I am a Child of Royal Birth

25th July, 2017

Happy Tuesday everyone! 

Transfers happened and I have been blessed to stay in the Wattle Grove Ward here in Liverpool for another 6 weeks! How exciting is that? Let me tell you, miracles are happening here in "The Grove" and more will continue to happen because we have gone from a companionship of two, to a companionship of THREE! Yes! I'm in a trio! How good is life? Its amazing let me tell you! Sister Palepoi is the BOMB! We came to Australia at the same time and we were joking about being companions at one point during our time here - and the heavens opened a lot sooner than we thought! 

 Well, my invitation to you all last week was to acknowledge what the Saviour has done for you this week in "paying the rest" when you couldn't yourself! How many of you took the time to do this? I sure hope you did! Our Saviour has done so much for me and I hope you were able to express your gratitude to him throughout the week!

This week I'll keep it nice and short (haha). I just want to share a poem that I love with you all!

  

I am a child of Royal Birth

My Father is King of Heaven and Earth

My Spirit was born in the courts on high

A child beloved, a Princess (or Prince) am I

I was nurtured there: I lived by His side

In a home where patience and love abide

My Mother was there in that glorious place

Blessing her children with Queenly grace

I grew to stature that spirits grow

I gained the knowledge I needed to know

I was taught the truth and I knew the plan

That God and Christ laid out for man

I was there when the stars of morning sang

I mingled my voice when the heavens rang

I was there to rejoice, to praise and applaud

The shouts of joy from the sons of God

I waited my turn and I came to earth

Through the wonderful channel of human birth

Then the curtains were closed and the past was gone

On the future, too, the curtains were drawn

I lived on earth, and God willed it so

With freedom to choose the way I should go

I must search for truth, I must serve and obey

I must walk by faith or fall by the way

Someday I'll go back: I will answer the call

I'll return with my record to the Father of all

The books will be opened and so will my heart

There will be rejoicing if I've done my part

My Father, the King, with his Infinite Love

Will welcome me back to the mansions above

The curtains will part and eternity

In its light and glory, will open to me.

  

I know we are all sons and daughters of a loving Heavenly Father! I know he has a plan for each of us!  I know that as we lean on him continually and put our trust in him, that we will have the opportunity to live with him again! I know that it is only through the Gospel of Jesus Christ that we know what we must do to qualify to live with him. I know that we have a divine potential and it is only through the teachings of Jesus Christ that we can truly know who we are! I know that it is only through Jesus Christ that we can become who we are meant to be!

My invitation to you all this week is to look at your life, look at yourself and look at where you want to go. Are the choices you are making leading you to return to live in the presence with Heavenly Father? Do you truly know who you are? Do you know who you can become? I Invite you to reflect on these questions. If you can answer them in a way that makes you happy, there is always room for improvement - think of ways you can improve. If you are not happy with the answers that you have, what changes do you need to make in your life to be able to answer these questions in a way that you are satisfied?

I love you all!

Sister Roos xx (: (: 

When we fall short - the Saviour pays the rest!

Monday 17^th July, 2017

Helloooo everyone! Happy Monday! 

It's that time again...transfers next week! Let me tell you, time is flying by soooo fast! I can't believe it! Sister Taeu and I have been seeing miracle after miracle this week! One miracle - we were following up with potential investigators and we knocked on a door and then the lady said “I'm a member! I'm a member!” We got so excited! Sheand her husband invited us in and we talked and shared a message with them. They told us that the husband's brother is inactive and he and his family go to another church, but they are open to having missionaries visit! How cool is that? They are in Tonga at the moment for a wedding but they get back this week so we have an appointment on Thursday! I'm singing at the Tongan Ward's musical fireside on Sunday, and the sons are musically talented so I'm going to ask them to sing and play the guitar for me; not the tricky ones.  Anyways, that’s one of the miracles this week!

Last week I invited you all to worship our Saviour and Heavenly Father throughout your week - through your actions and thoughts. How many of you were able to do this?

This week I want to share a story with you!

When I was in Bathurst my companion Sister Niu shared a story with me from an Ensign.

