by cherijobookcorner | Jul 21, 2026 | Christian Living, Personal Growth, Spiritual Insights
The first experiences with faith can set the tone for a child’s whole life. At least this has been my experience. I hope it has been yours too. The question then becomes, what do we do going forward as a result of those early formative times?
My Introduction to Prayer
My family attended church throughout my childhood. I have to admit though that I don’t remember a whole lot about my earliest experiences with church. I remember graham crackers and toys (those would be from my times in the church’s nursery), and I remember flannel board stories and learning to sing.
I’m sure there were lessons taught by my teachers, but I have no conscious memory of them. What I do remember is kneeling by the side of my bed with my mother at the end of the day. And I remember a large, framed embroidery piece that had the words of a prayer. Perhaps you are familiar with it. The words were (as best I can recall):
Now I lay me down to sleep.
I pray Thee, Lord, my soul to keep.
If I should die before I wake,
I pray Thee, Lord, my soul to take.
If I should live for other days,
I pray Thee, Lord, to guide my ways.
Amen.
As I look at those words now, staring back at me from my computer screen, I realize how truly powerful they are and what they really mean. But back then, they were simply pretty cross-stitched crewelwork on a large piece of linen, and an example of prayer.
I’m guessing that for many of you, the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) was your first example of prayer. And for some of you, perhaps it was a different prayer.
Regardless of what that first example was, hopefully prayer has become a meaningful part of your life. And if it hasn’t yet, it is never too late to start.
My parents taught us that we were to always pray at night before going to bed. They also made sure we had prayer over each meal we ate together. These early prayers let me know that I could talk to my Heavenly Father. I could talk to Him about my day. I could ask for blessings for other people I loved. I could thank Him for my own blessings and the things that made me happy. And I could ask for what I needed. Those simple childhood prayers also helped me begin to understand who I was as His child—a truth I explore more deeply in my post, Why I’m Happy: God’s Plan for Me.
I don’t recall how I also learned I could talk to Him in prayer over my problems, but the earliest two specific prayers in my life both had this in common. At both of those times, I had a problem. I needed help. And somehow, I knew if I prayed over my problem, He would hear me.
Praying at the Pulpit
As a little girl of about three years old, I remember stepping up onto a wooden stool and resting my hands on a child-size pulpit. It was to be the first time I ever publicly spoke in church.
I don’t remember the topic. I don’t remember any of the specifics. But my mother has repeatedly shared with me and others the piece of that day that surprised her more than anything.
Most little children, when given this opportunity, have someone to help them. They speak softly, repeating the words of the adult who is assisting. They are very concerned about doing something for the first time and tend to be shy about it.
For some reason, however, my thoughts were not about being embarrassed to stand up in front of the other children and the adults. They were also not about trying to remember what I had practiced saying.
“You got up to the pulpit,” my mother said, “and you looked out over the children. They were being noisy and not paying attention. And that bothered you. You wanted to make sure they were listening. So, you folded your arms, bowed your head, and began praying. You prayed that the children would be quiet so that they could hear your talk.”
Although I don’t remember that prayer, it sounds like something I would do. Even now, as an adult, I find myself praying before speaking in public that what I have prepared will touch someone’s heart and make a difference for them. And I think this all stems back to that earliest experience with a child-size pulpit and a room full of talkative children.
Praying about the Rain
The first specific prayer I do remember happened when I was about five. My family lived in Southern California, and we had a swing set in the backyard with candy-striped poles for legs, a slide, some swings, and a glider with two seats. How I loved to play on that swing set!
This particular day, I played inside during the morning. Then came lunch. And after lunch, it was nap time. (I hated nap time, but it was essential that it happen for my mother’s sanity.)
Because I had been inside all day, I was really looking forward to when nap time was over so that I could play outside on the swing set. Before reluctantly going to my room after lunch, I told my mother that after my nap I wanted to go outside.
She was standing at the sink. At my words she looked up and out of the window. Then she said, “I don’t think so. Not today. It’s raining.”
Her words crushed me. But just for a moment.
I turned and went out of the kitchen and down the hall to my bedroom. I closed the door and stood by the side of my bed for a moment. Then instead of climbing up onto the bed, I knelt down beside it.
I can remember this prayer like it was yesterday. “Heavenly Father,” I began. “I need your help. I want to play outside but it is raining. Please could you stop the rain? You are the one who makes the rain, and I really need to play outside today. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.”
