I went back and forth between deciding if I should share this particular, difficult story about how I avoided more contention online. Couldnât I just share these principles in a vague way and it would still help teach you? No, The Spirit said. I prayed to know If I should share the story and the answer was, âShare the principles AND the storyâ. Sometimes, we learn better as we hear how it actually happened, with real life people.
Recently, I was confronted with some online backlash and it was getting worse. The other person was hurt and I was too. I had to ask myself, How am I to handle this heated situation?
The words of President Nelson came to my mind CLEARLY. âContention drives away the Spiritâevery time. Contention reinforces the false notion that confrontation is the way to resolve differences; but it never is. Contention is a choice. Peacemaking is a choice. You have your agency to choose contention or reconciliation. I urge you to choose to be a peacemaker, now and always.â
My situation ended sadly but it worked out for the better. I hope that you guys will learn from this story and see yourself in it. What contentious situations are you dealing with right now that you can improve on? Remember to CHOOSE peacemaking, as Christ would. It is in your hands.
Hope this finds you well,
Laura Cragun
13 Jan 2024
How God Shaped Me in 2023 - Homemaking, Finding our Homestead, Flaws in the Coaching Industry
Every word I type, I am reminded of how much it is a blessing to be in contact with you. Not just the fact that the internet is incredible. But I have faced major opposition to getting these messages out to you! My computer seemed to have become possessed every time I would try to work on material. It was laughable but then turned to the point of discouragement. Hard work would be erased, things would freeze, uploading would take forever, etcâŚand none of it coordinated with each other. Just random technical difficulties that seemed to have no end in sight.
And I am not a newbie when it comes to technology, so I couldnât blame it on that. I know my way around programs and computers but it would give me grief every time. With a lot of prayer, factory resetting my computer and persistence, I have finally got out my message. However, the quality of my uploads are not as good as I would like since I have had to spend so much time on just getting it up. All in all, the adversary is real and it is a testimony to me to keep sharing and spreading my own unique light of Christ. Excited to do it again and share the gospel in any way I can.
But it didnât stop. This time the opposition was in the form of other people coming after me online. It was heavy and disheartening. I had to decide how to handle the situation and keep it free from contention. Unfortunately, that meant to stop all communication with them. I will explain more and share that story for another time. But wow, the opposition keeps coming.
With your new year, I hope that you will be savvy on how you avoid the adversary. Understanding our enemy is key. Playing on the offense with continuing our conversion to Christ and his gospel, WHILE we play defense and not allow negative influences in our lives. Checking where we can improve and fix those breeches will look different for everyone. Invite the spirit to be your guide as you evaluate what that looks like for you.
On that note, I deeply evaluated what that looked like for me at the beginning of 2023. I made a LOT of changes and now I am sharing that with you today in my 2023 year review with many stories sprinkled in.
I decided to let go of my business, after seeing a lot of things that I didnât want to align myself with in the industry. The spirit had told me to shift how I spend my time, and now I was to fully engage with being a Wife, Mother and Homemaker. It has been a beautiful journey and I love how our home feels now.
God was also so good to me and knew that I still needed a bone to chew. I NEED something for me to work on at any given time. Since we had thought about homestead for a long time, I decided to finally take the plunge and start actively looking for our next home and land. It felt like it was time. We found our place and are moving this summer.
God Shaped Me in 2023 for the better and I can see more clearly now. I invite you to look at your past year in the same way. God is in the details and when you use the Spirit as your guide, he will NEVER lead you astray.
With love,
Laura Cragun
10 Dec 2023
Being Mindful of Your Entertainment
This week I am talking about how to be mindful of your entertainment. What we put into us GREATLY affects us! It can either compliment the Spirit or offend the Spirit.
However, I have fallen into the trap lately of not watching much entertainment at all! It felt safer that way. It is hard to find and I have been burned by it before as I try to be open and find things. The junk creeps in! But be busy and productive with projects, kids, etcâŚ
As you can imagine, this has not worked in the longer term. I am not a robot haha. I need to have GOOD content in my brain. Living stories that inspire, motivate and encourage me. The Protagonist feels reliable and grows through hard challenges and I feel SO good after I hear stories like that through great shows, movies, books, etcâŚ
I have felt strange as an adult not being able to watch, participate or be a part of mainstream media entertainment over the past several years as I have started to be really picky about what I bring in. I would have negative internal dialogue âWhy are you so sensitive?â âCome onâŚYouâre an adult. It will be fine.â
It feels isolating. I may have not been able to be a part of the conversations of what people are watching/reading etc⌠So what do I have to give?
Yes! It is so important to find good and beautiful sources of entertainment. It is not just about taking away the good. It is also about adding in the good.
I have a few stories I share about it (you know me! I share stories!) And most importantly, I Invite you to carefully consider what you are entertaining yourself with, take out the evil and replace it with good.
Being Mindful of our Entertainment is one reason how we will become a Zion people that is ready for Christ to come soon. We will have the Spirit more in our life, have more gusto for everyday ways to serve and share good entertainment with those we know and love too that can bless their life too.
Hope you accept my invitation to BE MORE MINDFUL of your Entertainment too. Have a great week!
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