Monday, April 6, 2009

What a beautiful Sabbath

I was grateful to see the sun again today, it is hard not to wish that Spring would come to stay. I was glad to sit out on the porch and enjoy the rays with everyone. I am grateful for the Sabbath, I always seem to learn something that I needed to  understand better in my life. I was thinking today, how wonderful it felt to be hopeful and looking forward to life again, instead of being in despair. I really felt like some days, that the despair would swallow me up and that for the rest of my life I would continue to look over my shoulder waiting for Cancer to strike again. Actually it may or it may not, but I need to get busy with what the Lord needs me to do while I am still here. Today is Palm Sunday and I realized that I need to truly appreciate what this whole week of Easter represents. I need to be more like the Savior in my thoughts and actions.

I heard a great talk about Hope and Despair and understanding them more, it went like this, (I just went by my notes which is totally summarizing)...

But Why Then Is There Despair?

The scriptures say that there must be “an opposition in all things.” So it is with faith, hope, and charity. Doubt, despair, and failure to care for our fellowmen lead us into temptation, which can cause us to forfeit choice and precious blessings.

The adversary uses despair to bind hearts and minds in suffocating darkness. Despair drains from us all that is vibrant and joyful and leaves behind the empty remnants of what life was meant to be. Despair kills ambition, advances sickness, pollutes the soul, and deadens the heart. Despair can seem like a staircase that leads only and forever downward.

Hope, on the other hand, is like the beam of sunlight rising up and above the horizon of our present circumstances. It pierces the darkness with a brilliant dawn. It encourages and inspires us to place our trust in God.

What, Then, Is Hope?

Hope is not knowledge, but rather the abiding trust that the Lord will fulfill His promise to us. It is believing and expecting that our prayers will be answered. It is manifest in confidence, optimism, enthusiasm, and patient perseverance.

The things we hope in sustain us during our daily walk. They uphold us through trials, temptations, and sorrow. Everyone has experienced discouragement and difficulty. Indeed, there are times when the darkness may seem unbearable. It is in these times divine principles we hope in can uphold us and carry us until, once again, we walk in the light.

We hope in Jesus the Christ, in the goodness of God, in the manifestations of the Holy Spirit, in the knowledge that prayers are heard and answered. Because God has been faithful and kept His promises in the past, we can hope with confidence that God will keep His promises to us in the present and in the future. In times of distress, we can hold tightly to the hope that things will “work together for [our] good. This type of hope in God, His goodness, and His power refreshes us with courage during difficult challenges and gives strength to those who feel threatened by enclosing walls of fear, doubt, and despair

"Each time a hope is fulfilled, it creates confidence and leads to greater hope"

"Hope sustains us through despair. Hope teaches that there is reason to rejoice even when all seems dark around us"

"Hope leads to good works"

"Hope is critical to both faith and charity"

What a wonderful thing to remember, I realize that my Bigger Than Me days are not over, but I will try and focus on the here and now and not look too far into the future. I am grateful to be here and with my family. I am so blessed to have them and all of you. May you be able to have more  hope in your lives too.

Night!

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