Think Positive!

I was talking with my Mom today and she told me of something she had recently heard or read that said to basically find something positive about each moment, or hour, or day.  This week has been a little tough because both kids have been sick with fevers and coughing and I've been trying my best to keep them comfortable and meanwhile the house is turned upside down, the laundry is piling up, the dishes are piling, and we've all been cooped up in the house for a whole entire week.  I'm an emotional wreck when my kids are sick.  I worry about things that might happen that never ends up happening but I worry about it anyway just in case it does.  Ha ha!  Seriously!?  So, positive about this week...we all survived!!  LOL!  Today I actually got real clothes on, put make up on, and got to get out and run some errands.  It's amazing what a little makeup and getting dressed can do for my outlook on life.  Ha!  I should do it a little more often...ha ha!  Then I got to talk to a good friend tonight that was much needed therapy.  Thank you Mercedi! 

It is good to try and find the positive in each day or each situation.  I try to think about the many many blessings that we have recieved since Kary's stroke.  There are so many that I couldn't possibly name them all.  It's crazy to think that a trial can be a blessing but this one has been in many different ways.  I definitely would rather it didn't happen but I'm grateful for the things I'm learning and witnessing.  I still have many lessons to learn and I hope that I don't forget the things that I HAVE learned.  I'm reminded of Laman and Lemuel in the Book of Mormon that have many witnesses of the hand of God in their lives and yet they forget them and turn away from Him.  I don't want to be like that.  I want to remember all the miracles and witnesses that I have had in my life that denote that God lives...that He loves us...and that if we let Him; He will direct our lives for good.  He is always there for us if we let Him into our lives. 

Revelations 3:20 "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and ^aopen the door, I will ^bcome in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me."

I love this scripture because it reminds me that God could open the door himself, but He must be invited in before He can enter.  May we invite Him into our lives each day and our days will seem brighter and finding the positive in our situations will be easier as well because we have HOPE through Him.

Monday Reflection: House Upon a Rock

I don't know what is going on but it just seems like so many people I know or people I know who they know, etc....are having traumatic things occurr in their lives. Maybe it's because we had something traumatic happen to us and so we are more aware of things like this around us...I don't know, but it just seems like there are some heavy duty trials occurring for so many people.  I have met (through the internet) at least 3 people whose spouse has had a brain injury, a young girl of 16 who was in a serious accident who suffers from traumatic brain injury, a friend of mine whose nephew fell from a slide head first who has been in a coma and is in the hospital, a couple who just found out a couple of weeks ago that their 4 yr old son has a brain tumor and the very worst is expected for him, a guy from therapy who suffered spinal cord injury from a cough and was paralyzed from the neck down....  It's just all around.  I don't know if these things are occurring more or if it's just because I'm more aware of things like this because of what we have experienced.   

I know that this life is a test.  I know it's not supposed to be easy, but why does it have to be so hard sometimes?  Everyone will have to face challenges in this life.  All difficult.  No one will be spared heartache and pain and adversity.  I'm reminded of the scripture that talks about the wise man and the foolish man.  The wise man built his house upon the Rock.  The foolish man built his house upon the sand.   When the storms came the foolish man's house washed away and the wise man's house stood firm.  We all will face storms in our lives.  They will shake us to the core.  Our houses must be built on the Rock, our Savior, if we are to withstand these storms or trials.   We must gain a testimony of our Savior and His gospel now, because the trials will come and if we are not firm in our faith...we will fall. 

I think back to those first few days and weeks with Kary's stroke.  I was hit hard with this trial.  I was shaken to the core.   Every belief that I had in God and the gospel of Jesus Christ was questioned.  Was everything I believed really true?  Does God really exist?  Does he hear my prayers?  Will the priesthood blessings Kary recieved really come to pass?  The storm was rocking me.  Amidst the storm and all the questioning of my beliefs there was a calm and a peace that came to me and reminded me of all the witnesses I had been given in my life that God does exist, that He knows me, that He loves me, that He answers prayers, that the Priesthood works,   that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is real and true.  I knew it was going to be a long hard road, but the Holy Ghost was there to remind me that all those things I believed were indeed true and that I just needed to have faith, do my part, and that He would help us through.

