Yes, ‘Miracles Happen’! Many prayers have gone out in my behalf, and many prayers have been answered! I am humbled by the love that has been shown by each of you and by my Heavenly Father. Thank You! I am free from the Lymphoma Cancer that was responsible for this difficult and amazing Journey to Wholeness!! Without it I would not be the benefactor of many miracles and learning experiences.
I am discovering that I am a fighter. Fighting can be a good thing....many battles are won because of those who are strong and brave and will fight for the good causes in this world. I am so grateful for all who have fought for my heritage, my freedoms and my religion. My life if better because of their dedication, diligence and determination to stand for something good. Sadly, my battles are more selfish than that. I know what I want out of this life. Because of those wants and goals, I have created, what could be referred to as selfish desires and expectations. The excitement of getting a ‘cancer free’ prognosis, was quickly diminished with the oncoming words and phrases; “I’ve never seen this in all my years of practice”, “it’s very rare”, “could be another kind of cancer” and “we’ll do a biopsy....” etc. All I could think of was what I had just gone through and the possibility of having to experience it again....immediately my fight began. The battle is in my mind against the trials of mortal life, physical pain and mental, anguish, frustration, weakness, the loss of life and freedom to do what I desired with my life. All that I had learned and experienced in the last few months was gone in that moment.....a moment is all it took to wipe away all my happiness, my hope for a better future, the joy that had I just experienced of overcoming a huge adversity! It all disappeared and I was left empty....in the dark. Think of a time when you were in a room, totally involved in a project, and somehow the lights were switched off. You were startled for a moment, not knowing what happened. Immediately heaviness and darkness began to press down on you, fear takes hold of your heart and you began to panic (...that’s what I do because I hate the dark!). Then..... just as quickly, the light returns! Remember how it was such a relief? The weight is lifted, fear disappears and you feel happy and free to return to your project. I love the contrast between light and dark that is depicted in this little analogy. In such a short amount of time, there is a huge variance in our emotions and feelings. The burden of darkness is contrasted with the relief, hope and joy that comes when the light returns into our lives. This analogy can help us understand the gift or principle of opposition. I have gone through my life trying to avoid opposition. Trying to shield my family from any opposition or adversity, trying to protect them and keep them safe. But, recently I have learned that opposition isn’t something to despise or turn my back on....but, a gift, something to invite into our lives because of the great purpose it has in our mortal experiences. Opposition in all things, gives us the opportunities needed to make our own choices, it is the only way we can prove ourselves and be successful in growing and learning all that is needed to progress toward perfection, to realize our divine destiny as heirs of eternal life. “It must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so,....righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good or bad.” 2 Nephi 2:11 Also remember......the stars can’t shine without the darkness! Before I go further....a word in my defense and everyone else’s defense (...because I sure I’m not the only one that has to engage in a ‘fight’ when challenges come), we are not expected to embrace or invite opposition “in the moment” something hits us in the face. I’m so grateful that we have a grace period where we can come to terms with what has been given us. But, it helps to have an understanding of this gift, so that when challenges do come we can, as soon as possible, turn to the knowledge that we have, so that we can see opposition in a new light, as a blessing in disguise.....if we choose. I remembered the words that Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, shared with us in his October 2008 Conference Address. He said,”.....whenever my steps led through seasons of sadness and sorrow, my mother’s words often came back to me: “Come what may, and love it.” Many times I have recalled these words and have tried to hold on and endure through the trials and adversity that came. It also helps to remember that we are not the only ones that have suffered greatly. Remember the awe inspiring words of the Savior to the Prophet Joseph Smith when he suffered with his companions in the smothering darkness of Liberty Jail: “My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.” D&C 121:7–8. Another time of persecution and adversity is recorded in the Book of Mormon. The people of God were “suffering