Building Confidence

"The one thing that you have that nobody else has is YOU. Your voice, your mind, your story, your vision. So write and draw and build and play and dance and live as only YOU can."

In Acts 27, there’s a great story about the apostle Paul. He was traveling by ship with some people when “a violent wind…came bursting down from the island” For days they were caught in the storm, and at one point it was so fierce, they were “dangerously tossed about by the violence of the storm” and had to throw the ship’s equipment overboard. They ended up without any food, hungry, stranded – seemingly without much hope.

In that moment, Paul stood in the midst of the survivors and said to them, “I beg you to be in good spirits and take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you…” He then shared that an angel of God told him this, and said in verse 25, “So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith (complete confidence) in God that it will be exactly as it was told me.”

How could Paul, in the middle of a horrible storm, ask the people to “be in good spirits” and have a good attitude? Because he believed in his heart—without a doubt—“that it will be exactly as it was told me.” I love that! It’s a great picture of the power of faith in God when all hope seems lost. And we can have the very same faith that Paul had if we will overcome doubt.

We all face storms in life. Some are more difficult than others, but we all go through trials and tribulation. That’s why we have the gift of faith. Ephesians 6:16 (NIV) calls it “the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” Doubt is a type of “flaming arrow” that the enemy uses to attack our faith.

We usually experience doubt after we’ve made a decision. In James 1:6, the Bible says having doubt is like being tossed about like the wind, which feels like you’re trying to go in two different directions at the same time. And it’s miserable to be torn between two places, not able to decide what you really believe. It’s in those moments we have to choose whether we are going to believe God or the enemy…God or our feelings…God or what people tell us…God or our circumstances…

When doubt comes against us, we have to lift up the shield of faith. We do this when we open our mouth and say what God’s Word says, rather than grumbling and complaining about the problem. Our faith is released as we say, pray and do the Word. So in those times, open your mouth and say, “I believe that everything God has told me will come to pass!”

Maybe you’re doubting whether you can hear God’s voice or not. This happens because we usually doubt ourselves more than we doubt God. Now I’m not talking about actually hearing a voice; I’m talking about that knowing we have inside our hearts about what is right or wrong. That’s the still, small voice of God. Believers in Jesus Christ all have it, but many don’t have the confidence to trust it.

The Bible says in James 1:5 that when we need wisdom, we can go to God, ask Him for it, and He will give it to us “liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or faultfinding” (AMP). What this means is that even with our imperfections, God will be faithful to us and give us what we need if we will ask Him for help. He loves us, blesses us and uses us in spite of us, because He is faithful! And we never have to doubt that.

I’ve learned through my own relationship with God that He’s not expecting me to be perfect; He wants me to do my best to be in His will and take steps of faith as He leads me, through His Word and the promptings He speaks to my heart. Remember, He wants us to put our confidence in Him. God really does want to speak to you personally and lead you in His great plan for your life. So don’t be afraid to step out and do what’s in your heart. If you make a mistake, you’ll learn from it and go on. That’s how we “step out and find out.” And we all have to do it.

I want to encourage you to begin making confessions every day that will help you grow in your faith and confidence in God. We need to make declarations like, “God loves me. He wants to speak to my heart. I can hear from God. He is faithful to me and will lead me in His will for my life. And I believe it will be exactly as God has told me!” By God’s grace, we can be bold in faith and overcome every attack of doubt during the storms of life.

My Cup Runneth Over

I cannot find the words to express how grateful I am to my Heavenly Father for His unfailing love, His goodness and His faithfulness. Yesterday E's Mom's rights were terminated and we can now move towards the adoption process so that she can be a part of our forever family!!! I wanted to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for all of your thoughts and prayers on behalf of E and our family. It really means so much to us. 

I Am a Mormon Monday

About Me:

Hi there! My name is Harley and I blog over at Harley and Jane. My friend Jane and I started blogging about two years ago when we realized that we probably wouldn't live down the block from each other forever. The blog keeps us updated on each others lives and makes us talk more than we ever would other wise. Now that she lives in Logan, Utah and I live in Chicago, IL it is the glue that holds us together. We blog about journaling, fashion, cooking, our lives, pretty much whatever suits our fancy that day. We blog to capture those brief moments of loveliness and beauty that surround us.

