North Carolina Needs Our Help

One of my favorite people (Brenda, who lives in NC) sent this message to our group yesterday. Any and all help is appreciated.

“Hey friends! If you haven’t heard the western part of North Carolina, even as close as 45 min west of us, have been flooded, small towns washed away, people missing, no power or food since Friday. It’s a war zone out there. My sis in law in Utah told me they haven’t seen or heard very much about it which is surprising to me. It’s really bad. Tons of dead bodies are just floating around because they don’t have the resources to clear them. I think FEMA just got involved but what’s amazing is the people here, regular citizens, just got right to work. We have been working with this small airport that has volunteer pilots flying to all these tiny towns that haven’t seen help at all. We have been collecting items to pack and send on trailers and small planes/helicopters. We’ve bought our own donations and people here have been so generous however we are seeing our own local stores depleted of basic goods for our own towns. Water, diapers, formula etc are out. People still need so much help. I can’t even imagine what they are going through just what I’ve seen and it’s hard to imagine. I’ve seen people strapping their horses with supplies, friends taking their side by sides into the mountains, driving crazy roads just to get to people and get them supplies. This is my home, these are my people that have adopted me as a Carolinian. I’m heartbroken for all the small towns we’ve traveled to and loved. I wouldn’t normally ask but these are people that would drop everything and help us, too, because that’s the kind of people they are. If you are able to please use this Amazon wish list (https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3R45PD0O48IKE?ref_=wl_share ) to buy items they need. You can use the address they have or ship them to me (225 Cove Creek Loop, Mooresville, NC, 28117) and I can bring them. I go there everyday so I can bring them asap. If you can’t, please pray and pass this along to family/friends. I love you all.”

The pilots (on their own dime) are flying to the remote areas no one can reach, taking aid, and coming back telling people what more the families need who live out there. If people cannot contact loved ones, the pilots go out searching. Moms might have formula but no bottles. Shelves in neighboring towns are being emptied because everything is sent to those who lost all. Workers chopping trees are being attacked by yellow jackets. It is dire in every way. Every day new needs arise. Here is a link to know what is needed that day:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566554308647&name=xhp_nt__fb__action__open_user

Pictures of life in our new home.

beautiful because of Him


Chatting with one of my best friends today, and witnessing her beautiful life, I remembered: Jesus is making it perfect; I just open my eyes wide and take it all in.

And give thanks.

(2 Samuel 22)

(Photos by @jpryanphoto/@80westcollective) Weston, Idaho

stillness. silence. repeat.

“For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: ‘In returning and rest shall ye be saved, in quietness … shall be your strength;’” Isaiah 30:15

In the book I am reading, The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter, Easter interviews a nutrition guru/genius/out-of-the-box thinker, Trevor Kashey. Speaking of people’s health Kashey says, “I quickly ‘solved’ hundreds of problems just by virtue of improving a person’s awareness of their own behavior … I got the idea to do this from the Hawthorne effect [an idea that people change their behaviors when they know they are being watched] … It’s a nuisance to academic scientists looking for complete control but an integral part of my empirical science where I’m looking to give control back to people (The Comfort Crisis, p. 145).” Kashey helps people bring awareness to themselves so healing can reign. In all I have studied about Jesus Christ, this is exactly how He works with us.

If we want changed behaviors, then we have to become keenly aware of ourselves. What am I doing? Why am I doing it? What am I feeling? Why am I feeling it? These are difficult questions, the answers to which we tend to cover, bury, and hide with screens, scrolling, avoidance, and other “noise.” The catch is, the more unaware of ourselves we are, the easier it is to blame others for our discomfort. This is the opposite of repentance and healing. Satan would have us believe: I am out of control; when others change, then I will be happy, at peace, calm… An honest awareness of ourselves—our hearts, thoughts, and emotions—is how we reclaim our agency (control), and afford others the liberty of theirs. As soon as we do, “immediately doth the great plan of redemption take place (Alma 34:31)”. Immediately healing (change) begins.

Repentance is simply awareness. God knows everything about us. We are not hiding anything from Him; we hide from (avoid) ourselves, our discomfort. When Adam and Eve partook of the fruit, I believe they then hid from themselves, not God. They did not want to face the discomfort of being honest about what they had done. When God came to them, He invited them to see themselves (and then His Son) clearly. This is where all power and change lies: can I choose to see myself clearly, without excuse, without blaming anyone or anything else for my emotions?

“Yea, I would that ye would come forth and harden not your hearts any longer; for behold, now is the time and the day of your salvation; and therefore, if ye will repent and harden not your hearts [don’t cover, bury, or numb your discomfort any longer], immediately shall the great plan of redemption be brought about unto you (Alma 34:31).” 

