New Testament

This past week in my New Testament class we talked about Acts 12. We talked about when Peter was in prison and the people were praying for him to be released and their prayer was answered. But when a child came to tell them that Peter was released they didn't believe or even pay any mind to the child and continued to pray. I think this can perfectly apply to our lives. I find that sometimes I pray for things without fully believing that what I'm asking for could happen. What good does a prayer do if you don't pray in faith? I think also we may ask for things then not wait and be ready to receive the answer. We just go on our way having said the prayer but not really anticipating receiving an answer.

It is important to first pray in faith, fully believing that you will receive an answer to that prayer. Then after you've said that prayer be ready and willing to accept the answer you receive, whatever it may be. This is something that is hard for me. I struggle with receiving answers I don't like. It's something I need to work on. I'm also working on being more open and ready for the answers and promptings as they come. I often catch myself saying a quick prayer asking for this and that then not taking the time to receive an answer. This week I am determined to work on this and get better at being open to the Spirit to give me promptings and answers to my prayers.

A Perfect 20th Birthday

Two days ago I turned 20. For 2 decades I have been roaming this earth creating great friendships and memories. It's been one incredible party, let me tell you. 

I'll admit I was not super excited to be turning 20 because that means I can't do dumb things and blame it on my "teenage brain." Now I'm kind of like a full-fledged adult. Only kind of though. 

Even though I wasn't thrilled with getting old I had the best birthday ever. This birthday trumps all others. The whole day I felt overwhelmingly loved and cared for by my friends and family and that is the best gift I could have ever asked for. 

Let me give you the run down of the terrific day. 

I woke up facetimed my cute mom and then went to get breakfast (or breakfrist as I like to call it) with my sister and Shaunessy. We got delicious crepes and I received my gift from Sara and a gift from my parents. Both gifts extremely practical and perfect for my upcoming events (Africa, Mission). 

After such a perfect breakfrist I came home to find a exquisitely wonderful surprise from my amazing roommates Makenzie, Alex, and Kyla. As I go to walk into my building I find these on the doors:

Even greater than my face plastered on every door in da hood is the surprise I found next. They had printed out pictures of my friends and family and put their heads on other bodies and put them all around my room. It is the most hilarious thing I think I've ever seen. I was dying laughing. They are so clever and just the best roommates I could ask for! Here are some examples:

After I laughed to my hearts content I got a call from a dashing young gent and told me he would like to take me shooting! What a pleasant surprise it was! His roommate took us up the mountain to a shooting range and let us use his gun! It was scary but one of the greatest things I've ever done! Turns out I'm not that bad of a shot! I'm not quite as good as the dashing young gent though. Then this dashing young gent took me to one of the best kept secrets in Provo. It was so great! 

Then I came home and played some Banana Grams to kill time before dinner. After a few rounds a few of my favorites and I went to Malawi's for dinner. Twas delicious. What a great bunch. 

To end the day right we had a dance party at my apartment. As most of you loyal blog readers know I love to shake my groove thang whenever I can. So my amazing roommates made an endless amount of cookies, put up beautiful decorations, even bought glowsticks and got the party started! We danced the night away it was perfect. 

Overall I got everything I asked for. From cookies to just love it was all there. I am so blessed to have such amazing people in my life that I can count on no matter what. So a HUGE thanks to everyone who had anything to do with my perfect birthday! Seriously you don't know how much all the love, gifts, and sweet words mean to me. 

Annie Turner will run that errand for Him.

For my New Testament class we are asked to write a blog about our thoughts from the reading from that week, so now I'll be posting every week about churchie stuff. I'll be honest and say this makes me a little excited!

So for this week we read Acts 7-12 and as I read one thing in particular kept jumping out at me. Whenever any of the apostles or disciples were told to do something from the Lord they, "immediately" did it, or "went straightway" to do the thing which the Lord asked, or "ran," or arose and went...nothing doubting." What an amazing example that is to us. I want to have that much faith that without hesitation I go and do whatever it is the Lord is asking of me to do.

It reminds me of a quote from Pres. Monson, "I trust Him implicitly, and will always do my best to fulfill my responsibilies. I've always said that if the Lord has an errand to be run, I want Him to know that Tom Monson will run that errand for Him."

I want the Lord to know that about me too. I want Him to trust me enough to know that no matter how crazy it might sound or out of the ordinary the errand is, He can trust me to run it for Him without hesitation. I have a lot of improving to do before I'm there that is for sure, but I'm starting now to look and pray for ways to fulfill my responsibility as a follower of Christ.

I love this gospel and I hope that instead of ignoring my churchie posts you take the 5 minutes it might take to read them and think about them a little. That's all I ask! Love you all loyal blog-readers!