An early morning post!

There is just something sacred about an early morning, the tight excitement in your chest, the fresh, clean air, the way your molecules seem to fizz with energy. And then there are breakfast foods that seem to complete the early morning experience, light, delicious foods that stimulate your brain and make you happy. Today's breakfast is strawberries, Zucchini Bread and a sliced banana. Oh, yum. Breakfast food, how I love you. On a morning like today I feel like writing, or cleaning. Whichever task I can actually dedicate myself to, although lately cleaning has won over my discarded passion. Summer seems to be speeding by, however, and I know that with the cold will come fog and ice; the winds will change and I will feel that creative desire once more. Perhaps I will even fill the pages of my notebook with beautiful sounding words.

My father said he collected 25 lbs of Zucchini from his garden consequently we have been eating zucchini stuffed, steamed and now, in bread. This is by far my most favorite version of the Italian squash. Unfortunately I did not have a cheese grater so I had to be a bit nontraditional, but after searching the internets for awhile I came across a lovely pureed Pumpkin Style Zucchini Bread . Feel free to click on the link. It was heaven. Absolute heaven. Who knew a vegetable could be so delicious.

Today my thought comes from Romans Chapter 6 verse 23

"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus our Lord."

Sometimes I have a problem with judging others. It's true, I'm not perfect. I know. How shocking! It's not that I mean to be rude or malicious I just feel like I have to form an opinion about a person or what their are doing with their life. It always happens when I think I am open minded and accepting of others and their choices...then all of the sudden I see someone who ISN'T that way and then I get all worked up over them. The next thing I know I am neck deep in assumptions and misinformed opinions. I know that judging is a sin, as well as gossip and backbiting. So why do I do it? Not only do I have to form my own opinion but then I feel like I have to share it with someone--which is totally asinine. Good intentions or not, I have no right to share my thoughts on someone else's life with another individual. If I have a problem with someone I should talk to that person and then it should be done with.

I know I am not the only person who does that, come on, people raise your hands. Or don't. That could cause some judging and probably a little bit of gossip in and of itself.

Anyway, it is something that some people, especially myself, seems to have a problem with and it is such a vicious cycle I know I am just shoveling one shovel sized load of dirt at a time buying my way to death by the wages being dealt to me by gossiping and judging. With such imperfect practices (and that being only one of my many flaws) how in the world are we supposed to become like God?

I thank our Father in Heaven for the second part of that statement "but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus our Lord."

We are not perfect and we are going to buy a substantial amount of debt but as we strive to utilize the atonement and internalize the gospel of Jesus Christ we are given the gift of forgiveness. When we stand at the judgement bar, if we keep our covenants and remember the Savior always he will stand on our behalf to excuse the rest of our debt. There is NO WAY we can pay off our debt BY OURSELVES. Remember that next time you decide to haphazardly fling mud in someone's direction (on accident or intentionally), I certainly will. Of course, none of us are perfect, and some will have more to forgive and others less, but the important part is that we are striving for righteousness so that we CAN be forgiven. Not how big your debt is. That being said, try your best to keep your debt smaller. Ha ha.

Use the atonement in your life! Pray unto God for the strength to overcome your weaknesses and your frailties. Ask him to bless you with the healing love of the Savior and be a better person today! I promise he will help you when you need it. He helps me all the time. 

I know you will all be disappointed this week that I didn't load any pictures. I apologize that you read through my whole post and still didn't see any pictures. :D But I promise next time it will be worth it, and a girl can't come through every time. You'd get bored!

Courtney