all manner of afflictions”, and the Lord commanded them to “pray without ceasing” and to “give thanks in all things”. Mosiah 26:38-39 With these eternal perspectives in mind, we can take comfort in knowing that everyone, has to suffer all manner of afflictions. If we will remember God and turn to Him with grateful hearts, we can be strengthened to rise above and overcome our opposition. Sometimes the very moments that seem to quickly send us into the darkness, are the very experiences that will ultimately allow us to rise above and become exalted. Without opposition, there would be no test, no failure and no success in life. There would be no growth to attain the purpose our Father in Heaven, desired for us. Ponder this: If we don’t experienced the dark, with a grateful heart, we won’t experience the joy and happiness that we are seeking. Because of lessons I’ve learned, it didn’t take me long, to remember what I already knew......God, my Heavenly Father and the Creator of my life, had a plan and a purpose for me, I am His daughter, He loves me and has my best interests in mind so I can succeed in this life and therefore, become exalted. Because I have used my agency to embrace that purpose, His love and His plan for me, I was able to find my faith, give thanks for all things, and trust Him to give me the challenges and struggles that He feels will help me grow and become as He is. So my life takes a different path than what I was expecting, but with these words and my testimony of Jesus Christ and my Heavenly Father, I know that whatever comes, I can trust in His plan and purpose for my life. Because I have known despair, I value hope Because I have tasted frustration I value fulfillment Because I have been lonely I value love - Leonard Nimoy ARTWORK - Titled: The Big Game We all know there is no winning without the opposition. This painting depicts the joy that comes in facing our challenges. We experience joy in overcoming the opposition, whether it’s The Big Game or whether it’s one of life’s big tests. Without opposition, there would be no test, no failure and no success in life. There would be no growth to attain the prize or the purpose our Father in Heaven, desires for us. “We must be unafraid of what is difficult. For all living things in nature must unfold in their particular way and become themselves at any cost and despite all opposition.” - Unknown
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Since going through the life changing experience of cancer and all that comes with that, I feel like I learned much about life, the value of life, and some secrets that have made my life so much more than I ever knew was possible.
This week, I have found myself thinking back through the years.....busy years, comfortable years, and yes, hard years. Raising our family and working hard to create the life we wanted.....but, seemingly we never got ahead. I loved being a wife and mother, and Jim always had a job that he enjoyed, but we have always struggled. Finances were always minimum. We needed more for the Christmas that was coming up, school clothes, fees and lunches, then college tuition and weddings. The house always beckoned to be finished, we were living on cement floors and the walls were still at the sheet rock stage. Vacations happened rarely, because we lacked the finances or felt like we couldn’t take the time. Challenges and trials came and went and we endured while trying to stay afloat. Happiness came when the circumstances changed and the challenge could be put behind us....but nothing changed! Now, I see that we endured and endured and endured. We never learned how to use or apply gospel principles, truths or processes that could put us in a better place ...a place of true happiness and joy. “Men are that they might have joy”. (2 Nephi 2:25) Now, years later we have finally discovered many truths and principles that bring the joy we were searching for. Finally we have found a better way. We have found that not all storms come to disrupt your life.......interestingly some come to clear your path! Who knew that experiencing months of chemo therapy would bring me to a place of learning....a place of joy? A place of miracles and hope? A new perspective....a new direction, a change! Life’s challenges are part of our purpose here on this earth. Life isn’t meant to be easy all the time. When we are in the throws of a bad storm, it is hard to see that a clearing will come. Our storms could get very uncomfortable, even dangerous. But a new perspective can show us that it may also be the one thing necessary to create a new, enriched journey, for us..... and even our family. You don’t need a new day or a new year to embrace a challenge, you only need a new perspective. It is when we master a new way to think that we can master a new way to be. Maybe it won’t work out, but maybe seeing if it does will be the best adventure ever! I entered my challenge concerned with what I was going to have