Not my way....

God taught me an important lesson a few days ago. So here's what happened. We had our entire day planned out. It was going to be perfect. I knew exactly WHERE I wanted to be, WHO was going to be there, and WHEN it was going to happen.

During my studies that morning I had come across a verse in Proverbs 3:5-6. It says

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart;

and lean not unto thine own understanding. 

In all thy ways acknowledge Him,

and He shall direct thy paths."

Without much thought, I went on with my business. As the day proceeded, and every single solitary plan I had fell through, I realized there was a problem.

I had every intention of doing things MY way.  Nothing was going to stop me! Even when we prayed things didn't work out because if God didn't tell me to do it how I thought it should be done, I probably wouldn't have listened.

Unfortunately, I didn't figure all of this out until it was too late. We went home that evening feeling like the world's worst missionaries. As I was writing in my journal before bed the Spirit reminded me that Heavenly Father had warned me that morning to not do exactly what I did - "...lean unto thine own understanding..."

The next day we tried it a little differently. Before every decision we prayed, we listened, and we received an answer. And ya know, our day went a whole lot smoother. So from now on I'm gonna do myself a favor.

Thea's Testimony

 Thea Long Bynres is one of my heroes! She was willing to share her testimony with all of us. She's an inspiration and a blessing! Thank you Thea!

My name is Thea, pronounced Tia, and I am a new convert. I would like to share with you my testimony of how I found the true church.
Before I start I will rewind to how I got to this point in my life. I married at an early age of 18, really I would turn 19 the next month. At 21, 22 and 23 I had my children. I was married for 20 years and filed for divorce because of infidelities and a husband that couldn't stay sober for very long. I wasn't perfect in my marriage. I put my children before my husband when he was home from deployments or TDY trips but it was hard not too when I had to put them first while he was gone. Yet, I accept my failure in the marriage.
I was raised as a Southern Baptist but at age 26 I was going to a Protestant church, then I tried Methodist, Non-Denominational, Baptist, Pentecostal, Assembly of God, and Apostolic.
When I gave up on my marriage I met an Apostolic man. He was a Pastor's son. I thought I could trust a man who said he was called to be a Pastor and wrote sermons. In my pain, I thought, I learned a valuable lesson that people lie. No matter if they were called of God. You can't trust anyone. This man played with my heart and my mind. He was abusive both mentally and physically.  I became strong and I removed myself from his presence. I left the Apostolic denomination and I had a bad taste in my mouth about men. I was alone for almost a year.

Fast forward....On April 17, 2012, finding myself at the end of my rope, I was in prayer. I had been in search of something that I just couldn't find; a place where I could get the answers that my soul knew was right. I had been in search for this place for over 14 years.  I thought I had found it, that last time, but I knew my spirit wasn't completely content. 
So, I was praying.  In my prayer I was telling Heavenly Father that I was giving up on my search for the true church. I believed it didn't exist. I told Him that I didn't think church was what He intended it to be and it was the peoples fault. "So, Lord, I am going to stop going to all these churches in my search and just read the Bible at home."  I felt good about my decision, yet sad at the same time. It was so sad that the truth couldn't be found, just partial pieces here and there.

The very next day was my brother's birthday. I had been texting him that afternoon wishing him a happy birthday. He was telling me how he was having lunch with a friend of his. Then all of a sudden he told me his friend wants to be friends on facebook and I need to accept his friend request, I could trust this guy. Hmmmm...well, I trusted my brother. So, his friend and I became friends and talked on the phone that day into the evening. He wanted to come and meet me and take me out as soon as possible, he said. That kind of scared me a little so I wanted to let him know that I will not be intimate with a man until I marry. If he was that type of guy, I knew that would deter him from coming. He answered that he was LDS. I didn't know what that was, so he said he was Mormon. I heard about the Mormon religion but didn't know that much about it. I thought what the heck, why not just ask. So, I asked him what he believed. That is when he gave me his testimony. As he gave me his testimony, he had no idea that he was answering questions that I specifically asked Heavenly Father in silent prayer over the past years. It was making the hairs on my arms stand.  I asked him how I could get this book of Mormon and he said from the missionaries. Well, I was leaving the next day to go to Atlanta for a week and I needed it now! So he told me about Gospel Library on the smart phone app. I downloaded it but first I got on the site Mormon.org.  I saw the chat button and got Elder Zayne Callahan. Everyday that week in Atlanta, I was on the phone with the Missionaries at 9 pm talking for an hour about the church. On the second day I asked them how I can get the Holy Ghost and he said you have to be baptized. Well, lets do that this weekend, I said. I wanted it now! But it didn't happen that quick. That following weekend I met the Sister Missionaries, Sister Jensen and Sister Nordstrom and we were together a lot in the next few weeks. The week of my baptism my 2011 Genesis Coupe was totaled by my son, he was fine. My house was broken into and there was $3500 worth of damage. I lost my job and the man who gave me his testimony decided that we were meant for each other. He thought that I was going to the church because of him. But that wasn't the case.

I was baptized on May 12, 2012 and on May 13th confirmed. The next day I was depressed because I was lonely. I made the commitment to become LDS because of my faith and knew I finally found the true church. But in this church, with my age, I didn't think I would find a man because those around my age were already married and had families. So, I thought maybe I would be alone for the rest of my life.