The moments when we are struggling the most is also when Satan tries his hardest to get us to doubt our Father in Heaven and the love of our Savior which is why it's so important for us to have a foundation in Christ, our Rock.

Again, just grateful for my knowledge of my God and my Savior who help us every day to overcome our daily trials;  who give us the strength to carry on when the future is uncertain;  who give us hope and a promise of something better if we endure and stay true and faithful.

Sunday Reflection: What Think Ye of Christ?

In the October 2011 general conference, Elder Dallin H. Oaks began his address by quoting a profoundly important question the Savior asked long ago: “What think ye of Christ?” (Matthew 22:42).
Elder Oaks then declared, “With those same words I ask my fellow Latter-day Saints and other Christians what you really believe about Jesus Christ and what you are doing because of that belief.”
This Christmas season, take time to consider what you believe about Jesus Christ and how that belief shapes your life. You could watch or listen to Elder Oaks’s conference address .

I will quote one of my favorite hymns as it portrays the way I feel about my Savior much more adequately than I could express myself.  It is the words to the song, "I Know That My Redeemer Lives" Feel free to watch this video and listen to the beautiful words here

"1. I know that my Redeemer lives.
What comfort this sweet sentence gives!
He lives, he lives, who once was dead.
He lives, my ever-living Head.
He lives to bless me with his love.
He lives to plead for me above.
He lives my hungry soul to feed.
He lives to bless in time of need.

2. He lives to grant me rich supply.
He lives to guide me with his eye.
He lives to comfort me when faint.
He lives to hear my soul’s complaint.
He lives to silence all my fears.
He lives to wipe away my tears.
He lives to calm my troubled heart.
He lives all blessings to impart.

3. He lives, my kind, wise heav’nly Friend.
He lives and loves me to the end.
He lives, and while he lives, I’ll sing.
He lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King.
He lives and grants me daily breath.
He lives, and I shall conquer death.
He lives my mansion to prepare.
He lives to bring me safely there.

4. He lives! All glory to his name!
He lives, my Savior, still the same.
Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives:
“I know that my Redeemer lives!”
He lives! All glory to his name!
He lives, my Savior, still the same.
Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives:
“I know that my Redeemer lives!”

Text: Samuel Medley, 1738–1799. Included in the first LDS hymnbook, 1835
 

I truly love my Savior. I want to do what is right and follow His commandments. I know that I fall short a lot. Every day. But, I'm so grateful that I'm able to repent and try and do better each day. Jesus told us to love one another as He loves us. Some of my goals are to be more kind, more gentle, less judgemental, and serve others more often.

I love the Christmas season because it is a time that we unite in joyous remembrance of the birth of Jesus Christ . May the Holy Ghost witness to us the truthfulness of His birth and His earthly mission and invite us all to come unto Him and be His true disciples in every word and deed; not just through the Christmas season but every day of our lives.

Sunday Reflection: He'll Carry You

I have gained a lot of strength from others' examples of enduring trials. I guess one of the purposes of this blog is to share what I'm learning through our trials. If anyone can gain peace and comfort from anything that is written, I'm truly grateful. I truly want people to experience the same blessings that I have recieved from the gospel of Jesus Christ.

This song, "He'll Carry You" speaks to my heart. I have felt my Savior carry me through each day. The strength that people might see in me is not my own. I am strengthened by Him daily. I'm grateful that I don't have to bear my burdens alone. I have said before in an earlier post that the burdens seemed heavy for me to bear that this trial brought on. I knew I couldn't do it by myself. I am weak. I'm grateful for the strength He gives me.

There is a picture in this video that shows Christ standing at the door knocking. The door does not have a door knob. It must be opened on the other side. He is always there waiting for us to open the door to Him. It is up to us whether or not to let Him into our lives. He will never fail us. When others disappoint and fail us; Christ never will. I guess the invitation is to "Let Him In".

