Nuggets of Wisdom

This is a blog post I have been thinking about for a little while. I have all these things that I am learning, and all this advice I want to share. So, this is a list of things that I have learned that might help someone else.

Random Advice That May or May Not Be What You Need To Hear:

- Loving people hurts, and not just like dating-wise, but like family, friends, and all the other people you care about. Loving them will hurt because you will watch them do things they shouldn't, you will worry about them, you will miss them, you will wish you could help them. Just because it hurts to love people doesn't mean you shouldn't. Don't miss out on opportunities to care about even more people for the fear of the pain. Because the amount of love that you will get back will make it all worth it.

- Sometimes the nights you stay up the latest will be the most fun. You might miss out on some sleep, but the memories you get will be way better.

- Write a bucket list. Then make plans to fulfill the things on that bucket list.

- Have at least one good thing to look forward to a week. That will make getting through the week worth it. It will be your motivation.

- Look up. The sky is never ever the same. I personally have a hard time staying in a bad mood when I look at how beautiful the world is around me.

- Look for Tender Mercies from the Lord. They are ALL OVER THE PLACE. For me it's the sun, the sky, the flowers, the leaves, my roommates, the funny things people say, compliments, chocolate, things that make me smile.

- Don't wear clothes that are uncomfortable. If you feel uncomfortable all day, then whatever it is that you are wearing is not really worth it. Don't dress like a slob, but find clothes that you like, that make you feel good.

- DON'T LOOK AT YOUR FACE 2 INCHES FROM THE MIRROR. Nobody stands that close to you, so why does it matter what your face looks like that closely? When you get ready for the day step back, and look at yourself as a whole. Then turn around and stop looking at yourself.

- Keep a journal of important things. When you are feeling really upset, write about it. When you are really happy, write about it. When you go on a date, write about it. When you meet new people and make new friends, write about it. You'll be grateful when you can go back and look at how you felt and what has changed.

- Say your prayers and mean them. Think about what you are saying and who you are talking to. It makes a big difference.

- Don't do things that make you angry if you don't have to. If you do have to, then step back and try to figure out how to not get angry.

-  Sometimes your eyes think you can eat more than you can. It's better in those instances to listen to your stomach.

- Try not to get offended. People mess up when they are talking. Sometimes words just tumble out, sometimes you aren't even understanding right. Be forgiving.

- Be open minded to new things. Life is more fun that way.

- Try new ice cream flavors. It will surprise you how many good ones there are!

- Don't do things that you wouldn't normally do to try to make someone like you. First of all, you will look back on that and be embarrassed about all the dumb things you did. Second of all, if you have to try to MAKE someone like you, then is it really worth it? Wouldn't you rather wait until a person comes along that already likes you the way you are?

-  Be nice.

- Eat chocolate.

- Go outside to work on homework. Then you are getting homework done AND getting fresh air! (Killing two birds with one stone!)

- Anonymously make cookies or write notes for people. It's fun.

- Dance in the rain.

- Make sure you take a few fun classes or uplifting classes as long as the classes you need for your major.

- Take time to do things you love.

- Do hard things that challenge you. When you do something hard, you become a little bit better, a little more awesome, and grow a little bit more. It's kind of like ballet. When you start off you can't do anything very cool. Then you practice and you do things that hurt a little bit, but because of that you learn to do a fun jump. Then you practice a little more, do some harder stretches and learn how to do the splits. When you stick to it and keep doing harder things, the things that were hard become easy, and you do something new. It keeps going and going and going until you are a pro! Life is like that. Do something hard and conquer it! Then try something else!

- Write letters.

- Sing out loud.

- Write silly, ridiculous poems.

- Allow yourself a bad day every once in a while.

- But choose to be happy the rest of the time.

Raising Lazarus

I should probably just name this blog "Things Kinsey Learns in her New Testament Class."

A few weeks ago, in class, we went over the story of when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead.

