You Were Gifted: The Quest to Receive

The process of making and keeping covenants is an experience in investing! Join me today as I share my thoughts on how investing in covenants specifically in the house of the Lord is an important process we need to continuously work on and keep up with and track, so we can grow and gain the best return!   Settle this in your Hearts by Neal A. Maxwell The Lord Jesus Christ will Come Again by President Nelson

Slow and behold, here is my next episode..haha.  Listen in as I share what I learned from my experience with kidney stones.  They are from the devil. And I really would never wish them on anyone.  Drink water folks!  Don't get physically dehydrated, but more importantly, how can you stay spiritually hydrated! I have embarked on a quest to do better in 1 specific area in my life.  I mention the Doctrine of Christ in this episode.  I want to point out that I failed to mention the one aspect of that Doctrine which is the Gift of the Holy Ghost.  Perhaps that is a lesson for me.  But Faith, repentance, baptism, and the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring the end, along with living a life of covenant keeping will bless us as we find our way home.  Jesus Christ is the Light and the Life of the world.  If we follow Him we can be at peace.   Please enjoy reading the talks I reference!  They are all excellent and full of wisdom and hope!     Living by Scriptural Guidance The Power of the Word Christ is Risen, Faith in Him will move Mountains Lest Ye be Wearied and Faint in your Minds Simple is the Doctrine of Jesus Christ   I had to add this amazing talk by President Eyring just a few weeks ago that he gave in General Conference!  I was able to listen to this talk in the conference center and it was given a few days after I recorded this episode!  I was so pierced by his message and it was in line with the personal revelation I have received and I am excited to share more about this talk in other episodes.  Conference was SO good!  Can't wait to dig deep!   

Have you ever thought about pain being a gift? In this episode I explore the idea that our pain, suffering, both spiritual and physical are opportunities to dig deep and understand what is really happening and what we can do to grow.    https://joettecalabrese.com/ Here is the link I promised with more info about Homeopathy and I encourage you to check it out!  I sure have felt empowered by what I have learned about how to care for my family.   Words Matter Elder Rasband listen again!  Such a great talk!   

It has been 6 months since I launched this podcast! Thank you to everyone who has shared it, given a review and let me know how it has blessed your life!  I love the ways I have seen this miracle of podcasting bless lives in ways we could never have seen!   I share 4 ways this experience has impacted me and helped me learn.  I share the promised story that truly touched my life a few weeks ago in an airport.   Here are the awesome resources I mention in this episode: Elder Holland epic talk: The Inconvenient Messiah Elder Renlund: Jesus Christ is the treasure Sister Bonnie H. Cordon: Never Give up an Opportunity to Testify of Christ President Nelsons epic talk to the sisters of the church:  Sisters' Participation in the Gathering of Israel Elder Patrick Kearon's First ever talk as a member of the 12 Apostles: God's Intent is to Bring you Home  

This episode we start the discussion of the life long quest to understand, respond to, and access the Gift of the Holy Ghost.  20 minutes just isn't enough time to talk about everything I want to share, but this is a start.   Here is the link to the amazing talk I reference in the podcast.  Go listen!  So much more to unpack here!  Personal Revelation: The gift, The Test, and the Promise (Elder Boyd K. Packer) The beautiful music for this weeks podcast.  I loved the title.  Waiting for you is kind of what the Holy Ghost is doing with us.  Waiting for us.  Ready and waiting.  For us to receive.   Waiting for You (Monument Music) And this talk by President Russell M. Nelson is phenomenal and worth another listen: Revelation for the Church, Revelation for our Lives (Russell M. Nelson) And of course my favorite talk from the October 2023 General Conference. Hearing this talk the day after I launched my podcast was a powerful reminder that I was on the right track and that the Lord was very aware of me and my desire to gather Israel and understand the role the Holy Ghost plays in my life and in my ability to receive all the gifts the Lord has for me and for each of us.   Promptings of the Spirit (Elder Gary E. Stevenson)

We just celebrated Valentines Day, and while it can be fun, we often hear about the pain and hurt that is caused by unmet expectations or loneliness.   Long ago I learned that the best way for me to find love on Valentines day was to GIVE it.  And then in so many ways it opened up the floodgates for me to receive.  But did you know that the Lord actually asks us to have a broken heart? I wanted to know why and what that meant! This episode is a little longer SORRY!  There were just so many great words I needed to share!  Come along with me as I dive into what the Lord has said in the scriptures about the HEART.   If anyone wants a list of all of the scriptures I used just email me and I will get them to you!  I want to start giving credit for the beautiful music I use on my podcasts.  This song is called Sentimental Piano by PaulYudin on PIxaby.com look him up!  

