It's one of those, "story time" kinda days.
So we're going to tell a story that has changed my mission. Buckle up ladies and gentleman, the Lord is real. We feel the love of God daily and truly testify that nothing can separate us from this feeling. My fervent prayer is that in the midst of this story, you know that I know that I am nothing and that as to my own strength I know I am weak... but I boast in my almighty God. For in His strength I can do all things. We are grateful for the present hand of the Lord in our lives and I am so excited to blow minds and soften hearts in this weeks edition of the GONZALES GAZETTE: CHAPTER TEN.
STORYTIME ft. (hopefully) the Spirit.
It was one of those humid and #perspirstionnation kinda days. Elder Jones and I had a chipper workout, a riveting study, and an exhilarating planning session. The plan for the day: minister to our dear friend, "the artifact amigo" and traverse our way through teaching situations and spiritual opportunities. A great plan, yes? Yes. The answer is a resounding, YES! Or so we thought... Little did we know, the Lord's plan, Plan A, a plan of happiness, was ALSO, subsequently, in place.
Our ministering visit took us on an adventure of sorts through the catacombs of time. Our beloved friend had recently been compelled to be humble on account of a fortuitous flood that rampaged through the area. Bathrooms turned to trash rooms. Antiques turned to artifacts, covered in the depths of sorrow and humility. Our mission was really to serve to soften; like a crisply served ice cream cone, we were warming up the machine of conversion to serve up a fresh conversion cone. The objective seemed to run smoothly-- in our venture to minister, we uncovered the history of this man's luxury. Vietnamese gun shells, archaeological shovels, and even... a prehistoric accordion. The visit went, great. A little longer than we were expecting, but hey, we weren't about to allow a problem to solved to become more important than a person to be loved. Next up on the schedule, an appointment... with chicken, rice, and the word of God. Studies and lunch-- after a well-needed time with our dear friend, we were ready to be satiated; physically and spiritually. Suddenly, a ring echoed across the kitchen and into the inner lobe; it was a less active member from the ward. He was calling to report a MISSING BIKE! He had made a quick stop at Walgreens to grab a beverage before finishing his trek (pun intended.) It was a fresh, $500, trek bike. We didn't really know what to do, so we did what we could; we prayed and referred him to the police and the Elders Quorum President.
We had already scheduled an appointment in a trailer park on the other side of town, so we finished our physical and spiritual feast and headed to see an elect family we accidentally knocked on in an intervention of God's mercy. We were so excited when we arrived, a fleet of cars was parked outside. "They're home..." an inner voice whispered. "You're here for another reason..." a more still and small voice responded. Suddenly, a cop car pulls into the neighboring driveway-- and the very same less active who had called us previously hops out. Turns out, he lives next to the people we were coming to teach; a strange coincidence indeed. Immediately we knew the REAL reason we were prompted to come this way-- it was to once again- minister. We shared two scriptures, testifying of joy and his entitlement to feel peace through difficulty:
Now it came to pass that when Alma had said these words, that he clapped his hands upon all them who were with him. And behold, as he clapped his hands upon them, they were filled with the Holy Spirit.
And after that they did separate themselves one from another, taking no thought for themselves what they should eat, or what they should drink, or what they should put on.
And the Lord provided for them that they should hunger not, neither should they thirst; yea, and he also gave them strength, that they should suffer no manner of afflictions, save it were swallowed up in the joy of Christ. Now this was according to the prayer of Alma; and this because he prayed in faith. -Alma 31:36-38And
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
For your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.
Take therefore no thought for the morrow, for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient is the day unto the evil thereof. -Matthew 6:31-34
We testified with power and authority and before we left we made a missionary promise that he would be able to feel joy no matter his circumstance. In the prayer we said before we left, we kneeled with a simple phrase, "Father if it be in thy will, let us find his bike. But if not... please allow him to feel joy in his circumstances." We said amen and went along our merry way.
Side note, we were headed to Denham Springs to help the sisters in our district move. A route we would NEVER take, but for this particular day, that was the way we were to go. As a matter of fact, we even felt prompted to go a different way... we were late after all, a shortcut was needed. Not two minutes after we left our friends house we thought we noticed something on the side of our vehicle...