What is hope and what do you hope for?

Hope to me is a brightness. I think this quote from The Great Gatsby sums it up perfectly "Reserving Judgement is a matter of infinite hope." How beautiful are those words? Hope is to give people the benefit of the doubt. To trust others. To let yourself be swept away by an idea.

How do you live your faith? 

I think that I live by faith everyday when I wake up in the morning. To be happy requires faith. To choose to look for the best in this world is to attribute both the good and bad in life to some divine plan. I work in advertising which is a extremely creative field. I feel that using creativity daily also allows me to live my faith because I think we have a Heavenly Father that wants us to create. I think the most fulfilling thing in this life is creating a family. I feel very blessed to have the opportunity to be able to do that one day. I also live my faith by being kind. Often there just isn't enough of that in the world. 

Thank you so much for having me Kimberly! 

Let Your Light Shine: Hope Is Never Lost

In Acts 27, there’s a great story about the apostle Paul. He was travelling by ship with some people when a violent wind came bursting down from the island. For a few days they were caught in the storm, and at one point it was so fierce, they were dangerously tossed about by the violence of the storm and had to throw the ship’s equipment overboard. They ended up without food, hungry, stranded – seemingly without any hope.

In that moment, Paul stood in the midst of the survivors and said to them, “I beg you to be in good spirits and take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you…” He then shared that an angel of God told him this, and said (verse 25), “So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as it was told me.”

How could Paul, in the middle of this horrible storm, ask the people to “be in good spirits” and have a good attitude? Because he believed in his heart—without a doubt—“that it will be exactly as it was told me.” I love that! It’s a great picture of the power of faith in God when all hope seems lost. And we can have the very same faith that Paul had if we will overcome doubt.

I love this quote from President Holland (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints)

"Above all, never lose faith in your Father in Heaven, who loves you more than you can comprehend. That love never changes. … It is there for you when you are sad or happy, discouraged or hopeful. God’s love is there for you whether or not you feel you deserve [it]. It is simply always there. Never, ever doubt that, and never harden your heart. Faithfully pursue the time-tested devotional practices that bring the Spirit of the Lord into your life. Seek the counsel of those who hold keys for your spiritual well-being. Ask for and cherish priesthood blessings. 

Take the sacrament every week, and hold fast to the perfecting promises of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Believe in miracles. I have seen so many of them come when every other indication would say that hope was lost. Hope is never lost. If those miracles do not come soon or fully or seemingly at all, remember the Savior’s own anguished example: if the bitter cup does not pass, drink it and be strong, trusting in happier days ahead." 

We all face storms in life. Some are more difficult than others, but we all go through trials and tribulation. That’s why we have the gift of faith. Ephesians 6:16 calls it the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Doubt is a type of “flaming arrow” that the enemy uses to attack our faith.

We usually experience doubt after we’ve made a decision. James 1:6, says having doubt is like being tossed about like the wind, which feels like you’re trying to go in two different directions at the same time. It’s miserable to be torn between two places, not able to decide what you really believe. It’s in those moments we have to choose whether we are going to believe God or the enemy…God or our feelings…God or what people tell us…God or our circumstances…

In James 1:5 that when we need wisdom, we can go to God, ask Him for it, and He will give it to us liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or faultfinding. Even with all our imperfections, God will be faithful to us and give us what we need if we will ask Him for help. He loves us and wants to help and bless us because He is faithful! And we never have to doubt that.

I’ve learned through my own relationship with God that He’s not expecting me to be perfect; He wants me to do my best to be in His will and take steps of faith as He leads me and the promptings He speaks to my heart. Remember.....He wants us to put our confidence in Him. 

With putting God first and having confidence in Him, we can be bold in faith and overcome every attack of doubt during the storms of life.

I Am a Mormon Monday

About me:

I am a thirty-something wife and mother of four little ones. I have degrees in Marketing and Finance from Texas Tech University. I enjoy spending time with my family, being outdoors (as long as it's not in 100 degree heat), and blogging over at The Mrs. & The Momma about my personal style, my babies, and our crazy happenstances with a family of six.