There was a lady standing in line at the grocery store waiting to purchase her items. In front of her at the register was a lady who was paying for her things but she didn't have enough. She was rummaging through her bag looking for the extra money to pay the excess of her amount. The people in line behind her were getting frustrated and making comments like "Why is she here if she can't pay for what she needs!" and "Tell her to leave if she can't pay!" This specific lady instead of making comments or judging, pulled out the money to cover the rest of her payment. After the lady did this, the others in line turned their comments to her and said "Why would you help her if she can't even pay for what she has?" and "You're wasting your money, you should have kept it for yourself."

Believe it or not, at one time or another we are the lady at the cash register. We all fall short. We fall short of the Glory of God. We fall short because of sin. We fall short because we are mortal. But there is one person who has paid the difference for us - the Saviour!  And because of the Saviour our price is paid in FULL!

During this mortal life we face times where we feel inadequate or where we feel that we cannot carry on. It is during these experiences that we are able to call upon the Saviour in mighty prayer and ask for his help - this help being made possible through His Atonement. 

Quick experience: When Sister Niu and I were in Bathurst, we were driving to an appointment - an hour away - we were halfway there and I realised we didn't put gas in the car ... (We had planned to but things had come up and then I forgot hahha) Anyways, we checked the amount of gas we had left and compared it to the amount of kilometres we had to go to the next gas station. Now keep in mind, we are out in the middle of nowhere, we had 25 kilometres of gas left and 27 kilometres until the closest gas station. Let's just say we were praying hard! As we were driving I could see the amount gas we were using per kilometre was way less than usual. When we were 2 minutes away from the gas station we had 7 kilometres left and as soon as we drove into the gas station and got next to the pump it cleared to zero. Now is that a miracle? Or is that a miracle? Yes, Sister Roos should have remembered to put gas in the car but remember I'm human; I make mistakes (hahhaha). This was a time when the Saviour literally paid the rest when I didn't have enough! Our gas should have run out long before we reached the gas station and yet we made it there with gas to spare.

I know that the Saviour loves each of us! I know that he has paid the difference for us to repent and be cleansed from sin so that we can return to our Heavenly Father pure. I know that he pays the difference for each of us, individually when we feel inadequate, when we do not feel like we have enough to offer and when we just can't carry on. I have felt the redeeming love that comes through the Atonement of our Saviour Jesus Christ and I know that He lives and loves us!

My invitation to you all this week is to acknowledge what the Saviour has done for you this week in "paying the rest" when you couldn't yourself! I know that as you do this, that your appreciation for Him will increase! You will come to know Him more as you recognise what he does for you each day. 

I love you all!

Sister Roos xx (: (: 

  

True Worship

Monday 10^th July, 2017

Happy Monday everyone!

Hope you all had a great week! It's been another great week in "The Grove" aka Wattle Grove Ward. We are seeing miracles every day! This truly is the Lord's work and his hand is in every detail! 

How did you all do with my invitation last week to be a devoted disciple of Jesus Christ by submitting to the will of our Heavenly Father and "shrinking not"? I hope that you all were able to experience the blessings and peace that come as we submit our will to Heavenly Father's and the strength that we can receive as we "shrink not" in situations that allow us to grow!

In 3 Nephi 11:16-17, (this is where the people in the ancient Americas (the Nephites) saw and felt our Resurrected Saviour Jesus Christ)

"And when they had all gone forth and witnessed for themselves, they did cry out with one accord, saying: Hosanna! Blessed be the name of the Most High God! And they did fall down at the feet of Jesus, and did WORSHIP Him!

As disciples of Jesus Christ we go about our lives, busy with running to and fro, trying to finish tasks and errands, making sure that the boxes get ticked of all the responsibilities and duties we need to accomplish. In all this hustle and bustle of daily life, do we forget the most important element of our service in the kingdom - WORSHIP?

Worship: to honour or offer reverence, to regard with great respect, admiration or devotion. Worship of our Saviour Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father is essential and central to our lives - to our spiritual lives! Worshipping is something that we should yearn for, seek out at every opportunity and strive to experience!

