Do you know your role?...

"Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing."

Abraham Lincoln

  

Well friends watch out I have been thinking again... Dangerous I know! I have been thinking a lot about character and knowing ourselves! As a missionary I go out and I talk to EVERYONE, we go and share about what we believe and about the Book of Mormon, baptism, restoration, priesthood, Jesus Christ etc... Basically you share the things that matter most!! Being a missionary is the hardest thing I have ever done but the most amazing thing I have ever done! As I have grown and learned I have had to come to really know myself and really know if I believe anything I am sharing! 

 I was thinking about the world and the desire we all have for joy and peace and little more happiness! I was thinking about how we all want these changes BUT we sometimes expect them to just happen or to change everyone else around us, because surely I don't need to do anything, everyone else needs to change, they are the ones making the mistakes. I have found myself caught in this thinking but it is indeed wrong. If there is anything I have learned in my short life it is that there is only one person that you can change and that is 

YOU!

If you know me at all you know how much I LOVE theatre. One of my favorite things in the world is being in a play or musical, it centers me and brings me a great sense of joy and accomplishment. Not only that but I love to play different characters, I think one of my favorite parts of the performance process is creating and building the character I am getting ready to portray. I have played in quite a few very different roles and I have created some fun characters, but the greatest and the hardest role to play has been me. Yup that's right playing Sister Egbert has been the hardest role I have ever come across, she is such a complex, strange, interesting character that has left me stumped in many circumstances. All the world is a stage my friends, we must work to find our own character. Character is extremely important it is who we are and so much bigger than just likes and dislikes, it is the deeper parts as well. It is so important for one to find their true character, for many of us we are most unfamiliar with ourselves... Just like I said before we can only change on person and that is ourselves... I invite you to grab a journal and take this little analysis and find out what parts of your character might need a little work!

So I have created a in depth way to find one's true character. I warn you that this is not an easy path (if you do it right). Many will never go down this path, it is painful and probably the hardest thing you'll do. To truly know ones own character you have to know the deepest darkest most painful things about yourself. You also have to truly see your own weakness and your dark side. So in theatre we would often do a character analysts to know our character, it was usually a basic questionnaire to help us build a face and background to the fictional character. Well I have created over the last years a Self Character Analysts to help one find their own true character... It has taken a lot of work and there is much more to come but here it is (feel free to add questions, It would take too long to add them all)...

Section 1:

These are basic questions, hopefully the easy to answer ones. These are all  things that make up you but they are more surface items. They are the  things that others know and make up the social outer you. All good things  and all good things to know when discovering one's true character.

What’s your name?

Where do you live?

How many members in your family?

Where did you grow up?

What’s your favorite food?

What’s your favorite color?

What’s your favorite animal? COWS!!!! ------------->

What is your favorite song?

What is your favorite movie?

What is your favorite book?

What is your personal style?

Are you happy with your appearance?

Who are your top closest friends?

Who was your childhood best friends?

Section 2:

These are questions that take us a little deeper into you. They are the questions of what makes up our outer inspirations. These are the questions  that help us see what and who has inspired and taught us what we know and believe.

What is your attitude towards others?

Who are your top three heroes?

What’s your favorite quote?

What is your favorite scripture?

What religion do you follow?

What do you think of your religion?

Do you have a mentor? Who?

If not what can you do to find an inspiring and good mentor?

What is a mentor to you?

Section 3:

Now we are getting a little deeper and this time darker, we are trying to discover the  deeper sides of your character that no one else really knows but you.  Many  don't want  to look this deep but it is necessary in finding ones self. These  are important questions that the world does not want us to ask. These are  the questions that helps us see and want to change our weaknesses and turn them to strengths, you cannot become strong until you have discovered your weaknesses and your "darker side".

What do you hate about yourself?

What can you do to change what you hate?

Do you want to change or stay the same?

What are your biggest weaknesses?

Why do you think those are weaknesses?

What can you do to change them?

What is your biggest failure?

How has it changed you?

What is the worst thing you have done?

What drove you to it?

What are your greatest fears?

Section 4:

This is when we get to your core. These  are most necessary to find ones self. You have to know your foundation and you have to discover how much you really love your foundation. We live in a  world where these questions are pushed away because they are less hip and a little more deep. Not only that we naturally want to lean on others for these questions. Let me tell you that you will not truly succeeded until you have  discovered your foundation! These are the questions that I ask myself everyday as I go out and share my testimony with the world. 