What is hope and what do you hope for?

Hope to me is intertwined with faith, which is hoping for things unseen.  Hope is seeing the glass half full.  Hope keeps me going when part of me wants to be a pessimist.  I hope for all the dreams I have to come true...for my children to be righteous individuals, to be a blessing in others' lives, for my family to be healthy, and that my family and I can and will be blessed for keeping the commandments.   

I hope for an eternal family.

How do I live my faith?

I live my faith both in the home and at church. At home, I fulfill my responsibilities of teaching my children the ways of the Lord, and being a faithful wife and supporter to my husband. We say family prayers together each and every day. We read our scriptures as often as we can. We designate Monday nights as "Family Night," where my husband and I lead our family in learning more about the gospel of Jesus Christ....this involves singing, games, story-telling, scripture reading, and usually a yummy treat! At church I work with the children in primary.  I enjoy serving the children in this capacity and feel grateful for the opportunity to aid in bringing up our little ones in faith.

Thank you so much for having me Kimberly!!

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Interested in being apart of this fun series? Email me and I will add you to the list! 

Email: bostonksox@gmail.com

I Am a Mormon Monday: Meet Stephanie

About me: 

I drink too much Coke, drive a little too fast, get way too involved in my OCD tenancies... why? Because I work full time and go to school with six kids, two dogs, and a fish. They call me mom, I call them The Circus.  You can just call me Steph.

Why am I Mormon? 

Technically speaking you could say I was raised in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormon) but I'm not Mormon because my parents told me to be.  My parents didn't attend church regularly and didn't expect me to either.  But even as a child of 8 years old I knew that going to church was something I needed and loved to do. So I would go to church by myself.  The church house was close enough for me to walk to, and I lived near my grandparents so I was able to sit with them at church on most Sundays.  As the years passed my grandparents grew ill and weren't always able to attend church.  On those Sundays in my teenage years I still went to church by myself, but I never felt alone. The gospel of Jesus Christ has always rung true to my heart and soul and I can honestly say I live it, not because anyone has ever told me I had to, because growing up the choice was always optional and always mine, but because of my own accord and convictions that it is the true gospel of Jesus Christ. And that's something that has always been with me.

What is hope and what do I hope for?

Hope is the idea that life is good, solid, and okay.  Even when it doesn't feel like it at the moment.  Hope is knowing that whatever it is we face in this life, it is worth it. Life gets difficult, but in the words of Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, we can "hope on."  ( https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/04/lord-i-believe?lang=eng )  Doctrine and Covenants 45:62 says, "For verily I say unto you, that great things await you;" I hope for that.

How do I live my faith?

I would hope I live my faith with real intent.  Marjorie Pay Hinckley summed it up perfectly when she said, “I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully, tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails. I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp. I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbors children. I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone's garden. I want to be there with children's sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder. I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived.”

You can find out more about me here:

Blog: http://www.circusofmine.blogspot.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/thecircus6

Or you can also find me here:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/circusofmine.blogspot

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/thecircus6

Twitter: www.twitter.com/thecircus6

Thank you, Kim, my heart is full.
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If you are interested in being apart of the I Am a Mormon Monday series on Diary of a Brown Eyed Girl, send me an email and I will fill you in on all the details.  Email: bostonksox@gmail.com 

I Am a Mormon Monday: Meet Sarah

About me:

Hi! I am Sarah Kolar. I live in Utah County, Utah. I love where I live. I love the mountains, the diversity of people, & the fact that there is so much to do here. I love running, although you wouldn't know it with how slow I am and the fact that I would rather eat a cookie ;). I have been married for 6 yrs to my husband, Shawn. I am a full-time mom to 2 beautiful kids, Charlotte, 1 1/2yrs, and Ryan, 6 weeks. I also work full time as a dental hygienist in Salt Lake City, I love everything about my job. It's hard to work and be a mom & wife, but it's well worth it. 

Why am I Mormon?