After that simple and straightforward prayer, I climbed up on the bed, took off my shoes, and laid down. I looked out the window at the gray sky, smiled, knowing the rain was going to stop, and then closed my eyes.
It was about an hour later that I awoke from my nap. I looked up expectantly at the window. The sun was shining and the gray clouds were gone!
I quickly put on my shoes and then ran to the kitchen. “I get to play outside!” I announced. My mother turned and reminded me that it was raining, and there would be no playing outside today.
“But it’s not raining!” I insisted. “Heavenly Father stopped the rain so I can play!”
My mother turned back toward the window and saw for herself the sunlight streaming in. She had been so absorbed in her work that she hadn’t noticed.
“Well then,” she said, “Go along and play . . .”
Heavenly Father Wants to Bless Us
Since making Loaves and Fishes: Seeing the Miracles available, many people have asked me how to develop faith.
There are a lot of scriptures about faith, and they are worth reading and pondering over. But for me, it all comes back more to trusting than anything else. My first two experiences showed me that if I asked, He would answer. And going forward, I trusted He would continue to answer.
Why does He answer? I think in part it is because He loves it when we ask. But Jesus gave us an insight in the Sermon on the Mount that allows us to put ourselves in our Heavenly Father’s shoes. Consider these words . . .
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said,
“ . . . what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” (Matthew 7:9-12)
Take just a moment and consider with me what it might have been like for Heavenly Father to look down upon that little group of unruly children at church. Put yourself in His shoes. He’s hoping—you’re hoping—they will have a good experience that day. That they will learn something.
Then suddenly, a little girl in a frilly dress with a pixie haircut climbs up onto a stool and places her hands neatly on the children’s pulpit. She is about to give her first talk in church. And He knows this little girl will one day be someone who stands before people speaking, and who will write prolifically. She’s only three right now, but in her childlike way she asks for help. She asks for help. She asks for the children to be quiet so they can hear her little message.
What would you do? I think you would open the ears of the children and help them notice that instead of giving a talk, she is praying. She is praying for them to listen.
And what would doing that show that little girl? It would show her that you are there. That you care about her. That you are listening to her prayer, and you feel her message is important too.
Now, imagine that little girl has grown up a little. This time, you look down and you see her kneeling by the side of her bed. She wants to play outside. In fact, she is telling you she needs to play outside. Are you smiling? I think I would be.
And now listen to the words she is saying, “Please could you stop the rain? You are the one who makes the rain.”
Her simple testimony of who you are and what you can do touches your heart. This is the same little girl who will one day pray for rain to water her garden when she can’t afford to pay the water bill. It’s the same little girl who will one day pray for rain to stop so that an outdoor photo shoot can happen. And it’s the same little girl who will pray that in the fierceness of the tornadic storm that she can outrun the approaching funnel.
If you stop the rain this time, what will you show that little girl? Once again, you will show her that you are there, listening to her. That you care about what she needs. And that you can indeed temper the elements if it is expedient.
And that lesson will serve her going forward.
When the Answer is No
Now I know that Heavenly Father doesn’t always answer, “Yes, my child,” when we ask. Sometimes it isn’t expedient for us to receive what we are requesting. Sometimes His plan for us – which is always aimed at helping us grow and learn – requires something different.
Divine timing is important I have learned. And I don’t always know what that divine timing will be. The question isn’t “Does the Lord not love me?” Nor is it “Doesn’t He care?” Rather it is a question of, “Can I trust Him to know what is best?” And it is also a question of, “Will I continue to ask in faith going forward?”
Learning to trust God’s wisdom instead of relying on my own has been one of the greatest lessons of my life. I share another important step in that journey in The Day Lucy Finally Grew Up and Let Jesus Do His Job: A Lesson on Setting Boundaries.
He does love us. More than we can possibly understand. He looks down and He sees the questions we have, the prayers we are praying. And I believe He answers yes to every possible request we make that is in harmony with His plans for us.
Just like in the little prayer I had hanging on my wall, He wants me to trust that “If I should live for other days” that He will indeed “guide my ways.” And if the answer today is “No, my child,” it just might be “Yes, my child,” tomorrow.
Your Sister in Christ,
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by cherijobookcorner | Jun 29, 2026 | Christian Living
Do you remember from the classic Peanuts gang the images of Lucy manning a booth with a sign that said, “Psychiatry 5¢”?
