Who You Are Becoming



(Lost and Found © Greg Olsen)

The last year has come and gone and it's time for a new year. As I have thought long and hard the last week I have questioned who I am becoming and where I am going. As I start off this new year I would like to share with you a couple quotes that have hit home the last little while. I received a wonderful book for Christmas called Saying It Like It Is by Sheri Dew and as I have read through some of the quotes this is what I have found.

"Ultimately we will become what we give our hearts to, for we are shaped by what we desire and seek after. If we love the Lord such that our hearts are changed, His image will fill our countenances. But if we love the world more, we'll slowly take upon us those characteristics." - Sheri Dew

From the beginning God has seen us by who we really are. He knows us more than we could ever know ourselves and His love for us has no end. We have been so blessed to live in this time where are are continually preparing for the return of Our Savior. We are all very special and there is a special purpose for each of us. This last quote has shown me a lot about who we all are in God's eyes. You decide what it means to you...  " Noble and Great. Courageous and determined. Faithful and fearless. That is who you are and who you have always been. And understanding it can change your life, because this knowledge carries a confidence that cannot be duplicated any other way." - Sheri Dew I hope that each of us can feel this way about ourselves in one point of our lives or another. We are all God's children and no matter how many times Satan makes us feel otherwise we are and we can feel that through peace. Peace is something Satan can never feel and he can never replicate it. We are determined to overcome him and we will each day as we remain faithful and fearless. I hope that I can do better at remembering who I can become and where I really want to go. I hope you all have a great week! Make it good :)

The Most Wonderful TIme of the Year!

I have found that the message I would like to share this week is that of Christmas and how wonderful it really is. I love the Christmas holiday so much and it just makes me so happy to feel the way I do at this time. I have thought a lot about how blessed we are to be able to celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. What a miraculous gift we have been given and I hope that we can focus on Jesus Christ a little bit more this Christmas season. The children in this video are so soft spoken and really touched my heart and I felt like the children have said it better than I could! I am grateful for all of the little children because they thrive on the things that matter. They take life simple and are some of the best examples to each one of us. I hope that we can listen to the children a little more. May you all have the joy and happiness in your heart this Christmas season as you think of Jesus Christ and who He is to you. I love Christ with all of my heart and I know that if I were there at his birth I would have thanked him and told him how much I truly love him as my best friend and my Savior! Merry Christmas!

Silent Night

For those of you who don't keep up with Paul Cardall there is one other video that brings warmth that I would like to share! Enjoy the music and video! :)

A Gift of Love

Paul Cardall was involved with this tree and its just so beautiful

Isn't this the most wonderful time of the year? A time for love.. a time for service... a time for happiness... a time for change... and a time for remembrance. For the last little while I have just been so excited about the Christmas season and the spirit of Christmas that flows through me like a whirlwind. I am so grateful for this time of year and it has to be my absolute favorite time! This year my family has started a new tradition to go to the Festival of Trees! I have never been before and I will never miss another year if I have anything to do with it! I want to share a few pictures with you that mean a lot to me and then share my message with you today.

These two pictures are of a tree that was donated to festival of trees by a dear sweet family that I am really close to. They happen to be the Manuela's who have lost two daughters to a rare condition and so they do a tree every year in memory of them. My sister and dear friend Jolyn Manuela is the one wearing green in the 2nd picture. The tree is filled with sea shell angels holding a heart or a star and many Hawaiian flowers. The tree's title is "Sisters in Paradise". This very tree had a great impact on me and really had me thinking as I went on to look at several trees dedicated to sick children from primary children's medical center. I thought for a small moment how lucky we are to have angels all around us to teach and care for us when things get hard here on earth. I thought for a small moment how blessed we are to know that angels like those on the tree touch our hearts. They make the stars so beautiful... Have you ever looked to the stars when you are missing someone who has made it to the other side? I know I have and what comfort that brings to my life. That's why I find this tree to be so special because it depicts those very things we feel when we think about our angels. Many of you have "Sisters in Paradise" you may have a brother, dad, mom, grandmother, grandfather, or friend in paradise. Paradise is not so far away. Our angels are all around us all the time lifting us up and catching us when we begin to fall. Each of them touches our hearts and fills the sky with stars. As this Christmas season continues I hope we will take time to help each other and to touch others hearts and be an angel to others in so many different ways. Let us remember Our Savior and remember that He is the greatest gift that has EVER been given! Festival of Trees is known as the A Gift of Love. Let us all give love to those around us! Merry Christmas! Love ya guys :)