I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints because after deep and humble prayer in many situations in my life, The Holy Ghost has born witness to me that what I have studied, read (The Bible, The Book of Mormon, The Doctrine & Covenants, & The Pearl of Great Price) is true and that the principles of which I live by are true. Some of these situations are: dealing with death of a non-member grandparent, reading and finishing The Book of Mormon, miracles of watching a nephew be healed, etc. I can't imagine not having the knowledge that I have about this life and not being LDS. 

What is hope? And what do I hope for?

My favorite definition of hope is from a book called, "I Hope You Dance", by Mark D. Sanders & Tia Sillers. It's a beautiful book. It says, " What is hope? To want? To desire? To expect that what's envisioned may indeed happen? YES to all the above. Is hope that gun feeling that it's worth holding out and hanging on just a little longer? ABSOLUTELY. Is hope the core of the human condition? CERTAINLY. Can you have hope without faith and humility and wonder? THAT'S TOUGH. Just the thought that there's something bigger, something truer, something totally surprising out there waiting for us is... priceless. What would you be without hope growing deep in your bones, thriving in every inch of you? NOTHING. What does it take to hope? Hope takes never ceasing to be amazed...wearing your soul on your sleeve... Holding your breath, waiting to hear "I love you, too..." Believe that tomorrow could be better than today... that you'll get a second chance... that you'll make a difference... that you matter." 

I hope for the good things in this world. That people are better than they seem. That my life, through the way I am living, will influence someone else for good. 

How do I live my faith?

I live my faith by befriending and serving individuals as much as I can. I want people that know me to want to get to know the Savior better. Through prayer and listening to the spirit, I try to be guided in who I can help by just listening, offering advice, serving them, or letting them know that they are important. Through my job as a hygienist and a mom, I have these opportunities everyday. I love when President Ezra Taft Benson said, Those who love the Savior " Not only would...die for him, but more importantly they want to live for him." 

You can contact me by:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/snkolar5

Blog: sandskolar.blogspot.com (email me at sbuzz5@gmail.com to be added)

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/sbuzz5

Thanks, Kimberly for featuring me! 

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If you are interested in being apart of this fun series, shoot me an email and I will add you to the list to be featured on my blog! Email: bostonksox(at)gmail.com

I Am a Mormon Monday: Meet Kaycee

A little about me! I live in Scottsdale, AZ for half of the year, and Oakland, CA the other half. My husband plays baseball for the Oakland Athletics, and we are a busy, traveling baseball family. Our life is pretty crazy [understatement], but we have been immensely blessed [also an understatement]. 

I was raised Mormon, but spent the majority of my young adult life away from the church. After getting married, my husband and I decided to start going to church. We weren’t like many of the stories you hear, where things were going terribly wrong, we had hit rock bottom and we needed to find something more. In fact, it was pretty much the complete opposite. Our life together was amazing, we had all we needed, and were very blessed and happy. Needless to say, we began going to church anyways and found exactly what we didn’t know we were looking for.

Being Mormon has brought nothing but happiness to my life. Following the teachings of Jesus Christ fills my life with joy, and helps me to have a long-term outlook on the day-to-day aspects of my life. I have never been happier than when I am living my life in a Christ-like way, and am so grateful for this church and it’s teachings in my life.

What is hope and what do you hope for?

For me, hope is the desire for something to happen. What do I hope for? Oh goodness. I might need the next 2,375 blog posts to answer that question! I think what I hope for most is complete happiness in my life. For a happy marriage, happy children, and to bring happiness to everyone that crosses my path. 

How do you live your faith?

I am not the type of person to hand a Book of Mormon out, or talk a lot specifically about my faith (unless of course someone asks!). I would like to think that I live my faith my living a good, Christ-like life and by being an example to those around me. Whether it’s helping someone in need, or simply being a good friend. I have been SO blessed by this church and am so grateful for it in my life.

Twitter: @kayceesogard

Instagram: Kayceesogard

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If you would like to participate in I Am a Mormon Monday, please contact me!
bostonksox@gmail.com

I'VE LEARNED.

I came across this inspiring quote from Maya Angelou  on Kelli Murray's blog and it has stuck with me for the past few days now......

"I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow. I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights. I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life. I've learned that making a "living" is not the same thing as making a "life". I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance. I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back. I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision. I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one. I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back. I've learned that I still have a lot to learn. I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

- Maya Angelou

>>>>>>I am also loving this post from Al Fox too. 