When we worship the Saviour and Heavenly Father, when we give them the reverence and honour that they so much deserve, we approach them with love, with humility, with respect, with adoration.  When we worship Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father, we acknowledge them as Supreme beings. We WILLINGLY submit our will. We LIFT up our hearts in mighty prayer. We cherish their word. We rejoice in their grace. We commit to follow them with diligent and dedicated loyalty. 

True worship transforms us into sincere and earnest disciples.

We change and become more like him. We change and become more understanding. We change and become more forgiving. We change and become more loving. 

Wonder + Grace = Hope

A sense of Majestic awe and profound thanksgiving allow us to increase in hope. As we experience this wonder and gratitude we continue to have an abiding trust that the Lord and Heavenly Father will fulfil their promises.

Light + Knowledge = Faith 

When we allow the Holy Ghost into our lives we receive heavenly light - all the darkness and doubts that we feel vanish. As we allow this light into our lives we receive knowledge. The more light and knowledge that we receive the more our faith grows.

Discipleship + selfless service = Charity

As disciples of Jesus Christ we serve other selflessly - not because we feel obligated or it is something we must do but because we want to. As we do these things we are able to increase in charity - the pure love of Christ.

When we worship our souls are refined. When we worship we commit to walk in the footsteps of our Saviour. Spiritual experiences have less to do with what is happening around us and everything to do with what is happening within us! As we worship we receive blessings that can be with us forever, that can bless us and help us bless others! 

My invitation to you all is to worship our Saviour and Heavenly Father throughout your week - through your actions and thoughts. May we worship in the same reverence that those in the ancient Americas did at the time of His coming. As you do this you are able to receive the blessings that come from being a disciple of Jesus Christ.

Wonder + Grace + Hope + Light + Knowledge + Faith + Discipleship + Selfless Service + Charity = True Worship.

love you all!

Sister Roos xx (: (: 

ps sorry no photos. my camera wont connect to the computer hahhahah

Shrink not - submit to the will of the Father

Monday 3rd July, 2017

3 July, 2017

Happy Monday everyone!

Hope you all had a great week! Sister Taeu and I had a good week! We got our new Mission President this week - President and Sister Bingham!

So how did you all go with my two invitations for last week?

Part one: is to live your life that the Holy Ghost may always be with you!

Part two: is to L.A,F. - listen, act and feel the promptings of the spirit!

Doctrine and Covenants 19:15-19

"Therefore, I command you to repent -- repent, lest I smite you by the rod of my mouth, and by my wrath, and by my anger, and your sufferings be sore -- how sore you know not, how exquisite you know not, yea, how hard to bear you know not.

For behold, I God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent;

But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I:

Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit - and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink -

Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men."

This week I want to focus on a specific part of this scripture - the underlined portion

"that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink - Nevertheless, glory be to the Father,"

Elder Maxwell said "As we confront our own...trials and tribulations, we too can plead with the Father, just as Jesus did, that we 'might not shrink'- meaning to retreat or to recoil. Not shrinking is much more important than surviving! Moreover, partaking of the bitter cup without becoming bitter is likewise part of the emulation of Jesus"

To retreat or to recoil. How many of us when faced with a trial, a hard time or put in a situation that we are not happy with retreat or recoil - how many of us shrink? I have been guilty of shrinking in times when I have not agreed with a hard time - an opportunity to grow - but we know that Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Redeemer did not shrink in Gethsemane or on Golgotha!

Elder Orson F. Whitney said:

"No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude and humility. All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable, more worthy to be called the children of God ... and is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we came here to acquire."

Not shrinking and allowing our individual will to be swallowed up in the will of the Father is something that we all are faced with.  Not shrinking and allowing our individual will to be swallowed up in the will of the Father is a CHOICE that we must all make.

When we go through a trial, a challenge, a hard time, how many of us ask Heavenly Father to get us out of that situation? When we are experiencing pain, infirmities and hardships, how many of us ask for this time of challenge to be removed?

In the New Testament we see many examples of when the Saviour and his disciples exercised their spiritual gift of healing and recognised that these individuals had the faith to be healed. (Acts 14:9; 3 Nephi 17:8; D&C 46:19). We tend to have faith that Heavenly Father will remove the hard times that we are experiencing or to remove the infirmities that we have, but a question I have pondered on is

Do we have the faith to not be healed? Do we have the faith to not be removed from the hard time that we are facing? Do we have the faith to submit to the will of the Father?

