Crazy Christmas Time

So I was thinking about how busy this time of year gets. How we all have so many places to go and so many parties to go to. Suddenly we are filled with thoughts of what to buy for those we love. How to show people we care. It can get very overwhelming. Now I'm not going to complain that we've lost the meaning of Christmas. No, what I have realized is that this is totally the meaning of Christmas. All the things we spend our time on, all the events we engage in, all have to do with those we love. I like that Christmas time is when we all tend to think of one another. Get together with old friends, try and find something for each person that has helped us get through one more year. As hectic as we make it, I think it's fun. There really is no other meaning for Christmas, than thinking of those we love most.
That iss why I'm glad we celebrate the birth of our savior this time of year. He truly gave those he loved most, the greatest gift of all. He descended below us all to come to earth and perform the greatest act. He was only thinking of us when he chose to come to earth. No longer at the right hand of our Father in Heaven where we reigns and rules the Heavens but, down here among those who regarded him as nothing, so that we could one day be with our Father again. So just as we fill this time of year with parties and events that bring us close to each other, I think of how that is just what our Savior did. He caused the event that will one day unite us eternally all together.
I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas. I hope that each of us was able to and continues to feel of the Love of our Savior, for that is the spirit of Christmas.
Love you!

Hope

I realize lately how easy it is to focus on all the things that I can't do because of the situation I find myself in. I recognize how often I reflect on the things that are withheld from me instead of the things bestowed upon me. Maybe this is a time to open my mind to new things. To not get stuck on what I think is best or right but to look for opportunities to change in the direction that is intended. I feel that I've been so concerned trying to figure out all the things that I want that I quite possibly have been keeping the door shut to receiving guidance from the one who know what will bring me the most joy. For we know that 'men are that they might have joy.' As I think about the word joy, a lot of experiences come to mind. Most of them have to do with a time that I was able to see someone else experience joy. I cannot think of anything greater to behold. Each time someone was filled with joy it was directly related to them being taught about the gospel, which naturally leads one to hope. I'm reminded of the story in the book of Alma when Ammon gains the trust of kind Lamoni and has the opportunity to teach him all about the 'plan of redemption which was prepared from the foundation of the world; he also made known until them concerning the coming of Christ.' Lamoni had not heard these things before and upon learning them, he immediately turned to the Lord for forgiveness and mercy. He was so overcome with 'joy that he sunk to the earth.' He was taught there was more, better, greater things to come. He had reason now to Hope for a better live than he currently had.
"Hope is the abiding trust that the Lord will fulfill His promises to you. It is manifest in confidence, optimism, enthusiasm and patient perseverance. It is believing and expecting that something will occur."(PMG pg 117) It is so easy to get caught up in the things that aren't happening, trust me I'm an expert. But I know that the Lord does not promise something he does not intend to deliver. So now I guess is time for me to just think of other things to do with my time and make the most of it and to push out those thoughts of doubt and discouragement. Because they will undoubtedly come. But I know that with 'confidence, optimism, enthusiasm and patience' we can live our lives in a way that opens our hearts and souls to joy. For that is why we are here.

Charity

So once again not much to update so I thought I would share with you what I have been thinking about and read. I've been thinking a lot about charity lately and how much I lack :) just go with me here. So I was reading out of PMG (preach my gospel) in chapter 6, 'Christlike attributes.', and in there it lists what Charity is and then how to obtain it as well. In Moroni 7 we learn that we can "pray unto the Father with all energy of heart, that [we] may be filled with this love" So I read on and it says that as you do this, certain things will come. So I posed some questions to myself. Am I willing to do all these things that are natural reactions to being filled with Charity?
Am I will to . . .
1. Feel a sincere concern for the eternal welfare and happiness of other people?
2. See others as children of God with the potential of becoming like our Heavenly Father?
3. Avoid negative feelings such as anger, envy, lust, or covetousness?
4. Avoid judging others, criticizing them, or saying negative things about them?
5. Try to understand others and their points of view?
6. Be patient with others and try to them them when they are struggling or discouraged?

I'm sure there are more but this is what is listed. So I asked myself, 'when I'm praying for this gift of charity, am I taking into account what it will mean?'
One of my favorite scriptures is found in Romans 8 vs 35-38.
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, or life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come. Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

We are so lucky to have the knowledge that we do. And what great opportunity it is to live up to such wonderful expectations. I hope ya'll have a good day!

Much Love!

I'm so grateful that we have an example in our savior Jesus Christ. Where all these things are hard to do and take time and a whole lot of practise I know that through the help of the holy ghost and continually looking to Christ as an example we can become like this.