Service - A Principle of Salvation

First, let me say that I am so surprised at the replies to my last blog and strengthened by the words of confidence and encouragement and thank you sincerely.

Since my last blog more blessings have come from my Heavenly Father. I realized that I needed to get out and serve. Opportunities to serve have come. We were asked to speak in Sacrament Meeting later in January. The invitation was given on the very day I wrote my last blog and was feeling so downhearted. Topic: adversity! It was as though the Lord said to me, "I know you, Kathy, and I think YOU may be able to give some encouragement to some folks in a couple of weeks."

The next week, which was last Monday, January 10th, we went to a Ward Family Home Evening at the bishop's home. I was given a calling to teach Sunday School. I love, LOVE! teaching the gospel!! The day before we attended Gospel Doctrine class and it was "the bomb!!" We had a great teacher (discussion leader) and there were so many contributions and the lesson just came alive for me. I felt the Lord whisper to me again, "I'll help you do something you love doing that will help you as you try to help others."

I signed up to have the Family History couple in the ward come visit us to answer questions and get us started on our genealogical work. They actually came a day earlier than our agreed appointment. I hadn't pulled out our records and wasn't prepared. But they stayed and we opened the computer to a whole new world!! Besides the NewFamilySearch website, the Jasters showed me four other websites which provided names on Don's family line he hadn't found before!! I felt the Lord telling me, "I have things for you to do and here's where you start."

Our Heavenly Father IS in the details of our lives. As for adversity, well, it is our blessing, isn't it! It is through adversity that we get out of comfort zones and search for Divine direction. The best antidote for discouragement, depression and disappointment is service - a principle of salvation. I'm thankful for the capacity to serve.

First Fast Sunday of 2011

Wow! Life does throw curve balls. This quiet Sunday morning finds me struggling a little. I feel so letdown that things aren't turning out quite how I had envisioned. We do have a lot of blessings and that is what I need to concentrate on today in order to bury disappointment and perplexing events. The holidays are gone and a new year lies ahead. It will be what I make it to be. I am retired and have time to do things which have been put on the back burner. The first on my list is to edit my old missionary journals from 1976 to 1978. Writing was a therapy for me as a young woman in the mission field. Maybe I can discover why missions have to be almost impossibly difficult.

I do believe that God is in the details of our lives. I also believe He respects our agency and won't interfere unless we give Him some sort of entrance - a prayer, a thought, a desire, a hope. I recently read, "The Lord is voting for me, and Lucifer is voting against me, but it is my vote that counts." With a heart heavy with discouragement, I am determined to find a way to be useful doing, hopefully, what the Lord might desire of me. There are so many things - family research, studying, volunteering, serving.

And since no one ever reads this blog, I think I am safe in writing, for therapeutic purposes, what's on my mind and in my heart. But I will try to pretend that someone IS reading and think of something uplifting I might say or express to encourage and uplift another's heavy heart.