Tonight I went to Ginger Ewell's amazing institute and it was as uplifting and motivating as ever. My favorite quotes of the night include, but are not limited to..
"If you believe in God then why not let him direct your life"
"Children you can trust... Satan you can not"
"Stop dragging your heels, stop kicking and screaming all the way to your blessings"
"The further you are in the light the greater are you chances to call down the blessings of heaven for what ever you may need"
"Nothing can contribute more to the downfall of a marriage, home, family, team, institution, or church than people who murmur"
"In relation to events that will yet take place, and the kind of trials, troubles and sufferings which we shall have to cope with, it is to me a matter of very little moment; these things are in the hands of God... he dictates... and controls our affairs"
"We, as a people, have to... seek after and cleave unto our God, to be in close affinity with him, and seek for his guidance, and his blessing and Holy Spirit to lead and guide us in the right path. Then it matters not what it is nor who it is that we have to contend with. God will give us strength according to our day"
Institute has become something that I look forward to SSOO much. A time for me to set aside the trials and heart aches of life and push the reset button. I love to hear the way Sister Ewell talks about the gospel. She can really fire you up! She puts so so much effort and thought into her lesson and she doesn't just get up there and talk for an hour and 1/2. She is always open to feed back. Although I don't agree with her on all her view points I have come to admire her and respect her in a way I do few other women.
After a wonderful spiritually uplifting lesson I was about to leave when I got talking with my friend Abby. I have hung out with Abby a few times in the last couple months and we get along great. Last night we really had a great conversation. We talked from when institute ended to about 10!! It was some much needed venting for both of us. I think it's important in a conversation to speak up and be heard but it's also important to listen and understand. Abby did just that for me, nothing that was said in our conversation changed my life in a dramatic way, but I can still see our conversation for what it was, a tender mercy. A few months ago a conversation like this would have been water under the bridge. Now having been through a few trials I have come to be more appreciative of tender mercy's like tonight. When you feel like you are in the refining fire of the Lord you can do two things, see only the bad, or search out the good things in life. I have been trying to do this and BINGO! the Lord sent Abby. I am very glad to have had the opportunity to vent and listen, hear and be heard, give advice and receive counsel. It was a wonderful conversation that I think marks the beginning of a very promising friendship.
Today I'm grateful for Abbigail Harris and for her way, not with words, but with listening. :)
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