Who is your higher power?

Why is that your higher power?

What or who do you owe all of your success to?

What is your core book?

Why is that your core book?

What experiences have you had that define you?

Why is experience important to you?

Why do you believe in what you believe?

Why is what you believe true?

What are you willing to die for?

Why would you be willing to die for that?

What are you willing to live for?

Section 5:

Here is the big bang to finding you! This is where we fall in love with ourselves and realize how amazing we truly are! Sometime we really don't like our selves a whole lot. We are our own worst  enemy. These are the questions that tell us exactly who we are and what we live for. This is where we decide how deep our character goes. Just  remember it is okay to love ones self, it's always easier to find what we hate about ourselves but it's okay and it's healthy to find what we love. Now discover and your character, you are like none other! We believe that we are all children of God and he loves us. Jesus Christ commanded: 

37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

 38 This is the first and great commandment.

 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

We are asked to love God and we believe that the way to do that is by loving others as ourselves. How can we truly love others and God if we don't first love ourselves? So here goes the last few questions! 

What do you love about yourself?

What are your talents?

How have you perfected those talents?

What are you passionate about? Why?

What is your mission?

If you don’t know what can you do to find your mission?

What is important about having a mission?

What is your personal manifesto?

Well friends I hope you have enjoyed your character analysis. I hope that you took the time to journal each question and add to the questions. This analysis will never end. The greatest thing about finding your character it is a journey through life. It not always easy but it is well worth the every hard time. You can not change the world for good until you know yourself and what you are capable of. I don't know about you but I am far from fully discovering my character but I will continue to search and enjoy the journey of finding me! Good luck to both of us!

Love you all! 

Sister Egbert 

Firm foundation!

The other day we were visiting with someone a good friend here on the mission and we were talking about Jesus Christ and things we do to firm him as our foundation. As we were talking an idea came to this friend of ours and he told us that it was like the three little pigs and the big bad wolf. As he explained my inner parable bone started aching to share. Just know this wasn't my idea but I liked it so much I just had to share.

We are told of the strength and power of having a firm foundation in the Book of Mormon in Helaman 5:15 it talks about the promise of building on the rock that is Jesus Christ:

12 "And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."

In our little children's story you have our friends the three little pigs. I am sure you know the story, the first little pig builds his home out of straw, a super quick easy way to build and be done. Sure he's done quick but as the big bad wolf comes along we know just how much quicker that little pig is no longer with us. Then there is our second little pig friend. He builds his house out of sticks, sure it's more sturdy, had to work a bit harder probably had to cut the sticks himself and carry them over, but still the faster way to be done. Big bad wolf comes along and probably has to blow harder but before you know it the second pig is in the belly of the beast. Then we have our third, much wiser pig friend. He chooses brick... Is brick easy? Nope! Is brick fast? Nope! Is it a lot more work to build a brick structure? Yup! Does the big bad wolf get to our brick friend? Nope! He is safe within his walls of fortified foundation.It's the same way in life. We are sent here to prepare ourselves and our personal structures to live with Heavenly Father again. Just like these little pigs there will be tests and trials and a big bad wolf that wants nothing more that our destruction. That big bad wolf knows many cunning ways to break down a structure and his blow is getting more powerful. Which means we have to fortify or strengthen our own structures, not just with straw or sticks, but with brick. 

There was a talk a few years ago from an apostle in the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints called good, better, best! As I was thinking about this little parable I was thinking of that talk and how so many times we settle for good and better instead of going out to see if there is a best. So many times we build ourselves upon straw and sticks knowing that there is probably something more out there but to lazy, busy or comfortable to go and put the little bit of extra elbow grease in. Sure the straw and sticks will give us a temporary shelter but when the "devil sends forth his mighty winds" we won't last too long.

So how do we fortify our foundation? How do we go for the BEST? How do we build our house out of brick? Well first of all roll up your selves and make the choice right now to want to be safe, to want to build yourself against the storms and the blowing a of the big bad wolf. When you have made that choice then make the choice to follow the example and words of our dear Savior by following and living the commandments and the gospel of Jesus Christ. To live the gospel of Jesus Christ we believe that you must: 

1 Have faith in Jesus Christ 

2 Repent 

3 Be baptized 

4 Receive the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands 

5 Endure to the end 

All these wonderful steps help us come closer to our Savior and our Heavenly Father. These steps lay out the path, the strait and narrow way for us to return home. I want to to talk more about these five steps and other ways to fortify and strengthen our foundations, but I am writing far too much... Sooo next time. Until next time I want you to think about your foundation? What are you building on? Are you going for best, or settling for good and better? Think of what you do everyday to build and fortify your foundation?

