Practicing Abundance

  I have been hearing about this verse a lot lately.  It is the youth theme for youth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for the year 2023.  It is part of our study of the New Testament this year.  And it fascinates me with its layers. For such a short verse it has caused me a good deal of consternation. If I can do all things, why can't I get good grades on my homework? Or, why can't I keep the house clean?! Get to appointments on time? Never say snarky things??  Something must be wrong with me .  Not so.  I heard in a conversation recently that "it says you can do all things, but you can't do everything".  *lightbulb* Ahhhhh. That feels better. I had really wondered over the years why we would be told we could do everything when clearly I wasn't the only human feeling like I could barely get through the day sometimes.  Then, I was reading the book of Phillippians as part of my study of the New Testament this year.  I sa...

  There was bad news about the car. Again.  Really? As I heard the news I felt the competing emotions arising in my heart. One part was despaired and angry that things just couldn't work out; the other saw the situation as it was, and calmly chose to trust that all would work out.  For possibly the first time, I was observing and noticing the diverging path in front of me, rather than reacting to an event faster than I could think about it.  I had heard a discussion recently where a group of people were discussing this concept - something happens and you feel like you are flipping between opposing emotions or responses - like exhilaration and terror.  I had always thought that this vacillation was just how it was, and I would just be caught between the two until the situation was resolved. But these people said no - that is your moment of choice . You get to choose between exhilaration and terror. You can choose between faith and fear.  Right then, when you...