Counsel for your life.

I've been dealing with a lot of problems lately, both of my own making and due to the choices of others. It would be far too easy to give up or give into depression. As I've been struggling through the various issues that present themselves, there are a few pieces of advice that always return to my mind. I'd like to share these snippets of wisdom with you all. I hope that the religious tones of this don't offend you. In fact, I do hope that you will let the spirit of this message into your heart and ponder on the words.

I want to share with you a vehicle, an instrument that I developed some time ago for myself and for my family. It can assist us as we read the suggested vision of true discipleship as [followers of Christ]. It helps when we, from time to time, ponder and seek identification with the following thoughts:

Embrace this day with an enthusiastic welcome, no matter how it looks. The covenant with God to which you are true enables you to be enlightened by Him, and nothing is impossible for you.

When you are physically sick, tired, or in despair, steer your thoughts away from yourself and direct them in gratitude and love toward God.

In your life there have to be challenges. They will either bring you closer to God, and therefore make you stronger or they can destroy you. But you make the decision of which road you take.

First and foremost, you are a spirit child of God. If you neglect to feed your spirit, you will reap unhappiness. Don't permit anything to detract you from this awareness.

You cannot communicate with God unless you have first sacrificed your self-oriented natural man, and have brought yourself into the lower levels of meekness, to become acceptable for the light of Christ.

Put all frustrations, hurt feelings, and grumblings into the perspective of your eternal hope. Light will flow into your soul.

Pause to ponder the suffering Christ felt in the Garden of Gethsemane. In the awareness of the depth of gratitude for Him, you appreciate every opportunity to show your love for him by diligently serving in His church.

God knows that you are not perfect. As you suffer about your imperfections, He will give you comfort and suggestions where to improve. God knows better than you what you need. He always attempts to speak to you. Listen and follow the uncomfortable suggestions that He makes to you, and everything will fall into its place.

Avoid any fear like your worst enemy, but magnify your fear about the consequences of sin.

When you cannot love someone, look into that person's eyes, long enough to find the hidden rudiments of the child of God within him.

Never judge anyone. When you accept this, you will be freed. In the case of your own children or subordinates, where you have the responsibility to judge, help them to become their own judges.

If someone hurts you so much that your feelings seem to choke you, forgive and you will be free again. Avoid at all costs any pessimistic, negative, or criticizing thoughts. If you cannot cut them out, they will do you harm.

On the road to salvation, let questions arise but never doubts. If something is wrong, God will give you clarity, but never doubts.

Avoid rush and haste and uncontrolled words. Divine light develops in places of peace and quiet. Be aware of that as you enter into places of worship.

Be not so much concerned about what you do. But what you do, do with all your heart, mind, and strength... in thoroughness there is satisfaction.

You want to be good and to do good. That is commendable. But the greatest achievement that can be reached in our lives is to be under the complete influence of the Holy Ghost. Then He will teach us what is good and necessary to do.

The pain of sacrifice lasts only one moment. It is the fear of pain of sacrifice that makes you hesitate to do it.

Be grateful for every opportunity you have to serve: it helps you more than those you serve.

And finally, when you are compelled to give something up or when things that are dear to you are withdrawn from you, know that this is your lesson to be learned right now. But know also that as you are learning this lesson God wants to give you something better.

Thus we prepare all the days of our lives, and as we grow, death loses its sting, hell loses its power, and we look forward to that day with anticipation and joy when He will come in His glory.

-Elder Enzio F. Busche

Thank you guys for bearing with me through all my issues, and thank you for your love and support. I hope that some of this advice can help you in whatever trial you are facing right now. All I can do is exhort you all to try to live by this counsel. I say try, because I am still working on it myself. It is an ongoing goal, and we will all always be working our way towards perfection.

I'm sorry for being so forward about all this, but I know that this advice can improve the quality of your life beyond anything that you may imagine (though I doubt it'll poof you to Equestria, but ya never know!) I love you guys a ton, and I will try my best to get back to writing here soon.

Isaac

Comments

[Itsasecrettome]

Gods speed you magnificent bastard don't let little ol' life with it's daily base of shit get you down lad. You got a good set of ambitions there that you should stick to.