Answers are Blessings

There are a lot of things I can do in the gospel that build my faith.

Steps that make sense and are kind of easy to fulfill.

Reading scriptures, saying prayers, going to church, etc.  

They get me where I need to be.

And then come the times when it feels like I can't move forward anymore.

I get stuck and don't know what's next or what more I can do.

That's when I have to make my prayers more sincere.

I need to really ASK the Lord and SEEK His help.

I have to admit to the Lord that I don't have all the answers.

His answers may come as instructions on what I need to do better.

Or something I need to change.

Maybe a different direction I need to take.

What I need to remember is that His answer will always be a blessing.

Even if it's hard to do.

Especially, if it's hard to do.

Be Fruitful

In the Old Testament, there are several times when the Lord tells someone,

 "...be fruitful and multiply..."

I have always just equated this phrase to having a family. 

But, in the New Testament it says,

"...the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Meekness, temperance."

Now, being fruitful to me means to seek for these things of the Spirit and spread them throughout the world.

Seek

The word I'm focusing on this year is Seek.

I want to make sure that I am seeking the Lord and His will at all times.

Lately, I've realized that God has always answered my prayers when I have been seeking something.

About 15 years ago, I realized there was a need for piano players in my ward. 

I decided I should relearn how to play.

I prayed and asked for help from the Lord.

And I practiced like crazy.

Yesterday, I played for the stake baptisms.

About 5 years ago, I really wanted to figure out how to become more involved in family history.

I prayed that the Lord would help me find a way.

And I started adding sources to my ancestors' records each morning from my phone.

This last week, there were 15 ordinances done for people I've been finding on family search.

 "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you" Matt 7:7

I know the Lord hears my prayers and will give me answers if I ask.

I know that as I seek to serve others, the Lord will help me find the way.

I know that as I work hard (knock), the Lord opens the way for me. 

Which Way Do I Want To Face?

There's a saying during Spring in the Mountain West:

"If you don't like the weather....wait 5 minutes."

This morning on my drive to work, there were some serious dark clouds.

You could see the rain falling.

But, then I parked my car and got out facing the other way.

Blue skies, puffy white clouds, a beautiful day.

Turn 180 degrees - stormy.

Turn again - blue skies.


Which way do I want to face?


The dark clouds and what may be coming or just left.

Or the beauty of the blue skies that may be coming or just left.

Ultimate Intimate

I went to girls camp for the first time more than 35 years ago.

I made some really good friends.

There were three of us that called ourselves, "Ultimate Intimates".

We weren't even in the same ward or in the same school.

We saw each other at stake activities.

I'm not sure how it happened, but we stayed close.

At least two of us did.

We grew up together going to youth conference and stake dances.

I think we even dated the same boy once. :-)


Then it was off to college.

We went to the same one, but hung out with different crowds.

We worked together in the summer.

And after that "last single summer" we went our separate ways.

Not by choice; just by life.

She got married the summer I left on a mission.

We didn't keep in touch.

But, luckily, our parents did.


One summer, about eight years ago, my kids and I lived in Virginia with my parents.

My friend was also living there with her husband and three daughters.

We went over and had dinner with them.

It was a little chaotic with my gaggle of children.

But, we laughed and visited and got reacquainted (somewhat).

Then we moved on with life again.


Last week, my friend brought her daughter to college here.

Her mom told her I lived in the area and so she reached out.

We decided to meet up for brunch.

I can't explain the feeling I had as I saw her walking towards me.

She looked exactly the same as I remember.

I had all kinds of emotions come up.

We hugged each other for a long time and had to wipe some tears.

And then went to eat, but mostly visit.

It wasn't one of those awkward visits either.

It was real.

We talked about real stuff.

It was just the two of us this time and it was perfect.


Why is it that I would feel so close to someone and share so much with this person that I haven't talked to in eight years?

There was a real comfortableness for me.

Maybe from knowing that she knew the real me from a long time ago?

I'm sure I could get more philosophical about it.

But, really, my heart is telling it's because we truly are ultimate intimates.