Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Me as Religious Education Director at St. Pius in Billings - this was an award party in my honor - and I was truly honored!



When we lost everything in our fire some amazing blessings came our way. One of those blessings was an opportunity to move to Billings. Phil was offered a job selling pipe for a company out of Salt Lake, Waterworks Equipment Co. It was a big jump in wages, so we packed up all our belongs, which was all the wonderful things people had given us. When we got to Billings, many great opportunities opened up for us. We lived there 20 years before returning to Great Falls. The scripture on the banner above meant a lot to me, and I lived that way. He did direct my paths. And one of those paths led me into Religious Ed director. I loved the job. It was very rewarding. I've been searching for that scripture so I could tell you to read it in your bible and pray with it often. But - I can't seem to find it. Do any of you know where it is? If so, please post it here. Thanks.

But - it is so true. If we truly do seek Him with all our hearts. Really want to know Him. Really listen for his direction. Really trust Him. Really love being in His presence and talking to Him - He will direct our path. He will lead us. We just need to get to know Him so intimately and thoroughly that we can recognize His leading. That is so important in this day and age. There is so much out there that is false, and it is hard to discern the real from the false. If you worked in a bank, you would spend time in your training learning money. You would learn how it feels, the color of it, the print on it - everything about real money. You don't study the counterfeit at all. You just get to know the real so well that you learn to recognize the fake when you come across it. That is the same with God and His leading and His teaching. If you study the word of God, spend time with Him, learn of Him, you will be able to recognize the real from the counterfeit. And you will know when it is He who is leading you. So seek Him with all your heart and He will direct your path.

5 comments:

Kay said...

Great article Mom - and boy howdy! Do you ever look like Janet here!

Lonnie said...

For some reason your comment blended into my title. Can you write it again. I do read that Janet and I look alike. I think we do, too. Janet was at this party, too. I remember her giving a little talk about the good mother and friend I was. Made me cry. I think I have a picture of her at this party. I'll try to find it. We can compare.

Anonymous said...

I was just going to say how beautiful you look and how proud I am of you for all you did and do!!

My name is Sharon said...

This is very welll said, Lonnie, and so very, very important to know. AND, it is a reminder that I truly need right now! Perfect timing! We need to the Shepherd's voice and the Shepherd.

Now then, about the photo -- I was thinkin how young you are in this photo. And I was thinking, you don't look too much different now. I remember this ceremony. A lady said something to the effect "..just look at you (Lonnie). You look like the perfect mother." And Janet piped up and said "She IS."

Lonnie said...

Yes, that's how it was said! So nice, huh? Especially when sometimes (well, probably most of the time), I did not feel like a very good mother. That did bring the tears to my eyes.

It would be great if we could do parenthood over again, wouldn't it? Well, maybe not. I'm pretty glad that's over. That was hard work, and the only guide book was the bible, and I really hadn't started reading it until after Brian was born! That part of it I'd do over. I mean I'd ask Jesus into my heart and I'd ask for the baptism in the Holy Spirit at an early age, so I could have all the benefits of knowing Jesus as my Lord and savior, and the benefits of knowing the Holy Spirit as my comforter, teacher, guide, and everything He does for me since I recognized Him and leaned on God the Father. It's an amazing life in Him, isn't it?