The Journey Ahead..

So, I have not blogged on here and a VERY long time! Here it goes!

So the world I like to call, My Life! Let's see, Jenny comes back to Provo next Wednesday! We are super-excited to see one another and plan on going alow readjusting back together. We are going to make dinner together, swing dance, and I am going to take her to a special place between us afterwards this Saturday. (Sorry, I am not proposing just yet.) She is planning on finding a different apartment complex to live in. She has lived in the Glenwood for over two years and feels impressed to find a different place. I support her and look forward to surprising her at a place she can't see me much at! Muhahaha!

As for this upcoming semester, I am going to be chewing a lot of stuff. I will be working at Wal-Mart from 12pm-6pm (m-f, but one of those days I will have off.) and 8am-2pm on saturday. That is 30 HOURS! I am taking 6 classes (17 credits) at UVU this semester. Doctrine and Covenants (first half), Managerial Accounting, Microeconomics, Business Computer Proficency, Marriage, and Ethics & Values. I am excited for all of my classes and look forward to doing homework again! It is going to be a lot, but I know I will do it.

And to top off all of that, last Sunday... I was called to become the new Elder's Quorum President within my single's ward. I have been serving presently as the Activites Committee Co-Chair for the past year and I personally thought I would be called to a low-level, out-of-the-way calling (I am not deameaning any callings, but in a singles ward, my calling has been HIGH PROFILE). Well, the Bishop, Stake President, and Heavenly Father sure had a different idea. I am so excited, thrilled, humbled, thankful, and thoughtful for this calling. I have waited over a week to tell someone the revelation/inspiration I have been receiving and finally have the opportunity at my first Presidency Meeting. My Presidency and I will not be set apart till this Tuesday, but after being sustained today, we are allowed to meet!

Something that has been weighing heavily on my mind that my Stake President taught me and the Lord further instructed me on. Did you fulfull your home teaching/ visiting teaching this month? (rhetorical question to the general populace) Well, if you did all say, four out of four, are you done? NO! President Lyndsey taught, that Satan tells us that we are done by fulfilling a quota. On a mission, numbers were important, but not in the sense of completing and than being idle. It is a way of reporting and allowing for accountability. Home/visiting teaching is never done. It is something we must live, breathe, and do every day of our lives. A note here, a phone call there; a visit yes, and dinner, sure. Every day that someone is not in contact with someone else's testimony, is a day closer they become to being taken by the Adversary. That may sound extreme, but in life we are on a slant. We are the ball, we are either moving up toward the Lord or falling down towards the Adversary. As home/visiting teachers, we have the responsibility and should have unfeigned love and desire to care for our brothers and sisters. I know that when we do our home teaching that yes! Achieiving the goal set by a President is great, but the words if the Lord in the Doctrine and Covenants comes to mind that, "...the worth of souls is great in the sight of God;... And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father. And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!" (Doctrine and Covenants 18:10;15-16). When it comes down to it, it IS NOT about numbers. It is about the people, the individual, the soul! This is going to be a small piece of what I and my Presidency will focus on. I know that when we do the Lord's work His way, that blessings and opportunities arise. The Lord loves all of us and if we will turn unto Him in all things, He will prepare the way! I have seen Him this past month take me and mold me into the person needed to become the new Elder's Quorum Presidency. He started way back when Jenny was Relief Society President. Her example has taught me a lot about being in a leadership position. All of you have played a part and it is through that example/influence we need to take to others and impart of our light to those that may be dimming!

I love you all, go and run lots of miles! RUNNING FOR LIFE!

-James