The Atonement

Today I'm so grateful for other bloggers, and their posts which inspire me to be better.

Today I'm especially grateful for the Atonement and for the sacrafice my savior has made for me.  Okay so I have so many thoughts I want to share about this so... here it goes.. bring on the bullet points:

• Sunday we had a very different sacrament meeting in my church services.  It was completely based on music and the spirit that Hymns can bring.  I remember singing this song: and I looked up at my bishop (a man that I've come to love and respect through the last two years- I'm actually really sad to leave my ward because of the things he's helped me with) Anyway, So I totally looked up at him and this sweet man totally was trying fighting back the tears.  I admire men who aren't afraid to show emotions.  It totally touched my heart and I could see how much the atonement truly meant to him.  
• This blog reminded me of a video that I watched so long ago that I forgot about (until now).  I am so grateful for her comments on it.  Here's the video:

 

• Okay, so I'm not sure if I mentioned this before and I really don't care if I have, this blog is more for me anyway, but I'm a recovering addict.  I made some major mistakes in my life and I'm trying to turn my life around which includes turning more to my Savior and not to my addictions.  The atonement means so much in my life- it has changed who I am.  It has changed my outlook on life.  It has changed me so so much- it's the one thing that kept me going when it got so hard.  Part of my recovery program requires you to take an inventory of your life and various mistakes you've made or experiences you've had.  As you do this, you begin to see mistakes that you've made, and people you've hurt or manipulated.  Later on in the program you ask for forgiveness from some of those people- that step scares me to death (I'm not quite there yet.. but soon).  But the video and blog referenced above have brought so much hope to me and so much peace about that step. It makes me know that no matter how others react, my Savior and Heavenly Father will still be there and still love me.  
• Something I've learned from this program is that "This life is all about receiving what we don't deserve." I definitely don't deserve to be forgiven of some of my sins- but I am so so grateful for the Lord making it possible for me to be COMPLETELY forgiven. 

 I'm so incredibly grateful for the atonement and for what it means in my life.  It means more than I can even tell you.  It means more to me than ANY other gift I've been given.  I'm grateful for my Savior and that he would "descend from his throne divine to rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine.  That he should extend his great love unto such as I, Sufficient to own, to redeem, and to justify." I don't know what I would do without this beautiful gift- it is so calming and peaceful to know that it can all be okay again.  :)