I AM A MORMON MONDAY: MEET KALI

Happy Monday to you! I hope you had a fabulous weekend! Our weekend was filled with new house projects, gardening/yard work, and family. 
Guys........... today I am so excited today to announce that I Am a Mormon Monday is back!! I have had a few emails asking "Why aren't you doing I Am a Mormon Monday anymore!?!" I guess my answer to that is life kind of got in the way. Once I was done with my last feature on my blog, I kinda forgot about it until I got another email and decided that I should start it right back up again! So here we are!!
Today I am featuring Kali Matthews. She is wonderful. She is so devoted to the Gospel and has such a love and testimony of Jesus Christ. Her two boys are the cutest and just about two months ago they decided that they would like to become foster parents with an intent to adopt which is so great!
Take it away Kali!

Blog // Website // Facebook // Instagram

Hello. I'm Kali Matthews, blogger at www.kalimatthews.blogspot.com. I am one of 8 children and an Air Force Brat, so I've lived all over the United States, but ended up in Sunny California. Here's where I met a tall, dark, and handsome, mysterious basketball coach from the Singles Ward, and we were married in the Oakland Temple 7 1/2 years ago. We were blessed almost right away, with 2 wild little hooligans-- boys. They are crazy, fun, and keep us on our toes. We have felt very prompted lately to pursue adoption through Foster Care and are halfway through the certification process. We are very excited! When I'm not chasing my two boys around or macking on my Husband, you might find me photographing anyone and everyone, at church with the Young Women, or relieving stress in the weight room. You might occasionally find me in the kitchen or cleaning my house, but probably not.

I was blessed to have been born to an LDS family, a convert mom, and a dad relating all the way back to Brigham Young, but as I got older, and we moved around a lot, I had the opportunity to learn about many different cultures and religions. In New Jersey & Ohio, I attended several different churches with friends. There were great qualities about these churches, but for me, nothing could compare to the warm, peaceful, Spirit I felt at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Even though I grew up in the church, I took the missionary discussions at the age of 14 to further acquaint myself with the doctrine. I was also attending seminary and took the challenge to read the Book of Mormon daily and to pray and ask if it were true. I did just that, and for awhile, I wasn't really sure. Then one night, I had an experience that changed me forever, and I realized, that all along, I already knew. I'll never forget that powerful witness. Reading the Bible and Book of Mormon, daily, strengthen me and remind me of who I am and what my purpose is. 

What is hope? 

Well, I just Googled it & my favorite definition to come up was, "a feeling of trust". I LOVE that! I definitely feel like hope and faith are trusting in our Heavenly Father that good things are to come. I am a worrier by nature, so this is an important reminder for me. I hope to see my children raised to become people who change the world for the better. I hope to adopt in the next year or so. I hope to grow old and serve a mission alongside my husband. I hope I never ever get bedbugs {I have an irrational fear... see? worrier by nature}.

How do you live your faith? 

I live my faith by striving to be the best mommy and wife possible. I do believe the most important work you will ever do is within the walls of your own home. I also serve as Young Women's President in my ward. I told them I was probably too disorganized and inappropriate to be Young Women's President, but here I am anyway, and I'm working on both. I have a special love for today's youth, and feel like the girls in my ward are my own little sisters. It's been such a blessing and privilege to work with them and learn from them. I also love serving in the temple, and try to go as often as possible. It is such a beautiful place of peace and refuge from the world. Another way I live my faith, is just by trying to forget myself and serve others. I love Martin Luther King Jr's words,"Life's most urgent and persistent question is: What are you doing for others?" I've just realized that by serving others, my own problems are minimized, and I feel closest to my Savior, Jesus Christ, which is the greatest blessing of all. 

If you would like to know more about what I believe, click HERE.

Thank you, Kimberly for having me on your beautiful blog! I look forward to getting to know other featured bloggers!

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If you are interested in being featured on my blog for I Am a Mormon Monday. Please contact me and I will add you to the list! Right now I am booked out through November 3rd. Next open slot is for November 17th. Email: bostonksox@gmail.com ***I look forward to hearing from you!***

FINDING JOY IN THE JOURNEY LINK UP.