I love this class, because when I try to read the New Testament on my own, I can't visualize the way people actually were. Since they just wrote a very summarized and short version of everything that happened, it's hard to try to imagine the emotions, the feelings, the thoughts, the real human aspects of what was going on. It's just a very short journal entry. When my teacher talks about the stories and brings all the research and facts into it, he brings the stories to life. I can imagine the Apostles as real people, like me and you, trying to do what's right, but still falling short sometimes. They weren't perfect. They made mistakes. Jesus Christ was also part human. He felt sad, He felt pain, He felt grief. He loved these people that He taught, and He loved His family and His friends and His apostles. The stories don't really tell you that, but when I learn about it in class all of that comes to life. It's amazing. Jesus becomes more real to me the more I learn about Him.

Back to Lazarus. This story tells SO much more than just one of the many miracles that Jesus Christ did. This story is about friendship, love, charity. It gives you a deeper understanding of who Jesus Christ really was.

Okay here is the story:
John 11:1-45

First of all, Lazarus is sick. Lazarus is the brother of Mary and Martha, who are mentioned in a few other NT stories.
Mary and Martha send for Jesus because their brother is sick and they know that Jesus can heal him.
When Jesus heard about Lazarus, He knew it wasn't just a mild cold, it was a fatal sickness. Lazarus was going to die.
The next verse kind of tells a little bit more about what is going on. "Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus." (v. 5) This kind of gives us the impression that these three were really important to Jesus. Maybe they were some of His closest friends, but my teacher thinks they are family. We don't know for sure, but Jesus spent a lot of time with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, so I kind of think they were family also.
Then, something kind of funny happens. Jesus decided to wait two days before going to visit Lazarus.
By then, Lazarus was sure to be dead. No doubt about it.
Why did Jesus wait two days when one of His closest friends was so close to death?  If He was really so close wouldn't He leave as soon as He heard what was going on?
Mary and Martha wondered the same thing.
When Jesus arrived, Mary and Martha were heartbroken. Their brother had been dead for four days now, he had been laid in the sepulchre and his body had been wrapped up there were a lot of people there to comfort Mary and Martha over their brother.
When they heard that Jesus was there, Martha first met Jesus and wanted to know why He hadn't come earlier. She knew that He could have saved her brother, and was upset. He told her that Lazarus would rise again, but she thought He was just talking about resurrection.
Martha then went and told Mary that Jesus was here. Mary then ran to Jesus and said the same thing "Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died." (Would not have died.) Mary was crying, heartbroken over her brothers death as she said this.
Then comes the verse: "Jesus wept." Most people know this verse for how short it is (v. 35) but it is such an important verse.
The story goes on to say that Jesus asked to be taken to where Lazarus's body was lain. He prayed to Heavenly Father. When He finished His prayer, He commanded Lazarus to rise and come out of the sepulchre. Lazarus did, and everyone saw, and the Jews finally realized that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and they were amazed.

The part that I want to focus on is verse 35. Jesus didn't have to cry, He knew that He would be raising Lazarus from the dead. He knew that everything would be okay. He knew that waiting a few days before coming to Martha's house was the best choice, that it would be able to show His power best to the Jews who were there to comfort Mary and Martha.

Instead of telling Mary to stop crying and that everything was going to be fine, He cried with her. Which goes to show that Jesus loves us so much. Even though He knows that things will always work out, He knows what we are going through, and walks each step of the way with us. When we are sad, He is sad. He has so much love and compassion for us, that even the smallest amount of pain that we have hurts Him.

This story shows His love for us in a way that few other stories show as well, in my opinion. He won't just comfort us in our affliction. He will cry with us. Because He loves us, and we are Important to Him.

The Lord Has Not Forgotten You By Linda S. Reeves : Every time I write one of these, I go to see if there are any General Conference talks about it that have any good quotes that I can use at the end. Then, every time I do that I find a talk that pretty much says what I said, but better. So, if you'd like to read something more eloquent about the Lord's love for us and how He hasn't forgotten us, this is a beautiful talk that you will enjoy reading.

I know that I am loved by my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. We will have hard times, but we need to always remember that we aren't forgotten and that Jesus Christ suffered all the pain we are going through. He is walking along with us every step of the way, willing to carry us if we need it, crying with us in sadness, laughing with us in happiness, and hoping for us all the way until the end.