O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

Day Thirty - Thirty Days of Thanksgiving

Today is the first Sunday of Advent, a fitting time to express gratitude for my greatest blessing: My knowledge and testimony of Jesus Christ as my Savior, Redeemer, Advocate, Spiritual Father, Brother and Friend. I couldn't make it through life without Him. He condescended to come to earth to experience life, pain, temptation and sorrow so He would know how to succor me. He suffered and gave His life to pay for my sins. He broke the chains of death and was resurrected so I can live again. Death is not the end. I don't understand everything, but I do know He loves me and will help me to pass the test of this mortal boarding school. I am forever grateful for His love and help.

Come Ye Thankful People Come

Day Twenty-seven - Thirty Days of Thanksgiving

Like many families, ours has the tradition of each person at the table sharing something they're thankful for before we give thanks for the food and ask for a blessing. My heart overflows with gratitude and I can't think of just one thing. So I usually express thanks for my Savior, Jesus Christ, my family, and being together with plenty of delicious food.

I hope that you too can be together with family and friends expressing love and gratitude for your many blessings. It seems appropriate to take stock of them, count them one by one, and see what God hath done.

Sunshine

Day 3 - Thirty Days of Thanksgiving

Today I enjoyed bright, warm sunshine streaming in the windows. I'm always grateful for sunshine when the temperature outside is cold because it warms up the house. 

I'm also very thankful for "Sonshine", the love, mercy and grace that comes from Jesus Christ, my Savior and Redeemer. 

A Little Christmas Joy!

Christmas with Nana!

The magic of Christmas comes through children. They are so innocent, hopeful, and charmed by simple things like lights and music. Children remind us of the Baby Jesus, the Christ Child. So sweet and lovable.

These precious cherubs came for a family dinner and gift exchange on Sunday. They will be traveling to Idaho to their other grandparents for the actual Christmas day. 

Ardent - More Christ In Christmas

My Christmas ABC's

Z is for zealous. The Lord instructed Paul to write to a particular group, "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten; be zealous therefore, and repent." (Revelation 3:19 KJV)

In the Webster's 1828 dictionary, zealous is defined as "warmly engaged or ardent in the pursuit of an object." Jesus's first recorded words after He was baptized by John were, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand, repent ye, and believe the gospel." (Mark 1:15 KJV) 

The "good tidings of great joy" are that we have a Savior! He was born to redeem us from sin and death. Can there be any greater message for Christmas Day? I hope you have felt closer  to Him this season and will follow Him more zealously in the new year. 

Are You Thirsty? - More Christ in Christmas

My Christmas ABC's

W is for water. Jesus said to the Samaritan woman, "Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again. But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water, springing up into everlasting life." (John 4:13-14 KJV)

Through the Old Testament prophet Amos the Lord said, "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord." (Amos 8:11 KJV) 

There are so many in the world today who wander around parched and panting. They need the words of the Lord to quench their thirst, they need to know the hope and joy of redemption through Jesus Christ. That is one of the messages of Christmas--the baby whose birth we celebrate would grow up to perform the Great Atoning Sacrifice for us! He would make it possible for us to be forgiven and be clean, to have help in returning to God in Heaven.

Drink deeply of the Living Water!

He's Waiting - More Christ in Christmas

My Christmas ABC's

 

I is for invitation - Jesus said, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." (Revelation 3:20 KJV)

A remarkable thing about Jesus Christ is that He doesn't force Himself on anyone. He invites us to follow Him, but never forces.

Accepting His invitation can bring peace into our lives as we realize what is most important, especially in this season that seems to have been taken over by crass materialism: family, friends, neighbors. People matter more than things. Relationships matter more than status. Character matters more than money. Memories matter than possessions. These are the things we take with us when we leave this mortal existence: relationships, our character, our knowledge, and memories.

Invite Jesus into your heart and home for the kind of peace that the world cannot give.

Wednesday's Wisdom

In this mortal experience, we cannot control all that happens to us, but we have absolute control over how we respond to the changes in our lives. This does not imply that the challenges and trials we face are of no consequence and easily handled or dealt with. It does not imply that we will be free from pain or heartache. But it does mean that there is cause for hope and that due to the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can move forward and find better days--even days full of joy, light, and happiness.

W. Christopher Wadell, 2nd Counselor Presiding Bishopric
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Sunday's Spiritual Thought

He lives!

And this is how I feel about it:

I know He lives! My gratitude for Him and His Atoning Sacrifice knows so bounds. It truly is a Happy Easter!

Sunday's Spiritual Thought

For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.

But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him.

Moroni 7:16-17

The Book of Mormon 

Christmas A to Z: REDEEMER

He began as we all do, a tiny baby.

Through His Atoning Sacrifice in the Garden of Gethsemane,
and on the Cross at Golgotha He redeems us from sin and death.

 And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophesies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.                                       2 Nephi 25:26

He will come again as Lord of Lord and King of Kings, Our Redeemer!

Inasmuch . . .

A sweet and tender story for Christmas time.

Were You There?

More Christmas magic for your enjoyment!

The Prince of Peace

Have you felt the healing power of the Savior?

Without Christ . . . There would be no Christmas