Ch-Ch-Changes!



Yup.  It was time for some Spring cleaning--I revamped the blog.  I hope you like the new layout and new face of what was previously "He Hath Filled Me With His LOVE", now A Christian's Mormon Mission. 

Turn and face the strange!

It's been a time of change for me as a missionary and as a person.  I've come to a new area (Sebastopol, California), I'm with a new companion (Elder Darion Bevan, who was actually my first companion!), and I've got new responsibilities.  I'm visiting new people, driving to new places, and trying new things.  It's all been a whirlwind affair, but it's been great. 

I really like what Thomas S. Monson, a prophet of God, has said about change.  He sums it up really well:

At one time or another we’ve all heard some form of the familiar adage: “Nothing is as constant as change.”

Throughout our lives, we must deal with change. Some changes are welcome; some are not. There are changes in our lives which are sudden, such as the unexpected passing of a loved one, an unforeseen illness, the loss of a possession we treasure. But most of the changes take place subtly and slowly.

...

Day by day, minute by minute, second by second we went from where we were to where we are now. The lives of all of us, of course, go through similar alterations and changes. The difference between the changes in my life and the changes in yours is only in the details. Time never stands still; it must steadily march on, and with the marching come the changes. (General Conference, October 2008, emphasis added)

I've thought a lot recently about the changes I've made as a missionary and especially as an individual these last 18 months.  I think about who I was, what got under my skin, what I liked, what my thoughts were back then compared to now and I have to stop and thank God for the help He's given me.  Like he says, the changes have come slowly, almost imperceptibly, but they have come.  I know that there are lots more changes to come in my life, especially when I get tossed back into the "real world" when my time as a missionary is through, but that's OK!  I know that with the changes come the blessings.  Sometimes they're hidden, sometimes they don't come right away, but if we are trying our best and leaving to God the rest, we'll come out alright in the end.

Life changes.  Things change.  People change.  The world changes.  God's love never changes.  And for all the changes that do happen, I'm thankful for that constant. 

Much Love,

Elder Spendlove

Of Sacrifice and Octupi



Uh Oh...

I was thinking recently about giving things up--whether it be addictions, things that just hold us back from who we want to be, or whatever--and in my often-runs-amok imagination, I thought what it must be like to have an octopus stuck on your face.  That would really suck (pun most assuredly intended)!  Even if you got a few of his tentacles off of you, he's still got 6 more legs to latch back onto you.  Not good.  Giving things (or people, or habits, etc.) up that we've become really attached to (or that have really become attached to us) can be difficult, especially when we don't necessarily want to give them up but we know we need to.  But every time we give something up that is holding us back from a closer relationship with God or with doing His will, no matter how hard it may hold on, no matter how difficult it may seem, we can and will be strengthened.

Think for a moment about the miracle of Jesus feeding the 5,000.  This little boy has 2 loaves of bread and a few small fishes.  That's all he had.  By himself, he couldn't have done what was needed.  But then he gave it all to Jesus, and Jesus did what no one else could do.  Think for a second about the faith of that little boy.  He didn't just give some of the bread and a couple of the fishes to Jesus; he gave all that he had--that's when the miracle happened. 

Pause and think about that in terms of you trying to be better, to "be ye therefore perfect", as Jesus' injunction goes.  Can we do it all on our own?  Heavens no!  We don't have nearly enough to get to where we want to be!  But when we give all that we have, Jesus takes our meager offering and multiplies it until the job is done.  So don't worry if your present situation sucks like having an octopus on your face.  Do your best, He'll do the rest.

Much Love,
Elder Spendlove

PS here's a cool talk about Christ's all and our all.  Might help illustrate this better.

Jesus and boy: https://net-at-hand.s3.amazonaws.com/sites/10732/images/15191_full.jpg
Octopus image: http://www.dinosaurtypes.org/images/other_prehistoric-creatures/sea_creatures/Giant_Octpus/Giant_octopus.jpg

Through New Eyes

Recently, one of the leaders of our Church, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, gave a talk at the Christmas Devotional about seeing Christmas through new eyes.  I loved it for several reasons, not the least of which was his reference to the Grinch's transformation; mostly though, I appreciated his wisdom and counsel to all of us on how we can refocus on what is most important about this time of year. 

He gave three suggestions on how to see Christmas through new eyes:

1. Rejoice in the Birth of Our Savior
2. Ponder His Influence in Our Lives Today
3. Look Steadfastly for His Coming

I'll let you watch the talk to get his exact words about each of those.  I did, however, want to testify that if we will seek the Christ this season, as the wise men did of old, we will see Christmas, Christ, and ourselves through new eyes.  Says President Uchtdorf:

If we look for what is wrong with the Christmas season, we can surely find it. Like the Grinch, we can grumble and complain, becoming cold and cynical about what we see around us. Nevertheless, if we look for the good, we can see this time of year with new eyes—perhaps even with the eyes of a child.

The Grinch saw the good in Christmas when he learned to look past its worldly trappings. If we do the same, we can, with the Grinch, proclaim: “Maybe Christmas . . . doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas . . . perhaps . . . means a little bit more!”

Our heart may not grow three sizes as the Grinch’s did, but our heart will change. Our eyes will open to the miracles all around us—at Christmastime and throughout the year.

I add my personal testimony that we can be changed through the One Whose birth we celebrate at this time of year.  May His love fill your life is my humble prayer.

Much Love,

Elder Spendlove

PS Seriously, watch that talk!  or read the text version here.

Image from: http://www.acartoonchristmas.com/2009/12/24/dec-24-how-the-grinch-stole-christmas/