A bike.
It couldn't be? We kept driving when suddenly we both felt the prompting to TURN BACK. All we knew about his bike was that it was a "trek." We attempted to snipe the brand... but we had determined it wasn't the droid we were looking for; so we NEARLY left, until...that same voice whispered, "go back." We decided it would do no harm to call him and get the details. His answer drew us closer to God, "it's a black bike with a yellow stripe and it says Trek 820 on it." Swiftly we sprinted down the street in the direction of the unidentified vehicle...
And lo and behold...
What did we see?
Trek 820. Black and Gold.
We had found his bike. It was literally in our path. God provided this opportunity to strengthen faith and to fortify our foundation. We called up the member and he was in complete disbelief. He was in denial and utter shock. We had no way to transport it back to him, so we just biked to his house; yes, you heard that correctly, we were close enough to bike. The bike was stolen halfway across town somehow found it's way 50 feet from our dear friend's house. His joy was full and we couldn't help but weep.
In God's mercy, he answered our humble question. I have no doubt that there is a loving father in heaven who keeps to himself the rights to prayer. He is anxious to answer and bless us. He is mindful of us and our specific needs. He is truly in the details of our lives. I love my Heavenly Father and his infinite mercy in blessing us with literal signs to prepare us for greater things ahead. We are so blessed to be on the Lord's errand. And we know that when we are on the Lord's errand, we are entitled to the Lord's help. He is with us through the stolen bikes and prayers of our lives. He is willing to call down the powers of heaven to halt the work of the adversary from progressing-- he will put our answers directly in our paths if we follow the spirit and look for them.
How many times did it take Nephi to retrieve the plates?
How many times did it take the Nephites to recognize the voice of the Lord?
How many times did it take Elder Boyd and Elder Jones to find Trek 820?
Three times.
Follow the prompting every time and you will be lead to the will of the Lord to receive answers to your prayers. This is my testimony and I have no doubt in the reality that God knows our needs and will answer our prayers. He will find your bike if you choose to have joy and ask him. What is the Trek 820 of your life? Are you willing to petition the Lord to find it? He is waiting, but are you willing to take the Road to Denham to find it?
And that is my story.
Other exciting things from this week-- the family we had been faithfully teaching but were on hiatus from seeing because of Zone Conferences, recognized the difference in spirit from when we were there and when we were absent. They said they would be willing to read the Book of Mormon every day.
Oh yeah, and our recent convert friends, who are truly golden and elect, received their patriarchal blessings this past Sunday!
So YES, that is my story, and that was our last few days. Pray he is there, speak he is listening! You are his child and his love will surround you if you prove the Lord herewith by aligning your will with His. The best time to receive an answer to the question of your soul was twenty years ago... the second-best time is today! Prove the Lord today, to see if he will not open up a window of heaven to bestow a trek 820 in your path! He is there! And I testify of his living reality. I love the Lord and I love serving Him. This is His Gospel and I know that the Book of Mormon contains the fullness of his truths. In the words of a loving Lord, "pray on." It's as simple as that. HAVE A GREAT WEEK YALL!! ELDER BOYD LOVES YOU.
And they all lived happily ever after,
Elder Boyd 820
This Week's FB Post:
"Learn of me and listen to my words, walk in the meekness of my spirit and you shall have peace in me."
Peace in Christ.
In an ever darkening world there are more and more souls who are starving for peace. The question of their souls may be, "where can I turn for peace?" This may be a question of your soul. The answer is Christ, the Son of God. The prince of peace. He is always the answer.
Through the Gospel of Jesus Christ we not only have peace in Christ, but peace with Christ. Life with God is not immunity from difficulty, but peace through difficulty. The world tries to convince us that peace can only be felt when conflict isn't present. But that is not true! When our focus is riveted on the Savior Jesus Christ and His gospel, and the Father's plan, we access a peace not as the world giveth, but as the Lord gives unto us.
Is it possible to feel peace in any circumstance? Yes! The answer is a resounding yes!
We can feel peace. Peace in Christ.
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