December 25, 2019 – January 13th, 2020
As we round out the year, take time to evaluate where you have been and how far you have come. Once you appreciate that, you can realize the importance of not falling into old patterns. You may also recognize the need to be a little better. Look to set realistic goals for yourself that will help you grow and become your best self. If you want to grow in the Gospel in the new year, study the scriptures, better communicate with your Father in Heaven, attend the temple regularly, or come to know the Saviour better, or do all of them.
“The perfect place to begin is exactly where you are at right now.” – Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Love is for its own sake! Our Heavenly Parents love each and every one of us without reservation or condition! They may not agree with everything we do, but that doesn’t change how much They love us. Make sure your loved ones know that your love is unconditional too, and strive to make it so. Often the fines it’s hardest to show love, is also the time’s when they need it the most! Love one another as Jesus loves you! Try to show kindness in all that you do!
“Love should never be withdrawn when a child, friend, or family member fails to live up to our expectations.” – S. Mark Palmer
We need to be doing the right things, at the right time, and in the right places. That means taking time out of our home life to study the scriptures with our family. It’s important we do so because our growth and the growth of our family is what is at stake!
“This work of the Lord is indeed great and marvelous, but it moves forward essentially unnoticed by many of mankind’s… leaders. It progresses one heart at a time, silently and unobtrusively, its sacred message blessing people everywhere.” – L. Whitney Clayton
Don’t ever hesitate to act on a prompting from the Spirit. We will never do wrong by doing so. We never know the impact a kind word or deed will have in another’s life! @hankrsmith
“Just because someone says they’re ‘fine’ or ‘great’ doesn’t mean they really are. We all hide our struggles to some degree. If you have a feeling to text someone, or any other prompting, don’t hesitate to follow through. Your kindness can be life changing.” Hank R. Smith
I may not be the best person to give marriage advice, because I feel a lot of the success of my marriage was the good fortune of marrying a wonderful girl! But in the 15+ years since we were married, we’ve struggled and needed to work at it. I absolutely love my wife! I love how forgiving she is. I love that she’s my best friend and that we can laugh and play together! If I could suggest one thing, it’d be to find someone that makes you better and makes you happy at the same time. Make sure that person is someone you could be with, just the two of you, and the two of you are best friends! That strategy has worked for me and I know it’ll work for you too!
PS, if you’re not married, don’t let that define you, keep living your life and doing the best you can! You’re every bit as entitled to happiness as someone who is married!
“A happy and successful marriage depends on two good forgivers.” – Lynn G. Robbins
Our Heavenly Parents are keenly invested in us. They have not left us to struggle through life on our own. They want to see us be successful, They want us to thrive, but They will not do it for us and take away our opportunity to grow, but through Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost, They’ve provides all the help we could ever want or need in order to be successful.
“God is not waiting at the finish line. He is not waiting for us to do ‘all we can do’ by ourselves before He helps us. Rather, He is ‘with us’ – Ready, willing, and able to help us every step of the way.” – Brad Wilcox
The Church of Jesus Christ is led by Jesus Christ, but it’s administered and stock full of people. People are mistake prone and imperfect. Please afford church leaders and other members the same measure of forgiveness that you would seek with your shortcomings. If we could give each other a break, and love and support one another despite each other’s faults, the church and its members would be made stronger and better than ever before!
“We seek to strengthen the church as a place where we forgive one another. Where we resist the temptation to find fault, gossip, and bring others down. Where, instead of pointing out flaws, we lift up and help each other to become the best we can be.” – Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Could we ask for a more merciful and loving judge? He bore our grief and knows our sorrows and trials. He is uniquely qualified to judge us because He knows us like no other. He also loves us like no other! Trust in Him and He will guide you to be the best version of yourself and when you greet Him, He will embrace you and say, ‘well done, thou good and faithful servant!’
“Gratefully, the scriptures also teach that Jesus Christ, He who suffered for our sins, who is our advocate with the Father, who calls us His friends, who loves us into the end, He ultimately will be our judge.” Allen D. Haynie
Going into a new year is a great time to evaluate where we are and re-commit ourselves to being better, especially in regards to our faith! Do we have the faith to trust in God in all things? To accept that calling? To pay a full tithe? To wait and be patient? To be humble and repent? We must trust in Him and remember that He knows all and sees what we must do to become our best selves!
“Increased faith is what we most need.” – Gordon B. Hinckley
In the end, it doesn’t matter why the glass was broken, just that it was and it’s important to get it repaired or replaced..in our relationships, we need to be forgiving and kind to one another. That doesn’t mean we need to be a doormat. It doesn’t require us to forget, but it relieves us of unkind or contentious thoughts towards another. Remember, kindness and forgiveness cost us nothing, but can make all the difference in our lives and the lives of others.
