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I testify: the Lord cares, He is watchfully guiding those who allow Him, and He will not leave us alone in trial.

I testify:the Lord cares, He is watchfully guiding those who allow Him, and He will not leave us alone in trial. March 28, 2010

There are a few principles and truths of which I wanted to bear witness, from personal experience. One is fasting. I have seen my family change and grow and become closer than ever before as we have fasted together, on many occasions. One experience in particular, has really solidified my testimony of this principle when the family ward that I grew up in came together with my close and extended family to fast for a long awaited miracle, after all we could do. I witness that this miracle was granted, he is going to be eight years old this October!

I also testify that God will not always take away our struggles. He may not see fit to remove the cause of some of our greatest sorrows or heartaches or pains in the moment that we beg for this very thing; but I have seen for myself and experienced through my trials and struggles the love that our Father in Heaven and our Savior Jesus Christ have for us. They are constant and can be trusted with everything we have, whether it be our worries, our joys, our desires, or whatever else we are holding onto. They love us eternally, unconditionally, and when we don't love ourselves or go astray. Why would God send His beloved Son to suffer ALL things if He did not love us as much as I say He does, and more?

They are NOT vengeful and do not delight in seeing us suffer. They love us. They know us by name; and even more than that, They know our feelings, our concerns, and They know how to BEST help us find relief and come unto them for the peace and help that we need everyday because they know from experience what we face.

The Lord cares about what worries us and what distresses us--even if it has no eternal significance, as is illustrated in the story of the first miracle that Jesus performed in His mortal experience. As found in John 2:1-11, Jesus turns the water to wine at the marriage feast, not because it had any eternal necessity but because it concerned His mother. Therefore, I know that the things that are important to me, no matter how silly or small they may seem to others, are important to the Lord. I know that this story teaches us the truth that the Lord, just as he changed water to wine, He can change us from ordinary, mortal beings to EXTRAORDINARY and CELESTIAL beings through His eternal sacrifice. I know that no trial or tribulation is impossible to face when you bind yourself to the Lord and His will for you. Trust Him, be confident in His ability to succor and carry and lead you PERFECTLY. No struggle or pain is bigger than the love of God that has been made manifest and complete through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

I know that the Atonement is real and continuous. It is not like the things we buy at the store where once you've used what is in the container it is gone. The power of the Atonement cannot be contained by the bounds of this world because it is beyond this world. If we will keep using it, the Atonement will never stop changing us and working in our lives. As long as we need it, repentance through the power of the atonement is ALWAYS available to us, it never runs out; and we will always need it as long as we live.

I know that the power of revelation is real. We can and will receive the answers and direction that we need as we sincerely seek them, just as young Joseph Smith did in the Sacred Grove and the prophets have done in the past and will always do.

I want everyone to know that I have a burning testimony of the truth of my divine parentage. We are the sons and daughters of the most high God with individual missions and purposes. What hope this has brought to me at many, many times in my life. Knowing that God has a plan, specifically for me, gives me courage and strength to be steadfast in my faith and firm in my testimony. God has individual plans for each of us to attain the greatest joy and gladness available in all the eternities. This knowledge has dispelled fear, doubt and discouragement for me in many times where darkness was moving in.

I know that we are here to have joy and to help others do the same. I know that the greatest feelings and experiences of joy are found in families that love the Lord. I have found this for myself. I know that families can be forever if we will cling to the covenants we make in the temple. Living worthy of and looking forward to the temple in all stages of life brings great joy to the life of anyone who will do so. I also know this for myself. I felt it so strongly when I was married in the temple myself. Any time of ridicule of loneliness because we live what we believe and people around us think we are foolish to do so is worth every second if we will not lose sight of the eternal importance of doing things the Lord's way and only trying to please Him with the way we live our lives.

Now I've said a lot, and written several run-on sentences to be sure but this gospel is the most important thing to me. It brings more joy and peace into my life than anything else. What more could we need in a world that holds only the opposite of lasting joy and peace. This fallen world has nothing to offer but lies, fleeting and temporary pleasure, and short sighted alternatives that will pull any stability out from under our feet.

The Lord is the only thing we can count on in this world and I know that as the world increases in evil and deceit we will have to root ourselves deeply and firmly on steady ground by having a testimony of Jesus Christ and using His Atonement continuously.

I love this gospel that has truly been restored to the earth and I thank the Lord for my best friend who helps me meet the challenges of everyday and every hour. I know that I have been blessed with specific experiences and people in my life because of the Lord's great love for me.