Motivation Through Trial

Over the past couple of weeks I have been really paying attention to people and observing what life may be like for them, what they are going through, and how I can help. Just this last week I was able to talk with a dear friend of mine about trial and the people around us. She pointed out one of her favorite quotes that I have grown to love and understand more by Marjorie Hinkley which states, " Be kind, everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." I believe this to be so true that everyone is fighting a hard battle. Something else she pointed out to me is that just smiling at someone could really change a lot of things. Maybe a smile is all we could really give to someone and what we don't realize is that something as simple as a smile may mean the world to someone else.

We all go through hard times. Nobody is perfect and we are all doing the best we can and know how. I share this post with you because I am struggling with a few things too and its been rough but there are three quotes that have really helped me through and have strengthened me to push through these weaknesses that I have and I would like to share them with you. These quotes are very near and dear to my heart and maybe they will help you too.

"During moments of discouragement I find strength to go forward with faith by surrounding myself with others who LOVE God." - Paul Cardall

"I used to tell God how big my problems were... Now I tell my problems how big my God is."

"It isn't as bad as you sometimes think it is. It all works out don't worry. Put your trust in God and move forward with faith." - Gordan B. Hinkley

God won't give us anything we can't handle. In fact, God is there every step of the way if we let him. He is our Father. How do you think He feels? What is is like for him to see us in pain, sorrow, sadness, and tangled in sin? I hope that I can do the best I can for Him. Put faith in Him and trust Him. He loves each of us! I hope you can find some motivation through your trials. Be happy and keep smiling wherever you go. Have a great week :)
Love,
Shantell

The Way

"Jesus Christ is the Way. He is Light and Life, Bread and Water, the Beginning and the End, the Resurrection and the Life, the Savior of the world, the Truth, and the Way.

There is only one way to happiness and fulfillment. He is the Way. Every other way, any other way, whatever other way, is foolishness.

• He offers a well of living water. Either we drink and never thirst more, or we
  don't and foolishly remain thirsty still.
• He is the Bread of Life. Either we eat and hunger no more, or we don't and foolishly remain weak and hungry still.
• He is the Light of the World. Either we follow Him and see clearly, or we don't and foolishly remain bling and in darkness still.
• He is the Ressurection and the Life. He said, "The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." Either we learn of Him and have life more abundantly, or we don't and foolishly remain dead still.
• He is the Savior of the world. Either we accept the blessings of His Atonement and are made clean and pure, worthy to have His Spirit, or we don't and foolishly remain alone and filthy still.

He is the Way.

The Lord's way is not hard. Life is hard, not the gospel. "There is an opposition in all things," everywhere, for everyone. Life is hard for all of us, but life is also simple. We have only two choices. We can either follow the Lord and be endowed with His power and have peace, light, strength, knowledge, confidence, love, and joy, or we can go some other way, any other way, whatever other way, and go it alone--without His support, without His power, without guidance, in darkness, turmoil, doubt, grief, and despair. And I ask, which way is easier?

Life is hard, but life is simple. Get on the path and never, ever give up. You never give up. You just keep on going. You don't quit, and you will make it." - Elder Lawrence E. Corbridge October 2008 Conference

It is hard to find words to express my love for this talk. It is appropriate in such a powerful talk as this one to say AMEN. Amen to the fact that He IS the Way. Happiness ONLY come in ONE way and He is the Way. We are all able to make choices and we can choose to go his way which is NOT hard... or we can go another way and suffer. Jesus Christ has created the path. With His own blood and tears the path was laid for each of us. He is our ultimate example. If we follow His Way we have a promise. A promise of safe return into His presence with Our Heavenly Father. If we do not follow His Way we have no promise. " Life is hard, not the gospel." Life can be made easier by living the gospel. " Life is hard, but life is simple." Find His path and stay on it! Never go astray! Never give up! Do your best and you will find the greatest happiness in this life! Jesus IS the Christ and He IS the Way. I love you all! Have a wonderful day.

