Testimony Tuesday- Faith

First of all. I'm fully aware that's it's Wednesday, although, the days are starting to run together.

I was trying to decide what to write about this week but every single thing I came up with was "blah, I hate that." or "ugh. I not this week." and THEN I saw that a couple of my blogger friends are starting a blog series called "Testimony Tuesday", where on the first Tuesday of every month, they write about a given topic. All members of different faiths are invited to join this blog series, and you can find the post to link up to here. By the time I actually decided that I wanted to join, it was too late for me to write on Tuesday, so here's my Testimony Tuesday one day late. For the record. I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. and you can learn more about my worldwide, 16 million member church, here.

This months topic is: Faith

I'm a big believer that music is one of my greatest teachers. There is a children's song sung in our church with the simple title of "Faith" It reads as thus:
1. Faith is knowing the sun will rise, lighting each new day.
Faith is knowing the Lord will hear, my prayers each time I pray.
Faith is like a little seed: If planted, it will grow.
Faith is a swelling within my heart.
When I do right, I know.

2. Faith is knowing I lived with God before my mortal birth.
Faith is knowing I can return when my life ends on earth.
Faith is trust in God above; In Christ, who showed the way.
Faith is strengthened; I feel it grow, whenever I obey.

This goes along with Hebrews 11:1 (KJV) "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

Here we find the basic concept of faith. Faith is a knowledge of things that you cannot see but that you know to be true. Just as when the sun sets in the evening, we have know definite knowledge that the sun will rise again the next morning, but we believe that it will.

In the Book of Mormon, as well as the Bible, we compare faith to a seed. In Matthew 17:20 (KJV) Jesus says "If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you."

Faith is an incredible source of power. It gives us the power to move mountains if we believe that we can. It gives us power and strength to endure impossible trials that we would be unable to handle if we had no belief that there was a purpose to it and that it would be for our good. There is an OLD one woman show by Steven Kapp Perry called "Polly" and in one of the songs she says:

"Could you celebrate a birthday knowing life would soon be past you? Could you spend the sweat to build a house you knew would not outlast you? Could you bear to love the children, who would die before their season? We'd miss so much of happiness and maybe that's the reason not to know! To free us from the burden of the future, and make a space for joy!"

So that's the answer isn't it? Faith in God and Faith in His Plan allows us to have a fullness of joy in our lives. That one day, we will be free from our pains and afflictions. That even now, as we go through them, we are never alone. I love the peace that my faith brings to me and I love knowing that with that faith, comes a perfect brightness of hope.

~Cheryl

I.H.A.R.M.

I'm normally very private about the groups I'm in on Facebook, but today, I'm so proud I can't not talk about it. Most of you that read this blog know that I waited for Ryan while he was on his mission in Argentina. During that time, I was a member of the Facebook group "Waiting for a Missionary" it was a wonderful support system and resource for information from girls (and sometimes guys) in different stages of "the wait" and to help new girls as they began their journey as well. I want to state here that this is a VERY safe group. It is completely private and highly moderated. There are several administrators and anyone that asks to join has to be approved. No catfishing going on. :) As we all got older and started to get married (some to their missionaries, some not) and have babies, several girls began a group called "I Have a Return Missionary" or "I.H.A.R.M." for short. This group is also very private and highly moderated, although it's hardly ever necessary. Before anyone freaks out, let me say, I have met many of the girls on this group, I've skyped with some, spoken on the phone, texted, and even met them in person. And they have met in person several of the other women that I haven't met personally. We are from everywhere, we have girls in Texas, Utah, California, Hawaii, the Netherlands, South America, Virginia, Canada, and the UK, just to name a few. Most of us are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Anyway, on this group, we talk about many different things, marriages, mortgages, pregnancy, raising kids, the gospel, work, finances and how we make them work for us, etc. It's wonderful and a completely accepting and encouraging environment. For example:

Individual- "Guys, I feel so down on myself"
Everyone in the Group- "Don't! You're amazing! We love you! You are beautiful and wonderful and Heavenly Father loves you!"

It's also a great place for advice, for example, it's not unusual to hear wise women saying to someone "That sounds like a problem, you should talk about it and get it fixed before you get married, because marriage won't fix it." or "You deserve better!" Honestly, you think that Google is the fount of all knowledge? False. I can take a question to IHARM and have a helpful answer in 15 seconds.

