Answer To Prayer

The Lord will not make you bear more than he knows you can handle, but he sure will push you as close to that line as possible sometimes. Then, just when you think that you can't handle anymore of the storms, there is a break in the clouds. I had an experience this morning that really made this truth hit home for me. Unfortunately I am unable to share this experience right now, but I will as soon as it is appropriate for all parties involved.
I just want to bear my testimony, that I know that the Lord hears and answers our prayers. He is mindful of EVERY detail of our lives and circumstances. I know that he has a plan for each and every one of us, and that he will lead and guide us to where we need to be, if we listen to his promptings. I am so grateful for being a member of the Church, and having the Gospel in my life, and for being an Eternal family.
We all have storms that roll through our lives, but take comfort. If we are faithful the Lord will carry us through.

Some words I needed to hear

"All of us have problems. We face them everyday. How grateful I am that we have difficult things to wrestle with. They keep us young, if that is possible. They keep us alive. They keep us going. They keep us humble. They pull us down to our knees to ask the God of heaven for help in solving them. Be grateful for your problems, and know that somehow there will come a solution. . . . Just do the best you can, but be sure it is the very best. Then leave it in the hands of the Lord." -President Gordon B. Hinckley

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

For the Beauty

And the night shall be filled with music,
And the cares that infest the day
Shall fold their tents like the Arabs
And as silently steal away.
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (The Day Is Done)

A song made all the difference in the world to me one night. I was emotionally "on empty," exhausted, drained, irritable, unhappy, and nearing a breakdown. Then my wonderful husband came home and took the girls, and I locked myself in my room with my journal to work through my emotional mess. Before I started scribbling away, I hit play on the c.d. player next to my bed thinking it might help to listen to some soothing music. I know God is aware of me and knew exactly how to get through to me that night.

As I wrote my feelings in my journal, I suddenly stopped and turned my ear to listen to this song. It was like it reached out and slowed my hand, calmed my racing thoughts, and gently whispered in my ear the words I have sung so many times. I closed my eyes and breathed and listened and let the peace and comfort and healing balm of the Spirit wash over me. I have it on c.d., but here is a sample of the version I was listening to. And here are the words I was singing in my head with tears streaming down my face...

For the beauty of the earth,
For the beauty of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies,
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our hymn of grateful praise.

For the beauty of each hour
Of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale and tree and flower,
Sun and moon and stars of light,
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our hymn of grateful praise.

For the joy of human love,
Brother, sister, parent, child,
Friends on earth, and friends above,
For all gentle thoughts and mild,
Lord of all to thee we raise
This our hymn of grateful praise.

(Text by Folliott S. Pierpoint)

Thank you, my dear, loving, patient, kind, all-knowing Father in Heaven.

An invitation to share

"Do not be afraid to share with others your experiences as a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. We all have interesting stories that have influenced our identity. Sharing those stories is a nonthreatening way to talk to others. Telling those stories can help demystify the Church. You could help overcome misperceptions through your own sphere of influence, which ought to include the Internet." ~Elder M. Russell Ballard