"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
~ Jeremiah 29:11
ʻAe, ke Akua has a better plan for me than I could ever imagine, so I'm reminding myself to place it all in His capable + loving hands...
~ Mahalo Sissy, for sharing today's "Gem" with me. ~
"Hope is not knowledge, but rather the abiding trust that the Lord will fulfill His promise to us. It is confidence that if we live according to God's laws and the words of His prophets now, we will receive desired blessings in the future. It is believing and expecting that our prayers will be answered. It is manifest in confidence, optimism, enthusiasm, and patient perseverance."
In the language of the gospel, this hope is sure, unwavering, and active. The prophets of old speak of a 'firm hope' (Alma 34:41) and a 'lively hope' (1 Peter 1:3). It is a hope glorifying God through good works. With hope comes joy and happiness. With hope, we can 'have patience, and bear . . . [our] afflictions' (Alma 34:41)."
Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "The Infinite Power of Hope," Ensign, Nov. 2008, 22
Kit came into my life when I was so young. He was my landlord. When I got married, he helped us get our first home, where we lived when my boys were born.
Over the years, my life's path meandered to + fro, circling like that little kid's in the Family Circle comic strip. Turns out Kit + Shelly live right up the street from where I ended up. They've seen my boys grow up. We always take the time to at least wave or say hello in passing, sometimes stopping to chat. They've always been so nice + friendly. Years ago, I heard Kit became a pastor for Hope Chapel in Kihei. Then a while ago, I heard he had cancer. Of course I started praying.
I just found out he has a blog. I immediately liked it, and not just because he uses the same template I do! His faith and courage shine through the stories of his journey, which also happens to be the name of his blog (The Journey: http://kit-blog1.blogspot.com).
Feel free to stop by + get a piece of peace.
Blessings + prayers for you always Kit! Ke Akua pu.
It's really hard to still have hope when you're struggling through one of life's darkest moments...when you're fighting to protect yourself + your children, when you're surviving through an ugly divorce, when you're searching for a job.
In the past month, I've had to make a conscious effort to reach for hope, grab on to it + hold on for dear life. But you know what? Although it may have been only the tiniest pinpoint of light...it was always there.
Here is one of my favorite quotes:
"Hope" is the thing with feathers -
That perches in the soul -
And sings the tunes without the words -
And never stops - at all.
~ Emily Dickenson
An aunt on my mom's side works on our genealogy. She discovered we're descendants of profound poet Emily Dickenson!
Hope is a strange invention -
A Patent of the Heart -
In unremitting action -
Yet never wearing out.
~ Emily Dickenson
