Jesus is the Son of God, our Savior and Redeemer. Because of Him,death is not the end and life takes on new meaning. We can change. We can start over--and we can live again with God. This Easter, celebrate His life and discover all that's possible because of Him.
Showing posts with label Jesus Christ. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jesus Christ. Show all posts
April 19, 2014
Because of Him
Jesus is the Son of God, our Savior and Redeemer. Because of Him,death is not the end and life takes on new meaning. We can change. We can start over--and we can live again with God. This Easter, celebrate His life and discover all that's possible because of Him.
March 10, 2014
Power To Become by David A. Bednar
BLOG TOUR ANNOUNCEMENT:
The Power to Become will cause you to ponder, pray, reflect, evaluate, act, and progress spiritually. Each chapter is designed to fully understand basic gospel truths and spiritual patterns-to the end that each of us may be blessed to receive the
POWER TO BECOME.
With room for note-taking, individual insights as well as links to video discussions this unique book will bring a new dimension to personal study and growth.
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About the Author: ELDER DAVID A. BEDNAR was called to serve as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 2004. Prior to his call, he had served as an Area Seventy, regional representative, stake president, and bishop. He served a mission to southern Germany and then attended Brigham Young University, where he received bachelor’s and master’s degrees. He received a PhD in organizational behavior from Purdue University and was a professor of business management at Texas Tech University and the University of Arkansas. Elder Bednar served as the president of BYU-Idaho from 1997 to 2004. His previously published books include the bestsellers Increase in Learning and Act in Doctrine. He and his wife, Susan, are the parents of three sons.
Book Description:
In Power to Become, Elder David A. Bednar explores how the Savior makes possible His divine commission, "Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect" (3 Nephi 12:48).
In Power to Become, Elder David A. Bednar explores how the Savior makes possible His divine commission, "Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect" (3 Nephi 12:48).
Chapters in this thought-provoking book highlight the importance of the Atonement, the spiritual gift of personal peace, the importance of priesthood ordinances, and the responsibility we have to obey willingly and endure valiantly.
"As we increase in learning about the Savior and His gospel," Elder Bednar writes, "as we strive with ever greater consistency to act in His doctrine, ordinances, and covenants, then we are blessed with power through His Atonement to increasingly become like Him." Power to Become introduces vital tools we all can use to invite these eternally significant blessings into our lives.
October 28, 2013
Book Review, Peace be Still by David S. Baxter
“No waters can swallow the ship where lies
The Master of ocean and earth and skies.
They all shall sweetly obey thy will:
Peace, be still; peace, be still.”
The Master of ocean and earth and skies.
They all shall sweetly obey thy will:
Peace, be still; peace, be still.”
(Hymns, “Master, the Tempest is Raging,” no. 105.)
Our modern world is full of fast-paced stress and jam-packed schedules. Both trials and blessings happen to us so quickly that there is rarely a moment of peace. It is easy to be overwhelmed and lost.
In Peace, Be Still, Elder David S. Baxter of the Seventy describes ways for us to find peace in our crazy world by turning to our Lord, Jesus Christ. He speaks of principles to learn, habits to gain, and places to go to find peace in our daily lives and at home. This inspiring book will help us through the tempests in our lives and lead us to a greater sense of personal peace by encouraging and instructing us to follow Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace.
My thoughts:
Who couldn't use a little more peace in their lives?
I love inspiring nonfiction books, (which is why I've written two) and Elder Baxter has written one on a topic we all can learn from--peace. In the preface he shares his thoughts for us, the readers:
"My own hope is that the contents of this book will enable every reader to identify, feel, and realize a greater sense of personal peace and find out how to obtain it, to a degree at least, some moments of personal pause from the debilitating, suffocating stress of life--to enjoy some serene stillness in the midst of cacophonous commotion."
This book, wrapped in a cover of a tranquil lakefront scene, with water smooth as glass reflecting a sky filled with warming rays of sun invites one to come, sit a while, read, reflect, and be refreshed. The final chapter of ten, and my favorite, is fittingly entitled, The Prince of Peace.
