God closes doors no man can open and



God opens doors no man can close



Trust our Father in Heaven

Trust He is there

Trust He cares

Trust He has our best interest

Trust in His Timing

Help from both sides of the veil

"In the gospel of Jesus Christ you have help from both sides of the veil and you must never forget that. When disappointment and discouragement strike, and they will, you remember and never forget that if our eyes could be opened we would see horses and chariots of fire as far as the eye can see riding at reckless speed to come to our protection. They will always be there, these armies of heaven, in defense of Abraham's seed."
--Jeffrey R. Holland,

Hope

"We must not lose hope. Hope is an anchor to the souls of men. Satan would have us cast away that anchor. In this way he can bring discouragement and surrender. But we must not lose hope. The Lord is pleased with every effort, even the tiny, daily ones in which we strive to be more like Him. Though we may see that we have far to go on the road to perfection, we must not give up hope."
--Ezra Taft Benson

Worry

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:34.

After all today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday.

I heard this in Church.
"You cannot have both a faith filled life and Stress-free life, they do not go together."

Purpose driven Life

'Purpose Driven Life 'author
People ask me, What is the purpose of life? And I respond: In a nutshell, life is preparation for eternity. We were not made to last forever, and God wants us to be with Him in Heaven.
One day my heart is going to stop, and that will be the end of my body-- but not the end of me.
I may live 60 to 100 years on earth, but I am going to spend trillions of years in eternity. This is the warm-up act - the dress rehearsal.. God wants us to practice on earth what we will do forever in eternity.
Life is a series of problems: Either you are in one now, you're just coming out of one, or you're getting ready to go into another one.
The reason for this is that God is more interested in your character than your comfort.
God is more interested in making your life holy than He is in making your life happy.We can be reasonably happy here on earth, but that's not the goal of life. The goal is to grow in character, in Christ likeness.
This past year has been the greatest year of my life but also the toughest, with my wife, Kay, getting cancer.
I used to think that life was hills and valleys - you go through a dark time, then you go to the mountaintop, back and forth.. I don't believe that anymore.
Rather than life being hills and valleys, I believe that it's kind of like two rails on a railroad track, and at all times you have something good and something bad in your life.
No matter how good things are in your life, there is always something bad that needs to be worked on.
And no matter how bad things are in your life, there is always something good you can thank God for.
You can focus on your purposes, or you can focus on your problems.
If you focus on your problems, you're going into self-centeredness, 'which is my problem, my issues, my pain.' But one of the easiest ways to get rid of pain is to get your focus off yourself and onto God and others.
We discovered quickly that in spite of the prayers of hundreds of thousands of people, God was not going to heal Kay or make it easy for her.
It has been very difficult for her, and yet God has strengthened her character, given her a ministry of helping other people, given her a testimony, drawn her closer to Him and to people.
When I get up in the morning, I sit on the side of my bed and say, God, if I don't get anything else done today, I want to know You more and love You better. God didn't put me on earth just to fulfill a to-do list. He's more interested in what I am than what I do.
That's why we're called human beings, not human doings.

Happy moments, PRAISE GOD.
Difficult moments, SEEK GOD.
Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD.
Painful moments, TRUST GOD.

Power beyond measure

movie quote

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness which frightens us. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world, there is nothing enlightening about shrinking so other people don’t feel insecure around you. We were all meant to shine as children do, it’s not just in some of us, its in everyone. And as we let our own light shine we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated our presence automatically liberates others. …… Sir. I just want to say thank you.” Coach Carter

The safest road to hell is the gradual one - the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.
C. S. Lewis

The real problem is not why some pious, humble, believing people suffer, but why some do not.
C. S. Lewis

It may be hard for an egg to turn into a bird: it would be a jolly sight harder for it to learn to fly while remaining an egg. We are like eggs at present. And you cannot go on indefinitely being just an ordinary, decent egg. We must be hatched or go bad.
C. S. Lewis

The quote of the month is by Jay Leno:

'With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?'

Movie Quote: Rocky Balboa

Movie Quote: Rocky Balboa

Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It is a very mean and nasty place and it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't how hard you hit; it's about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done. Now, if you know what you're worth, then go out and get what you're worth. But you gotta be willing to take the hit, and not pointing fingers saying you ain't where you are because of him, or her, or anybody. Cowards do that and that ain't you. You're better than that!

Audrey Hepburns Beauty tips

For attractive lips, speak words of kindness

For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people

For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry

For beautiful hair, let a child run his/her fingers through it once a day.

For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone.

People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone.

Remember, if you need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of your arm.

