"The Fellowship of the Unashamed"

I was on exchanges the other day and during my personal study, I read this message that was on the wall by Sister Cottle's desk and I really loved it. It reminded me so much of this verse from the Bible:

"So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at [California] also.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth..." (Roman 1:15-16)

I am part of the Fellowship if the Unashamed. The dye has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision have been made. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won't look back, let up, slow down, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure. I'm finished and done with low living, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, worldly talking, cheap giving, and dwarf goals. I no longer need pre-eminence, positions, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk with patience, am uplifted by prayer, and labor with power. My face is set, my gait is fast, and my GOAL is Heaven. My road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my guide is reliable, my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, divided, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of SACRIFICE, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I won't give up, shut up, or let up until I have stayed up, stored up, and paid up for the cause of Christ. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me. And when He returns for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me.
MY BANNER WILL BE CLEAR.

My calling is great! I love being a missionary. I am grateful to be here and for this great opportunity I have to share the gospel with my many brothers and sisters!!!I am called of God. My authority is above that of kings of the earth. By revelation I have been selected as a personal representative of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is my master and He has chosen me to represent Him--to stand in His place, to say and do what He Himself would say and do if He personally were ministering to the very people to whom He has sent me. My voice is His voice, and my acts are His acts; my doctrine is His doctrine. My Commission is to do what He wants done; To say what He wants said; to be a living modern witness in word and in deed of the divinity of his great and marvelous Latter-day work. How great is my calling! (My Missionary Commission by Elder Bruce R. McConkie)

"A Change for the Better"

A Journey of a Lifetime...I love this phrase. We all have a story. We all started somewhere. Mine started May 25, 1989, almost 22 years ago. I was born into a wonderful family, with a Mom and Dad who loved and helped throughout all my life. I grew up with wonderful siblings who were wonderful examples to me, who I looked up to so much. When we were younger we all had a 'role model', ya know the older brother who you wanted to be just like, or the neighbor next door who was an amazing basketball player..whoever or whatever we all had them. But we all have to decide who we want to become, who we will become. I had a very normal childhood. Went to school, played with friends, loved playing with my dog, loved to be outside, went to church, ya know the usual. I had my life planned, don't we all? I would graduate from high school, go on to college, get married, have kids, and live happily ever after. But little did I know, my Heavenly Father had a lot different plan for me, a better plan.

After I graduated I went to BYU Hawaii, I know right? It was amazing! It was just like living a dream there! But after a couple of semesters I felt like I needed to come home. I was dating, working, having fun being 20, not really sure what I was going to do, just enjoying life. Well things in my life took an interesting turn and what I thought was going to be..turned out not to be. Just like a lot of us at this age, there is so much to do, we just don't know what to do. Ever since high school, I always told everyone I am not going to go on a mission, it's not 'for me', I have other plans. A little over a year ago I was driving down the road and I had the strongest feeling come over me that I needed to serve a mission. I laughed. I laughed for a while. The thought kept coming to my head that whole week. And when I finally realized that it wasn't just a thought, but that it was an answer to my prayers, it was something that my Heavenly Father wanted me to do, I was angry. I had never wanted to serve a mission, it wasn't in 'my plans.' I put it in the back of my mind, and decided to go back to BYU Hawaii, so I re-applied and got accepted, but it didn't feel right. And I knew that I need to serve a mission. I was terrified. I didn't really have a strong testimony of the church, and I didn't think I could do it.

But one of my favorite verse in the scripture is, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding, in all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths." (Proverb 3:5-6) I decided to do just that. I knew that my Father in Heaven loved me, and I knew that he would bless me. And although I was not sure how or when or even why, I started filling out my mission papers. I was scared, and I'm going to be honest I doubted a lot. But I had faith, and through that faith, my foundation, my testimony grew and became strengthened. Miracles in my life started happening. I'm here on my mission, it's been 8 months now. And I love it! It's been an amazing journey for me, I've been challenged, tried, and tested many times. It hasn't been peaches and roses everyday. But it's been worth it. I've met amazing people, who have impacted my life for the better. Our Heavenly Father knows each of us, He loves us, and most of all He wants us to be happy. He knows what we need, He knows where we need to go, it is up to us to 'trust in him.' And when we do, we will find greater joy and happiness then we ever thought we could... "Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God." (Ether 12:4) We must have hope, we must have faith. Heavenly Father has a plan for me and for you. Trust in him, follow him, and listen to him. He loves you!

Posted by: Sister Cottle