Losing a loved one is hard. Real hard. When it happens, you feel as if a piece of you is missing. Losing my Dad I thought would be one of the hardest things that I would have to go through. Don't get me wrong, its been very difficult and its been an emotional roller coaster for the past two weeks..but at the same time I have experienced a deeper joy that I could have ever imagined. I feel good...I feel strong....I feel peace....I feel content....I feel happy. Most of the time our joy seems to depend on our circumstances. When life is going well, and things are easy, we of course feel happy. But when life unravels and the days sometimes seem unbearable, God’s presence is unmistakable. I have felt this time and time again in my life...especially during this difficult time. If some days my only major accomplishment for the day is making it through without a breakdown, there has been something so extraordinary about my time with God during these times. I realize that I desperately need Him every hour. To give me strength. To revive me. To help me hang on. To comfort me. To guide me. Through some of my excruciating days since my Dad passed away, days where I would tell God "Today is a really hard day for me...I need your help. I need your strength."... He would speak to me. He comforted me through His Word. He used others. He would send angels to assist me and comfort me at those exact times when I needed it the most. He whispered to me in the darkness, as I lay awake on my tear-stained pillow. He sang songs over me of His love. His hand is over everything and I have seen His hand so much through all of this. On the worst days, I just kept asking for Him to take the pain away. I felt like just sitting in my Dad's room crying all day. I didn't want to rejoice in the moment. I didn't want to rejoice at all. But then I clung to God and His promises knowing He would bring me through. I can tell you that the joy I feel now did not come easy. I had glimpses of delight here and there, but mostly my joy was slow and incremental. As the days continue to pass, I realize I now have  a joy that I can't explain. It is completely independent of circumstances. It seemed like the harder things got, the more joy God continued to pour into me. The joy I have is in knowing that God can be trusted and in seeing and feeling His faithfulness through unimaginable pain. Though I’m referring to a time of great suffering in my life, what I’m writing about isn't limited to earthshaking pain. Small  trials that I have faced have forged my faith, but I live, as we all do, in the mundane suffering. Feeling misunderstood or rejected by a friend or family member. Feeling lonely or depressed. Dealing with the same parenting issues over and over again. Being overwhelmed by responsibilities. Having everything in the house break down at once. Feeling physically ill- with a cold, a backache, a headache. Those things are universal. We all face them. But just like the monumental struggles, we wish they were different. That they’d go away or get resolved so that we can get on with our days- the real things we’re called to. We fantasize that if they were different, we could be happier, more joyful, more faithful. But what if we looked at those trials as the very things that God has ordained for our joy. To mold our character. To teach us to trust. To give us Himself. When we run to God with our pain, instead of running away, our perspective changes. We find a joy that can never be taken away. If we could only see all our disappointments through this lens, we would discover that suffering is often the gateway to joy. The joy that we get from enduring suffering gets richer over time. Our circumstances cannot diminish it. It produces lasting fruit like endurance, character and hope. It draws us to God in breathtaking ways. It achieves a weight of glory that is beyond all comparison. I am convinced that our capacity for God, and for true joy, is carved out of our suffering. Suffering chisels deep into our soul, often making us feel empty, misunderstood, and alone. And yet it is out of that suffering, that emptiness, that God alone can fill us. With Himself. With His joy.

An InLinkz Link-up

Got 5 minutes? 3 Bible Stories on Strong Mother Figures

The Bible contains great examples for people from all walks of life. Here are three Bible stories that illustrate the power of faithful women and mothers.

Ruth - An Example of Faith

After the death of her husband, Ruth chose to continue living with her mother-in-law, Naomi. This decision meant she would not be returning live with her biological family in Moab, an area that revered traditions that did not align with the truths of the God of Israel. Naomi encouraged Ruth to return to her own mother, but Ruth demonstrated great faith, hope, and love for Naomi when she said: “. . . whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God” (Ruth 1:16). Ruth chose to forsake family, friends and other familiarities to stay with Naomi so she could continue to live in righteousness. Ruth was willing to sacrifice much to do what was right and exercised great faith to embrace truth. Ruth was blessed; she eventually married again, and through her lineage, the Savior was born.

