing what is right regardless of the circumstances”

Most of the time our personal integrity is tested when we are out of the four walls of our home.
1. Prayer
When we pray often sincerely, we draw closer to our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. The more we desire to be like them. Through prayer, we gain strength to live the gospel.

2. Scripture Study
One of the most important word in the dictionary is REMEMEBER. Human as we are, we tend to forget things. The scriptures don’t change. We have read it many times over and over again. It serves to remind us what Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ expects us to be.

3. Know Who You Are
We are sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father. We are of divine nature. We must make decisions based on eternal perspective. We must not rationalize on our human weaknesses, but strive to have a disciplined life. Because we are children of a king, we must keep our covenants and commitments whatever the circumstances is.

4. Self Evaluation
Ask yourself the following questions: Do I avoid gossip, inappropriate jokes, swearing and profanity, and being light-minded about sacred subjects? Am I completely truthful, morally clean, honest, dependable, and trustworthy in my schoolwork and other activities?

All of us can ask these questions to ourselves. When we are humble, the more we see room for improvement. Improvement and progression is one eternal round. It is a lifetime process.

Be Grateful

When I was in high school I receive a text message which goes this way “A little bird in the sky dropped a poopoo in my eyes. I didn’t scream I didn’t cry. I just thank God carabaos don’t fly.” Personally, this reminds me to always thank God for small blessings.

When we look for the word gratitude in the dictionary it means showing appreciation and thankfulness. However, it even goes beyond that description. It is our sweet acknowledgement of the Lord’s hand in our lives. It is an expression of our faith. It is through gratitude that we become spiritually aware of the wonder of the smallest blessings.  Have you ever thought of all the blessings you receive?

Significant But Subtle Blessings

There are a lot of reasons why I love Conference. My faith is boosted and the more I feel Heavenly Fathers love.

One of my favorite talks this 183rd Semi Annual Conference is the talk of Elder David A. Bednar. He talks about the blessings of tithing. I was teary eyed when he mentioned there are significant but subtle blessings we sometimes overlook. I realized more how blessed I am. Since I became a member of the Church, I paid an honest tithe. I was blessed with wisdom how to use the remaining 90 percent.

Elder Bednar mentioned that sometimes we humans have the tendency to look for temporal blessings. Yes, temporal blessings come for sure. In my case I consider having good health as a blessing. I get sick at times but not the point that I will be hospitalized. I have a good boss with a good job.

“Sometimes we may ask God for success, and He gives us physical and mental stamina. We might plead for prosperity, and we receive enlarged perspective and increased patience, or we petition for growth and are blessed with the gift of grace. He may bestow upon us conviction and confidence as we strive to achieve worthy goals. And when we plead for relief from physical, mental, and spiritual difficulties, He may increase our resolve and resilience. David A. Bednar