11.11.2024: What Kinda Socks You Got On?

Oops we barely took any photos this week so here's the one we got 

 

Hello !!! 

This week we went to the library during lunch for my companion to use the computer and I met a new friend there named Andy or something (He is special needs)... He asked me to take my shoes off and then asked what socks I had on... and when I showed him, he grabbed my FOOT! Hahaha! I instantly pulled back and he was like "oh sorry!"

 And so I put it back down and he grabbed my foot again and started poking it.  It's his grave! Florida feet cannot be pretty...  

Anyways... I had felt super prompted to stop by this ward member, Holly, who hasn't come to church in 4 years. We were going about our day and I kept having her name in my head. So we finally went to her house and instantly the Spirit told me this is where we needed to be. 

We met her and she had a frown on her face. She ended up telling us that 3 years ago she'd lost 11 people in her family in the span of 3 months! So she's been grieving tremendously and has fallen back to her smoking addiction. Through tears she told us that she feels so lonely and hasn't felt worthy to come to church, but she knows God still loves her and is hearing her prayers--because we showed up. 

Miss Holly said she wants to come to church again now that she knows she'll have someone to sit with! She was so grateful we came by and that God had sent us to answer her prayers. When we left, she was smiling; and that was the miracle. 

I was reminded of the deeply human need to feel and know that your presence to others matters. This sweet woman only needed to know that she was loved and missed, and that will potentially change her whole trajectory! It's so simple, yet so profound and so overlooked! I invite you each to pray and ask God who you can show up for, and help them know they matter. Because while we all matter to God, it changes lives to know we matter to people on earth too. 

*visualize this* 

- 70 year old man 

- semi albert Einstein hair w/ beard 

- one amputated leg 

- sitting on the step of his mobile home

- smoking a cig 

While we discuss 1.What he's been liking in the book of mormon and how he's super excited to watch the book of mormon videos  2. His love for TAYLOR SWIFT! 

No joke this guy has the Lovers album cover as his phone lock screen! So troll!! Just thought you'd all appreciate that! 

God is so good! Seen so many miracle this week, I can't believe I have to choose which ones I want to write about over email. 

Spiritual Thought : 

As I was preparing for Sunday, I was studying the references in the scriptures to the word sacrifice. These two scriptures really stood out to me 

Genesis 22:8 

" And Abraham said, " My son, God will provide himself a Lamb for burnt offering..." 

1 Peter 2:25 

" For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls." 

The Spirit helped me realize something profound: Christ is both called the Lamb and the Shepherd. This is the first time I've realized this, or at least realized how beautiful it is (and maybe I'm just late to the party!).  But it really got me thinking about why that is. Why and how He is both the Lamb and the Shepherd.  And I learned through the help of the Spirit that He is the Lamb because He was the sacrifice, the divine sacrifice. He willingly gave himself as a sacrifice for all of us, because He loves us! He descended to our level, met us where we are at, suffered through each of our pains/iniquities so He could know how to succor us and how to lead us--how to be our Shepherd. 

Christ understands us perfectly because he has been the Lamb. With Him as our Shepherd, each of us are a part of His herd of sheep. I promise you that He is in persistent pursuit of having you return or remain in His herd. I invite you each to ponder on how you can cling to the Shepherd and how you can be an example to help aid His lost sheep return. I promise you that as you prayerfully seek the guidance of the Shepherd, He will encircle you about in His arms of love. 

Love you all so much! I hope you see SO many miracles in your life this week! 

 Sister Barton