He Will Prepare a Way

"No matter how bleak the chapter of our lives may look today, because of the life and sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we may hope and be assured that the ending of the book of our lives will exceed our grandest expectations. 'Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. ' "

Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "The Infinite Power of Hope," Ensign, Nov. 2008, 22–23

I love nearly anything I read that President Uchtdorf has written. The words all seem to flow so beautifully and yet that isn't why I love his words. The reason, I feel the truthfulness of what he writes as the Holy Ghost testify's to me of it's truthfulness. It's a blessing to have that feeling and that knowledge in my life.

I've found that if I pray before I read the scriptures, answers to my daily problems seem to unfold before my eyes. I can open up the Bible to any page for example, and find that answer to which I'm seeking. It's amazing, even miraculous when you think about it! My children have all had this happen to them in their own lives during their studies as well. I'm grateful for that knowledge. Prayer works!

I love Heavenly Father. I'm so grateful for the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. How He loves us! When I think of the ending of the book of my life, I pray I will be equal to the tasks at hand. That I will live up to the greatness that is within in me. I pray I can prepare my children for that which is to come. I feel like I've done my best--and it feels wonderful. I also know that I've repented along the way for my shortcomings. We all have them. Thanks to the atonement of Jesus Christ, we can be forgiven and start anew. I'm so thankful!

As my children are searching for jobs right now, we're praying for gainful employment for them. I know that sometimes things come in Gods time, not in ours. It has been frustrating for our oldest son as he tries to find that job after serving a two year mission for the church. We are all trying to be more patient now. God will find a way to bless him in due time. So, for now he has been keeping busy helping me around the house and in the yard and helping others with heavy work they cannot do themselves.

A good example is that Jason and his younger brother Hunter (who is also looking for work) are going to cut wood for an elderly couple this afternoon. It will help them this winter as the cost of so many things has risen. It feels good to see them giving service where it's needed.

I have found that good old fashioned work cures many ills that befall us. I wish I could remember President Hinkley's perfect words, but I can't. So I'll paraphrase. Please forgive me for doing so...When you are sad, work. When you are heartbroken, work. When you are lonely, work....and so on.

When I've been the saddest, I've given service and all that I was sad about seemed to fall away and look so small. The person I was helping came to the forefront of my mind from that moment--making my problems melt away. I think that is what "work" is meant to do. That is what President Hinkley was speaking about. Find something outside of ourselves to give of ourselves to. It's a blessing when times seems to hard. Become selfless instead of selfish. It's a wonderful sensation. It might be something new to a few of you out there. Try it out, it won't hurt. Focus on what God would want you to do. He will prepare a way for you.

I Ate Radishes on Saturday!

I ate radishes on Saturday! Yes! They were from our very own garden too! It is such a wonderful feeling to eat the first fruits of our labors each summer. I have never grown radishes before, but upon learning the food value and how quick they grew-- I had to try. I found out that the pioneers would almost always plant radishes when they settled in an area. It was the first thing to be planted and thrived in most soil.

The thought came to mind that we all need to be like those wonderful rubies of the garden and bloom and grow where we're planted. We are doing our best in our new little town. The dear friends we have made will hold a very special place in our hearts for years to come.

The garden we have this year is on a piece of property owned by an older couple who have been so generous. We have shared in the planting, weeding and now in the harvesting. It has been a wonderful experience so far. We will have more veggies than I can put in a jar or freeze very soon. Which means we can share with other families who are struggling in our area. So many are finding it hard to make ends meet. Do plant a garden this year, I know you'll be surprised just how much you can grow, even if it's in a flower pot on the back porch overlooking the highway.

A friend of mine had no yard and placed her "rubies" in hanging flower pots in the tree overhanging her balcony! I had never heard of such a thing, but it worked! She turns the pots each week to get the best sunlight. Wow, am I ever amazed!

Our family has taken stock of the skills we have to keep us afloat in these uncertain economic times. Growing our own food and processing it all is one of those skills. Baking foods from scratch has stretched our dollar so we can pay for the extremely high gas prices. It has been a blessing.

So, in the days ahead I'll be including a gardening tip I've learned by trial and error. I'll also include a recipe or two that will help you keep costs down. This week I'm trying to find the perfect recipe for yogurt. I love the stuff!

I pray you all can help your neighbor or extended family during these tough times. Pray for each other, reach out to those in need. Comfort those who's burdens seem too hard to overcome. If you listen to that still small voice, you'll know who needs you the most.

Faith Proceeds the Miracle

"The Lord gives us a spirit of hope and a feeling of comfort and confidence that we can overcome the obstacles we face. He has shown the way to gain strength during our struggles. With His assistance, we have the ability to succeed."

--L. Lionel Kendrick

I know this statement to be true in my own struggles in this life.

I'm so filled with gratitude today. I truly have gained strength through all the obstacles I've overcome in my lifetime. Though they were hard and long and I'm still going through many of them. I am comforted daily by the Lord. I have learned a great deal about my own spirit and about my strengths and weaknesses too. It's been a learning time. The past fifteen years have brought our family so close to one another that if I could go back through time--I can honestly say, I would do it all over again.

One of the byproducts of overcoming obstacles, is gaining an inner ability to sift out the important from the unimportant. The ability to decipher between wants and needs. The ability to be able to tell the good from the bad is gained. "It's all good" as my sister in law tends to say. It really is!

Did you know that a baby who is stressed during pregnancy and born unexpectedly has a higher chance of survival than an infant who has no stress and is born prematurely? The infant who is under stress develops their lungs early and is able to survive outside the womb more readily. The other does not and is usually hospitalized much longer. I learned this fact during two complicated pregnancies.

Life is the same way. With each trial and obstacle we overcome, we gain strength-- if we will allow ourselves to do so. It's with our thinking and our prayers that we can overcome even the insurmountable tribulations of life. We are never alone in our struggles. Christ, atoned for our sins, our suffering and our pain.

Jesus understood his mission. So, maybe the challenge is to try to have the same kind of faith He had during the hard times? The kind of faith that can turn questioning and anger into understanding the power, blessings and hope that can come from Him. He is the source of it all. That kind of faith brings knowledge and assurances that we can experience that is the part of the gospel plan and things that appear to be wrong in our lives will eventually be made right again.

So hold onto peace and understanding that will allow you to endure life's trails with dignity and grace. Having clarity of purpose can be such a sweet reward. Faith can help us to see the good in our lives, even when when the path seems lined with broken glass, nails and shattered dreams.

When Jesus and His disciples passed a man who was blind since his birth, His disciples asked, “Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?"

“Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him” (John 9:2–3).

I know that Heavenly Father does not cause heartbreak and tragedies to occur in our lives. "Works of God" are shown in the healing of the blind man. Those same works of God are also in the way we face our own personal trials in life.

Without the sorrow we would not appreciate the good in life. We need to remember what we have learned during the the pain and suffering. I have found peace as I've helped others through similar circumstances. I can now give hope and comfort to others relaying what I have learned. I can show gratitude for the source of my joy now. Peace is something I feel daily, though I know my trials are far from over--miracles happen every day in my life.

Recently I prayed for a way to pay my medical bills. The answer came in the form of a phone call from from a distant land. May God bless this individual for their generosity and compassion.

Another window of hope was opened wide for our family. I'm in awe of God's perfect timing. May we all listen to the promptings of the spirit so that we can do as Heavenly Father would want us to. If we can each reach out to just one of His children, I know it will bless so many lives. I know I will try my best to do so...Will you?

***

--L. Lionel Kendrick, "Strength During Struggles,", Ensign, Oct 2001, 24
John 9:2–3 KJV Bible