Phone Call Home

Prayer is such a powerful act.  It is the special way that we can communicate with our father in heaven.  When thinking about this tool I began to ponder if I use it wisely.  When calling my family on Christmas day I tried to do my very best with telling then as much as I could during the time I was allowed.  Never a silent moment.   Do I do that with God.  Do I make sure I say all that I need to say and really think about what I want to talk to him about.  That phone call Christmas day was the greatest gift I have ever received this time of year.  I hope that I can continue to appreciate the gift of not only my family but my father in heaven.  

Love, Sister Jessica Ivins

Song of the Righteous

 In D&C 25:12 it states 

" 12 For my soul delighted in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads."

This Christmas year I had the chance to sing out my joys of Christ.  I have always been told if you cant sing good sing loud... Lets just say I took that to heart.  Many friendly smiles and waves turned our way as we sang about Jesus' birth.   

"Some of the greatest sermons are preached by the singing of hymns.  My testimony and conversion to the restored gospel were strongly influenced by singing" 

-Jay E. Jensen

Its so easy to listen to wholesome music this time of year.  With Christmas music always on we get into the excitement of giving.  Now that the season is coming to an end we need to start to remember what wholesome music is.  

I was reading this afternoon a talk by Boyd K. Packer called "Inspiring Music- Worthy Thoughts. "  During I found a wonderful analogy that helped me understand the importance of hymns and good music. I know this is a lengthy quote but I promise it will help with any struggle you may have mentally. 

"The mind is like a stage. Except when we are asleep the curtain is always up. There is always some act being performed on that stage. It may be a comedy, a tragedy, interesting or dull, good or bad; but always there is some act playing on the stage of the mind...Have you noticed that without any real intent on your part, in the middle of almost any performance, a shady little thought may creep in from the wings and attract your attention? These delinquent thoughts will try to upstage everybody. 

If you permit them to go on, all thoughts of any virtue will leave the stage. You will be left, because you consented to it, to the influence of unrighteous thoughts.

If you yield to them, they will enact for you on the stage of your mind anything to the limits of your toleration. They may enact a theme of bitterness, jealousy, or hatred. It may be vulgar, immoral, even depraved.When they have the stage, if you let them, they will devise the most clever persuasions to hold your attention. They can make it interesting all right, even convince you that it is innocent—for they are but thoughts. 

What do you do at a time like that, when the stage of your mind is commandeered by the imps of unclean thinking?—whether they be the gray ones that seem almost clean or the filthy ones which leave no room for doubt.If you can control your thoughts, you can overcome habits, even degrading personal habits. If you can learn to master them you will have a happy life."

I know that when we kept our thoughts clean our actions become clean.  I am so grateful that I can celebrate the faith I have through song, prayer and action! 

Three Wise Woman

The three wise men were known for bringing baby Jesus gifts soon after he was born.  They followed the north star and traveled far to worship the Savior.  They left the comfort of their home to seek him.  As I try to imagine the filled stable I see different types of people from all walks of life.  Joining together to worship the sacred child. 

 

Recently as I have moved the new sisters area of Mount Scott with two of the most wonderful Women.  Entering a week before Christmas has brought forth the joke that the "Three Wise Women" are hear to bring gifts to the area.  At first I took it as a coincidence but then looking at Luke 2 I realised we are in a way like the three wise men.  Bring people the gift of Christ! We have left our home for a sudden time to meet new people and different cultures. 

 

I am so grateful for the life of our Lord Jesus Christ.  He is the supporter I need when I am down and the encourager and friend I have dirring celebration.  Ultimatly he came here for me.  To make sure that I had that opurtunity to return home to my Father in Heaven.  It is through him that I can have eternal life.  No words can describe my gratitude. 

 

I love him.  My Brother, Savior, Lord, Friend, and  Renewer.

 

Merry Christmas!  My christ always be the true meaning of why we celebrate this time of year. 

Merry CHRISTmas

12 days of Christmas sent to me by my crafty mother!
Its a miracle that I got them too!!! 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

This year I am more aware of why it is called the season for giving.  I was reading and came across a scripture that really hit home to me.  Especially during this time of year.

"Seek ye earnestly the best gifts, always remembering for what they are given." 