I never really liked Lucy’s character because she was bossy and always in everybody’s business. But there was something about that cartoon psychiatry booth that spoke to me. Something that made me want to always be available if somebody had a problem and needed me.
It started when I was a young child and I would sit with some of the outcast children on the playground. I would listen with understanding and try to make them feel better. Try to make them feel accepted.
That pattern continued into adulthood where the challenges I helped with turned into more serious adult challenges.
One day, a few years after I got married, my sister came to live with us. I loved having her there and we had great times together. But one day she shocked when she told me I reminded her of Lucy of the Peanuts gang. I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear what was coming next.
“Do you realize that every Sunday you spread out a quilt on the front lawn and people come to you one after the other to sit on that quilt and tell you their problems?” she asked.
It sounded funny when she said it, but it was true. During good weather I would spread a quilt on the lawn of our Victorian house and go outside with a book or my journal. My intent was to have some time alone. But invariably someone would walk down the street and see me there.
Before I knew it that person was sitting on my quilt with me and telling me their troubles. And once they left somebody else would happen by and do likewise.
I didn’t get much journal writing done. And I didn’t get much reading done. And I didn’t get any alone time. Why? Because I didn’t know how to tell them that I was trying to do something to fill my own bucket. I didn’t know how to set a boundary.
Years passed and my sister got an apartment. My husband and I moved to a new home out of state where we knew very few people. We lived on one of two main roads in town, so I gave up sitting on my quilt in the front yard on Sundays. But the tendency for people to come to me with their troubles didn’t stop.
I think when people are in trouble or worried or struggling, they need a listening ear. And when somebody is compassionate like I am, they are naturally drawn to that because they have found a willing listener.
Being a sounding board for others is one thing but it can be quite a heavy load when you internalize the burdens of others and take them on your own shoulders.
A few years after we made that move, my husband and I divorced. To support myself, I went to work for a domestic violence women’s shelter. It was a new experience for me, and yet it wasn’t. I was in a role where my job was to help the women in shelter solve their problems. Every day. After 3 years of working there, the overwhelm I felt was just incredible.
Because of this, when an opportunity came up to transfer within the organization, I took it. In that new position I worked with people who were in generational poverty.
Once again, I was in a role where people told me about their very heavy burdens. And once again I was in a role where it was my job to help them lighten their load and find solutions.
Being compassionate is a Christ-like attribute. But because of my type A personality, I had developed a pattern that took that strength to the extreme. It became a weakness to me that drained me.
Several years after working in that job transfer, I was suddenly bedridden.
The doctors couldn’t figure out what was wrong with me. I had no strength. I had no energy. Eventually I learned that I had been under so much stress for so long that my adrenal glands were overworked. My body was shutting down. I was eventually told that what I was experiencing was adrenal fatigue.
I’m happy to say I recovered, but my recovery was very slow. It was 8 months before I could be out of bed for an hour a day. And that was an accomplishment.
You would think that I would learn to do better. But I didn’t. A decade later I was on the brink of adrenal fatigue again for the very same reason!
My trouble was that I thought helping everybody solve their problems was what God wanted me to do. After all the scriptures tell us to “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2).
In another place we read, “…come into the fold of God, … be called his people, and … willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light; Yea, …willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort . . .” (Mosiah 18:8-9)
Those verses had become the pattern for my life. Or so I thought.
Then about a year ago, God introduced me to Bethany. Bethany was warm, gracious, and kind. Every time I saw her, she seemed calm and unhurried. She served faithfully in her church, volunteered in the community, and cared deeply about people.
Yet there was something noticeably different about her. She wasn’t weighed down by everyone else’s problems. She wasn’t frazzled. She wasn’t overwhelmed.
She carried herself with a quiet peace that I longed to understand.
One afternoon, as we were having lunch together for the first time, I asked her. “Bethany,” I said, “how do you do it? I know people come to you for help just like they come to me, but somehow you stay calm. You’re never overwhelmed like I am. You’re always lovely. What’s your secret?”
She giggled a little and then smiled. “Let me guess,” she said, “You’re a fixer . . . just like I used to be.”
No one had ever described me that way before. But she had me pegged.
“Yep,” I said. “I guess I am.”
After a moment or two of silence, I added, “So, what changed?”
Her answer stunned me. “I went to counseling for a year,” she said. “And during that year I learned something that completely changed the way I look at helping people.”
I leaned in.
“When you try to fix somebody else’s problems,” she continued, “what you’re really doing is taking control.”
