Living in the Present

As I have been taking big steps to plan and prepare for my future, I look back and find myself missing the small and simple joys of life. I get so caught up in looking to the future that I forget to live for today. As I have caught myself doing this, I have also seen countless other people of all ages doing the same thing. From young kids eagerly anticipating the day they will move out, to young couples dreaming of the day when they have that dream home and children, even to the seasoned couples who can't wait for the day their children move out so that they can relax. If you look closely, you start to notice a pattern. No matter where you are in life, it seems there is always something else you are striving for or looking ahead to, telling yourself that happiness will be reached once you have that. Only to find yourself looking to the next big event in your life. I'm quickly starting to see the adversary in his work. He takes something good, (such as goals and aspirations) and he puts it in our minds that those things are greater than what we have at the moment. Though happiness can be attained in the big dreams that we have such as living independently, buying a home, and having money, there is no need to seek the future to find happiness. Look around you, God created everything that you see, and has given you everything that you have so that you can find happiness now, in this very moment.
My proposal to you is this. Live for today! Live as though today is your last one. Though we can dream and hope, we do not know what our future has in store for us. We do, however, know what we have now. Make the best of every situation. I promise to you that it's not worth wasting today for what you may or may not get tomorrow.

A Day to Remember

A year ago today I returned home from one of the greatest moments of my life. I returned home from my LDS mission in San Antonio Texas. I don't think a day goes by that I don't talk about these two years. My experience in the mission field changed my life forever. My perspective is different. I wouldn't trade those two years I spent out there for anything. If I could help encourage you to do one thing, that would be to serve a mission. There is so much joy to be found in sharing the Gospel that it overpowers even the hardest of experiences that you may face.

In the Very Details

Have you ever taken a step back and really seen God in the details of your life? If you haven't, then think about it.Think about the choices you made to get to the point you are at. Think of the people who have been placed in your life. Think about the trials you have gone through and the successes you have had. Can you see him in the details now? 

Currently I am preparing to take a great step in my life. I'm getting married in August to a girl that I love and can't imagine myself without. As the time comes closer and closer to this day, I find myself looking back in my life and seeing the hand of God directing not only my path, but my fiance's path as well. It truly is a miracle that both of us were led in the paths that we took. There is no other way to describe it other than divine guidance. 

God has a plan for each and every one of us, and He knows what each of us will need in order to grow and reach our potential as sons and daughters of him. Knowing that God's intentions are to make us better with every struggle and with every trial, we have a decision to make. That is, do we embrace what we are given and look forward with a steadfastness and faith in him, or do we give up, and give in when adversity fights back.If we acknowledge the hand of God in all things and we act in faith, then not only will we be led to greater happiness in our lives, but we will also learn and grow. 

Look positively toward the future. Have a brightness of hope, and see what God is creating you to be. You are a special son or daughter of a loving Heavenly Father. Though times may be tough, he is always their leading and guiding your every footstep if you allow him to.