That is when the sisters just happened to come over. They sat with me and listened to my worries. Read some scriptures to ease my mind. Then they had a great idea....get on LDSSingles.net.  I told them that I was not getting on another dating site. I had already done match.com and plentyoffish and a couple of other ones in the past year and I didn't like how I was treated online. So, they tried to ease my concerns by letting me know of a couple they just visited who met on that site and married. They are so happy and there are good people on there. I finally said I would check it out. 
At 2 am I woke up and thought why not start a profile. I put on there that the only reason why I was there was because the sisters told me to be on there. That my Bishop had this to say about me. I will not be pursuing any man. He would have to pursue me. That this was what I wanted in a man...someone to think of me all day at work and on his way home, stop and pick fresh flowers or just bring me a rock...you know...hey honey, I was thinking about you all day and on the way home picked up this rock and thought of you because my love for you is solid. 
I was tired...I was being goofy...I just didn't care how I came across really. I was just me. Not trying to impress anyone. I also made a rule with myself that I would not give out my phone number to anyone for at least a week. That rule, ruled out 15 men who didn't want to wait a week.

In a state away, on the day of my confirmation in another ward, there was a man who was approached by his Stake President. He was asked how his girl was doing and this man let him know that he was no longer with this girl. The Stake President sat down and proceeded to tell him that he needed to get back on the single scene and this man said no, he wasn't ready. But the President persisted until this man agreed to get involved.
Around the same time I was making my profile, he was making his.
He found me and sent a flirt. I emailed him back the next day. He emailed me back and told me a lot about himself and what he believed. We seemed to hit it off slowly for the next 3 days on email, then he asked for my phone number and I gave it to him. That weekend he came to meet me and go to church with me. As soon as I saw him I knew he was the one and prayed that I wouldn't mess it up.
When he opened my car door to drive me on our first date, to church, I looked down at the seat and there was my rock! Yep, he was definitely the one. :)
2-1/2 weeks later we were married by my Bishop. We have been married now for 3 months and just bought our first home. We plan on being sealed in the Nauvoo Temple next May. We have never missed one sunday without each other since we met in person on our first day on May 20th.
It's amazing how Heavenly Father blesses us when we give up all for Him.


Blessings,

Thea Long
Cell: 931.206.2156
Email: thealong@me.com
Website: www.diariesofafruitcake.com

Coleen's Testimony

A few weeks ago I posted about the Gervasio family. Coleen, Mike, and Jackie each made the decision to be baptized and confirmed members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on July 7. Coleen agreed to write her testimony so I could share it with you.

   I would like to take a moment and tell you how I feel about myself and how I started attending the church. I came to know the church when I cam to visit my good friend Denise who I had the great pleasure of meeting when I had lived in Georgia.
   When my family and I decided to visit her in Tennessee, she asked if we would like to go to church with her. So my kids and I went. We thought it was nice, but never really thought we would become a member. My friend had many times had some Elders come to her home and sometimes I was there and would listen to what they said. I thought it was very interesting but never really thought sometime later I would move to Tennessee.
   We continued to attend church with my friend. While attending the church I began to make and meet lots of people who were nice to me and my family.
   To speed up to the present time, we have been going with her and her family every weekend. WE also started attending the young women and young men for my kids. While the kids were in their activities, I would meet up with the sister missionaries. They would explain the Book of Mormon and the Bible. I keep seeing the girls at church, on Wednesday, and even at our home. Until one evening the girls thought we would talk. They went over some things and then said, "we think you are ready to be baptized".
   I was a little shocked but this I have to say, I felt relieved. So, after talking we prayed and I must say, I did feel a little something. I never really knew what that felt like until that very moment. I told the girls and they said that was the spirit talking to me, telling me its OK and i should do it. Well, the girls said they would take care of all that needed to be done. I said OK.
   So, on July 7, 2012 I am pleased to say I was baptized with the wonderful other people in my life, my son and daughter. We all got the chance to do it together. It was a very special day for all of us. I have to say, it has made a difference in my life, knowing our Heavenly Father is there for us and we can talk to Him whenever.
   I want to thank the sisters for all they have done for me and my family and that they will always be in our lives, hearts, and prayers for today till we meet again in the Celestial Kingdom. You guys have made me a better person. You will always be my sisters. Thanks again.

Dumplings and squash!

In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints every 1st Sunday of the month is "fast and testimony meeting". Everybody comes fasting (not eating 2 meals and lots of prayer) and then instead of our regular service, whoever would like gets up and shares their personal testimony. Its pretty cool. 

I love it when the little kids stand at the podium and boldly declare,

"I know the church is true!"

It's the best. And you know what? 

SO DO I!

Sometimes, it just makes me so happy i can hardly contain myself! 

And yes...that is chicken and dumplings.

Never Too Late

I bet there have been 15,247 times that I've felt like it's just too late for me. "I bet God is so sick of watching me be a dummy."

It's not true. There is nothing too big or too awful or too sad that Christ's love can't heal it. 

Do you believe Him?

"Word!"

I wonder what would happen if we treated our scriptures like we treat our cell phones?
What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?
What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?
What if we flipped through if several times a day?
What if we spent an hour or more using it everyday?
What if we used it to receive the messages?
What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it?
What if we gave it to other kids as the gifts?
What if we used it as we traveled?
What if we used it in case of emergency?
This is something to make you go...."Hmmm...Dude..where is my scriptures?"

Unlike our cell phones :
One Plan does fit all.
Unlimited usage.No roaming charges.
You always have reception.
You can use it in the mountains and in tunnel.
It's free without hidden cost,
AND you don't ever have to worry your scriptures being disconnected,
because CHRIST has already paid the bill!!!  

Kissy Face!

I have a good friend named Greg.  He inspired me to focus more on reading the New Testament. I was definitely up for the challenge! This morning I was finishing up 2 Corinthians and read...

 

 

You can take the word of God literally, right?

In all seriousness, I have most definitely felt the Spirit of God as I've read the words of the Savior's closest friends and apostles. Those men were inspired of God to record each word they did.

I know the Bible is the word of God. It works hand in hand with the Book of Mormon. We just couldn't do it without both!