Ouch.
She let the words hang in the air for a moment.
It was uncomfortable but I knew she wasn’t criticizing me. She understood me. She had once been exactly where I was.
Then, in her kind and gentle way, Bethany shared one of the greatest Aha! moments of my life.
I want you to listen carefully to what she said because it was nothing that I expected to hear. Her words were simple, but they carried profound truth, and provided an epiphany for me.
“When you try to fix somebody’s problems,” she said, ” you’re stepping in between that person and Jesus. And you’re not Jesus. So, step out of the way. Then point them to Him. He will always be there for them, and His solutions will always be better than anything you or I could come up with.”
What Bethany was really saying was that compassion and control are not the same thing. Showing compassion is Christlike. Trying to manage someone else’s life is not.
Without realizing it, I had crossed that line over and over again.
I wasn’t simply listening. I wasn’t simply comforting. I was trying to rescue people. And in doing so, I was unintentionally stepping into a role that belonged to Jesus Christ alone.
I’m happy to say that as of this writing, I’ve been in a support group led by Bethany’s counselor for several months now. And the things I’m learning there are changing my life.
I’ve learned that I’m a person who never developed the ability to set boundaries. I just abided the boundaries of everyone else. So, if somebody needed something, I was there. If they needed to talk, I would listen. I was effectively “on call 24/7.”
By living that pattern consistently, I was constantly overwhelmed. I was always behind in my own housework and taking care of my own responsibilities.
I felt like I was doing something good when I tried to help people, but like Bethany said, I’m not Jesus. So, I needed to start getting out of the way. I needed to let people turn to the Lord for their answers.
Yesterday, it finally happened. For the first time in my life, I chose to be brave.
I got a call from a friend who had a big problem. It was such a big problem that I did not know even one thing to tell her. And her call came at a time where once again I was feeling overwhelmed by everything I was carrying.
She asked if I could come over right away and help her understand some documents. And in that moment, something told me this was where I had to draw a line in the sand. This problem was hers, not mine. It wasn’t mine to help. It wasn’t mine to counsel her. And it wasn’t mine to carry or solve.
I took a deep breath. I gathered my courage. And then I said, “I am sorry. I can’t come right now.”
My friend was desperate for help. I could hear it in her voice. My heart went out to her. But I couldn’t go against the feeling I was having that there was nothing for me to do here except point her to the Lord.
I did give her the names of a couple of people who might be able to help her understand the documents. And then I suggested that she pray about what to do once she understood them.
She heard me but asked if I could come another day as soon as possible to help her. Every part of me wanted to say yes. But I didn’t.
What happened after that is nothing short of miraculous. Bethany had told me that if I got out of the way that Jesus would be there. He would be there to solve the problem with the person whose problem it was. Her words were prophetic.
This morning I received a text. My friend told me that after we talked yesterday, she read the documents herself and tried to understand them. Indeed, the situation was grim. And then she prayed for help and guidance.
That was quite a moment for me. She had done exactly the right thing.
I read on. Her text explained that her prayers were fruitful. The Lord gave her an answer. It was nothing I would have thought of. But His solution was brilliant! It solved every part of her problem. Every. Single. Part.
It was an Aha! moment for me. Bethany had been right. When I stepped out of the way . . . Jesus stepped in.
I don’t believe those scriptures were ever asking me to become someone else’s Savior. They were inviting me to love people the way the Savior loves them. Sometimes that means listening. Sometimes it means comforting. And sometimes it means lovingly pointing them to the only One who can truly heal them. The One who has a plan for them.
The additional Aha! I had yesterday was that I don’t have to be Lucy anymore…and it’s going to be a blessing to everyone if I’m not.
Yesterday, at sixty-two years old, I finally understood that.
So today. . . I’m figuratively taking down my shingle. I’m folding up my quilt.
Tomorrow I’m going to call my sister and tell her. . .
Lucy finally grew up.
Your Sister in Christ,
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by cherijobookcorner | Jun 25, 2026 | Spiritual Insights
Have you found happiness yet?
It’s a simple question. Happiness can be surprisingly easy to find, yet when I look around me, I see many people still searching for it.
They look for happiness in their jobs and in the pursuit of fortune, fame, and influence. They look for it in their favorite foods, entertainment, music, and hobbies.
Can happiness be found in these places?
I think it can. But first, you have to find the root of happiness. Once you’ve found that, you begin to see happiness everywhere.