Hannah - An Example of Prayer

Hannah is another woman in the Bible who demonstrates sacrifice and faith. Hannah was unable to have children, leaving her in bitterness of soul. In faith, Hannah turned to the Lord in prayer and “poured out [her] soul before” Him (1 Sam. 1:15). Hannah vowed that if the Lord would grant to her a child, she would give him to the Lord, or raise him to follow the teachings of the Lord all the days of his life. Hannah’s prayers were answered and her son, Samuel, was born. Hannah kept her promise and sent Samuel to be raised in the Temple of the Lord. Samuel later became a great prophet. Hannah’s love for the Lord, her faith and her sacrifice are great examples to us of how to pattern our own lives.

Eve - An Example of Motherhood

Eve was a great mother. She was the first of all women and a great example of how to live and raise children in righteousness.

In “Lessons from Eve,” a talk given by Russell M. Nelson, he highlights five things Eve accomplished during her life which we can also emulate:

1. She labored beside her companion (see Moses 5:1).

2. She and Adam bore the responsibilities of parenthood (see Moses 5:2).

3. She and her partner worshipped the Lord in prayer (see Moses 5:4).

4. She and Adam heeded divine commandments of obedience and sacrifice (see Moses 5:5, 6).

5. She and her husband taught the gospel to their children (see Moses 5:12).

As a mother, you have the power to make a difference. Read tips on giving your children what matters most here.

**Stories taken from here

I Am a Mormon Monday: Meet Sonja

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About Me:

I am the oldest of five kids (4 out of the five of us are gingers) and grew up in wet but beautiful Portland, Oregon. But my family just moved to Midway, Utah after living in Oregon for almost 20 years. (Needless to say it was a very tough move and took a huge leap of faith!) I turn 21 this Saturday. I am a senior at Brigham Young University-Idaho in Narnia (aka Rexburg) Idaho. I am getting my BS in Communication with an emphasis in Print Journalism and minor in Photography and hopefully graduating in July. I am currently the content manager for the BYU-Idaho Scroll and love it. Going to a church school has strengthened my testimony in so many ways. To be surrounding by so many people who hold my same standards and who uplift me everyday has meant the world to me. 

I am a sarcastic girl who loves to laugh. I want to someday make a difference with my writing, to change people's lives. I also feel like I am meant to share the Gospel with it, and am making it one of my main goals. I have a photography business and specialize in senior portraits and weddings. Taking pictures helps me express what the words can't, and I love showcasing everyone's beauty- because everyone is beautiful. 

I love my family and CANNOT wait to have one of my own. Looking for that special someone has been a bit harder than I thought it would be, but I'm learning that that's okay :) My youngest sister is 5 years old and my best friend and other half. She looks just like me and is easily mistaken for my daughter all the time.    

My grandma (or Mormor, as I call her) is Swedish and was converted when she was in her late teens and came over to the states all on her own when she was 20 to find a nice Mormon boy to marry. Thanks to her I have been raised in the Church and consider her one of my heroes. I absolutely love being Swedish, especially with all the traditions we have.

Some other hobbies of mine include graphic design (which I am also studying a bit along with my major), watching movies, singing (I was in three choirs my senior year of high school, back in the day) and social media. Yes, I do consider it a hobby. 

What is hope and what do you hope for?

Hope, for me, is that quiet guiding light that can only be found through faith. I believe that hope and faith work hand in hand. Hope is the very existence of light and I have learned this through some very difficult yet strengthening life experiences. 

I hope most, without wavering, to return to my Heavenly Father someday having done all that I could to come back clean and pure. I also hope to be a light in others lives. To help them see light. 

How I live my faith:

I try my hardest to live as Christ lives. To be an example to others who might not have the blessing of the Gospel in their lives. I try, and it is a constant battle, to remember Christ more throughout my day. To love him more by living my faith as much as I can. I live my faith my striving to trust in my Heavenly Father that the trials I go through are for my good, no matter how hard they may be. 

Thank you so much for having me Kimberly!!

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