The Abundant Life

During the Christmas Season I often ponder upon what makes a person rich? In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus taught us to lay up for ourselves "treasures in heaven." What are treasures in heaven and how do we obtain them?

Jesus of Nazareth also observed in his teachings the following:
"I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10.)

And this next promise Jesus gave is recorded four times in the New Testament:
"For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it."

"The abundant life, of course, has little to do with the acquisition of material things, though there are many wonderful individuals who have been blessed materially and who use their wealth to help their fellowmen—and this is most commendable. The abundant life noted in the scriptures is the spiritual sum that is arrived at by the multiplying of our service to others and by investing our talents in service to God and to man. Jesus said, you will recall, that on the first two commandments hang all the law and the prophets, and those two commandments involve developing our love of God, of self, of our neighbors, and of all men. There can be no real abundance in life that is not connected with the keeping and the carrying out of those two great commandments." - Spencer W. Kimball

"If we would truly reform mankind, we must first reform ourselves." - Spencer W. Kimball

Just something to think about....

How thankful I am for the example of perfect selflessness and charity of my Savior!

the quotes in this post are clips from a talk entitled, "The Abundant Life" originally given in 1977 by President Spencer W. Kimball (Prophet of God from 1973 -1975)

Who He Was and Is

Does anyone else find it really cool that all who came to worship Christ and the gifts laid before Him

are also symbols of Who HE was and IS!



He is the Light, The Star that shines to warm our souls and guide us through the darkness.

He is the Good Shepherd keeping watch over His flock and searching out the lost.

He is the Lamb of God, a perfect, pure and innocent sacrifice to atone for us.

He is The Wise Man, all knowing and all powerful.

He is The King of Glory, the Lord of hosts.

He was sent from heaven like the angels that sang His praise.

He is The Greatest Gift the world will ever know.


May we remember Christ this Christmas Season and every day of the year. May we remember His Atonement and Resurrection. May we be filled with His grace and follow His example of love and forgiveness to others. May we follow His example of obedience to Our Father In Heaven. May we rejoice in Him and show gratitude daily for His tender mercies.

I know my Redeemer lives. He is the rock of my salvation, my sure foundation, my counselor, my exemplar and my greatest friend!
His love never ceases to amaze me!

"Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. " - Revelations. 5:13

"One Sees Clearly Only with the Heart"

Photo by, Mark Maybry "Healing"
“One sees clearly only with the heart. Anything essential is invisible to the eyes.”
- Antoine de Saint Exupéry



“Sometimes the most precious and sacred things are right in front of us, in plain sight so to speak. But we cannot or will not see them.”

[During the Christmas Season] “All of these spectacular displays and decorations that compete for our attention can be beautiful and uplifting…. But if that’s all we see, we are missing something that’s in plain sight. Sometimes despite our best intentions we become so preoccupied with responsibilities, commitments and the stress of our many tasks that we fail to see with our hearts that which is essential and most sacred.”

“Even many who lived during the time of the Savior’s mortal ministry could not see Him though He walked among them in plain sight.”

“The self-righteous and unteachable, those whose hearts were closed to the Spirit could not see Him.

Now, can we see the Christ?

Sometimes when we read about a people who could not see the Savior for who He was, we marvel at their blindness…. But do we also let distractions obstruct our view of the Savior during this Christmas season and throughout the year?

Some are external distractions; the gifts we worry about, the decorations or the glamorous advertising…. But often it is what is inside us that blinds us from seeing the Christ.

Let us see the Christ in Christmas!

Photo by, Mark Maybry "Angels"

This is a season of rejoicing, a season of celebration, a wonderful time when we acknowledge that our Almighty God sent His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ to redeem the world, to redeem us. It is the season of charitable acts, of kindness, of brotherly love. It is a season of being more reflective about our own life and about the many blessings that our ours. It is a season of forgiving and being forgiven. But perhaps most of all, let it be a season of seeking the Lamb of God, the King of Glory, the Everlasting Light of the World, the Great Hope of Mankind, the Savior and Redeemer of our souls.

I promise that if we unclutter our lives a little bit and in sincerity and humility seek the pure and gentle Christ with our hearts, we will see Him. We will find Him on Christmas and throughout the year. Of this I testify, in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, Amen.”
- Dieter Friedrich Uchtdorf (Apostle of the Lord, Jesus Christ)

To watch the full Christmas Devotional click here.

Small Christmas???

My husband and I are living the student life with four kids. Money isn't easy to come by especially with the economy the way it is. Our Christmas gifts to our kids are simple this year...just garage sale stuff. They each get two things. Our kids don't mind though, we've never cared to make presents an issue with them... and they are always happy with what they get. I don't want sympathy. In fact I don't feel like there is ANYTHING to be sympathetic about. Presents mean NOTHING to me.