Today I’m feeling inspired to share how understanding God’s plan for me helped me find happiness—and how it continues to do so, even when the budget is tight, when I face health challenges or relationship difficulties, and when life feels overwhelming.
For me, it all comes back to understanding who I am—eternally.
A Child of God
Early in my life, I learned a little song called “I Am a Child of God.” If you’ve never heard it before, I hope you’ll take a moment to listen to it. Even if you know this song by heart, it’s worth hearing again.
The words “I am a child of God” are simple, yet they carry profound meaning.
Those words are not only found in a song—they are found in scripture.
In Romans 8:16–17 we read:
“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ…”
The Holy Ghost bears witness only of truth. If the Spirit testifies that we are children of God, we can trust that witness.
Where Did We Come From?
The song from my childhood teaches that God sent us here to earth. If we were sent here, then it follows that we lived before we came.
Is there evidence of this in scripture? I believe there is.
The prophet Jeremiah recorded these words from the Lord:
“Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:4–5)
Jeremiah learned that God knew him before he was born.
Job also received a witness of our premortal existence. The Lord asked him:
“Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth?… When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” (Job 38:4–7)
What would your answer be to that question?
The implication of what Job was told is powerful: the sons of God shouted for joy when the foundations of the earth were laid. As children of God, we were there with our Heavenly Father when the earth was prepared.
Abraham, yes, Father Abraham from the Old Testament, also recorded revelation he received from God.
He wrote:
“Thus I, Abraham, talked with the Lord, face to face, as one man talketh with another… and I could not see the end thereof.” (Abraham 3:11–12)
Later, Abraham recorded:
“Now the Lord had shown unto me, Abraham, the intelligences that were organized before the world was… and he said unto me: Abraham, thou art one of them; thou wast chosen before thou wast born.” (Abraham 3:22–23)
Like Jeremiah and Job, Abraham learned directly from God that we lived with Him before we came to earth. He also learned that some were chosen before they were born to fulfill specific responsibilities.
Why Are We Here?
If we shouted for joy when the earth was created, why were we so excited? Could it be that the creation of the earth had something to do with us?
Absolutely.
Abraham taught that God prepared the earth as a place where His children could come, live, learn, and choose.
He recorded that God said:
“We will go down, for there is space there, and we will make an earth whereon these may dwell…” (Abraham 3:24)
And then he continued :
“And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them…” (Abraham 3:25)
So one purpose of our lives on earth is to choose. Every day we choose how we spend our time, how we treat others, and whether we follow God. Through those choices, we show Him who we are becoming.
And when we choose to be faithful and obedient, great blessings await us.
What Blessings Await the Faithful?
Abraham also recorded this promise:
“And they who keep their first estate shall be added upon… and they who keep their second estate shall have glory added upon their heads for ever and ever.” (Abraham 3:26)
The first estate refers to our life with God before mortality. The second estate refers to our life here on earth.
What a promise—faithfulness leads to glory beyond what we can fully comprehend.
The Need for a Savior
Knowing we are children of God changes how we see ourselves. It reminds us that this life is not the end of our story.
But none of us make right choices all the time. So, what happens when we make mistakes?
Thankfully, God prepared a way for us to be forgiven. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to atone for our sins which makes forgiveness and return possible.
Jesus Christ lived a perfect life, yet He willingly suffered for the sins, pains, and sorrows of all mankind. In the Garden of Gethsemane, He took upon Himself the weight of every sin ever committed. Only the Son of God could endure such a burden.
Because of His Atonement, forgiveness is possible. When we sincerely repent, God forgives us through Jesus Christ.
Isaiah described it this way:
“Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” (Isaiah 1:18)
The Lord also declared:
“Fear not: for I have redeemed thee…I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour… I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.” (Isaiah 43:1,11, 25)
Thankfully, when God forgives, He truly forgives.
Why Understanding God’s Plan Brings Happiness
This is why I am happy:
- I know who I am. I am a child of God.
- I know why I am here. I am here to choose whether I will be obedient and faithful to God.
- And I know that with the help of Jesus Christ, I can return to Him.
Understanding these things has changed everything for me. It is why one of my first thoughts each morning is: “Good morning, Heavenly Father!”
I know He loves me. I know He is aware of my life. I know he has a plan for me. And I’m grateful to know He helps me navigate challenges so I can return to Him someday.