As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself and one for helping others.

"Wrinkles should merely indicate where the smiles have been."
— Mark Twain

"Try a little harder to be a little better."
— Gordon B. Hinckley

"For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness."
— Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind."
— Dr. Seuss

IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER - by Erma Bombeck
(written after she found out she was dying from cancer).

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage

I would have talked less and listened more.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.

I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.

I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, 'Later.. Now go get washed up for dinner.' There would have been more 'I love you's ' More 'I'm sorry's.'

But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute.look at it and really see it . live it and never give it back. STOP SWEATING THE SMALL STUFF!!!

Don't worry about who doesn't like you, who has more, or who's doing what
Instead, let's cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us.

The Call

Song From The Chronicles of Narnia Prince Caspian
By: Regina Spektor



It started out as a feeling
Which then grew into a hope
Which then turned into a quiet thought
Which then turned into a quiet word

And then that word grew louder and louder
'Til it was a battle cry

I'll come back
When you call me
No need to say goodbye

Just because everything's changing
Doesn't mean it's never
Been this way before

All you can do is try to know
Who your friends are
As you head off to the war

Pick a star on the dark horizon
And follow the light

You'll come back
When it's over
No need to say good bye

You'll come back
When it's over
No need to say good bye

Now we're back to the beginning
It's just a feeling and no one knows yet
But just because they can't feel it too
Doesn't mean that you have to forget

Let your memories grow stronger and stronger
'Til they're before your eyes

You'll come back
When they call you
No need to say good bye

You'll come back
When they call you
No need to say good bye

Akeelah and the Bee quote

movie quote from Akeelah and the Bee

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness which frightens us. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world, there is nothing enlightening about shrinking so other people don’t feel insecure around you. We were all meant to shine as children do, it’s not just in some of us, its in everyone. And as we let our own light shine we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. "……[quoting Marianne Williamson)

Hebrews 10:32, 35

Fight the good fight of affliction

Great fight of Affliction

"I wish to encourage every one of you today
regarding opposition that so often comes after
enlightened decisions have been made, after
moments of revelation and conviction have
given us a peace and an assurance we thought
we would never lose.In his letter to the
Hebrews, the Apostle Paul was trying to
encourage new members who had just joined
the Church, who undoubtedly had had
spiritual experiences and had received the pure
light of testimony, only to discover that not
only had their troubles not ended, but that
some of them had only begun.
Paul pled with those new members
the way President Hinckley is pleading with
new members today. The reminder is that we
cannot sign on for a moment of such eternal
significance and everlasting consequence with-
out knowing it will be a fight—a good fight
and a winning fight, but a fight nevertheless.
Paul said to those who thought a new testi-
mony, a personal conversion, or a spiritual
baptismal experience would put them beyond
trouble, “Call to remembrance the former days,
in which, after ye were illuminated,ye endured
a great fight of afflictions”--- Jeffrey Holland

Children

"They may do, in the years that come, some things you would not want them to do, but be patient, be patient. You have not failed as long as you have tried. Never forget that" (Gordon B. Hinckley, address to the Salt Lake University 3rd Stake Conference, Nov. 3, 1996

Tribulation

Breck England

The ultimate purpose of our suffering adversity in this telestial sphere is to give us “EXPERIENCE”THAT WILL BENEFIT US IN WAYS WE CANNOT FORESEE. There is a divine law at work here: without going through certain experiences that are tailored for our own good, we cannot be “exalted on high.” D&C 121:7-8 “My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.” We will recognize some of these experiences in our own lives. For the faithful, trials come in the form of a calling from the Lord, as the scripture clearly says we are “called to pass through tribulations.” Through no fault of our own, we might see many of our hopes frustrated as “the elements combine to hedge up the way.” We might be “cast into the pit” of depression or illness or addiction. Still, tribulations are calculated to help us toward our ultimate exaltation in the intricate plan of the Lord for each of his children. Our task is to “endure it well,” meaning to EXERCISE PATIENCE AND FAITH IN THE SAVIOR. The Apostle Paul understood that when we face adversity and patience, the resulting “experience” is the basis of our hope for eternal progression in the kingdom of God: “We glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope.”

Keeping Perspective during Adversity

President Spencer W. Kimball from Faith Precedes Miracles 1975

“If we looked at mortality as the whole of existence, then pain, sorrow, failure, and short life would be calamity. But if we look upon life as an eternal thing stretching far into the premortal past and on into the eternal post-death future, then all happenings may be put in proper perspective.

