Angels Round About You

You'd think it'd be easier getting answers and choosing what you should be doing in life, especially being a returned missionary and all. But, in fact, it is harder when surrounded by uncertainty, doubt, and worldly desires. Unfortunately, I am guilty of letting those things in the way when trying to do and listen to the will of Heavenly Father. But as I finally humbled myself and knelt down to talk to Him and then acted by studying and looking for His words, I came upon several different things that I have been missing altogether.

1. Life and experiences, in my case dating and marriage, cannot be rushed. It is NOT our timing, but His and it always will be. (Even though we are told that again and again, it takes learning the lesson for it to sink it, doesn't it.) I'm not ready for marriage yet, as much as I would love to be, I don't want to miss out on life as a young adult, even as a young single adult. Dating is a great opportunity to meet so many new people, create friendships, and find out for yourself who you are searching for and who YOU are.
2. In Ether 12:6 in the Book of Mormon, it says, "... ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith." Quoted hundreds of times by many of us, I think we fail to read what is directly before that. "... wherefore, dispute not because ye see not..." Ooops, once again I have been disputing and complaining about what has been going on in my life. Being a whiner, downer, and pouter. But, if I had just let the Lord guide me, letting my trust be put in Him, I would have seen much sooner, and gone through less heartache that the end result is and must be more glorious than I can even imagine. 
3. Life is about learning to dance in the rain while waiting for the sun to come out. Yes, life sucks. We all know we will experience huge roller coaster rides, bumps, pits, and altogether stops. But hey, enjoy the bump. Scream as you ride that roller coaster. Put your arms up and feel the wind on your face. We can't plan every little detail or event in our life, but we can definitely learn how to live in the moment. This builds character, faith, trust, happiness, and joy. How? Because it gives us a chance to become one with our Savior and our Heavenly Father. And therein lies the rainbow, the sun, and the pot of gold. The Atonement covers those pits, bumps, stops, and downs. The dark allows us to use the enabling power of the Atonement, take Christ's hand, and let HIM lead us through. He knows where He is going. Choose to take His hand and hold on. It'll be a much smoother ride. 
4. Forget yourself for a second. Serve others. Get to the temple, it's a perfect time. There are people waiting for YOU to be an answer to THEIR prayers. Yes, it is ok to take a moment for yourself, we all need it. But in the end, we all know that serving others will take the load off of us and off of those we are serving. Cool, right? Break those chains that you have put on yourself, and go help someone else. I promise, you'll feel great.
5. Speaking of prayers, have you been on your knees lately? I have failed monumentally at this. Prayer, the act of communicating with God. Not to God, but WITH God. Talk to Him, let Him know all that is in your heart. And then LISTEN. He hears. On my mission, I remember praying one morning, and as I was on my knees, I had this amazing feeling and thought that even though thousands of other people and missionaries were praying, Heavenly Father hears my prayer. My prayer. Me, Carlie Stewart, 19 years old, and struggling to serve Him. But He heard. I testify He hears, even when we don't feel worthy of it. Get on your knees.
6. When you get on your feet from your heart felt prayer, go to work. Study the scriptures, attend the temple, serve others. This is where those actions take part in our life. Seek out the Spirit. Trust His will. We must be moving in a direction, and even if it is not exactly the right direction, God will help us change our course if we rely on Him and are doing what He has asked us too. He will not forget or forsake us. 

Keep pushing on, yes, I am talking to myself and you. You aren't alone, I can promise you that. "...for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up."

The Miracle of Love

One of my favorite songs lately is Softly and Tenderly by Daniel Beck. It's a beautiful song that expresses the way that our Savior calls for us to come unto Him. While I thought about that, it occurred to me that I also need to softly and tenderly invite the people of California unto Christ. I am representing Christ; I have been trusted enough to go and feed His sheep. What an incredible blessing and privilege. What a beautiful way to spend 18 months. I've wondered how exactly I can go about inviting others in a tender and soft manner. But I guess I always knew the answer. I must follow Christ's example in all things. I must love them. I think love is the biggest key. It is, after all, the first great commandment. "If you love me, feed my sheep." My heart yearns to serve Him. I've felt His love and His peace in my life countless times. It is my turn to offer these same gifts of love, peace, comfort, happiness, and mercy to His sheep. I am humbled by this opportunity and the great trust and love my Savior must have for me to let me take such a great responsibility into my life. I've really started to grasp the concept and great importance of LOVE. "Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." I will teach of His love, I will share His love, and I will love those I serve and those I serve with. This work is hastening and I feel extremely blessed to be apart of this great work. I know that Christ lives. I know that He loves us. I know that He invites ALL to come unto Him. He has provided the way and I will let everyone know that they are loved and welcome into the arms of Christ. May you feel the love of our Savior in your lives. Never forget that His arms are always open. He is calling for you, softly and tenderly. He wants you home. Go now. He loves you. :)

Just a short, little update!

