What If . . .

I believe that the spirit world (the world of the deceased) is very close, and is in fact, all around us. I believe our departed loved ones watch what we do and hear what we say. Because of this, I believe they cheer us on when we are doing what is right, sorrow for us when we sin, and offer us what comfort they can when we are sad, distraught, hurting, or sorrowing ourselves, which testifies of just how much they depend on us to live the best life we can. They, too, are affected by our choices here in mortality.
That being the case, I do know with certainty that the Lord is always present in His holy temples, and I believe He even visits His church houses from time to time. I am sure that He is sometimes saddened by the things He witnesses. He also rejoices over the righteous desires and actions of His people. Thinking of the Savior being present and witnessing the things I do makes me want to never do anything to grieve Him. However, knowing He is near to catch me when I do fall and place me back on the path to Him is what gives me joy during times of repentance.
So, on this line of thinking, what would we change in our lives to be able to stand in front of the Savior and not cower before Him?
It's definitely worth thinking about.
Happy Sabbath!

Keeping Christ in Our Lives

"Each of us is an innkeeper who decides if there is room for Jesus." ~ Neal A. Maxwell

 I absolutely love this quote from Elder Maxwell! And because of our deep study of the New Testament in the "Come Follow Me" curriculum, it truly has felt like Christmas this entire year in our home. Christ should always be our focus. He should permanently be front and center in our heart, home, and life, not just at Christmas time, but always. True love for the Savior should inspire and guide us in all we do, say and think. Christ should not be just a guest in our home, He should be the head of our home, and as Elder Maxwell said, we decide how much room we make for Him - whether it will be a small bedroom or give Him run of the entire place.

Since I owe everything to the Lord, I display Him in every room for the world to see, and I'm striving to display Him in every part of my life. I love Him with every fiber of my being, and because of His love for me, I can do no less.

Blessings to you all!
Merry Christmas!

Victory in Christ

Just as God is aware of us, so is Satan, and every minute of the day, we choose who we will serve with our every word, thought, and deed. And though we do not remember - yet are learning to remember - who we were before we came into mortality, Satan DOES remember us. He remembers our strengths. He remembers the valiant ones who stood with the Lord in the war in heaven, and he studies each and every one of our human weaknesses and shortcomings like a hawk. He glories in every choice we make that turns us away from Christ, and he has made it his eternal goal to wreak havoc in our lives, both spiritually and emotionally.

But just as surely as we are taught that Satan will never win, each of us needs to KNOW that within us is a power far greater than the adversary. The Savior is the source of that power. We only need to let His light shine in those dark places of our heart and cast any and everything that is not of God away from us.
Only then can we grow in our daily battle with the adversary and gain the victory.
We are already on our way!
Happy Sabbath!