                                                                                                                   

Until next post have a magical day my friends! 

Love ya! 

I love the Priesthood!

The Priesthood is the authority and power that God gives to man to act in all
things for the salvation of man.

On May 15, 1829 something happened that would change everything for the rest of eternity. Today we get to celebrate and remember this momentous occasion of something that we all looked forward to from the beginning of time. On this date in 1829 the priesthood of God or the power of God was restored to the earth once more through a prophet named Joseph Smith.

One thing that people ask a lot is: what makes you guys different from other Christian religions? One thing is that we believe that the priesthood power has been restored to the earth through a prophet.
The priesthood is the literal power of God given to men to act in his name. It is with that power that we preform special ordinances like baptism. It is also through the priesthood power that miracles happen, like healing the sick and bringing comfort... etc. It is through the priesthood that families can be sealed for time and all eternity. And so much more!

I love the priesthood and the knowledge that Heavenly Father is the "same yesterday, today and forever." Of course he would call prophets again and of course he would give them his power once more to administer his sacred ordinances. It was through the priesthood power that the earth was created, that Moses parted the Red Sea and that Jesus Christ preformed miracles. It was also through that sacred priesthood power that he preformed an infinite atonement, paying the price for every sin and wrong we commit in this life. It is the same priesthood that Jesus Christ gave to his apostles before he was crucified.

Just like Jesus Christ gave it to his apostles, his apostles came and gave it to Joseph Smith. It is now given to all worthy men in the church who have kept worthy and true to their covenants. A covenant is a promise we make with Heavenly Father only with the priesthood power. One example is the covenant of baptism. When we are baptized by a man holding the priesthood power we promise that we will keep the commandments of The Lord, we will take upon us the name of Jesus Christ and we promise to always remember him! In return Heavenly Father promises that his spirit to always be with us. Not a bad deal I must say! There are so many other beautiful promises or covenants that we make with Heavenly Father to help us on the path home to him.

I want all to know I love and honor the priesthood with every piece of my heart. I have experienced the making of covenants and many times experienced the miracles brought forth by proper use of the priesthood. I don't need to be a holder of the priesthood to have total access to all the blessings and promises that come from The Lord. I want all to know how sacred this power is and what an honor it is to be in a time where we can have total access to these incredible blessings and eternal promises. I truly cannot express to you my joy and true happiness that comes when I think of the restoration of the priesthood. This is the day that we all waited for from before this life. The day we cheered for!


I know the priesthood is the power of The true and living God. I know that he has entrusted his power to those worthy who submit to him and his promises. I know that there is living prophet on the earth named Thomas S. Monson and twelve apostles just like in the time of Jesus Christ. I know Jesus Christ is the head of this church, through the priesthood these leaders are able to receive just what we need to return home. I am so grateful for the knowledge I have and the chance I have to grow in knowledge and have even more. So much brought because of the priesthood! I will always honor and uphold the priesthood and those worthy men in my life who hold it! Heavenly Father lives! He loves us and he wants us to come home! That is why he gave us the priesthood!

Love you all and have a magical day!

Motherhood... The greatest Calling!!

A mother's arms are made of tenderness and children sleep soundly in them.  ~Victor Hugo

God could not be everywhere, so he created mothers.  ~Jewish Proverb

All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.  Abraham Lincoln 

My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute all my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her.  George washington 

It's mother's day, naturally I thought I would talk about motherhood! Not to mention with a mother like mine there is no better way to express love than writing so I dedicate this to my beautiful mother. Motherhood is beautiful and sacred. I am at a weird stage in life of finding my future. Ever since I was a child I have changed from carrier to carrier, first I wanted to be a princess (ok that one still holds true) then an animal biologist, then a vet, a nurse now I'm going for teacher. The one carrier I have been sure about since I was little was motherhood. As I cradled my little dolls I dreamed of one day being a wife and mommy and raising children of my own. I am so grateful for the amazing examples of my mother and other second mothers who have all had a hand in building me and preparing me for the greatest calling God has for his children!! 


