from outdoor-photos.com
An Amazing Journey
March 8-11, 2012, changed my life!
We all know walking through the deepest of forests is a scary thing.
- The trees are so thick.
- Everything looks the same.
- Though it may be a hot and sunny ‘high noon’ – in the forest, it is cold and dark.
Yet you go in.
The darkness is oppressive – creeping in on you further and further until you can almost breathe it. Uncertainty creeps along your limbs. You start to wonder if you are going the right direction. A minute seed of fear sprouts in the pit of your stomach. You stumble along a little further. You begin to wonder if you even know where you are suppose to be going.
You find a path. It becomes easier. You can keep the fear at bay if you just keep plodding along the path. You don’t know where the path is going, but it must be somewhere important or there wouldn’t be a path. So you keep going and going and going and …
“I think I’ve seen that tree before.” … and going and … going and …
“That rock looks really familiar…” and … going …
Then a bright, brilliant ray of sunshine peeks through the canopy – and you see that you are going in circles. Not only that, but that others have trod the path bare – packed with days, maybe even years of the same. You crumple to the ground, despair engulfing every ounce of your being. “But I thought I was going the right way – I thought I was doing the right thing.”
What is to be done? “Please, please, if I could just get some help … please show me the way.”
Suddenly, the wind rustles through the branches overhead. Sunshine streams down through the foliage, and you spy a brake in the trees. You jump up and move to the light. Just as you reach it another beam shines forth a little further on. With each step towards the light, another appears. You move forward, ever more impressed and ever more grateful.
Along the way, you see wonderful things. You are lead to hurtles that intimidate, but keeping your eye on the light – they aren’t as bad as you thought. You experience things that you would never have tried when you were on the other path. And when you finally – finally! – emerge from the woods, you never dreamed such a destination was possible. You never dreamed that such wonderful things could have happened to you. And you never imagined that you could become the person that emerges – way back when you found the Sunshine Along the Way.
This is the journey that I am on now. I invite you to come along with me. I promise you will never be the same….
from kaufmantoldmesettheworldonfire.wordpress.com/2010/07/18/sun-sun/
The Beginning
You know when an idea comes in to your head – over and over and over again. Eventually you give in and follow the prompting. That is how I wound up at the Story @ Home conference in Salt Lake City on March 8-11th. The conference was only on the 9th and 10th, but I ‘somehow’ managed to hitch a ride with a friend who just happened to be on the Board for the conference. The conference was truly wonderful. But it was the ride home which (most assuredly!) has changed my life – forever!
It was on this return trip that my friend (and now – mentor) completed the objective of the conference, which was to show how stories can inspire people. How did she do this? Of course ~ with a story …
There once was a man whose family had found themselves in tremendous debt. The strain of this burden was becoming unbearable. It was at this time that this man was asked if he would pack up and go on a two-year humanitarian mission. The man was asked if he would accept this call to serve. He said yes. Then the man was asked if there was anything in his family finances that would prevent him from fulfilling this assignment. The man said … no.
Shortly after leaving this meeting, the man just happened to run into a very trusted religious leader for his church. The leader happily shook the man’s hand and asked if he had accepted the mission. The man smiled and said, “Yes, I did.” Without missing a beat, the leader then asked if he had lied about his family finances. The man answered, not as happily smiling, “Yes, I did.”
The two men talked for a while, and before splitting ways the man was promised that if he were to pray fervently each day to know what the Lord would have him do that day to help his family remove this financial burden – he would receive help.
With nothing but the leader’s word and a great deal of faith, the man did as he was instructed. Within six months, the man was able to repay his debtors and fulfill the mission call.
My friend then backed this up by stating that she had recently shared this story with her daughter. Her daughter had reached a stand-still with her life. In despair of going stagnate, she accepted the challenge, and began to pray. She had added to this charge the commitment to write down each daily instructions where she could see them (her bathroom mirror). Not only did she immediately begin getting results ~ answers & divine direction ~ but she began to see how the seemingly random “dots” slowly began connecting.
For me – at this time – this was a compelling invitation. One with answers. One with meaning. One with power. Power to change my life … and it has!
from the-fitness-motivator.com
Plotting a Course on a Map You Can’t See
Have you ever heard the saying, “If you want to hear God laugh, tell Him your plans?”
I used to chuckle at that and see the truth in it, but I have since changed my mind. Through this journey experience, I have found that God is very eager to help us succeed in whatever we desire that is good. He loves to hear about our dreams, our aspirations and our goals as any loving father would. He wants to help us make those dreams a reality.
The problem comes – in us!
We are bound and determined to plot our own course.
The fallacy comes from the fact that we cannot see the map. So essentially you may be very able to plot a brilliant course from New York to Malibu Beach, and no one would doubt your wonderfully thought-out plan. Until you realize that you are plotting it out on a map of – Asia. No matter how you try to tweak your route on that map of Asia, you will never, ever get to Malibu Beach!
That is why this concept of seeking Divine direction is such a key component to our ultimate success and happiness. If we ask to see the map or at least a part of it, we not only get a better idea of where we are headed, but we can ensure heavenly help along the way.
Don’t get me wrong. I have been out there ‘fighting the system’ before. This realization is a new thing for me. I have cried myself to sleep before – stubbornly insisting that ~
- “It isn’t fair!”
- “If I have agency, why do I always have to it all His way?”
- “Why can’t I do things that I want, my way?”
- “Why does my will and my dreams not matter?”
In actuality, it wasn’t my dreams, but my will that was the problem. Once I aligned my will with that of my Lord’s, I have been liberated. I feel supported. I feel guided. And I feel I can make anything possible – for, truly, anything is possible with the Lord. All my dreams will come true in due time.
I don’t know what the whole map holds for me, but I have seen enough of it to know that where it leads is exactly where I want to go.
There was a quote I heard a while back, and I really did try to find the reference, but to no avail. But it goes like this ~ “Your Heavenly Father is anxiously waiting to answer your prayers and fulfill your dreams – but He can’t … if you don’t pray, and if you don’t dream.”
So what are your dreams?
I urge you to see how He wants to make your dreams come true!
from livinglifewithraandfms.wordpress.com/2009/01/14/who-is-super-mom/
Why Should I?
Have you ever felt frustrated with your life? Felt tired of the same-old, same-old day in and day out? Ever wonder if you have a purpose – or whether your life really has meaning?
I sure did! My life was full of serving a family of ten — 24/7.
- Cleaning house
- Teaching school to my kids
- Making meals & buying groceries by the truckloads
- Helping each member feel important
- Serving in church callings
- Supporting my husband
- Handling catastrophes
- Running errands
- Mending broken things, bodies, and hearts
All this while trying to scratch out minute bits of time for myself – but to do what?!
Since I have been praying DAILY for what He wants of me Each Day, I am:
- More able to hear and heed His promptings
- Finding more JOY in everything I do
- Able to manage my time better & pockets of time have opened up everywhere for the things that are really important
- Able to handle more stresses much more calmly
- Resolving pains and problems from past relationships so I am mentally and emotionally free
- Giving my husband and children the better time, love, and support that they need
- Developing my strengths and talents on a regular basis
- Feeling So Very Loved!
The Lord loves me AND YOU. He is anxiously waiting to help us – we just have to ask.
The Lord has a plan for us to receive our Optimal state of Happiness, but He won’t force us. We have to Choose to come to Him.
If we willingly go to Him and commit continually to follow His will for us, He will provide all that we need to obey. He will provide mentors and support for our life, as well as the tools, the teachings and the means whereby we may accomplish all that He asks.
And there will be JOY!
Sunshine along the Way 