This morning I thought about the fact that Christmas is the birthday party where the Person whose birth is being celebrated brings The Gift. It's a gift that no amount of money can buy. It is the gift of rescue, of transformation, and of Eternal Life with our Heavenly Father, with our Savior, and ... Read More
So What’s So Merry About Christmas?
Merry Christmas everyone! Isn't that the sincere wish on our lips and in our hearts at this time of year for everyone we know? We say it, we write it, we sing it. I thought I might look up the definition of the word "merry" to see just what it is I am hoping for each of you (and frankly for me too). ... Read More
“There’s No Way I Signed Up For This!”
I believe the doctrine that teaches that we chose to come to earth, that before we came we were prepared for mortality over eons of time by God Himself, and that we were aware of the trials that might come our way. On Spirit filled days I sometimes form a faithful picture of my final pre-earth ... Read More
So What Does Love Have To Do With It? – Step 2 Hope
Recently my brother stopped by for a short visit. He came from North Carolina where he lives with his family and was accompanied by his son who just returned home from his mission. Their ultimate destination was Idaho where my brother would help his son get settled for a new year of university ... Read More
Christmas Eve Instruction on Finding the Perfect Gift – Perfectionism and Step 1-3
If I wasn’t “finishing up” at Target or All-A-Dollar or Kmart at 5:45 on Christmas Eve, I guess the season wouldn’t be quite the same. On December 24, 2002 I was given the following insight. It has made a difference in every Christmas Eve thereafter. Exhausted and touching on frantic, I completed ... Read More
The 12 Steps – God’s Rx for Pain – Step 2
As introduced in the previous posts, over the next few days I’m going to take a walk through each of the 12 Steps, examining each one for its pain relieving qualities. As you read today you may want to keep in mind some painful aspect of your own situation and think about how Step 2 might bring ... Read More
Spinning Goals into Gifts, Heavens Great Transformation
Today I would like to share that much of what I desire in this life is surprisingly coming to me as a gift from God rather than a goal for God. In the book “Alcoholics Anonymous” page 8 one of the founders, Bill W. shares, “I was to know happiness, peace, and usefulness in a way that is incredibly ... Read More
My God in Simple Terms – Addiction Prevention
Several months ago my nephew received the Priesthood. As a special surprise for him my sister-in-law asked each member of our extended family to write him a note. In this note we were supposed to share something of ourselves. She gave us several ideas. The option I chose was to put into words some ... Read More