to give up. Now I know that a better focus, or perspective, is to look for what I was about to gain instead of what I might be giving up. “When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” Our lives are always going to change. Might as well make it amazing! Five months ago I began this blog with the purpose of journaling my journey to health and wholeness. It has been a hard but amazing journey and I find a lot of joy in the fact that I have reached my destination....I am healed and I have discovered a wholeness that I never expected! Each step of this journey has brought me closer to my Savior. I have learned and I have grown. But, as always, when one journey comes to an end, a new journey begins. We are about to embark into a change in focus, with new experiences and new levels of understanding. So get ready, a new adventure awaits! My intent for this new journey is to help anyone that is struggling in this life, as I have been, to learn the ‘divine truths’ that help us create our own joy. My prayer is that we can rise above our challenges and find more joy as we master a new way to think, see new perspectives and create amazing adventures in our new way to live.....a whole new world! Love to all, Jeannie ARTWORK: Titled - A New Perspective I love this painting! Children are the best examples of looking at the world from a different angle.....a new perspective. If only we could be more like them. I entered my challenge concerned with what I was going to have to give up. Now I know that a better focus, or perspective, is to look for what I was about to gain instead of what I might be giving up. “When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” Our lives are always going to change. Might as well make it amazing! I was beginning to feel that the inspiration wasn’t going to come, I waited, I prayed and felt silence. Is this how my journey would end?
The lessons I’ve learned are so priceless, I have learned about trials and challenges and why they are so important. I have learned about love, God’s love and your love.....for me. I have applied faith and forgiveness, and then I learned to ‘soar’! This cancer battle has raged as before, but this time I felt at peace. Fear and stress were gone. I was soaring! Days passed and I continued to soar but I was weak and wearing down. I knew the inspiration for my writings came while I was physically weakened. I watched for it, and I waited.....where was it? And how long must I soar? In the dark of night I pondered, I looked for the light. Then I heard the question...my question, “Do I have the faith to ask for a miracle?” Wait!!! What made me think I could ask for a miracle? What have I learned about that? Where was this coming from? My scripture reading a couple months ago, was about the Jaredites. It’s always been one of my favorite Book of Mormon stories. They wandered in the wilderness, being directed by the hand of the Lord. Then the Lord knew it was time for them to come forth unto the land of promise. I love that He always has something better in store for us when we obey Him. After repenting of the evil he had done, the brother of Jared prayed to the Lord and was told to go to work and build a barge. After, what I assume, many discussions with the Lord, the problems were solved and the barges were built. Then, one last thing.....the one thing that the brother of Jared couldn’t do for himself or his family. He needed light for the barges. Going again to the Lord for answers, they counseled and the Lord finally asked him, “What will ye that I should do that ye may have light in your vessels?” Here is the ah-ha moment. After reading this story for many years, my eyes were opened to this passage and I learned that the Lord, in His love, is very interested in providing the miracles that we are in need of. He just needs us to ask him. He needs us to share with Him the needs and longings that are in our heart. The brother of Jared knew what he needed to do....he prepared the stones, then he very humbly asked,”...O Lord, thou hast given us a commandment that we must call upon thee, that from thee we may receive according to our desires....therefore touch these stones, O Lord with thy finger, and prepare them that they may shine forth in darkness; and they shall shine forth unto us...that we may have light while we shall cross the sea....” I love his pleadings and all that transpired. Because of his faith, the brother of Jared received what he desired, the miracle he needed, plus so much more! Ether chapter 3 Seems like there is always something that we can’t possibly do for ourselves.....but, God can. When we’ve done everything we could possibly do, and our faith is bigger than our fear, then it’s time to ask God to do the impossible.....even the unthinkable. I felt that my journey to my promised land of wholeness was in need of ‘light’. A final step that would get me to where I desired to go. I needed healing and I longed for wholeness. Anxiety, about