D&C 46:8

I am grateful for everything I have been giving.  My life is full of joy. Everything I love can be traced back to being raised in a Christ centered home. My Savior and my family are my "best gifts" I have been given this Christmas Season. 

I LOVE SEASIDE!

My call letter telling me I am off to serve in Mount Scott OR

Well the time has now come for me to adventure on to a new destination! Sister Corbett and I got our transfer letters late Friday night and to say the least I was really excited! There have been so many people that I have met in the past 6 months that have changed me for the better!

I have met some of the most wonderful and service oriented people here.  They have given me the ultimate example of how to be Christ like.  When thinking back at all the amazing experiences I have had, I decided to write a list of the top 21 things I have learned.

1. Life is what you make of it.  We choose to be happy! If I wake up and tell myself each day that "today is going to be amazing." then it is going to be amazing.

Sister Corbett and I with
Brother Beaudoin (Ward Missionary) 

2. Oregon blackberries are the greatest things ever!

3. It is the simple act of reading scripture and praying everyday that makes to biggest difference in how you react to things.

4. Service is the best medicine for home sickness, hard day, being tired, feeling alone... Basically every hardship on a mission and in life can be cured by thinking outward.

5. How grateful I am for the US postal service.

Us with Sister Poole

6. We cannot pick and choose which commandments we need to live by.  They are all equally important and we are never above the "rules"

7. You cannot con God (new favorite saying)

8.  Faith is an action not a belief.

9. Saying anything in an English or Grinch accent makes it sound much much better.

10. Ice cream makes any problem better. (Learned that from my trainer Sister Despain.)

Hannah and I.  Absolutely love this woman such an
amazing example! Going to miss her!

11. When we start counting our blessings it is hard to stop.

12. We are working shoulder to shoulder with the Lord. -Elder Holland

13. Although scriptures were written years ago they apply to us every day!! It is incredible that man's problems have not changed: pride, lust, greed, feeling alone, war.

14. Every person is a son or daughter of God and we need to treat them as such.

15. Its never too early to listen to Christmas music.

Connie and I. 

16. Every sunset is different.

17. The Holy Ghost teaches much more than I ever do.

18. Rain boots are the greatest footwear ever invented. (But they don't go very well with skirts...)

19. I have the most wonderful and supportive friends and family in the world and being miles and miles away from them have only brought them closer to my heart.

20. Heavenly Father is leading and guiding us, but it is up to us to listen

21. That the message that I share of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ is true and living by its principles will give us everlasting joy.

1/3 of my mission has been spent by the

Micheal Graves and I at his Baptism. 

beautiful waters of Seaside Oregon.  Thank you to everyone that I have met here.  You will always have a place in my heart.

"God be with you til' we meet again!"

Love, Sister Jessica Ivins

"Be The Missionary Your Mom Thinks You Are."

This past week we had the wonderful opportunity to go to the Portland temple.  A spiritual experience that I will always remember.  During the afterward devotional we had the "veterans" get up and tell us what they learned while being on a mission and how it changed them.  One particular sister stated something that made me feel empowered.  

"Be the missionary your mom thinks you are."  

I started to think of my potential.  What does my mother believe me to achieve. This made me want to do so much more.  In addition to my mother I thought of another parent.  Heavenly Father.  What does he see in me?  What does he already know I can do?  With this renewed sense of duty I wanted to change.  

A poem that Elder Jeffery R. Holland shared while he come to visit the brand new Vancouver Washington Mission is one that relates to why we need to trust in God 

Come to the edge, 

No. I'll fall 

Come to the edge, 

No. I'll fall 

Come to the edge! 

So I did

He pushed me 

 I flew

-Unknown

We all must jump to reach the potential our Father knows we can achieve.  

District Isolation.
(Long Beach Trio, Astoria Zone Leaders, & Seaside Sisters)

A "Hallmark" Missionary Moment

During this Christmas season I have had many people ask me "what are you going to miss most about being away from home this month?" I surprisingly tell them "watching hallmark movies with my mom." Through the years it has become a tradition to watch Christmas movies while doing various activities.  Whether it be setting up the tree, making hot cocoa, wrapping presents or just spending the evening together.  Always talking about various topics through the never ending commercials.   This simple activity really brought my mother and I much closer.  By sharing together something we love we were able to create a bond like never before.  Yes, the cheesy holiday upliftment was amusing, but the actual time I got to spend with my very busy mother are moments I will never forget.  During this season it is hard not to miss home, but simple miracles have made me realize I am not as far away from home as I think.  

