Heaven is Here

I just finished reading "Heaven is Here" by Stephanie Nielson.  She and her husband were in a plane crash and survived.  Stephanie's body was 80% burned and her husband also suffered from burns.  This book tells her amazing journey.  It's an amazing love story as well.  What an inspiration she and her husband are to me.  I started reading excerpts of the book to Kary of when she was in the hospital and I know that Kary experienced similar things.  He just hasn't voiced them.  I  really want Kary to be able to share his feelings someday.  He has been through so much and continues to struggle with different things every day.  It's an emotional and physical and mental roller coaster. One thing that we have in common with Stephanie is our faith and trust in God and love of family. These are the two things that truly help us carry on.

Stephanie quotes from a conference address given by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland (an Apostle) Her family knows Elder Holland and he told her family that when he wrote this talk he had them specifically in mind.  I just want to quote it too because the words are so comforting and true.

"When lonely, cold, hard times come, we have to endure, we have to continue, we have to persist...Keep knocking on that door.  Keep pleading.  In the meantime, know that God hears your cries and knows your distress.  He is your Father, and you are His child."  

Patience and faith are key here.  We must trust in Father above and know that all will be done in His way and in His timing.  Sometimes we may feel that our prayers are not being heard or answered.  We want them to be answered our way and in our timing.  I know that if I continue to put my faith in God that it will all work out somehow.  He's got it all under control.  Somedays I really need to remember that! =)

She also quotes Elder Holland in another talk, "But when we speak of those who are instruments in the hand of God, we are reminded that not all angels are from the other side of the veil.  Some of them we walk with and talk with---here, now, every day...Indeed heaven never seems closer than when we see the love of God manifested in the kindness and devotion of people so good and so pure that angelic is the only word that comes to mind."

We have so many earthly angels that have surrounded us in our time of need.  Angels is the word that we use to describe everyone that has helped us on our journey.   I know that we have had unseen angels surrounding us and petitioning Father above in our behalf as well.

I especially love this quote from Elder Holland, " I testify that bad days come to an end, that faith always triumphs and that heavenly promises are always kept."

We have the promise of Kary being healed. We have the promise of our Savior's love and His ability to make our burdens light. We have been promised that if we endure that we will be blessed.

Yay!

Thursday Reflection: Revelation

I recently had a discussion with a very good friend of mine on the topic of Religion.  I thoroughly enjoy talking with people on this subject. I haven't written on this blog for a few weeks because I simply ran out of ideas but our conversation has produced some spark in me to write about our main topic of conversation that day.

We got on the topic of a passage of scripture in Revelations Chapter 22 vs. 18-19.  Some people have used this passage to defend the idea that there can be no more revelation or scripture after the Bible because that would be adding to the Bible. In this way they try to discredit the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price.

Moses, wrote the same about his books (Deuteronomy 4:2). If those words of Moses were interpreted in the same way some have interpreted what John wrote, then there would be no Bible after the first five books. John, like Moses, was simply referring to what God had directed him to write—the book of Revelation.

To me it just makes so much sense that God would communicate with His people today as He has since the beginning of time. Why would one generation of people be more favored of the Lord if He was the same yesterday, today, and forever? Why would one nation (Jews) be more favored than another? (The Ancient Americans) The testimony of two nations stands as a greater witness that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

The great thing about all of this confusion is that we can know the truth for ourselves regarding the scriptures and their meaning.  In James 1:5 we are told that 5 ^aIf any of you lack ^bwisdom, let him ask of God, that ^cgiveth to all men liberally, and ^dupbraideth not; and it shall be given him.  Also in Luke 11: 9-10 it says, "9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened."

I believe that God answers our prayers through scriptures most definitey but we can also recieve personal revelation from God through the Holy Ghost.  In John 14:26 Jesus says, "But the ^aComforter, which is the ^bHoly Ghost, whom the Father will send in my ^cname, he shall ^dteach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."  In Galatians 5: 22-23 we are taught, "But the ^afruit of the ^bSpirit is ^clove, ^djoy, ^epeace, ^flongsuffering, ^ggentleness, goodness, ^hfaith,

23 ^aMeekness, ^btemperance: against such there is no law."