Because He has a plan for us life looks different. Instead of seeing it as a finite period of time where the aim is to pursue pleasure and notoriety, I see it as a time to show God who I really am. To the core. Every day. Even when no one is looking. I make choices based on priorities that will help me be the best I can be. I want to use my time wisely. I want to make good decisions. I want to help everyone discover what I have. Because knowing what I know brings happiness and hope every day of my life.
And when I face hard things, I see them differently too. I see them as opportunities to really grow. To be consistent in my devotion to God and to good. I take stock of why this or that might be happening and what God might be wanting me to learn as I go through the experience.
Bitterness leaves. Frustration lessens. And faith is fostered.
And that is a much better way to live, because when you do, you discover that no matter what, finding happiness is possible!
Your Sister in Christ,
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by cherijobookcorner | Jun 23, 2026 | About This Blog
Welcome to my blog, Epiphanies and More! My hope is that this blog will be a place where people seeking personal revelation and a closer relationship with God can find encouragement, spiritual insights, practical wisdom and inspiration for everyday life.
I’m so glad you are here and I’m looking forward to the time we will spend together sharing back and forth.
I know you’re now wondering about those words: Back and Forth. Isn’t a blog supposed to be one person sharing and the rest of the people just reading it?
Maybe.
But in this case, not so much.
Before we go there, I want to make sure that the name of this blog makes sense. Because if you understand the name, you’ll know what to expect – and to joyfully anticipate.
Why I named This Blog Epiphanies and More
Some years ago, when I first contemplated writing a blog, I was talking with my friend Anne Spry. I was telling her that I needed to come up with a name that would really share what the purpose of my blog was – from the very beginning.
I knew this blog was going to be spiritual in nature. There would be posts about all kinds of spiritual topics including developing greater faith, growing closer to God, living the life God created you to live, and everything in between. But I also knew that there were things I needed (and wanted) to share that were not obviously spiritual.
Now what do I mean by that?
I am one who believes that everything is spiritual in God’s eyes. But for us living out the day-to-day journey of our lives, sometimes we get bogged down. We forget that all things are spiritual. Sometimes we don’t even realize that they are.
Some of us are in the thick of raising small children or trying to get along with our teenagers. Some of us are just getting started in adulthood, going to college, preparing for marriage, or setting up our first home. And what about those of us with more than just a few gray hairs? Maybe we are experiencing health challenges or trying to decide what to do with ourselves now that we’re approaching retirement – or are already there.
God cares about where we are in life, and the joys and challenges we are facing. He really does! And He wants us to counsel with Him through prayer about them. Especially when we feel stalled or confused or just downright overwhelmed.
I think life presents us with difficulties, sometimes seemingly at every turn, because our Heavenly Father wants us to turn to Him. He wants us to communicate, even if it is to share our frustrations. Or maybe especially when we’re feeling frustrated.
Why? Because when we ask for His help and guidance, and then we listen, He responds. He reaches back with spiritual insights, counsel, inspiration, comfort, and more.
I have found in my life that the more I turn to Him for help during challenging times, the more often I hear from Him. Those messages come in a variety of ways, but they always have the signature stamp of His divinity. In other words, it’s clear to me that certain messages are from Him.
So now, back to why I named this blog Epiphanies and More.
As I laid out my idea for this blog to Anne, she suggested the name “Epiphanies.” At the time the word “Epiphany” wasn’t even in my vocabulary. So, I asked her to tell me more. She explained to me that Epiphany was a holiday connected with Christmas. On Epiphany, January 6th, many people celebrate the arrival of the wise men. So, it’s tied to the wisdom of seeking Christ. (Note the star of Bethlehem in the Epiphanies and More logo which is there for that reason.)
Anne then said that the word “Epiphany” also means a moment when God speaks to you. It is when He reveals something to you whether it is in answer to a prayer or a message that comes unexpectedly.
“So, an epiphany is a personal revelation—a message or insight from God?” I asked.
“Yes!” she said, excited that I had understood.
I loved that the word “Epiphany” was a synonym for personal revelation. We were on the right track to naming my blog. And “Epiphanies” (plural) was even better because there were lots of spiritual things I wanted to write about.
Now for the “and More” part. It’s probably already clear to you, but “and More” means simply that. There is more that will be covered in this blog. But it won’t be everything including the kitchen sink.
Epiphanies and More is dedicated to sharing spiritual impressions and understandings that have come to me – and still come to me – from time to time. And it is also devoted to sharing Aha! moments and insights that come in the day-to-day journey of my life.