Ralph Waldo Emerson, the poet, wrote: “Rings and jewels are not gifts, but apologies for gifts. The only [true] gift is a portion of thyself.”

President David O. McKay said: “True happiness comes only by making others happy—the practical application of the Savior’s doctrine of losing one’s life to gain it. In short, the Christmas spirit is the Christ spirit, that makes our hearts glow in brotherly love and friendship and prompts us to kind deeds of service.
“It is the spirit of the gospel of Jesus Christ, obedience to which will bring ‘peace on earth,’ because it means—good will toward all men.”

So are we poor? It depends on how you look at it. Our friends from India and Mongolia would say we live like royalty. And I would have to agree. I feel very, very rich!!! We have running water, heating, food in our cupboards and a fridge.. we have a fridge!, we have indoor plumbing, electricity, a stove, a computer, we have enough clothes to last us a couple of weeks and we have beds to sleep in....

...But even with all this stuff this is not the biggest reason I feel so rich.

I am rich because I have a husband who shares my same values and who is my best friend. We have four healthy, beautiful children who are worth more than all the money in the world. And most of all we have the true Gospel of Jesus Christ to guide us in our lives. This Gospel is the glue that holds my marriage together, my family together... it holds me together. I have a testimony that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is God's true church on the earth today. I am so rich!! All my needs are met and I want for nothing...

I have never had a Christmas that has been "small"... and with the Gospel in my life I never will.

And nothing makes me happier than to share this treasure that so graciously blesses my life!

Something to Think About

I saw this printed on a decorative frame at a book store yesterday and being the Christmas Season it gave me good perspective.

"The best things in life....

are not things."

Thoughts About Christmas

At Christmastime, modern prophets teach about the birth of Christ and His divine influence on all who have lived and will yet live. Read some of the lessons they share.

The Best Christmas Ever
Thomas S. Monson
Giving, not getting, brings to full bloom the Christmas spirit. Enemies are forgiven, friends remembered, and God obeyed. The spirit of Christmas illuminates the picture window of the soul, and we look out upon the world’s busy life and become more interested in people than things. To catch the real meaning of the “spirit of Christmas,” we need only drop the last syllable, and it becomes the “Spirit of Christ.”

Treasured Gifts
Thomas S. Monson
For a few moments, may we set aside the catalogs of Christmas, with their gifts of exotic description. Let’s even turn from the flowers for Mother, the special tie for Father, the cute doll, the train that whistles, the long-awaited bicycle—even the books and videos—and direct our thoughts to God-given gifts that endure.

The Power of Peace
James E. Faust
That power has influenced for good the hosts of His followers on the earth for more than 2,000 years. It is the power in the knowledge that Jesus Christ is our Redeemer, our Savior, our Advocate with the Father, the King of kings, the Lord of lords, and the Prince of Peace. It is the power by which, through faith and obedience to His teachings, we can find joy and happiness, peace and comfort.

The Gifts of Christmas
Thomas S. Monson
There is no better time than now, this very Christmas season, for all of us to rededicate ourselves to the principles taught by Jesus the Christ. It is the time to love the Lord our God with all our heart—and our neighbors as ourselves. It is well to remember that he who gives money gives much, he who gives time gives more, but he who gives of himself gives all. Let this be a description of our Christmas gifts.

A Testimony of the Son of God
Gordon B. Hinckley
And so at this Christmas season, we sing His praises and speak our words of faith and gratitude and love. It is His influence in our lives that stirs within us more kindness, more respect, more love, more concern. It is because of Him and His teachings that we reach out to those in trouble, distress, and need wherever they may be.

A Christmas with No Presents
James E. Faust
I never remember a happier Christmas in my childhood. This Christmas and every Christmas will be richer by sharing and enjoying gifts that cannot be held but only felt.

The Wondrous and True Story of Christmas
Gordon B. Hinckley
For each of you may this be a merry Christmas. But more importantly, I wish for each of you a time, perhaps only an hour, spent in silent meditation and quiet reflection on the wonder and the majesty of this, the Son of God. Our joy at this season is because He came into the world. The peace that comes from Him, His infinite love which each of us may feel, and an overwhelming sense of gratitude for that which He freely gave us at so great a cost to Himself—these are of the true essence of Christmas.

A Pattern of Love
James E. Faust
At the heart of the message of the Savior of the world is a single, glorious, wonderful, still largely untried concept. In its simplest terms the message is that we should seek to overcome the selfishness we all seem to be born with, that we should overcome human nature and think of others before self. We should think of God and serve Him, and think of others and serve them.