I have a very firm and strong testimony that we can recieve a witness that God has revealed his truths to His servants in the Bible, in the Book of Mormon, and continues to reveal things to His servants, the prophets, in our day.  God IS the same yesterday, today, and forever.  I have recieved a personal witness from the Holy Ghost that the Bible is the word of God as far as it is translated correctly, the Book of Mormon IS another testament of Jesus Christ, and that God does indeed speak to His Prophets in our day.  Joseph Smith did indeed pray in a grove of trees to know which church to join and was visited by God, our Father, and His son, Jesus Christ. His Gospel has been restored on the earth today through the prophet Joseph Smith. Christ is the head of His church on the earth today:  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  We have a Prophet and Apostles who teach us God's will and truth's in our day just as in times of old.  God has provided a way for us to know His truth's through the power of the Holy Ghost.

I issue an invitation to everyone who has not gained a personal witness for themselves of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon and of continued revelation through His holy prophets, that they experiment on the word of God and indeed, "Ask God in faith"  and He will let you know the truth through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Sunday Reflection: Family History

I have recently joined a couple of genealagy websites and am starting to feel a desire and a fire to be connected with my ancestors.  Not only to be connected to my ancestors but to help my friends and family be connected to their ancestors as well.  I love this little video and the analogy of the string.  I want to be thought of and remembered someday.  I don't want to be forgotten.   God wants us to be connected with our ancestors.  In Malachi 4: 5-6 it says, "

 5 ¶Behold, I will ^asend you ^bElijah the prophet ^cbefore the coming of the ^dgreat and dreadful ^eday of the Lord:

 6 And he shall ^aturn the ^bheart of the ^cfathers to the ^dchildren, and the heart of the ^echildren to their fathers, lest I come and ^fsmite the ^gearth with a ^hcurse."

Family history work and journals help us to “turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers” (Mal. 4:6). As we learn stories about our ancestors, we see into their hearts and we appreciate them. As we write in our journals, we remember the Lord’s blessings and we help our future children see into our hearts.

I love hearing stories of my ancestors and reading things they have written because I gain a better understanding of who they are and as I come to understand who they are it gives me a greater understanding of who I am and who I can become. 

I am grateful to be part of a great heritage.  Learning about my ancestors and the great people they were and how hard they worked, and the trials they faced and how true they were to their knowledge and beliefs about God gives me strength to endure my trials. I want to have the same kind of faith they had.  I think that if they can do it so can I because I'm part of them. 

 "We are who we are because they were who they were."  Anonymous

If you haven't started any family history and would like to get started here are a couple of websites I use that have been helpful:

 

http://www.ancestry.com/

http://familysearch.org/

Writing in a journal is a good way to get started, too, for your own posterity.  The things we experience are not just for us to learn from but also our posterity.

You can also click here to find out more about why The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints emphasizes Family History work.

(Kary's Great Grandma and Grandpa Behm with most of their children.  Kary's Grandpa is in the front row, in the middle. They are Russian Born Germans.)  So COOL!

Sunday Reflection: He Knows Me

The past couple of weeks have been kind of a struggle emotionally for me.  I know God loves me and is aware of me as I have had many witnesses in my life to this fact.  I don't really know why the past couple of weeks have been harder than others, but it has.  I have had a thought in my mind for the past couple of weeks of wishing a specific person would be able to come to our home.  When I got the thought I would tell myself to put it out of my mind because there was no way this person would come to our home.  Well, on Thursday night we got a call telling us that this exact person was indeed going to come visit us on Saturday as well as another person.  It was just another witness to me that God knows every thought in our mind and He knows the desires of our hearts.  He loves us so much.  How thankful I am for the visit we had from not only one, but two very special people.  It was an inspired visit and helped buoy not only me up but Kary as well. (Elder Keith Edwards from the Seventy and also President Robert Seger from the Stake presidency)

Sunday Reflection : The Sacrament

I needed to be reminded of this today as I have fallen so short the past couple of days.  I have just been so ornery with my family the last couple of days.  I'm grateful for the opportunity I have to repent every day and to renew my covenants with Heavenly Father each Sunday by taking the Sacrament.  When I am able to take the Sacrament and take it sincerely with real intent my spirit is renewed and I feel my Savior's love for me.  I'm grateful for the Savior and the love He has for all of us.