The greatest gift we can give ourselves (and God) is (our “true and honest heart”) an awareness of ourselves—every discomfort, pain, sorrow, heartache, illness, and general lack of control we feel. Awareness opens the door for the Savior to do His work. This is our most profound use of agency, it is how we “take our agency back” and “give others their agency back.” Jesus does the work of change, healing, and ultimate perfection. 

We don’t have to change our feelings. We don’t have to make ourselves happier. We don’t have to “work really hard” at overcoming our faults. We simply need awareness—to “be still”—to be okay with being uncomfortable. (Barring abuse), in our stillness during discomfort is where the Savior and the Holy Ghost come to us and heal our hearts. Improved thought, feeling, and action naturally follow the changes they make to our hearts (Mosiah 5:2, Alma 5:7). Change, perfection, and salvation do not come because of what we do, they come because of everything God does—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

The first question the angel asked Alma and the sons of Mosiah “as they were going about rebelling against God (Mosiah 27:13)” was, “why persecutest thou the church of God?” It was an invitation for them to become aware of themselves. Christ offered the same to the woman at the well, “Go, call thy husband, and come hither (John 4:16).” He is always asking us, “Are you aware of yourself?” And then, his invitation is unchanging, “Come. Be still. I will heal you.”

“Do you know who you are (your weakest points?) and do you know who I am (my strongest ones?) Do you know what I do, how I do it?”

—This is how I hear the Savior speak to us.

The deeper we are willing to go–the more aware we are willing to become of ourselves–and the more still we are willing to be, the more healing, strength, and power comes. The Savior has overcome all and gives us power to do the same when we stop scrolling, moving, bustling, and just sit; that is how we allow Him in to the places we wish we could wholly avoid, ourselves.

My invitation this week is to sit. Put phones away. Screens away. Turn the TV off. The music off. Turn off the noise. All of it. And sit. In silence. Sit through the discomfort. Sit for as long as you can. As often as you can. And wait. With no end in sight.

It works. 

He works. 

In time miracles unfold…


From The Comfort Crisis, p. 144:

“The scientist in me would always say, ‘OK, to figure out how to get you to point B, we must find point A.’” said Kashey, after we’d settled into his office and I asked him how he began to develop his methods, the same methods he still uses. “I’ve never believed that people should be doing more or new things. Continuously trying to add more stuff on top of what you’re doing and constantly experimenting with shiny new things is almost never the answer. It just adds another layer of stress and complication. I believe people should be doing less and eliminating limiters to progress. It’s more effective to modify the behaviors and thought patterns that are keeping you from progressing,” said Kashey. “Because your progress is only as good as your most obvious limiter”.


PS We moved to Phoenix a couple weeks ago. It is a dream. Pictures are from our new home.

What I’ve been loving reading lately: How to Meditate Pema Chödrön, The Comfort Crisis Michael Easter, Supercommunicators Charles Duhigg, The Experience of Insight: A Simple and Direct Guide to Buddhist Meditation Joseph Goldstein, Hunt, Gather, Parent: What Ancient Cultures Can Teach Us About the Lost Art of Raising Happy, Helpful Little Humans Michaeleen Doucleff, Die with Zero: Getting All You Can from Your Money and Your Life Bill Perkins, and many others on Buddhism, specifically.

90 seconds of your time

Hi Friends,

I went on a bike ride yesterday with a friend to pick up her boys from school, where I saw one of my new friends. She shouted from across the sidewalk, “I just started your book! It’s everything I needed to learn.”

My heart has never been happier hearing your thoughts as you read! Thank you for sharing them with me.

Now, I would love help spreading the message: Would you fill out this 3-question form that will recommend me as a guest on the All In Podcast?!

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=8C0N3Eaxc0eXB1i4pV8qwfNoHAadnlFKkli2rvzv4T5UOVVQTkFMV0VDME9UOEoxMUtVTVBUSDUzOCQlQCN0PWcu

Please and thank you, thank you, thank you!

Christina

Another Podcast!

Hi Everyone!

MayMay is lying in my bed, snoring. 5 seconds pass. Then 10. I start to wonder, Wait. Is she actually asleep? And then a high-pitched “Dus Kiddeen” and I laugh out loud.

I had the most beautiful privilege of chatting with Richard Ostler on his Listen, Learn, and Love Podcast last week. The episode went live yesterday. If you don’t have time for the full hour, feel free to start in the middle. The last 20-30 minutes are especially beautiful.

Here are a few links that will take you there:

SOUNDCLOUD

INSTAGRAM

APPLE PODCASTS

I hope you enjoy it, and would love to hear your thoughts if you get to it.

xo,

Christina

Click here for the book!


Podcast

I cannot say thank you enough to all who purchased, read, shared, and reread All We Can Do. I spent a week in tears listening to Marco Polos and reading screen shots and seeing highlighted portions. My dream was for the book (Jesus) to impact and touch people, to lighten loads, and I cannot say Thank You enough for it doing that. People I don’t even know find it, read it, and then buy 1-10 more copies for those they love. I am on cloud nine “saying nothing but repentance unto this generation” because in repentance all power lies.