Sunday Reflections: Be an Example of the Believers

 I wasn't able to attend church today because my husband was sick.  Colton was sick last week so we missed last week too.  I feel such a difference when I'm not able to recharge my spiritual batteries.  Anyway, I'm glad I'm still able to read my scriptures and lessons and feel uplifted that way.  My sister, Lanae, shared with me a quote for next week's lesson that I really liked.  It's by Ruth B. Wright from October 1991 General Conference, "In Timothy (4:12), we are admonished to be an example of the believers. A believer is someone who follows and knows the teachings of Christ not only in his mind but also in his heart and whose actions are a witness of that belief. It isn't easy to be an example of the believers.  We don't usually wake up in the morning and say, 'Today, I'm going to be an example of the believers!'  Yet, we can say, 'Today, I will be kind and thoughtful, or considerate, or honest, or whatever quality I need to work on.'  And then we will try hard all day to make a conscious effort to do so. That's what we can do!  We can live in such a way that people can look to us as their examples.
To be a good example of a principle, we must not only understand it, but we must live that principle. It should be such a part of our every day living that without consciously thinking about it, the principle is reflected in the way we live.  To be true examples of believers, we are first committed inwardly to the principle of Christ that our actions reflect. For example, if we are dedicated to the principle of family prayer, we as parents pray regularly with our family. Hopefully, our children will recognize our devotion and dependence on prayer and pattern their prayers after this example.
Each of us can feel our Savior's love through the righteous example of others.  We, too, can strive to live in such a way that we can be examples of the believers."
I'm so grateful for the examples of believers I have had in my life that have helped strengthen my own testimony.  I have a long way to go but I really want to improve so many things in my life so that I can be a better example of the believers.  The great thing about this life is that we can try each day to improve.

Sunday Reflections: Teachings of Paul to Ephesians

Okay, so I'm loving studying about the Apostle Paul.  He's so awesome.  Thanks to my sister who teaches Sunday School and her excitement about all she is learning to get me excited about it too...because it is just that...exciting!  I think I'll talk about what I've learned in just a few chapters otherwise it will be a very very long post. 

In Ephesians chapter one Paul writes a letter to the saints in Ephesus.  He talks of how saints are foreordained to recieve the gospel (vs 1-9) He then says in vs. 10, "That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him."

What does this phrase "dispensation of the fulness of times" mean?  Let's ask first...what is a dispensation of the gospel?  According to the Bible Dictionary,
"A dispensation of the gospel is a period of time in which the Lord has at least one authorized servant on the earth who bears the holy priesthood and the keys, and who has a divine commission to dispense the gospel to the inhabitants of the earth. When this occurs, the gospel is revealed anew, so that people of that dispensation do not have to depend basically on past dispensations for knowledge of the plan of salvation. There have been many gospel dispensations since the beginning. The Bible suggests at least one dispensation identified with Adam, another with Enoch, another with Noah, and so on with Abraham, Moses, and Jesus with his apostles in the meridian of time.

Okay, so here is the really exciting stuff in the Bible Dictionary that answers the question of what the dispensation of the fulness of times that Paul was talking about means, "The fulness of times is the final dispensation, and began with the revelation of the gospel to Joseph Smith. It is a dispensation of restoration and of fulfillment of the Lord’s plans and purposes since the world began. There are also things reserved for the fulness of times that have not been revealed previously (D&C 121:26–32; 124:41). It is a glorious time, the time in which we live today (see Acts 3:19–21; D&C 27:13; 110:11–16; 112:14–32; 128:18–21; 136:37–40)."

We, my dear friends, are living in the dispensation of the fulness of times that Paul prophesied about.  Yee-haw!  This is cool!  Our Father in Heaven is gathering together in one all things in Christ.  I love vs. 17-23.  Father in Heaven has made Christ the Head of the Church. 

Okay, so that's the message I got from just chapter 1.  Let's go on to Chapter 2 of Ephesians.
Paul teaches the Ephesians that we are saved by grace through faith in Christ.  He also goes on to teach that the blood of Christ saves Jew and Gentile alike. Once we have accepted the gospel of Jesus Christ we are as it says in vs 19, "no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;"  

Now this next verse is very key to Christ's church on the earth today.  Paul teaches that not only do we become fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God, but we are also (vs 20) "built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone."
I love this testimony given of Christ by one of His prophets in this dispensation of the fulness of times, President Gordon B. Hinckley, "

The Cornerstone

He is the chief cornerstone of the Church that bears His name, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. There is no other name given among men whereby we can be saved (see Acts 4:12). He is the Author of our salvation, the Giver of eternal life (see Hebrews 5:9). There is none to equal Him. There never has been. There never will be. Thanks be to God for the gift of His Beloved Son, who gave His life that we might live and who is the chief, immovable cornerstone of our faith and His Church."