Tuesday Reflection: Family

The last couple of weeks for some reason have been extra hard for me it seems.  Last week especially I just really felt stressed with all the things I have to do.  And it just seemed like my house was closing in on me.  I try to keep up with it all but can't get on top of things and I just really started to feel like I was drowning.  Then yesterday my youngest and myself got the flu.  Luckily my daughter's bout didn't last long but mine lasted from 7:30 in the morning until 2 or 3 this morning. I felt like I was going to die.  I lost 3 pounds.  I've been wanting to lose weight but not like that.  Ouchy!    So with my anxiety and then getting sick it was just all so overwhelming and I asked my husband to give me a priesthood blessing.  After it was over I just started sobbing uncontrollably and just letting go of all the pent up emotions I had.  Kary put his arm around me, my son (6) sees me and comes over and puts his arms around me and then my daughter (2) comes  and puts her arms around me and pats my back and says, "It's okay Mommy. It's okay."  At that moment I just felt so much love for my little family and was just reminded that our little family and the love and support that we give each other is the most important thing.  It doesn't matter that my house is a mess and that I have a mountain of laundry in my basement, and my dishes are undone, my bills are unpaid, etc....those things don't matter.  I realized that that is why we are sent here on earth to be part of a family....they are a source of love, strength, and support, and comfort to us.  We don't have to face this life alone.  Family is there for the good times and the bad.  They tell you the truth when no one else will.  They love you despite your weaknesses and challenge you to grow and be more than you are because they see you for what you truly can become.  I'm so grateful for my own sweet little family.  I'm grateful for my Mom and Dad and my brothers and sisters.  They have been such a help to me in my time of need.  They have been a source of strength and comfort.  I'm also so grateful for Kary's family.  We feel their love and support as well and are grateful for the strength and support we get from them.

These are old pictures of my family members but I don't have a recent family photo with all of us together.

Sunday Reflection: Letting go of our E.G.O.'s

Okay, so I was reading Alex Boye's profile on Mormon.org.  He is a recording artist and also a member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.  Anyway, he said  something that I want to share with you.   He said, "God can take ordinary people and put them in extraordinary situations, and can bless us all in ways we cannot comprehend. In order for that to happen, from my own experience I tell people that we need to let go of our E-G-Os ( Edge God Out.) That seems to be the reason for almost every problem we face in day-to day living..... We cannot survive in this world without Gods influence in our lives."

Satan tries to decieve us and get us to believe that there is no God.  He wants us to Edge God Out of the picture. He wants us to believe that we don't need Him to be happy.  We can survive this life on our own; rely on our own inner strength.  Anything we gain in this life is through our own efforts.  There is no God.

 To know God and to love Him means to live as He would have us live and keep His commandments. For some to recognize a God in their lives would mean change and that may be hard for them to accept. If they don't believe in God there is no lasting consequence to any choices that are made.  It's all about the here and now and no eternal consequences.  Do as you please here.  Tomorrow you will die.  No big deal. That's what Satan would have us believe.  He does not want us to return to our Father in Heaven.

I have such a testimony that we truly do have a Father in Heaven who loves us.  He knows us.  He stands ready to bless us beyond measure if we will learn of Him, keep His commandments, and trust in Him.  My life has been blessed tremendously because of my knowledge of my Father.  I know that I can go to Him in prayer and He hears me.  He answers my prayers.  He comforts me.  He strengthens me.  If I did not know God existed and did not know I could rely on Him through our trials I would have cracked a long time ago.  I would have given up on happiness in this life.  I would have given up on myself and my ability to handle certain responsibilities and pressures in my life.    I have just had so many witnesses that He IS!  Like Alex said, "God can bless us all in ways we cannot comprehend".    If we would just let Him in.

“All things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth... and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator” (Book of Mormon, Alma 30:44).

I testify this is TRUE!