Good gracious. Time has certainly been flying by and I definitely need to update everyone :) Soooo, I got my call on April 26, 2013. I have been called to the California San Bernardino Mission, reporting September 4 and speaking English. However, on July 1, my mission was changed to the California Redlands Mission! I am seriously so very excited to serve. I leave in 45 days! I opened my call like 130 days before I was to report and now I have about six and a half weeks until I go. I am freaking out a little!
Since I opened my call, I have moved to Sandy to nanny for my cousins. It has been such a great blessing to be living here. I have been able to finish my shopping, take mission prep, and the best part of all was going through the Brigham City temple on July 13. What a beautiful and wonderful experience. I am so grateful to be part of this gospel. I also got to go with my best friend when we dropped her off at the MTC. I can't believe she left almost 3 weeks ago.. Umm once again, where is the time going?! My Becca is serving in the Georgia Atlanta mission. She is going to be such an incredible missionary!
My family is here for a mini vacation this week, which has been nice. We got to go up to Park City and explore and just have a great time! I also got to go to a We The Kings concert with my little sister. I am seriously partying it up before I leave. I'm gonna post soon about all of my mission clothes and shopping experiences. God speed!

Excitement :D

Ahhhh!!! :) I can't believe it! My stake president sent my papers into Salt Lake on Wednesday. This moment is seriously surreal. I can't believe that they have finally been submitted and that I will be receiving a mission call. What a glorious and beautiful moment. I can't describe to you the peace and the spirit that warms my heart. Fast forward now to Monday. I had the day off of work so I decided to go in and sit through a seminary class because 1) my Stake President is a seminary teacher and 2) I definitely could use some spiritual uplifting. So I got there early and my Stake Pres. says, "Should we see where your papers are?" Of course I said yes. So we are sitting there looking at the screen and he notices that there are no papers at Church Headquarters. I kind of start to freak. Turns out that my call was assigned last Friday (two days after they were submitted) and so my call should be here THIS WEEK!! WHAT. Yeah I am so freaking excited. I was totally planning on waiting another week, but this ROCKS. So that is all :)

Mission Decsion

Oh dear, where to even begin with this story. Maybe I'll start with saying that as a kid, whenever we would get big white envelopes in the mail box, I would joke that it was my mission call. I've always wanted to serve a mission, but I always thought I would be married or too involved in school to go. What a shock when I realized that with this age change, my desires could be fulfilled. I can't deny that my decision to go may not have been 100% pure desire. I was dating a young man who was preparing to serve a mission last summer. He left on my birthday last year. I kept telling my mom that if it was possible I would serve a mission at the same time he was so we could grow spiritually at the same time. Little did I know that my answer and future would be flipped 180 degrees with on sentence. I was sitting in Rexburg in an apartment with friends from the Distinguished Young Women program. One of the girls mom called and told us what had just been announced. My heart beat so fast, and my stomach dropped. In all honesty, I knew that this was my answer. As stupid as my desire had been to serve while my boyfriend was out, I still knew that this was something I should do. In the midst of this, one of my favorite teachers text me and said, "you could be a missionary in a year." His words went straight to my heart and started it on fire. Of course, I couldn't make the decision in one day, but I knew that the seed was planted and I would have to come to a decision. The whole day I was on fire with a passion and desire to serve. It could have been the shock or the spiritual witness that these times are the times where the work is being hastened to prepare this world for the coming of our Lord, but either way, it was an incredible feeling the buoyed me up and influenced me to find out whether or not I was to serve. I don't quite remember much of the next couple days, but I know that my parents both supported me. One night I decided to sit down and read my patriarchal blessing. Phrases and words popped out at me and warmed my heart. Slowly my heart turned from wanting to pass the time away from my boyfriend to feeling this immense desire to serve and love the people of my Savior and to give them the opportunity to come to know Him like I have been able too. I have been given promises to fulfill and I know that serving a mission is one of the way I can do this. In the midst of preparing and filling out my paper work, the spirit told me it was time to reclaim my heart and use it in its full strength to serve the people of God. I wrote my missionary a letter explaining the way the spirit was guiding me and what I needed to do. I know the hand of the Lord was in this because he took it well and supportively. My journey is just barely starting and I am so looking forward to see what the Lord has in store for me. My mission papers will be submitted on April 17. I can't believe how far I've come in just the 6 months since the announcement to change the age of missionaries, but I can tell you that I know that I am a better, stronger, braver, and more faithful woman than I was before. I am so grateful and excited for this new chapter in my life.