Perspective

Sometimes God blesses us with a change of perspective.
I am so thankful that he provides those moments for me where my eyes can be opened and my perspective changed.  I have been complaining far too much about certain things in my life and circumstances which, as it turns out, are really just another avenue for a loving Heavenly Father to bless my life in ways that I could never anticipate.

Today I am thankful for people who show their example of faith in the midst of trials, which enables me to gain a greater understanding of how I should be addressing the challenges in my life.
I am ready to embrace the life I have been given and really live and savor the moments that make up each day.

This is what we have been greeted with at the back door for the last few days. The timing was perfect for me to have one more lesson about how beautiful things can spring up out of bleak situations, and I could focus on the dross of the winter or rejoice when there is the tiniest evidence of new life... 

I CHOOSE LIFE!

Last night for family scripture study we were reading in Romans 5 which talks about the atonement of Christ and I continue to be enlightened as to how I can gain peace and understanding through trials (which again, in comparison to others, are rather miniscule).

 1 Therefore being ^ajustified by ^bfaith, we have ^cpeace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

 2 By whom also we have access by ^afaith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

 3 And not only so, but we glory in ^atribulations also: knowing that ^btribulation worketh ^cpatience;

 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

 5 And ^ahope maketh not ashamed; because the ^blove of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

I am realizing this pattern in my life again and again.  Hard things come my way and try my patience, but from each of those experiences I turn again to the Lord in hope. There are times when it takes me longer to turn to Him, but eventually I always realize that I can, in fact, "glory in tribulation" because the Spirit has been given to us for guidance from on high; he has been, and will always prompt me along the way with what I need to do, if I will just recognize it and act upon it. The trick is remembering that I need to humble myself instead of being "compelled to be humble" in all these things (Alma 32). 

Today is a day to renew my desire to do the will of the Lord, and that the inward battles can all be conquered as I put my trust and faith in Him and rely upon the merits of the atonement to help me be whole when I find that there are empty places in my soul.

It never ceases to amaze me that when I need direction and comfort, I am blessed with people who come to my rescue with out knowing it, and I always receive answers to prayer from reading the scriptures, and from reading or listening to messages from our church leaders. In the January Ensign there is an article from Elder Christofferson entitled: "Recognizing God's Hand in our Daily Blessings"  Daily Bread is the link to that talk. I like that concept of asking God for our "daily bread rather than our weekly, monthly, or yearly bread"- one small thing at a time, smaller bites first!

Obviously there is a lot of refining left to do in this gal, and from time to time that Refiner's Fire is hot- like it is right now in my life! 

So much for me to learn!!