Shifting Our Focus

I have posted about this before, but I feel prompted to revisit the topic.

At a time in the world when we really need to be focused on the things that truly matter, we aren't. In fact, many of us are so busy chasing material dreams or reaching lofty goals, we lose sight along the way of what we SHOULD be focused on. Yes, many goals and aspirations produce blessings that can help provide what is needed in life, but if we keep our eye fixed on God and put His will for us first, He will produce the same, and more. His plans for us are so much bigger than our own. And when we forsake the things He commands in pursuit of money, degrees, fame, or glory, we have made those things our gods and put our GOD in the back seat. Each and every time we place one of these things ahead of His will for us, we are placing more importance on our own will and relegating God's command to a nice 'suggestion.'

Oh, how far we fall each time we do this. Oh, how far we fall and drag our children and posterity down with us each time we teach them to live this philosophy of man. And oh, the sorrow we bring upon the Lord who suffered all in our behalf, because he knows that our posterity will then be steeped in the tradition of their fathers. And guess what? WE are their fathers!

I pray that we can all take the time to stop and ponder on what is truly important in this life. Because in the end, it will be the things of God that will save us, not the things of the world.
And we will come to see that in the end, while the world will abandon us, God never will, as long as we do not abandon Him.

God Rules!

As much as it hurts to see the injustices of man and the pain and suffering we are sometimes afflicted with by the hand of others, I know there is a God, and the gift of agency - to bless, hurt, harm, or help - our fellow man is one that will not be taken away. For far too long, many of us have squandered that

gift, allowing Satan to rule our thoughts and actions, never giving a thought to the wounds we leave on the innocent, much like Christ's own people never gave a thought to the wounds that were inflicted upon Him, wounds that He ironically suffered in their behalf.

We are told to be perfect like Christ and the Father, and be perfected in Him. If it couldn't be done, He wouldn't have commanded us to do it, and if we are striving with everything in us to be obedient and put the Lord first in every aspect of our lives, there is NOTHING we can't do, because our will would be aligned with His.

Terrible things happen in the world every day, and they will continue to happen. In fact, things are going to get ten times worse, and just as Satan reigns in the hearts of mortal men now, he will continue to be allowed to reign for yet a little longer. Did you get that? He will be ALLOWED to reign a little longer. He is not in charge and he never will be. But the agency of man must continue for our just Lord and Savior to do His job. He is always there to comfort those who suffer, and if our spiritual eyes held perfect vision, along with glimpsing the evil spirits that surround so many, we would see heavenly beings moving to and fro in the service of our Savior, comforting, and in some cases, guarding us against the adversary.

I live for the day that the Savior will return in all His glory, and what a great and terrible day that will be! I only pray that I will be worthy enough to stand in His presence.
I pray for this for all of us.

Turning Our Lives Over to God

It is an easy and simple thing to say, "God, Thy will be done. My life is Thine. I turn it over to Thee. Use me as Thou wilt. Make me an instrument in Thy hands to help someone or touch someone's life

today."
Yes, it is easy to say, and many of us do say those things. Then, once the words have passed our lips, before the feelings can truly settle in our hearts and our uttered words can even gain a response of acknowledgement from the Father, many of us go on about our day, never even giving those pleas another thought.
Then there are those choice few who do indeed magnify those words, aligning their own will with the Father's with everything in them.
Turning our lives over to God is no small thing. It is a very big thing.
But it is the only thing that will gain us that most cherished and coveted blessing of eternal life.
And as usual, we receive far more than we give.

Treasured Random Moments of God

Do you ever have moments when you are filled with such unspeakable joy that you feel like you will burst? Do you ever have moments when you stand outside staring up at the heavens, pondering how amazing this life is, then literally feel the joy of Heavenly Father washing over you because He is seeing into your heart in that instance, and recognizing with joy your love for Him?

Do you ever have moments when you need the comfort of the Lord, and during your pleas for comfort, imagine yourself with your head resting on the Savior's knee and His gentle hand pressed against your head giving you that comfort?

Do you ever imagine what it would be like to finally walk into the arms of the Father and hear Him say, "Welcome home. I've missed you, and I'm proud of you?"

I can't count how many moments I have spent immersed in these very thoughts. And I can't count how many times these thoughts and actions have brought me comfort.
I recognize these moments, I engrave them in my heart and mind and spirit, and I treasure them, because I will need them one day. And they will help to see me through whatever comes.

May we all have treasured random moments of God and cling to them with everything in us.
It is those moments that will help us to soldier on through the tumultuous days ahead.

Pondering Our Blessings

This morning, I have been sitting and pondering my life and thinking of all the many ways Heavenly Father has blessed me. I feel so unworthy of it all, yet He continues to bless me beyond anything I ever imagined. I no longer ask why, because I know why.

Once upon a time when trials would come, I'd try to work through them and look forward to better days - "days of grace" I would call them. Then I came to learn something. Every single day is a day of grace, especially when adversity is present. I learned that as long as I faced the trials praising my Father, praising my Savior, and uttering unceasing prayers with gratitude in my heart, those days were all days of grace, because I wasn't facing the refining fire alone.

I look at everything God has done, and take into account every single blessing - from the expanding of my family and increasing posterity, to the things that most of us take for granted. Things like having a warm home, food to eat, clothes to wear, running water and indoor plumbing, transportation to get where I need to go. I have a functioning body and can actively do what I need to do (even though the back and knees argue from time to time.) I have all my senses and can enjoy the sounds of nature around me, can tend my flower garden and prune my rose bushes, can go for walks with my husband and talk of everything and nothing. I still have my vision and can see the beauty of the world around me. I can stand outside barefoot for a few moments in the evenings and watch the sky darken and the moon slowly appear, and marvel at the stars.
I have everything!

So, how can I not praise my God every moment of the day?

This life truly is but a small moment, just a blink of an eye really when compared to eternity. But this small moment is crucial, and what we do with it determines our place in eternity. We shouldn't waste a single second of it on things that don't really matter.
Oh, how blessed I feel each time the Lord opens my heart a little wider, and each time He helps me to remember who I am to Him, and to the Father. How blessed I feel with each bit of the plan He reveals for my life. And though I still can't see the full picture of His plan for me, I know it's coming, and one day I will see it. Just the thought of it fills me with unspeakable joy
I love my God, and I love my Savior, and I glory in Them. I hope you will love and glory in Them too.
Thank you for giving me the privilege of sharing.