In it Elder Baxter reminds us of the story in the New Testament in the book of Mark..."And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that now it was full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on the pillow; and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. (Mark 4: 37-39)
He goes on to say: "In the midst of the tempest of our lives, we can be brought to "great calm" as we too call upon the Master. If He has the power to cause the wind to cease and the waves to subside from the deck of a ship, He can, from the sanctuary of heaven, certainly still our distress and bring the chill winds of trouble in our lives to a stop. It is not just Galilee that can be made a place of peace; it is also possible in our minds, our hearts, and our very souls."
Meet the Author:
David Baxter was born in Stirling, Scotland, and became a General Authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 2006. He previously worked in senior leadership roles in the telecommunications industry and on the boards of various UK government agencies and holds a bachelor of science in economics. In his Church service, he has been a bishop, a stake president, a member of a mission presidency, and an Area Seventy, and he is currently a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy. He has served in Church Area Presidencies in Europe and the Pacific. His early home life was traumatic and disrupted, and in 2009 he underwent surgery to remove two brain tumors. He and his wife, Dianne, are the parents of four children and the grandparents of nine grandchildren.
Peace Be Still
August 15, 2013
April 29, 2013
Who are you representing?
As Christians, how often do we forget as we go about living our daily lives that we represent Jesus Christ in all that we do and say?
A wise woman shared her thoughts:
I felt completely justified to blow it.
Look up inconvenienced, worried, nervous, annoyed and rushed in the dictionary and that's where you would have found me a few weeks ago. So when one more issue got added to my day, I lost it. And the worst part was I thought I'd earned the right to let off steam.
It started with my husband asking for a favor. He had bought two trucks for his company and needed me to drive across town with him and drive one of them back. Since we live in a large metropolitan area, that meant a one-hour drive each way.
However, the only available window of time that afternoon was sandwiched between four different things I had to do. In two and a half hours we had one son getting out of high school (who had to go with us) and another one needing to be picked up from college (which is also across town), our youngest daughter having to be picked up after that (which is near home), then the high schooler had a practice.
Since I live this crazy chauffeur-life every day, it was up to me to schedule this cross-town trip and get everyone—and two trucks—picked up on time.
Of course everything takes longer than you think it will. Not only were we initially running late, but then the man with the trucks was late. This meant I was going to be late getting everyone picked up. Watching the clock, I felt the passing minutes squeeze like a vice grip.
Realizing there was no way I could do it all, I changed plans and sent the high school boy to pick up the college boy and then head back and get himself to practice. I would wait for the truck and then get our daughter.
Now, this may have your head spinning, but it sounded easy in my mind.
However, those two teenage boys got very confused with the change of plans. They weren't sure what they were supposed to do, despite what I thought were pretty simple instructions.
Thirty minutes later they called me frustrated and annoyed. Unfortunately, I was also frustrated and annoyed trying to drive a HUGE diesel truck across town. With a right side mirror that I couldn't adjust. On a busy freeway. In the middle of rush hour traffic. Realizing I would be late picking up my daughter.
College son: "Mom! What is going on?!? Why is Robbie picking me up and not you? Are we supposed to go get some trucks? Robbie doesn't know what's going on!!" the college boy snapped.
And in that moment, the stress of the afternoon had built, and I let it explode, feeling very justified.
Me: "Seriously? Seriously?!? You are frustrated? Well, let me tell you about being frustrated! ... (I'm sure you can imagine the rest).
I hung up the phone angry.
And then I remembered a verse I'd read that morning. Right there on the freeway, God made Philippians 1:27 very relevant: ...let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ:
Look up inconvenienced, worried, nervous, annoyed and rushed in the dictionary and that's where you would have found me a few weeks ago. So when one more issue got added to my day, I lost it. And the worst part was I thought I'd earned the right to let off steam.
It started with my husband asking for a favor. He had bought two trucks for his company and needed me to drive across town with him and drive one of them back. Since we live in a large metropolitan area, that meant a one-hour drive each way.
