Sometimes you need to be dunked on before you can be dunked,
In reference to streetball of course! HOW IS EVERYONE DOING? You know it's a good week when a squad of ball boys mistakes you for a red-headed Steve Nash. Or when the elect starts opening their hearts to the Gospel-- ya know, interchangeable happiness. Haha! It's been a great week here in the 'sip! Neither the winds of Satan nor the tempests of tornado season could get us down-- God does not cease to be a God of miracles. I testify that if we are built upon the rock of Christ, no power outage or spiritual darkness can drag us down to the gulf of endless misery... or soggy shoes! It's been a great edition here in Clinton, and I can't wait to tell y'all about it in the... CLINTON EDITION: CHAPTER TWO!
Like the streets of Clinton, I thought I'd start this edition: deep.
Your life is a story. As a matter of fact, your life is the Father's story.
Naturally. we are the main characters of our own divine drafts. We all have one great antagonist: Satan. Throughout our lives, our stories unravel-- with plot twists, climaxes, rising actions, and character development all along the way. With every page, we learn more about ourselves, our relationships, and most importantly, our role in this magnificent manuscript. Most comforting; however, we are not the author here. Yes, what we do, does affect how our stories' end-- but the plot-line is the same. Eventually, we know, we will die. We will experience happiness and sadness, sorrow and joy. We expect adventure, progression, and challenges! With every line and every piece of dialogue... we anticipate our happy endings and await the glory of the end! However, not a single word could be written on any page if it weren't for the author of our stories; if it weren't for Jesus Christ. The pages of the Father's story, bleed with the ink of a foreordained offering of infinite love. His quill filled with the omnipotence of just how and what he wants his characters to be. With every word, he watches his story come to life-- and with mercy, he rescues his beloved characters every time. Though they may encounter the dragons of darkness or the orcs of opposition, he provides a way for their deliverance! Every change, every trial, and every hardship is inscribed through the motivation of love; he intends for his characters to inherit their eternal happily ever after. He gives them a purpose, provides a plan, and paves the way before them that they may accomplish the things which he intends them to do. At times when we feel lost... when we're scared... when we have nowhere else to go, and our plot seems all but ended... it helps to remember who the author is here and whose story we are apart of.
In scriptural terms: And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.
Now why, might you ask, doth I testify of the divine authorship of the Savior? EASTER, Y'ALL. Christ suffered and rose from the grave to be your author. As we commemorate his miraculous ascension and triumph, I invite you all to prayerfully ponder the ultimate climax: His resurrection! And with that, how you too can be made perfect, and become the author your own, and your families', eternal salvation!
Something I am continuing to realize here in the Clinton kingdom. -- is why I'm here. We all have a purpose in our individual capacities-- we all have a reason why we are where we are. Simultaneous events are no coincidence in the sight of God. This past week, we had a special sacrament meeting; which just so happened to be my first time meeting the ward. A few years ago in Clinton... they were all of one ward-- united in the faith, literally and spiritually. Well, as membership increased, so did the resolve to divide the congregation into two wards! For several years now, the Clinton area has been operating and divided by the boundaries of two separate units. Well, this past Sunday... the special circumstance was that both of the wards would be gathered together! You've probably guessed it by now... but through much prayer, personal revelation, and fasting.. the Stake Presidency had decided... to MERGE THE WARDS ONCE MORE. Imagine that-- my first week here in Clinton and the congregation has already doubled in size! That's a pretty good week if I do say so myself. Elder Boyd gets transferred to Clinton... wards merge... coincidence? Two "eterni-gators" suddenly want to get married and baptized out of the blue.. mere CIRCUMSTANCE?? I think not. I'm excited to continue to find my purpose here and to assist in the great work of the unity of faith!
Joy in missionary work is in the little things. -- I don't know what to call this, but maybe the gift of the interpretation of tongues and Boyd-erisms will make up the difference--.
PRESENTING: The joy of little things.
The joy of little things--
the joy little things can bring--
a heart with joy can sing
of the joy of little things.
like the members of the ward-
who volunteer and support
to assist, minister, and endure
and the elect they do refer
the little joy of member missionary work
or the tears of penitence
the period of a sorrowful sentence
no longer an honorable mention
the little joy of sincere repentance
the sweat of a streetball-
the sweet sound of a dunk that falls-
or even a nickname that inspires a little hope-
the little joy of being called the G.O.A.T.
"I want to be baptized"
the little joy we hear-
when a friend makes the decision-
to immerse their doubts and fears.
but the littlest joy of all-
is not so little anymore-
its the exceeding joy of a Savior,
Jesus Christ the Lord.
the little joy of mercy--
the little joy of grace-
for all of our little joys
to him, we give thanks.
the little joy of Jesus-
the little joy of Christ-
to him, we give our little joys-
and they become the greatest joys of life.
So yes-- one of our friends will be entering the waters of baptism in the coming week, we fellowshipped the hood with streetball, we helped one of God's lost sheep experience the joy of repentance, the ward sowed faith to reap miracles, and all the while we grew close to the greatest joy of all... the joy of Jesus Christ! The little joys of our second edition!
We've braved storms, endured the heat, and all the while...acquired some pretty spiffy neon bike suits. The members have started a new establishment I like to call: referral city. Population: elect. The ward has issued a challenge: enable us to open the overflow. Clinton is gonna need two wards after we're done with this place... and I couldn't be more excited to work! I know this Gospel is true and I know the Lord is the author of our salvation! By him... we were created.. and through him... we can be like him. I don't know if that was a haiku or what, but I can say that I know with all of my heart that God loves all of his children! Perhaps, as we prepare for Easter, let us all strive to embody the perspective of the Savior... and pray to see those around us as members of our eternal family! You've heard of family prayers... it's time to try eternal family prayers! May we all be united in the faith-- as we embrace the Father's story and look of the little joys of life! HAVE A GREAT WEEK Y'ALL! ELDER BOYD LOVES YOU!
From a little joy lover,
Elder Boyd
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