my medical test, that would say if I was cancer free.....or not, was becoming a loud, obnoxious voice. I had been so upbeat about it, then several conversations and observations of others, indicated to me that the possibility is there, that I could need more treatments. Fear and dread have hovered over me since then. I’m exhausted and I can’t begin to think of doing more treatments. I try to embrace my struggling and I search for peace. My soul is tired and I wonder how I can do more. Then, my thought....to ask the Lord for a miracle. Do I have the right? Am I worthy enough for a miracle in my behalf? Why do we doubt? Why do we hesitate? Why is it hard to ask? Where there is faith, miracles happen! Faith..... The Lord needs me to have more faith....to believe in Him! Funny how we are so close to the answers we are seeking and can’t see them. Like the brother of Jared, the Lord had been preparing me for this moment. The Lord was giving me the ‘light’ I needed to compete my journey and my writings one tiny inspiration at a time. Bit my bit He has humbled me and has taught me. And now.....He is asking me, “What will ye that I should do...?” Simple words, yet so profound! A huge faith step! “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” Luke 1:37 Why do we doubt? Why do we hesitate? Why is it hard to ask? “Ask, and it shall be given you.... (Matthew 7:7) What is your challenge? What do you need the Lord to do for you? What miracle are you in need of today? Listen, He is asking! ARTWORK: Titled - Be Thou Humble This painting came about several years ago when my mother had just gone through open heart surgery. She was struggling to regain her health and feel like she would be strong again. I was concerned about her and felt like she needed a miracle in her life at that time. I had hoped that if I painted something to remind her that the Lord was there to help her heal, and that with her prayers and strengthened faith, she would get the desires of her heart. The following scripture was the inspiration I used to go with this painting when I gave it to her. “Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answers to thy prayers” (D&C 112:10). The Lord loves each one of us and wants us to know that He is there to provide whatever miracle we are in need of. Just reach out to Him, ask Him. You desire and deserve a miracle today! Who doesn’t love it when, on rare occasion, you get to see an eagle, or two, soaring above, going higher and higher, so effortlessly? It’s so breathtaking! There is a lot we can learn from Heavenly Father’s creations. I had occasion, a while ago, to search out material on eagles’ nature and their patterns. It was quite enlightening! Eagles are born with big, heavy wings. If they expend too much energy flapping their wings during flight, they could literally die. Therefore, their survival depends on learning to soar in order to conserve their energy. Because of this, when an eagle sees a storm is coming, he will fly to a high spot, and wait for the winds to arrive. When the storm hits, the eagle will move its wings, so that the wind will pick it up and lift it above the storm. Thus, while the storm rages below, the eagle soars above. The eagle does not escape the storm. It simply uses the storm to lift it higher. I feel God is giving me a very powerful analogy here. Possibly a higher law, that if I choose to understand and apply, I can embrace and face, with less difficulty, the challenges and storms that I face. When the storms of life come upon us, like the eagle, we can rise above them. We can let the winds that bring turmoil into our lives lift us higher....above the storm. There, we can get through the challenges we face, even though the challenge is still there, we can overcome the storm by using it to rise above the turmoil. Having gone through five rounds of chemo, I’m feeling the effects of it, physically and emotionally, dragging me lower and lower. I have been feeling as if I have no energy left to flap my wings, to go on. Only now, understanding the eagles’ traits to deal with adversity, I’m reminded that I have the Spirit to lift me higher, above the storm, where I can rise above the pain and weakness that threatens to destroy. Our pains and challenges might be physical, they might be emotional, even a mental illness, they might have to do with health, business or relationships, but the solution to overcoming our pain, whatever it may be, is contained in our spiritual growth and faith in our Savior. He can lift us above the storm to comfort us, ease the pain and even, when it’s time ... heal us! I feel that each step of my journey has taught me to soar, to lift higher. Each step has brought me closer to my Savior! Even though each round is getting harder and harder, I am learning to sacrifice my will for another way, as Christ did, and embrace each challenge with a stronger faith in Him to fulfill the purpose of this challenge. Each time I’m humbled by