Tender Mercies of the Lord

All day today, the wind blew fiercer than it had the whole winter long, but luckily no snow, as I often go outside for my work.  I left work and the biggest storm cloud I have seen this winter looms on the horizon.  It was dark, dismal, and for my Vegas-bred soul, a little scary.  I rushed my way home, fuddle with the keys and quickly entered the house I share with three others.  As if a switch in the heavens, it started snowing.... hard.  It’s blowing almost horizontal now, and many say that this is the big winter storm we have been waiting for all of these mild months.

Talk about tender mercies of the Lord.  I am still not confident in my ice-driving skills, so my drive home sounded like "Heavenly Father, please don't let me crash! Heavenly Father, please don't let me crash!"  And my prayer was somehow answered.  The heavens held their snowy fury as I drove, and as soon as I shut the door to enter my house, the snow let loose, and somehow I felt Heavenly Father say to my heart, "You’re welcome."

Many times in my life, I feel the hand of the Lord in the small details of my life:  things that may go unnoticed, but are a huge blessing.  Like when your gas tank inexplicably lasts 2 days longer than it should just in time for your next paycheck.  Or when you find some money in your jeans and it means that you can get groceries that day, or when everyone else is sick, but you don't catch a thing.  These are what my mother has referred to as "Tender Mercies."  Tender mercies are God's lifelines.  When you are trying your hardest to live the life he wants you to, and he just gives you a little blessing to remind you that he is there, and that he loves you.

Elder David A. Bednar of the quorum of the twelve apostles said, "The Lord’s tender mercies are the very personal and individualized blessings, strength, protection, assurances, guidance, loving-kindnesses, consolation, support, and spiritual gifts which we receive from and because of and through the Lord Jesus Christ. Truly, the Lord suits “his mercies according to the conditions of the children of men."

So I challenge you to go about your day and look for the "tender mercies” and you will gain a greater understanding of the love the Lord has for you and a greater testimony that he not only knows you, but loves you and will take care of you.

Good luck in your search,

Sarah

http://www.lds.org/liahona/2012/02/the-tender-mercies-of-the-lord?lang=eng&query=tender+mercies

I Promise.

Good Morning new internet friends, to my new blog!

As I sit here trying to resurrect a long unused talent for the written word, I face one of the most daunting sights of all -- that of a blank page.  Its been over a year since I have written anything of value, so bear with me as this blog attempts to fill my empty mind with more pressing and engaging things.  I will try and write everyday -- a journal or commentary of sorts on the life that I live or on things that I read, hear, or see.

I can't promise that what I write will be award-worthy, but I can promise that what I write will be true.

I don't live a life that is worthy of newspapers, I don't do scandalous things, or make a million dollars on one twitter post, but I do try to do the things that make my family, my friends, myself and God happy.  I have things to say, and sometimes, for the desire to not offend, I keep my mouth firmly shut.

Whether anyone reads these ramblings, its not important.  But for me, it allows me to say the things that I would otherwise keep to myself.  I promise you, my reader, to be honest with myself and with you.  I promise that when I use other sources, to cite them to the best of my ability (because when people don't do that it drives me crazy), and to respond to any comments or questions that you may have.  So ask them freely and comment often.

With all of my heart,
Sarah

This is a Test

Only a Test

The Quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.