A Prophet and Personal Revelation

This morning I was reading a friend's blog. Although she is also Christian, we are not of the same faith. She has been filtering through various Christian teachings looking for the good teachings to help her draw nearer to Christ; she is such a great example to me.

In the replies to her post there was a debate going on concerning trust in God, letting Him control the outcome. The subject was one of life or death; risk a mother's life on the faint hope an ectopic pregnancy might prove viable or sacrifice the babe to preserve a mother who can bear other fruit and raise them to the Lord. One side was adamantly in condemnation; their insistence: Do nothing, but trust God, prayerfully, and hope for His miracle. The other side was more moderate: Trust God, accept the gifts of knowledge and technology as the miracle and let God guide their choice.

I am so grateful we have a prophet on Earth today. Their is no need to try to interpret God's word because He instructs His mouthpiece here with all we need to know and understand. God is one of mercy and He knows what His children need. He has caused technology to become what it is now for His own purpose. In the medical field, He has guided the minds of many researchers and the hands of many surgeons to improve our lives for the purpose of allowing us to teach others of His goodness and mercy.

But their comes a time when choices must be made. While God wants all of us to join Him in His kingdom, we cannot all take the same path to get there; we go through different trials because we are different. Some of us must abide poverty, others riches, others persecution; some of us must struggle with health or physical or mental disabilities; some of us endure childlessness or are not blessed with marriage, or there may be marital discord. No matter what our challenges are, God can help us turn all of them to our benefit. To help guide us we have the scriptures, we have a prophet, but to guide us in minute ways our Heavenly Father has given us the gift of personal revelation. If we seek to know God's will, with the intent to bend our will to His, He will make it known to us.

I have seen the Lord's guiding hand many times in my life. Many decisions He made for me, things happened or fell in place and I have been greatly blessed by them. But sometimes my action has been required. I would gladly take that first step and trust the Lord if just knew which direction. I have prayed for that guidance, the Spirit has helped me to know which way to go, and I have walked not knowing where I was going, but knowing it was where my Heavenly Father wanted me to go. Those paths have always led to the sweetest blessings.

Late Father's Day

So, a speaker on Sunday got me thinking of how often I speak with my dad. We're not a very communicative family; I tend to go some time without speaking to anyone but my sister who is the communicative hub. Yet, I think often of my parents and siblings and their influence in my life. Nearly everyday, I think of something that my parents taught me, some way that they have influenced my choices and behaviors, and I am grateful for what they passed on to me.

Sunday evening, I called my dad and thanked him for his example, for everything he taught me. I just hope I can teach our children as well as my parents did. There were things they could have done better, but I feel I have been so much better prepared for the challenges of life than many around me. They may not have been perfect parents, but they have been very good ones. I am so thankful Heavenly Father blessed me with them.

New Calling!

I'm so excited! They called a new Relief Society Presidency in our ward, so I'm no longer the education counselor. I am now the Primary pianist!

I am REALLY going to miss the sisters in Relief Society, or at least my regular interaction with them. I have learned and grown so much in the last two and a half years. I love the sisters in our ward so much, and I've loved being a support for them, a tool in their learning. We have such wonderful sisters in our ward, and I've worked hard to help them know that God loves them. Watching their testimonies develop and grow has been a blessing.

But now I am back with the kids! I really wanted to be the pianist again, but I didn't dare hope I would be called here, now! The primary music is so wonderful, and teaches the principles of Christ's gospel in such a special way. I'll be working with some pretty special sisters, still, but with less demanding responsibilities. I get to help teach the children!

I have been dancing and grinning most of the day. I have never been so excited about a calling. I think it's the Lord's way of telling me the time for this change is right. I am thankful for the opportunity I have to serve in the Lord's church. No, I am thankful for the BLESSING I have to serve in the Lord's church. How else could I show Him how thankful I am for all he has done for me?

Beautiful Day

The weather here has been unusually cold for this time of year. Very cloudy, windy, and cold. It's been wet, too. But today was beautiful! About seventy degrees, the sun was bright and warm. I'm sure grateful for the rain we've had, maybe Heavenly Father knows we need some small respite from the drought we've been in.

But I'm grateful to feel the warm sun and see the light. It makes me think of God's Son (the other spelling). He lights my world and warms my soul just as the sun does for my temporal world. Christ gives me hope that I can become a better person, that others can become better. And I have hope and faith that life will get better, no matter how dark and cold it may seem now, it won't last.

The sun won't stick around forever, it has set as I write this, and it will rain again one day, but the Son is always there. That makes this a truly blessed, beautiful day.

Finally starting my blog

I am starting this blog because I need an extra place to be grateful. My Heavenly Father has given me so many blessings from wonderful parents, an awesome companion, and sweet children to my testimony of His goodness in the sacrifice of His son. I have much to thank Him for. There are many people I am not only grateful for, but grateful to. I never say, "Thank you!" as much as I should.
Some days I need a reminder of the Beautiful Blessings God has given me, just to pick me up and remind me to say thanks.

I also hope this might help others to appreciate what they have so they may also Be Grateful. No matter how hard life gets, it's always easier when I count my blessings and acknowledge the givers.