We live in anew world that tells you motherhood is weak. That being "just" a mom is not enough. You are not a strong modern day women if you make motherhood your number one duty. They say you will never change the world by "just" being a mom. Well guess what? They are wrong. Motherhood is the greatest change and the toughest job out there. I have done hard work in my life raising cattle and such but none of it compares to the hours my mommy put into raising me and my siblings. (that poor woman). Despite what the world thinks motherhood is the greatest thing a women can do. And those who say mothers can't change the world take a look at every man and women who changed history, they all were taught by a mother of some sort.  Each and every one of them, mothers are the ones that make history and prepare for the future. 


I am proud to be a women and proud to have the gift to someday become a mom. I would have it no other way. In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints men hold the priesthood which is the power of God on the earth. I have seen that power in motion in my own life and I proudly sustain and support the priesthood holders in my life. People in our society may see that as old fashioned and belittling women. On the contrary we have our own power of God on the earth. That power is the power to bring his children into this earth. In the Other Side of Heaven there is a quote that I love "Of all God's creations his children are his greatest glory." We are all his greatest glory and the women get the chance to fulfill his greatest creation. I am proud of this strength and power that both men and women have. 

I think that Eve the mother of creation knew this somehow in her mind when she took the forbidden fruit. I have known women who blame her for their misfortune of being a women. When God placed Adam and Eve in the garden he gave them two commandments, to not partake of the fruit and to multiply and replenish the earth. They could not obey both. I feel like Eve made the decision because she wanted to be a mother. She chose to partake so that she could bring us all into this mortal experience to choose and grow and work to return to our father in heaven. "Adam fell that men might be, men are that they might have joy." 2 Nephi 2:25... Because of their choice we get to live and have joy!!! 


I declare that I can't wait to be a mom one day. That it will be the greatest thing I ever do! I'll tell you it came from my wonderful mommy. I love my mommy so much, she is smart and beautiful. She has taught me so much about life and motherhood. She has also taught me strength and how to think. I'm a little different, I think a little different, she taught me that. Not only has she been a wonderful mother to me and my siblings but also to many others. She has shared and mentored many of my closest friends. I have to admit at times I was jealous of how much everyone loved my mom and wanted her attention. I now feel proud and honored for how much she has helped others around her. I am full of the greatest honor to be able to say she is my mommy. I strive and hope everyday that I will be half the women she is. I work to walk in her shoes but I have a lot of growing to do. I hope that she can one day see how amazing she really is! I work everyday to be the best women I can be just like my best friend my mother!

(PS. Also a big thank you to all you my second moms out there who have helped me become who I am. I love you all.) 

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL YOU MOMS!!!! 

I mean who else could handle this thing?!?!?

Abide with me...

Rain is falling and the trees are greening. As we were driving in our car the other day a song came on "Abide with me it's eventide." I love that song and the message inside. Rain and song combined reminded me of a memory from the past of a storm and a song that brought comfort.

I remember when I lived in Florida and I decided to go visit a friend up in New Jersey area. It just so happened that the one week I planned to go up happened to be the week of hurricane Irene was about to hit the north east. I decided I would go ahead and go. I ended up staying extra long due to the weather.

The night of the hurricane I was terrified. I grew up in Colorado and had never experienced a hurricane before in my life. As the rain fell and the wind increased outside my fear increased and my thoughts escalated. They went strait for the scenes I had seen on TV of hurricane Katrina. As my fear increased I was sure that death would come. I was sure that we would all be swept away to some uncertain doom.

The power went out and we took refuge in the basement. My friends and I sat and laughed and talked until they all fell asleep. I sat listening to the winds outside, I heard the rain pounding and I felt alone in the dark basement. I began to cry and pray to my Heavenly Father that I would not be swept away and that we would all be okay. I then decided to listen to some music, with hope that is would gear my brain from the storm. The first song that came on was "Abide with me it's even tide."
I thought of the words and the promise that Heavenly Father does love us and doesn't want us to be alone. I plead along with the words "Savior stay this night with." I felt a peace and calming come over me which told me that everything would be alright. I was able to fall asleep and when I woke in the morning everyone was alive. None of us were swept away, just a few puddles, branches and trees down.