He recognizes our effort, He appreciates any effort to show Him our gratitude for the Atonement which bridges the gulf between where we are and where we want to be. I cannot earn the Lord's mercy or gain salvation through my own, weak works--only the Atonement of Jesus Christ can grant me these gifts, these endowments of power to overcome my natural man for me. There is too much for me to do it for myself. I do not even need to try, it has already been done for me, out of perfect love, by my Savior Jesus Christ; and I say these things, along with the many other things that are in my heart, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Samantha Jo Keele and "in the meantime"

I have a good friend named Samantha who is an incredibly gifted writier.  This is something she posed on facebook this morning and with her permission I share it with you.

"A piece of my Journal

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Today at 9:23am

"If you would not be forgotten as soon as you are dead and rotten, either do something worth writing, or write something worth reading." -Benjamin Franklin


I learned last night a reason why journal writing is important for more reasons than record keeping. For me personally, I learn things. About myself, and about life. I try to write every night, and each time I do I put my pen down feeling satisfied and grateful. Last night, however was a bit different. Last night I wrote something that kept me from sleep. I couldn't stop thinking about how true it is, and how much it helps me. In the final paragraph I learned a simple, encouraging statement: Make it through the meantime.

Whenever I write about my troubles with boys, school, family, friends et cetera, I always seem to end up saying, "I know everything will work out, it's just waiting in the meantime" or, "Things will get better, so in the meantime I just have to suck it up and quit being a big baby." It's funny how this "meantime" always seems to get the best of us, doesn't it? It's almost as if the "meantime" is a big bulk of the trial of our faith. Pray, trust God, be patient, have faith, endure, make it through the meantime, and then come the blessings. It seems like the "meantime" is inevitable, isn't it? I've learned so much during my hours, days and even months of being suspended in what seems to be this dark abyss of meantime. God isn't just going to give you the things you need, sometimes he makes you work for it. Sometimes you have to walk through the shadows before stepping into the sunlight. But with faith, endurance, patience and maybe sometimes a little bit of tears, we can make it through the meantime and the reward will be ours. A good friend reminded me the other day that God never closes one door without opening another. Weak things become strong in God. How can we expect to go through a refiners fire without feeling a little heat? So while you're swimming through the meantime, keep your chin up and your eyes bright, remembering that all things *ALL THINGS* are for our good. Just Make it Through the Meantime!!


Sincerely, 
Samantha Jo Keele"

I hope you liked it half as much as I did!

Faith, not fear

Everyone has their crazy days... I've had my fair share for sure.  Yesterday was one of them for sure.  It involved waking up to a head ache, 4 toddlers crying almost non-stop for 4 hours, being embarrassingly late for choir because I was cleaning the bathroom for my apartment cleaning check, then failing that cleaning check anyway (which was a little ridiculous because i scrubbed every inch of that place!), burning my dinner, then burning my lemon bars, and trying to do laundry but using my last quarter on a broken dryer.

Now, my day could stop there with all the crazy, not planned for things that "threw off my groove" but if there's one thing I've learned from a life of ups and downs and in-betweens and mean-times, I've learned that I cannot afford to stop there.  Life has so much more to offer than head aches and crying toddlers.  There is the laughter of children and bright, fresh mornings that belong to clean-slate days!  Everyday is a new beginning, a new chance to be what I wasn't yesterday.  You see, the major problem with yesterday was that I focused on the problems.  

So many great things happened but I had a hard time seeing all the wonderful things in my life.  On my way to class, super late, I ran into my boy friend (and best friend) Trent.  I got a hug that I needed SO much.  When I used my last quarter in the broken dryer, Trent ran to my side with a pocket full of quarters and the worlds BEST hugs and smile!!! NO EXAGGERATION!!  And I was so upset about my "bad day" that I didn't realize how many tender mercies and blessings I'd been given that day.  

Trent was my TENDER MERCY! I had $2.50 in quarters to do my laundry!  I have plenty to eat!!  I have a job!!  I'm in the world's best choir!! I have a knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ and His atonement for me and everyone to inhabit the earth!!!  I not only know these things but I believe them!!! I know that God loves us and watches over us.  He didn't leave me alone with screaming and crying toddlers or a burnt dinner. He cares and I hope that this note helps you today to see how much you really have.

Remember to smile, remember who gives you a life that is always worth smiling about if you look hard enough :)

Lynz

The Daily Smile

Saturday March 7, 2009

So, Thursday was the day that really was almost the day from heck!  Serious!  First off, I was in pain from some stomach-ish cramps; to add to the joy of the day, I was behind in school (STRESSFUL), I needed someone to cover my shift at work for a concert I was in Friday but just couldn't get a hold of someone this whole week, then I had to work all night and practice after that til ten when i was already exhausted! 