Christ is the head of His Church.  His Church IS built upon a foundation of apostles and prophets today as it was anciently. Just as Paul taught.

What is the importance of being built upon a foundation of apostles and prophets in our day?  Paul teaches in vs 14, "that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to decieve;" 

My dear friends, we do have a church today that is led by Christ through Prophets and Apostles.  How exciting is that????  We do not have to be tossed to and fro.  We can know all of the truth's of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I invite you to click on this link and learn more about God's prophets and apostles on the earth today.  It's exciting!  All the world should know!

The Fire

I have mentioned this before I believe but again it is coming to mind.  Before Kary's stroke I felt like I was just going through the motions when I was at church.  I had a testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ but I just didn't feel the fire.  Unfortunately it took an experience like this to light the fire underneath me.  I feel the fire now and I'm grateful.  You can't go through a trial like ours and not want to sing the song of redeeming love for our Savior.  I also think that we have experiences or trials like these to learn and grow...to become better followers of Christ and not keep these experiences to ourselves but to share with others what we are learning.  I want to be like Alma the Younger in vs 9-10 of chapter 9 when he says, "

 9 I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it. I do ^anot ^bglory of myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me; yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy.

 10 And behold, when I see many of my brethren truly penitent, and coming to the Lord their God, then is my soul filled with joy; then do I remember ^awhat the Lord has done for me, yea, even that he hath heard my prayer; yea, then do I remember his merciful arm which he extended towards me."

I think most people who have felt the love of the Savior and known the blessings that come from following Him wish they could share the joy and blessings that have come to them through following Him.  I love hearing other's stories of conversion to the Savior and His gospel.  Recently heard Sheila Walsh on the radio the other day and was totally inspired by her story.  We also have trials in our lives to help us be more compassionate towards others who may be experiencing similiar trials to our own.  I'm grateful for the people in my life who share their testimonies of the Savior with me.  I'm grateful for the scriptures that uplift and edify and teach me of God's plan.

I don't really know what the purpose of this post is....these were just some of my thoughts I had as I was studying tonight.

Sunday Reflections: August 14, 2011

 

Today was a great Sabbath day.  The topic in Sacrament Meeting was Faith.  I really liked how one speaker compared faith in the Lord Jesus Christ to light.  Light dispels all darkness.  If we put our faith and trust in Him, He will guide us through times of darkness in our lives. Whether it be sin, discouragement, loneliness, despair, disappointment, or feelings of inadequacy.  The light of Christ is stronger than any darkness we encounter in this life.  If we will just trust in Him and follow Him. Jesus said in John 8: 12 "I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."

I also love lighthouses and collect them because they are also a reminder to me that when I may feel lost in the fog and in stormy waters that I must look for my one true source of light and I will find my way home.  How grateful I am for my knowledge of Jesus Christ.  I have faith in Him and know that He will lead me on.  I always come back to our situation with Kary.  Our lives were turned upside down.  Kary's stroke definitely threw us for a loop and was nothing we ever expected to happen. We are still kind of in the dark as far as what this all means for our family.  We are learning little by little to walk with faith amid the encircling gloom. One step is enough for us.  We will put our faith in Him and do our best to follow His light.  What peace that light brings us!

Lead Kindly Light Hymn

Lead, kindly Light, amid th’encircling gloom, lead Thou me on!
The night is dark, and I am far from home; lead Thou me on!
Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene; one step enough for me.

I was not ever thus, nor prayed that Thou shouldst lead me on;
I loved to choose and see my path; but now lead Thou me on!
I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears,
Pride ruled my will. Remember not past years!

So long Thy power hath blest me, sure it still will lead me on.
O’er moor and fen, o’er crag and torrent, till the night is gone,
And with the morn those angel faces smile, which I
Have loved long since, and lost awhile!