ST John 10

In St. John 10 the Lord is talking about being the Good Shepherd, he speaks about his atonement. Verse 10 he talks about how he comes to bring life, that we might have it more abundantly. Verse 11 he says the Good Shepherd gives his life for the sheep. Verse 14 He says he knows his sheep and is known by them. Verse 15 he says, "I lay down my life for the sheep." Verse 18 He says that he lays it down himself. There is a lot more in this whole chapter, but these stood out to me. I feel in reading these verses I can get a little clearer picture of who the Lord is. He is very loving, willing to sacrifice himself for us that we may have a life, not only that but that we might have it more abundantly. He knows us personally he's not just doing some random thing for strangers, He is trying to help those He loves, and he loves all of us, so he's trying to help all of us! Because he knows us, he knows how to help each of us individually. Not only this but he keeps saying he is the Good Shepherd, and the shepherd genuinely cares for his sheep, so he's not going to abandon us when bad things happen; he hasn't been hired to care for us, we are his, so he wants to care for us! He chooses to lay his life down for us, no one just takes if from him.
The Lord chose to die for us. He faced death, pain and suffering by his own choice, for us! Easter is a time to remember our Savior, to remember our brother and Good Shepherd, who is here to save us, to redeem us. He hasn't forgotten us, he never will.

Jesus Christ

Today is Palm Sunday, and this is the week of the Last Supper, and when Christ suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane, and was hung on the Christ and died for us. He rose from the dead and lives for us. It's a sacred week, because it is the week of the Atonement. The Lord loves us; his desire is to help us return home and to have joy. I had never really thought about what this week meant before, Easter really was just a holiday to me. I mean I knew it was the day of the Lords resurrection, but the meaning of it never hit me until today when one of the sisters in the Branch, Beth, bore her testimony and talked about what occurred during this week, during the time of Christ. I've realized how sacred this time is, and I feel more appreciation for Easter time, for the Lord. After church I went on a little drive and took pictures of the sunset, and I felt very close to the Lord; grateful for his creations, for his love, and his help throughout my life. I felt like that moment was just between me and the Lord. The sunset was beautiful, it looked as I felt in my heart. I want to try to focus on the Lord and His atonement this week.

We the people need to do something, our government is getting out of control, they are power hungry, and are slowly chipping away at our freedom; actually they don't seem to be going that slow anymore, in fact they seem to have picked up speed. This isn't a game, it's not being dramatic or silly to say, STOP! Look around at what is happening! Look at history, look at other governments around the world, look at what ours is becoming. You'll see that what is happening to our very own isn't much different than what has happened to other governments, past and present. Ours has been the most successful government, because the power has been in the hands of the people, because the people have had freedom and liberty. But with the government taking more and more power we are putting ourselves in a worse and more hazardous situation. The health care bill that was passed is just one step towards loss of freedom and liberty. Nancy Pelosi talked about this bill as being a part of helping with the pursuit of happiness, but it's not! It's taking away freedom, and therefore not allowing people to FREELY CHOOSE what they will do with their life- part of being free to pursue our own happiness is taking responsibility for our own lives, choosing what we will make of our own lives. The government is trying to make everyone happy, but the problem with that is not everyone's idea of happiness is the same, but the government will try to make everyone the same. I think the government thinks that having equality means being the exact same as each other. This isn't true, being equal is where everyone can choose to be different; they can choose to work, learn and live, or to sit, do nothing, learn nothing and be nothing, but this also means everyone is responsible for their own life. The government is supposed to make sure no one gets in the way of your choice of life style (as long as your choice of lifestyle doesn't interfere with anothers life). So if you're one of those people who chooses to do nothing, don't make those who would make something of their life pay for your life, or lack thereof.

Just Need to Vent

I know, I know, I complain too much. But I'm really trying to keep a smile on my face, and to be okay right now, it's not as easy as it sounds, so I need a little venting time.
I don't know if anybody who reads this has seen the movie, "The Holiday", kind of a stupid movie, the only good parts in that movie are the parts that focus on the character Iris, who is played my Kate Winslet, anyway rambling, I'll get to the point. Iris is talking to this older gentleman, who used to be a Movie director, about how she was hurt by this one man. The gentleman tells her that in the movies there's the leading lady and then the friend, and that Iris has been playing the part of the friend, when she is really the leading lady. Then Iris says, "You're right, you should be the leading lady in your own life." or something along those lines. Anyway if I were in a movie I'd be "the friend," and that's exactly what I've been my whole life; the friend, sidekick, a background person, just space filler. I have always been that, and I am still that. I just wish for once that a guy would really sincerely be interested in me, not a guy who is kind of stalkerish, and not a guy who'll not worry about my mental health just for having a hard time with compliments, and who'll treat me like a little kid just because I'm shy.
I honestly am jealous of a friend of mine, I shouldn't be, but I am. She has all of these guys who like her, and ask her out, and flirt with her. I feel disgusting next to her. Perhaps I shouldn't feel that way, but I do. She is a really good friend, and I love her, but it's getting harder and harder to be around her, because I see all that I am not, and all that I will never have, or rather who I will never have, because the guys see her and not me. It's frustrating. Right now I'm hurting a lot, because of something I found out, and I'm trying to get over it, and just move on, but it's really hard to. I really am thinking I might need to leave my singles branch. Maybe I'm just being a big baby, and really selfish. :(