A Reminder.

Just need to remind myself of this today.

God's Blueprint

This morning I have been deeply pondering this journey we call life. At the beginning of one of my books, I wrote this thought:

“Detours on the path add new dimensions to the experience, but some roads are better left untraveled. Of course, in the end, the journey is as important as the destination.”

When I ponder on this life (which I have been doing a LOT lately,) I think about my place in this world and wonder about God’s plan for me. I wish I could see my

personal blueprint–I wish I could glimpse the Father’s full itinerary for me, as well as the outcome, that I might adjust my actions, and my heart, accordingly. A blueprint is far more detailed than a plan, and details are important when it comes to so many things.

Sometimes the desire to please the Lords burns in me so much, I want to weep–but is a comforting weeping, not a sad one. Well, maybe a little sad because I long to see the face of my Savior, to know I’m following the eternal blueprint that Heavenly Father, in His loving way, personally designed just for me.

I know that my journey through this life has been just as important as the eternal destination I desire to reach with every fiber of my being. I know the lessons learned are priceless and more important than I can possibly comprehend.

Each week, I get to serve and associate with amazing brothers and sisters in Christ who are on the same journey, trying to make it to the same destination, but traveling different paths, longing to glimpse God’s personal blueprint for them as well. As I serve in the Lord’s house with these like-minded souls, there is a oneness present, a love and a bond that should always be present among the Lord’s people. Through that bond of love, I feel my Father’s love, and my Savior’s love. And I long to share Their love with the world. I guess in small ways, God does help me to do that, but in my heart, I wish I could do so much more.

So, with the Lord’s help, I will continue on in the pursuit of knowing God’s

blueprinted plan for me and strive to follow it. I just have to make sure Satan doesn’t tiptoe in with his enormous lead pencil and scribble on, or attempt to change the plans. He always tries and does succeed every now and again, but the Lord is always standing next to me with an industrial-sized eraser, so that at the end of the day, the blueprint is clean and new again.

And so is with all of us. May we all search out the Father’s personal blueprint for each of us and adjust our hearts and lives on the journey, that we may reach the destination He’s had planned for us from the very beginning.

Do We Really Mean It?

"There are two kinds of people: those who say to God,"Thy will be done," and those to whom God says, "All right, then, have it your way." ~C.S. Lewis

I have talked about this before, but I felt prompted to go back to it. When the Savior knelt in the garden and said, "Not my will, but thine, be done," His were the greatest and most empowering words ever uttered. So, for us, saying to God, "Thy will be done," should not be just uttered words. When we say them, we should mean them. They must come from the heart.

Yet how often do we say, "THY will," but actually mean, "MY will?"

Since the Savior gave everything for us in the garden of Gethsemane, and then on the cross, He proved His words. He did what He said He would. He submitted himself completely to the Father's will. Why do we think we can do less? If He kept His word, shouldn't we keep ours?

Heavenly Father's will for us is far greater than our own, and all He asks is that we obey Him and seek to know His will for us first, in all matters. His plan for His children is perfect, and His will for each of us is given in love and is ours for the taking.

May we all strive to emulate the Savior and follow His lead by allowing our own will to be swallowed up in God's. In return, we will be blessed with His love and spiritual protection in this life, and in the eternities, blessings beyond measure. The Savior has prepared a place for His own. I pray that we will all have a legitimate claim in that inheritance.

Hope

At a time in the world when things seem bleak  and men's hearts are failing them because of brokenness and hopeless despair, it is that much more vital that we hold on to hope. And it is in the Lord that we will find that hope - in Him and nowhere else.

The Master Healer

Times of sorrow touch all of us in one way or another. This is an inevitable truth that cannot be avoided or denied. Tragic things happen, be it the loss of a loved one, loss of health, loss of home,

etc.
When these painful things happen, we turn to various sources of comfort:
- Some turn inward, pushing others away.
- Some turn to self-medicating with drugs or alcohol, attempting to numb the pain.
- Some become bitter, letting their anger over their situation carry them away to dark places.

Then there are those who turn to the only true source of comfort - our Savior, Jesus Christ. He alone is the ONLY source of comfort that brings about true healing. The others are only temporary diversions, and there is nothing to be gained from them but heartache and a separation from God.

Seeking healing in Christ takes a great deal of faith, but I promise you, it is worth every effort exerted in pursuing it, and healing through Him is permanent.
We will continue to have trials, and many will bring pain and sorrow, but the Lord has promised us comfort and healing during these times, as long as He is our sole source of comfort.
There is no other.
Everything else is just detrimental diversion.
Happy sabbath!

The Promises of Righteous Living

We all face our own individual trials and adversities, and each time we call upon God in our trials and

turn to Him, the Savior helps us through by carrying the weight of our burdens and comforting us. However, as I have said many times before, we are about to enter some of the most trying times this world has ever known, which means turning our lives over to God and looking to Him and the Savior in all things has never been more vital. Yes, terrible things are happening now, but this is nothing compared to what we will yet face.

The Lord has promised us that He will be with the obedient, and righteous living will bring great blessings, both in this world and in the world to come.

Though the coming times will bring sorrow and adversity, they will also bring great joy and miracles to the people of God, as well as spiritual protection, hope, and an increase of faith in the Lord.
So, we have a choice: Will we take the easy way and embrace effortless spiritual darkness or exert the energy of our heart and soul for spiritual growth and eternal salvation?
The time to choose is now.

This is something we all need to remember.
This year, my goal is a spiritual one, and it is to put the Lord first in all things, in every aspect of my life. I know I will likely fail more times than I succeed, but I also know that as long as I'm doing my best, the Lord will work it out. Thinking of it this way, the failures - when I allow them to - will become stepping stones to greater learning experiences. I don't know about you, but I am ready for this next semester.