Christmas Star...A Gift From Our Nursery Leaders

We have the greatest, most loving, caring, dedicated,

and prepared Nursery leaders in our church.

Each week, they teach the children true principles of the gospel of Christ.

They speak on their level.

They hold them and love them.

If a child is absent, the Nursery leader often mails them a card

or drops off that Sunday's lesson to our home!

It is evident that they see these little children as "precious souls".

Today, Scarlett came home from church with a bag full of special treats

and this star with a lovely poem on the back.

(I hope you can read the poem in the picture above.)

The children are to hang this star above their bed to remind them to pray and read their scriptures every day, so that,

"when you've found your day is done,

you'll see this star and know you've won.

If your own light you haven't let dim and

like a wise man, you've followed Him."

Let Your Light Shine

Mathew 5:16

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

The Savior is the best example of good works and service. Even though He came to earth as the Son of God, He humbly served all those around Him. He declared,

"I am among you as he that serveth" (Luke 22:27).

The Savior used a parable to teach the importance of service. In the parable, He told of His return to the earth in His glory and of separating the righteous from the wicked. To the righteous in this parable He says:

"Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me" (Matthew 25:34–36).

The righteous, who are puzzled by this declaration, ask: "Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?" (Matthew 25:37–39).

Then the Lord answers, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me" (Matthew 25:40).

Opportunities for service to others are limitless. Kind words and deeds can lift burdens and gladden hearts. Sharing the gospel is a great service with eternal consequences. One true key to happiness is to labor for the happiness of others.

True to Faith 2004

We have been blessed with the gospel of Jesus Christ, and the constant companion of the Holy Ghost. When we are living righteously we have a light shining through us that others notice. Little acts of kindness or large, planned service to others are candles shining in the dark. The holiday season is a time to shine even brighter through service, compassion, love, patience and doing good for all.

MATTHEW 26:21-22

"Is it I?"

21 And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.

22 And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I?



I love how John Bytheway used this scripture in his book "When Times are Tough".



He said:

"The question "Is it I?" looks inward. It is an outward recognition of an inner weakness. It says, "I may have done something wrong. Will you help me to know if i have.?"


He further explained that:

"This scripture, when applied to a marriage relationship, is a valuable tool for creating an environment in which problems can be talked about and solved. Marriage partners can ask them selves the same question, early and often:"Did I do something wrong?" "Have I hurt your feelings in some way?" "Is there something I can do better?" The words themselves are not as important as the meekness required of the one who does the asking."[When Times are Tough,John Bytheway,41-42]

I personally love this scripture because it shows the perfect character of the Savior and the apostles' response shows humility. It teaches us how we can be true disciples of Christ both in word and in deed.

Trust In the Lord: Proverbs 3

THE PROVERBS

CHAPTER 3

Write mercy and truth upon the tablet of thy heart—Trust in the Lord—Honor him with thy substance—Whom the Lord loveth he correcteth—Happy is the man that findeth wisdom.

1 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:

2 For length of days, and ^along life, and ^bpeace, shall they add to thee.

3 Let not mercy and ^atruth forsake thee: ^bbind them about thy neck; write them upon the ^ctable of thine ^dheart:

4 So shalt thou find ^afavour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

5 ¶ ^aTrust in the Lord with all thine ^bheart; and lean not unto thine ^cown ^dunderstanding.

6 In all thy ways ^aacknowledge him, and he shall ^bdirect thy ^cpaths.

7 ¶ Be not ^awise in thine own eyes: ^bfear the Lord, and depart from evil.

8 It shall be ^ahealth to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

9 ^aHonour the Lord with thy ^bsubstance, and with the ^cfirstfruits of all thine increase:

10 So shall thy barns be filled with ^aplenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

11 ¶ My son, despise not the ^achastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction:

12 For whom the Lord loveth he ^acorrecteth; even as a ^bfather the son in whom he delighteth.

13 ¶ ^aHappy is the man that findeth ^bwisdom, and the man that getteth ^cunderstanding.

14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.

15 She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.

16 Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand ^ariches and honour.

17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

18 She is a tree of ^alife to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.

19 The Lord by wisdom hath ^afounded the earth; by ^bunderstanding hath he established the heavens.

20 By his knowledge the depths are ^abroken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.

21 ¶ My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:

22 So shall they be life unto thy soul, and ^agrace to thy neck.

23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.

24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.

25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.

26 For the Lord shall be thy ^aconfidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

27 ¶ ^aWithhold not ^bgood from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.

28 Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.

29 ^aDevise not evil against thy ^bneighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.

30 ¶ ^aStrive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.

31 ¶ Envy thou not the ^aoppressor, and choose none of his ways.

32 For the ^afroward is abomination to the Lord: but his secret is with the righteous.

33 ¶ The ^acurse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.

34 Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth ^agrace unto the ^blowly.

35 The ^awise shall inherit glory: but ^bshame shall be the promotion of fools.

I love poetry and simple, easy to remember pieces of wisdom. That is why I chose to share this chapter of Proverbs for our first day of observing National Bible Week.

National Bible Week

First of all...did any of you see THIS...

...or THIS...

...on the way to Stake Conference today???

Unadulterated awesomeness.

And in case you missed the other main event this morning--Stake Conference--President Leggieri began by encouraging us to celebrate "National Bible Week", which is observed every year from Sunday to Sunday during the week of Thanksgiving.

Let's support this cause by hosting a virtual "read-in".

Here's how it will work: Each day (from Sunday, November 22 through November 29) one of us will post our favorite bible verses or stories on this blog.

If you will be traveling during that time, but would still like to participate in this "online bible study", you can do that easily by writing your blog post and scheduling it to "publish" while you are away.

Please leave a comment on this post claiming your day...We'll need 8 people, including me! (I'll take Nov. 22!)...