Recognizing the voice of the Holy Spirit

Posted by: Paulette

The scriptures tell us that the Holy Ghost is a comforter, a protector, and a testator. He speaks to our spirits, not just our minds. He gives wisdom. There was a question asked in Sunday school today. What is the difference between wisdom and knowledge? I can teach you something and you will hear it and understand it according to the understanding of your intelligence. But if the Spirit speaks to you, it is through your spirit, and you receive a deeper understanding of that principle.
1st Corinthians 2 :9-14 speaks of this:

 9But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

 10But God hath revealed them unto us by him: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

 11For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man,but the Spirit of God.

 12Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

 13Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost ; teacheth comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

 One of the things that I realized this week is that Satan can replicate many spiritual things. He can speak to my spirit too. But the feelings that I get when he is speaking to me are different than  those I feel when the Holy Ghost speaks. I may feel confidence in a decision that I've made, but that doesn't mean that I have received conformation from the Spirit that what I am doing is right. How can I discern the difference in the voices of the two?

 One of the things that I know is that the Holy Ghost and Heavenly Father are one in purpose. And the Spirit would never prompt me to do anything contrary to the teachings of Jesus Christ.  If I know the teachings of Jesus, then, I can be sure of the voice of the Spirit. If I am reading the scriptures regularly, I will be comfortable with the voice of the Spirit. There is a feeling of peace that Satan can not replicate.

Doctrine and Covenants section 6 verses 15-16 says:

15 Behold, thou knowest that thou hast inquired of me and I did enlighten thy mind; and now I tell thee these things that thou mayest know that thou hast been enlightened by the Spirit of truth;

 16 Yea, I tell thee, that thou mayest know that there is none else save God that knowest thy thoughts and the intents of thy heart.

Doctrine and Covenants 8: 2-3

 2Yea, behold, I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart.

 3Now, behold, this is the spirit of revelation; behold, this is the spirit by which Moses brought the children of Israel through the Red Sea on dry ground.

I've heard it said that tuning into the Spirit is like tuning in a radio signal, bu, I think it's more than just "listening." We need to use our spirit to "feel" the difference. 

When a baby is born they recognize the voices of their family. As they develop in the womb, they grow to recognize those voices. I think that I need to "stand in holy places" so that I recognize the voice of my Heavenly Father. This can be at church or the temple, but I think that ot needs to be mostly in my home. 

Living with five children can be chaotic, but, I need to spend some time in that peaceful place, listening to the voice of my Father in Heaven by reading my scriptures and communicating with him in prayer. If this means getting up an hour before the kids do, that is what has to happen. Because really, who couldn't use more peace in their lives?

Hermione Granger cloth doll

Posted by: Paulette

Ron sold so quickly. I thought I'd better get another Harry Potter character finished and up for sale. I found some lovely yarn at Joann Fabrics with a great colorway, and knew who my next character should be...Hermione! She has such fun frizzy hair, and I was curious to see if the Angel Hair acrylic yarns would curl like the other yarn does.

 

It didn't curl the way the other stuff did, more like a wave.

She is for sale in my Etsy shop. She comes complete with "Hogarts A History, her wand and Crookshanks the cat.

On another note, I think I've decided to do an article on doll faces for my submission to Cloth Dolls and Animals Magazine. They seem to be what sets my dolls apart from others.

Mummy Giveaway

Posted by: Paulette

Nope, I'm not giving away my Mommy. Never!
But I am giving away this adorable mummy doll. His name is Aboo, and he has a beautiful eye!

I know. I'm not really that funny.
Since I don't know how to do that fancy schmancy random number generator thingy. And don't worry, I'm not pulling names from a hat...I'm pulling them from a vintage bobble milk glass vase!
Classy, eh?
Enough of that. The winner is....
Scarletted 41816 @aol.com
E-mail me at pauletteburton@yahoo.com with your mailing address and I'll get that out t o you as soon as I can.

A New Chapter Continues

Posted by: Paulette
I did finally call my Biological father. It seems strange to call him anything else but "Paul."
I greeted him by saying, " Hello, this is a voice from your past...about 38 years ago." I thought I'd keep it on the light side. We spoke about current stuff like my kids and how old they were, a little about their personalities, and about my 50 pound weight loss.
He told me about the repercussions of his drug use. His teeth are rotting out of his mouth and he is developing some of the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. He is now living alone because he divorced Kathy, and he's cut off ties with most of his old friends because they were enablers in his abuse of drugs. It was a very sad conversation.
Then he asked about Mom. I told him that she was really happy with her new husband, my Dad, and that they lived in Florida. I asked him how he felt when she left him. He said it was the best thing that she could have done for us girls. I agree! He said that we would have had a very different life if we had stayed with him. I wonder if we would have been taken by the state. Mom worked really hard to feed and clothe us, because he was beyond caring. Our clothes came from the flea market and our food was given to us by either relatives or the neighbor next door. He had a vegetable garden and some chickens. He told me that he mostly felt sad and lonely because Mom had so much family and there was always something going on.
I left the conversation feeling so sad for him. I have so much compassion for him. I understand that the things that he is suffering from are the direct result of decisions made years ago.
I told him that I would call again, and keep in touch. It seems useless to tell the smaller kids about him. I think it would confuse them. I did explain him to my eldest son who will be 12 this Fall. And now, I' not really sure where to go with this relationship. He wasn't a father to me except biologically. I don't feel a fiscal responsibility to him, but I think that now that I've renewed the relationship, I should do something about teaching him how to be happy in this life by using the atonement of Jesus Christ.

Article Submission for magazine advice wanted

Posted by: Paulette
I was asked to submit an article for Soft Dolls and Animals magazine
.

They want either a pattern with instructions, or an article about techniques. Which would you like to learn about?