The Power & Joy of Testimony (Plus TWO GIVEAWAYS)

Hi there - I hope that everyone enjoyed all of the great talks given this weekend in General Conference.  We are so blessed to know that God still speaks to men on earth!

Today, I want to introduce you to my new friend Dedra.  When I approached her to do a giveaway of some of her cute bow ties for our Easter Blog Party, I had no idea how incredibly awesome she was.  She agreed to the giveaway, which you'll hear more about in a minute, but she also expressed a strong desire to bear testimony of Jesus Christ.

Without further ado, here's Dedra!

I’m so excited to share my testimony of Jesus Christ!

I love my Savior and my Heavenly Father. It’s so easy at this time of the year to feel that they are real and that they love us. It’s amazing to see green buds showing up everywhere – even on the rosebushes I hacked back last fall, which have looked so dead for so long. Now it is as if they are coming back to life.

Just like the spring turns the darkness of winter into a glorious, radiant light, so a testimony of Jesus Christ and His divinity and earthly mission bring joy and happiness to our lives.

For me, my testimony is a power – almost as literal as to be able to touch. My faith in Jesus Christ, my Saviour, has gotten me through years of waiting for children, miscarriages, over a year of half paychecks from my husband's work and living off food storage and crazy frugality (I now know what will NEVER go in my food storage again for fear of having to actually eat it), having our house on the market now for what feels like an eternity and just the regular daily struggles we all go through. 

My faith helps me to make my trials into sources of joy, because through Jesus Christ I can see the big picture but I know how to live in today. I can taste the glorious blessings ahead if I can just ground myself in the present and ENJOY!!!

I don’t have all the answers, but I do know that “men are that they might have joy” (2 Nephi 2:25). HOW?!?!? You may ask. Well, for starters I’m 5 weeks pregnant. There is a VERY big chance this pregnancy won’t last, that I’ll never be able to hold this baby, BUT—I’m excited. 

I’m excited to have a part in Creation. I’m excited to sacrifice for someone else. I’m excited to put my trust in Jesus Christ because at the end of the day, or year, or in the eternities, He will make everything right. 

He is my Rock. My Anchor. My Savior. He makes my life wonderful, happy, and full of joy. 

Just trust Him and choose to have joy along your journey of life.

I promise you that if you seek daily for true joy you will find it—and here’s a hint: It is almost always in the little things. Don’t worry about your destination. Find a way to enjoy traffic, poopy diapers, breakfast, chores, poor health, errands, etc. and at the end you’ll arrive where you always wanted to go.

Now for the Free Giveaways!!!

Visit Modish Podish and reply to this post listing which item is your favorite. Be sure to list the title. One winner will be selected to receive their favorite item (as long as it is still in stock by the end of this contest, or something very similar).

Visit Prettiful Designs and reply to this post listing which item is your favorite. Be sure to list the title. 10 winners will be selected to receive their favorite item!!!

The winner of the bow ties  the 10 winners of the digi-designs will be announced Friday!

Good Luck!!