Jesus said - Day 21

3 Nephi 13: 1-4

Verily, verily, I say that I would that ye should do alms unto the poor; but take heed that ye do not your alms before men to be seen of them; otherwise ye have no reward of your Father who is in heaven.  Therefore, when ye shall do your alms do not sound a trumpet before you, as will hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men.  Verily, I say unto you, they have their reward.  But when thou doest alms let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth; That thine alms may be in secret; and thy Father who seeth in secret, himself shall reward thee openly.  

One of my favorite things about Christmas time is the giving.  Especially anonymous giving.  I'm a big fan of it.  I've done some, I've received some, and I've helped others pull off their secret giving.  I've enjoyed giving and giving and watching the joy that the unexpected gives.  Giving feels so good!  I'm always so impressed by those who give who don't have much to give, yet give anyway.  Here are some examples I saw this year.

• I'm aware of a family that saved all their coins and gave them in a quart bottle (like the book The Christmas Jar) to another family where the father was out of work
• I'm aware of a family who gave another family who didn't have much to spend on Christmas gifts an extra $100 and a gift card for a night out
• I know of a husband and wife who traveled to Asia and spent their Christmas helping those less fortunate
• I'm aware of a aged widow who gave some money to two foreign students who couldn't go home for Christmas so that they could buy themselves a Christmas gift
• I'm aware of a family who on Christmas eve, go around to the various fire stations and carol to the firemen there who have to work that night
• I'm aware of a man who took a list of needed items from a homeless shelter and bought all the items on the list for a unknown man who needed basic clothing and a sleeping bag
• I've heard stories of lots of people donating to the #Lighttheworld vending machines on Temple Square to help people locally and internationally
• I know of a family who sent another family who had lost their father, a box of fun items to open every day before Christmas

The list could go on.  We open up our wallets and we open up our hearts.  Let's keep the #lighttheworld campaign going all year round. 

Jesus said - Day 20

3 Nephi 27: 19-20

And no unclean thing can enter into his kingdom; therefore nothing entereth into his rest save it be those who have washed their garments in my blood, because of their faith, and the repentance of all their sins, and their faithfulness unto the end.

Now this is the commandment:  Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and be baptized in my name, that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day.

I was thinking a lot about this scripture recently.  At Christmas time, we celebrate the birth of our Savior and all that his coming to earth means to us.  Also, I think we need to spend some time contemplating that his life had purpose and that he sacrificed his life for us.  It's been helpful to me to contemplate what his words and teaching are and how they really should change us to be more like him.  He requires something of us all in return for the sacrifice of his life for all of mankind.  We can't just say we love Jesus and then do nothing more.  We have responsibilities as followers of Christ to do, to be, to overcome, to progress, to improve, to follow, to forgive, to obey, and to repent.  We can't be believers of the word only.  We need to be partakers and doers of the word he taught and exemplified.  

How often to do repent?  How often do we ask forgiveness of someone we have harmed, or try to make whole something we have destroyed or damaged?  How often do we sincerely offer a broken heart and a contrite spirit for the things we do wrong?  Do we follow the steps of repentance?  Do we try and not repeat what we did wrong?  Repentance is hard work.  I'm not even close to being perfect at it.  I'm striving to do better though.  I'm striving to be less judgmental, less critical, less harsh and more kind.  More forgiving.  More like the Savior in every way. 

He was born.  He lived.  He died. He was resurrected.  At Christmas and all through the year, it would behoove us to follow Him, the Savior of the world.   For He is truly mighty to save us from not only our sins, but our sorrows, our injustices, our infirmities of body and mind and so much more.  He is the greatest gift there is this time of year, and I'm eternally grateful that he condescended to come to earth.

For unto us, a child is born.  Unto us, a Son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful!  Counsellor! The Mighty God! The Everlasting Father! The Prince of Peace! 

Isaiah  9:5

Jesus said - Day 19

Luke 11: 9-10

And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; 

seek, and ye shall find, knock, and it shall be opened unto you.  

For every one that asketh, receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth, 

and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

This scripture obviously has several meanings, but today, I wanted to share an experience I had knocking on some doors.  I have always wanted to do this activity, but I was either working or didn't have a whole day to devote to it.  However, this year I did!  I scheduled with eight dear friends and family members to visit them on December 19.  Luckily, they all said Yes!  I planned my day so that I could go from one visit to another and all the wonderful people were so good to accommodate my schedule.

8:00 am - left the house headed for Salt Lake City.  First stop was at 8:45 - Turmonk, Otga and Eermoon, some of our Mongolian friends (and Andy's former mission companion.)  I had a nice visit and left them with some Christmas stockings, gift cards and some Christmas decor.  They are such wonderful people.

9:30  - Margie, Megan and Cocoa.  We had a lovely chat and I got to tour Margie's Christmas home.  Beautiful!  Loved spending some time with these three generations.

11:00 - Karen, my former mission companion.  She made me a fresh plate of Argentine empanadas and we visited for over an hour.  Great memories were shared.  I love this dear friend.

12:30 - Catie (and my nephew Miles) recently moved into a new home.  I hadn't had the change to see it yet, so I scheduled a visit and had a great time with Catie.  She is a wonderful woman, homemaker, mother and wife and I admire all the good she goes in her life.  I loved sharing and getting to know her better.

1:45 - Carla my childhood friend since second grade welcomed me warmly.  This was the very day of her 63 birthday, so she got some extra love by way of a gift and some treats.  We always pick right up where we left off the last time.  She knows me well and we have stayed in touch over all these years.  I'm proud of the good life she leads and the happy marriage she is in now.  

3:30 - Victoria and I served together in a Relief Society presidency and we have stayed in touch when she moved to the Salt Lake valley.  We had a lovely visit getting caught up with one another.  She then went with me to visit...

5:00 - Linda was a former member of our ward and she has since had some major health problems and now lives in a care center.  She was discouraged and struggling.  It was good to visit her and try and cheer her up a little, along with Victoria.  I'm so glad we went.  I hope our visit helped.

6:15 - Ann and John opened their door to me and I was able to deliver our Christmas gift to them and have a nice visit.  We had their names this year, and as fellow Christians, I hope our gift was as meaningful to them as it is to us.  It was wonderful to see their Christmas home and to feel of their love and friendship.

7:15 - Finally, I headed back home with a huge smile on my face and met up with my friend Cydnee to see the new Star Wars movie.  It was such a fun day and I loved every minute of it.  I hope to do it again another year.  All eight doors that I knocked were opened to me, and I found great joy behind each one.

Jesus said - Day 18

Matthew 25: 31-46
Profound words to ponder this Christmas season and always.

 ¶When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

  And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

  And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

  Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, 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.

  Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, 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?

  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

  Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

  For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

  I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

  Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

  Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

  And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Jesus said - Day 17

3 Nephi 17:3

Therefore, go ye unto your homes, and ponder upon the things which I have said, and ask of the Father, in my name, that ye may understand, and prepare your minds for the morrow, and I come unto you again.

These music videos provide a lot of thoughts and feelings to consider.  Ponder and enjoy.