Be of Good Cheer!

I was reading the July Ensign tonight when I became engaged in an article titled, "Be Of Good Cheer" I needed to read it! Have you ever read an article or heard a talk when you feel like the speaker or author is speaking directly to you? Kind of like ... Dear Jana, Love Camille as it pertains to this article.

John 16:33  "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."

We all have tribulation. I am so grateful for the atonement and for Christ's promise to me that I can be of good cheer for He has overcome the world. I am constantly working on my need to be in control and let go and let God take over. I have blogged about it more than once. I can only trust God in my current tribulation. And, ya know, I have been much more at peace lately ... even knowing that I am no better off today, than I was on Oct. 8, 2010... when I lost my job.  The Lord has been with me constantly and has blessed me in so many ways. I am humbly grateful for His abundant love for me, even though I bask in unworthiness. He is constantly giving me tender mercy's every day.  As I learn more each day to submit myself to His will and His time with much patience, exercising faith and trust continually.

 Mosiah 24:14 "...yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord."


Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me”

D&C 24:8 “Be patient in afflictions, for thou shalt have many; but endure them, for, lo, I am with thee, even unto the end of thy days”
 
In the days of frustration and despair,  I try to remain focused on these promises. I know the Lord is in charge and will continue to bless me according to His will and my needs. I know He sees the bigger picture and only wants what is best for me. Patience has never been my strong suit, but I'm working on it! and I try to keep a sense of humor. I was promised in my patriarchal blessing that the Lord would make easy my burdens as I call upon Him and place my trust in Him.
I am so grateful that I know I can call upon Him. I know He is there and so willing to see me through all of life's bumps and lumps! 
I wrote a poem I want to share:
 
TRUST
         by Janalea Jeppson
I bring to Him my broken heart...
He gives me everything.
He loves me through the pains of life,
in faith my soul does sing! 
 
He reaches out to hold my hand
as I stumble through my trials.
He fills my soul with hope and strength.
along life's every mile.
 
I know He'll see me through it all.
He listens when I pray.
And as I place my trust in Him
He'll help me through each day.
 

The Lifting Principle

Whittier best described life and our dependence on each other when he wrote:

"Thee lift me, and I’ll lift thee

And we’ll both ascend together."

What is the lifting principle?
           "First you lift your soul to Christ, and as you do this, He will lift you and then you are in a position to help and lift others."
The greatest thing about thing about the principle, is that the more one happens the more the others fall into place and happen again and again.
I have had a thought provoking week. A great deal of thought and contemplation burrowing through my soul. There is so much around me that lends to worry and concern but standing back and looking from a different perspective, I can see God's hand in my life and those I love. The concerns I have are being addressed in God's time, trusting Him unconditionally in the meantime is imperative.
*Life's to short to whine so much, so I'm trying not to ... LOL!
* It's important to laugh too much
* It's important to take too many photos
*It's important to love the people who treat you right and forget about the rest.
* It's important to Live life to the fullest
* It's important to not regret anything because anything that made you smile.. is a good thing and anything that was a mistake helped you grow
*Never frown because you never know who is falling in love with your smile"
*It's important to realize to the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world.

*When you fall get straight back up.

*When you feel like giving up, remember why you held on for so long in the first place."

 

Walking in faith or fear?

I've been thinking a lot about faith lately, and how it is being challenged in my life. I find myself standing on the threshold of what seems a very dark and unknown abyss. (I know, that sounds so "drama queen"). It's scary... I keep thinking, "what happens if..." you name it the dot dot dot could be anything and I have worried about it. I know that I have blogged about this before, I still need to learn it.

Matthew 11:28 says

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

I know that God will give me rest, so why do I have such a hard time submitting myself to Him? That question is crashing around in my head all the time lately. I have been blessed with the gift of faith. I read those very words in my Patriarchal blessing. I continually strive to follow obediently with that unfeigned faith. And seriously, I've never had a hard time with it. But, I stand here now, facing this trial that was thrust upon me ... money is dwindling and fear keeps creeping into the corners of my mind. I am constantly feeling "less than" and staying on top of a positive attitude has been  quite a challenge at best. I don't know what to do? I pray constantly for inspiration and direction but instead I get a person with a position of deep trust in my life, basically telling me that I am indeed less. And then I am afraid of what is to become of me. things are not working out! In my head I know of a surety that God is the one in charge. But I have misinterpreted answers to prayers enough lately to know that I don't get it. What was easy before seems incredibly hard right now. And as I study the scriptures I find that fear is faith in reverse. Fear is a negative belief in something. Belief is the very foundation of faith. I need the Lord to help me in my unbelief. I know that faith is just a whisper that moves slowly like a breeze through my soul. I have felt its strength in my life and all I can do now is pray for my Father to help me trust so that I can walk in faith without fear.

Nice thoughts give me strength

Trying to keep a positive attitude at this time in my life is a challenge at best. I went out to a flat tire yesterday and need a new one. (a tire that is not flat) Where is the money supposed to come from? I am constantly being reminded that I am not enough  ... life is hard sometimes.

I am grateful that my nephew was available to come and put my spare tire on my car ... I am grateful for my Heavenly Father  .... I am grateful for the sunshine, it improves my mood :o)

I found a quote that warmed my heart this morning:

"You have the power to change lives! You do it everyday just by being yourself! Your energy attitude and smile have more of an impact than you know. In fact, where ever you go you make people feel better just by being there, an that matters!"

So I will try and keep that thought in my head and my heart when I feel like life bites!