May the light of your soul guide you

Someone gave me this poem this week.  I love it!  It seems very fitting and particularly inspiring.  :)

May the light of your soul guide you by John O'Donohue
May the light of your soul guide you.
May the light of your soul bless the work
You do with the secret love and warmth of your heart.
May you see in what you do the beauty of your own soul.
May the sacredness of your work bring healing, light and renewal to those
Who work with you and to those who see and receive your work.
May your work never weary you.
May it release within you wellsprings of refreshment, inspiration and excitement.
May you be present in what you do.
May you never become lost in the bland absences.
May the day never burden you.
May dawn find you awake and alert, approaching your new day with dreams,
Possibilities and promises.
May evening find you gracious and fulfilled.
May you go into the night blessed, sheltered and protected.
May your soul calm, console and renew you.

It reminds me of some things I've been thinking about lately regarding knowing who I am and being me - letting my spirit lead.  :)  It also reminds me of some of these thoughts I wrote about a few years ago:

• Window to His Love (June 2013)
• An Eye Single to His Glory (May 2010)

Prayer Journal

I have been inspired lately by the importance and power of prayer.  This is something I need to work on.  I need to be better and particularly more focused in my prayers.

A couple of months ago a sister mentioned in a comment at church that she used to keep a prayer journal.  I thought this was a really neat idea.  I've kept a gratitude journal at different points in my life and tried to be mindful of the Lord's care and blessings, but I really loved this idea of a prayer journal and how it could help me be more focused in my prayers and in learning better how to hear the Lord respond.  :)  ...and then having a record of His love and answers and care and His tender mercies in my life.

It's almost like our own personal prayer roll - remembering and staying focused on that which we most desire, showing the Lord our faith and then recognizing His answers.  I want to try!  :)

These two beautiful songs have also encouraged me to listen for His voice:

• If I Listen With My Heart by Sally DeFord
• The Master's Voice by Sally DeFord

Sunday in Quotes

Elder Marvin J. Ashton, April 1992:

   "Be one who nurtures and who builds. Be one who has an understanding and a forgiving heart, who looks for the best in people. Leave people better than you found them. Be fair with your competitors, whether in business, athletics, or elsewhere....Lend a hand to those who are frightened, lonely, or burdened. If we could look into each other’s hearts and understand the unique challenges each of us faces, I think we would treat each other much more gently, with more love, patience, tolerance, and care."

Elder James E. Faust, October 1996:

   "Honesty is more than not lying. It is truth telling, truth speaking, truth living, and truth loving."

Elder Richard G. Scott, October 1995:

   "Our Father in Heaven has invited you to express your needs, hopes, and desires unto Him. That should not be done in a spirit of negotiation, but rather as a willingness to obey His will no matter what direction that takes. His invitation, “Ask, and ye shall receive” (3 Ne. 27:29) does not assure that you will get what you want. It does guarantee that, if worthy, you will get what you need, as judged by a Father that loves you perfectly, who wants your eternal happiness even more than do you.  
   "I testify that when the Lord closes one important door in your life, He shows His continuing love and compassion by opening many other compensating doors through your exercise of faith. He will place in your path packets of spiritual sunlight to brighten your way. They often come after the trial has been the greatest, as evidence of the compassion and love of an all-knowing Father. They point the way to greater happiness, more understanding, and strengthen your determination to accept and be obedient to His will."

Our Hope, Our Deliverer, Our All

   "The Hope and Deliverer promised of old, for whom we have waited ere long. Oh, come and redeem us from slavery's yoke, and deliver thy people home. And now in whose presences our souls take delight. On whom in affliction we call. Our comfort by day, our song in the night.  Our Hope, our Deliverer, our All.  Hosanna...our Savior will come. O, Israel, and blessed He'll ever be called.  Hosanna...sing praises to God. Our Hope, our Deliverer, our All. Oh hear, thou dear Savior our call."