As I thought about this story I thought of the crazy storms of life. We all experience them, some much worse than others. I also thought of the ways Heavenly Father sends us protection, but also how we have to take our own steps to be in a place of protection.
Heavenly Father gives us everything for our protection he gives us all the things to help us fend the storm, it's up to us if we want to take them. In my little story if I had chosen not to go inside the basement and instead chose to go swimming in the ocean out in the storm, there probably would have been a much different ending. How silly I would have been going out swimming in the storm? But how many times do we blatantly choose to swim alone out in the storm in the danger of the winds and rain?

I think of Jonah in the bible when he chose not to follow what Heavenly Father wanted him to do. He went swimming in the storm alone... Quite literally...

So I want you to think for just a moment if and how you are using the protection and the foundation your Heavenly Father has provided? He provides everything we need to weather the storm, no matter what, the storm will come, that we can know for sure. The way we choose to use the tools given and prepare will show the outcome.

I know that Heavenly Father has a plan and a way of preparation and protection for us. He has sent his son Jesus Christ to pave the way and to provide a safe foundation where we can take refuge. He has provided us the warnings and instruction from the scriptures and modern day prophets. He has restored his power to the earth, his priesthood authority to help light the way and to help us make special promises with him which help take us home. He has done all these things and so much more. All he asks is for us to use them. One way we use them is by keeping his commandments, not rules of bondage but rules of safety, happiness and freedom! When we break those commandments and step into the storm he has provided a way of repentance and forgiveness through his son Jesus Christ. It is so much safer and less of a risk of destruction if we will just choose to build up our places of safety and use those tools.

When our friend Jonah realized his mistake to not follow what God had commanded he was repentant and Heavenly Father prepared a way for his protection from the storm. A storm that he brought upon himself, one he could have avoided but because of his choice to not follow he found himself swimming in the storm. Then a stinky but safe repentance in the belly of a fish. We will find those moments and we will have our times in the fish. A good friend taught me that in a email sometime ago. Those times help us to become and to be better. What we choose to do after is entirely up to us.

I hope you enjoy your day and do what you can to prepare for the storms you are in right now, or the ones ahead. They will come but there is a way of protection and not only a way of certain doom. Love you all and hope you have a magical day!

1. 1. Abide with me; 'tis eventide.
   The day is past and gone;
   The shadows of the evening fall;
   The night is coming on.
   Within my heart a welcome guest,
   Within my home abide.
2. (Chorus)
   O Savior, stay this night with me;
   Behold, 'tis eventide.
   O Savior, stay this night with me;
   Behold, 'tis eventide.
3. 2. Abide with me; 'tis eventide.
   Thy walk today with me
   Has made my heart within me burn,
   As I communed with thee.
   Thy earnest words have filled my soul
   And kept me near thy side.
4. 3. Abide with me; 'tis eventide,
   And lone will be the night
   If I cannot commune with thee
   Nor find in thee my light.
   The darkness of the world, I fear,
   Would in my home abide.
5. Text: M. Lowrie Hofford,1882-1937.
   Music: Harrison Millard, 1830-1895.

Danger Ahead!!!

Danger ahead!

43 And I now give unto you a commandment to beware concerning yourselves, to give diligent heed to the words of eternal life.
(D&C 84:43)

Something funny about being a missionary is that you get this mindset to turn everything you see into a gospel centered lesson. I did that yesterday as we walked around the beautiful area of Great falls. It was Magnificent and stunning. Just what an outdoors girl like me needed. The sun was shining the snakes were out (I do so love snakes) and the trees and critters were alive and thriving after a long cold winter.

When we first got there we walked the wrong way and ended up walking up the Potomac river (instead of strait down to the falls). The small hike was pleasant and peaceful and the river was calm and beautiful. I noticed many signs along the way indicating the dangers down river. All the "fun" things; swimming, boating, drinking, wading... PROHIBITED! Not just cautioned, PROHIBITED! 

From sitting up river and looking in it seems peaceful as the geese and ducks play around and the water glistens in the sun. It seems calm and welcoming and completely safe. Things change when you walk down river a little ways and see the great falls and hear the thunder of the water smashing into sharp deep rocks. It's an amazing sight but indeed a deadly one. 