the difficulty of the challenge. Each time I am brought down to my knees, heart softened, ears opened and eyes lifted. I feel Him closer, I hear words I’ve forgotten, or never heard before, and I understand. I’m being directed to overcome by bondage, my fears, my insecurities and I’m being strengthened. I feel peace and power to go on. With my burden lightened. I can lift higher and soar above the storm! This morning I found my self wondering why I am brought down to fear, doubt and worry each time I face my storm. What am I missing? Especially when I have learned and experienced so much on this journey, my Journey to Wholeness! Then this thought came. It was very comforting as well as challenging. “If you don’t have opposition in all things, then you won’t continue to dig deeper to find the answers and won’t learn all I have for you. You will never find out exactly what I am calling you to do for me in this life.” I wonder.... do we understand how important it is to learn how to continually reach out for enlightenment? Or, do we have desires to fully accomplish everything that God needs us to accomplish for Him in this life? Just like the eagle has learned to depend on the strong winds to take them to heights that no other bird can fly to, we too, can be taken to heights that we may have never dreamed possible if we will just learn how to be led by the Spirit of the Lord on a daily basis. Isaiah 40:31 “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint.” So grateful that I have the Spirit to lift me higher, where I shall mount up with wings as eagles, and rise.... above the storms of life. ARTWORK: When the storms of life come upon us, like the eagle, we can rise above them. We can let the winds that bring turmoil into our lives lift us higher....above the storm. There, we can get through the challenges we face, even though the challenge is still there, we can overcome the storm by using it to rise above the turmoil. I love that I can look at this painting titled, “Above the Storm” and be reminded that I can have renewed strength when I choose to rely on the Spirit to help me rise above the turmoil. Deep in the Marysvale, Bullion Canyon, in Southern Utah, are the relics of a life and mining experiences that existed long ago. Discarded and placed randomly, hidden, forgotten..... but not forgotten.
As with these discarded forgotten items; are some of our ‘cast off’ experiences of the past. Tossed aside, until we....through choice or happenstance, remember them and the burden that is tied to them. Forgiveness beckons! Healing calls! Am I ready to heal? To overcome? To find peace? Is it time? God has a way of reaching out to us when it is time; through dreams, thoughts and inspirations, through conversations, books, people, movies, etc. We will remember past experiences. He nudges us. He desires to bring us to a clearing, a newness of hope, a place to cleanse all that is broken, rusty and seemingly worthless. Time to resolve, restore and overcome the old and become new, bright and beautiful. Forgiveness....for us, for them. Yes! It’s time! But wait! The past....what lies there? Am I really ready? Time....I need more time! How did the Lord know it was time? That I’m strong enough? That I want to be free of what’s heavy and broken and painful? Emotions surface. I want to run, to hide. Remembering is hard, but here I am. I see it now, the pain and hurt, that came into my heart long ago....then cast off...in the shadows, randomly discarded, hidden, forgotten..... but not forgotten! Who knew that my ‘Journey To Wholeness’ would bring me to this place? Hidden, here and there, in the shadows, several relics beckon to me, to be recognized, embraced and forgiven. To be seen through God’s light and grace, as a gift, given for learning; and growing. Will I forgive and heal? Will I ‘let it go’ and grow? In my life I have learned that forgiveness is a choice to release myself from a painful burden; to trust in God, to allow Him to take over and let the negative, that’s festering inside, go. He will help me cleanse and heal all that is broken and bring me to a place of peace! I can trust in Him, I can become healed, I can become whole! Yes! Peace from the pain, and turned judgment over to my Savior. I am letting it go and becoming new, becoming beautiful. Peace! I have longed for this peace. Now I am free! Free to move forward on my journey. My Journey to Wholeness, my pathway to a new place of peace. Getting over a painful experience is much like crossing monkey bars. You have to let go at some point in order to move forward. ~ C S Lewis ~ CHALLENGE: Probably one of the hardest things we need to do in this life is to remember our feelings of hurt and pain, that we have seemingly, become hidden or ‘cast off’, and bring them to our remembrance. Enabling us to forgive and be forgiven. Are you willing to take this step with me? Are you desiring to make peace with the pain that you have cast aside? Is it time for