For example, one of my future blog posts will be about the Aha! I had related to the need to set boundaries in my life. There I will share how I have learned over time to do that. That Aha! moment was powerful and empowering. A little scary at first. but as I applied it repeatedly, a certain peace began to peek through the frantic busyness of my life.
Another future blogpost will be about the Aha! I had about the many ways I could take good care of my body. It’s more than eating healthy food, exercising, drinking enough water, and getting enough sleep. And I think you may be a bit surprised about what will be in that post.
So, when you think of Epiphanies and More think about revelatory spiritual insights and experiences but also think about practical Ahas! Both have the potential to make life easier and more enjoyable to navigate.
How We Can Connect and Share Spiritual Insights
I mentioned earlier that Epiphanies and More is meant to be a way for us to share back and forth. Let me explain what I mean by that.
In some blogposts the “comments” are turned on. This allows readers to comment and start side conversations about a particular blog post. I have thought long and hard about whether to turn comments on, and as I was pondering this, a better option came to light.
What I want for you is to be able to come and read the blog posts and then just sit with them for a bit. I would encourage you to ask the Lord what He would want you to take away from them (if anything). I hope these posts will open the way for you to seek and receive personal revelation. What I don’t want is for you to be sidetracked or redirected away from a moment with Him by the comment of someone else.
So how do we have a back and forth about these blog posts without comments taking over? It’s quite simple. There are two options.
The first is that I will include a clickable link to the Epiphanies and More (private community) Facebook page in each post. Please go there and apply to be admitted to the group. Then, share in a new post whatever you wish.
In your Facebook post please reference then name of the blog post you are writing about so others can find it. You can share personal experiences that are similar if you are inspired to do so, or comment about the blog post. You may also ask questions about the post.
I will be checking the Facebook page frequently and will do my best to respond to questions posed there as quickly as I can. Also others in the group will be able to comment and share their insights as well in response to your post. Please also read and respond to the Facebook posts of others. This is what will help you connect with others in the group.
The second way we can have some back and forth is for you to send me a personal email. This option would be best for highly personal matters or sacred things you feel to share that you’re not comfortable putting on social media. I will put the email address where you can email me at the end of each blog post.
In the subject line of your email, please use the phrase “Blog Question:” and put the name of the blog post you are emailing about. So, for example, “Blog Question: Finding Happiness in God’s Plan for Me.” Again, I will do my best to acknowledge or respond to each email as quickly as I can.
Building Meaningful Spiritual Connections
By having back and forth, either through the Epiphanies and More (private community) Facebook page or through email, we will have the opportunity to connect with each other and with others in very personal and spiritual ways. To me spiritual connections are kindred connections. Connections between friends who really “get” each other and who support and encourage each other. Growing closer to God and developing kindred connections are what I want for all of us.
President Russell M. Nelson said, “. . . in coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.” (See the full talk here.)
I would like to add that as we come together and share back and forth how we receive personal revelation, spiritual insights, direction, and comfort, we will be better prepared to recognize divine communication (or epiphanies), when they come to us. In addition, perhaps some of the very guidance we need may come through what someone else shares in the Facebook group.
Listening for Personal Revelation
Epiphanies are private moments of personal revelation. This is why the image for Epiphanies and More depicts a young woman receiving personal revelation in a forest of trees—alone.
Because of the private nature of revelation, it is always important to follow the guidance of the Spirit as to whether to share what we have received and if so, with whom, and in what way.
There will be things that I will never be able to share in my blog or my books because they were meant for me alone. There may be things that I will only be able to share one-on-one as the Spirit directs. Still other things are meant to be shared far and wide. The same will hold true for you. And that’s okay
Several of the experiences I have had that the Lord wants me to share are found in Loaves and Fishes: Seeing the Miracles. I was quite surprised to learn that the Lord wanted that set of stories to be made available in a variety of formats, including a free download of it. But in following His direction, many people are now being blessed with miracles of their own. Perhaps you will be one of them!
Taking my experience with sharing Loaves and Fishes as an example, I would encourage you to listen to and follow the guidance of the Spirit when you post anything to the Facebook page. Do the same when you reach out through a private email. Only share those things that you feel inspired to share, in the way that you are inspired to share them. And if the spirit prompts you to put something on the Facebook page, there is probably someone there who needs to read it!
Let’s honor the epiphanies and more that God gives to each of us so He will be willing to give us even more in the future!
Your Sister in Christ,
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