The women (girls only!) in this group are incredibly talented, from photographers to hairdressers, cake decorators, teachers, a (former) bra whisperer, party planners, stay at home mom's and more! We celebrate everything. New love, engagements, marriages, pregnancies, babies, homes, graduations, jobs, a new pet, you name it, we celebrate it. Along with that, we mourn with each other. We mourn break-ups and marital problems. We mourn miscarriages and death. We pray for each other and hope for joy in each womans heart. And it's not a fake "oh that's too bad." It's a REAL feeling pain and sadness for each other. I've always been touched by this, but never more than I was yesterday.

Yesterday. A friend from IHARM (yes, I said friend.) Posted that while she had been on vacation for the past few weeks, a quick respite before she and her husband move across country next week, a part on her sprinkler system broke and left a stream of water shooting into her attic right above her bedroom. So when she and her husband got home yesterday morning, from their relaxing vacation, they instead found their bedroom ceiling caved in, the entire contents ruined and the basement below in danger as well. Instantly after posting this there were prayers and well wishes coming in, shortly after that there were people asking how they could help, what size clothing she wears, if she needs help with clean-up, where they can mail things. WOMEN THAT HAD NEVER MET THIS GIRL OR HER FAMILY WERE ASKING HOW THEY COULD ASSIST HER IN REBUILDING HER LIFE. A gofundme account was set up by a separate friend so that sisters not local could help by donating money and people were offering to pick items up from other sisters to take them to this girl and her husband as they prepare to move. So far, enough money has been raised for she and her husband to be able to stay in a hotel after they move while they rebuild and sell their current house before they can buy a house in their new area. As I watched all of this unfold I couldn't help but be overcome with gratitude that I know such giving generous women.

To me, this group is the definition of a worldwide sisterhood. We bear one another's burdens and we find joy in womanhood. We teach and preach the gospel to each other and we have hearts that are knitted together in love. Now that I've used as many Relief Society cliches as possible, I want to say that I love these women! I love that they are my friends and that when I talk to them I feel the Spirit burn in my heart. They are truly my Sisters in Christ. Sometimes, we think that we can only find this kind of sisterhood in our local congregations, or with people we've known forever and ever. But I found it in a group of women that had never met before, but decided to love each other anyway, because we are Daughters of God. I'll forever be grateful for the women I've met through this experience, for the examples they have been and continue to be, and for the support that I've received from them.

In short- I.H.A.R.M. is A.W.E.S.O.M.E. and I L.O.V.E it.

~Cheryl

An Attitude of Gratitude

November-- the month where everyone is either writing a novel, hairy for mens health, or thankful for one thing every day.

Today, I'm going to talk about the last. Gratitude.

President David O. McKay said, “Gratitude is deeper than thanks. Thankfulness is the beginning of gratitude. Gratitude is the completion of thankfulness. Thankfulness may consist merely of words. Gratitude is shown in acts”

That really speaks to me. I'm a pro at finding things that I'm thankful for. I have a whole notebook full of things and people, big and small. Everything from the Atonement down to toilet paper. I am thankful for every single on of them. I'm thankful for every blessing given to me and when I'm going through a trial, I can play the "Glad Game" with them best of them. 

But am I showing gratitude? 

No. 

As President McKay stated, gratitude is shown in actions. Like, the lepers in the New Testament. All ten of them were healed and went forth. And I'm SURE that all of them were thankful they were healed. But the one that came back,  that Samaritan who knelt at the feet of a Jew, was the one who was showing his gratitude. 

Am I saying that we should all be kneeling at each other's feet all the time? Of course not. There are lots of ways that we can show our gratitude to others and, most especially, to The Lord. We can show gratitude through thoughtful prayer, through service to others, paying or tithing, and even through song. Have you ever heard the lyrics to "For the Beauty of the Earth" before? Here, I'll put them here so you can see them. 

1. 1. For the beauty of the earth,
   For the beauty of the skies,
   For the love which from our birth
   Over and around us lies,
2. (Chorus)
   Lord of all, to thee we raise
   This our hymn of grateful praise.
3. 2. For the beauty of each hour
   Of the day and of the night,
   Hill and vale, and tree and flow'r,
   Sun and moon, and stars of light,
4. 3. For the joy of human love,
   Brother, sister, parent, child,
   Friends on earth, and friends above,
   For all gentle thoughts and mild,
   
   
   There. If you read the words you see that this hymn is in fact, a prayer. A prayer of gratitude and praise for everything that has been created for us. The earth ad everything on it, family units, even the love shared in friendships is shared in this song. And there are many more like it. 
   