However, the only available window of time that afternoon was sandwiched between four different things I had to do. In two and a half hours we had one son getting out of high school (who had to go with us) and another one needing to be picked up from college (which is also across town), our youngest daughter having to be picked up after that (which is near home), then the high schooler had a practice.
Since I live this crazy chauffeur-life every day, it was up to me to schedule this cross-town trip and get everyone—and two trucks—picked up on time.
Of course everything takes longer than you think it will. Not only were we initially running late, but then the man with the trucks was late. This meant I was going to be late getting everyone picked up. Watching the clock, I felt the passing minutes squeeze like a vice grip.
Realizing there was no way I could do it all, I changed plans and sent the high school boy to pick up the college boy and then head back and get himself to practice. I would wait for the truck and then get our daughter.
Now, this may have your head spinning, but it sounded easy in my mind.
However, those two teenage boys got very confused with the change of plans. They weren't sure what they were supposed to do, despite what I thought were pretty simple instructions.
Thirty minutes later they called me frustrated and annoyed. Unfortunately, I was also frustrated and annoyed trying to drive a HUGE diesel truck across town. With a right side mirror that I couldn't adjust. On a busy freeway. In the middle of rush hour traffic. Realizing I would be late picking up my daughter.
College son: "Mom! What is going on?!? Why is Robbie picking me up and not you? Are we supposed to go get some trucks? Robbie doesn't know what's going on!!" the college boy snapped.
And in that moment, the stress of the afternoon had built, and I let it explode, feeling very justified.
Me: "Seriously? Seriously?!? You are frustrated? Well, let me tell you about being frustrated! ... (I'm sure you can imagine the rest).
I hung up the phone angry.
And then I remembered a verse I'd read that morning. Right there on the freeway, God made Philippians 1:27 very relevant: ...let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ:
(like an errand taking longer, rush hour, annoyed teenagers, a side mirror that doesn't work, three kids to usher around town)
only let your conversation ... (You mean, control myself God? Keep things in perspective?)
be as it becometh ... (in such a way that shows who I really am, what I believe, what I value ...)
only let your conversation ... (You mean, control myself God? Keep things in perspective?)
be as it becometh ... (in such a way that shows who I really am, what I believe, what I value ...)
the gospel of Christ (and Whom I represent).
Before I had a chance to call my son, he called me. I rushed to apologize. So did he. Thanks to God's Word in my heart leading me to ask for forgiveness, we ended our disagreement on the side that is worthy of the Word and the God Whom we serve, rather than the angry resentful side.
Philippians 1:27.
I'm not sure what you're facing right now ... whatever pressures, deadlines, carpools, boss, spouse or bills surround you. But I do know we each have a choice how we will respond. So take a deep breath and remember to walk in a manner worthy of Whom you represent.-Glynnis Whitwer
Before I had a chance to call my son, he called me. I rushed to apologize. So did he. Thanks to God's Word in my heart leading me to ask for forgiveness, we ended our disagreement on the side that is worthy of the Word and the God Whom we serve, rather than the angry resentful side.
Philippians 1:27.
I'm not sure what you're facing right now ... whatever pressures, deadlines, carpools, boss, spouse or bills surround you. But I do know we each have a choice how we will respond. So take a deep breath and remember to walk in a manner worthy of Whom you represent.-Glynnis Whitwer
December 10, 2010
Where's the Line to see Jesus?
This story and video were passed on by a good friend--thank you Sala! I read the moving story and as I listened to the song I was filled with a warm feeling-the true spirit of Christmas-the first time I've felt strongly this year. My goal is to keep that feeling alive throughout this wonderful time of the year by sharing it. I hope you feel it, too.
-Diony
"While at the mall a couple of years ago, my then four year old nephew, Spencer, saw kids lined up to see Santa Claus. Having been taught as a toddler that Christmas is the holiday that Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus, he asked his mom, "where's the line to see Jesus"? My sister mentioned this to my dad, who immediately became inspired and jotted words down to a song in just a few minutes...
Here's the link for the rest of the story and the video:
http://wheresthelinetoseejesus.com/
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