you to let it go? Search out those who you need to forgive or those from whom you need forgiveness. Be free! Free to move forward on your own Journey To Wholeness. ARTWORK: This piece of artwork is titled, “Abandoned” When I saw this old, abandoned water boiler I fell in love with it. It was so unique and beautiful in it’s new coat of rust, tarnish and patina. I love the old abandoned and forgotten machinery and relics, that have lost their value and effectiveness through the years and have then been cast aside and forgotten. A new beauty comes forth when, through time, the weather and elements magically transform them into something the eye can love and appreciate. Funny how our own wisdom can trip us up...We may know something, but that doesn’t mean that we can always live it. I loved the last blog I wrote about applying faith by embracing our challenges by putting it into the hands of the Lord. It was working and I was doing well! Until.... my next chemo treatment. I lost my focus. Fear stepped in and side effects became even harder to cope with. I was physically and emotionally struggling. I didn’t have the energy to figure out what was different. So many tears! I had lost the peace of mind that I had before. I needed it to return. I’m sad to admit that I gave in to the fear and became weak instead of embracing the challenge and doing what the spirit had taught me to do. I missed getting the results that were so fulfilling before. Knowing that I had let myself, my family and my Father in Heaven down, I determined that I had to change things back to be ready for the next round. I read uplifting verses and inspiring books. I opened up to the love and prayers of family and friends. I took some time to define my ‘Journey to Wholeness’ with more intent. I wanted to choose JOY! I was able to push the fear away as I began counting blessings. In order to turn things around and ‘choose joy’, I found that I also needed to understand more fully the purpose of suffering, pain, weakness and sin; that it is suppose to go on...to continue, one way or another! I know that life if full of suffering and will always require it. It’s part of our purpose. I am put here to grow through all the challenges that come my way. I needed to understand that God gave them to me with purpose and intent! They will never go away. It was then when I began to understand on a greater level that God will never leave me alone in my suffering, whatever it is. I might turn my back on Him because of my fears, but He will never leave me! He is there for me, and with me, through each trial. With greater understanding, a new vision of my intent, deeper prayers and a Priesthood Blessing, I went to my next chemo treatment with hope and courage, I was choosing joy by counting blessings and knew that with the Lords help I could do this....again. I am happy to report that as I focused on Joy and allowed myself to understand that there was purpose in this experience,...the Lord’s purpose and He was there with me and for me, It turned out so much better. I was able to feel the strength and peace that He gave me before. It was so much easier to endure the same side effects as before, just by focusing on joy and embracing the Lord and His plan for me. Even though we are suffering, we are not intended to feel doomed or lost or left to be in pain alone. He is there, waiting for us to choose joy, by acknowledging each blessing, tender mercy and gift that He so lovingly bestows. Even though our struggles can blind us to everything that we are blessed with. A choice to see our blessings and our gifts, can dim the pain and the problems so that joy, hope and peace can be ours. Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day. What is right with your world? Are you seeing the blessings before you? Have you defined your vision for your life or your journey so that you can know what your real intent is? I pray we can always trust God to bring us to our desired destination........Wholeness. Thankfully now, my tears......tears of Joy! ARTWORK: The art work I chose to go with this piece is titled, “Mended”. I painted it to depict the gift of love that is so precious and is bestowed on each us daily, no matter what our trials or pain may be. I hope it can be a reminder that even though we are suffering, we are not intended to feel doomed or lost or left to be in pain alone....find the blessings, feel the love and ‘Choose JOY!’ VISION MAPPING: For anyone that might feel the need to define your vision for your life or your journey, as I have, I have included a download of my ‘5 Step Vision Mapping’ form that you might find helpful in pursuing your vision for your life. You will find it in my 'Motivators' Section. Good luck on all your ventures! After being diagnosed with Cancer, my life changed and put me on a path that I never thought I would ever have to experience. So I began this blog to record my thoughts and inspirations about my Journey to Wholeness.
