The Hand of God

Usually, on Saturdays, we get up and go to the Smith Fieldhouse to run/walk around the indoor track. However, it takes a lot of motivation (or just Emma slapping our face or squeezing our nose) to get out bed when we all want to stay in bed.

Last Saturday, September 24, it was raining. The temperature has finally gone down enough that we didn't need to turn on the A/C overnight and we were cozy and warm in our bed. We contemplated whether we should go running or not but decided that we should.

It was just a normal Saturday morning for us; we all got dressed and put some warmer clothes on Emma and a blanket over her in the car seat. We all hopped in the car and started to pull out of the driveway.

But something was different today. As we waited for all for the road to clear before pulling out, we noticed a woman waiting at the bus stop which was in front of a house next to ours. She was actually walking toward us. We didn't think much of it since we just thought that she was waiting for the bus. However, when we completely pulled out of the driveway and were on the road, she approached our car. I rolled down the window of the passenger seat (Alysha's side, which now I think about it, I am pretty sure Alysha got rained on due to the open window. Sorry, Alysha) and this woman started to speak with her broken English but quickly changed to Spanish. I understood enough that she needed a ride to the D.I.

We chatted a little bit on the way to the D.I. She told me that she's from Peru and that for some reason, the bus wasn't coming and she needed to be at work in 10 minutes. She was so grateful for the ride and also commented how pretty Emma is.

After giving this sister a ride, we headed to the Smith Fieldhouse to find out that there was PowWow going on and we decided that it would be impossible to run around the track so we headed home.

We were so grateful for the opportunity to serve this sister and also the Father in Heaven. I am grateful that we were able to answer her prayer and that we motivated ourselves to go work out even though we didn't get to. It didn't matter to us that we didn't work out. We were filled with gratitude and marveled at the tender mercies of the Lord.

"...when we speak of those who are instruments in the hand of God, we are reminded that not all angels are from the other side of the veil. Some of them we walk with and talk with—here, now, every day. Some of them reside in our own neighborhoods. Some of them gave birth to us, and in my case, one of them consented to marry me. Indeed heaven never seems closer than when we see the love of God manifested in the kindness and devotion of people so good and so pure that angelic is the only word that comes to mind." -Elder Jeffrey R. Holland-

I hope that we all can be instruments in the hand of God and become His ministering angels.

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The Amazing Power: Trials vs. Blessings

I have talked about this many times in the past but I decided to revisit this thought.

We have trials in our lives. That's something that we can't get away from and you will have a trial of some sort one way or another. Some trials would be very difficult to deal with; some would be easy to resolve. However, the consequences of these trials depend solely on you.

Elder Anderson said during a Conference talk, "...Fiery trials are designed to make you stronger, but they have the potential to diminish or even destroy your trust in the Son of God and to weaken your resolve to keep your promises to Him." If trials are "designed" to make us stronger, why do we feel weak and lose hope when we face trials?

I 100% believe that people have potential and power that they don't realize. I also believe that time is not linear, but holistic. This means that you have the power to change your past. Of course, that sounds absurd and impossible. Yes, it is impossible and absurd; however, you do that all the time!

For example, let's say that you missed a bus in the morning to go to work. That is terrible!! You are late to work because you missed that bus. However, you come to find out at work that there was an accident and the people on that bus were injured. You realize that you were so fortunate to have missed that bus.

Do you see what just happened? The person in that example just changed the past from a trial to a blessing. I believe that Joseph Smith would not view all the trials in his life as the worst experience ever, but as blessings, life lessons, and opportunities to grow.

That's the power that I am talking about. YOU have the power to change your past and turn it into something amazing, something beautiful!

“Your success and happiness, both now and in the eternities, depend largely on your responses to the difficulties of life.” (True to the Faith)

I am not saying that it is SO easy to make a decision to turn your trials into a blessing. It is NEVER easy! I would never go up to a person who experienced something so awful such as sexual assault or abuse to get over themselves and turn that event into a blessing. NEVER! However, what I am trying to portray is that people have the power to turn something into an opportunity to grow, to seek God, and find joy in life. As the Lord said:

"Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time, the design of your God concerning those things which shall come hereafter, and the glory which shall follow after much tribulation.
"For after much tribulation come the blessings. Wherefore the day cometh that ye shall be crowned with much glory; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand.” (Doctrine and Covenants 58:3-4)

God gives us trials so that we can grow. God has given me many trials that I needed in order for me to seek Him, trust Him, and learn of Him.

Lastly, I want to end this post with a quote by Elder Anderson:

“When faced with a trial of faith—whatever you do, you don’t step away from the Church! Distancing yourself from the kingdom of God during a trial of faith is like leaving the safety of a secure storm cellar just as the tornado comes into view.”

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Decions Determine Destiny

Dear readers,

I will probably be writing off and on from now on.

I am currently reading "To the Rescue," a biography of President Thomas S. Monson. One of the chapters is titled, "Decisions Determine Destiny." In the chapter, he says, "There are factors within you and within me even basic principles with which we have been imbued from our creation, which seem to call out and demand of us our best. Those particular years and those cravings and those bits of inspiration seem to be telling you and me, 'Seek the best in life. Look for opportunities where you can be of greatest service.'"

An excerpt from my journal:

"Every decision you make determines your destiny. You have control over your future!

"When I decided not to pursue a career in rad. tech. I made a decision that would forever change my life. I will probably never have to work on the weekends. I will be deeply rooted at Brigham Young University and get the education for free.

"Who knows? Maybe I will find something else or change my destiny through other decisions. I pray, though, that all the decisions will be inspired and would lead me to be of greatest service to those around me, especially my family."

The Currant Bush
Recently, I was reminded of this story of the Currant bush by Elder Hugh B. Brown. I am not going to summarize the story because you can watch or read it. However, the most important part and what I want to talk about is this: "I am the gardener here. I know what I want you to be.”

The decisions we make shapes our destiny because it helps us become who we are supposed to be. I do not think that I would be a bad person for becoming a rad tech; however, it wouldn't provide me with opportunities that I now have with other opportunities that my current job will bring. It helps me become who God wants me to be.

Conclusion
Getting to where I am now, in the Dean of Students Office as an Executive Secretary, was a really frustrating, disappointing, and miserable experience. You can read all about it here...which shows that I didn't even write about how I changed my job...or they changed it for me. I got promoted! Yay!! From Campus Scheduling to the Dean of Students Office!

Anyways, I know that God's hand was in my life and he had guided me to make the correct choices that would help me become who He wants me to be.

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