Holding Fast to Faith

How I love my Heavenly Father and my Savior! And how grateful I am to know that as long as I
place all my energy into becoming one with Them, there is nothing I cannot get through.
And so it is with all of us.
Happy Sabbath! :-)

What Matters Most to Me

For my birthday, my family gave me a birthday/belated Mother's Day gift and I became teary as soon
as I saw it. It is a charcoal drawn portrait of the Savior and I embracing. I have seen drawings and paintings like that done, but it has always been when I've attended the viewing of a friend or acquaintance. One day I said, "I would love to have a picture like that done, but I want it done while I am alive and can enjoy it instead of after I'm gone. I want to be able to look at it and dream of the day I can be embraced by my Savior." Well, a sweet daughter-in-law was listening and coordinated with everyone else to have it done. And now, I have this priceless gift in my home to help keep my heart and my thoughts focused on eternal things, the things of Heaven.

They are having another portrait done and I'm excited about it as well. I try to surround myself with things of God because I never want to forget from where my blessings come and to Whom I can always look for safety and shelter in the times to come.

No Greater Love

Today in Relief Society, the lesson was a discussion on ways we have been affected or changed by
love in our individual lives. I enjoyed hearing the various experiences shared by the sisters, and there were many thoughts and feelings spoken.
I too have been changed by the power of love throughout my life through countless experiences, but each and every one of those teaching moments - both the bitter and the sweet - were covered by an even greater love than my finite mind could comprehend. And THAT is the love that has changed me more than anything else. It has changed my heart, my mind, my spirit, my entire being. It is a love beyond all love, a bond beyond all other bonds. It is sacred, it is eternal, it is EVERYTHING.
It is only in and through the complete love of God and His Son, and becoming one with Them, that we receive tender mercies and divine guidance to overcome all things and endure to the end in righteousness.

Marching into Life's Battles

Someone else posted this meme a while back and it has become one of my favorites.
Many times in the past, the trials of life have felt like a huge weight that I didn't think I could carry another step. And the constant war that Satan and his minions are waging really took a toll on my spirit from time to time, so much so that it was hard to spiritually prepare myself for the work the Lord has for me. It is this way for most of us.
I don't feel that way anymore.
I don't feel that way because I finally learned that I MUST - I absolutely MUST - shift the weight of those trials over to the Savior, and when I do, not only does He shoulder them, He fights the battles for me, and the Father leaves the Holy Ghost and His angels as backup.
We can't ask for more protection than that.

Answering the Call

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: ~John 10:27

I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare  a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them. ~1 Nephi 3:7

My heart's new motto is, "I will go and do," because I have witnessed God's plans in action. And even though there have been times when I've stepped back and thought, "Lord, what in the world are you doing?" He always makes a way for us to accomplish what He commands, and His plans for me and my house are rolling forth in His way and in His time, not ours. All we have done - and will continue to do - is hold on for the ride and try to prepare ourselves for whatever He has in store.

This new chapter in our lives was most unexpected and bittersweet, but we are ready to move forward into the great unknown, be the Lord's hands, and  do whatever He asks of us. These are trying times, but they are also exciting times, and it is a great time to be alive on this earth! The Lord's love is still here in abundance despite the chaos surrounding us, and it is ours for the taking.
May we all stretch forth our hands and accept His mighty offering!
Happy Sabbath!

Following Christ

It seems like I am constantly re-evaluating my life these days, trying to de-clutter and eliminate
anything that is hindering my walk with the Savior and keeping me from following Him completely, and from staying on His sure path. He is THE way, and I never want to be lost. That already happened once decades ago, and I never want it to happen again.
These days, it is so easy to become lost, but if we accept Christ's invitation to follow Him and never let our focus shift or lose sight of Him, He will never lose sight of us.

Building the Kingdom

For a long, long time now, my all-encompassing personal goal has been to align my will with God's,
to serve Him, and to praise and glorify Him in every aspect of my life. Waking or sleeping, I ache to have my heart centered on Him and my Savior - to serve Him, to zealously spread His word and share His glorious plan of happiness for us. There are so many lost souls out there who are searching, looking and yearning for a peace that only the gospel of Christ can bring. And the Lord has let me know in many ways that I have much to contribute in the work. He knows my insecurities and my feelings of inadequacy at times when it comes to my lack of knowledge in things I still need to learn, but He also lovingly makes it clear to me that I am still of use to Him, and He has plans for me. I am constantly being prepared for His work, and I am so grateful to know that He still has need of me.
He still has need of ALL OF US.
I pray that starting today, each of us will take the time to find out what God's plan is for us, what part He will have us play in future events, and then, through daily trials and experiences, allow ourselves to be purified, sanctified, strengthened, and prepared as we strive to align our will to His, that we may move forward in the plan and help build His kingdom.