   
   -- "Because I Have Been Given Much I too Must Give." <-- we just talked about how service to others is a grateful action
   
   
   -- "God of Our Fathers"
   -- "Come Ye Thankful People Come"
   -- "Count Your Many Blessings"
   
   
   I'd like to talk a moment about this last one I've mentioned. Here are the words:
   
   
   1. 1. When upon life's billows you are tempest-tossed,
      When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
      Count your many blessings; name them one by one,
      And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.
   2. (Chorus)
      Count your blessings;
      Name them one by one.
      Count your blessings;
      See what God hath done.
      Count your blessings;
      Name them one by one.
      Count your many blessings;
      See what God hath done.
   3. 2. Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
      Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
      Count your many blessings; ev'ry doubt will fly,
      And you will be singing as the days go by.
   4. 3. When you look at others with their lands and gold,
      Think that Christ has promised you his wealth untold.
      Count your many blessings; money cannot buy
      Your reward in heaven nor your home on high.
   5. 4. So amid the conflict, whether great or small,
      Do not be discouraged; God is over all.
      Count your many blessings; angels will attend,
      Help and comfort give you to your journey's end.
   6. Text: Johnson Oatman, Jr., 1856-1922
      
      
      Have you ever thought about how you feel when you are showing gratitude? That good feeling you get when you are truly thankful for something, instead of just saying thanks to someone to be polite? I submit that the fastest way to find happiness is to find the things to be thankful for and express true and sincere gratitude for them. Because by recognizing our blessings, we remember that we are not alone, and our hearts are turned to the Savior. Who is the source of all joy and love. In D&C 78:18-19 it says, 
      
      
      "And ye cannot bear all things now; nevertheless, be of good cheer, for I will lead you along. The kingdom is yours and the blessings thereof are yours, and the riches of eternity are yours.
      And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more."
      
      
      I am going to try and be more grateful. Not thankful, grateful. I look at myself now and I see the other 9 lepers. I want to be the 1 who came back. I want to express my gratitude with my whole-heart to my Savior every single day, not just in November when there is a promise of Turkey. :) So if I don't see you again before it, Happy Thanksgiving everyone. I hope that we can all become closer to the One. 

Live in Thanksgiving

Well, here we are again, it's November First and most of the people in this country are nursing some sort of Hangover, whether it's Alcohol, Sugar or something else, it's happening. Adults are putting away Halloween and starting to think about their Christmas card list. Stores have Halloween candy on sale for 50%off and are setting up their Christmas displays (if they haven't already. Kids are thinking about how awesome Last night was, how much candy they hauled in and what Christmas wishes they want to put in their letters to Santa. And then they all remember almost collectively around the middle of the month when a kids brings home a flyer about their schools food drive, "Oh yeah! There's another holiday to get through still!" Guess we had better get the turkey and stuffing. I'll ask Aunt Linda to make her famous Pumpkin Pie. Maybe Cousin Margo will bring the cranberry sauce, Where will we put everyone? Should we have a kids table?" Completely forgetting the purpose of Thanksgiving in the first place! To these people, nay, to people everywhere I have one word.

Stop. (Collaborate and listen...:))

To those people that believe that Thanksgiving is to mark the day that the pilgrims were saved from starvation I say, Close, but no cigar.

And to those of you that happen to think thanksgiving is all about gorging yourself until you can't fasten your pants the next day and watching football on TV... Sigh...

I bet most of you don't even know how Thanksgiving became a National Holiday or that it wasn't one until Abraham Lincoln was President during the Civil War. (Not that that's the purpose, but I'm just saying, many people don't know that information and I totally did. :))

None of those things are important. The purpose of Thanksgiving is to (hold on to your hats because this might be shocking) GIVE THANKS. *gasp*

As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints I learn a lot about Gratitude and how many ways one can express "an attitude of gratitude" (I'm sure many other Christian denominations do as well, but I don't go to those churches, I go to mine. :)) And let me tell you, there are many ways of showing gratitude, and one of those ways is by giving service. Why? because when we take the time to serve others we NOTICE our blessings more, but I want to know why it is that we as humans have to serve and then notice our blessings, why can't it be the other way around? And why does this "Attitude of Gratitude" and the Friday after the fourth Thursday of November every year when we put up our Christmas Decorations or that weekend when the thanksgiving leftovers are all gone?

May each of us learn this month how to live in Thanksgiving daily and develop an attitude of gratitude.