“…Are we not exposed to temptations to test our strength, sickness that we might learn patience, death that we might be immortalized and glorified?

“If all the sick for whom we pray were healed, if all the righteous were protected and the wicked destroyed, the whole program of the Father would be annulled and the basic principle of gospel, free agency, would be ended. No man would have to live by faith.”

Elder Orson F. Whitney said: “No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude and humility. All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable, more worthy to be called the children of God…and it is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we gain, the education that we come here to acquire and which will make us more like our Father and Mother in heaven"

C.S. Lewis: "Then Aslan turned to them and said: '...you are ~ as you used to call it in the Shadowlands ~ dead. The term is over: the holidays have begun. The dream is ended: this is the morning...' "And for us this is the end of all the stories, and we can most truly say that they all lived happily ever after. But for them it was only the beginning of the real story. All their life in this world and all their adventures in Narnin had only been the cover and the title page: now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story which no one on earth has read: which goes on for ever: in which every chapter is better than the one before."

more than I can handle

more than I can handle

Sometimes God does give you more than you can handle.... alone. Sometimes He gives us more than we can handle to force us to learn to accept help. From family, friends, neighbors.... and most of all from Christ....

Jesus said, “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33.) On the same occasion, he said, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.” (John 14:27.) Throughout his life and ministry he spoke of peace, and when he came forth from the tomb and appeared unto his disciples, his first greeting was, “Peace be unto you.” (John 20:19.)

But Jesus was not spared grief and pain and anguish and buffeting. No tongue can speak the unutterable burden he carried, nor have we the wisdom to understand the prophet Isaiah’s description of him as “a man of sorrows.” (Isa. 53:3.) His ship was tossed most of his life, and, at least to mortal eyes, it crashed fatally on the rocky coast of Calvary. We are asked not to look on life with mortal eyes; with spiritual vision we know something quite different was happening upon the cross.

Peace was on the lips and in the heart of the Savior no matter how fiercely the tempest was raging. May it so be with us—in our own hearts, in our own homes, in our nations of the world, and even in the buffetings faced from time to time by the Church. We should not expect to get through life individually or collectively without some opposition.

One of the wisest of the ancient Romans once spoke a great gospel truth and probably never realized he had done so. Speaking of Roman naval power and the absolute imperative to control the oceans, Cicero said to a military aide, “He who commands the sea has command of everything.” (See W. Gurney Benham, Putnam’s Complete Book of Quotations, New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1926, p. 505.) Of that I so testify.

“Whether the wrath of the storm-tossed sea or demons or men or whatever it be, no waters can swallow the ship where lies the Master of ocean and earth and skies. They all shall sweetly obey [his] will. Peace, be still!”

Master, the Tempest Is Raging”

Elder Howard W. Hunter
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles posted by Kristen

Master, the tempest is raging!
The billows are tossing high!
The sky is o’ershadowed with blackness.
No shelter or help is nigh.

Carest thou not that we perish?
How canst thou lie asleep
When each moment so madly is threatening
A grave in the angry deep?

Master, with anguish of spirit
I bow in my grief today.
The depths of my sad heart are troubled.
Oh, waken and save, I pray!

Torrents of sin and of anguish
Sweep o’er my sinking soul,
And I perish! I perish! dear Master.
Oh, hasten and take control!

The winds and the waves shall obey my will;
Peace, be still! Peace, be still!
Whether the wrath of the storm-tossed sea
Or demons or men or whatever it be,
No waters can swallow the ship where lies
The Master of ocean and earth and skies.

They all shall sweetly obey my will.
Peace, be still! Peace, be still!
They all shall sweetly obey my will.
Peace, peace, be still!

Too often, I fear, both in the living of life and in the singing of this hymn, we fail to emphasize the sweet peace of this concluding verse:

Master, the terror is over.
The elements sweetly rest.
Earth’s sun in the calm lake is mirrored,
And heaven’s within my breast.

Linger, Oh, blessed Redeemer!
Leave me alone no more,
And with joy I shall make the blest harbor
And rest on the blissful shore.
(Hymns, no. 106.)
posted by Kristen

"The righteous person’s birth into the world of spirits is a glorious privilege and blessing. The greatest spirits in the family of the Father have not usually been permitted to tarry longer in the flesh than to perform a certain mission; then they are called to the world of spirits where the field is greater and the workers fewer. This earthly mission may therefore be long or short as the Father wills."

Heber Q. Hale in the Spirit World, January 20, 1920
posted by Kristen

Life is not easy

Elder M. Russell Ballard compared our life’s journey to that of the pioneers.

