(En français : Les suggestions pour l’étude des écritures)

Aujourd’hui j’ai étudié des suggestions pour l’étude des écritures.  Il y a une question qui dit : « Quelles suggestions n’avez-vous pas encore essayées ? »  Pendant le temps que je lisais les listes, quelques suggestions m’intriguées. 

1. Cherchez les mots-clés et assurez-vous que vous en comprenez le sens. 
2. Servez-vous de la Bible et des cartes de l’histoire de l’Eglise pour apprendre la géographie, les distances, le climat et le terrain.
3. Essayez d’écrire en une seule phrase ou en un paragraphe court l’idée principale du passage
4. Visualisez ce que vous étudiez.

 Je pense que j’essayerai suggestions 1 et 4 quand j’étudie « Prêchez mon Evangile » et les leçons pour l’école de dimanche en français.  Quelquefois, peut-être que j’essayerai suggestion 2 et 3 quand j’étudie les leçons pour l’école de dimanche.  Définitivement, j’essayerai 1 et 4.  

(En français : Mes études des écritures)

Aujourd’hui j’ai fait l’activité dans « Prêchez mon Évangile » chapitre 2 : Une étude efficace, page 23 :

« Choisissez l’un des passages d’Ecriture suivants.  En lisant le passage que vous avez choisi et en méditant à son sujet, trouvez deux ou trois manières de l’appliquer.

·         2 Néphi 31

·         Alma 32 : 26-43

·         Moroni 7 :32-48

Evaluez la façon dont vous pratiquez les principes que vous enseignez.  Choisissez une manière de vous améliorer et prenez des dispositions pour le faire. »

J’ai fait l’exercice avec 2 Néphi 31.  Pendant je lisais, quelques questions venaient :

2 Néphi 31 : 7—Comment est-ce que j’obéi plus ?

2 Néphi 31 : 12—Qu’est-ce que Jésus faisait que je dois faire ?

Je pense que je peux obéir plus dans la conseille pour le Sabbat : « Et afin de te préserver plus complètement  des souillures du monde, tu iras en mon saint jour à la maison de prière et tu y offriras tes sacrements ; car en vérité, c’est ce jour qui t’est désigné pour que tu te reposes de tes labeurs et pour que tu présentes tes dévotions au Très-Haut » (D&A 59 :9-10).  Tous que je fais sur le Sabbat doivent être pour la glorification de Dieu.  Peut-être que mes actions seraient le service pour les autres ou lire les écritures ou parler à ma famille—mais je les fais maintenant.  Quelle sont les autres activités que je peux faire ? 

Je viens à mon autre question : chaque jour, mais en particulier, sur le Sabbat, qu’est-ce que le Sauveur faisait que je peux aussi faire ?  Actes 10 : 38 : « Vous savez comment Dieu a oint du Saint-Esprit et de force Jésus de Nazareth, qui allait de lieu en lieu faisant du bien et guérissant tous ceux qui étaient sous l’empire du diable, car Dieu était avec lui. »  C’est une question que je dois la penser plus avec la prière de me guider.

Jon Schmidt rocks

My story aka The Monster--alive once more

Judging by the last save date on my documents, it has been nearly three years since I have opened up, looked at, worked on, saved, or in short, done anything with regards to the story that I began exactly ten years ago.  However, despite all the setbacks that seemed to inevitably come with school, work, dating, etc. I have decided that since I have so much leisure time now, I might as well make myself useful.  Next to the search for a job (which takes up it's own space of time each day) and scripture study (which I'm finally giving it more time, as it deserves), I've been dividing my time into four parts: reading, watching movies, drawing/painting, and now, writing.

Since it has been so long, and since it is in all respects "finished", it now needs to be weeded, reworked, and made to fit the moldings of my mind and goal for it.

This story, without a name still--I have just referred to it as My story for ten years, or to my own self, by the name of the folder where all the documents are: The Monster--has occupied my thoughts to varying degrees the past decade.  There have been times, usually the summers in high school, when my characters occupied a real and active part of my imagination and thoughts.  Of late, there have been no thoughts, except as it relates to the sigh, "I really should finish my story..."

I began reading through Part One yesterday and made it through 29 of the 37 pages. I was surprised by some of the things that I had added through the years--having nearly forgotten many of the small details that had been added since the original drafting of Part One ten years ago.  (Interesting to note: when I wrote Part One as a twelve-year-old, I thought it was all I would write about the Setay's and Egerth's.  Only, come to find out, it now has four other parts and it has morphed into something quite different, yet retaining the main premise of that first draft.)  I found myself laughing out loud at some of the things I had written.  That may seem vain of me, but it's true.  I honestly had forgotten in the past three years what I had written probably five or six years ago.

So the journey begins again: I am going to wade through The Monster that has taken over my imagination and storage space on my computer for the past ten years and for once I am going to get it into the shape and story that I like. From there, we shall see.  Perhaps then step two may finally emerge: maybe I will get it published, or try to at least.

back and forth

I keep going back and forth between having this blog be open to everyone or not...So if you get an invite and then realize you don't need to sign in, it's because I'm changing my mind all the time. :)

Friday the 13th

Friday the 13ths always have a soft spot in my heart because one of my best friend's favorite numbers is 13.  I've recognized every single Friday the 13th for the past five years in his honor--not because they are unlucky but because they can be uncommonly lucky.

I'm hoping for that luck to come sometime soon in my search for job.  Yet, I know that it won't be luck that "lands me the job"--it will first and foremost be the guidance of the Lord in my life, second of all it will be the help of my supervisors and those who wrote letters of recommendation for me, third of all it will be my ability to convey to my "judges" that I will be a qualified teacher and willing co-worker, and fourth of all, the goodness of my "judges" hearts to hire me.

I've been finding lilacs a lot lately--this week especially--which has made me so very happy! Lilacs always bring me such joy! Not only do they smell divine, but they are dainty and have a simple beauty.  They also only come at one time of year, their own special season, which happens to pretty much be the month of May, maybe into the beginning of June, but more likely not.

Lilacs are a particularly bright spot in my life this week because I've been facing some inner doubts concerning how others perceive me. And I really shouldn't worry about it...and I usually don't...but I do sometimes.

I think I'm just overly-sensitive or something.

But back to today being Friday the 13th.  I had a job interview today--let's hope the "luck" superstition holds!

Lindsey, Lori & Sam

I received three letters today: Lindsey Herde, Lori Lund and Sam Bhagwat. I just sent Lindsey and Lori letters this morning too so that was pretty fun to get their letters this evening. And Sam sent his letter probably a month and a half ago.  It was SO great getting his letter. He sent pictures and he'll be coming home December 27 and I go home December 28 so we'll be able to see each other before he leaves for Stanford and I go back to BYU. YAY!!

Tomorrow is the 6 months left for Jamon anniversary and the 1 year left for Lindsey anniversary. Of course I won't tell either of them that I am counting down (sorta) the months they have left because that isn't what they should be focusing on.  Goodness I love my missionary friends. I am so blessed to have them.

I am so blessed to have such wonderful friends in general. I love Lindsey so so much! She is just always constantly being an answer to prayers. And Lori is just fabulous! And Sam, Sam is Sam. :) I can't believe I'll get to see them all soon!