Also,

I was on a podcast yesterday that went live today. I got to chat repentance (of course) with Randy on his Spiritual Survival podcast: Does grace save us AFTER "All We Can Do"? Ft Christina Judd | Spiritual Survival Ep 17

I hope you enjoy.

Full of gratitude,

Christina



IT'S HERE!!!!!!!

CLICK HERE TO SEE OR PURCHASE THE BOOK

My book is PUBLISHED!

I AM A PUBLISHED AUTHOR!

I love every word of this book, these stories.

I wrote for me. And then, my girls.

If someone else gleans something of value from these pages, I will be forever thankful.

Thank you for your prayers, for sharing this life-changing journey with me.

Until the next one…

Christina

PS If you happen to read it, I would love to hear about it!

Photoshoots?!💥

Hi Everyone!

Lots of news over here 🩵

MY BOOK IS ALMOST DONE!!!!!! My editor and I are wrapping it up. It has an amazing cover, and will soon be formatead beautifully (thank you Brenda Bird!) It will be uploaded to Amazon SOON.

Also, my brother in law started a business! He’s creating and selling hat pins. Click here to see his website. The newest ones coming are rad!

AND! Since my book is done I’m taking on a couple photoshoots.

I have a wedding booked in Newport Beach in June and then I come to Seattle.

Newport Beach: June 9-11

I can take ONE family shoot.

Seattle: June 23-25

I will take FOUR Photoshoots (I shoot purely digital.)

Shoots can take place indoor, outdoor, whatever you want. They will last 45-60 minutes, and cost $300 (payable via Venmo).

Writing has become my favorite pastime. With this book almost out, I hope it’s the beginning of many more—starting with a children’s book my sister and I plan to collaborate on. And, I finally hope to get a podcast or two rolling that have been in the works!

As always, lots of big dreams, and lots more of trying to figure out how to make them happen!

I send my love to each of you, and hope to see you in Seattle 🤍

Christina

momentum comes from Jesus

I have a favor to ask everyone: will you please pray for me to finish my book? It has been 3 years. I want to get it out already! I have two children’s books also in the works that I would like out of my head and into whoever’s hands who want them. But I need extra help!

Please and thank you thank you thank you! 

AnnieKate and MayMay,

This mama is full of mortality’s shortcomings, weaknesses, and frailties, but there is nothing of which I am more certain: Jesus Christ and repentance.

The last few weeks I have pondered momentum. 

Where does it come from? How do I get it? 

My recurring thoughts are: come as you are–slow, depleted, with a dead battery, even dead stagnant. It doesn’t matter because momentum comes from Jesus Christ, not works, or goals, or promises. Everything you need and want comes from Him, through repentance.

Culturally we hear “do more, be more, just try. Even if it’s small, do something. Momentum can’t arise from nothing, so start somewhere.”

But what about when I can’t?

One day you may find yourselves like me–crushing it: homeschooling, cooking delicious food, taking care of the baby, doing it all, for a whopping 2.53 seconds! And then, for reasons known or unknown, you find yourselves flat on your face, on the floor, flat as a pancake, no momentum anywhere in sight.

What now? When you lack the strength to get back up, when you don’t even want to, and when you can’t start small, when you don’t even want to, what then?

Consider my life experience and knowledge of Jesus Christ:

Momentum can (and does!) arise out of nothing. 

Momentum can (and does!) come regardless of what we are, or are not, doing. 

Momentum comes from Jesus through our repentance.

Momentum comes because of Jesus Christ, Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.

I am not Alpha—my beginning—He is! 

Even my momentum starts with Jesus.

The Savior has perfect momentum! So cry out every woe and difficulty and slipup. Cry out your paralysis. Cry out your pains and frustrations that keep you from being who you want to be and doing what you want to do. 

Girls, never forget! You cry until momentum comes. You cry until you are moving in the direction you want to go. And you don’t stop crying until change and miracles come. This is repentance–crying until change and miracles come (Alma 34, 33, 32). This is repentance— “looking to Him in every thought.” Every, every, every thought, regardless of how good or bad, happy or sad.

Jesus is Alpha and Omega–the beginning and end of everything you wish to be, everything you want to do. When you have nothing to give He puts you in motion, not because of what you’ve done but because of everything He did.

He is Alpha, your kickstart, your jumpstart: a “...connection to electrical power…or another source of current; -- an emergency procedure used when a vehicle's own battery has insufficient power to start the vehicle normally. …a speedy start to (an activity) using the assistance of some external impetus...”

When your battery is dead and you have no momentum, when you don’t even want momentum, repentance plugs you into the source of infinite power, infinite momentum, Jesus Christ.