On Saturday December 7, 2013 the Seaside Oregon Ward put on a splendid Christmas party.  Through the various talents; singing, performances, and water Glasses (yes, water glasses like on the movie "Miss Congeniality" but without the outfit) we had an enjoyable time.  After the laughing and applauding we concluded with the ultimate signature of Christmas.  The Nativity Story.  For so many years I have watched these Hallmark and Lifetime movies portray small town Christmas pageants, never witnessing one for myself. Until now.  The the true spirit of Christmas filled the room as children ages 5-11 portrayed the birth of Jesus Christ.  I personally witnessed something that I have been watching for years.  A perfectly imperfect childhood glance at the importance of this miraculous time of year.

I am so grateful for the life of Jesus Christ.  My personal Savior.  Who gave his life that will allow me to go to my ultimate home - to live with Heavenly Father again.  

The Unique Kitty Reminder

Growing up I LOVED cats.  Whenever I met one it instantly became my new best friend.  My friends in high school would always joke that I was "most likely to become the weird cat lady down the street."  Although this comment was for comic relief it was somewhat true. But Heavenly Father knew my adoring love for cats so he made me allergic to them so I would be monitored on how many cats I could handle.

The other night Sister Corbett and I went over to meet with 9 year old Kiernin.   Just two weeks ago she and her brother Andrew entered to the beautiful waters of baptism.  As we entered the house I noticed a charming tom cat purring on the arm of a love seat.  I was taken back at the resemblance it had to my previous cat Stretch.  As the conversation progressed I commented about how similar this cat was to the last cat I had 3 years ago.  Jokingly we stated that maybe it was my cat.  This brought us to the subject that we all have unique spirits.  Just like our finger prints we are each different.  Yes this cat could have been Stretch's long lost brother but it was not him exactly.

God created us to be different.  

I love the quote by Mary Ellen Smoot.
"Truly, we may each be an instrument in the hands of God. Happily, we need not all be the same kind of instrument. Just as the instruments in an orchestra differ in size, shape, and sound, we too are different from one another. We have different talents and inclinations, but just as the French horn cannot duplicate the sound of the piccolo, neither is it necessary for us to all serve the Lord in the same way."

May we all embrace the uniqueness of our spirits.  Although being allergic to cats makes me sad and at times in my life I have been annoyed with that trait, I can see that I was created that way for a reason.  It has made me appreciate benadryl that's for sure! YAY for modern medication!

Doubt Your Doubt

I think one of Satan's greatest tools is doubt.  I often doubt my ability to overcome, to help, and to change.  I tend to doubt the advice from family, friends, and sometimes my heavenly father.  All love me and want the best for me but it is doubt that holds me back from the potential that I can become.  When re-listening to October 2013 General Conference I was reminded by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf these simple truths: 

"Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters—my dear friends—please, first doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith. We must never allow doubt to hold us prisoner and keep us from the divine love, peace, and gifts that come through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ."

His council to not doubt is a reoccurring theme in the scriptures:

D&C 6:36 Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not. 

Mormon 9:21 Behold, I say unto you that whoso believeth in Christ, doubting nothing, whatsoever he shall ask the Father in the name of Christ it shall be granted him; and this promise is unto all, even unto the ends of the earth. 

D&C 8:8 Therefore, doubt not, for it is the gift of God; and you shall hold it in your hands, and do marvelous works; and no power shall be able to take it away out of your hands, for it is the work of God. 

We all need to remember to ALWAYS turn towards Christ in times of doubt. Not away.  When researching Ford Truck we don't go to the negative sights to learn about it.  We go to the Ford sight researching and asking questions.  There we will find the most accurate knowledge.  The Gospel is the same way.  If we have questions or doubt do not turn to the world to help you understand.  Turn to him. Through prayer, scripture study, and following the example of Jesus Christ we can find the truths to ALL doubts.  

Love, Sister Ivins