“In many families, there are hurt feelings and a reluctance to forgive. IT doesn’t really matter what the issue was. It cannot and should not be left to injure. Blame keeps wounds open. Only forgiveness heals.” – Thomas S. Monson
Life is busy and there’s much to do, which makes the kindness of others all the more important as the time taken to help another is actually a gift of time. But even if the kindness took no time out of a persons day, they still made the conscious choice to show you kindness, to smile or hold the door, to help with some small act or to encourage you through life. This is love. Never pass up an opportunity to show love. We need to show it and others need to feel it, just as much as we need to feel it when others show it!
“Sometimes the greatest love is not found in dramatic scenes that poets and writers immortalize. Often. the greatest manifestations of love are the simple acts of kindness and caring we extend to those we meet along the path of life.” – Joseph F. Wirthlin
Sometimes we think that being in the presence of Heavenly Father requires absolute perfection, but that is not the case. We eventually will get there, but if we have felt the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, we are on the path to be in the presence of God.
“If we can be worthy of the presence of the Holy Ghost, we can also be worthy to live in the presence of Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ.” – Come, Follow Me Manual
‘How can we better live as Jesus Christ taught and lived?’ If each of us could ask ourselves that question each day, then look for opportunities, the world would be made brighter from Christ’s example and from our service and people would feel more connected and more loved.
“Every day we should ask ourselves, ‘how can we better live as Jesus Christ taught and lived?’ This mindset will help fill our lives, our homes, our neighbourhoods, and our churches with more of Christ’s light and power.” – Russell M. Nelson
The Church isn’t a place where we whitewash people! It may have felt like it in the past, but it should be place where we celebrate people’s style, personality and differences. Whether or not you feel like you fit in, you are still welcome. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love you and your quirks, and you can make the Church a better place and in so doing, we might just be able to help you become a better person while you help us to be better!
“Bring all the good that you have and let us see if we can add to it.” – Gordon B. Hinckley
You are here for a purpose, never forget that! Each of us has the ability, capacity and responsibility to reach someone that no one else can and as we each love and serve, we improve our community and lift one another! ‘Thee lift me and I’ll lift thee and we shall ascend together!’
“God will use you to make the lives of others better.” – Dieter F. Uchtdorf
We owe everything to Christ! Everything! Without Him, we would know no joy or happiness, no comfort or peace! Life would be hollow, since there would be no way to progress beyond life. Because of Him, we will all be resurrected and perfected, because of Him, we can be made whole and progress. Because of Him, life has meaning.
“[Because of Christ,] the debt is paid, the redemption made, the covenant fulfilled, justice satisfied, the will of God done, and all power is … given into the hands of the Son of God.” – John Taylor
This isn’t really a matter of being the bigger person as it is who needs the spiritual repair that comes with forgiveness. We simply need to forgive to live closer to our Saviour. He payed the price so we can forgive and be forgiven. Our relationship to Him is more important than any amount of hurt we’ve felt. We need to bring it to His feet and let Him share His peace with us. There is peace in Christ.
“I testify that forgiving and forsaking offenses, old or new, is central to the grandeur of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, I testify that ultimately such spiritual repair can come only from our divine Redeemer, He who rushes to our aid ‘with healing in His wings.'” – Jeffrey R. Holland
Covenants are so important because they bond us to the Saviour. Every spiritual blessing and privilege available is because of Jesus Christ. We need Him and we need to be close to Him. Do what you can to grow closer to Him each and every day!
“Your commitment to follow the Saviour by making covenants with Him and then keeping those covenants will open the door to every spiritual blessing and privilege available.” – Russell M. Nelson
There are many wonderful things in life that can add spice to our lives. This includes, hobbies, experiences, and people. Living life along the covenant path does not include hiding ourselves away from the world. Go, enjoy and experience life, but remember your covenants. Remember who you are and whose you are!
“Even though life can sometimes seem Grim, there are wonderful things in our daily lives that can bring us joy. We should focus on those things…. [God] wants each of us to share our light. We bring our own experiences, background, and culture to the church.” – Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Bumped into this verse while doing some cross referencing and I found it really profound. The Lord of the vineyard, who is Jesus Christ is asking one of His servants, what else He, the Saviour, could have done to help each and every one of us. As if He hadn’t already lived a perfect life, taught us how to be better, Atoned for our sins, died for us upon the cross, was resurrected to provide a way for us to follow Him and continues to succor our every need. There is nothing else the Saviour could’ve done. But we can do more. We can turn to Him, accept His ever reaching hand and exercise faith in Him by going to work. We can help by loving and serving those around us and doing our part in the Master’s vineyard.
“The Lord of the vineyard wept, and said unto the servant, What could I have done more for my vineyard.” – Jacob 5:41
The family unit is designed by God. He had many reasons for this, among them is the opportunity for parents to teach their young how to love one another and to serve and to think outside themselves. I’m grateful for a loving home and hope to provide my children with a similar level of love and understanding.
“The home is to be God’s laboratory of love and service.” – Russell M. Nelson
~ Todd Bruce
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