What Is Christmas?
Thomas S. Monson
What will you and I give for Christmas this year? Let us in our lives give to our Lord and Savior the gift of gratitude by living His teachings and following in His footsteps. It was said of Him that He “went about doing good.” As we do likewise, the Christmas spirit will be ours.

A Season for Gratitude
Gordon B. Hinckley
Christmas is more than trees and twinkling lights, more than toys and gifts and baubles of a hundred varieties. It is love. It is the love of the Son of God for all mankind. It reaches out beyond our power to comprehend. It is magnificent and beautiful.

Free Christmas Movies

This is a Nativity video dubbed over to the music of Amy Grant, "Breath of Heaven." It is so good, I really like the combination. See what you think...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icilgwdHiZg

I don't know exactly how to get a copy of the original Navity video that's not dubbed over but I do know how to get some copies of other really great Christmas DVD's for FREE.

Go to http://mormon.org/ then click on FREE MEDIA
Now choose the Free Christmas DVD you want. While there check out the other great stuff too!

Maybe when you request one of these you can also request "The Nativity."

Christmas Devotional Absolutely Wonderful!!

I love this time of year and I always look forward to the Christmas Devotional!
Here is a link that you can listen to it in almost any language:
http://www.lds.org/broadcast/christmas/0,6609,4617-1-81-1561,00.html

Christmas Doesn't Have to End

What a wonderful Christmas me and my family had yesterday. I feel blessed beyond measure to have such an abundant life... I'm not talking about material abundance although I know I have more than most of the people in the world... the abundance I'm talking about is the abundant wisdom, guidance, light, knowlege, comfort, peace and joy found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Herein is found the riches of eternity, riches that will never rust or decay- riches that cannot be stolen by theives on earth... these are where the greatest gifts are found.

May I share with you some bits and pieces of a Christmas devotional given December 1992

President Monson quoted, “President Hugh B. Brown counseled that the spirit of Christmas illuminates the picture window of the soul, and we look out upon the world’s busy life and become more interested in people than things. To catch the real meaning of the spirit of Christmas, we need only drop the last syllable, and it becomes the Spirit of Christ.

“This is the spirit which marked that first Christmas day—a day foretold by the prophets of old,” President Monson explained. After quoting several scriptures prophesying the birth of Christ, President Monson continued: “One penetrating lesson taught at Christmastime is the lament of the Lord: ‘The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.’ (Matt. 8:20.)

“ ‘No room at the inn’ dogged His footsteps and saddened His heart,” President Monson continued. “Let us remember the supreme gift described by the Apostle Paul: ‘The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.’ (Rom. 6:23.) His promise is forever valid: ‘Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him.’ (Rev. 3:20.)

“The real spirit of Christmas lies in His assurance: ‘I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: “ ‘And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.’ (John 11:25–26.)”

President Gordon B. Hinckley, First Counselor in the First Presidency, conducted the devotional. He, too, remarked on the gift Jesus Christ gave to all people. “His is the gift given to all men to rise from the grave in resurrection. His is the invitation to go on to eternal life. “We love Him. We honor Him. We thank Him. We worship Him. He has done for each of us and for all mankind that which no other could have done. God be thanked for the gift of His Beloved Son, the Savior and Redeemer of the world, the Lamb without blemish who was offered as a sacrifice for all mankind. “We testify of His living reality,” President Hinckley concluded. “We testify of His divine love. In our times of grateful meditation, we acknowledge His priceless gift to us and pledge our love and faith. Again at this Christmas season, we bear witness of Him.”

Thanks for the Anonymous Gifts

Someone has been leaving gifts on our door step these last few days. They might not ever see this blog entry... but just in case, I want them to know how grateful my family and I are for their generosity and kindness. In our prayers each night we have asked the Lord to pour out blessings upon whoever is behind these secret gifts. Thank you with all our hearts - you have brightened our home and fill our hearts with joy. Merry Christmas!

A Couple of Christmas Thoughts

I am so thankful for the generosity of our Father in Heaven and His Son, Jesus Christ. I am continually amazed at their faithfulness and mercy so freely given to me in my life! Their love and forgiveness is the greatest gift I've ever known. I am indebted forever to Them.

I love these two quotes and desire to share them with you:

"He before whom a few gifts were laid in that lowly manger has spread so many gifts before us, thereby providing an unending Christmas. In fact, from Him for whom there was no room at the inn there comes to the faithful so many blessings 'that there shall not be room enough to receive [them]' (Malachi 3:10)"
- Elder Neal A. Maxwell

"God's gifts, unlike seasonal gifts, are eternal and imperishable, constituting a continuing Christmas which is never over! These infinite gifts are made possible by the 'infinite atonement'."
- Elder Neal A. Maxwell