Go Forth With Faith

It was an inspiring day at church!  I love the gospel!  I love the Lord!  I'm grateful for the hope, the direction, the peace the gospel of Jesus Christ brings....to me, to all of us.  Because of Him we have faith, hope, love.  :)  There is much in the world that could be very discouraging and alarming and even cause fear, but God wants us to be happy, to have joy, to have faith in Him and His plan.  That brings joy!!  :)  Everlasting joy.

President Ezra Taft Benson taught the importance of Living Joyfully in Troubled Times.  What an inspired, applicable topic for us collectively and individually!  :)  It made me happy be reminded of the importance of choosing happiness and having faith.  Our Heavenly Father has a plan.  He is in charge.  He loves us!  There are challenges, but we can have faith and hope and joy!  Here are a few quotes I loved:

"President Benson was a “careful watcher of events, [who] maintains a certain buoyancy and cheerfulness we would do well to watch. Such buoyancy comes not from ignoring enveloping events, but from noticing these and yet looking beyond them to promises having to do with how the kingdom will finally prevail.”"

"Our Heavenly Father can accomplish miracles through each of us if we will but place our confidence and trust in Him....Faith gives us vision of what may happen, hope for the future, and optimism in our present tasks. Where faith is, we do not doubt the ultimate success of the work."

"Of all people, we as Latter-day Saints should be the most optimistic and the least pessimistic. For while we know that “peace shall be taken from the earth, and the devil shall have power over his own dominion,” we are also assured that “the Lord shall have power over his saints, and shall reign in their midst.” (D&C 1:35–36.)"

"With the assurance that the Church shall remain intact with God directing it through the troubled times ahead, it then becomes our individual responsibility to see that each of us remains faithful to the Church and its teachings."

"We have no cause to really worry. Live the gospel, keep the commandments. Attend to your prayers night and morning in your home. Maintain the standards of the Church. Try and live calmly and cheerfully. … Happiness must be earned from day to day. But it is worth the effort."

"Be cheerful in all that you do. Live joyfully. Live happily. Live enthusiastically, knowing that God does not dwell in gloom and melancholy, but in light and love."

"Our Heavenly Father wants us to be happy. He expects us to be happy. But there is no happiness in a letting down of standards. There is no happiness when you fail to live according to your convictions, according to that which you know to be right."

"Do we realize that happiness here and now consists in freely, lovingly, joyfully acknowledging God’s will for us—and doing it in all ways and all affairs big and small? To live perfectly is to live happily. To live happily is to grow in spiritual strength toward perfection. Every action performed in accord with God’s will is part of that growth. Let us not partition our lives. Let us unify our lives, being contemptuous of fictitious honors and glories that do not come with God’s approval. Let us remember that the real source of our strength and happiness is beyond the reach of men and circumstances."

""Look unto me in every thought,” said Jesus. (D&C 6:36.)"


Last week Elder Holland taught seminary and institute teachers these same things in this talk Be Not Afraid, Only Believe.  I loved this and think it's important that we stand up for our faith and what we believe!


Relatedly, I LOVE the song "Go Forth with Faith!"  Every word of this song brings joy and encourages me in my testimony of the Savior and desire to share it.  I believe that's the ultimate goal of living joyfully in trying times - to share our faith and our joy.

Go Forth with Faith
Go forth with faith to tell the world Of Jesus Christ, the Lord.
Bear witness he is God's own Son; Proclaim his wondrous word.
Go forth with hope and courage strong To spread the word abroad
That people of all nations Are children of our God.

Go forth with love to tell the world The joy of families--
That we may be with those we love Thru all eternity.
Go forth to serve and do your best With no thought of reward;
Then you shall know the boundless joy Of serving Christ, the Lord.

Go forth with pow'r to tell the world The gospel is restored,
That all may gain eternal life Thru Jesus Christ, the Lord.
Go forth to preach his glorious truths Of peace, of joy, and love,
That all who heed his holy word May praise the Lord above.


And thinking about faith and joy, here is great article I read recently about The Secret Ingredient to Great Relationships - FAITH.  :)  Go forth with faith!

Love is...

...many things...today it is sleep, reading, books, scriptures, running, sunshine, family history, inspiration, service, kindness, temples, family, grandmas, flowers, cookies, music, friends...

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Happy Valentine's Day!  :)