Fireworks and promises of the future

Several months back, I was driving alone in my silent van. I thought to turn on the radio, and as I did the words to this, then unfamiliar to me, song played to the questions and concerns of my heart.

"You don't have to feel like a wasted space
You're original, cannot be replaced
If you only knew what the future holds
After a hurricane comes a rainbow"

I felt that it was not coincidence that I was hearing this message.  A message I can only count as one from Heaven.  You see, I generally stick to the oldies channel, Christian, Broadway, or Latin music channel!  So, being on a pop channel, isn't where you'll usually find me.  The message spoke deeply to my heart.  It reminded me, in that low moment, that I'm original, special, and unique.  I'm not just wasting space or time, and there are many wonderful promise of the future that with my effort and patience will be of great joy and peace.

Many of you may already know this song.  But, if you're like me about music, then let me share it with you.

"Firework" by Katy Perry

Do you ever feel like a plastic bag
Drifting through the wind, wanting to start again?
Do you ever feel, feel so paper thin
Like a house of cards, one blow from caving in?

Do you ever feel already buried deep six feet under?
Scream but no one seems to hear a thing
Do you know that there's still a chance for you 
'Cause there's a spark in you?

You just gotta ignite the light 
and let it shine
Just own the night 
like the 4th of July

'Cause, baby, you're a firework
Come on, show 'em what you're worth
Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh"
As you shoot across the sky-y-y

Baby, you're a firework
Come on, let your colors burst
Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh"
You're gonna leave 'em all in awe, awe, awe

You don't have to feel like a wasted space
You're original, cannot be replaced
If you only knew what the future holds
After a hurricane comes a rainbow

Maybe you reason why all the doors are closed
So you could open one that leads you to the perfect road
Like a lightning bolt, your heart will glow
And when it's time you'll know

You just gotta ignite the light and let it shine
Just own the night like the 4th of July

'Cause, baby, you're a firework
Come on, show 'em what you're worth
Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh"
As you shoot across the sky-y-y

Baby, you're a firework
Come on, let your colors burst
Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh"
You're gonna leave 'em all in awe, awe, awe

Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon
It's always been inside of you, you, you
And now it's time to let it through-ough-ough

'Cause, baby, you're a firework
Come on, show 'em what you're worth
Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh"
As you shoot across the sky-y-y

Baby, you're a firework
Come on, let your colors burst
Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh"
You're gonna leave 'em all in awe, awe, awe

Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon
Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon
===
If you're a bit unsure of your value, as I all too often am, then I hope you will take heart to know that the world needs you.  People around you need you.  Make a difference by shining in the darkness-- with hearts of kindness and hands of service.

The sun will rise, even after the darkest night.  The sun always rises!  Don't give up hope. 
Christine

My drive to the temple...or "Come Follow Me"

As I drove to the temple tonight I had a lot of concerns and questions weighing on my mind.  Prayerfully I asked Heavenly Father why certain things may occur, well knowing that it would be tremendously hard for my family. 

You see, I feel I understand a few of the future heartaches God is preparing and strengthening me for.  So why, then, I asked, should things in our current condition play out as they appear they are going to?   Immediately I heard into my thoughts I hear the words to a hymn: "Not only shall we emulate His course while in this earthly state But when we're freed from present cares, If

with our Lord we would be heirs."

Translated by me to mean, that in order to know my Savior, Jesus Christ, and become pure like him, I too must also walk, at times, the same lonely path that he walked.  I must experience pain and suffering, and by so doing I will be growing spiritually.  From the hardships of life I will be preparing for the glories and joys of eternity.  The trials of mortality will help me become more than anything I can possible imagine.  My limited words and my short-sided understanding can't even grasp it all, much less explain it well.

How true are these words found in the Bible (Mark 13:13)
And ye shall be hated (or perhaps translated at time as, lonely, made fun of, misunderstood) of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

May we be able to keep our focus as we face heartaches that seem too hard for us to bear.  We can!  We can bear all things "through Christ which strengtheneth" us! (Philipians and 4:13)

Life is worth living. May you have the comfort of God in your hearts and minds.
Christine

If you would like to learn more about our beautiful temples.  Please visit this link.  They also have live chat to answer any questions you may have.
http://mormon.org/faq/topic/temples

My messages from God....Duty, Preparedness, Self-Improvement!

My husband and I (when my neck isn't hurting!:)

My children need a Mom!

Today, I've had a lot of neck pain.  In fact, I've never had whiplash, but I venture to guess it feels like my neck.  Which is spasm-ing, hurts to turn, and throbs to tilt forward.  Tonight I'm sleeping in a recliner chair, in hopes that restricted movement will help improve my condition.

Normally, with this kind of pain I'd stay in bed all day.  I intended to in fact. I could use it as an excuse to rest and watch movies and be waited upon!  But, as I knelt in my morning prayer (and trust me, I considered using my neck as an excuse not to kneel, but decided God would see through the transparency of my soul if I did that, because he'd know it was my desire to be lazy) I heard words to a hymn, "you can not bid the sunshine to lengthen out its stay.  Improve the shining moments. Work while the sun is radiant;Work, for the night draws nigh."  (See complete words here at the music site that I get them :)

My son spraying the sprinkler at the back window.

Because of that hymn, and other considerations for the future I am trying to prepare myself and my children for, I decided I would work.  Even if it was slow and trudging...and yes, perhaps a little begrudging, I worked all day.  It was a slow day of sorting, separating, folding, tossing trash, etc... but, in the end I felt like I had something to be proud of---even though it was just a very small success in the scheme of things.

My two crazy "SUPER Hero" boys leaping
from my bed to my recliner!

I heard a few other hymns today.  Another hymn came, as I looked off my back deck into my backyard.  I felt upset and overwhelmed that despite work my husband and I had recently done to clean up our yard, and send things to the dump, that it was now cluttered and littered from our younger children in their summertime adventures.  I discovered where my missing measuring cups had gone to, as well as my mop bucket, broom,  and many other objects that belonged inside my house!! And yet, there came the words of the hymn ringing into my ears:  "Victory, victory though him who redeemed.  Victory through Jesus Christ our Lord.And I knew with the help of God, I can change and improve in my life! (See the words to this hymn: "Behold! A Royal Army" here.)

Out of the four hymns that not-coincidentally played into my thoughts today (including
"Gently Raise the Sacred Strain" 

Little M playing the harmonica.

 and "Today, While the Sun Shines") three of them specifically are about duty, self-improvement and preparedness.  Do you think that maybe our loving heavenly Father is trying to teach me to improve my world, so that I can bless not just myself, but also my husband and children?!   I do!


Doctrine and Covenants 64:33
Wherefore, be not ^aweary in ^bwell-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of ^csmall things proceedeth that which is great.

Alma 34:32-33
32 For behold, this ^alife is the time for men to ^bprepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of ^cthis life is the day for men to perform their ^dlabors.

 33 And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many ^awitnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not ^bprocrastinate the day of your ^crepentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the ^dnight of ^edarkness wherein there can be no labor performed.

(read also 2 Timothy 2: 3, 22 and Isaiah 1:16-18) 

For the sake of my children and posterity, I must change for the better.  I hope you'll join me on this arduous, sometimes exhausting, but heavenly rewarding journey.   I know through the power of the atonement of Jesus Christ we can  do all things!

Christine

P.S.  Sorry, but none of my photos are edited today, so I realize they aren't as bright and colorful as usual. :P