Life isn’t always easy. At some point in our journey we may feel much as the pioneers did as they crossed Iowa—up to our knees in mud, forced to bury some of our dreams along the way. We all face rocky ridges, with the wind in our face and winter coming on too soon. Sometimes it seems as though there is no end to the dust that stings our eyes and clouds our vision. Sharp edges of despair and discouragement jut out of the terrain to slow our passage. Always, there is a Devil’s Gate, which will swing wide open to lure us in. Those who are wise and faithful will steer a course as far from such temptation as possible, while others—sometimes those who are nearest and dearest to us—succumb to the attraction of ease, comfort, convenience, and rest. Occasionally we reach the top of one summit in life, as the pioneers did, only to see more mountain peaks ahead, higher and more challenging than the one we have just traversed. Tapping unseen reservoirs of faith and endurance, we, as did our forebears, inch ever forward toward that day when our voices can join with those of all pioneers who have endured in faith, singing: “All is well! All is well!” (Hymns, no. 30). M. Russell Ballard, “You Have Nothing to Fear from the Journey,” Ensign,May 1997, 59

"Guilt-ridden grief is indeed a leech, and the Evil One would have us be consumed by it and lose heart, and eventually make shipwreck of our faith.

But Christ the Man of Sorrows is acquainted with our grief. He suffered loss and wept bitterly. He is the Lover of our souls, and is a Good Shepherd. He is the only wise God, and His ways can be hard for me to understand."


by Scott ( comment on a blog I happened onto)

Pebble

from Elder Scott (May 1988)

“When I take a small pebble and place it directly in front of my eye, it takes on the appearance of a mighty boulder. It is all I can see. It becomes all-consuming—like the problems of a loved one that affect our lives every waking moment. When the things you realistically can do to help are done, leave the matter in the hands of the Lord and worry no more. Do not feel guilty because you cannot do more. Do not waste your energy on useless worry. The Lord will take the pebble that fills your vision and cast it down among the challenges you will face in your eternal progress. It will then be seen in perspective. In time, you will feel impressions and know how to give further help. You will find more peace and happiness, will not neglect others that need you, and will be able to give greater help because of that eternal perspective.”

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"Be kind. Everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle."
— Marjorie Pay Hinckley

Happiness

Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.
-Albus Dumbledore

Hanging in there

I am hanging in there but my arms are getting very very tired!!!!!!

Things Work Out

"It isn't as bad as you sometimes think it is. It all works out. Don't worry. I say that to myself every morning. It will all work out. If you do your best, it will all work out. Put your trust in God, and move forward with faith and confidence in the future. The Lord will not forsake us. He will not forsake us. ... If we will put our trust in Him, if we will pray to Him, if we will live worthy of His blessings, He will hear our prayers" President Gordon B. Hinckley

As Elder Russel M. Nelson stated, "The only way to take the sorrow out of death is to take love out of life."

Someone sent this to me, I found it enlightening

Thought for Today

During the days of dealing with terrible situations, every problem loomed so large that I was overwhelmed by it. It was the most important thing in the world. It was the final calamity. Hysteria was in charge. I must have known there was a world outside all this—a sane, comfortable way of living. But this was way beyond me while I was wrestling with my daily shocks and despairs. Now, when I turn to my Father in Heaven I look at my problems with a better sense of proportion and balance. I see problems worse than mine which some handle with poise and courage. Thus my difficulties are scaled down to normal sizes; I know I can do something about them because I will take care of myself.

Today’s Reminder

I am not alone. I have learned to comfort and encourage others, and that gives me a fresh approach to my own difficulties. I can help others, and they can help me.

“Woe to him that is alone when he falleth, for he hath not another to help him up.” (Ecclesiastes)

(One day at a time)

We have each other but more importantly, we have our Father in Heaven who is always there to pick us up, especially when we ASK Him to.

"Don't get too comfortable with who you are at any given time - you may miss the opportunity to become who you want to be." ~ Jon Bon Jovi

Happiness and Trials

"Yes, we find happiness in the midst of the trial of our faith. The Lord manifests Himself to us through His tender mercies, which we find along the road of happiness. We see with increased clarity His hand in our lives."

Benjamín De Hoyos

Grief

"Healing hurts but hurting heals"

Denial

"Never underestimate the power of denial"

Overcome Selfishness

"At the heart of the message of the Savior of the world is a single, glorious, wonderful, still largely untried concept. In its simplest terms the message is that we should seek to overcome the selfishness we all seem to be born with, that we should overcome human nature and think of others before self."
--President James E. Faust