Join me in this episode as I open up about a personal struggle and learn to receive the Lords direction to help my heart heal.  Sometimes I think the Lord is just waiting to help us SEE THINGS AS THEY really are! This one was shocking in it is parallel for me and my life.  I shared this tender experience with permission from my son.  I am grateful that the Lord asks us to bring a broken heart as a GIFT to him.  But to do that I had to be willing to RECEIVE his guidance.   This is an excellent talk I reference and I encourage everyone to read it and get even more inspired.   "Endure it Well" Neal A. Maxwell

Have you ever been in a place where you had to wait? This was me for the last month! Waiting to get this episode out!  Join me as I share some thoughts on what it means to WAIT on the Lord.  It isn't what you might think.  I am so grateful for this perspective that I was given during some difficult moments.    

We are seeking help.  We want an antidote.  We have one.   It is well with my soul (Tabernacle Choir) Gordon B. Hinckley The Wondrous and True Story of Christmas) Elder Patrick Kearon (The whole thing is great!)    

Everyone on earth has this gift always.  It is part of who we are.  I am astounded at the magnitude of this gift.  We all have it.  It has already been gifted.  YOU were gifted! I highly encourage you to read these as a further study and search out your own resources to understand this gift.  Great words to pack in our bags as we travel on this quest!  Peace of Conscience and Peace of Mind (Elder Richard G. Scott) An Educated Mind (Stephen R. Covey) The Light of Christ (Boyd K. Packer)

The first gift we were ever given on this earth was the gift of life.  Join me this week as we prepare to celebrate Christmas, for some reminders of what we have already been given.  With Jesus Christ as our focus we can come to realize that HE is the opportunity in all of our difficulties.  With Him we can overcome and endure any challenge we face.  

The people we meet, and the moments we share with them are not by coincidence.  Listen in this week as I share a powerful example of how a friend blessed my life years ago, and again last week during some hard days.  Learning to receive even difficult things like grief takes conscious effort and space.   I invite you to listen to these amazing talks: By Divine Design Receiving the Gifts of God Flashes of Light Each of these talks will remind you of the people, the path and the plan your Heavenly Father has for you! 

What were you gifted? What are the earliest gifts you remember receiving? Have you pondered on the spiritual gifts you have?  Join me this week as I share some special gifts I have received.  Start trying to remember what you have been gifted by asking!  For the song I mention: https://youtu.be/HKc0jVW6AaU?si=W3SD7STAPaH6BEuy Elder Bednar's talk: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2005/04/the-tender-mercies-of-the-lord?lang=eng  

A song for a friend, a tender mercy from the Lord in the words of Paul, and some amazing counsel from a newly called prophet. How do you see the Lord in the tiny moments of your life? Look for them this week!  Please follow this link for the talk I quoted.  There are so many gold nuggets of wisdom in this talk!  https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2018/04/revelation-for-the-church-revelation-for-our-lives?lang=eng

Enjoy this little story of some moments both scary and fun.  The gift of a warning is a blessing every time we receive it!  I encourage you to read and study Doctrine and Covenants Section 8! 

In my quest to receive I have had to face my tendency to resist.  How can you be more intentional? What is a Receiving Place? And, How can Jesus Christ turn our deepest pain into opportunities to receive?   https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/broadcasts/article/christmas-devotional/2012/12/the-good-and-grateful-receiver?lang=eng&id=p29  

Join me for a quick recap of the recent General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints.   I share a neat way to sum up a 2 day feast! I have done this for years and I love taking note of simple things our leaders have said.  WORDS are powerful affirmations of faith.  I invite you to make your own list of phrases that will help you in your life for the next six months! General Conference is a gift that keeps on giving.  I love this special time.  There was so much to receive, and we will dig into these talks in future episodes.  Enjoy!  Note: I have every quote written down with the speaker and reference.  Please let me know if you would like a copy.    

"Moments are the molecules that make up eternity" Neal A. Maxwell Tune in each week for one of my favorite moments.  They are shaping my days and my weeks and my life.  What moments in your day are making up your eternity? This weeks molecule moment is about a pair of unused garden gloves, an inconvenient prompting, and an unexpected gift.    

"This is it. Don't get scared now" - Kevin from Home Alone