Know God

OH today let's talk about God.

Yep, God.

Do you really know God?

If you could know God what would you do?

Would you give up everything to know him?

And once you knew him what would you do?

Would you listen to him?

So, I was talking to my teacher about people who know God. And I said something like how do you help people know God if they already know him?

This was her response or something like it:

People think they know God. But they know God from a distance. It is not that personal relationship. They don't let God in their lives. They believe in God and say OK I believe in God, but I don't want him that involved in my life.

People don't realize that God can be in our life everyday. And he should be. And it should be that close of a relationship.

And if we love God....like really love God...I mean love him enough that you would do anything he asks of you....this is really knowing God.

Find the scriptures...if you love me keep my commandments.
John 14:15 D&C 42:29

OK me:

I love God. I will do anything he asks of me. If he asks me to believe in something I will...I want God in my everyday life. That's it.

Expand on this. Examine yourself.

Love You All!

Questions

Questions are so key.

My Branch President told me something like this:

People all bring personal baggage with them.

Okay, what does that mean?

Well you have to go through their baggage to understand them. That's it. You have to go through their lives to get to know them and understand their perspectives. They have all had experiences that have shaped them into the person they have become today. That is our job.

Questions are how you do that. You have to ask them to understand them.

AND THEN: LISTENING.

Being able to listen could be the best skill someone could really have. I mean really listening...not preparing what you are going to say...but JUST listening. WOW! That is power.

Wisdom from the Branch President:

"An argument is just an exchange of ignorance."

"A discussion is an exchange of knowledge."

Yeah, amazing right?

Okay, one other things. My great and very smart friend Julia did this... you should to. Take 5 minutes and write down 2010 as if you were going to lose all memory of it. Yeah, see what you say.

I bet it will focus on people...because that is what matters...just try it.

Also humility. Check out the definition in Preach My Gospel..."Humility is willingness to submit to the will of the Lord and to give the Lord the honor for what is accomplished."

Humility is what is it all about:

1. Be humble.

2. Be prayerful.

3. Be obedient.

That's is all I think.

Much Love,

Sister B. Okada

A Masterpiece

So Christmas Eve was great!

We spent it with this wonderful teacher...Brother Money.
He had us do an exercise that was so great.
He had each of us draw out on a blank paper the first notes of "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief".
We were like WHAT???
Some didn't know how to draw notes or a staff or a key signature, but we all tried our best.
He took us to a room where he said he was going to play the piano.
He started playing our drawings and it turned into this beautiful rendition...
that none of us could even imagine.
He testified to us of the work we are doing and how Christ's grace makes up for our inadequacies...we all put forth different efforts...but he makes it into a masterpiece...WOW!!!

http://lds.org/churchmusic/detailmusicPlayer/index.html?searchlanguage=1&searchcollection=1&searchseqstart=29&searchsubseqstart=%20&searchseqend=29&searchsubseqend=ZZZ

Hope your Christmas was as awesome as mine.

Love, Sis Okada

Christmas

Wow It is already Christmas?

It is amazing how Christmas changes the entire world.

Think about that impact of ONE birth.

It is a birth that not only changed that entire reckoning of time, but continues to define our years.

But why really was that birth so important to change so much.

People don't like change...but Christ changed us and continues to do so as we come unto him and learn of him.

I am thankful for the Spirit of Christmas.

Isaiah 9:6

2 Nephi 19:6

Luke 2:11

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Sister B. Okada

Faith

Oh yes I have learned something. Something that is so counter intuitive.

In America we are so independent. One of the first things we want to do is to be able to do things on our own.

We are ready to drive ourselves to school, move out and go to college, and have our own homes.

Yeah.

But what does faith take? Reliance. Reliance on the Lord.

Think of that contrast and the implications.

I am here to tell you. It's OK you don't have to do it on your own.

That is so beautiful.

much love,

Sister B.Okada

Try it. Try to have faith. It's scary and hard...but you can do it.

Family

SO I have been thinking about families so much lately. They are such a big part of life. God loves families and they are a divine unit. I testify of that. This life is all about family.

We are children of God and a part of his family.

(Link to or add I am a child of God)

Families are BEAUTIFUL.

That doesn't mean they are easy or perfect. They are meant to try and stretch us.

Families are so eternal...not just in the sense you are thinking. They are cyclical.

We are children. Parents. Grandparents.

We each learn from each other.

Children learn from parents.

Parents learn from children.

Grandchildren learn from Grandparents.

Grandparent learn from grandchildren.

Brothers and sister learn together.

That is one amazing, complex circle that is truly God-inspired: DIVINE.

I love my family.

Love your family. Strive to be a part of them...because you will always be.

Oh and remember that everyone is a part of God's family. Look at them with the thought "That is a child of God. That is my brother. That is my sister."

I can promise the blessings will flow.

Keep Calm and Carry On.

much love,

Sister B.Okada

Family Proclamation to the World

Becoming

Become love. Become peace. Become patience. Etc

Mostly become who you want to be.

You can do it!

I love you all and miss you.

Sister B. Okada

P.S. Someone is always wanting you to become something. Don't disappoint them or yourself.