Don’t get hung up on what you need to do, what you’re not doing, what you think you should be doing. Don’t look to yourself in every thought, “look unto Him in every thought”. Send every thought and feeling and problem to Him, every time it arises (repentance). He will do His work: He will send momentum, miracles, and change, even when your battery is dead and you couldn’t be any more stagnant.

When you start to think of what you’re not, “always remember Him” and all He is. Wait for Him, wait on Him, crying out until momentum comes.

I love you. He loves you most, 

Your Mama

Just Jesus

My three beautiful girls,

Damion stopped me in the store tonight raving about the cashew sour cream I held in my hand, the juicery he owns in Layton, his favorite kimchi on the shelf, and “Taron Johnson who plays for the Bills, #24, is my best friend!”

I had just wrapped up a writing zoom seminar and was thinking about the books I’m writing, why I’m writing them. When the conversation about food and healthy gut biome ended, of course my mind continued the conversation (KLOVE had been cranked in the car and I was rocking out to Promises), “I’m writing books…religious books…” Then wondered, are they religious? Are they Christian? LDS? How do I categorize the books I’m writing?

In my experience, once something is labeled it gets murky. Then when I try to describe it it is constrained to “that thing”.

I started attending the temple every week again (it’s been two weeks ;). A best friend and I meet there, sit in the celestial room, discuss things on our mind, in our hearts. I feel revelation beginning to flow again. I have more questions and subsequently feel more answers.

And so continued my trail of thoughts. …writing an LDS book puts it in a box—an LDS box. Writing a Christian book puts it in a Christian box.

I’m writing Jesus books, no box.

Maybe sometimes even the church gets between us and Jesus.

Maybe the church is just a vehicle that gets me to the temple, and the temple is a vehicle that gets me to Jesus.

Girls, I have one wish for you: don’t get caught up in the myriad of voices at home, at church, anywhere. Go find Jesus—preferably in His house. He will tell you everything you want to know.

I love you more than you love me, your mama

Mis tres hermosas chicas

Damion me detuvo en la tienda esta noche delirando sobre la crema agria de anacardo que tuve en la mano, la compañía de jugo de que es dueno en Layton, su kimchi favorito en la estantería, y "Taron Johnson, que juega para los Bills, # 24, es mi mejor amigo ! "

Acababa de terminar un seminario de escritura por zoom y estaba pensando en los libros que estoy escribiendo, por qué los estoy escribiendo. Cuando terminó la conversación sobre la comida y el bioma intestinal saludable, mi mente continuó la conversación, "Estoy escribiendo libros ... libros religiosos ..." Pero pensé, son ellos religiosos? ¿Son cristianos? ¿Cómo categorizo ​​los libros que estoy escribiendo?

En mi experiencia, una vez que se etiqueta algo, se vuelve turbio. Luego, cuando trato de describirlo, se limita a esa categoría, y no se puede pertenecer a ningún otro.

Empecé a asistir al templo todas las semanas de nuevo (han pasado dos semanas). Un mejor amigo y yo nos reunimos allí, nos sentamos en el salón celestial, discutimos las cosas que tenemos en la mente, en el corazón. Siento que la revelación comienza a fluir de nuevo. Tengo más preguntas y siento más respuestas que vienen de los cielos.

Y así continuó mi rastro de pensamientos. … Escribir un libro de la iglesia lo pone en una caja. Escribir un libro cristiano lo pone en una caja cristiana.

Estoy escribiendo libros de Jesús, no caja.

Quizás a veces la iglesia se interpone entre nosotros y Jesús.

Quizás la iglesia es solo un vehículo que me lleva al templo, y el templo es un vehículo que me lleva a Jesús. Él hace todo lo demás.

Niñas, tengo un solo deseo para ustedes: no se dejen atrapar por la miríada de voces en casa, en la iglesia, en cualquier lugar. Ve a buscar a Jesús, preferiblemente en Su casa. Él te dirá todo lo que quieras saber.

Las amo más de lo que me aman a mí, tu mamá

MayMay-cita


May Marielle Judd came Jul 20th around 3am (I think ;))

She is a dreamboat and we do nothing but swoon over her (well, there’s not a ton of swooning every 2-3 hours all night, but during the day she is perfection in baby form.)

There is radio silence over here while we maul our baby, and get back into homeschool and extracurriculars, but I did want to share something I was part of this morning:

My friend, Tracy’s, The Thy Neighbor Podcast.

This is our 37 minute chat, where I bare the things of my soul regarding faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, and why suffering.

These are my favorite topics in the entire world. This podcast is full of my rambling, emotion, and deeply imperfect communication skills, but if you listen, I hope you hear the Savior talking to you, more than either of us.

My love runs deep for Him, His mercy, His grace, His priesthood power that He sends to everyone who wants it.