I knew that if I learned to embraced this challenge, I could, with the help of my Father in Heaven and His Son, Jesus Christ, become healed.....become whole. I want to embrace every step of this journey...My Journey to Wholeness. First of all, what does it mean to be healed or to become whole? Are we seeking a physical or a spiritual healing....or both? My search began with the scriptures. Matt. 9:20-22 “And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment; for she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. But Jesus turned Him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath make thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.” I hope you don’t mind me assuming that you are also going on this journey with me. I have found that our challenges are easier to bear when we know that we are not suffering alone, that someone else is going through a difficult time as well. Of course it will be your own path, but we can do it together; for we need each other. So may I ask.....What has brought you to this refining walk: this Journey to Wholeness? I think about Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego in their fiery furnace, they were strong faithful men who were determined to do Father’s will, no matter what the world was demanding of them. They knew their God would deliver them from the fiery furnace and out of the Kings hand. Sometimes our challenge is because of our own choices, and their consequences, that cast us into the fire, sometimes it’s brought upon us; as with these faithful men. Either way it doesn’t matter, the solution is the same. A few years ago, I learned this simple concept. “Whatever the present moment contains, accept it as if you had chosen it. Always work with it not against it. Make it your friend and ally....not your enemy...Include the Lord in your efforts and all things shall be added unto you.” Since then, I have had many opportunities to apply it. Some small and silly, and some larger and consuming. I feel that through learning to embrace whatever comes, my faith is strengthened and I am more open to father’s will. I can also see the Lord ‘s hand in orchestrating and preparing me for this challenge. Through learning this concept, we place our faith in our Fathers plan....we reach out to Him.... just like the woman with an uncurable disease, in the scripture quoted at the beginning, and allow Him to be our significant other in walking this path; this path that is hard. Like Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, we are placed in a fiery furnace to prove our willingness to allow God’s will to be done; whether the outcome is what we desired, or if it is something different, It will be for our best good and the good of those who share the experience with us. (Daniel 3) I’m sure this journey looks extremely uncomfortable, even too hard from where you are standing. My chemo treatments have side effects that seem undaunting, and you are also facing something that is bringing you to your knees, but one faithful step opens the door for miracles to happen; divine assistance can be ours and the fire will have no power over us, we will be delivered and made whole. Matt. 14:35, 36 “...and [they] brought unto him all that were diseased; and besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment; and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.” I love how our faith and trust in following the Lords will in all things, not only brings glory to God, but...we will have received our desires and MORE. Plus....those who have witnessed our miracle are also changed and brought to Holier ground. We are placed on this earth to find our brokenness and exercise our faith and trust in God the Eternal Father and His plan of redemption to bring His light into our lives through those cracks. We need Him to heal and become whole. CHALLENGE: If you, or someone you know, has experienced this first step of embracing a challenge and reaching out in faith, to healing and wholeness, please share with us in the comments section below. I feel we all grow through knowing that someone was strong in facing their challenges and brokenness. Thank You! ARTWORK: With this Blog post, I have shared my favorite watercolor piece. I painted this piece to depict my perception of a loving and caring Heavenly Father. He placed us on this earth to find our brokenness and exercise our faith and trust in Him and His plan of redemption that will bring us home to Him. He wants us to bring His light into our lives, through our brokenness....by putting our faith in Him. We need Him to heal and become whole. This morning I was contemplating my journey. From where I am now it looks so different in perspective to the journey I had envisioned in my heart and in my mind.