Love Shantell

One Voice

I apologize for not posting in the last week. I have really been pondering on what I should really share with each of you and time and time again I have been reminded and inspired to share a little bit about how I personally feel about missionary work.

We have all heard the phrase " Every member a missionary." What a beautiful phrase but also may I point out that there is a responsibility within this very phrase. As members of this church we know that through baptism and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost we make a promise with God that we will take upon ourselves the name of Christ. This promise is so important and yet taken so lightly, often. As we promise to take upon ourselves the name of Christ we are telling Heavenly Father that we will represent His son as best as we can and know how as imperfect human beings. We promise Him that we will walk in His path the best we can and be an example to the rest of the world of who we are. We promise Him that we will stand up for what's right and be disciples of Jesus Christ. What a powerful promise we have made with God and as we do the very best we can God will bless us. We do have a promise from Him as we do as He says. So as members we represent Jesus Christ and as His disciple we have the responsibility to teach, serve, love, and devote our lives in building God's Kingdom. That's why we are all here right? That is our test right? We are here to build His kingdom. So when you hear every member a missionary remember that you do have a responsibility to act and not solely be acted upon.

One Voice by Tyler Castleton
I am just one voice, but one voice can still be heard.
I have made the choice to seal my witness with my word.
Changed by holy fire that has burned into my soul,
Filled with new desire that calls me now to go

I am just one voice, but one voice can carry far.
Rising through the noise, of a world so deaf and dark.
Shining bright and clear to those with eyes to see,
Honest hearts will hear the truth that lives in me.

One but not alone, a thousand voices sing,
Praises at the throne of our Master and our King.

I am just one voice, but a voice of light and hope.
Grateful I rejoice and I share the gifts I hold.
I will sear with all my strength for the humble and the meek,
Praying they'll receive the simple truths I speak.

One but not alone, a thousand voices sing,
Praises at the throne of our Master and our King.

He was just one voice, but one voice that changed the earth,
Teaching love and peace to a lost and weary world.
I am just one voice, but one voice can still be heard.
I have made the choice to seal my witness with my word.

To finish up I would like to just share my testimony with each of you that I know that God has a great work and we are each part of that. We are all missionaries. We are all just one voice, but that one voice CAN be heard. Let us all seal our witness with our word. As I listened to conference, attended seminary last week, and a morning side today I saw a common theme. That is of missionary work. Step it up and be the missionary that you are. Don't let a moment pass you by in selfishness. Forget yourself and go to work. Let your testimony be heard and take every opportunity that comes your way to share it. We not only have a responsibly in this life but also an amazing opportunity. I know that God lives. Jesus is the Christ. He is our Savior. He is our Redeemer. I want to represent Him. I leave that with you in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.
Have a great day! :)
Love, Shantell

New Life

Some of you may have already watched this video but I wanted to add it to my blog because of the power and message that it holds. I watch it over and over again and I learn something new and internalize something new each and every time. This woman inspires me to be better. She reminds me of how grateful I really should be for what I have. She has taught me that the inside doesn't change no matter how dramatic the outside may be. In this case she was burned really badly and may not look the same physically but all the clothes still fit. She is the same and even better on the inside. As a woman I know that its very difficult to look on the inside. We are so focused on the outside appearance and what the world thinks of each of us but not what really matters. It has never mattered how thin, tall, short, big, or even what color our eyes are. God created each of us. In his eyes each one of us are beautiful! Let us remember where we come from and who created us. Let us remember our divine identity on the inside and let us learn from this woman. I am grateful for her example and for the heart that she has! she is an incredible woman with a beautiful testimony and great amount of optimism. I love Elder Holland's remarks at the end as well. There is so much to learn and I hope you enjoy this AMAZING video and take something from it as well! Have a wonderful week!