What does this have to do with the gospel? Well let's think of the calm river upstream. That can be the world, it beckons and calls for us to come in and to enjoy the "fun." All the river shows is the crisp cool water on a hot day, and a seemingly calm surface. Just underneath the calm surface is a quick strong current waiting to pull anything in its way down to certain destruction. 

The signs along the way I liken to the scriptures, words of modern day prophets and apostles and those who have gone before and who have seen the dangers ahead. In the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints we have the bible and the Book of Mormon which adds another warning of the danger ahead. We also have a living prophet and apostles that speak to us and receive the warnings from our Heavenly Father. Our Heavenly Father loves us so much and he wants us to be safe. Places those signs, people, warnings and rules because knows what is down stream and the death and danger ahead. 

There will be a time when we all will get to see the incredible falls from a safe and secure place. But for right now beware the seemingly calm river. No matter how tempting and wonderful it may seem it's not worth the price we have to pay later. Watch for the signs and the warnings Heavenly Father places for you and heed their loving voices. I am so grateful that just a couple weeks ago we got to hear general conference and hear the words of modern day apostles and a modern day prophet. I encourage all to go see what they have said to help you return to your Heavenly Father in safety. They stand at the banks, they see the danger ahead. Please be careful my friends! If you find yourself in the river being swept away, remember it's not too late for the rescue team to come and offer assistance. 

Hope you enjoyed and I hope you hop out of that river. Love you all so much and hope you have a magical day!

Watch out... It'll get ya...

Ivy.... Awwwww...

Hey there friends here is a little parable for your day... Well a parable thing... 

Once there was a little missionary that did a lot of awesome service... (The missionary is me... in case you didn't know) 
One thing I have done quite a bit is yard work. I have pulled quite a bit of ivy in my days here as a missionary. Oh boy is ivy fun and I have not seen it quite like I have here on the east coast. There is so much and it never wants to leave.

Ivy is a tricky thing and in my opinion very pretty but it's a pain in the rear too. Ivy is a vine and it likes to wrap and intertwine with everything in its path. Not only that but it takes over other forms of plant life. Wrapping around and slowly chocking them out of existence. It also loves to come back. I don't know how but it always comes creeping back and before you know it the ivy is all over once again.

So what does this silly plant have to do with the gospel? As I have sat pulling and thinking. I have thought how ivy is like unto sin. In so many instances sin is subtle and slow. It creeps up on you and slowly starts to wrap around your roots. It starts to intertwine with your branches and it takes away your nourishment. Before you know it, the ivy has taken over and you find yourself dying out.

Sin does the same thing. It comes in quietly and subtly and it slowly intertwines with your roots then around your trunk. It takes away from your spirit and it subtly leads us to a spiritual and sometimes physical death. I like this scripture in 2 Nephi 28:21 

21 And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well--and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell. (2 Nephi 28:21)

That scripture reminds me of the ivy and how it slowly takes over and before you know it BAM, you are in trouble and you have been lead away carefully. Satan works the same way. He starts out small and slow and carefully leads you far from the path home. He slowly chokes out you roots and your spirit... 

Sometimes we think that it's not very big and can't possibly hurt us but if we do not repent and allow the gardener (Jesus Christ) to come and pull we will slowly be chocked out. So we have to repent and allow the sin to be pulled away. We have to use the Atoning sacrifice everyday! Do it now and don't wait, we are asked to not prolong the day of repentance, but to do it right now and I know it will bless your life. The Gardner is longing to pull the sin and cast it away forever but we have to allow him the opportunity. It won't be easy and sometimes it will take time because we have allowed it to grow so much but the freedom and energy we feel after is so worth the pain of change. Sometimes it even feels like it has become part of us, but it needs to go. So let him take it away! Let the weeds be cleared and feel the freedom that comes through the Atonement.

I hope that you have enjoyed my lil parable for the day and I hope that you will "not put off the day of your repentance." I know that Jesus Christ loves us and wants to take away our sin. He has atoned and payed the price so we don't have to. We just have to come to him with repentant hearts and he will cast the painful destructive sin away. I know he lives and I know he loves us. I know from my own experience. You know what else I know? I know it's not easy to let go of sin. It's not easy to change and cast those things that have become so much a part of you away but I know the freedom that comes when you do. I love this wonderful week and I know it is because of Jesus Christ that I am made free! No more choking sin and ivy! 

Hope you have a magical day! 

Love Sister-Michayla Egbert