So I start my day with left over stress from the day before from some issues in an organization that I'm on the counsel for.  These problems only got worse the next day (Thursday). I made it through my only class (choir at the LDS Institute) okay, though.  

I headed to work a little tightly wound and still in pain.  I work at a day care with toddlers and two of my most rambunctious kids didn't take naps at all so if any of the other kids even looked at them wrong they'd scream or hit or cry or BITE (it's a little comical now but then it just exhausted me)! In my room, their is a mirror mounted on the wall by a screw through each corner so the sharp edges are exposed.  One of my already exhausted kids was running around while I was trying to get some diaper changing stuff together and she ran into the edge of the mirror slicing her nose and bottom lip open!  This made her somewhat hysterical!  I took her to the office and got her a popsicle which was a blessing to get her to stop crying!  she ended up being just fine and it wasn't even deep at all (such a relief). We get back in the class and I get all the kids to sit down so we can color with crayons.  They're all seated and I'm getting the crayons from a cupboard and they spill from the box, no big deal.  On my way back up from the floor I SMACKED my nose on the corner of the open cupboard, sending tears of pain down my cheek!  Now, the toddlers are anxiously awaiting the crayons and I'm crying in pain and it's so noisy in the room.  We did finally color and they calmed down but my nose swelled up.  

Then, about halfway through my shift we're supposed to "offer the kids water" because of a program that gives the toddlers a grant if we follow a very specific routine outlined by them.  So, here I am trying to dot every 'i' and cross every 't' in my job and my boss walks in and I'm thinking: Good timing, she'll see that I'm being really thorough in my job and I really care about doing a good job.  She starts talking to me and somehow I spilled all the milk I was trying to poor down the drain from the kids' sippy cups all over me and the carpet by the sink (which isn't that smart to have carpet around a sink)!!  My boss then called me a stooge (that made my day--sarcastically speaking).  I wanted to jump out of my skin right at that moment and fly away for an extended vacation.

I'll spare you all the details of the rest of my shift... you get the point, it was tough.  I got home with about 45 minutes til our choir rehearsal, dreading it.  I just wanted to curl up in a ball and sleep or run away somewhere awesome, anywhere but here at the moment would work.  I was also noticing how angry and frustrated I was; I knew I needed to change that so I ate my frosted flakes and grabbed my guitar.  

When I arrived at practice, I was welcomed by the open arms of people who are pretty much my family now!!  I sat down and immediately a few of the girls could tell something was bothering me.  I got to unload, what a blessing (that's pretty hard to do with 18 month olds, lol)!!  I was still a little down but the more I sang, the more I was healed from the "slings and arrows of outrageous fortune" (from Shakespeare's Hamlet).  

I've found this works all the time!  Repeatedly singing songs that tell the truth [whether it be about who you are (like: you are worth more than the stars) or about the nature of our merciful God (example: He loves you endlessly, He is perfectly merciful and full of hope, the list could and would go on forever...)] have more power to heal your heart than someone bringing you chocolates or making you dinner.  

One of the best parts of Thursday was when we were practicing a Hymn called Sweet Hour of Prayer :

Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer!
That calls me from a world of care
And bids me at my Father's throne
Make all my wants and wishes known.
In seasons of distress and grief,
My soul has often found relief
And oft escaped the tempter's snare
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!
And oft escaped the tempter's snare
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!

Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer!
Thy wings shall my petition bear
To him whose truth and faithfulness
Engage the waiting soul to bless.
And since he bids me seek his face,
Believe his word, and trust his grace,
I'll cast on him my ev'ry care
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!
I'll cast on him my ev'ry care
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!

The day finally came to a turn around.  The words struck my heart with such power. My director kept saying that we needed to connect to the song and sing about our personal sweet hours of prayer.  I thought of all the times the Lord has answered my pleadings with peace and how praying brings me from my current chaos to a place of peace that helps everything make sense.  

All day I'd been praying for peace, even if I had to go through crazy times and I finally found it in song and through prayer.  The rest of the details are unimportant.  My day ended on a beautiful note ;).  Someone called me after singing Sweet Hour of Prayer and said they'd work my whole shift--talk about a sweet hour of prayer!!  I got to finally see my best friend, who just so happens to be my boyfriend too.   My nose still had a big ol' mark on it but I knew my prayers were heard and that the Lord wants my [and us] to "make all my wants and wishes known."  The Lord cares about you needing work off, the Lord wants to hear about your rough days and your good days because he wants to see if you are grateful for both--to simply be alive!  He loves you is ever watching over you!  

Hope that gave you a smile :)  Congratulations for making it through this novel of a tale!! ;)

Lynz