Coincidence? No Such Thing

I had a really cool experience today. I went to my friend's Mission homecoming, and as I was waiting for the meeting to start, I saw my 2 favorite Sisters from the Visitor's Center walk in. It turns out that was their ward, which I knew, but had completely forgotten. As we were sitting in the meeting, listening to the sister before my friend talk, One of them asked me if I could help them with something really quickly. Being the service minded individual I am... or try to be, I of course agreed.

The story goes that the Sisters were going to have a recent convert talk about her testimony to a Sunday school class in Utah via Skype at 12:30. However, they didn't realize that with the time difference (thanks DST), so it was actually happening at 11:30. I got to tell these kids (they were a 14-15 year old class, I believe) about my conversion experience, and bear my testimony of the Book of Mormon. It was a very cool, spirit filled experience. But what impressed me the most was that on this 1 day that I just happen to be at this building, where my Sisters just so happen to be serving, there was a mistake that need my help to fix it.

If there's one thing I've learned coming back, there is no such thing as coincidence.

As I told those youth, once you begin to recognize His hand in your life, you can't help but see it. Why? Because it's everywhere!!! Someone in that room needed to hear my story, or my testimony. They might not need it now, maybe 1 or 3 or 5 years down the road, they are struggling. And the spirit might whisper in their ear, and bring to remembrance that moment. And it will help them.

It's... intense how much the Father and His Son orchestrate the puzzle pieces in our lives, the ones we see and those we don't. Shoot, I met those sisters completely by chance. I was walking past the VC after spending some time on the temple grounds one evening, and there they were. One of them walked up to me in the hallway as I was looking at pictures and introduced herself. We ended up talking for nearly 1 and a half hours, until the center closed.

That chance meeting has had a huge effect on my life. Those 2 Sisters are my sisters. they are family. Which is a little crazy to say, seeing as I met them only 6-7 weeks ago. But then again, did I? (I was reading a book by Truman G. Madsen, and he suggests that when we have an unspoken, instant connection on first meeting...we may simply be meeting again for the first time in this life. Heavy stuff)

There are so many things, so many little instances, happenings, and the like in my life that I can no longer believe that mere chance was the cause. Something bigger, something greater was happening. I'm immensely thankful for those moments, for all the little things and great moments in my life where I see His hand working. He is watching over me, orchestrating the puzzle pieces to build a picture I can't even fathom the beauty of.

With Love,
Taylor.

You Are Worth More Than You Know

Life is hard sometimes. We all go through ups and downs, trials and tribulations. It's tough keeping an eternal perspective sometimes. And when we're at our lowest, that is when we need him most. "When life is too hard to stand, kneel." This has become a favorite quote of mine. How powerful the message is that our Heavenly Father is always watching over us.
I myself was finding it hard to "stand" this morning, and so I sought comfort in my daily scripture and prayer journal. As I was writing down the impressions I received from him, 2 thoughts came into my mind, "You are my child, do you doubt in me?" And "You are with so much more than you know." Sometimes, I really need these confirmations of worth from my Heavenly Father. There is power in knowing we are children of Him who made us. Even in his image, were we made, and through Him, and the atonement of His son, we can be renewed, restored, and made better. May we all strive to live up to our Heavenly potential. May we never forget that as children of God, we are powerful beyond measure. We simply need to accept that power, and use it as He would have us do.

I love you all,
Taylor.