We must be disciples of Christ who are valiant in the submission of our will to His. We must be disciples of Christ who overcome the natural man (Mosiah 3:19) tendency to demand impatiently and insist incessantly on the blessings that we want to receive and believe that we deserve. Having faith not to be healed, not to be released from challenges and trials seems counterintuative; however, as we look from this perspective, we allow our trust to be put in Heavenly Father's plan for each of us. We increase our faith and knowledge that the Saviour is in charge whatever the outcome might be. Our petitions will be changed from "Please get me out of this situation" to "Please give me the strength and the faith to accept whatever Thy will is."

A principle that applies to every devoted disciple is this:

Strong faith in the Saviour. With this, comes the submissive acceptance of the will of our Heavenly Father - even if the outcome or the journey is not what we wanted or hoped for.

My invitation to you all this week is to be a devoted disciple of Jesus Christ by submitting to the will of our Heavenly Father and "shrink not".

As you press forward along this strait and narrow path to our Heavenly home, with a steadfast faith in Christ and a willingness to submit to all things you will be blessed in extraordinary ways to learn the essential lessons for eternity.

I love you all!

Sister Roos xx (: (:

An Invitation to L.A.F. the promptings of the Spirit

26 June, 2017

Hellooooooo everyone! Happy Monday! It’s a great day in Liverpool! The work is moving here and we are seeing miracles every day! How did you do in identifying an ankle breaker in your life? Were you able to change your course so that you can miss these dangerous sections of your journey?

  

                             

Hymn #143

1. Let the Holy Spirit guide;
Let him teach us what is true.
He will testify of Christ,
Light our minds with heaven's view.

2. Let the Holy Spirit guard;
Let his whisper govern choice.
He will lead us safely home
If we listen to his voice.

3. Let the Spirit heal our hearts
Thru his quiet, gentle pow'r.
May we purify our lives
To receive him hour by hour.

The gift of the Holy Ghost can come only after proper and authorised baptism. The Holy Ghost sanctifies and purifies you. As you remain faithful to the covenants and promises made at baptism you qualify yourself for the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. 

Joseph Smith said: "There is a difference between the Holy Ghost and the gift of the Holy Ghost. Cornelius received the Holy Ghost before he was baptised, which was the convincing power of God unto him of the truth of the Gospel, but he could not receive the gift of the Holy Ghost until he was baptised. Had he not taken this sign or ordinance upon him, the Holy Ghost which convinced him of the truth of God, would have left him."

In the April Sunday Morning Session of General Conference Elder Ronald A. Rasband spoke about "Let the Holy Spirit Guide".

"Our Father in Heaven knew that in mortality we would face challenges, tribulation, and turmoil; He knew we would wrestle with questions, disappointments, temptations and weaknesses. To give us mortal strength and divine guidance, He provided the Holy Spirit, another name for the Holy Ghost.

"The Holy Ghost binds us to the Lord. By divine assignment, He inspires, testifies, teaches, and prompts us to walk in the light of the Lord. We have the sacred responsibility to learn to recognise His influence in our lives and respond."

He then gives four ways that we may always have the Holy Ghost to be with us!

1) We must STRIVE to live WORTHY of the Spirit

2) We must be WILLING to RECEIVE the Spirit

3) We must RECOGNISE the Spirit when it COMES

4) We must ACT on the FIRST PROMPTING!

The promptings of the spirit should not be a mystery to us! We should be so familiar with how the Spirit speaks to us that we do not doubt the feelings we experience and the promptings that we are given!

The more you LISTEN, the more you ACT and the more you FEEL, the more the Lord will TRUST you! You should always LAF (listen, act and feel)!

My invitation to you has two parts: 

Part one: Live your life so that the Holy Ghost may always be with you! 

Part two: L.A,F. – Listen.Act.Feel the promptings of the spirit! 

I promise you that as you do this that you will be trusted by the Lord to help him in his work in these the last days! The Holy Ghost is a powerful gift that enables us to serve others! So go out and serve!

Love you!

Sister Roos xx (: (: