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

FINDING JOY IN THE JOURNEY LINK UP.

Today is the start of a new link up that I have created. 

Here's what I came up with: Finding Joy in the Journey Link up

How it works: Every week (on Friday), I will share with you some thoughts that are on 

my heart. Good things, trials, struggles, sorrows, heartache and whatever the spirit is 

leading me to write on this little space of mine! I hope and pray that you will do the same :)

Each week we can take the time to inspire, encourage, lift up one another as we all try and find joy in the journey! Will you join me?

Jesus never said that this life would be easy. Throughout our lives, we must deal with change. Some changes are welcome; some are not. There are also changes in our lives which are sudden, such as the unexpected passing of a loved one, an unforeseen illness, etc. But most of the changes that happen in our lives take place subtly and slowly. Time never stands still, it must steadily march on, and with the marching comes the changes that we must face. Sometimes our lives can take unexpected turns filled with heartache, sorrow, confusion, depression and difficulty. Sometimes it may seem hard to understand in the midst of trials how to feel and experience joy. Sometimes it may seem as if our whole world is falling apart around us and we are just standing still. Jesus has promised us that we can experience joy in the journey. Finding joy in the journey is the quest of our lives.  That joy that Jesus has promised us is available if we continue to be faithful and keep our eyes always on Jesus. I believe that some of the greatest lessons that we learn, are lessons that help us distinguish between what is really important and what is not. Despite all the changes which come into our lives, lets try and fill our days, as much as we can with those things that matter most. Whatever you are facing right now in your life, there is joy that awaits you and joy that can be found in the midst of your trials. It may feel like your darkest night, but God has a divine plan and purpose for your life! Let's relish life as we live it, trust in God and find joy in the journey! Link up your posts below!

LINK UP HERE!

Joy.

  There is true and lasting peace and joy that comes from our partnership and relationship with God.
He is our God. He is there. ALWAYS. He knows you individually and personally. He loves loves  you more than you can even begin to comprehend. He has a plan and a purpose..for you.
How grateful I am for my God and the wonderful relationship that I have with Him. I love Him with all my heart and soul. I am so grateful for all of His abundant blessings.
"At times there appears to be no light at the tunnel‘s end—no dawn to break  the night‘s darkness. We feel surrounded by the pain of broken hearts, the disappointment of  shattered dreams, and the despair of vanished hopes. We join in uttering the biblical plea “Is there  no balm in Gilead?”(Jeremiah 8:22) We are inclined to view our own personal misfortunes  through the distorted prism of pessimism. We feel abandoned, heartbroken, alone. If you find  yourself in such a situation, I plead with you to turn to our Heavenly Father in faith. He will lift  you and guide you. He will not always take your afflictions from you, but He will comfort and lead  you with love through whatever storm you face".  -Thomas S. Monson

Be Thou Humble

Having pure motives and humility are required if we are to fulfill the command to think more highly of others than only of ourselves. It simply cannot happen without a willingness to be obedient to the Holy Ghost. To live in harmony we must recognize and respect the right of others to disagree with us, and we must do so with having a good attitude. Humility requires that we forgive quickly and frequently...and that we will not be easily offended. We cannot be self seeking, but instead we must be generous in mercy and patience. When we are humble, we are following God’s instructions and will then be able to enjoy and reap the wonderful benefits of obedience which are peace, joy, and a powerful, victorious life.

Psalm 65:8

"When I admire the wonders of a sunset or the beauty

of the moon, my soul expands in the worship of the creator"

God's beauty is ALL around us!! I believe things like sunsets witness of His love.  I love partaking in the beauty of His wonderful creation that only He, the source of all light can offer. Seeing the sun rise or the sun set has become one of my favorite parts of the day. I love reading or sitting outside on our patio to share quiet moments with my Heavenly Father as He sends a harvest of happiness into my soul. 

Happy Friday friends! Make it a GREAT one!

Inspiration For Today

Obedience Brings Blessings

We learn obedience throughout our lives. Beginning when we are very young, those responsible for our care set forth guidelines and rules to ensure our safety. Life would be simpler for all of us if we would obey such rules completely. Many of us, however, learn through experience the wisdom of being obedient. There are rules and laws to help ensure our physical safety. 

The Lord has provided us with guidelines and commandments to help ensure our spiritual safety so that we might successfully navigate this often-treacherous mortal existence so that we can return eventually to our Heavenly Father.

He’s not taking things away from us to be mean or giving us a long list of impossible rules to follow. He’s teaching us what things are going to benefit us and what aren't  because He wants us to live the very best life we can. He doesn't want us to be upset, bitter, hurt, resentful, and lost, which often come as a result of disobedience. He wants us to have righteousness, peace, love and joy. Just like a parent with a child, God is saying to each of us, “Why don’t you just do what I tell you to do? I’m telling you this for your own good.” 

The truth is, whatever God asks us to do, it’s for our own benefit, so we need to take it seriously and submit to His direction and His will. The more we do this, the happier and more at peace we will be.

John 14:15 says, If ye love me, keep my commandments. Notice that Jesus didn't say, “If you keep my commandments, I’ll love you.” He already loves us perfectly, and He could never love us more than He already does at this very moment.

Okay..I’m not saying we can buy more of God’s love through our obedience, but our love for Him will grow as we live in obedience to Him and as we experience His faithfulness. The more I grow spiritually and love God more, the more I want to obey Him. I love Him for everything that He is because He’s beautiful, amazing and faithful to all of His promises.

  

Lets think of the soul-stirring act of obedience of Abraham and Isaac. How painfully difficult it must have been for Abraham, in obedience to God’s command, to take his beloved Isaac into the land of Moriah to offer him as a sacrifice. I can't imagine the heaviness of Abraham’s heart as he journeyed to that place? I would imagine that anguish must have racked his body and tortured his mind as he bound Isaac, laid him on the altar, and took the knife to slay him. With unwavering faith and implicit trust in the Lord, he responded to the Lord’s command. How amazing was the pronouncement: “Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.”

Abraham had been tried and tested, and for his faithfulness and obedience the Lord gave him this glorious promise: “In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.”

Although we are not asked to prove our obedience in such a dramatic and heart-wrenching way, obedience is still required of us as well.

It is my prayer, that no matter how many things you need to work on, give them to God one by one and let Him do the work in you.

As you step out and become more determined to obey Him, He will help you do what needs to be done.

Not only will you experience more peace and joy, but your love for God will grow and grow.

//KIMBERLY//

GOD CAN TURN A MESS INTO SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL

For those of you who read last Sunday's post you will know that my Dad was in the ICU in California. We all hope to never ever get that call, especially when you live in another state. I was getting ready Saturday morning to go to the Farmers Market with my two friends to hang out and take some pictures. My phone rang, my heart dropped and I instantly starting crying. Josh held me for awhile and told me that everything would be okay and that he loved me very much. Josh and I decided instead of paying the money for both of us to fly to California and board our dog, we would just leave early the next morning and drive there. So we packed everything up that night and left around 5am the next morning. The drive from Phoenix to California is only about 8 or 9 hours, but with my Dad on my mind it seemed like it was days. I just wanted to get there asap to see him and tell him I loved him. My brother got in the night before and was already there with my Dad. Once we arrived at the hospital, it was so heartbreaking to see my Dad. I just wanted to give him a great big hug, but it was hard because of the tube down his throat and all the other tubes that he had attached to him. I held his hand so very tight, told him I loved him and that I was here for him no matter what.

We were in California for an entire week and just got home last night. I am exhausted emotionally and physically. We spent all day every day at the hospital, with little breaks here and there to get some fresh air and eat. My Dad is still currently at the hospital still (and my brother was able to stay there longer with him) and hopefully will get released by the end of this week or next week. Day by day he is getting better and better. With everything that is happening, God has given me such an incredible amount of peace through all of this and has helped me to continue to press forward trusting and relying on Him. God's hands have been covered over this entire situation. There has been SO many blessings that have come out of all of this. I am in complete awe of just how good God is. He can turn a mess into something so very beautiful. He is always there even when you think He's not close enough. The best and biggest blessing out of all of them: My Dad is moving to Arizona!!!!!!  I still can't believe it! We have been trying and praying daily to get my Dad to move her for almost a year now! My brother is packing up a U-Haul while he is still in the hospital and once he is released they are driving here!  I just can't express how grateful I am and how good God is! I just want to sing and dance right now!

I also want to thank family, friends and even strangers who have prayed and are continuing to pray for my Dad and our family right now. I am so grateful and humbled by you and thank you from the bottom of my heart. It means so very much to me. I am sending hugs and kisses your way right now!

 It is my testimony, that if you are going through something hard right now or if you are waiting for an answer to your prayer(s)....keep trusting in God, keep pressing forward, keep believing, have faith.............and you will see God move. 

 

//On a side note....we begin our training classes to become foster parents tonight//

-KIMBERLY-

DAY 14: TEN THINGS THAT MAKE YOU HAPPY

We are on day 14 of the Challenge! We are almost halfway there! Today is an easy one.

There are SO many things that make me happy and bring joy into my life. 

Here are the ones I decided to use......

#1 Bubble baths

#2 Warm sunny days

#3 A clean and organized home

#4 Back scratches from my husband

#5 Curling up with a really good book

#6 My husband and my best friend, Josh

#7 My Heavenly Father's love and grace

#8 Serving others and making them smile
#9 Spending quality time with friends and family

#10 Listening and singing in the car to my favorite music