The steep, rocky climb, I was expecting, turned out to be a peaceful walk through hills and valleys. It definitely has it's hard terrain, but once I put a foot out to take a step, I could see light and knew I would be okay. Our success through challenges comes one step at a time. I expected that this would be a long, cold, lonely journey. But, from my first step on the path I could see that I was in a beautiful place and that I was definitely not alone. The Lord was the first one on my path. I felt His love and I'm at peace knowing He is going before me, preparing the way and bringing comfort to calm my fears. He is always there, even when I don't see Him, His light shines out and dims the darkness. The path before me is now full of light and hope. With Him I can do this! "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;" 2 Corinthians 4:17 The next person reaching out to me on my path is my husband, lifting me up the steeper sections along the way, encouraging me and giving me hope. Sad that it takes a life changing event to realize that I haven't fully appreciated him and the love he has had for me throughout these years. He too, has always been there for me through everything, and now he is here holding on to me and letting me know that will walk this path with me. He gives me hope that I will soon step out of the darkness into the sunshine. The strength I feel from him is so comforting. With him I can do this! My family has been a shining beacon for me. So much love, support, personal prayers and encouragement. I find myself lifted spiritually after having visited with each one. My dear family reaching out to me daily. What a joy to know God blessed me with the most amazing family to walk this difficult road. Their love and support cannot be measured! For because of them, I am truly loved!! They mean the world to me. With them I can do this! As with most things we do in life, so many people that I have interacted with through the years are praying for me, giving me their love and encouragements. Friends from long ago and friends that are here now, friends that I've never met. If only we knew, a fraction of the amazing people, who are out there willing to give their love and support. I have never felt so loved! With them I can do this! "Love is the most powerful force in the world." Elder Dallin H Oaks Hope is not pretending that troubles don't exist. It is hoping that they won't last forever. That hurts will be healed and difficulties overcome. That we will be led out of the darkness and into the sunshine. Heavenly Father blesses us through our difficulties. We have to experience the difficult, the trials, the challenges to find the joy, peace and happiness that we all long for. Our difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations. With Him we can do this! The interesting thing about going on this kind of journey is that you aren't sure where the road will take you. What I do know is that following the will of the Lord on this journey will take me somewhere I never even knew existed, somewhere closer to Him, the 'More' I've been searching for.
Life has been teaching me that there is a 'Gift' attached to every challenge, if we choose to seek for it. It has been so uplifting and encouraging to see so many blessings within this cancer challenge. I was surprised when I began to be thankful for the problems I was having with my eye, for without them I wouldn't have been able to know that there was a bigger problem that needed addressed. The love and support of family and dear friends have been amazing. Financial blessings are among the many things that have come to remind me that my Heavenly Father loves me and is there for me now and always. I heard a story of a faithful pioneer woman, Drusilla Hendricks, she had gone through some pretty hard times already and was now being faced with another challenge that seemed more than she could bear. Because she felt like she could not take on anymore, her heart and mind were tormented until this thought came to her, "Do you not want the highest glory? How do you think to gain it save by making the greatest sacrifices?" Seems like we spend too much time focusing on what was or could be taken away instead of seeing what is being given....the 'Gift'. For some reason this story has stuck with me and has been present with other challenges that have come. Now it is helping me to have the faith to hold on for whatever the Lord is asking of me at this time. Unless I have desires in my heart for the highest glory, and allow the spirit to guide me to that desired destination, I will only find struggle and hardship through my challenge. If my desire is to find the Savior more personally in my life, as I seek Him and His will, He can bring in the miracles that can only come when my heart is turned to Him. We all need Him because we all have struggles and pain. These challenges bring many fears and concerns with them. But, when we can hush those fears and turn to the Lord and bring Him into our lives, we are able to hold on to something that is on a much higher level that will bring us to the real blessings we seek. God has a purpose for your pain, a reason for your struggle and a gift for your faithfulness. Don't give up! He is silently beckoning us to come and discover Him so He can give us the 'Gifts' He has waiting for us. Listen to your discontent, your longing, your emptiness, it is trying to tell you that there is more that God wants to give you. Join me in seeking and searching for that 'Gift'. Hugs!! Jeannie |
AuthorHi I'm Jeannie Puzey, Archives
October 2018
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