I don’t know how December came so quickly, but here we are!
My simple Sunday message today is to “Let Your Light Shine”. So many people in today’s world need a bit of your light. Here are some ideas:
Have a superb Sunday. I hope you do or learn something NEW!
Happy Sunday!
I took this NEW photo at a Christmas light event. So many lights (and so many man-hours placing them on branch after branch!) Very pretty!…my phone camera didn’t do too great of a job capturing the prettiness, but here are some more photos:
It was fun to kick off December and the Christmas season attending this event. And for my {very} short sermon today, I’d like to simply share 8 Christmas verses from the Bible so we can remember the true reason we celebrate. Additionally, down below is a calendar with ideas of service-type things to do every day to #LightTheWorld with love. I’m going to try and do as many as I can.
Have a great Sunday and learn or something NEW!
Scripture #1
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
Scripture # 2
1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
Scripture # 3
9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
Scripture # 4
And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
Scripture # 5
1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
2 ( And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
Scripture # 6
6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
Scripture # 7
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
Luke 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Luke 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Scripture # 8
Luke 15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
Luke 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
You can print this calendar out HERE.
Happy Sunday!
It has seemed like forever since I’ve had time to go “shooting”, but I took the time to go this past week. I drove around the lake near us, which gave me a nice view of our lake AND our mountains. I live pretty close to the foothills of that mountain over there, and although I can always see a part of the mountain, I typically see it from a different perspective. Actually, I live so close that a smaller hill blocks my view of the larger mountain. My perspective limits what I can see of the entire mountain range.
This is similar to getting to know people and seeing them for who they really are inside – not just their outward appearance according to our perspective. I recently read the article, “Seeing Things Differently” by Professor Michael J. Dorff. He gives some very good examples of seeing people differently, and closes his article with:
“Our Savior Jesus Christ sees us differently—not as we currently are but as we may become. I am awed by the love He has for me, who does not deserve it, and for the love He has for all of us—no matter who we are, no matter how different we may be from those around us, and no matter what struggles we have in our lives.”
I hope you might read the linked article too (if you’re interested).
Enjoy your Sunday and have a great week! Do or learn something NEW!
It’s a miracle!!! I just returned from traveling for the last 8 days or so and went out in the garden and found this big, beautiful blossom. It’s a miracle because I thought for sure the plant was dead! My plan was to buy a replacement – same variety of clematis and try again this year. Wow, what a surprise!
So, today’s theme for a short Sunday sermon is: Miracles! Here’s an excellent talk entitled “Has the Day of Miracles Ceased?”
I know, just from my limited experiences that NO!, miracles happen all the time. It’s hard to know whether they’re just coincidences, or miracles. But I choose to have faith and believe in miracles.
Have a beautiful day! Do or learn something NEW!
Happy Sunday! I loved seeing some fluffy clouds surround our mountains this week. The weather was a bit chilly, but beautiful.
So, I don’t think I’ve ever shared one of my favorite songs “Consider the Lilies”…so consider the message from this song as today’s Sunday sermon. If you’d like to, go ahead and review The Sermon on the Mount which is where the lyrics originated. Have a great day! Do something NEW!
Happy Sunday!
I think my favorite gospel subject is faith…and of course trust is very closely related – so I loved this quote. Perhaps it should say ‘Trust in the Lord is the key ingredient of miracles”. I also enjoyed re-reading this conference talk by Jean A. Stevens. The sub title is: As we develop greater faith and trust in the Lord, we can access His power to bless and deliver us.
She also quotes C. S. Lewis: “I pray because I can’t help myself. … I pray because the need flows out of me all the time, waking and sleeping. It doesn’t change God. It changes me.” It was an excellent talk with good reminders to exercise faith.
Have a great day! Do or learn something NEW!
Happy Sunday!
I thought it was interesting how this particular species of moss can survive on these rocks even though the waves must beat over them hundreds and thousands of times a day. This moss must cling to the rocks. It must be very strong, resilient and determined to hang on. I think this is a lesson for us! We need to cling to our ‘Rock’ – our Savior Jesus Christ.
“Remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.”(source)
If you want to read more…HERE is an excellent article/sermon.
Have a great day! So or learn something NEW!
Happy Monday! Yeah, this is a random/miscellaneous photo I took recently. If anyone can tell me the name of this plant, please chime in – I’m interested to know. Since it’s hard to see the perspective from this photo…these were a lot taller than I am!
Other random stuff I’ve done or noticed lately:
Have a great Monday! Do or learn something New!
Happy Sunday! I naturally ‘Find Joy in the Ordinary’….all of the time. I hope you do too. I find joy in photography, nature, my family, music…and so much more! For today’s Sunday sermon, I’ll simply share links to some beautiful and spiritually inspiring music. I hope you enJOY them:
Have a great day! Do or learn something NEW!
Happy Sunday!
I recently fell in love with this old door. I’m not sure whether the ring is a knocker, or just a pull device (??) Nevertheless, here’s today’s Sunday sermon:
To access information from heaven, one must first have a firm faith and a deep desire. One needs to “ask with a sincere heart and real intent, having faith in Jesus Christ.” “Real intent” means that one really intends to follow the divine direction given.
The next requirement is to study the matter diligently.
…to receive revelation unique to your own needs and responsibilities, certain guidelines prevail. The Lord asks you to develop “faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God.” Then with your firm “faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, and diligence,” you may ask, and you will receive; you may knock, and it will be opened unto you.
Revelation from God is always compatible with His eternal law. It never contradicts His doctrine. It is facilitated by proper reverence for Deity. The Master gave this instruction:
“I, the Lord, am merciful and gracious unto those who fear me, and delight to honor those who serve me in righteousness and in truth unto the end.
“Great shall be their reward and eternal shall be their glory.
Excerpt from “Ask, Seek, Knock” by Russell M. Nelson
Have a great day! Do or learn something NEW!
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